Shag Away These 7 Masturbation Myths… For Good

Just like sex, masturbation is a taboo and a major topic of discussion. Where men usually bring up the topic jokingly, women prefer whispering about the same.

You rarely hear a serious conversation about masturbation.

In order to propel discussion on the related subject, it is firstly important to accept masturbation as a natural act and not see it as something shameful.

There are many benefits of masturbating and side-effects, if done excessively. You may also come across certain myths about the same that you need to do away with immediately –

Masturbation Myths

Myth 1 – Masturbation is for a Certain Age Group Only

People of all ages masturbate

There is no age bar when it comes to masturbation. It is an act in which you can engage at any point of time in life. Usually, puberty hits boys around the age of 13 years and lasts throughout their lives. As per surveys conducted, 70-95% of males and females masturbate to cater to their sexual needs.

Myth 2 – Masturbation is Fake Sex

Masturbation is not fake sex

Masturbation arouses people, just like sex does. Erection, natural lubrication and ejaculation are all part of it. Besides, while ejaculation, people experience real orgasm, which is healthy. Health experts claim that masturbation is as real as kissing, having intercourse and reaching orgasm while at it.

Myth 3 – Women Don’t Masturbate

Women do masturbate

Women DO masturbate. They have needs, just like men. Obviously, the way they masturbate is different as compared to men; their methods vary, too. Where some women prefer watching porn during the act, others fantasise their wishes while going on with the business. But yes, saying that women do not masturbate is totally false.

Myth 4 – Masturbation Causes Blindness

Masturbation does not cause blindness

This is one of the most ridiculous fables related to masturbation. When doctors claim the act as having medical benefits, why do people contradict it with nonsensical claims? Instead, it facilitates in stress relief, keeping menstrual cramps at bay and PMS.

Myth 5 – Couples Do Not Masturbate

Couples masturbate, too

Wrong. Regardless of whether people are single or in a relationship, the urge to masturbate comes naturally. In fact, people in relationships at times masturbate together. It is also a common for people in relationship to feel jealous of one another when they masturbate and link it to cheating. Such couples need to realise that people have different levels of sexual desire and there is nothing wrong with it.

Myth 6 – Only Adults Masturbate

Though not like adults, children masturbate, too

It is also a common notion among adults that only they masturbate because they “know” sex. Children also engage in masturbation, but not how adults know them. Even the younger ones touch themselves, but not like the adults do. They are just curious and it feels good when they touch their genitals. Ultrasounds have been found showing foetuses touching their sex organs while in the utero.

Myth 7 – Masturbation Causes STDs

Masturbation does not cause STDs

Sexually transmitted disease is caused only through skin-to-skin contact. Other than that, transmission of bodily fluids is another reason for contracting STDs. Since both of these do not occur during masturbation, contracting STDs is impossible.

Chennai Floods: The worst might be over, but keep diseases at bay with these health tips

People have been wading through water over several days, so the number of water-borne, vector-borne, person-to-person communicable diseases are those that the state government, NGOs and volunteers working in the field need to worry about.

• People wading through waterlogged areas during the flood

Throughout history, disasters, both natural and man-made, have a strong relationship with disease outbreaks. This is often related to the displacement of people and has been known since the age of Pericles and the plague of Athens in Ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian wars. This has played out again and again since then, including in major wars, but this association is now seen commonly after natural disasters like floods, tsunami, volcanic eruptions, drought and earthquakes.

The disaster in Tamil Nadu due to the recent rains and floods is already seeing an outbreak of various diseases. The risk and magnitude of any outbreak can be assessed based on the diseases that are pre-existent in the community, the existing infrastructure, nutrition and health status, ability to restore safe water and drainage and availability of health care. Given that Chennai and other parts have seen tremendous waterlogging and people have been wading through water over several days, the number of water-borne, vector-borne, person-to-person communicable diseases and those related to the disaster, are those that the state government, NGOs and volunteers working in the field need to worry about.

