T.J. Samson | Destination Health | February 2018

6 DESTINATION HEALTH • Chickenpox. • Diphtheria. • Hepatitis A and B. • Hib ( Haemophilus influenzae type b). • HPV (human papillomavirus). • Influenza (yearly flu shots). • Measles. • Meningococcal disease. • Mumps. • Pneumococcal disease. • Polio. • Rotavirus. • Rubella. • Tetanus. • Whooping cough. If you’re the parent of a young child, you might think you don’t have to worry about body image mes- sages until your child nears their teen years. But experts say even children as young as 3 years old can worry about their size and weight. So how can you help your child—girl or boy—feel good about their body at any age? Pay close atten- tion to the messages you either intentionally—or unintentionally—share with your child. Check out these examples of do’s and don’ts. Do I really need to breast- feed my baby? My mom fed me formula. Many parents bottle-feed their ba- bies. But breastmilk really is best for your little one and you. Here’s why: Breastmilk provides your baby with all the nutrients he or she needs. So it’s recommended that you breastfeed your baby exclusively for at least the first six months. After that, it’s fine to intro- duce solid foods while you continue to breastfeed at least until your baby’s first birthday. Along with supplying top-of-the- line nutrition, breast milk helps protect your baby from certain infections. And breastfeeding may benefit your health too. Among other things, it may reduce your risk for breast cancer and it may help you lose some pregnancy-related pounds. Q OUR KIDDOS It’s our job to protect them Not sure if your child is up-to-date? Check in with your child’s doctor. Need a family doctor or pediatrician? We can help: 270-651-1111 . DO DON’T ✔ Talk about nutrition and eating healthy foods. ✘ Talk about dieting. ✔ Talk about feeling fit and having fun while being active. ✘ Talk about exercising to lose weight. ✔ Take lots of photos of you and your child together. ✘ Avoid being photographed because you dislike how you look. ✔ Talk about the qualities of a good person. ✘ Focus on people’s outer appearance. ✔ Teach your child to eat slowly and to pause to see if they feel full before eating more. ✘ Tell your child to eat everything on their plate. ✔ Teach your child that it’s healthy to eat three nutri- tious meals a day. ✘ Skip meals. ✔ Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. ✘ Eat mostly diet or fat-free foods. ✔ Let your child help select what to buy at the grocery store. Use the opportunity to educate your child on healthy foods. ✘ Make every food decision for your child. ✔ See a photo of a role model you admire and say, “I want to be as good of a person as them!” ✘ See a photo of a celebrity and say, “I wish I looked like that!” Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; American Academy of Family Physicians Give your child the gift of a positive body image Between birth and 18 years old, children and teens should receive a variety of vaccines, including those for: