Flu Fact or Faction

Flu season is well upon us. (While we've already battled RSV and pneumonia in our household, we've averted the flu so far ... thank goodness!) Fauquier Hospital in Virginia outlines some of the myths and truths about flu and the flu vaccine for you here.

 Did you get vaccinated this year?

Real Life Solutions: Eating Out with Kids

We are proud to have Dr. Linda Mintle in ParentLife each month answering questions submitted from readers. To submit a question for Dr. Mintle, e-mail it to parentlife@lifeway.com and include "? for Dr. Mintle" on the subject line. This month we have an extra Q&A from Dr. Mintle we wanted to share.

Q: Some days we are so busy, we need to eat out. We want to teach our children healthy eating habits, but it seems like the kids’ menus are not helping. We know many restaurants are adding healthy selections, but there are still a lot of fried foods with little nutrition. How can we encourage healthy eating in restaurants?

A: More restaurants are offering better choices for children because of the obesity epidemic. But for those menus that still challenge your sensibilities, try these suggestions from my book Raising Healthy Kids in an Unhealthy World.

• Ask the waiter to bring water right away and skip the sugar drinks.
• Tell the waiter to skip the crackers and bread — too many calories before the meal even begins. Occupy children with games instead.
• Order a salad or vegetable instead of fries—ask for substitutions if necessary.
• Check out appetizers or split meals from the adult menu if the child options are unhealthy.
• Encourage your child to stop eating when full and wrap up the rest for a snack later.
• On sandwiches, try mustard, vegetables, or salsa instead of mayo.
• Go to the salad bar and choose low-fat dressings, fruit, and vegetables.
• Order fresh fruit for dessert.

And always remember that you model healthy eating by your choices!

How do you make good choices when eating out?

Car Sear Safety: A Letter from a Reader

We were very sad to receive this letter from Lisa Sewell of the Coweta County Car Seat Coalition and realize an error made on our part in the November issue of ParentLife. With her permission, we're printing her letter here so that you might learn more about car seat safety.

Hello, I am a nationally certified child passenger safety technician who assists law enforcement with car seat safety as a civilian volunteer. Part of my responsibility is toward educating the public. It is because of this that I noticed something that I see all too often and sadly costs children their lives. On page 24, I was shocked to see [a photo with] each of the three children using seat belts, when they should have been in either a car seat with a five-point harness, or a booster seat at the very least, judging from their size.

Seat belts kill and injure due to their positioning, which in this case is the neck (decapitation) and the belly (massive internal injuries). At times, the lap portion of the belt can go right through the child's abdomen, severing their spine. In our monthly car seat class we show a power point and video with images that show actual injuries to children's abdomen and internal organs. Most children are so uncomfortable riding this way that they take that seat belt and tuck it under their arm or behind their backs, further sealing their fates in a crash.  

Kindly issue a warning in a future issue regarding the danger posed by the example of the children riding with seat belts only. In our state (GA) this is a ticketable offense in addition to the danger posed to the children. Every state has certified car seat techs through either local police, fire departments, hospitals, or Safe Kids coalitions. Many of us are volunteers with a passion for keeping kids safe. My passion for Christ makes this a ministry effort since I am sharing the love of Jesus in helping families via car seat safety.

Blessings,

Lisa Sewell

Tips for the Best Handwashing

source: hygienematters

To help prevent the spread of germs, handwashing is key. Unfortunately, while many children and adults think they know how to properly wash their hands, arguably most probably haven’t been taught the best method.

During a demonstration at NSF International’s laboratories in Michigan, children were asked to apply a special glowing lotion to their hands before washing their hands. Once the children washed up, they placed their hands under a blacklight, and “problem spots” glowed, showing them what areas were missed while washing. The culprits: under the nails, between the fingers, and wrists.
 
To make sure these locations are not missed when you or your kids wash their hands, follow these simple steps:  Wet your hands with warm water; lather your hands with soap; rub your hands together vigorously for 20 seconds, paying special attention to the nails, between the fingers, and wrists; rinse your hands with clean water; and dry your hands thoroughly with a hand dryer or paper towel.
 
Here are some ways to help make the process of handwashing fun for children:

• Consider creating a handwashing chart at home that tracks each time your child washes his or her hands. Offer them a prize or reward after a designated certain time frame of good handwashing practices.
• Take pictures of places germs live in your child's environment, such as on the dog (or its toy or dish) or doorknobs, and post them near sinks, on the refrigerator, or near your child’s handwashing chart. This will help remind them of when they need to wash their hands.
• Have young children count to 10 twice while washing their hands to better understand the required 20 seconds.
• Cook with your child, emphasizing the importance of washing your hands both before and after handling food.
• Check out online sites like scrubclub.org for additional fun handwashing ideas.

Handwashing is important for food safety, disease prevention and personal health. Teaching ourselves and our children the proper way to wash their hands now can help keep us all healthier.

Thank you to Cheryl Luptowski, Consumer Affairs Officer at NSF International, for this information.

New SIDS Recommendations

We always want to keep you up-to-date on the latest health and safety recommendations for your children, and SIDS is a doozy! There are many, many pieces of advice on how to help prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), including putting your baby on a firm surface, always putting him to sleep on his back, and avoiding overheating.

In October, the guidelines were revisited and three new recommendations were added.

1. Infants should be breastfed when possible, because it has been shown to reduce cases of SIDS.

2. Infants should be immunized on schedule and go to all well-child visits.

3. Bumper pads should not be used at all. They can cause suffocation if an infant rolls against one and cannot roll away, or strangulation if the baby were to get caught in the pad's ties. Pediatricians assert that an infant cannot thrust himself against the rails of the cribs hard enough to harm himself.

In the past, bumper pads were often used to prevent babies crawling out from between crib slats and getting stuck; but in recent years the regulations have made it so the slats must be closer together.

To see a full list of the SIDS guidelines, you can visit HealthyChildren.org.

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

Is Your Kid Fruitful?

OK, excuse my pun there. But I can tell you, my daughter is definitely not as "fruit-full" as I would like her to be! She refuses to eat any fruit except bananas and peeled apples, much to my chagrin. And vegetables? I have to hide them in other foods.

If your kids are like mine, here are some tips from "Mr. Salad," Tossed® restaurant's master salad creator, on how to encourage your kids to eat more fruits and veggies.

1. What you see is what you get. Allow the kids to participate in the grocery shopping. Visit a local farmers’ market for fresh produce or harvest your own at a “you-pick-it” farm so children can see a farming operation. Plant your own garden – even in containers on a patio – to help them become interested in the growing process. Use the produce they’ve chosen in the next meal.
2. Can I help? Let the children assist with meal preparation; they’re more likely to eat what they’ve made.
3. Shape shifters. Use melon ballers or cookie cutters to craft fruits and vegetables – even cheeses -- into fun shapes and use them as salad toss-ins or as a garnish. What child can resist eating a star-shaped cucumber or heart-shaped red pepper? Sliced fruits can be made into flower petals or moons.
4. Mad scientists. Give your kids a variety of fruits and/or veggies and ask them to build a person. Cut a circle out of bread then ask the kids to make a face. They can use a cherry tomato for a nose, for instance, olives for eyes, a red pepper slice for the mouth, and broccoli for hair. Or, use toothpicks to connect baby carrots, sugar snap peas, jicama, and other produce into the shape of a child or favorite animal. Enjoy the creations with a variety of flavorful dips such as hummus, yogurt, or guacamole.
5. Sensational Salads. Salads – either as a side dish or entrée -- are a simple way to serve healthy, nutrient-packed produce. Make it a point to try different add-ins until you find ones that click with your child. A super summer and fall salad combines fresh, sliced strawberries or apples with greens, blue cheese, walnuts, and a tangy dressing. Add a protein such as grilled or blackened poultry or seafood, bacon or beef, or legumes, such as chickpeas, for a more filling dish.
6. Fruitie-tootie. Serve a bowl of mixed fresh fruit with a sprinkling of sugar or honey, cinnamon and coconut. Or you can place the fruit on skewers and serve with a honey yogurt dip. It’s OK to occasionally give your child sweet treats. Dip fruit in chocolate, fondue style, or serve with a whipped cream/marshmallow dip.
7. Wrap it up. Salad ingredients don’t need to be served in a bowl. Roll them in a whole wheat wrap with a tangy dressing for a wholesome lunch or meal on the go.

ERIC CLARK is Chief Operating Officer of Tossed®, a nationwide chain of restaurants serving garden fresh salads, crepe wraps, and sandwiches. He also serves fruits and vegetables every day to his children, ages 9 and 11, and they love them.

Vision Check-Ups for Children

I will never forget 4th grade. I had the most wonderful teacher in all of Virginia, Mrs. Titus. She was a firecracker. She came to school the day after the Superbowl in full Redskins regalia. She taught me how to knit. And she told the whole class that I could be a writer.

It was also the year I just couldn't figure out why our overhead projector was so bad. (Please tell me you remember overhead projectors so I don't feel so old.)

A basic eye exam at school caught the fact that my vision was pretty bad. I got my first pair of glasses - the extra-large variety that skimmed cheeks, very popular in the early 90s.

Studies show one in four U.S. children have an undetected vision problem. Often, parents rely on school screenings, which can catch basic nearsightedness but neglect to discover other problems.

In between visits to the eye doctor (which should take place once a year after the child starts school), parents of school-age children should keep a watchful eye out for some signs that a child’s vision may be impaired and contact an optometrist if their child frequently:
 

• Loses place while reading
• Avoids close work
• Tends to rub eyes
• Has headaches
• Turns or tilts head
• Makes frequent reversals when reading or writing
• Omits or confuses small words when reading                                                                  
• Consistently performs below potential
• Struggles to complete homework         
• Squints while reading or watching television
• Has behavioral problems

As Stephanie Tanner taught us on Full House (hm, dating myself again), glasses aren't all that bad, even for a kid. Some people even look better in glasses. My husband says I do! - Jessie

Do your kids wear glasses? When were they diagnosed with vision problems?

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source. Thank you to the American Optometric Association for the information in this post.

Teeth-brushing Poem by Kristen White

You've probably heard the mantra of getting kids to wash their hands by singing the whole ABCs song. The same thing can work for brushing their teeth! Try rhymes or silly songs or let the toothbrush be a car or airplane to help reluctant teeth brushers. Encourage them to brush the entire length of this poem--or try creating your own with your child.

Tip your head up
To the sky,
Toothbrush will go climbing.
When he gets
Atop Teeth Mountain,
Still he needs more timing.

So down he steps
Each shiny tooth,
One, two, three, four, five
Now he curves
Round the lower deck
Zoom fast — he sure can drive!

Toothbrush is an expert
At scuffling
Through a cave.
Move him back and forth
And round and round.
He must be very brave.

Tip your chin
Low to your chest,
Saw up and down in back,
Like a logger cutting trees,
You will have no cavities.
Now you have the knack!

Do you have any tricks for hand-washing or teeth-brushing?

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

Cribs for the Church Nursery (and Beyond)

You may have heard that there are some new crib standards coming from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. As of June 28, all cribs sold in the US have to meet higher standards for wood strength, testing, mattress support, and hardware. Additionally, traditional drop-side cribs will no longer be manufactured.

All childcare facilities will have to have cribs that meet these new standards by December 2012. Where does your church nursery fit in here?

If your church has a paid childcare facility, they will have to comply with the new standards by December 2012, just like any other facility. If you do not have a paid center, the CPSC rules will not apply; however, it is highly recommended that you check your cribs' durability and safety. Tighten all hardware. Buy drop-side immobilization kits if needed.

To see more about the rules and to whom they apply, you can visit The New Crib Standard: Questions and Answers and Coverage of the Crib Rule Summary.

Will your church nursery make changes to comply?

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

Asking Your Kids' Principal about Internet Security

A few weeks ago, Donna Sawyer shared with us some characteristics of a responsible Internet safety program at schools. Today, she follows up with questions to ask the school principals about Internet safety.

• Do you point students to child-friendly, copyright-free sources for images and video, rather than setting them loose on open source search engines?
• Are students taught how to craft savvy search statements and use advanced search strategies to locate quality information sources?
• Are students taught critical thinking?
• Do you know when the district will make Internet Safety policies public or where parents can access minutes of the meeting where they talked about the policy?
• Can you help me better understand the school’s Acceptable Use Policy and Internet Safety Policy?
• What problems does the school Internet filter present in the classroom? Why?
• If teachers are unhappy with a blocked Web site, what is the procedure for having it unblocked? Who is involved in evaluating the online material that teachers request to be unblocked?
• Do teachers know how to build collections of free quality educational videos or Web sites, even if the district filter blocks access to them? For example, if YouTube is blocked, do teachers know how they can build rich collections of grade-level YouTube videos, bypassing inappropriate YouTube content?
• How can I help as a parent?

Would you add any questions or concerns about Internet safety in schools? We'd love to hear what you have to say in the comments.

For even more from Donna, read "School Technology Problems" in our August 2011 issue.

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

Internet Safety at School

How easy would it be for your children to see Internet content they're blocked from at home at their school? Donna Sawyer tackles "School Technology Problems" in our August issue. Here are some more tips from her.

Characteristics of a Responsible Internet Safety Program

• A balanced approach to using online resources emphasizes guidance in showing students how to safely navigate the Web. Teachers select sites which support the curriculum and point students toward developmentally appropriate information sources, which have been evaluated and proven valuable for classroom use.
• Teachers receive quality training in how to equip youth (and others) to safely, responsibly, and productively use technology. This training incorporates knowledge from child development research to support the development of the whole child, ensuring their academic as well as their emotional, social, and physical development.
• Students receive in-depth training in online safety and digital citizenship before gaining access to the Web.
• Students are acquainted with consequences for misuse of technology, which address the child’s need for direction instead of treating technology as a reward that should be taken away. For example, rather than merely removing the child’s access to technology, the school responds proactively.
• There are dynamic community outreach activities where local businesses show parents how to set parental controls for cell phones, gaming devices, or computers at the point of sale and parents are trained to guide their children’s use of the Internet, with a focus on appropriate ways to monitor safe use of the Internet.