Types of diseases likely to surface

Firstly, water-borne diseases that are likely to surface in Chennai now include viral gastro enteritis, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and E, leptospirosis among others. If people remember, there was a spike in cases of leptospirosis in Mumbai after the 2005 floods. Waterborne diseases can be mitigated here by ensuring that the water is drained out as quickly as possible in the city and safe drinking water is provided on a war footing.

Secondly, vector-borne diseases that are likely to emerge include dengue and malaria. Others like West Nile virus are also possible. These are primarily mosquito-borne, so stagnant water is a perfect breeding ground. Draining inundated areas in Chennai is key to control and moving people out of such areas is also helpful.

Lastly, person-to-person communicable diseases are usually related to overcrowding in close quarters. Diseases like influenza and upper respiratory infections tend to spread faster this way. This was, in fact, the leading cause of death in those displaced by the 2004 tsunami in Aceh and the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan. Measles outbreaks have also been documented in these conditions. In Chennai, there are reports of chicken pox outbreak in a relief camp. This also needs to be addressed quickly.

Other diseases are related to the disaster itself, and this includes tetanus, skin problems, including allergies and fungal infections. There have been rumours about dead bodies and the risk of transmission of diseases - these are overhyped, and there is yet to be any documented outbreak in the setting of the floods.

Prevention and tips on health safety

Prevention and mitigation of these diseases, in Chennai, Cuddalore and other areas, needs a multi-pronged strategy. Obviously, drainage of the water and establishment of safe water and food services is key. People should not remain marooned, but staying too long in relief camps puts them at risk for other problems. The earlier the situation improves and the earlier that people can return home, the safer it is from the infection point of view. People should avoid wading in water, if feasible.

Safe water can be achieved by boiling water for a full minute. If there is visible contamination, bleach (1/4 to 1/8 teaspoon to a gallon or 16 cups of water) can be useful. Reverse osmosis systems are also an option. Food safety is key, and the role of food handlers in the propagation of diseases is often forgotten. Aid workers should stay away if sick, and should wear gloves when handling food. Vaccination against tetanus, typhoid and influenza seems prudent. Mosquito prevention measures are useful, but these need to be used through the day.

Don’t medicate unnecessarily

At this point, abuse of medications, especially antibiotics, is a problem. Most patients do not need any. Establishment of appropriate primary care system with doctors trained in disaster-related disease management will go a long way in containing the situation. Studies have suggested that a single dose of doxycycline may be an option in reducing the risk of leptospirosis in those wading through water. It is only required for those with infections like typhoid. In general, the alarm symptoms that require immediate medical attention include:

1. Diarrhoea/vomiting and not passing urine

2. Fever with shaking chills

3. Jaundice

4. Fever lasting more than 3 days

5. Breathing difficulty and shortness of breath

6. Illness in people whose immune system is not normal- like kidney failure, transplant

Dr Subramanian Swaminathan is MD AB Infectious Diseases, Consultant, Global Hospital

5 Reasons Why Eating Fish Is Healthy For You!

Apart from being slurpy yummy, eating fish is also healthy for us. Fish is low in fat, high in protein, perfect for our waistline. Fish also is an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, which is essential for our normal body functioning. If you have not already included fish in your diet, consider the reasons below, to do so now…

 Fish for Healthy Heart

 Health experts say that eating fish at least twice a week significantly reduce risks of acquiring heart disease. It stabilizes blood pressure, and prevents inflammation and clots in the body. So if you love eating non-vegetarian food, consider switching to just fish; that way your binging can actually be good for your heart!

 Fish for Energy Production

 Those of you who are into sports would know that fish is a recommended protein to produce energy in body. The fatty acids contained in fish are one of the best contributors to the energy production of your body. They increase your physical, as well as mental, capacity. You can even combat fatigue by eating fish at least twice a week. Eating fish is also good for the functioning of your eyes and brain nerves, which in turn improve concentration.

 Fish for Healthy Nervous System

 Doctors worldwide recommend consumption of fish regularly for healthy functioning of brain cells and nervous system. Eating fish regularly is also known to combat mental conditions like depression and schizophrenia. It has also shown positive results in preventing Alzheimer’s disease.

