When you’re a new parent, once you’ve successfully navigated the first car ride home from the hospital and the euphoria of this new little life begins to fade, you’re left with one resounding question: now what? Over the years, you’ll have many responsibilities as a parent, but your most important focus in those early days, weeks and months is your child’s health and development, including his or her brain, gut and senses. Brain Numerous studies offer evidence that a child’s learning abilities are developed during early childhood, meaning before even heading off to school. That’s why it’s important to begin nurturing your baby’s cognitive development from the start. That doesn’t mean you need to reach for the flash cards right away, though. Instead, focus on simply talking, singing and playing together. These activities can help develop vocabulary and other important cognitive functions. As your baby develops, pay attention to what captures his or her attention and encourage exploration of toys, textures and other items of interest. Gut When it comes to a baby’s gut health, the first six months are critical. It’s during this time period when babies have yet to be introduced to solid food that the immune system and metabolism are developing and being programmed for the future. Research published in “Cell” shows good gut bacteria during infancy, specifically Bifidobacterium, plays a critical role in establishing strong immune systems and metabolism. “It’s important for infants to have an abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, in their gut early in life,” said Dr. Tracy Shafizadeh, PhD, gut health expert for Evivo. “Unfortunately, as an unintended consequence of modern medical practices such as antibiotics and C-sections, it is estimated that nine out of 10 babies have exceptionally low levels of Bifidobacterium. This allows an overgrowth of bad gut bacteria, which is linked to short- and long-term health conditions such as colic, eczema, allergies, asthma, diabetes and obesity.” There is, however, a way for parents to identify if their baby has high or low levels of Bifidobacterium by asking three simple questions. If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, there’s a good chance your baby’s Bifidobacteriumlevels are low. Were you or your baby given antibiotics during pregnancy, childbirth or in the first six months after childbirth? Were you or your baby born via C-section? Does your baby have diaper rash or have 5-plus loose, watery poops per day? If you’re concerned about your baby’s gut health, talk with your pediatrician about an option like Evivo, the first and only baby probiotic clinically proven to restore the levels of B. infantis, a specific strain of Bifidobacterium, in a baby’s gut and reduce bad gut bacteria linked to colic, eczema, allergies, diabetes and obesity by 80 percent. Senses Sensory cues are what allow your baby to take in information about surroundings. Exposing your baby to various sensory experiences funnels a wealth of information to help develop skills and better understand the visual, audible, olfactory and textural stimulants that he or she encounters. As your child grows older, these early experiences can help him or her recognize different colors, sounds, smells and tastes, some of which may later distinguish likes and dislikes, such as an enjoyment of one type of food and distaste for another. Find more information and ideas for ways to improve your baby’s health at evivo.com.
TRAVELING IF YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBER HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION If you have a medical condition, such as allergies, cancer, high blood pressure, or diabetes, you must let the insurance company know. If you don’t declare your condition and they find out later, you can have your insurance declined. Further, you need to check the “exclusions” section of the travel insurance document, to find out what is covered, and what is not. Routine checkups, for example, might not be paid for by the insurance company, only medical emergencies. TRAVELING WITH SOMEONE OVER 80 “Flam, Norway by eGuide Travel” by eGuide Travel is licensed under CC BY 2.0 It is not easy to find an insurance company that covers people over 80. There are, however, some companies that specialize in providing protection for elderly people. Look for a company that advertises no upper limit, and doesn’t ask medical questions. The price of the insurance will be higher than with other companies, but you will get the peace of mind that if anything happens, your loved one will be safe. Don’t forget to check if the insurance company pays for transportation, or get in touch with air evac insurance to get advice on what is generally considered as an emergency situation and how to get pre-authorization. Generally, you need to get the emergency transport authorized by a professional to get it covered by your insurance. BUY INSURANCE BEFORE YOU BOOK THE VACATION To avoid wasting your time and money, you need to book your travel insurance before you start looking at holiday destinations. If you have a medical condition, you might be limited to certain countries where you can get a cover at a low cost. You don’t want to book a holiday and find out later that your insurance application for your destination has been declined. CONSIDER A SINGLE TRAVEL INSURANCE TO SAVE MONEY If you have researched the marketplace, and found that insurance companies would not insure you at a reasonable cost, try considering a single travel insurance to save money, This solution can be for you if you only take a few holidays a year, and you have a good health insurance plan. If you only go abroad once a year, why would you like to get a cover for 365 days? Having a medical condition or traveling with someone who does can make choosing the right travel insurance challenging. Make sure you compare all the offers, choose a cover that will pay for emergency transport, treatments, and checkups, as well as delays caused by illness or medical emergencies. Read the small print and pay attention to the exclusions, so you can plan your vacation without having to worry about the unexpect