• Procedures are in place for parents and students to indicate they will share responsibility for ethical and responsible use of school technology.
• The school staff models appropriate use of technology and firmly enforces reasonable age-appropriate standards for online behavior at the beginning of the school year.
• The school uses subscription-based social networking tools (e-mail, blogs, wikis, etc.) with no ads and a full range of protection features.

 What do you think about Internet usage in your kids' schools?

Photos used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photos for sources.

Summer Eye Safety for Kids

UV Rays

According to the 2010 American Eye-Q® survey commissioned by the American Optemetric Association (AOA), 66 percent of parents purchase sunglasses for their kids but 26 percent don’t check the UV protection. The AOA recommends the following five tips to help prevent future eye and vision damage from overexposure to UV radiation:
 

1. Wear protective eyewear any time the eyes are exposed to UV rays, even on cloudy days and during the winter.
2. Look for quality sunglasses or contact lenses that offer good protection. Sunglasses or protective contact lenses should block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation and screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light.
3. Check to make sure sunglass lenses are perfectly matched in color and free of distortions or imperfections.
4. Purchase gray-colored lenses because they reduce light intensity without altering the color of objects to provide the most natural color vision. Brown or amber-colored lenses may be better for those who are visually impaired because they increase contrast as well as reducing light intensity.
5. Always protect children as they typically spend more time in the sun than adults and are at a greater risk for damage.

Fourth of July Eye Safety

According to a study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks were the culprit for a projected 8,800 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments during 2009. Of these, 54 percent were children and teens under the age of 20 years. The most common cause of damage to the eyes includes lacerations, contusions, and the existence of foreign materials. The AOA recommends that families protect and preserve eyesight during the Fourth of July with the following tips.

• Discuss firework safety with your child prior to the Fourth of July.
• Avoid private firework displays and instead enjoy professional ones.
• Do not allow kids to handle fireworks and never leave them unsupervised near fireworks.
• Adults should wear protective eyewear when lighting and handling fireworks of any kind.
• Store fireworks, matches, and lighters in a secure place.
• Refrain from purchasing sparklers. Heating up to 1,800 degrees, sparklers are the number one cause of fireworks injuries requiring trips to the emergency room.
• Be aware of your surroundings and only light fireworks when children are at a safe distance.
• Always follow up with a full optometric eye exam should your child seek emergency room medical care for a firework-related eye injury.

Do you worry about your kids' eye safety? Do you always make them wear sunglasses?

Photos used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photos for sources.

Summer Safety

In our July 2011 issue, we offer some tips on summer safety on pages 32-33. We had so many safety tips, though, we couldn't cram them all into two pages! Here are even more safety tips for your summer fun.

Swimming Pool Safety

• Supervise children at all times while in or around a swimming pool.
• Provide “touch supervision” for infants and toddlers, which is an adult being in the water and within arm’s reach at all times.
• Install a pool fence that is climb-resistant and at least 4 feet high.
• Lock ladders and fences when the pool is not in use.
• Most pediatricians recommend swimming lessons for children 4 years and older. Each child develops at a different rate; therefore, each child will be ready to swim at his own pace, as well.

Stings & Bites

• Insect Bite ― Remove the stinger as soon as possible. Use the edge of a credit card to scrape the stinger out. Use a cold compress on the bite to relieve the pain. Call your pediatrician immediately if your child faints, has trouble breathing, or experiences extreme swelling, hives, nausea, or vomiting.
• Spider Bite ― Call your pediatrician or Poison Help Line and describe the type of spider. If a bite becomes infected, contact your pediatrician.
• Tick Bite ― Use tweezers to grasp the tick and quickly pull the tick from where it is attached. If your child experiences a rash, fever, or swelling at the bite, contact your pediatrician.

Playground Safety

• Supervise young children on playground equipment at all times.
• Keep children from shoving, pushing, or fighting around equipment.
• Install a protective surface at least 6 feet in all directions from home equipment.
• Use swing seats made of soft material, not wood or metal.
• Install home playground equipment correctly. Place it on a level surface and anchor it firmly to the ground.
• Check equipment often for loose nuts and bolts and broken, rusty, or sharp parts.
• Install playground equipment at least 6 feet from fences or walls.
• Check for hot metal surfaces on equipment, which could cause burns.
• Never attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to playground equipment.

Travel Safety

Stay safe when traveling by car.

• Always place infants and young children in a car safety seat.
• Always place all children under 12 years of age in the rear seat of vehicles.
• Wear a seat belt at all times, setting a good example for your children.
• Entertain children by bringing soft, lightweight toys; books; and favorite CDs for a sing-along.
• Never leave your children alone in a car, even for a minute. Temperatures inside the car can reach deadly levels in minutes, causing heat stroke.
• Pack a first-aid kit, water, healthy snacks, hand wipes, hand-washing gel, diaper rash ointment, diapers, and a water- and insect-proof ground sheet for safe play outside.

Stay safe when traveling by airplane.

• Allow extra time to get through security.
• Discuss the security screening process with your children beforehand.
• Know that the FAA allows children under age 2 to be held on an adult’s lap; however, it is recommended that each child has her own seat.
• Pack a bag of toys, books, and snacks to keep your child occupied during the flight.
• Feed your infant during take-off and landing to decrease possible ear pain. Older children can chew gum or drink water or juice through a straw.
• Wash hands frequently; use hand-washing gel often.
• Consult your pediatrician before flying with a newborn or infant who has chronic heart or lung problems or respiratory symptoms.
• Consult your pediatrician if flying within two weeks of an ear infection or ear surgery.

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

School Lunch Brings Controversy

Despite the fact that it is a practice that's been going on for the last 6 years, there was an uproar in mid-April when a news story broke about a public Chicago school that requires students to buy their lunches in the cafeteria.

The principal claims the rule is to keep students from making unhealthy choices and parents from packing unhealthy lunches. Unless there are health restrictions, parents must send $2.25 for their children to buy the school lunch.

I have to assume that these school lunches must be better than what they were serving when I was in elementary school: your general rotation of square pizzas, chicken patties, and tasteless hamburgers.

Is keeping the students "safe" from sugary sodas and bags of chips reason enough to mandate a parent can't send food from home? People have such a wide range of what they consider healthy.

It's still the same controversy that's been spinning for years: should the government be able to outlaw trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, genetically modified organisms? Or should people be responsible for their own nutrition?

Where do you stand on this? We'd love to hear your (respectful) thoughts in the comments.

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

Allergies 101

The May 2011 issue has a quiz about allergy myths (#3 got me!). Here is some more information from author Evelyn Hanes, R.N., about the dreaded sniffle-bringer: allergies! 

Allergy Symptoms

Seasonal Allergies

• Watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Nasal stuffiness or clear drainage
• Coughing
• These are generally present without fever.

Food Allergies

• Hives
• Swelling of lips and face
• Itching of the mouth and tongue
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain

What are allergies?

Allergies are caused when antibodies, produced by your immune system, react to allergens and release chemicals that cause symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and itching. If you are not sensitive to these allergens, you don’t develop an allergy. Repeated exposure to allergens increases the likelihood of developing an allergy.

Is it really a food allergy?

Food sensitivities are not the same as allergies. Symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and inflammation of joints may be due to sensitivity to certain foods such as wheat, shellfish, or acidic fruits. These symptoms may also be present if you have a food intolerance (such as lactose), food poisoning, or reaction to chemicals present on the food (pesticides or fertilizers). 

Do you or your children suffer from allergies?

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

Real Life Solutions: Is My Child Really Overweight?

We are proud to have Dr. Linda Mintle in ParentLife each month answering questions submitted from readers. To submit a question for Dr. Mintle, e-mail it to parentlife@lifeway.com and include "? for Dr. Mintle" on the subject line. This month we have an extra Q&A from Dr. Mintle we wanted to share.

Q: I have never thought of my child as fat, but the pediatrician tells me he is according to the Body Mass Index charts. Won’t my son grow out of this baby fat? I never thought he was overweight. His dad and I are overweight. Maybe we do not see it.

A: You join many parents who do not see their children as overweight. Studies indicate that parents of overweight children often are in denial and have the misconception that their child is normal weight.

Interestingly, even parents of normal weight kids think their children are smaller than they actually are. One reason for this is because there are so many overweight children now. Thus, when a parent looks at her child, that child does not look much different than most children. But “normal” is not necessarily healthy. Because of this, you cannot rely on the power of sight. You need to take into account what the pediatrician is telling you.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure based on a child’s age, gender, height, and weight. It is one indicator that a weight problem exists. Children who score at or above the 85th percentile on growth charts are at risk of being overweight. The concern is that excess weight can cause multiple health issues now and later in life.

We now see record rates of diabetes, hypertension, and other serious diseases in childhood because of the obesity epidemic. We know that being an overweight child increases that child’s risk of heart disease later in life. It is best to get a handle on this as early as possible, especially while you have the power to control the diet of your child.

I have also worked with a number of parents who feel guilty about their own weight. As a result, they do not monitor their child’s eating habits. Do not go there. Make eating healthy a family affair. You do not have to be at your goal weight in order to help your child. And if you are sneaking food and overeating at night when your child is asleep, this is still no reason to give up. Remember, you control the food your child eats. This is an important difference between adult and child eating.

Even if you personally feel defeated, think of it this way. You have the opportunity to give your child a good start in life and may prevent him from overeating. Do not talk to your child about dieting. Instead, control the diet, teach him to eat healthy foods, and eliminate sodas and products high in sugar and fat. If you are uncertain what to do to make changes, make an appointment with a registered dietitian who will help guide you. In addition, there are a number of wonderful Web sites geared to helping parents and kids eat healthy.

Resources:
Raising Healthy Kids in an Unhealthy World by Dr. Linda Mintle (Thomas Nelson, 2008)
Website: www.mypyramid.gov
 

Have you had to deal with weight issues with your kids?

Photo of fork and spoon used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

The Miracle Boy: How Early Intervention Aids in Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

In the April 2011 issue, we feature Jennifer Shaw, a musician who went through a troubling time. Here's some more of her story about her son Toby's battle with a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

____________________

SPD is a dysfunction of the brain in which sensory signals from the body (vision, auditory, touch, olfaction, and taste) are not processed normally by the brain. For Toby, any touch was received by his brain as hurting. “Food in his mouth hurt. Droplets of water hurt,” Jennifer explains. “Clothing felt intolerable. These children go into survival mode and they don’t learn to speak. That’s why speech delays are the first marker.”

Occupational therapy made the difference for Toby. “Any therapy before the age of 3 is critical,” Jennifer advises. “The brain is able to be re-wired at that point. So don’t wait. Don’t second guess yourself.”

Play-based, with no medications involved, Jennifer watched as Toby’s therapists positioned his body in weird ways, forcing his brain to make new connections. “We did everything they did at therapy at home as well,” Jennifer notes. “We didn’t want the girls to feel ignored because we had a child [with special needs], so we really tried to involve them in his therapy.”

Toby’s progress was rapid. The folks working with Toby called him “The Miracle Boy.” Today Toby is healed completely. Jennifer remains clearly grateful to all those who helped Toby. “It was like they led him out of prison, the prison of his own body,” she says. “They let him be who God made him to be.”

Is your family going through a difficult time? Maybe it's a diagnosis of special needs or a death in the family or _________ (fill in the blank). Find encouragement in Jennifer Shaw's amazing testimony in the April 2011 issue.

AAP Advises Keeping Your Child in Rear-Facing Car Seat until Age 2

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a new statement advising parents to keep their children in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they exceed the height or weight limit for their seat's rear-facing capacity.

Right now, the law in most states is that children MUST be rear-facing until age 1 and/or 20 pounds.

CNN reports, "A 2007 study in the journal Injury Prevention found that children under age 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or to be severely injured in a crash if they are rear-facing. Another study found riding rear-facing to be five times safer than forward-facing."

While this may come as a shock to some parents, the AAP has been encouraging parents to keep car seats rear-facing since 2002.

This video from Seattle Children's Hospital explains some of the reasoning and also shows how to install a car seat.

Infant Car Seat Safety from Seattle Children's on Vimeo.

How do you feel about this new push from the AAP? Will it change when you go front-facing or will you switch your child back to rear-facing?

Overlooked Safety Traps Can Put Children at Risk

Each year in the U.S., more than 2,000 children under the age of 14 die as a result of a home injury, according to Safe Kids USA, a non-profit organization.

“Parents often underestimate their kids’ abilities and overestimate their intelligence,” says Chrissy Cianflone, Director of Program Operations at Safe Kids USA. “They think, my child’s too smart to do X and they often don’t realize how strong their kids are.”

There are so many things to think about as you safe-proof your home to protect small children that it’s easy to overlook important risks.

Most people are aware of common safety measures like covering your electrical outlets, keeping your child away from hot stoves, and watching them like a hawk as they bathe, but there are other dangers that don’t readily come to mind.

Cords from window treatments – According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, one child a month between the ages of 7 months and 10 years dies from strangulation or is severely injured by near strangulation from the loose strings or cords on window blinds and shades. A window covering advertised as cord-less does not mean that it is truly cord-free.Kenney Manufacturing’s new Truly CordFreeTM Roman Shades use a twist wand to raise and lower the shade and inner mechanisms to eliminate all strings and cords.

Dressers and other tall furniture – Dressers are dangerous because they are heavy, not always well balanced and can be pulled over if a child tries to climb them. An unsteady toddler trying to climb doesn’t understand that a heavy object can topple.  Invest in brackets found at home improvement stores or baby stores like Babies R Us to anchor dressers, TVs, and wall units. Keep heavier items on lower shelves or in lower drawers, and don’t keep remote controls or temptations like candy or toys on top of furniture.

Window screens – Never rely on a window screen to keep children safe from an open window.  Screens are for keeping insects out, not for keeping kids in. Invest in heavier child-proof window screens, which cost under $30.  Don’t place furniture by a window, potentially creating a climbing opportunity and the associated risk.