 Fish for Skin and Hair

 Unsaturated fats in fish provide essential fatty acids to our body, which act as a natural moisturiser for our skin, keeping it toned and supple. These fats also come packaged with a healthy dose of vitamin E that can immune your skin against daily wear and tear. If you are conscious of your skin and hair, you can also consume fish oil, which will supply your body with high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which is fabulous to keep your skin healthy and alive. Fish oil also increases hair growth and helps reduce wrinkles. So be healthy and feel young!

 Fish for Leaner Body

 The protein in fish is very easy to digest than beef, pork or chicken. Eating fish is often recommended by dieticians for those trying to lose weight, as fish contain all essential amino acids in the required balance. Fish is also rich in two very important minerals which can be challenging to get in sufficient quantities from other foods like iodine. Iodine is present in salt also, but most of the diet schedules recommend reducing salt intake, in that case fish is a good source to substitute the mineral. Fish will also provide you with protein, which is also known to help weight reduction.

Eating fish in any form is healthy, simply because of the amount of nutrients present in them. However, there are some accepted healthy ways of eating fish, including baked, poached, grilled and steamed.

 Take your pick and binge sans guilt!

Your Poop Can Save Someone’s Life – Yes, It’s Real!!

Everyone perceives their stool as disgusting…and yes, it is, in all honesty. They contain numerous bacteria that are mostly alive. However, would you believe if a person told you that your poop can save life?

That’s ridiculous, you say? Your poop comes in handy during a treatment procedure fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) which is performed on patients suffering from repeated clostridium difficile infection.

Fecal transplant is performed on patients suffering from clostridium difficile infection

What you need to know about clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is that it is infectious diarrhoea. Along with abdominal pain, it causes bloating and diarrhoea, which further can become sever, if left untreated. Though treatment is possible through antibiotics, relapses in such cases have been minimal.

One might wonder what could be the alternate procedure if antibiotics cannot treat CDI.

That is where fecal microbiota transplantation plays its part. The procedure requires a fecal microbiota preparation where stool from a healthy patient is transplanted into the patient’s colon.The patient need not worry about fecal bacteria since it is mixed with saline, then strained and reintroduced into the patient’s colon through enema.

Actually, the size of the poop comes into play, too, as it decides the number of people that can be treated. Below is an illustration of the same –

The size of poop decides how many people can be saved

Fecal transplantation might seem gross to people today, but it was documented in the 4th century China, where it was labelled “yellow soup”.

Now, if the procedure convinces you and probably encourages you to make donation, it is important to know that the process is not that simple. Just like blood donation, fecal donation has its set of criteria. If you are one of the lucky donors, you can make up to $13,000 per year.

Scientists and doctors are looking for diseases that fecal microbiota transplantation can apparently treat. However, till date, just one – C. difficile – is the only disease that has been fully explored.

You can look at the video link below to know more about the transplantation procedure 

'Nashville' actress gets drastic haircut in support of cancer patients

Clare Bowen, an actress on ABC's Nashville, recently cut off all of her hair and made a touching Facebook post that took some by surprise.

Bowen posted a photo of herself with a new pixie haircut with the caption "It's just hair" underneath. Bowen went on to describe why she had felt compelled to cut off her formerly long locks.

"Wanna know why I cut it all off?" Bowen asks in her Facebook post.

"When I was four years old, I asked my mother; 'Are there heaters in Heaven?'" she writes. "I had just been diagnosed with end stage nephroblastoma, after several visits to a GP who denied anything was wrong and dubbed my parents 'paranoid.' I'd overheard the doctors telling my family that the only hope of saving me, was an experimental treatment that might kill me anyway. But without it I had maybe two weeks left. The hospital was cold. I'd never felt air conditioning before."

Bowen describes how living in the hospital made her very isolated, and how she only saw other children who were just like her. "We were all together, so no one's appearance came into question. No one got laughed at or teased. We were all we knew."

