The Ayriva Journal
Evidence-based child health, written for parents.
Calm, practical guidance on growth, nutrition, immunization, development and prevention — each article verified against official health sources. Building health before illness.
Mental Health
Screen Time and Young Children: How Much Is Too Much, and What It Does to Sleep and Speech
WHO advises no screen time under age 1 and no more than an hour for ages 2–4. Here is what the guidance means for sleep, speech, and everyday family life in Nepal — and small, doable steps to find a healthier balance.
6 min read
Newborn
Newborn Care at Home: The First Month, Danger Signs, and the Jaundice Sunlight Myth
A calm, Nepal-focused guide to caring for your newborn in the first month: clean chlorhexidine cord care, warmth and Kangaroo Mother Care, the newborn signs that mean call your doctor, and why the sunlight cure for jaundice is a myth.
6 min read
Growth
The First 1,000 Days: Preventing Stunting Before It Becomes Permanent
Stunting is low height-for-age caused mainly by early nutrition and repeated illness. The good news: it is largely preventable, and the window of opportunity is clear — the first 1,000 days from pregnancy to age two. Here is how maternal nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, and diverse complementary feeding fit together, in Nepal's context.
6 min read
Respiratory
Protecting Little Lungs in Kathmandu's Polluted Air: A Parent's Seasonal Plan
Kathmandu's winter haze pushes PM2.5 to levels that crowd Valley hospitals with childhood pneumonia, asthma and bronchitis. Here is a calm, practical seasonal plan — reading the daily AQI, fitting a mask that seals, keeping one room's air clean, and knowing when to call your doctor — to protect your child's lungs.
6 min read
Immunization
Typhoid and the TCV Shot at 15 Months: What Nepali Parents Should Know
Nepal added the typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) to the free routine immunization schedule at 15 months, and a 2025 WHO evaluation found about 86% coverage. Here is what the shot protects against, why Nepal needs it, and why it works alongside hygiene.
5 min read
Prevention
Dengue in Children: The Monsoon Warning Signs Every Nepali Parent Must Know
Dengue now reaches across most of Nepal, including Kathmandu Valley and the hills, and children are a high-risk group. A calm, practical guide to the monsoon warning signs — abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding, lethargy — that tell you when to seek care, plus the weekly habits that stop the mosquito at home.
6 min read
Development
Developmental Screening: Catching Delays Early Enough to Help
Developmental screening is a brief, structured check that tells you whether your child's development is within the typical range — and it's recommended at specific ages for every child, not just those who seem behind. Understanding what screening is, when it happens, and why timing matters can make a real difference in your child's outcomes.
7 min read
Nutrition
Iron and Your Child: Preventing the Most Common Deficiency
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in children worldwide — and in Nepal, nearly half of children under five are affected. Understanding what iron does, which signs to notice, and which foods and habits support healthy levels puts parents in a strong position to protect their child's growth and development.
6 min read
Vision
Protecting Your Child's Eyesight: Vision Screening and Eye Health
Children rarely know when their vision is off — they have nothing to compare it to. Routine screening at the right ages is how parents and doctors catch conditions like lazy eye before the window for treatment quietly closes.
6 min read
Nutrition
The First Six Months: Why Breast Milk Alone Is Enough
WHO and UNICEF recommend breast milk alone for the first six months of life — no water, no formula, no solids. Here is what the evidence says about why that guidance exists, how to read the signs that your baby is feeding well, and where to find support when breastfeeding feels hard.
6 min read
Nutrition
When Your Toddler Won't Eat: A Practical, Pressure-Free Approach
Picky eating peaks in the toddler years and resolves on its own for most children. Understanding the developmental reasons behind food refusal — and a few evidence-based feeding strategies — can make mealtimes calmer for everyone.
6 min read
Growth
Why How Fast Your Child Grows Matters More Than the Number Today
A single weigh-in tells you where your child is standing right now — not whether they are moving in the right direction. Understanding growth velocity, the rate of change over time, is how clinicians catch early shifts before they become significant concerns.
6 min read
Development
Is My Child's Speech on Track? Language Milestones and Early Signs
Every child moves through the same sequence of language milestones — from first coos to full conversations — but the pace varies. Here is what to expect at each age, how to tell if your child's speech is developing typically, and when an early check-in with a professional is a good idea.
6 min read
Development
Developmental Milestones from Birth to Five, Explained
Every parent wonders whether their child is on track. This guide walks through what the CDC, AAP, and WHO say about developmental milestones from birth to age five — and explains why the normal range is wider than most people think.
6 min read
Nutrition
Building a Balanced Plate for Toddlers and Young Children
Conflicting diet advice can make feeding a young child feel complicated, but the science is simpler than the noise suggests. This guide translates WHO, UNICEF, and AAP guidance into practical, affordable steps for everyday meals.
7 min read
Nutrition
Starting Solids: A Calm Guide to Complementary Feeding
Around six months, breast milk alone can no longer meet your baby's growing energy and nutrient needs — and this is a completely normal, expected shift. Here is a calm, evidence-based guide to starting solids at the right time, in the right amounts, with foods that truly nourish.
7 min read
Immunization
Behind on Vaccines? How Catch-Up Immunization Works
Missing a vaccine dose is more common than you might think — and almost always fixable. Here is what catch-up immunization means, why you rarely need to restart a series, and how to find out exactly what your child still needs.
6 min read
Prevention
Fever in Children: What's Normal and When to Seek Care
Fever is one of the most common reasons parents reach for the phone at night — and one of the most misunderstood. Here is what the evidence actually says about keeping your child comfortable and knowing when to check in with a doctor.
6 min read
Prevention
Hearing Matters: Why Early Hearing Checks Shape Speech and Learning
Hearing is the quiet engine behind speech, reading, and social confidence. Understanding how and when to screen for hearing loss — from the first days of life through adolescence — gives parents the knowledge to act early, when it matters most.
6 min read
Prevention
Diarrhoea in Children: ORS, Zinc, and Stopping Dehydration
When a child has diarrhoea, the real concern is not the loose stools themselves but the fluid and electrolytes the body loses with them. ORS and zinc — two low-cost, widely available treatments — address that risk directly and keep most children well at home.
6 min read
Prevention
Handwashing: The Simplest Way to Keep Your Child Healthy
Handwashing with soap is one of the most effective and affordable ways to protect children from diarrhoea, respiratory infections, and missed school days. Here is exactly how to do it, when it matters most, and how to make it stick.
6 min read
Dental
Healthy Teeth from the First Tooth: A Parent's Dental Guide
Tooth decay is the most common chronic condition in childhood — yet it is largely preventable. This guide walks you through exactly when to start, what to use, and how to protect your child's teeth from the very first one.
6 min read
Immunization
Why On-Time Vaccination Protects More Than Just Your Child
Vaccine schedules are not arbitrary — each dose is timed to the exact age when a child is most at risk and most ready to respond. Understanding this timing helps parents see why on-time vaccination is one of the most meaningful health decisions they make in their child's early years.
7 min read
Immunization
Nepal's Childhood Vaccine Schedule, Explained for Parents
Nepal's national immunization program protects children against 12 diseases, entirely free of cost. Here is every vaccine, when it is given, and what you need to know to keep your child on track.
7 min read
Prevention
Monsoon Season Health: Protecting Children from Seasonal Illness
Every monsoon, Nepal sees a predictable rise in diarrhoea, dengue, typhoid, and respiratory infections in children. This guide explains exactly why illness patterns shift in the rainy season — and the practical steps families can take to stay ahead of them.
7 min read