Open medication containers – Be vigilant about your child’s safety away from home.  A risky situation can exist when a child visits a grandparents’ home where pills may be left within their reach. Vitamins and OTC medications can be extremely dangerous to children. Remind family members and caretakers to buy pill bottles with child safety caps and keep all medicines and pills out of your child’s reach, preferably locked up.

Under the kitchen sink – More than 100 children ages 14 and under die each year from unintentional poisoning, according to Safe Kids USA. In addition to household cleaning supplies, pesticides, cosmetics, art supplies, paint products and alcohol are dangerous to children. To avoid accidental poisoning, store these products up high in locked cabinets.  It is a good idea to install a safety latch to keep the doors to under the kitchen sink secured at all times.

Consider addressing these issues in your home as soon as you can to provide optimum safety for your children.

Thank you, Melissa Kay and Market Builders for this pertinent information.

Have you made any safety changes in your home lately?

Preventing Tooth Decay for Kids

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease, highlighting the need for thorough oral care and regular dental visits. The ideal time for a child to visit the dentist is six months after the child’s first teeth erupt. During this initial visit, a dentist will be able to examine the development of the child’s mouth.

“Parents are surprised when I tell them that their infants can develop tooth decay and cavities soon after their teeth first appear,” says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Steven A. Ghareeb, DDS, FAGD. “We usually call this baby bottle tooth decay, which is caused by the long-term exposure to liquids containing sugars like milk, formula, and fruit juice.”

In addition to tooth decay, other dental problems, such as teething irritations, gum disease, and prolonged thumb or pacifier sucking, often start early. The sooner the child visits a dentist, the better.

There are many things that parents can do with their child at home to maintain good oral health:

• Clean your infant's gums with a clean, damp cloth twice a day.
• Ask your dentist when you may begin to rub a tiny dab of toothpaste on your child’s gums. Doing so will help your child become accustomed to the flavor of toothpaste.
• As soon as the first teeth come in, begin brushing them with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste.
• Help a young child brush at night, which is the most important time to brush, due to lower salivary flow during sleep and higher susceptibility to cavities and plaque.
• By approximately age 5, your child can learn to brush his or her teeth with proper parental instruction and supervision.

“The best way to teach a child how to brush is to lead by your good example,” says Dr. Ghareeb. “Allowing your child to watch you brush your teeth teaches the importance of good oral hygiene.”

Children, like adults, should see the dentist every six months. Some dentists may schedule interim visits for every three months when the child is very young to build the child’s comfort and confidence levels or for treatment needs.

For more tips to ensure a child has good oral health, visit KnowYourTeeth.com. This video from BabyCenter shows some dentists' opinions on when you should take babies to the dentist as well as methods for cleaning the teeth of small children.

Have you taken your children to the dentist? If so, how early did they start going?

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.

Depression in Children

Could your child be depressed?

Depression is a serious mood disorder that often goes undetected in children because it may not look the same as it does in adults. Kids experience many of the same feelings and symptoms, but find it difficult to articulate and express. Diagnosis is also complicated by the fact that changes in academic, social, or emotional functioning can be normal childhood behaviors. For instance, increased temper tantrums and misbehavior could indicate depression rather than defiance.

Other signs and symptoms include:

• Frequent irritation, sadness, anger, or boredom
• Excessive crying
• Withdrawal, loss of interest in hobbies, friends, or playing
• Unexplained aches and pains; stomachaches and headaches are common
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Thinking about death or suicide

Children who appear depressed may actually be experiencing anxiety. Pay attention to your child. If she is showing symptoms that do not resolve with communication, support, and encouragement, a visit to the pediatrician is in order. Treatment generally includes professional counseling, medicines, and family work.

Thank you to ParentLife contributor Vonda Skelton and Dena Cabrera at Remuda Ranch for this pertinent information.

Have you ever suspected or confirmed your child is depressed rather than just sad or upset?

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. Click on photo for source.

Bike Helmet Safety

Since many children will receive bicycles for Christmas, we thought this was timely information. Enjoy!

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Sports are the most frequent cause of injury for adolescents, and each year more than 3.5 million kids suffer sports- and recreational-related injuries.

However, by equipping your child with the proper plastic safety gear, you can help reduce their risk of injury by 46%. Did you know that according to the Bike Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI), establishing the helmet habit as soon as your child begins riding a tricycle is the best way to ensure that it will become a habit for a lifetime which can reduce the risk of head injuries by 85 percent? In order to ensure your child is biking safely Plastics Make it Possible compiled the following to help your child select their perfect biking helmet:

Fit Factor

Be sure the plastic helmet fits right — if it’s too big or too small it may be uncomfortable for your child and it is not as effective.

Plastic bicycle helmet fit guidelines:

• It should be snug and fit flat on top of your head when in place.
• There should only be one to two inches between the eyebrows and the ridge of the helmet.
• It should not obstruct your vision.
• It should have a tight (snug) chinstrap that is centered and always kept snapped.

Bike in Style

Let your child participate in picking out their own plastic helmet. They come in a variety of cool colors, patterns and even styles, which allow kids to express their own individual sense of style. Kids are more likely to wear a helmet if they like the looks of it!

Hard Headed

Look for a helmet made with hard ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) or fiberglass, which are hard and crack-resistant.

Know when to dump it.

If you’ve been in a crash, it’s time to find a new helmet. Helmets that have only been in minor fender-benders can weaken significantly and not be able to protect in the same way again. Write “crashed” on the helmet in permanent marker, and kiss it goodbye.

What else?

Beyond the helmet there is a variety of safety gear available for kids. As they progress to bicycles, scooters, and skateboards, essential equipment like wrist, elbow, and knee guards will help keep kids safe on the go. Tough plastics in protective athletic gear help prevent injuries from falling and crashing. Research for some of these activities shows that wearing wrist guards could reduce the number of wrist injuries by 87 percent, wearing elbow pads could reduce the number of elbow injuries by 82 percent, and wearing knee pads could reduce the number of knee injuries by 32 percent.

Protect your kids' heads—buy helmets to go with those new bikes!

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.

Growth Spurts: Development in the First Two Years

Going to the pediatrician's office with a small infant or toddler can be an adventure in itself. It's even harder if you're faced with unexpected questions or concerns. Here's a short list of age-appropriate skills your pediatrician will probably ask you about.

Remember that each child is different. If you have a concern, talk to your pediatrician.

Gross Motor Development

• Lifts up head (1 to 4 months)
• Rolls front to back (3 to 6 months)
• Rolls back to front (4 to 7 months)
• Sits with support (4 to 7 months)
• Sits without support (5 to 9 months)
• Creeps (5 to 10 months)
• Crawls (6 to 11 months)
• Pulls up to stand (6 to 12 months)
• Cruises (9 to 14 months)
• Walks (9 to 17 months)
• Runs (13 to 20 months)

Fine Motor Development

• Bats at objects (2 to 5 months)
• Discovers hands and feet (3 to 5 months)
• Transfers objects from one hand to the other hand (4 to 7 months)
• Finger feeds (5 to 10 months)

Social/Emotional Development

• Social smiles (1 to 3 months)
• Learns object permanence (6 to 12 months)
• Goes through stranger anxiety (6 to 12 months)

Language Development

• Coos (1 to 4 months)
• Laughs (3 to 6 months)
• Turns to voice (3 to 6 months)
• Blows raspberries (3 to 6 months)
• Jabbers (5 to 9 months)
• Says “mama” and “dada” specifically (9 to 14 months)

Have you ever been concerned about one of your child's development skills? I was convinced at 18 months that my daughter was never going to really talk. At 25 months, that seems laughable. She never STOPS talking now. I think sometimes we create things to worry about, don't you? --Jessie, Resident ParentLife Blogger

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.

Questions Your Child's Doctor Will Ask

In the December 2010 issue of ParentLife, our 1- to 2-year Growth Spurts article was about healthy development. Here are the basic questions you are likely to be asked at your child's well-child visits to the doctor during this time.

18-Month Checkup

• What are your child's eating habits?
• How is your child sleeping?
• Is your child walking?
• Does your child say "no"?
• Is your child saying at least six words, such as mama and dada?
• Does your child respond to simple commands?
• Is there anything unusual about the way your child looks at things?

2-Year Checkup

• Is your child physically active?
• What new words is your child learning?
• Is your child showing readiness for toilet training?

BabyCenter has printable worksheets for the 18-month and 2-year checkups, if you want to prepare answers in advance as well as record any questions you might have for the pediatrician so you don't forget!

Do you do anything to prepare for well-child visits?

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.

RSV: The Facts and Prevention

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is extremely common among infants and childrens. The Mayo Clinic says most children have been infected by age 2, whether you know it or not!

A Mayo Clnic article explains:

Signs and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection typically appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. In adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms. These include:

• Congested or runny nose

• Dry cough

• Low-grade fever

• Sore throat

• Mild headache

• A general feeling of unease and discomfort (malaise)

In severe cases
Respiratory syncytial virus can lead to a lower respiratory tract illness such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis — an inflammation of the small airway passages entering the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include:

• High fever

• Severe cough

• Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that's usually heard on breathing out (exhaling)

• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing, which may make the child prefer to sit up rather than lie down

• Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis)

Infants are most severely affected by RSV. They may markedly draw in their chest muscles and the skin between their ribs, indicating that they're having trouble breathing, and their breathing may be short, shallow and rapid. They may cough. Or they may show few, if any, signs of a respiratory tract infection, but will eat poorly and be unusually lethargic and irritable.

Most children and adults recover from the illness in eight to 15 days. But in young babies, infants born prematurely, or infants or adults who have chronic heart or lung problems, the virus may cause a more severe — occasionally life-threatening — infection that requires hospitalization.

There is a medication used for RSV prevention, Synagis®. It is specifically used for children younger than 2 who are at high risk for serious RSV. It is not a single injection but must be repeated on a monthly basis during peak RSV season and repeated in subsequent years until the child is no longer at high risk. Those babies most at risk are those who were born prematurely, those less than 6 weeks old, those with congenital heart or chronic lung disease, and those with immune deficiencies.

If you are having a winter baby and have any high-risk history or know your baby may be premature, go ahead and talk to your OB and pediatrician about RSV. It may be difficult to secure insurance coverage for the shots, so you may need to get the ball rolling.

Have you had any experience with RSV?

Encouraging Kids to Eat Healthy by Beth Bence Reinke

Our November 2010 issue included an excellent article on eating healthy during the holidays ("Nutritious Celebrations," p. 26) by registered dietician Beth Bence Reinke.

Here, Beth shares some of her favorite resources for getting kids to eat healthy.

These three healthy cookbooks contain numerous recipes that would work for parents and kids to make for parties and holidays:

• Healthy Snacks for Kids: Recipes for Nutritious Bites at Home or On the Go by Amy Wilensky (Knack, 2010)
• Real Food for Healthy Kids: 200+ Easy, Wholesome Recipes by Tanya Wenman Steel and Tracey Seaman (William Morrow Cookbooks, 2008)
• The Top 100 Recipes for Happy Kids by Charlotte Watts and Gemini Adams (Duncan Baird, 2008)

Web sites:

Nourish Interactive has a special Thanksgiving page with tips for healthy eating, recipes, and advice for involving your kids.

Food Champs : At this site kids can sign in with a screen name (no need to give personal info) and then print out a dozen healthy recipes. They print out with step-by-step instructions and full-color photos of the recipe.

Catherine McCord, the author and chef behind Weelicious, posts recipes near-daily that take advantage of local, fresh foods yet are kid-friendly. She encourages parents to expand their kids' horizons through food!

Do you have a favorite resource for cooking with kids? Please share in the comments!

Going to the Doctor: Birth to 1 Year

Here's a little "extra" from our Growth Spurts: Birth to 1 Year article "Ah-Choo!" by Evelyn Hanes, R.N. — something we couldn't quite squeeze in the November issue of ParentLife! The article speaks about when to take your infant to the doctor.

Your doctor’s office is not just for well-child checkups. Most offices have a “sick” area in the waiting room. During the worst of cold/flu/RSV season, they may take you immediately to a treatment room. This helps protect those who are not sick.

If your child is particularly fussy, he may not wait well. Ask for an appointment at the beginning of the day or immediately after the office lunch break for the shortest wait. Come with your biggest supply of patience! Your sanity may depend on a having a well-stocked diaper bag. Bring a couple of favorite toys and books as well as a snack and something to drink. Extra diapers and clothing are always a good idea. And do not forget the pacifier and “blankie” or other comforting object.

Try to keep your baby in your lap. The less he is able to touch toys and surfaces in the waiting room, the less chance he will pick up other germs. If your child does touch anything, keep his hands out of his mouth and wash them thoroughly as soon as possible. If at all possible, do not sit beside anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

It does not take long to realize that babies do not get sick on an appointed schedule. They get sick in the middle of the night or when you are out of town! Even in these inconvenient times, you should still have help readily available. All physician practices have a plan for handling after-hour problems. Find out what your provider’s plan is and do not hesitate to call when you think your child is sick.

Have you struggled with whether to take your infant to the doctor or not? How do you decide?

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.

Prevent Kids' ID Theft

Theft of children's social security numbers is on the rise, warns Linda Criddle, president of the Safe Internet Alliance and one of the nation's foremost experts on Internet and wireless safety, in a recent blog post. Children's SSNs are highly prized because they have no credit taint. At least 7% of reported SSN thefts target children — and the actual percentage is probably higher, as the theft is often not detected until the child applies for credit.

The repercussions of a damaged credit score can impact a child for life, Ms. Criddle notes. As child victims of i.d. theft seek loans for college, cars, and homes, they may struggle to qualify and be permanently subject to higher interest and mortgage rates.

Criddle offered the following tips and red flags for parents.

Reduce your child's risk of financial ID theft

• Keep Social Security cards locked up. These don't belong in wallets or loose in your home where others may come across them.
• Tightly restrict sharing your child's social security number. You may be asked to provide your child's SSN in many circumstances, such as to enroll them for a sports team, or at your doctor's office. However, you do not need to give their SSN — you can show other evidence of age or information that your health care provider needs for billing.
• Teach your children not to share their SSNs. When they are applying for jobs — at which point they finally do have to share the number —  make sure the employer and company are legitimate so the risk of resale is low.
• When creating a bank account for your child, set up only a savings account and make sure there is no overdraft protection included.
• Monitor your child's credit as you do your own. If you wait until you see a red flag, a lot of damage may have occurred, and often you'll see no red flag at all until your child seeks credit. Running a credit report does introduce some risk, but you can mitigate this by freezing their credit. This way, if the very act of checking your child's credit history generated a credit file you have squashed the chances for abuse. Unfreeze their credit when they do seek out a loan.