But things changed when Bowen got out into the real world. "I got really lucky. I survived, my hair grew back and I got strong again. I look relatively normal on the outside, but on the inside, I am still the same stitched back together little creature, in a world where people are judged so harshly for the way they look. It has always been completely incomprehensible to me. How can people think there's time for that?"

"I was really inspired when I heard a story about a little girl who said she couldn't be a princess because she didn't have long hair," Bowen writes. "I wanted her, and others like her to know that's not what makes a princess, or a warrior, or a superhero. It's not what makes you beautiful either. It's your insides that count… even if you happen to be missing half of them."

"Every scar tells a story, every bald head, every dark circle, every prosthetic limb, and every reflection in a mirror that you might not recognize anymore. Look deeper than skin, hair, nails, and lips. You are who you are in your bones. That is where you have the potential to shine the brightest from. It is where your true beautiful self lives."

Bowen's photo prompted an incredible response, and soon people were responding with their own photos and stories, affirming to Bowen that her inspirational and supportive words were sorely needed.

"If it makes even one person think twice about judging another, then in some small way, the world is better," Bowen writes at the end of her emotional post. "Self-esteem takes a lot longer to grow back than hair."

Wax the right way for rash free skin

Removing body hair is anything but pleasant. For some women it is about pain, while others also face rashes or marks post-waxing.

Charoo Chawla Anand, director, Blliis by Ravissant spa and salon, shares tips for rash-free waxing:

* Take a hot wax heater and heat the wax till it melts.
* Apply talcum powder on the body part which needs to be waxed.
* Use a spatula to apply warm wax on that area.
* Place wax strip on it.
* Pull the wax strip in the opposite direction of hair growth.
* To minimise discomfort, use hand pressure on the waxed area after the strip has been removed.
* Once you are through with waxing, clean with water and apply astringent.
* Then apply lotion to moisturise skin.

Do’s and Don’ts of waxing

Do’s
· Do exfoliation before waxing.
· Esure an expert does your waxing according to the direction of hair growth.
· Take a bath with warm water before waxing.

Don’ts
· Do not apply any lotion on body before waxing.
· Do not take bath with hot water after waxing.
· Do not spray deodorant before waxing.
· Do not do exfoliation after waxing.

Unique Code to Define Patient's Medical History in Pipeline

                         

                       

Days are not far away when a unique code will define a patient's medical history and medical institutions in the country and elsewhere can have access to it.

The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has included Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine- Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) as the standard for clinical vocabulary for use in medical records.

SNOMED CT is a popular coding standard in the Health IT industry. It is a comprehensive clinical terminology, originally created by the College of American Pathologists and, as of April, 2007, owned, maintained, and distributed by the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO).

At the moment, 28 countries are members of the IHTSDO.

This comprehensive, multilingual clinical healthcare terminology, used across the globe enables standardisation of clinical vocabulary for use in Electronic Medical Records/ Electronic Health Records (EHR) by hospitals and healthcare providers, besides aiding in generation of unique EHR for each individual.

Incorporation of such a comprehensive terminology in the EHR requires understanding of the underlying concept model, various levels at which clinical information can be effectively represented, and cross-mapping to other international vocabulary standards.

The Union Health Ministry has designated the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, to run the National Release Centre, for distribution and management of SNOMED CT within India.

90 Per Cent Skin-Based Viruses Represent Viral 'Dark Matter'

Most DNA viruses on healthy human skin are viral 'dark matter' that have never been described before, according to researchers who used state-of-the-art techniques to survey the skin's virus population, or 'virome'.

The research also includes the development of a set of virome analysis tools that are now available to researchers for further investigations.

Researchers and the public are increasingly aware that microbes living on and inside us our "microbiomes" can be crucial in maintaining good health, or in causing disease.

Skin-resident bacteria are no exception.

Ideally they help ward off harmful infections, and maintain proper skin immunity and wound-healing, but under certain circumstances they can do the opposite.

