Motherhood is one of the most natural things in the world yet most of us are still unsure regarding the responsibilities of a mother.
Islam is a complete religion that touches upon every aspect of life. It’s the only religion that has left for its believers a complete guidance on life. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:
قد تركتكم على البيضاءِ ليلُها كنهارِها
“I am leaving you upon a (path of) brightness whose night is like its day.”
(ابن ماجه: 43)
Islam has never left its followers in any ambiguity about how mothers should raise their children. The guidance in regards to a mother’s duty to her child is to raise the babies as the culture and rules of society but not according to the method of the Jewish and the Christians in order to avoid their resemblance. The only thing which mothers have to follow while raising their child in the light of Islam is to do what is best for them according to the cultures and rules of society but with moderation. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, mentioning the importance of daughters:
مَن يَلِي مِن هذِه البَناتِ شيئًا، فأحْسَنَ إلَيْهِنَّ، كُنَّ له سِتْرًا مِنَ النّارِ
“Whoever is in charge of (put to test by) these daughters and treats them generously, then they will act as a shield for him from the (Hell) Fire.”
(صحيح البخاري: 5995)
This Hadith reveals the fact that mothers must do for their babies what is best irrespective of gender.
On, the other hand a mother is also responsible for her children and will be asked about her relationship and behaviour to children by Allah Almighty as the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:
والمَرْأَةُ راعِيَةٌ على بَيْتِ بَعْلِها ووَلَدِهِ وهي مَسْئُولَةٌ عنْهمْ
“A woman is a guardian of her husband’s house and children and is responsible for them”
(صحيح البخاري: 2554)
The secret behind the importance of mothers lies in the immense responsibility and burden placed on her. The mother’s responsibilities to her child are quite different from that of a man. She has to go through a lot of difficulties which the man doesn’t have to bear. However, the liability does not end at giving birth rather it opens the door to bigger liabilities. She has to nourish and bring up the child under the shade of the teachings of Islam. This is the primary duty of a mother in Islam of a Muslim mother. She has to influence her offspring to act by the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. She is the first institution for her children and has a long-lasting impact on her kids. She must inculcate the love of Allah Almighty and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from early childhood.
Why does Islam give the mother three levels of good behaviour and a high status? Only because the responsibilities of a mother are great. Hence why a great level of respect and duty is required towards them by children. Take a look at this hadith on the importance and status of mothers.
جاءَ رَجُلٌ إلى رَسولِ اللَّهِ (PBUH) فَقالَ: يا رَسولَ اللَّهِ، مَن أحَقُّ النّاسِ بحُسْنِ صَحابَتِي؟ قالَ: أُمُّكَ قالَ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قالَ: ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ قالَ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قالَ: ثُمَّ أُمُّكَ قالَ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قالَ: ثُمَّ أبُوكَ
A man came to Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Your mother.” The man said. “Who is next?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man further said, “Who is next?” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Your mother.” The man asked for the fourth time, “Who is next?” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Your father.”
(صحیح البخاري: 5971)
The gentleness, love, patience, and care of a mother makes it easy for children to absorb the divine knowledge of Islam. Also, the practical application of a Mother’s Islamic activities helps lead her children on the path of Allah. So if you wish for your children to be practising Muslims, then you must become a practising mother in front of them. You have to recite the Quran in front of kids and make it a constant habit, offer Salah when your children are around, do not be strict or harsh with your kids as it causes them to be rebellious, calm yourself when your children show disobedience and show kindness. Correct them patiently, and always allow some room for blunders and mistakes.
It may be thought that bearing and raising babies is the most natural thing in the world, and indeed all mothers, regardless of background, have the compassion that enables them to care for their children and easily fulfil a mothers responsibility to her child however that may not be the case. As life and education evolves and medical science develops, it has become essential for mothers to learn about the best ways of raising children, protecting them from illness, raising their self-confidence whilst at the same time giving them discipline and instilling in them faith, moral values and sound ethics to deal with this modern world.
The book Now you are a mother is the answer to all these issues, as it serves as a comprehensive guide for mothers on raising their child. In the book, the reader will find an overview of the mother’s duty and role in Islam in the first four years of the child’s life. It also increases awareness of important issues to which parents must pay attention.
The author also highlights some traditional child-rearing practices that are in fact detrimental to the child’s well being and suggests alternatives.