Red flags indicating that your child's financial ID has been stolen

There is no silver bullet to protect your child from ID theft, but there are some red flags. Be suspicious if:

• Your child receives any unsolicited credit offers in his or her name, or notices from debt collectors.
• Someone who has access to the child’s SSN shows sudden evidence of prosperity.
• You get a notice from the IRS saying the SSN number you used on your tax return (or on their tax return) is a duplicate number.
• Your insurance company denies a claim for your child because they have already covered the procedure.
• The bank notifies you when you go to establish a savings account for your child that an account using that SSN already exists.
• You receive a warrant for a traffic violation for a child without a drivers license.
• Your child is denied government assistance because records show they are already receiving benefits.
• You get a request for a job verification when your child has never had a job.

The Identity Theft Resource Center also has some interesting tips and advice on how to take action if your suspet identity theft.

Have you ever considered the possibility of this occurring? Do you and your family have identity theft protection? Please feel free to share tips in the comments!

Photo used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons.

Window Covering Safety Month--and a GIVEAWAY!

** Congratulations to Joanne ... the winner of these Kenney Truly CordFree Roman Shades! Thanks to everyone for participating! **

Safety is a concern for everyone, especially parents.  An important part of raising children is careful supervision of their activities in the home.  Parents need to be aware of their children’s surroundings at all times in order to anticipate and prevent potential injury.  One of the most overlooked areas in the home is the window.  Whether open or closed, windows are a potential hazard to the safety and well-being of toddlers and young children. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) and independent retailers joined forces to designate October as National Window Covering Safety Month to raise awareness of the dangers posed by window covering cords. CPSC data shows that since 1996, there have been reports of 147 children having died as a result of accidental strangulation from window covering cords.

In recent years, the window covering industry has redesigned its corded products and developed cord-safety standards.  However, millions of older corded window coverings have not been retrofitted by consumers and many new parents are sometimes unaware of potential cord dangers.

The campaign urges parents and caretakers to replace their blinds with cordless window coverings. We're here to help you do that!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post sharing one thing you worry about in your home, pertaining to your kids or grandkids. We will select a winner on November 2 from all valid entries. LifeWay employees are not eligible.

Cold and Flu Myths

From the Vonda Skelton, writer of our October 2010 ParentLife feature "A Healthy Life: Kids, Colds, & Flu;" Dr. Rebecca Woodlief; and BabyCenter.com, here are some common misconceptions about colds and the flu.

Colds and flu are NOT caused by:

• Getting chilled
• Going outside with wet hair
• Moving from warm to cold environment
• An uncovered head

Myth: Over-the-counter remedies are good for children. In fact, they can be more harmful than helpful in children under 6, and even older children are at a risk of being overmedicated. "Every year, 7,000 children under the age of 11 are treated in U.S. emergency rooms after taking too much cough or cold medication," cites a BabyCenter article.

Myth: You can catch the flu from a flu shot. You cannot catch a virus from a dead virus. Any reaction is to the shot, not to the deactivated virus. The nasal spray vaccine is a weakened, not dead, virus, however, and therefore should not be given to people with weakened immune systems.

Myth: Kids in daycare catch more colds. This is true only to a point; after the first year of daycare, children are at no more risk for catching colds than those at home. Exposure to infections can also help build the immune systems of children so they catch fewer colds in later years.

Myth: Antibiotics can treat a cold or the flu. Because colds and flus are viral, they cannot be touched by antibiotics, which kill bacteria.

Myth: Green drainage indicates a bacterial infection (not cold or flu). In the past, this was thought to be true; however, "Recent studies have dispelled this old myth showing that viral infections often have colorful mucus and that the majroity of these head colds clear without any antibiotics," writes Dr. Jim Mitterando.  

For more on myths about common colds and flu, this BabyCenter article by Karen Miles has a wealth of information. Also check out this past article on differentiating between allergies, cold, and flu.

Do you spend the whole winter battling colds or is your household relatively healthy? Don't forget, to enter our monthly giveaway, just leave a comment during the month of October!

Illustration used with permission of Flickr Creative Commons. 

Fisher-Price® Recall

Fisher-Price® issued four recalls today. Please make sure you don't have one of these items in your house! If you do, visit the Mattel Recalls Page and visit the appropriate link for your product.

Fourteen varities of Fisher-Price trikes have been recalled due to the protruding key you see in the picture above.The recall site states, "A child can strike, sit or fall on the plastic key and be injured." 

Healthy Care™, Close to Me™, and Easy Clean™ High Chairs with tray storage pegs have also been recalled. Check the label on the back of your high chair for a product number, then compare with this list to see if yours has been recalled.

There has also been a recall on specific models of the Little People® Wheelies™ Stand ‘n Play™ Rampway and inflatable balls associated with the following toys: Baby Playzone™ Crawl & Cruise Playground™, Baby Playzone™ Crawl & Slide Arcade™, Baby Gymtastics™ Play Wall, Ocean Wonders™ Kick & Crawl Aquarium (C3068 and H8094), 1-2-3 Tetherball and Bat & Score Goal made before 2008.

Please see the Mattel Recall Web site for more information.

The Child Product Safety site is an easy resource for finding the most recent recalled children's items, as well as searching for specific items you may have questions about.

Be Prepared in an Emergency

Did you know that September is the seventh annual National Preparedness Month? Since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security has urged families to get their acts together when it comes to having plans in case of an emergency.

The Center for Disease Control Web site offers some wonderful advice on what emergency preparedness truly means. They outline how each family can make an emergency kit, create an emergency plan, be informed about emergencies, and get involved in educating their community.

We were recently able to review the American Red Cross Blackout Buddy, a fantastic tool to have in your home in case of a common problem: a power outage. (If your kids are very scared of the dark, this can qualify as a national emergency!)
 

The Blackout Buddy functions as a night-light for everyday use, but when the power goes out it immediately has a bright LED light that comes on automatically. Flip down the prongs for plugging in, and it can be used as a flashlight — one that can be found a lot more quickly than the one buried in the bottom of a junk drawer in a dark kitchen.

The Blackout Buddy is just $15, and a percentage of proceeds goes to the American Red Cross.

Do you have an emergency plan for your family? Or even know where your flashlights are? Honestly, I’m not sure we even HAVE a flashlight.

How to Find a Good Babysitter

We are proud to have Dr. Linda Mintle in ParentLife each month answering questions submitted from readers. To submit a question for Dr. Mintle, e-mail it to parentlife@lifeway.com and include "? for Dr. Mintle" on the subject line. This month we have an extra Q&A from Dr. Mintle we wanted to share.

Q: I’d like some guidelines on choosing a babysitter. I am afraid to bring someone in to my home that I don’t know very well. We have several teenagers in our church and I’d like to use a few of them but how do I know which ones to use?

A: You can’t be too careful as to who watches your children when you are away. The younger the ages of your children, the less they can tell you about the babysitter, so you have to do your homework ahead of time.

• The best place to begin is to ask for references from other parents. If other parents have used the sitter and have been satisfied, that usually is a good sign.
• Interview the sitter and try to schedule a time to watch her interact with other children. Perhaps you could watch her in the church nursery or in a Sunday School class.
• Talk to older siblings of families who have used a babysitter and get their impressions of the person. I think it is best to hire someone you know fairly well or take the recommendation from someone you trust.
• If you can, find someone who shares your values. This usually impacts the way a sitter handles a problem, the type of media she brings into your home and the way she talks to your child. Ask her how she would handle specific problems.
• Ask if the sitter has taken a babysitter class at a local hospital or community agency. My daughter did this when she was older and learned CPR, poison control and other important emergency protocols. Safety is so important that you need someone who knows and follows safety guidelines such as locking doors and windows, keeping hazards away from children, staying off the phone and is clear headed if a problem occurs. 
• Is the sitter a caring person who actually likes children? If she is a teenager who is doing this for money but has no interest in your child and ignores your child most of the time, pass on that person. The sitter should also be reliable and consistent—showing up when she says, arranging rides, following the rules you outline, etc. A sitter who makes excuses for why she didn’t follow your instructions raises a red flag.
• Ask your child how she liked the sitter, if she wants her back and pay attention to how she behaves when the sitter is gone. Even young kids can give you some indication of how they were treated.
• You can also make a surprise visit home to see what is going on. Some people even go so far as putting cameras in their homes so they can watch how the sitter dealt with their child. That seems a bit extreme to me. I did surprise the sitter a few times when I forgot something. It was actually reassuring to see them smiling and having fun.

Extra Resource: What to Expect Baby-sitter Handbook by Heidi Murkoff (Workman Publishing Company, 2003)

Safe Swimming

Fit & Trim Kids

In this month's issue of ParentLife, Evelyn Hanes gave some very helpful guidelines for healthy weight loss in our "A Healthy Life" department. But what about the kids? What should children do to maintain a healthy weight? Check out the following guidelines for kids from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

• Eat five fruits and vegetables each day.
• Participate in one hour of physical exercise each day.
• Limit screen time to less than two hours each day.
• Limit sugar sweetened drinks.
• Eat breakfast every day.
• Choose low-fat dairy products (ages 2 and up).
• Eat meals together as a family.
• Limit fast food, take out, and eating out.
• Prepare foods at home as a family.
• Eat a diet rich in calcium and fiber.

Following these guidelines for your child will help him grow healthy and strong ... and they are good guildelines for the whole family!

What healthy habits does your family have that might help other families who want to lead a healthier lifestyle? Share your ideas with us by leaving a comment!

Happy 4th of July!

The team at ParentLife would like to wish you and your family a happy and safe Independence Day! If you missed it, please check out our 4th of July Safety Tips from last week.

May God bless you and the USA!

July 4th Safety

Keep your family safe this summer by following these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

FIREWORKS SAFETY

• Fireworks can result in severe burns, scars, and disfigurement that can last a lifetime.
• Fireworks that are often thought to be safe, such as sparklers, can reach temperatures above 1000 degrees Fahrenheit and can burn users and bystanders.
• Families should attend community fireworks displays run by professionals rather than using fireworks at home.
• The AAP recommends prohibiting public sale of all fireworks, including those by mail or the Internet.

BOATING SAFETY

• Children should wear life jackets at all times when on boats or near bodies of water.
• Make sure the life jacket is the right size for your child. The jacket should not be loose. It should always be worn as instructed with all straps belted.
• Blow-up water wings, toys, rafts and air mattresses should not be used as life jackets or personal flotation devices.
• Adults should wear life jackets for their own protection, and to set a good example.
• Adolescents and adults should be warned of the dangers of boating when under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and even some prescription medications.

SWIMMING

• Never swim alone.  Even good swimmers need buddies!
• A lifeguard (or another adult who knows about water rescue) needs to be watching children whenever they are in or near the water. Younger children should be closely supervised while in or near the water – use “touch supervision,” keeping no more than an arm’s length away.
• Make sure your child knows never to dive into water except when permitted by an adult who knows the depth of the water and who has checked for underwater objects.
• Never let your child swim in canals or any fast moving water.
• Ocean swimming should only be allowed when a lifeguard is on duty.

How do you plan to celebrate the 4th of July this year?

Safety Information -- Crib Recall

On Thursday, over two million cribs made by seven different companies were recalled due to the concern that babies can suffocate, become trapped, or fall from the cribs. Is your crib one of them? Be sure to find out. For all of the recall information, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)'s Web site ... or click here.

10 Tips to Maintain a Germ-Free Nursery

It wasn't long ago that I was working diligently to prepare a nursery for our little boy, Jack. I vividly remember wanting everything to be organized, clean, and beautiful. Every parent wants Baby's room to be safe and clean. Consider the following 10 tips from Dr. Benjamin Tanner.

1. Identify the germ “hot spots” within your nursery and clean them often. Germ hot spots within the nursery are the areas that come in contact with waste in diapers and other body fluids, either directly or indirectly. Diaper waste — and the millions and millions of germs in it — can be spread by hands and objects that come in contact with it. Since germs are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye, it’s easy to spread many of them to clean surfaces without knowing it. Areas where most bacteria typically gather include:

• Changing Table – This is the place where diaper messes and germs are transferred from the diaper to baby’s skin – and possibly mom’s hands. And a dirty diaper likely has more germs inside it than anything else in the nursery.
• Laundry Hamper – Studies have shown that laundry, especially if it has come in contact with bodily fluids, can harbor great quantities of bacteria and even spread them to clean clothes through normal washing cycles.
• Floor – Germs on the floor are not a concern for adults, but the floor is where babies lay, crawl, and play. Most floor germs aren’t of the harmful type, but it’s still a hot spot to keep an eye on.
• Toys/Toy chest – The average toy isn’t loaded with germs, but toys will transmit them easily if they become contaminated, since toys come in contact with playmates’ hands, skin, and mouths.

2. Learn the difference between cleaners and disinfectants, and which is appropriate for your nursery. Cleaners remove most soils, but may spread germs around. Disinfectants actually kill germs when used correctly.

• To use a disinfectant correctly in a nursery, remove your baby from the spray or wipe zone and apply the product liberally. After the label-specified contact time elapses, wipe off the surface with a wet cloth or paper towel to get rid of any irritating residual chemicals so your baby’s delicate skin does not touch these chemicals.
• It’s also wise to disinfect hard floors and vacuum carpets routinely to keep germ levels low. Tip: Disinfectants say “disinfects,” “antibacterial,” or “sanitizes” on the label

3. Set aside a special place in the nursery for disinfectants so they are readily available for quick cleaning but safely out of reach of children. Even “non-toxic” cleaners can be dangerous to children, so keep cleaners on a high shelf in the closet or a child-proofed drawer of the dresser.