"There has been a real need for a better understanding of these viruses, given their potential effects on our skin cells as well as on our resident bacteria," said senior author Elizabeth A Grice, an assistant professor of Dermatology at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

"Until now, relatively little work has been done in this area, in part because of the technical challenges involved.

For example, a skin swab taken for analysis will contain mostly human and bacterial DNA, and only a tiny amount of viral genetic material the proverbial needles in the haystack," said Grice.

Previous mapping attempts used databases of known viral genes to recognise some of this viral genetic material amid all of the bacteria and human DNA. But such an approach tends to overlook the many viruses not already catalogued in databases.

Using optimised techniques for isolating virus-like particles (VLPs) from skin swabs, and for analysing very small amounts of genetic material, the research team was able to focus their sequencing and analysis on viral DNA without entirely depending on databases.

Their analysis of samples from 16 healthy individuals revealed some results that were expected. The most abundant skin-cell infecting virus was human papilloma virus, which causes common warts and has been linked to skin cancers.

However, most of the detected DNA from the VLPs did not match viral genes in existing databases.

"More than 90 per cent was what we call viral dark matter it had features of viral genetic material but no taxonomic classification," Grice said.
 
That came as a surprise, although of course it highlighted the importance of mapping this unexplored territory.

The findings also clearly linked the skin virome to the skin microbiome. Most of the detected viral DNA appeared to belong to phage viruses, which infect and often take up long-term residence within bacteria.

When Grice and colleagues sequenced skin bacterial DNA from the same 16 subjects, they found that it often contained tell-tale marks called CRISPR spacers of prior invasion by the same phage viruses.

The study was published in the journal mBio.

Why you shouldn't force your kids to hug people

When my daughter was two years old, we visited my husband’s grandparents for Christmas. When great-grandma leaned in for a hug, my daughter shrieked, “No, I don’t like that old lady! She looks like a witch!” and ran away.

I’m a firm believer in supporting my children’s choices about their bodies, but I was embarrassed. Great-grandma is in her early nineties and very traditional. We don’t get to see her often and when we do, I want my kids on their best behavior.

Kari O’Driscoll, a writer and mother of two tween girls, is a firm believer in instilling physical boundaries early on. She says members of her family were sexually assaulted by people they loved and trusted, so even before her daughters could talk, she taught them that they had the right to make choices for their own bodies. “My father-in-law was really offended when [my oldest daughter] didn't want a hug or a kiss or to sit in his lap while he read her a book…We spent a lot of time talking to her about how to be polite and firm. I think it sent her a strong message and, as she got older, she was able to articulate to her friends that she loves them but she needs physical space.”

The recent Facebook post from Planned Parenthood Ottawa (below) offers a wave as an alternative. Day suggests parents encourage their kids to give a high-five or a handshake instead of a more intimate hug or kiss.

Other parents and family members don’t always see forced interactions as a problem. Christa Terry, founder of Hellomamas.com and the mother of two, noted that her policy of not forcing her children to hug relatives “has actually resulted in a few standoffs between myself and older relatives," who worried a child's refusal would cause hurt feelings. Terry explained her reasoning to her family, who, even then, only begrudgingly accepted.

Empower children to say “no” in situations where the person making them uncomfortable is someone close or a loved one, Day notes. Even if there is no immediate threat, there may be in the future.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 82% of sexual assaults are committed by someone familiar to the victim, and the majority of sexual assaults happen before a child reaches 18. Beyond rape, many of the acts that comprise sexual assault involve coercive sex, the act of badgering or pressuring someone into sex through verbal threats, promises or emotional abuse.

This is why, Day argues, that learning to draw the line early — even over something seemingly small, like hugging Uncle Joe at Thanksgiving — will teach children they have a say in their bodily autonomy, and give them greater courage to say "no." And if this helps to protect children or adults from future domestic violence, dating violence and sexual assault, wonderful. Day says, “When we teach children to defer to adults about something so basic as a hug, we chip away at their self-esteem and put them at risk for abuse. We are teaching them that they don’t have the power to say ‘no’ to an adult.”