The Islamic dimension is not forgotten either. From the first moment of the infant’s life, Islamic teachings and practice play a prominent role; we see how the new baby is welcomed into the world in the Islamic manner. Raising children to be physically, psychologically and spiritually sound is a complex issue.
Extract 01: Take a look at this extract that indicates some of the step to be taken after the birth of a baby in Islam
Islamic rulings concerning the newborn
Giving glad tidings
It is mustahabb (“recommended”) to give glad tidings because Allah (st) says:
“But We gave her glad tidings of Ishâq (Isaac), and after Ishâq, of Ya‘qûb (Jacob)” [Hood 11:71].
Reciting the adhaan and iqaamah into the baby’s ears
It is mustahabb to recite the adhaan (“call to prayer”) into the baby’s right ear and the iqaamah (second call to prayer) into his left ear, because of the hadeeth of Abu Raafi‘ who said: I saw the Messenger of Allaah (S.A.W) recite the call to prayer into the ear of al-‐Hasan ibn ‘Ali when his mother Faatimah bore him.
Tahneek
Tahneek means chewing a date then rubbing the infant’s palate with it, because of the hadeeth in al-‐Saheehayn narrated by Abu Moosa (R.A) who said: A boy was born to me; I brought him to the Prophet (S.A.W) who named him Ibraaheem and rubbed his palate with a (chewed) date and prayed for blessing for him. Al-‐Bukhaari added: And he prayed for blessing for him.
Shaving the child’s head and giving the weight of the hair in silver in charity
Because the Prophet (S.A.W) said to Faatimah, when she gave birth to al-‐Hasan: “Shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver in charity to the poor.”
Now you are a Mother sets out guidelines for the new mother to help her raise a balanced child who will be an asset to himself, his family and society as a whole.
Mothers must prepare thoroughly for the arrival of their baby, because today we are living in an era of rapid changes and developments. Therefore it is essential to raise a child who is able to keep up to date with modern developments and face those challenges. Hence you have to be aware of everything that has to do with taking care of a child from its birth through the various stages of life, understanding what each stage requires in terms of care, based on modern theories and research.
Now you are a Mother has been written to answer all the questions you (mothers) may have in your mind about postnatal care and raising a child in the light of Islam. It answers common questions that women have after becoming a mother whether it be regards to feeding, dressing, sleeping or just general upbringing.
Extract 02: Take a look at this extract that highlights the life of a newborn baby and what new mothers should expect right after birth.
Baby’s first cry
The baby’s first cry means that the air passages have begun to function properly; any change therein may be indicative of health problems.
The first cry is the signal that the infant’s respiratory system has made the switch from getting oxygen via the placenta as he did when he was inside the uterus to getting oxygen from the air. In addition to indicating that the infant’s airways are free of blockages, the first cry also indicates that there is no physical defect in the larynx or vocal chords that could affect the child’s breathing or the sound of his voice.
How will your newborn look?
If you are giving birth for the first time, you will be surprised at the way your baby looks. He has a large head with no neck, short legs and a large torso. The head of most newborns may appear somewhat misshapen because on average the infant remains squashed in the birth canal for twelve hours. Babies who are born by Caesarean, on the other hand, usually have a better appearance that distinguishes them from their peers, because their heads have not been squeezed in the birth canal.
Do not worry about the soft spot in your child’s skull, which is called the fontanelle. This allows the head to be squeezed enough to pass through the birth canal. The rear part of the fontanelle remains for approximately 4 months until it is filled in completely, whereas the front part needs between nine and eighteen months to fill in.
You should also expect a kind of swelling in your child’s genitals as a result of the extra dose of female hormones that he received from you just before birth. In addition to his face and eyes being swollen, his lips may be rosy, and his hands and feet may be blue for the first few hours of his life.
There are also sections on child health, sickness and how to deal with accidents (first aid). The author has presented these topics in a simple manner that is easy to understand and follow.
Take a look at the table of contents to get a better idea of all the topics covered in this book.
Table of Contents
Now you are a Mother 1
A Practical and Up-to-Date New Mother’s Handbook 2
From Birth to 4 Years Error! Bookmark not defined.
