How to Care for a Child With Metabolic Disorders

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Being a parent challenges you in many different aspects, it is consistent and ever changing at the same time. Taking care of a child with a metabolic disorder has its own set of special circumstances daily. You can do it, but not alone.

Steps

1. Create your support team outside of a medical staff. Educate others on the specific condition and the child's ever changing eating patterns. Even if one parent is able to stay home you must enlist the help from those in whom you trust, in order to have some time away even if it is only 2 to 3 hours. Keep in mind it may only be 1 or 2 people at the most but you must have a backup.
   
2. Routinely keep your child's diet and metabolic supportive vitamins and medicines in a local location. Try not to put them away in a drawer or behind other things in the fridge. Keep them noticeable.
   
3. Keep an updated record of your child's diet, along with the date of the formulation on the fridge as well as the last formulation for future reference.
   
4. Keep all healthcare numbers close and also on your cellphone if you have one. There should also be an emergency protocol on hand just in case of an out-of-town metabolic episode (metabolic physician will provide).
   
5. Try not to stress yourself over anything. You will do your best thinking and caring for your child relaxed and having fun with your baby.
   

Tips

• Read and study to get educated on the condition and others like it, there are various metabolic disorders each with its own set of conditions and eating formulations.
  
• Be careful when reading others' stories, take it as education and not a pity session. Every case is different, every doctor is different, and every child is different.
  
• Remember your child needs a strong, loving and stable parent.
  

Warnings

• Warning signs: Child sleeping too much, rapid breathing patterns, and changes in appetite.
  

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