An important part of drawing this boundary is explaining the decision to family and friends before the holidays in a kind and respectful way. Day notes, “Most people will laugh off your kids’ behavior. But when they don’t, it's okay to explain your choices and assert yourself.”

Some of my own family members have been sexually assaulted by someone within the family. So, even though I found my daughter’s antics toward great-grandma less than ideal, it's much more important she understands 

she always gets to make choices regarding her own body. That supersedes a few moments of awkwardness among relatives.

Plus, as she warmed up to great-grandma, she spent the rest of the visit on her lap reading books, which was much more rewarding.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

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Under Fire, Haryana Chief Minister Visits Family of Dalit Children Burnt Alive

Under attack from the opposition, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today met the family of the two Dalit children who were burnt alive at a village near Delhi on Monday and assured them that the guilty would be punished at the earliest. But soon after he left, angry locals held a protest march and raised slogans against him.

Mr Khattar was expected to meet the family yesterday, but his visit was cancelled after protests by angry locals. When asked why he was visiting the village three days after the deaths, he said his ministers were keeping a watch on the situation. "My eyes are on this case every minute. My ministers have been here from day one on my behalf."

When Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi visited Sonped village in Faridabad district yesterday, he attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his party the BJP which rules the state and chief minister Mr Khattar and blamed their "attitude" for such tragedies.
 

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi met the family of the two Dalit Children in Sonped yesterday.

"This is an attitude shared by the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister, the BJP and the RSS - if somebody is weak, they can be crushed. This government is not for the poor," he had said.

The children-- two-and-a-half year old Vaibhav and 11-month-old Divya - died after their house was set on fire, allegedly by members of an upper caste community.

Their mother Rekha has suffered 70 per cent burns, their father also sustained injuries.

Vaibhav and Divya were sleeping in their house when it was set on fire, allegedly by members of an upper caste community.

Seven accused have been arrested for the death of the children. Four more are yet to be traced. Mr Khattar's government yesterday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI probe into the deaths.

The family of the children has alleged that the attack was the fallout of a long-standing feud with a group of upper caste people in the village. But the kin of the accused have denied the allegation.

Angry locals blocked a highway near the national capital yesterday and said they would not cremate the children till all those accused in the case were arrested. They also held a march carrying the bodies of the children.

Angry locals blocked the Faridabad-Balabhgarh highway yesterday

Later in the day, the protest was called off after the police managed to convince the family to cremate the children. Their last rites were performed late in the evening.

Your Poop Can Save Someone’s Life – Yes, It’s Real!!

Everyone perceives their stool as disgusting…and yes, it is, in all honesty. They contain numerous bacteria that are mostly alive. However, would you believe if a person told you that your poop can save life?

That’s ridiculous, you say? Your poop comes in handy during a treatment procedure fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) which is performed on patients suffering from repeated clostridium difficile infection.

What you need to know about clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is that it is infectious diarrhoea. Along with abdominal pain, it causes bloating and diarrhoea, which further can become sever, if left untreated. Though treatment is possible through antibiotics, relapses in such cases have been minimal.

One might wonder what could be the alternate procedure if antibiotics cannot treat CDI.

That is where fecal microbiota transplantation plays its part. The procedure requires a fecal microbiota preparation where stool from a healthy patient is transplanted into the patient’s colon.The patient need not worry about fecal bacteria since it is mixed with saline, then strained and reintroduced into the patient’s colon through enema.

Actually, the size of the poop comes into play, too, as it decides the number of people that can be treated. Below is an illustration of the same –

The size of poop decides how many people can be saved

Fecal transplantation might seem gross to people today, but it was documented in the 4th century China, where it was labelled “yellow soup”.

Now, if the procedure convinces you and probably encourages you to make donation, it is important to know that the process is not that simple. Just like blood donation, fecal donation has its set of criteria. If you are one of the lucky donors, you can make up to $13,000 per year.

Scientists and doctors are looking for diseases that fecal microbiota transplantation can apparently treat. However, till date, just one – C. difficile – is the only disease that has been fully explored.