4. Keep messes (and germs) to a minimum when changing dirty diapers in the nursery.

• Establish a quick, mess-free diaper changing routine, and keep supplies handy and close by.
• Create a dedicated changing area that can be easily cleaned and disinfected.
• Take extra care to handle diapers from the outside surfaces and avoid touching waste.
• Get rid of diapers in a hygienic fashion that keeps germs sealed away. I recommend the Diaper Genie II Elite™ Disposal System. It seals odor into the pail and out of your nursery unlike an ordinary trash can and plastic bag. Diapers only touch the disposable film, not the pail, so there is one less thing to clean. The Diaper Genie II Elite™ Disposal System also has Antimicrobial Protection built into the plastic to inhibit odor-causing bacteria.

5. Keep soap and warm water, or where soap and water are not available, antibacterial hand wipes, nearby to use after changing your baby in the nursery. This will help stop the spread of germs within the nursery. Tip: When soap and water are not available, consider using an antibacterial hand wipe, such as Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hands and Face Wipes. Wet Ones Antibacterial Hands and Face Wipes are clinically proven to be just as effective as gel hand sanitizers in killing 99.99% of germs, and also clean away dirt and messes.

6. Keep baby bottles away from germ hot spots, such as the changing table, and only handle them when your hands are clean. Harmful germs can grow very quickly in formula and breast milk — be sure to keep bottles clean and dry when not in use.

7. Keep a special hamper inside the nursery to use specifically for heavily soiled baby laundry. This special, separate hamper will help prevent bacteria on heavily soiled laundry from spreading throughout the rest of the nursery. Also, take special care when laundering heavily soiled baby clothing and bedding to prevent the spread of germs through the laundry.

• Use hot water and/or chlorine bleach.
• Dry laundry in a hot dryer cycle.

8. Take special precautions within the nursery when baby is sick to prevent spread of illness to other children and throughout the rest of the nursery.

• Disinfect nursery “hot spots” more frequently.
• Reduce time other children spend in the nursery and with Baby.

9. Take special precautions in the nursery when you or other family members are sick to keep from giving your infection to baby and spreading throughout the nursery.

• Cover all coughs and sneezes.
• Wash hands before contact with baby and when entering the nursery.

10. Reduce pet access to the nursery.

• Reptiles and birds frequently harbor dangerous germs, like salmonella. Make sure that children wash hands well with soap and warm water after handling reptiles and before coming into the nursery, and keep bird bedding/litter out of the nursery altogether.
• Dogs and cats are less risky but still may carry certain kinds of harmful bacteria. Cats may harbor a parasite that is of particular concern to pregnant women — if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, avoid changing cat litter to reduce exposure to the parasite toxoplasma.
• If a pet makes a mess on the carpet, make sure to spray it with a non-bleach disinfectant after cleanup to prevent those germs from spreading to baby during playtime.
  
  

What tips have you found to be helpful to keep your baby's nursery clean? Are there products that you have found to be helpful?

Crazy Weather, Amazing Volunteers

No doubt many of you have heard of the devastation in middle Tennessee due to 2 days of rain unlike any other in recorded history. I was on my way back from Atlanta when the weather hit and found myself driving in the middle of it all. I don't think I was ever afraid for my personal safety but was a little panicked at the thought of not being able to get home because of flooding streets and interstates. Little did I know that many were beginning to see flooding that would reach into their homes and devastate lives all across the state. God spared us any damage, but we certainly feel called to step out and help others.

In the days since, I have been wowed at the number of people and churches who have helped storm victims. Check out the stories on the Baptist Press Web site of Baptists who have been involved in relief efforts along the way. Their lead story refers to this event as a 1,000 year flood!

Many may not realize it but the SBC has its own Disaster Relief organization that is part of the North American Mission Board. Check out their coordinated efforts in the USA and around the world.

I can't help but mention the Red Cross for their efforts in setting up shelters in our community. I just saw the new Red Cross Emergency Radio (Etón) that includes a USB port, radio, NOAA weatherband, and that is powered by either solar energy or a handcrank! How cool is that? Plus, Etón will contribute up to $1.00 of the sales price of each Red Cross product to support the American Red Cross.

Important Safety Recall

If you have kids, more than likely you have Children's Tylenol, Motrin, and other over-the-counter medications handy. If that's the case, you definitely need to be aware of this safety recall.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is voluntarily recalling all lots that have not yet expired of certain over-the-counter (OTC) Children’s and Infants’ liquid products manufactured in the United States.

For all of the details, visit http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm210443.htm.

National TV Turnoff Week

Being the editor of a parenting magazine comes with lots of advantages. One of those advantages is that I am able to keep up with the latest news in child development, which I hope helps me become a better, more-educated parent. But being aware of this news also comes with disadvantages ... like episodes of mommy guilt when I don't follow some of the guidelines set by experts like The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For example, The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that parents not expose their children to TV until 2 years old. (Children older than 2 should be limited to 1 to 2 hours of total screen time a day.) Before I had Jack, this sounded completely doable. But I must confess ... TV has become a routine part of Jack's day ... a small part ... but a routine part nonetheless. We have discovered that letting Jack watch an age-appropriate DVD before nap time and bedtime makes it easier to change a super-wiggly toddler's diaper and clothes and helps his body wind down a bit before trying to sleep. It's a bit selfish on our part, but it simplifies life and works for our family. I do feel guilty when I read about the AAP's recommendations. That's why I'm committing to stick to the guidelines once Jack turns 2 and limit his screen time.

Does your family spend too much time in front of a screen? Did you know that this week is National TV Turnoff Week? It is the perfect opportunity to turn off the TV, computer, and video games and spend some quality time together as a family. Go for a walk or a bike ride together. Go camping in your own backyard or in a local state park. Play in the yard until it gets dark outside. Play board games together. There are so many great things families can do together besides watching TV.

 Looking for strategies for taming screen time? Don't miss Rebecca Isbell's Growth Spurts article "Taming Screen Time" in our April 2010 issue. And for simple ideas for using household items to create hours of imaginative play (without a screen), check out G.G. Mathis' article "The Value of a Box."

Sports Injury Prevention Tips

My boys love sports! They are both playing baseball right now, and my oldest also is running track for his school. But how much is too much? And how can I guard him against injuries. The following tips are provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to answer questions like these.

Injury Risks

All sports have a risk of injury. In general, the more contact in a sport, the greater the risk of injury. 

Most injuries occur to ligaments (connect bones together), tendons (connect muscles to bones) and muscles. Only about 5 percent of sports injuries involve broken bones. However, the areas where bones grow in children are at more risk of injury during the rapid phases of growth. In a growing child, point tenderness over a bone should be evaluated further by a medical provider even if minimal swelling or limitation in motion is appreciated. 

Most frequent sports injuries are sprains (injuries to ligaments) and strains (injuries to muscles), caused when an abnormal stress is placed on tendons, joints, bones and muscle. As always, contact your pediatrician if you have additional questions or concerns. 

To reduce injury:

• Wear the right gear.  Players should wear appropriate and properly fit protective equipment such as pads (neck, shoulder, elbow, chest, knee, shin), helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups, and/or eyewear.  Young athletes should not assume that protective gear will protect them from performing more dangerous or risky activities.
• Strengthen muscles.  Conditioning exercises before games and during practice strengthens muscles used in play.
• Increase flexibility.  Stretching exercises before and after games or practice can increase flexibility.
• Use the proper technique.  This should be reinforced during the playing season.
• Take breaks.  Rest periods during practice and games can reduce injuries and prevent heat illness.
• Play safe.  Strict rules against headfirst sliding (baseball and softball), spearing (football), and body checking (ice hockey) should be enforced.
• Stop the activity if there is pain.
• Avoid heat injury by drinking plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise or play; decrease or stop practices or competitions during high heat/humidity periods; wear light clothing.

Sports-Related Emotional Stress

The pressure to win can cause significant emotional stress for a child. Sadly, many coaches and parents consider winning the most important aspect of sports. Young athletes should be judged on effort, sportsmanship and hard work. They should be rewarded for trying hard and for improving their skills rather than punished or criticized for losing a game or competition.

For the AAP site and entire article, click here.

What are some things you have had to watch for as your children play sports?

Safety Alert -- March Issue!

We apologize to our readers for not thinking through the implications of including balloons at parties. We do want to take this opportunity to get the word out to other readers so they will be aware.

Thank you for your comments! We always want to give the best health and safety information available to our readers.

 

Mom, Can We Have a Dog?

Dr. Linda Mintle answers your questions each month in the Real Life Solutions department of ParentLife magazine. This month Dr. Linda answers questions about kids using cell phones and when kids lie. Each month we post an extra question on the blog. This month Dr. Mintle gives some advice about getting a pet.

Q: Our 10-year-old daughter is begging us for a pet. I have two younger children and adding a pet to the mix feels overwhelming. However, my daughter desperately wants a pet and I am an animal lover. I am not sure about the added responsibility right now. What should we consider in making this decision?

A: Most children will beg you for a pet some time in their young lives. The main issues to consider are the child’s developmental stage and your expectations for taking care of a pet. Obviously a cat or dog would require care and attention — feeding, grooming, exercise, clean up, and more. Other pets, such as fish and guinea pigs, are less time and care intensive and good choices for younger children. They offer you an opportunity to see how committed to taking care of a pet your child really is and how long interest will be sustained.

Go to the library and get a book about pet care. As a family, talk about the needs of a pet, what type of pet you may consider, and what the expectations would be. For example, certain dog breeds are more kid-friendly than others. Goldfish or hermit crab requires very little upkeep and expense. Visit a pet store and talk with a friend who has the kind of pet you are interested in to get a better idea of time and care issues.

Of course your child could lose interest in the pet after several weeks and you may end up with the responsibility. Schedule playdates with a friend who has a pet and see if the interest in the pet sustains over time. Decide what you can handle right now and do not be swayed by the begging.

Finally, consider the cost of owning a pet, family stability in terms of moves and housing, the demand of time and energy, and the possibility of the pet becoming a source of family conflict if people slack off on their responsibilities. The benefits of pet owning should be considered as well. Pets help teach a child structure, empathy, compassion, nurturing, loyalty, trust, and responsibility and provide companionship. Pets are also sources of unconditional love and dependability. Pets can improve mood and blood pressure, increase family exercise, and even reduce stress.

Send us your questions for Dr. Mintle!
 

High Chair Recall

Manufacturer: Graco Children's Products Inc., of Atlanta, Ga.

Hazard: The screws holding the front legs of the high chair can loosen and fall out and/or the plastic bracket on the rear legs can crack causing the high chair to become unstable and tip over unexpectedly. This poses a fall hazard to children.

Incidents/Injuries: Graco has received 464 reports of screws loosening/falling out and/or plastic brackets cracking causing the high chair to tip over unexpectedly. These tip-over's resulted in 24 reports of injuries including bumps and bruises to the head, a hairline fracture to the arm, and cuts, bumps, bruises and scratches to the body.

Description: This recall involves all Harmony™ High Chairs. The Harmony™ high chair was manufactured from November 2003 through December 2009 and is no longer in production. The model number can be found on the label that is located on the underside of the foot rest.

Sold at: AAFES, Burlington Coat Factory, Babies "R" Us, Toys "R" Us, Sears, Target, Target.com, Walmart, WalMart.com, Shopko, USA Baby, and other retailers nationwide from December 2003 through March 2010 for between $70 and $120.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the Harmony™ high chair and contact Graco to receive a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: To order a free repair kit, contact Graco toll-free at (877) 842-3206 or visit the firm's Web site at www.gracobaby.com. For additional information, contact Graco at (800) 345-4109 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

To see the release, click here.

National Poison Prevention Week

Each year, approximately 2.4 million people — more than half under age 6 — swallow or have contact with a poisonous substance. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some important tips to prevent and to treat exposures to poison.

To poison proof your home:
Most poisonings occur when parents or caregivers are home but not paying attention. The most dangerous potential poisons are medicines, cleaning products, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, pesticides, furniture polish, gasoline, kerosene, and lamp oil. Be especially vigilant when there is a change in routine. Holidays, visits to and from grandparents’ homes, and other special events may bring greater risk of poisoning if the usual safeguards are defeated or not in place.

• Store medicine, cleaners, paints/varnishes, and pesticides in their original packaging in locked cabinets or containers, out of sight and reach of children.
• Install a safety latch — that locks when you close the door — on child-accessible cabinets containing harmful products.
• Purchase and keep all medicines in containers with safety caps. Discard unused medication.
• Never refer to medicine as “candy” or another appealing name.
• Check the label each time you give a child medicine to ensure proper dosage.
• Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers.
• Keep coal, wood, or kerosene stoves in safe working order.
• Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Treatment
If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If your child has come in contact with poison, and has mild or no symptoms, call your poison control center at 1(800) 222-1222.

Different types and methods of poisoning require different, immediate treatment:

• Swallowed poison – Remove the item from the child, and have the child spit out any remaining substance. Do not make your child vomit. Do not use syrup of ipecac.
• Skin poison — Remove the child’s clothes and rinse the skin with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes.
• Eye poison — Flush the child’s eye by holding the eyelid open and pouring a steady stream of room temperature water into the inner corner.
• Poisonous fumes – Take the child outside or into fresh air immediately. If the child has stopped breathing, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and do not stop until the child breathes on his or her own or until someone can take over.

Excerpted with permission of the American Academy of Pediatrics, February 2010.

Preteens & Porn: What I Wish I Had Known by Teresa Cook

In the October 2009 issue of ParentLife, Teresa Cook dealt with the difficult topic of preteens and pornography. She opened up about her family's personal struggle with pornography and provided tips to help other families prevent porn addiction in their homes. Pornography is no longer just a problem that grown men or even older teenagers struggle with. Exposure to porn is happening younger and younger. Do you know how to keep your preteen safe? 

Because this is such an important issue, we want to be sure everyone has a chance to see the article, even if you missed the October 2009 issue of ParentLife.