Preface 3
Introduction 4
Maternal feelings 28
Preparing to welcome the newborn 29
Clothing 30
Hygiene 31
Feeding 32
Preparing the baby’s bedroom 32
Getting around with the baby 32
*Complete table of contents are mentioned at the end of the blog
As seen from the list of contents, the subject matter of the book is very comprehensive. This single book alone provides enough guidance to parents and the responsibilities of a mother to her child. Read the book and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Interested in some similar reads? Take a look at some of our suggestions.
*Complete Table of Contents
Baby’s first cry 32
How will your newborn look? 33
Your baby’s skin 33
Your baby’s hair 34
Your baby’s eyes 34
Eye color 34
Your baby’s mouth and nose 35
Jaundice 36
Types of jaundice 36
Physiological jaundice 36
Pathological jaundice 36
Causes of jaundice 36
Treatment for jaundice 37
Vaccinations 38
Islamic rulings concerning the newborn 40
Giving glad tidings 40
Reciting the adhaan and iqaamah into the baby’s ears 40
Tahneek 41
Shaving the child’s head and giving the weight of the hair in silver in charity 41
Naming the infant 41
Rulings on ‘aqeeqah 41
Timing of the ‘aqeeqah 42
How it is done 42
Conditions of the sacrifice 43
Circumcision of males 43
Circumcision from an Islamic point of view 44
Benefits of male circumcision 44
What is the best time for circumcision? 44
Female circumcision 45
Care of the mother after birth 46
Physical changes in the mother immediately after birth 46
Slight increase in body temperature 46
Slower than normal heartbeat 47
Difficulty in urinating and defecating 47
Changes in the uterus 47
Vaginal discharge (lochia) 48
Your stomach may be flabby and not firm 48
If you have undergone a caesarean section 48
Essential care of the mother after childbirth 48
Taking care of the mother after a Caesarean 49
Do I have to take a bath after giving birth? 51
How many sanitary pads will I need after giving birth? 51
When will monthly periods resume after giving birth? 52
Marital relations after giving birth 53
Is it possible to take birth control pills whilst breastfeeding? . 53 Breastfeeding and your figure 53
What is the best way to lose weight after giving birth? 54
Maintaining your weight 54
Light exercise 54
Developing eating habits that will help maintain your weight and guarantee good health 55
Eating breakfast, the most important meal of the day 55
Starting your lunch with vegetable soup 55
Not eating fats 56
Proper diet for a woman after giving birth 56
Postnatal exercises and the importance thereof 57
Types of exercise that are not recommended during the first few weeks after giving birth 58
Advice to the new mother 58
Exercises to regain your figure 59
Exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles 59
Pelvic exercises 59
Pelvic floor exercises 59
Pelvic lift 59
Your figure and girdles 60
Emotional care of the mother after giving birth 61
Enjoy your child and overcome any feelings of distress or depression 62
Going back to work 64
When is the right time to go back to work? 64
Taking care of your baby from birth to 3 months 66
Taking care of baby 66
Feeding your baby 67
Breastfeeding 67
Benefits and advantages of breastfeeding 67
The first feeding 69
Advice for the first days of breastfeeding 69
Does my baby need water? 69
Correct position for breastfeeding 70
Latching on 70
Signs that the baby has latched on to the nipple in the proper way 71
How to breastfeed whilst lying down 71
How do I know when my baby has had enough milk? 71
Advice for increasing the milk supply 72
Expressing breast milk 72
Reasons for expressing breast milk 73
How can the mother express milk from her breast? 74
Expressing milk by hand 74
Vacuum pumps 74
Storing expressed breast milk 75
Contraindications for breastfeeding 76
Factors preventing the mother from breastfeeding 76
Factors preventing the infant from breastfeeding 76
Bottle feeding 78
Types of baby formula (artificial milk) 78
Ready-‐made 78
Liquid concentrate 78
Dried or powdered formula 78
Equipment needed for bottle feeding 79
A few words of advice 79
Sterilizing bottles 80
Sterilising bottles: tried, tested and true method 80
Other methods of sterilizing bottles 81
Preparing bottles 81
Burping 83
Keeping your baby clean 84
Bathing 84
Bathing the baby – step-‐by-‐step 85
Cleaning the parts of your baby’s body (sponge bath) 86
Skin 86
Eyes 87
Ears 87
Nose 87
Nails 87
Navel (bellybutton) 87
Diapers (nappies) 88
Disposable diapers 88
Cloth diapers 88
Changing the diaper-‐1 88
What you will need when changing a diaper 89
