Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
A serious and stressful topic: foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, i.e. disorders caused in the foetus by alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
The damage caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy is referred to as spectrum disorders because their extent can vary greatly. Children may be extremely limited in their mental development and/or show severe behavioural abnormalities.
The first conclusion right at the beginning: alcohol must be taboo at all times during pregnancy, regardless of the quantity! The fact that this knowledge has still not really got around or that everyone is aware of the full extent of the problem is shown by the number of 10,000 to 15,000 children who are born with a foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Germany every year.
It is therefore extremely important that we raise awareness of this issue again and again - not with a raised index finger - and point out that alcohol must be absolutely taboo during pregnancy. This is an endeavour that everyone has to help with. In a partnership or family, the partner can also help in a very concrete way by being abstinent.
As the topic is important and wide-ranging, here are links to more in-depth information and a podcast episode.
Flyer with basic information: https://shop.bzga.de/informationen-zum-thema-alkohol-fuer-schwangere-und-ihre-partner-32041001/
Brochure with more information: https://shop.bzga.de/andere-umstaende-neue-verantwortung-32041000/
Podcast episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/30ye2BM6XR7mbVh7XVmoxV?si=3cDjOTZkTa6Dcgo9m5fIQg
(The "consilium" podcast is also available on other platforms, e.g. Apple)
Further interesting tips
"Picky Eating"
Many parents are familiar with this: there's stress and arguments at the dinner table because the little one only eats the cheese or sausage - but not the bread. And definitely not cucumber - or even broccoli!!! Whatever the case may be, children can be terribly particular eaters. Under certain circumstances, this is known as "picky eating".
Dummy
When is my child too old for a dummy? All parents ask themselves this question sooner or later. There are many answers. But there is also a very simple way.
Drowning
Anyone who knows me from practical experience knows that I am usually very relaxed and not very anxious when it comes to parenting and development issues and often advise people not to take a too tense view of things. But when it comes to today's topic, there is simply zero room for compromise. It's one of the most important issues in paediatrics: the risk of children drowning.