Ten years ago, I seldom gave a thought to pornography. Sure, I knew about “adult” bookstores and backroom video rentals, but porn belonged to another world. I was certain it would never affect my family. That is until one day when our teenage son, Brandon, came to us in tears and confessed that he was addicted to pornography. He told us about stumbling across a partially scrambled cable channel where he saw enough to become hooked. For 18 months, he snuck from his room in the middle of the night to watch flickering images that buried themselves deep into his mind.
“I’ve tried over and over to stop, but I can’t,” Brandon sobbed as we hugged him. “I need help!”

Presence of Porn

Since that day, I have learned more about pornography than I ever wanted to know. More children are being exposed to porn and at younger ages than ever before. A recent survey published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revealed that 42 percent of children ages 10 to 17 had seen online pornography in the previous year. When I first began investigating, statistics showed the average age of first exposure as 11 to 13. Due to the proliferation of pornography on the Internet, some experts say that age has dropped to 8. In fact, counselors report seeing more preteens, including girls, who compulsively view pornography. This is frightening since the earlier the exposure, the more ingrained an addiction may become.

Power of Porn
Having never experienced an addiction, I had difficulty understanding why Brandon could not stop looking at it. Surely he was not physically addicted to pornography since he did not ingest anything as alcoholics or drug addicts do. Yet even after we located a counselor for our son and helped him set up protection and accountability practices, he continued seeking ways to access sexually explicit material.
I later discovered that viewing pornography does indeed cause a powerful, mood-altering addiction. Researchers believe natural endorphins many times stronger than heroin flood an addict’s body causing him to literally get high on his own brain chemicals. Resulting sexual arousal stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine, which burns the images into the viewer’s mind. These memories are difficult, sometimes impossible, to erase and can play back at will or even against the addict’s will. Our son battled a relentless foe.

Preventing Porn Addiction
Looking back, I see many things my husband and I could have done differently to prevent Brandon from falling prey to this addiction. While no plan guarantees a porn-proof child, taking the following steps will help insulate your child against its temptation.

• Protect. With today’s technology explosion, pornography is not only easily accessible but difficult to avoid. Institute a protection plan to make your home a safe haven. Connect with like-minded parents who also guard their homes. Model self-protection procedures in the movies and shows you watch and the material you read.
• Prepare. Even if you plug all the gaps through which obscenity can enter your home, your children may still encounter it at a friend’s house, the local library, or school. Prepare your child’s heart and mind to resist in three ways.
  
  1. Teach godly sexuality. After my husband and I had the “birds and bees” talk with Brandon, we told him to come to us if he ever had questions. Then we breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Whew! Glad that’s over.” How I wish I had known that developing a healthy sense of sexuality in children involves more. While we never modeled unhealthy sexuality for our son, we failed to intentionally teach him God’s plan for sex. You have the opportunity to do better. By discussing sex in an appropriate and God-honoring way, you can make great strides in heading off a fascination with pornography.
  2. Initiate the porn talk. You may worry, as I did, that warning children about pornography will trigger an unwholesome curiosity. Counselors say the opposite is true. The more children know about the dangers, the less likely they will want to see it. Age-geared discussions can start as early as preschool, as a natural extension of warning children about strangers and inappropriate touch.
  3. Keep communication open. Even when children accidentally stumble upon pornography, they often feel intense shame and are reluctant to talk about it. Prepare your children by keeping communication open and assuring them of your unconditional love.
• Pray. A mother of 12 once gave me a parents’ list of prayers which included “pray your children will get caught when they are guilty.” Pray they admit their wrongdoings, maybe, but get caught? I found it difficult to send that request heavenward. Months after Brandon’s confession, we learned the cable programs were not his first exposure to pornography. One brief incident took place on a youth trip. His getting caught at that time would have been embarrassing, but it might have forced us to take a closer look and given us a chance to intervene. Pray specifically not only for God to protect your children but to reveal to you any secrets they may harbor.
   

My Plea
Thanks to God’s mercy, Brandon no longer seeks out pornography as he once did, but he probably will battle its lure for the rest of his life. I cannot change that. But armed with the facts I wish I had known, you can take action to prevent our family’s story from becoming your family’s story.

The Preteen Porn Talk
Are you struggling to know how to talk to your preteen about pornography? Click here for discussion points to help you get the conversation started.

Protection Plan

• 
Insist that your cable company completely block all channels you do not subscribe to. (See FCC Consumer Facts about signal bleed at www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/objectionabletv.pdf.)
• 

Activate any parental controls available on cable, satellite, or the Internet.
• 
Install a high-quality filter on all home computers and update regularly. Go to www.internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com and www.filterreview.com/products/launch.htm to comparison shop.
• 
Keep all computers and TVs in open family areas, easily visible by all.
• 
Call your cell phone provider to deactivate Internet access on your child’s cell phone.
•  
Monitor your child’s media exposure (TV shows, movies, magazines, books, video or online games, and music).
• 
Visit www.pluggedinonline.com for movie reviews, www.parentstv.org for TV show reviews, and http://guide2games.org for video game reviews.
• 
Keep abreast of technology. Even as you read this, pornographers are finding new ways to deliver their product.

Teresa Cook writes and speaks on a number of parenting topics, including pornography addiction in children. Be sure to check out her Web site www.pornproofyourchild.com for more information.

Important Safety Information

Every month in our "Today's Life" department, Joy Fisher does her best to bring you some of the best, practical, fun product ideas for children and parents.

One of the product ideas in the February 2010 issue of ParentLife is Mag-Tagz™, a line of magnetic necklaces! After the February issue went to the printer, we discovered that Mag-Tagz were not an age-appropriate choice for the children of our audience.

The following disclaimer can be found on the Mag-Tagz™ Web site:

Warning: Mag-tagz Magnetic Beads are not a toy and not intended for children under the age of 13. This jewelry product contains magnets or magnetic components. Magnets sticking together or becoming attached to a metallic object inside the human body can cause serious or fatal injury. Seek immediate medical help if magnets are swallowed or inhaled. Do not use as a nose ring as this would increase the chances of accidental inhalation.

The ParentLife staff apologizes for not catching this sooner!

Make Brushing Teeth Fun!

I just recently committed to making brushing my 19-month-old Jack's teeth an essential part of his daily routine, which is often much easier said than done. I'm hoping that establishing the habit now will mean less battles as he gets older.

Getting children to brush regularly, and correctly, can be a real challenge. So in honor of National Children's Dental Health Month, try these easy ideas to encourage brushing!

• Trade places. Tired of prying your way in whenever it's time to brush those little teeth? Why not reverse roles and let the child brush your teeth? It’s fun for them and shows them the right way to brush. Just remember, do not share a toothbrush. According to the American Dental Association, sharing a toothbrush may result in an exchange of microorganisms and an increased risk of infections.
• Take turns. Set a timer and have the child brush their teeth for 30 seconds. Then you brush their teeth for 30 seconds. Repeat this at least twice.
• Call in reinforcements. If children stubbornly neglect to brush or floss, maybe it's time to change the messenger. Call the dental office before the next checkup and let them know what's going on. The same motivational message might be heeded if it comes from a third party, especially the dentist.

For more information about children's oral health care, visit DeltaDental.com or Healthy Smiles Healthy Children.

Safety Product for Families

When a child goes missing or is critically injured, a parent’s ability to recall basic facts about her child can be compromised by overwhelming stress. For this reason, AmberAlert.com, a privately-held company focused on providing programs to help keep children and families safe, has introduced the My Child ID™ — the first comprehensive, digital child identification device that stores critical data to help in instances of a missing child, critical injury, or abduction cases.
 

“The first three hours a child is missing are the most critical for their safe return. Understandably, parents can become hysterical in an emergency situation,” said Harlan Lyons, CEO of AmberAlert.com. “My Child ID is a proactive tool for parents, law enforcement and emergency responders to safeguard children by helping to reduce the time it takes to gather accurate information when time is critical.”
 

My Child ID stores vital information including:

• Recent digital photos
• Vital statistics
• Emergency contact information
• Medical information
• Contact information for family and friends

My Child ID is supported online at www.AmberAlert.com where information can be securely backed up.  Software updates and a Private Alerting feature are also available on the online portal.  Private Alerting is a service that allows parents to send text messages and/or e-mails to their entire network of trusted contacts using the same alerting technology AmberAlert.com developed to disseminate AMBER™ Alerts through the Law Enforcement Alerting Portal (LEAP). The back up and Private Alerting features are free for one year after account activation.

My Child ID is now available at select retailers and online at www.AmberAlert.com and retails for $39.95. Pricing includes one year of online back up and Private Alerting. For more information about AmberAlert.com visit www.AmberAlert.com or call 602-889-7256.

Preteens & Cell Phone Safety

After much soul searching, we bought our preteen son a cell phone for Christmas. We have put all kinds of limits on its use. He has never taken it to school or to church. In fact, we bought it primarily for him to take with him for any overnight trips when he is away from us. Additionally, we blocked use of the Internet and texting on his phone.

Many parents are worried about cell phone use. Stories abound of teens who have gotten in trouble for sexting, sending sexual messages or photos via cell phone. Recently we received these tips for parents who are worried about cell phone issues such as sexting, bullying, and sexual predators.

1. Learn the lingo. Learn the pre-established acronyms like LOL, TTYL, and BRB.
   
2. Invade their text space. Text your kids constantly so they consider their phone a space where you are present and watching.
   
3. Set “no-text” times and other boundaries. Don’t allow kids to text constantly; they shouldn’t text at the dinner table and a curfew should be set. Clearly set boundaries of what is inappropriate.
   
4. Limit use. Choose a plan that keeps track of how many texts can be sent and received.
   
5. Read text faces. Just like verbal communication, nonverbal cues are important. Text faces help you tell if someone is disturbed or joking.
   
6. Monitor other messaging forums.  Sexting doesn’t start and end with texting. Monitor IMs, e-mails, photos, and other digital forums.

For more about preteens and cell phones, read the 9 to 12 Years Growth Spurt "Can I Have a Cell Phone?" in the January 2010 issue of ParentLife.

 At what age will you buy your preteen or teen a phone?

*Information provided by Predicto Mobile.

Keys to Safety

Keeping your infant or toddler safe from harm is a difficult job. Many dangers lurk even in your own home. But there are things you can do to reduce the chances of accidents. Keep the following keys to safety in mind.

• Never underestimate your child’s ability. Be safe rather than sorry.
• Stay one step ahead of your child by thinking ahead to what she might get into next.
• Emphasize safety in all you do with your child. For example, point out traffic signals that tell you it is safe to cross the street.
• Be a model of safe behavior. Always wear safety belts, bike helmets, life jackets, etc.
• Never leave your young child unattended.
• Take safety precautions in your home. Keep medicines and cleaning products locked away.
• Make sure activities are age appropriate.
• Keep emergency phone numbers posted in the home and saved in your cell phone.
• If your child has an allergy or medical condition, such as asthma, epilepsy, or diabetes, make sure she has a medic-alert bracelet or necklace.

For even more child safety information, be sure to read the Growth Spurts article "Child Safety" in the January 2010 issue of ParentLife.  
 

Cold, Allergies, or Flu?

January is right in the middle of full-blown flu season, but it is often hard to tell if your child is suffereing from a cold, allergies or the flu. How can you tell the difference?

• Allergies. In general, allergy symptoms are not accompanied by a fever, mucus is clear in color, muscles do not ache, and symptoms occur at the same times each year. Allergies usually can be treated with medication, but if severe, a doctor may order an allergy screening and shots. The chronic mucus from allergies occasionally causes complications such as a sinus or ear infection.
• Common Cold. Most adults get thecommon cold two to five times each year, children even more often. Symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat can last as long as nine days. Antibiotics cannot cure the common cold. Antibiotics are only used when a cold turns into a sinus, ear, or other infection or when the sickness is bacterial in nature (such as strep throat), not viral. Ask your doctor what remedies are safest to treat the uncomfortable symptoms of a child’s cold.
• Flu. Influenza, like the common cold, is caused by a virus. It is accompanied by a high fever that lasts three to four days and by strong symptoms such as severe coughing and exhaustion. New antiviral medications taken at the start of symptoms can shorten the flu considerably. Ask your doctor whether getting the annual flu shot is right for your family.

If your child has difficulty breathing; a persistent high fever; severe headache; painful swallowing; deep cough; or thick, colored congestion, seek medical attention. These could indicate a bacterial infection that requires prescription antibiotics.

For lots of helpful, practical ways for preventing illness, be sure not to miss Kristen White's article "Keeping It Clean" in the January 2010 issue of ParentLife.

Pet Allergies

Thinking about adopting a pet? If so, be sure not to miss Christi McGuire's article "Can We Keep Him?" in the January 2010 issue of ParentLife. However, approximately 10 percent of people are allergic to animals. If someone in your family suffers from allergies, be cautious when choosing a pet. Consider the following tips.

• Choose pets that do not have hair, fur, or dander.
• Know that large fish aquariums can add humidity to your home, causing molds and dust mites to increase.
• Be aware that turtles can spread salmonella (a highly contagious bacterial disease).
• Keep animals outside or at least out of the bedroom of the allergic child.
• Do not hug, kiss, bathe, or pet animals if you are allergic.
• Restrict indoor pets to only a few rooms.
• Use a central air cleaner to remove large amounts of pet allergens from your home.
• Vacuum carpets and rugs often.
• Wash the pet with water often.
• Contact your child’s pediatrician if you suspect your child developing an allergy to animals.

Do you have a child who suffers from pet allergies? What kind of pets do you have? Do you have any tips for families looking to adopt a pet?

Are You SAD?

Each month in ParentLife, Dr. Linda Mintle answers your questions in our "Real Life Solutions" department. This month we have an extra Q&A just for you about the wintertime blues.

Q: I am so tired during the day and very irritable with my two children. I can’t concentrate. I’m gaining weight and crave carbohydrates. My children keep asking me why I seem so sad, and my husband has noticed the irritability as well. Usually this mood change happens to me in the winter. I just want to sleep and get away from my kids. Any ideas as to why this is happening?

Infant Choking First Aid

I can't think of anything scarier than my child being in danger! In our Birth-1 year old Growth Spurt in the January issue of ParentLife, we deal with infants and choking. The following are some specific choking guidelines from the National Institutes of Health and Medline Plus.