Dealing with Toddler Meltdowns

How many times have you witnessed a toddler screaming, kicking, rolling on the floor or crying hard in public? It’s a common sight with toddlers. These are called toddler meltdowns. Most often it is accompanied with the parents yelling back at their kids. It’s a disturbing sight, no doubt about that. But understand that meltdowns need not always culminate in parents’ yelling and toddler’s crying. 

How to deal with your toddler’s meltdowns and his temper tantrums? It will become easy for you to handle your toddler’s meltdown, if you just wait for the toddler to vent completely and cool down, before you pitch in to solve the issue at hand. This will make him more receptive to you. Read to understand why your toddler has a meltdown and some tips to comfort your child.

Tips on How to Deal with Toddler Meltdowns

• Remain calm:

   Remember you will do yourself and your child a world of good by just staying calm. If you react, it will only escalate the meltdown. If you are at home, just walk away from the room to compose yourself.

• 
  Identify the cause:

   Meltdowns often occur because the little kids are trying to express their needs or frustration. As they are not able to express them in words, they throw tantrums. Find out if the real cause behind a meltdown is hunger, exhaustion, stress or need for your attention. It may help you in soothing your child better and faster.

• Wait it Out:

   Wait for the meltdown to run its course before you start acting on it. If you are at home, better let the child cry it out. Once he is spent, he will be calm and more responsive to you. But in the case where you are out, take a call. If you feel embarrassed, remove your child and yourself from the situation.

• Avoid punishment:

   Don’t threaten your child with a ‘time out’ or punishment. That will only make matters worse. Your child needs you to understand him and his needs.

• Reach to him:

   If the child lets you take him in your arms, try to do so. Physical contact helps in resolving matters faster. Hold him in your arms and pat his back softly till all his anger is spent. However, if your child is kicking or hitting, avoid touching him. You can try talking in soothing tone instead.

• Give options:

   Most kids are confused about the real reason bothering them. So give your child options: Are you hungry, do you want to sleep, shall I hold you in my arms, etc. He will surely nod on the one he really wants.

Hope you found our tips on dealing with toddler meltdowns useful. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could curb the meltdowns before they begin. Yes, it’s possible. 

Tips on How to Prevent Toddler Meltdowns

• Understand your child’s needs:

   If you know that your child gets cranky or throws a tantrum when he is hungry, sleepy or over-stimulated, try to prevent the situation from arising. Take care of your child’s needs before he needs to show you through a meltdown.

• Listen to your child:

   Parents have a habit of down-talking to their child or not taking them seriously enough. When kids realize this, they sometimes throw tantrums. Listen to him attentively and make eye contact with him when he speaks.

• Avoid negative words:

   Frequent use of words like ‘no’, ‘don’t’ or ‘stop’ can restrict your child. Sometimes ‘no’ is necessary but assess the situation before you say it. Try to use it positively like, instead of saying an outright ‘no’ to your child’s demand for watching more TV, try saying ‘how about playing a game of peek-a-boo?’


• Give your child time:

   Asking your child to immediately stop what he is doing and to do what you want him to do, can impact your child negatively. Kids need time to transition from one thing to another. Give your child time so that he can mentally prepare himself to switch from one activity to another.

• Stick to the schedule:

   Kids are creatures of habit. If for any reason, their schedule of daily activities is disrupted, they can get upset which might result in a meltdown. Take care that your child’s schedule is well maintained. If you need to depart from the regular schedule, give him a rundown of what he could expect so that he is prepared for it.

• 
  Set the limits:

   Don’t indulge in regular shouting, yelling or doling out punishments to your child. It will make him more obstinate and less respectful towards you. Instead, talk to him in a stern voice or give him the eye. This will give him ample opportunity to realize that you are angry at him and chances are that he will stop being willful.

The earlier you curb your child’s temper tantrums, the earlier he’ll learn that throwing tantrums is not a good way of expressing himself. Sometimes the reason behind a meltdown can be genuine and out of control of you and your child. Understand this and allow him to let it all out.