Changing the diaper-‐2 89
Protecting the baby from diaper rash 90
Dressing your baby 91
Tips and tricks for dressing your baby 92
Dressing the baby step-‐by-‐step 92
Carrying your baby 93
Common childhood problems 94
High temperature 94
When should I be worried about my baby’s temperature? 94
The most common causes of high temperature in babies 94
Treating high temperature in the infant 95
Heat rash 95
Protection against heat rash 96
How can I treat my child if he has heat rash? 96
Crying 96
HOW MUCH DO BABIES CRY ON AVERAGE? 97
Your baby’s crying: causes and remedies 97
Hunger 97
Pain 98
Temperature 98
Wet diaper 98
Sudden changes 98
Feeling lonely 99
Fear of strangers 99
Colic 99
Causes that may lead to colic 99
How to deal with colic 100
A few words of advice 100
Work out your baby’s problem from the sound of his crying 101 Say No to emotional weaning 103
A few words of advice 105
Sleep 106
Average sleep times of babies 106
Is it better for the mother to sleep next to her child? 107
Where should the newborn baby sleep? 107
Bassinet 107
Crib 108
Safety concerns 108
How to keep the baby safe when he is sleeping 108
Should the baby sleep on his back or on his tummy? 109
Do babies dream? 109
Should I leave my baby to cry on his own until he goes to sleep? 109
How will I know when my baby feels sleepy and that he is ready to go to sleep? 110
Types of sleep and waking in newborns 111
Deep, peaceful sleep 111
Active sleep 111
Drowsiness 111
Waking up calmly 111
Waking up energetically 112
Waking up upset 112
Encouraging your baby to develop good sleep habits 112
Is it possible to train my baby to differentiate between night and day? 113
Dealing with sleep disturbances in babies 114
Temperature in the bedroom 114
Is the baby afraid of the dark? 114
Some babies are bothered by excessive light in the bedroom, especially sunlight in the morning 114
Noise near the baby 115
Diaper 115
Check whether the baby’s clothes are comfortable or not 115
Make sure that the baby’s crying is not due to hunger 115
Massaging your baby 115
How to deal with early waking 116
Child development from birth to 3 months 117
Physical development 117
Rate of weight gain 117
Growth in length/height 117
Pattern of developmental milestones 118
Growth charts for girls 118
Growth charts for boys 119
The first month 120
Physical development 120
Linguistic development 121
Social-‐emotional development 121
The second month 121
Physical development 121
Social-‐emotional development 122
Linguistic development 123
The third month 123
Physical development 123
Social-‐emotional development (“Hello, I’m here!”) 123
Linguistic development 124
Baby from 4 to 6 months 125
Feeding your baby 125
Introducing solid food 125
A few words of advice 126
When should I start to add some solid food along with breast milk? 126
Introducing solid food 127
A few words of advice 128
Foods that must be avoided during this period 129
What is an antigen-‐antibody reaction? 130
Does solid food change the baby’s stools? 131
How can I give my baby more kinds of solid food? 131
Feeding your baby in the fifth and six months 132
Feeding your baby in the sixth month 133
Development of the baby from 4 to 6 months 134
Four months old 134
Social-‐emotional development 134
Linguistic development 135
Five months old 135
Physical development 135
Social-‐emotional development 136
Linguistic development 136
Six months old 136
Physical development 136
Social-‐emotional development 137
Linguistic development 137
Your baby from 7 to 12 months 137
Nutrition in the seventh and eighth months 137
Examples of ideal foods in the seventh and eighth months 138
Cereals 138
Vegetables 139
Fruits 139
How can I help my baby sleep peacefully and comfortably? 140
Crying 141
General changes at this stage 142
(7-‐12 months) 142
Teething 142
Common signs of teething 143
Taking care of the baby’s teeth during and after the teething stage 143
Do pacifiers and teething rings help with teething? 144
Finger sucking 144
Reducing the pain of teething 145
When will my baby start remembering things? 146
Child development 7 to 12 months 148
The seventh month 148
Physical development 148
Social-‐emotional development 148
Linguistic development 148
The eighth month 148
Physical development 148
Linguistic development 149
Social-‐emotional development 149
The ninth month 150
Physical development 150
Linguistic development 151
Social-‐emotional development 151
The tenth month 151
Physical development 151
Linguistic development 152
Social-‐emotional development 152
The eleventh month 152
Physical development 152
Linguistic development 153
