"So iron is an essential element which is required for body's growth and development it will help in maintaining our hemoglobin too . So how do we check for iron levels in the child is we do not regularly screen for iron levels in the child until unless there are at risk like preterm babies or those who are a little underweight we then go for screening of iron levels. Testing of the blood levels is the only way which we will know if they're deficient of iron. So how do we prevent is one common thing is in our country especially deworming has to be done regularly every specifically every 6 months or at least preferably once a year at least deworming should be done because if the deworming is not done intestinal worms will cause malnutrition and anemia ultimately. So that is one thing which we have to do to prevent iron deficiency anemia. The second thing is including an iron rich diet iron rich diet will include dairy products spinach green leafy vegetables grains chickpeas. All these are containing rich iron sources. So including iron in your diet will help in reducing iron deficiency anemia atrisk babies like preterm term babies for those who are underweight we usually screen them and then start them on iron supplements at a young age to prevent iron deficiency anemia some of the symptoms which you can identify in children and help them bring to the doctor at an early time is they will become fatigued. Most common symptoms will be fatigue, breathlessness. Severe anemia can cause breathlessness so these are some of the signs which you have to keep in mind to bring them at an early time to the Paediatrician"

"This is one of the commonest problems that is arising past 5 to 6 years.There is an increasing Trend in children becoming overweight or obese and most of this problem is because of their sedentary lifestyle lack of physical activity and sporting activity in children. Especially older children as become older there is increased pressure to study and green time is increased. So there is lack of physical activity along with this there is an increase in consumption of junk food aerrated foods. So all these are causing a trend of increase in obese or overweight children's. So how do we avoid this is always everyday physical activity and exercise is a must in children which it will also not only help in reducing the weight it will also help in their overall growth and development of the child to the physical activity is a must secondly avoiding junk food and aerated drinks in decreasing the salt intake. Salt intake we do not necessarily keep a notice or check on the salt intake but whatever processed foods or packaged foods we eat contain a lot of salt because it is used as a preservative. So keeping an eye on limiting the salt intake and excessive sugar intake will help in reducing their weight and keep checking their weight lastly adequate sleep will help in having a good routine and good appetite too.So limiting the screen time is most important to have a good sleep"

"So vitamin D deficiency in children can start at a very early age which we call as rickets. But along with vitamin D deficiency most of them will also present with signs and symptoms of calcium deficiency too. So signs and symptoms will include as early as delayed in teething teeth will start erupting at a later age there will be delay in walking you can usually compare it with a sibling his elder child would have walked at a early age but the younger sibling might having a delay in walking. In more pronounced cases we do also see deformities in the knees. Usually there will be curbed knees. These are all signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency . Other changes will be there will be poor weight gain that almost the growth will be stunted and older children will complain of muscle pains and bone pains especially at night. How do we treat this and how do we avoid this is a good amount of sunshine always for vitamin D deficiency it will help. So sunshine with physical activity. So allowing them to have a daily physical activity especially sports will help in avoiding vitamin D deficiency. Along with that good diet and nutrition. Some of sources of vitamin D along with sunshine is sundried mushrooms, milk dairy products like cheese. Some fatty fish like salmon mackarel. Sardines will also help in getting good source of vitamin D"

"So what milk and how much milk definitely how much milk your child should take depends upon the age of your child. So for a child about 1 to 2 years of age he'll require about 2 to three cups of milk per day. And from 2 years onwards till 8 years of age not more than 2 cups or 2 and a half cups per day will be sufficient. However from Pre-Teen age to teenage they will require more amount of milk because of their growing needs and growth spurts. So up to 3 cups per day is acceptable what milk should a child consume. Definitely below 6 months of age we always advocate mother's milk and nothing else. From 6 months of age till about 2 years of age a child can be given breast milk along with a regular diet which he'll be introduced at 6 months of age. From 2 years of age you can start your child with cow milk. We do not recommend Buffalo milk below one year of age because it'll be thicker in consistency and it will be difficult for digestion for your child. However also we do not recommend any plant-based milk products like soy milk, almond milk or oat milk for children below 5 years of age simply because these milks will not have all the essential nutrients that a cow milk will provide for them. However if your child is medically in need of such milk products or if he is taking it by choice then you can always go for soy milk because it is an excellent alternative when compared to other products. One last thing I would like to add is we do not recommend giving any flavoured milk because it's just excess sugars for the child and also we do not recommend them giving any lowfat milk or skimmed milk we always recommend whole milk for a child especially below 5 years of age"

"So what milk and how much milk definitely how much milk your child should take depends upon the age of your child. So for a child about 1 to 2 years of age he'll require about 2 to three cups of milk per day. And from 2 years onwards till 8 years of age not more than 2 cups or 2 and a half cups per day will be sufficient. However from Pre-Teen age to teenage they will require more amount of milk because of their growing needs and growth spurts. So up to 3 cups per day is acceptable what milk should a child consume. Definitely below 6 months of age we always advocate mother's milk and nothing else. From 6 months of age till about 2 years of age, a child can be given breast milk along with a regular diet which he'll be introduced at 6 months of age. From 2 years of age you can start your child with cow milk. We do not recommend Buffalo milk below one year of age because it'll be thicker in consistency and it will be difficult for digestion for your child. However also we do not recommend any plant-based milk products like soy milk, almond milk or oat milk for children below 5 years of age simply because these milks will not have all the essential nutrients that a cow milk will provide for them. However if your child is medically in need of such milk products or if he is taking it by choice then you can always go for soy milk because it is an excellent alternative when compared to other products. One last thing I would like to add is we do not recommend giving any flavoured milk because it's just excess sugars for the child and also we do not recommend them giving any low-fat milk or skimmed milk we always recommend whole milk for a child, especially below 5 years of age.