Choking First Aid - Infant Under 1 Year
Choking is when an infant can't breathe because food, a toy, or other object is blocking the airway (throat or windpipe).

Considerations
A choking infant's airway may be completely or partially blocked. A complete blockage is a medical emergency. A partial obstruction can quickly become life threatening if the infant loses the ability to breathe in and out sufficiently. Without oxygen, permanent brain damage can occur in as little as 4 minutes. Rapid first aid for choking can save a life.

Causes
Choking in an infant is usually caused by inhaling a small object that she has placed in her mouth, such as a button, coin, balloon, toy part, or watch battery.

Symptoms
The danger signs of choking are:

• Bluish skin color
• Difficulty breathing - ribs and chest pull inward
• Loss of consciousness if blockage is not cleared
• Inability to cry or make much sound
• Weak, ineffective coughing
• Soft or high-pitched sounds while inhaling

First Aid
DO NOT perform these steps if the infant is coughing forcefully or has a strong cry – either of which can dislodge the object on its own.

1. Lay the infant face down, along your forearm. Use your thigh or lap for support. Hold the infant's chest in your hand and jaw with your fingers. Point the infant's head downward, lower than the body.
2. Give up to 5 quick, forceful blows between the infant's shoulder blades. Use the heel of your free hand.

IF THE OBJECT ISN'T FREE AFTER 5 BLOWS

1. Turn the infant face up. Use your thigh or lap for support. Support the head.
2. Place 2 fingers on the middle of his breastbone just below the nipples.
3. Give up to 5 quick thrusts down, compressing the chest 1/3 to 1/2 the depth of the chest.
4. Continue this series of 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the object is dislodged or the infant loses consciousness.

IF THE INFANT LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS
If the child becomes unresponsive, stops breathing, or turns blue:

• Shout for help.
• Give infant CPR. Call 911 after one minute of CPR.
• If you can see the object blocking the airway, try to remove it with your finger. Try to remove an object only if you can see it.

Please visit their Web site for further information and to see illustrations along with these steps and intructions by clicking here.

How to Keep Your Kids Well

We all want to keep our kids well. What is the number one doctor recommended advice for keeping your kids well? Wash your hands! Here's a reminder of the steps to teach your children in learning to wash hands.

• Wet your hands with warm water.

• Put soap on your hands. (It does not have to be antibacterial soap; regular bar soap is fine if you use a soap holder that drains.)

• Rub your hands with lots of friction for the length of the ABC song — palms, tops of hands, between fingers, under fingernails, and up your wrists a few inches.

• Rinse with warm water. (In public places, check the water temperature before putting your child’s hands under it. At home, make sure the water heater is not set so high that it can scald your child if she turns only the hot water faucet on.)

• Dry hands well with a clean cloth or dryer.

• If you are in a public place, use the paper towel you dry your hands with to turn off the faucet and open the door.

For more information about keeping your kids well this winter, check out the article "Keeping It Clean: Take Action to Prevent Illness" in the January 2010 issue of ParentLife.

Have your kids stayed well this winter? What's your secret for good health?

More Childproofing Tips

In the December 09 issue of ParentLife, Christi McGuire provided some childproofing tips for Christmas. But there is even more you might not have thought of. Consider the following tips.

Poisonous Holiday Plants
Especially during this holiday season, keep the following list of plants out of reach of your baby.

• Poinsettias — Poinsettias cause little reacion in most people; however, ingestion by small children may cause skin or smouth irritation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Holly — Ingesting small amounts can cause mild stomach irritation and drowsiness; ingesting large amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and extreme drowsiness.
• Mistletoe — Ingesting small amounts may cause mild nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Ingesting large plants may produce serious poisonings.
• Amaryllis— This plant can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
• Christmas trees (pine, fir, spruce) — Most Christmas trees are not poisonous, but sharp needles can cause skin irritation and bleeding or choking.
   

Poison Alert: Toothpaste

Look closely at your toothpaste tube and you will see a warning label. Since 1997, the United States Food and Drug Administration has required a poison warning label on all fluoride toothpastes, which contain the active ingredient of Sodium Fluoride, a toxic poison. Although only 1 percent of the toothpaste contains this toxic ingredient, you need to call the poison control center if your baby ingests more than the tiny amount needed for brushing teeth. Toothpaste that is pink, sparkly, and tastes like bubble gum may be easily mistaken for candy, posing a poison hazard for your unsuspecting baby.

Socket-Lockits™
Check out this stylish new way to keep your baby safe! Socket-Lockits help reduce electrical and choking hazards in your home. Their unique patent-pending design incorporates:

• Self-locking barbs to prevent tiny fingers from pulling covers off
• A convenient pressure-button release to make removal easy for adults
• A variety of designs printed with non-toxic ink to match any décor

Visit www.socketlockits.com for more information and to order!

Do you have other childproofing tips related to the Christmas? Share your tips with other ParentLife readers by leaving a comment!

More Holiday Safety Tips

As you gather together with family and friends to celebrate this holiday season, be sure to keep the following safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics in mind.

Toy Safety

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills, and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.       
• Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
• To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age 10) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
• Children under age 3 can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age 3 cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
• Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems — including death — after swallowing button batteries and magnets. Keep them away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one.
• Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
• Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

Food Safety

• Bacteria are often present in raw foods. Fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits.
• Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child’s exploring hands.
• Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same.
• Never put a spoon used to taste food back into food without washing it.
• Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separately, and use separate utensils when preparing them.
• Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the countertop.
• Foods that require refrigeration should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours.

Happy Visiting

• Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
• Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots.
• Keep a list with all of the important phone numbers you or a babysitter are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician, and the national Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222).
• Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child's stress levels. Trying to stick to your child's usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress.

Fireplaces

• Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.
• Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
• Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

2009 - American Academy of Pediatrics
 

Holiday Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is just over a week away and many families are already putting up their Christmas decorations! The holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday season, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 

Trees

• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches, and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators, or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
• Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
• Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.

Lights

• Check all tree lights — even if you have just purchased them — before hanging them on your tree. Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets, or loose connections.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.  To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
• Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Decorations

• Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.
• Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
• In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to prevent them from swallowing or inhaling small pieces. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat them.
• Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.
• Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons, and bows from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened. These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child or can cause a fire if near flame.

2009 - American Academy of Pediatrics

Stay tuned to the blog for even more safety tips from the AAP next week!

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Have you been seeing pink this October? That's because October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death in women, after lung cancer. Chances are ... you or someone you love has been impacted by breast cancer in some way. Amy Heeg is a woman who has been directly impacted by breast cancer, but she is a survivor!. Here is her story.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36. Until then, my biggest fears were my teenage son driving and how I would be turning 40 soon. Now turning 40 is a blessing.

It was July 2007, and I was still nursing my youngest when I noticed that my milk supply was decreasing on one side and there was a lump. The doctor didn't think there was anything to worry about, but just to be sure, he recommended an ultrasound.

He wasn't worried because I was 36 years old, didn't smoke or drink, led an active lifestyle, had nursed all of my children, and there was no history of breast cancer in my family. I got several ultrasounds and then a mammogram. Finally, the doctor said I needed to have a biopsy. The lump in my throat got bigger.

My mass was estimated to be about 4 cm in size, so the only real option was a mastectomy. On September 12, 2007— amidst tears of fear and amazing peace that only God could have provided me, I was rolled into surgery. A few weeks later I was officially given the news that the cancer had moved into my bones, with possible spots in my liver and ovaries. I was officially stage IV, with a husband, four children, and an entire life to fight for.

I’m 38 now, and my motivation is simple. I want to live. I want to see my children graduate, and get their first job. I want to see them get married and meet my grandchildren. I want to grow old with my husband.

I want women to understand that breast cancer is not an older women’s disease. Forty is not the magic number.

People continue to ask me where I find my strength, and my answer is God and my family and friends. I will walk in the Breast Cancer 3-Day and will continue to walk until a cure is found or I cease to breathe.

Amy Heeg — Howell, Michigan

Want to know more about breast cancer prevention and detection? Don't miss the article "Breast Cancer Awareness" in the October 2009 issue of ParentLife or visit www.cancer.org.

And don't forget! Early detection is so important! Be sure to see your doctor at the first sign or feeling that something might be wrong.

Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

The month of September is quickly drawing to a close, but we couldn't let it get by without bringing your attention to the problem of childhood obesity. September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month – a perfect opportunity to evaluate your child's diet, exercise, and medical conditions that may cause weight gain and health issues. Childhood is the ideal time to instill healthy, positive habits that will last a lifetime.

Dr. Anatoly Belilovsky, a renowned New York pediatrician with more than 20 years experience advising parents on child weight issues, offers some fun ways that your family can stay active on the weekends — an important victory in the battle of childhood obesity.

• Hiking is great. Hikes ending in a picnic are better. You can set the place, but not the time, for the picnic, this way there will be less tendency to slack off. (If you know where the food is, you will go there faster. If you know when, you may be tempted to whine away the time). Many areas have bike trails and urban hiking works just as well as the country variety.
• Pick-up soccer games need only two participants, one ball, and something to mark off a goal on the ground. You can play in an 8-by-12-foot space and have a blast doing it. There a plenty of games to keep everyone occupied in a park.
• Visit local museums, botanical gardens, or fairs. Tap into resources and events happening in the area.
• Go on a GPS scavenger hunt. Walk the path alone with "reward" items (obviously something of no value to a casual passersby -- like a note of congratulations, or a certificate redeemable only from you). Mark GPS waypoints wherever you drop them. Give the GPS unit to the kids and have them find the items. Remember the GPS is only accurate to about 20 feet! No GPS? Take photos at waypoints with your phone and send them to your kids' phones, see if they can figure out the locations!
• Go on a foxhunt. Put an old remote control into a recess so it is not easily visible. Put a rock on the buttons so it is constantly transmitting (it will put out a flashing infrared signal). Most cameras will see the infrared easily -- have the kids find the remote! This one works best indoors or outdoors in dim light.

What are some fun ways that your family stays active? Share your suggestions with us?

Smiles Across America

Tooth decay is considered the most common chronic childhood disease—five times more common than asthma—according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The department also reports that more than 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related illness. Fortunately, good oral health habits can keep tooth decay at bay.
 
To help teach students and parents this important lesson, Trident has partnered with Smiles Across America (SAA), a program that links schools and dental care providers to help fight untreated oral disease. The company’s support has enabled SAA to double the number of children it cares for and expand services for more children in underserved communities. 

The following are some great oral care tips for both parents and children to practice.

• Brush twice a day, after breakfast and before bedtime, to remove food particles and plaque. Plaque causes tooth decay and gum disease.
 
• Use a soft toothbrush so you don’t scratch teeth or gums.
 
• Brush both the teeth and gums, especially the areas where teeth and gums meet, and the chewing surfaces of teeth.
 
• Always brush after eating candy and other sugary or starchy snacks, and after drinking sugary sodas and juices.
 
• Adults should supervise tooth brushing, giving a second brushing after kids have brushed to make sure teeth are clean.
 
• Floss every day to remove food and plaque from between teeth and under gums. If plaque is not removed, it can harden into tartar—a hard, yellow buildup.
 
• Visit the dentist every six months to one year for cleanings and checkups, beginning at age 1, when baby teeth are coming in.

Have you been able to establish a good oral care routine with your family?

Safe Volume Headphones Recall

In our September 2009 issue, we recommended Safe Volume Headphones by iHearSafe. We have just been informed that these headphones are no longer being sold due to a voluntary recall. For all of the recall details, please visit www.ihearsafe.com and click on "Recall Information." We apologize for the inconvenience!

For more details about the recall, please view the following press release.

Window Covering Recall

Keeping children safe is one of our top priorities. One child-safety area many parents often overlook are the danger of window blind cords. If not kept out of a child's reach, window cords can pose a strangulation hazard.

Just a few weeks ago, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced several recalls related to several different brands of Roman Shades. Many of the shades were sold exclusively at Target, Pottery Barn Kids, and IKEA. For more information about these recalls and others, visit www.Recalls.gov.

Upward Sports -- Winners for a Lifetime

Our September 2009 issue of ParentLife initially included an article featuring Upward™ Sports. However, due to a need to create advertising space, we had to pull the article at the last minute. In the process of trying to meet the fast-approaching deadline, we failed to remove the mention of the Upward Sports article on the cover and the Table of Contents. We apologize for the confusion this created!

We are thrilled to be publishing the article on the blog today!

If you combine the ever-growing obesity crisis among children in the United States and the win-at-all-costs mentality that most children are exposed to, it is easy to lose hope in a child’s desire to participate in sports. However, there is an option that keeps kids active through instructional practices and games that ultimately can improve a child’s overall physical health. This same opportunity provides a fun, positive atmosphere for children to grow in a sport they love while also learning about Jesus Christ. Specifically designed for K5 through 6th grade boys and girls, Upward sports leagues provide children in this country, and around the world, with this unique sports experience.

Intense Competition
Everyone agrees that sports and physical activity are good for children. However, instead of being an enjoyable, healthy activity, organized sports can become a dreaded, stress-filled experience for children. This can be the result of an overemphasis on winning, age-inappropriate expectations, excessive criticism, inappropriate use of discipline, rejection, disapproval of skill level and performance, lack of support for effort and achievement, and use of coarse language. Unfortunately, these conditions are too common in many of today’s children’s sports leagues.

Giving children the opportunity to learn and grow through participating in games they love is one of the most rewarding aspects of conducting a league. Unlike traditional sports programs, Upward programs are structured so children participate in practices and games without league standings. Characteristics such as sportsmanship, kindness, and character are valued as winning qualities. Coaches primarily focus on ministering to children and their families instead of game strategy. Teams are arranged in a substitution system where all players are allowed equal playing time and equal opportunity for improvement. In Upward Basketball, churches are trained to give every child a chance to play at least half of the game and an opportunity to be in the starting lineup. In Upward Cheerleading, squads do not use negative language in the cheers but cheer for both teams.