Social-‐emotional development 153
The twelfth month 154
Physical development 154
Linguistic development 154
Social-‐emotional development 155
Keeping your child safe 156
Necessary measures to keep your child safe 156
Keeping your baby safe in the kitchen 156
Keeping your baby safe in the bathroom 157
Safety measures in the bathroom 158
Keeping your baby safe in the bedroom 158
Keeping your baby safe in the house: general tips 160
Keeping your baby safe in the car 162
Important note for fathers and mothers 163
Keeping children safe when taking them outside 163
Your baby from one to two years old 165
Feeding your child 165
When is the right time to stop breastfeeding? 165
Taking care of milk teeth 167
Causes of cavities in milk teeth 167
Protection against cavities in milk teeth 167
When should the child move from the crib to a bed? 169
Pampering the child 169
Pampering the baby in the first few months of life 169
Pampering the baby once he is past the age of 6 to 9 months
………………………………………………………………………………….. 170
Common problems in children at this stage – prevention and cure
……………………………………………………………………………………… 172
Aggression in children – causes and remedy 172
Causes of aggression in children 172
Family disputes 172
Watching violent scenes on television 172
Differences in the way children in the same family are treated
………………………………………………………………………………….. 173
Parent’s ignorance of proper methods of raising children 173
Ways of dealing with aggression 173
Stubbornness in children – causes and remedy 175
Kinds of stubbornness in children 175
Fear in children – causes and remedy 177
Types of fear in children 177
Causes of fear in children 178
Dealing with fears in children 179
Jealousy in children – causes and remedy 181
Most important manifestations of jealousy in children 181
Causes of jealousy in children 181
Types of jealousy in children 182
Dealing with jealousy in children 182
Bedwetting – causes and remedy 184
Causes of bedwetting 184
Physical causes 184
Psychological causes 184
Prevention and cure 185
Delay in speaking – causes and remedy 187
Prevention and cure 188
Stuttering – causes and remedy 190
Causes of stuttering 190
Prevention and cure 190
Delay in walking 192
Causes of that include the following 192
Is there a remedy for delay in walking? 193
Will the baby walker help my child to walk? 194
Bowleggedness 195
Causes that may lead to bowleggedness 195
Physiological causes 195
Non-‐physiological causes 195
Manners and etiquette 196
Manners and etiquette that you should teach your child 196
Table manners 196
Etiquette of greeting (salaam) 198
Etiquette of sneezing 199
Etiquette of yawning 199
Toilet training 201
What is the right age for my child to start using the toilet? 201
Step-‐by-‐step guide to toilet training 201
Child development from 13 to 15 months 204
Physical development 204
Linguistic development 204
Social-‐emotional development 205
Child development from 16 to 18 months 207
Physical development 207
Linguistic development 207
Social-‐emotional development 207
Child development from 19 to 24 months 209
Physical development 209
Linguistic development 209
Social-‐emotional development 209
The Prophet (S.A.W) and children 212
Stories that highlight the attitude of the Prophet (S.A.W) towards children 212
Compassion of the Prophet (S.A.W) towards children 213
The Prophet’s teaching: Treating children fairly 215
The Prophet’s joking with children 215
The Prophet’s playing with children 216
Teaching children to have confidence in themselves and shoulder responsibility 218
The Prophet visiting children when they were sick 218
The Prophet’s love and concern for children 218
How the Prophet (S.A.W) corrected children’s mistakes 219
The Prophet’s attitude towards orphans 219
Teaching children the etiquette of asking permission to enter a room 219
The Messenger (S.A.W) teaches youngsters to lower their gaze
………………………………………………………………………………….. 220
The Prophet’s concern to teach children about their religion
………………………………………………………………………………….. 220
Children and television 221
Negative effects of watching television 221
Advice to help turn the television from being a destructive force to being something beneficial to children 223
Unacceptable behaviour in the family 225
Smoking 225
Arguments between the parents in front of the children 226
The solution to all of that is as follows 227
Hitting children 228
Things that can reduce smacking of children 230
Insulting or swearing at children 231
Play 231
Types of play 232
Benefits of play 232
Developing the child’s skills through play 235
Make-‐believe and expressive games 235
