March 19, 2024

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How to care for a child with cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is one of the birth defects that occur during birth. Most children do not exhibit symptoms at an early age, and this might result in late diagnosis. The condition has no cure but can be managed. In some cases, such as that of Erb’s palsy, the parent will notice the symptoms early enough to seek medical attention. These children have special needs that ought to be taken care of to improve the quality of life. Below are some of the ways through which parents can care for children with cerebral palsy.

Focus on diet

If you care for a child with cerebral palsy, you do not want them to get other diseases that might compromise their health. Therefore, you should feed them healthy foods that will improve their immunity. These foods will also help strengthen bones and muscles to provide your child with enough strength for movement. It is best to seek a nutritionist’s advice regarding the best diet for your child.

Encourage them to participate in their hobbies

Children with cerebral palsy require a lot of encouragement from their parents and relatives. The best way to offer such encouragement is by encouraging them to participate in the hobbies. The parent can take part in these hobbies to help the child learn. Hobbies are known to improve an individual’s self-esteem and confidence. These are aspects of life that the child needs to develop. The positive mental health developed through participation in hobbies is an important aspect in managing cerebral palsy.

Be informed about the child’s healthcare

Doctors encourage parents to be informed about their child’s health because they can help make health-related decisions. Being informed about the child’s healthcare will enable the parent to know the best therapies for their child. Your child will need to see many doctors, and therefore, it is important to keep tabs on such information since it will help you make the best decisions regarding the child’s health. This means you have to know the exact dates that the child should visit the doctor because missing appointments can affect their progress in managing the condition.

Act as their home therapist

When parents are given the right guidance by their child’s therapist, they can be good home therapists in times of emergency. For instance, during this period of COVID-19, it is not advisable for people to visit the hospital if they can manage a condition from home. Once the parent has learned all the techniques of helping their children, such as stretching muscles and building muscles, they do not have to regularly take the child to the hospital.

Cerebral palsy such as Erb’s palsy can be managed using regenerative, physical, speech, and occupational therapy. Continued care at home also helps in the management of the condition. Therefore, the above tips will help parents whose kids have cerebral palsy to cope with the condition. Parents play an important role in determining the mental health of children with cerebral palsy. Hence, they need to be involved in every step of the child’s development.