To further the “Every Child Is a Winner” philosophy, Upward coaches encourage each player with a game-day star award following each game that builds self-esteem and team spirit. Additionally, instead of focusing on a win/lose strategy, importance is shifted to the attitudes and efforts of each child on the team.

Upward also operates on a one practice, one game a week agenda in an effort to maximize the family schedule, allowing participants to spend more time tending to other family activities. When a new league is formed, Upward provides coaches and volunteers with skills, drills, and practice outlines. Coaches also are prepared with guides containing a Scripture learning verse and devotions for practices and games. In addition, the referee will lead all sports teams in prayer in the center of the field or court at the beginning of each game. 

For a pdf of the full version of this article, click here: UpwardArticle.pdf

Has your child participated in Upward Sports? Tell us and other ParentLife readers about it by leaving us a comment.

Back to School -- Healthy

Our staff came across the following information from Dr. Stuart Fischer about how to eat healthy as a family during the back-to-school season, especially when a parent is struggling with weight issues. 

Tell the Truth

Be a great role model and tell the truth. Sit the family down for a heart-to-heart talk where the overweight parent should freely admit to the child that they are not a healthy weight and that some of their food choices have not been ideal. The parent should offer hope on how they will make healthy changes together – letting the children see how their lives can improve as a result.
 
Discover Your Personal Myths
The biggest issue in the weight-loss process for the parents is addressing “personal myths” – the excuses that people give themselves to rationalize their behavior. Once the parent recognizes these are excuses, they can move on to make the right choices for their family.
 
Make a Plan
The next step is to make a plan, keeping in mind that losing weight is actually quite simple. Work off more calories than you eat. Set a realistic weight-loss goal (no more than 2 pounds per week). Make a plan on how to incorporate more exercise in everyone’s day-to-day routine. Exercising two to three times a week is ideal at the beginning.
 
Cook and Shop Together
As a family, figure out what and how much you want to eat per day for your first week, then crunch the numbers and come up with a menu. There are tons of great healthy recipes online. Go shopping with your child and explain what foods are healthy. Teach kids to avoid “empty calories,” high-calorie foods with little to no nutritional content such as soda, sugary desserts, fast food, or potato chips.
 
Act on Other Issues
Everyone overeats for different reasons. Identify some of the issues causing them to eat, and then take mini-steps to change their behavior.
 
Reward, Reward, Reward
As the weight starts to come off, reward yourself in ways OTHER than food. It could be a new lip gloss, haircut, tickets for a game or play, outfit, purse, backpack, etc. Reward frequently but not lightly. A great time for a smaller reward would be after two weeks if everyone has been sticking to the plan and are on track for their weight-loss goals.
 
This is a great time to focus on good health for your sake and that of your child.  A new study shows that overweight and obese students are performing worse in school than their physically fit counterparts, jeopardizing their professional future as well as their health. For more information on Dr. Fischer and the celebrity consultants, please go to www.parkavenuediet.com.
 

Cooking Therapy

Flour flying, sticky dough on their tiny fingers and the almost-comical strategically placed sprinkles; these are all joys of baking with kids. It is even more special when the purpose for baking goes beyond learning to make a batch of cookies to actually enabling the kids to be able to once again have use of their hands.
 
This is what is being done at ALYN Hospital — the leading rehabilitative pediatric hospital in the Middle East. ALYN prides itself on the mission of being able to help treat any child, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity — a rarity in this war-torn region. The doctors and specialists at ALYN are constantly evolving effective, creative and fun ways to rehabilitate the children – such as their breakthrough with cooking therapy.

The act of creating these pastries is not only fun for the children, but targets the muscles and motor functions they so desperately need to grow as independent adults.  In this photo, Marwa, a chef superstar at ALYN, who is slowly regaining the use of her body with every cookie, cake and pie she makes.
 
The ParentLife team thought cooking therapy was a very unique concept and we wanted to share it with you. Our team is committed to providing help for parents of children with special needs. We do our best to cover at least one special needs topic in each issue of ParentLife.

What other unique kinds of therapies have you heard of? Has your child participated in cooking therapy or another unique therapy? Tell us about it!

Enjoy the Pool -- Safely!

We have had the best summer with both our boys (that's them in the pool earlier this summer) on the swim team at our local YMCA. They have both improved so much! It was a lot of hard work but we are a bit sad now that the season is over. Now that they both know how to swim, w  e relax a bit more when they are in the water, but there are still important steps to take to protect them.

Consider the following tips from the TIPP program (The Injury Prevention Program) provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

• Never let your child swim in any body of water without an adult watching.
• Be sure the adult watching your child knows how to swim, get emergency help, and perform CPR.
• Keep a life preserver and shepherd's hook in the pool area to help pull a child to the edge of the pool when necessary.
• Don't let young children and children who cannot swim use inflatable toys or mattresses in water that is above the waist.
• Watch children closely when they are playing near standing water, wells, open post holes, or irrigation or drainage ditches.
• Teach your child to swim once he or she is ready (usually around 5 years old).
• Teach your child safety rules and make sure they are obeyed:

1. Never swim alone.
2. Never dive into water except when permitted by an adult who knows the depth of the water and who has checked for underwater objects.
3. Always use a life jacket when on a boat, fishing, or playing in a river or stream.

Check out the AAP Web site for other tips on water safety and the TIPP home page for injury prevention tips for your children at all ages and stages of development.

Where have you taken your kids to swim this summer?

Pregnancy Complications

As you probably already know from my post a week or two ago, we are about to celebrate my little boy's first birthday this Saturday! But one year ago yesterday actually marked the beginning of the events leading up to his arrival. I experienced a complication in my pregnancy called preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs during pregnancy and the postpartum period. According to the Preeclampsia Foundation, preeclampsia affects at least 5 to 8 percent of all pregnancies.

Some of the symptoms of preeclampsia include the following.

• High blood pressure (140/90 or higher)
• Excess protein in the urine
• Severe headaches
• Vision changes
• Sudden weight gain
• Swelling (especially in the face and hands)

Most of the time, preeclampsia only modestly increases blood pressure, but if left untreated, it can lead to serious (possibly fatal) complications for you and your baby. The only cure is delivery of the baby. The disorder is actually responsible for 15% of premature births in the United States every year. (Be sure not to miss our article on prematurity coming up in the December 2009 issue of ParentLife.)

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to talk to your doctor. Check out the Mayo Clinic's tips for preparing for your doctor visit for helpful questions to ask.

There is no way to prevent preeclampsia. In order to take the best care of yourself and your baby, be sure to seek early and regular prenatal care.

My sweet little boy, Jack, was delivered exactly one month earlier than expected and spent about a week in the NICU, but he is now so happy and healthy (thanks to an awesome medical team). You would never know he had such a difficult start.

 If you are an expectant parent, be sure to check out ParentLife's monthly department "On the Way." Our goal is to provide you with practical and encouraging information to help you during your pregnancy. What kind of information would you like to see in our "On the Way" deparmtent? Leave us a comment and let us know. We'd love to hear from you!

Fireworks Safety

Each Independence Day, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks — devastating burns, other injuries, fires, and even death. Consider the following facts.

• The risk of fireworks injury was two-and-a-half times as high for children ages 5-9 or 10-14 as for the general population.
• On Independence Day in a typical year, more U.S. fires are reported than on any other day, and fireworks account for half of those fires, more than any other cause of fires.
• In 2006, fireworks caused an estimated 32,600 reported fires, including 1,700 total structure fires, 600 vehicle fires, and 30,300 outside and other fires. These fires resulted in an estimated 6 civilian deaths, 70 civilian injuries and $34 million in direct property damage.
• In 2007, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,800 people for fireworks related injuries; 56 percent of 2007 emergency room fireworks-related injuries were to the extremities and 36 percent were to the head.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is a member of the Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks, a group of health and safety organizations, coordinated by National Fire Protection Association, that urges the public to avoid the use of consumer fireworks and instead, to enjoy displays of fireworks conducted by trained professionals.

Do you see fireworks displays each year as part of your Independence Day festivities?

Lawnmower Safety

Using a lawn mower is as routine as bike riding or barbeques during summer months. But people can find themselves in terrifying situations with these seemingly safe household machines. In fact, 200,000 people – 16,000 of them children – are injured in lawn mower-related accidents each year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports. Most injuries are caused by careless use and can be prevented by following a few simple safety tips.
 
“Power lawn mowers are dangerous adult tools, but many children, and sometimes adults unfortunately, see them as toys,” said ASPS President John Canady, MD. “Lawn mowing can be dangerous to the operator as well as those nearby if proper safety precautions aren’t taken.”
 
The following tips will help prevent lawn mower-related injuries:

• Children should be at least 12 years old before they operate any lawn mower and at least 16 years old for a ride-on mower.
• Children should never be passengers on ride-on mowers.
• Always wear sturdy shoes while mowing – not sandals.
• Young children should be at a safe distance from the mowing area.
• Pick up stones, toys, and debris first from the lawn to prevent injuries from flying objects.
• Always wear eye and hearing protection.
• Use a mower with a control that stops it from moving forward if the handle is released.
• Never pull backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary – always look for others behind you when you do.
• Start and refuel mowers outdoors – not in a garage. Refuel with the motor turned off and cool.
• Blade settings should be set by an adult only.
• Wait for blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel roads. (As a safety feature, some newer models have a blade/brake clutch that stops the blade each time the operator releases the handle.)

To read the AAP policy statement, “Lawn Mower-Related Injuries to Children,” click here.

This information is sponsored by a coalition of the following organizations: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons (ASMS), the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM).

What chores do you involve your children in during the summer?

Fun in the Sun -- Safely!

Do you remember what if feels like to be sunburned? Miserable! That memory of the pain of sunburn is enough to remind me to slather on the sunscreen when I know I am going to be out in the sun for prolonged periods of time. However, I am occasionally reminded that sunburns can happen anytime of year and even on cloudy days. I forgot the sunscreen once this baseball season on what started out as a cloudy, rainy day. By the end of the game I had gotten my share of sun!

As you head outside this summer, here are some sun safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for your kids:

Babies Under 6 Months

• Avoid sun exposure and dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn.
• When adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of suncreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands.
• If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area.

For Young Children

• Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside.
• Use sunscreen even on cloudy days.
• The SPF should be at least 15 and protect against UVA and UVB rays.

For Older Children

• The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
• Stay in the shade whenever possible and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours — between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Be sure to apply enough sunscreen — about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

How do you plan to have fun in the sun this summer?

One Good Thing for the McDougals by Bill Conger

Greg and Diane McDougal, who are featured in the May issue of ParentLife, are learning to let go and let God. Over the last several years, the Christian couple has endured the faith-testing challenge of their children’s health problems. Three of their four kids have cystic fibrosis, but the story began with their first child, Jeffrey. He was born with a hole in his intestinal tract and nearly died. The members of First Baptist Church Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, rallied behind the scared mom and dad. 

“Almost every one that showed up told us, ‘Listen, you’re doing the one good thing. You just take care of your son. We’ll take care of everything else,’ and they did just that. Now, God is reminding us of that to show us this picture of how He wants us to do the one good thing, and that is to go and be shameless about telling of the redeeming power of Jesus Christ in our lives, and He’ll take care of everything else.”

Through divine provision, the McDougals special allergen-free home is now two-thirds of the way complete with the plumbing, most of the hardwood flooring, and several other essentials in place.

“The house is His,” McDougal affirms. “He’s the one that’s raised it up. In His good time, He’ll finish it. In the meantime, we’re just doing what He’s given us to do.”

For the McDougals, that job is a calling to fulltime music ministry. In January, the family packed into an RV and left the Nashville area with a handful of concert dates. Three and a half months later, their journeys have taken them to Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.

“We’re just going and telling, taking a guitar and a song and using it to get in the door and share a testimony of how God has taken a couple of knuckle-headed kids that used to never pay Him any attention at all and worked miracles in our lives.”

Their children have enjoyed a better time with their health after a tough struggle last year. “We’ve been doing really well,” McDougal said.

The family is spending time off during most of May, but they’re still hitting the road to sing at churches on the weekends. The McDougals will return to touring across parts of the south and west for the summer. Greg says, “We’re learning a whole lot about each other, and a whole lot about Him, and stewardship, and making the most of every day.”

For more of the McDougal's amazing story, check out "A Carpenter's Mission" in the May 2009 issue of ParentLife.
 

Food Allergies

Did you know that the majority of food allergies show up during the first year of life? My little boy just turned 10 months old this week and has has not shown any signs of food allergies yet. Hopefully that means we will not have to deal with this potentially life-threatening health issue. But many, many families struggle with food allergies on a daily basis.

An allergy to peanuts is one of the scariest food allergies. Nearly half of the 150 deaths attributed to food allergies each year in the U.S. are caused by peanut allergies according to Duke University. Do you have a child with an allergy to peanuts? Then here is some information you need to know.

New research is showing that a medically suprvised daily dose of peanuts may help children with peanut allergies greatly increase their tolerance to the food. This new treatment involves giving the child tiny daily doses of peanuts (starting around one-thousandth of a peanut) and slowly increasing to about 15 peanuts per day. The results are very promising. For more information, be sure to read "Treatment for Peanut Allergies Shows Promise" by Tara Parker-Pope. As always, consult with your pediatrician first before undertaking any new treatment option.

Also be sure to check out the article "Growth Spurts: Birth to 12 Months — On the Lookout" in the May 2009 issue of ParentLife. It will help you learn the signs that indicate possible food allergies.

Guard Against Sports Injuries

Be Prepared for Disaster

Spring Is Here ... And So Are Allergies!

Child Abuse Prevention Month

World Autism Awareness Day

Poison Prevention

• Store medicines and household products locked up, where children cannot see or reach them.
• Store poisons in their original containers.
• Use child-resistant packaging. But remember -- nothing is child-proof!
  

• Read the label. Follow the directions on medicines and products.
• Are children around? Take the product or medicine with you to answer the door or the phone.
• Lock products and medicines up after using them.
• Is it medicine? Call it medicine, not candy.
• Children learn by imitation. Take your medicines where children can't watch.
  

Peanut Butter Recall

Latest Product Recall Information