Roles that the child can play 235
Artistic play 235
Constructive play 236
Cognitive play 237
Active play 237
Examples of fun and educational games for children 239
Games that the child can play in the first year of life 239
Problem-‐solving game 239
Eating with a spoon 239
Suspended toys or mobiles 240
“Musical gloves” 240
Bathtub toys 240
Peek-‐a-‐boo 240
Games for children over the age of one year 241
Walking games 241
Building games 241
Shape sorting games 241
Dominoes 241
Telling colors apart 242
Games to develop the sense of hearing 242
Acting games 242
Sheep, camel, bear, giraffe 242
“Simon says” 243
Memory game 243
How many names can you come up with? 243
Will it fly or not? 243
Matching 244
Who or what is this? 245
Active play 246
Spontaneous play 246
Racing 246
Riding bikes 246
Pushing and pulling toys 246
Drawing and coloring 247
Play Dough Recipe 248
No Cook Play Dough Recipe 248
Suggested things to make to make with modelling clay or play dough 249
Nursery rhymes and songs 250
Examples of some nursery rhymes or songs that mothers can teach to their children 250
Days of the Week 250
Some rhymes specifically for Muslim children 253
Short stories for children 255
Kindergarten and its importance in education 256
How to choose a suitable daycare/nursery school for your child
……………………………………………………………………………………… 259
Teachers’ qualifications 259
Location 259
Size 260
Building 260
Play rooms and gardens 260
Health and psychological services 260
Health and safety concerns 260
Is it the role of the nursery school or kindergarten to teach the child how to read and write? 261
Preparing the child to read and write in kindergarten 262
Preparing the child for reading 262
Parties and trips 263
Dramatic play 263
Telling stories 263
Alphabet games 263
Puppets 264
Preparing children to write 264
Examples of activities that develop the child’s skills and help him get ready to write 264
Common childhood illnesses 266
Common cold 266
Precautions to avoid spreading viruses 266
Taking care of a child with a cold 267
When should you call the doctor? 267
Influenza (flu) 268
Is it a cold or flu? 269
Influenza 270
How you can protect yourself and others 270
Diarrhoea and dehydration 271
Most children suffer from occasional bouts of diarrhoea 271
Causes of diarrhoea 271
Symptoms that may accompany diarrhoea 272
Dehydration 272
Symptoms of dehydration 272
Treating dehydration 273
Preparing 1 (one) Litre solution using Salt, Sugar and Water at Home 273
10 Things you should know about rehydrating a child 274
Healthy nutrition for your child 275
Infants 275
Older children 275
Prevention of diarrhoea 275
The danger of kissing your small child on his mouth 277
Food allergies 278
Anaphylactic shock 278
What should I do if my toddler seems to be having a severe allergic reaction? 279
What can I do for my child who has a food allergy? 280
Foods that children are most commonly allergic to 281
What should I do if my child has an allergy to milk? 281
Treating food allergies 281
Asthma 282
Chickenpox 283
Poliomyelitis 285
Ways in which polio is transmitted 285
Incubation period 286
Symptoms of polio 286
Prevention and treatment 286
Whooping cough (pertussis) 286
Incubation period 287
Symptoms of whooping cough 287
Most serious complications of whooping cough 287
Measles 288
Incubation period 288
Symptoms of measles 288
Prevention and treatment 289
Rubella (German measles) 289
Incubation period 289
Symptoms of German measles 290
Prevention and treatment 290
Rheumatic fever 290
Causes of rheumatic fever 290
Is rheumatic fever a hereditary disease? 291
Is rheumatic fever contagious? 291
Symptoms of rheumatic fever 291
Blood tests for diagnosis of rheumatic fever 291
Prevention and treatment 292
Diphtheria 293
Incubation period 293
Symptoms of diphtheria 293
Complications of diphtheria 294
Prevention and treatment 294
Accident prevention 296
Keeping your child safe from accidents 296
Prevention of poisoning 296
The most common substances that could lead to poisoning in children 297
Prevention of choking and suffocation 298
Prevention of broken bones and falls from high places 299
Prevention of fire and electric shock 300
First Aid for children 301
First Aid for poisoning 301
First aid for burns 302
First Aid for first and second degree burns 303
First Aid for third and fourth degree burns 303
Chemical burns 303
First Aid for breaks and fractures 304
First Aid for near drowning 305
First Aid for wounds and bleeding 306
First Aid for bites and stings 306
Snake bites 307
Insect bites and stings 307
First Aid for eye injuries 308
