Everyday chemicals may be harming kids
Newark, New Jersey (CNN) — Of the 84,000 chemicals on the market today — many of which are in objects that people come into contact with every day — only about 1 percent of them have been studied for safety, Sen. Frank Lautenberg D-New Jersey said Tuesday.Toxics and Environmental Health that such little oversight means that children in the United States are virtual “guinea pigs in an uncontrolled experiment.”
Our current law does not allow EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] scientists to draw the bright line between chemicals that are safe and those that are toxic.
Our current law does not allow EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] scientists to draw the bright line between chemicals that are safe and those that are toxic.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent,
said he was surprised to find out that only about 200 chemicals in use today have undergone testing required by the EPA.
“I’d always assumed government watchdogs had evaluated and signed off on the safety of the chemicals we encounter in our lives,” he said.
Gupta said, “What we don’t know can really hurt us. And there’s a lot we don’t know.”
September Is Baby Safety Month
September is Baby Safety Month, and Safe Kids Kansas reminds parents and caregivers to plan ahead to make safe spaces for babies “at home, at play and on the way.”
In the nursery: Remove pillows, soft bedding such as blankets or bumper guards and toys out of your baby’s crib. Make sure a soda can cannot fit between the crib slats. Make sure the crib’s corner posts are the same height as the end panels. The mattress should fit snugly inside the bed frame without gaps. Keep beds, cribs and other furniture away from windows so kids can’t climb up. Window screens are meant to keep things out, not in. Infants should always be placed to sleep on their backs (face up).
Note: Unaccustomed sleep position is also an issue. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states parents and child care providers need to be aware that infants who are normally placed to sleep on their backs, who are then placed on their stomachs to sleep, are as much as 18 times more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Sydrome (SIDS). Infants who are regularly placed to sleep on their stomachs have a five times greater risk of dying of SIDS than children who are placed to sleep on their backs. Talk to everyone who provides care to your infant, and make it a rule they should always be placed on their back to sleep. This important conversation needs to take place before the child is cared for by a relative, babysitter, or child care provider and should be reinforced by both the parent and other providers on a regular basis.
In the kitchen: Never leave a hot stove unattended. Cook with pots and pans on back burners. Turn pot handles to the back of the stove. Keep hot liquids, poisons, lighters, matches and electrical cords out of reach. Don’t let children under age three eat small, round or hard foods such as hot dogs, grapes, hard candy, nuts or popcorn.
In the bath: Mix hot and cold water together, and test the temperature before putting the baby in. Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees to help prevent scalding. Never leave a baby alone in the bath.
In the water: Never leave your baby unattended in or near water, even for a second. Empty and turn over all buckets and wading pools as soon as you are done using them. Pools should be fenced on all four sides and have self-closing gates.
In the play room: Do not use baby walkers. Use stationary play centers instead. Look for well-made toys and follow the age and safety information on the warning labels. Check regularly for dangers such as sharp edges. Keep toys with small parts or other choking hazards away from children under age three. Avoid toys that can become hazards. Toys with strings, straps or cords longer than seven inches can accidentally strangle children. Electrical toys are a potential burn hazard. Children under age eight should not use toys with electrical plugs or batteries. Make sure toys are stored safely. Choose toy chests with hydraulic lids to prevent entrapment, or remove the lid. Also, make sure toy chests have ventilation holes, to prevent suffocation in case a child becomes trapped inside.
In the home: Install guards on windows that you will open, and tie up cords on curtains and blinds to prevent strangulation. Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor and outside all sleeping areas. Install safety gates at top and bottom of stairs. Always strap babies into high chairs, swings, changing tables and strollers. Keep cleaning products, medicines, and other poisons locked and out of reach. Keep the poison control hotline number (800-222-1222) and emergency numbers by every phone and programmed into cell phones.
In the car: All children ages 13 and under should be properly restrained in a back seat on every ride. Choose and use correctly the right restraint for your child. Infants should ride in rear-facing car seats as long as possible, until they are at least one year old and weigh at least 20 pounds. Keep children rear-facing to 30-35 pounds if your car seat allows it. Children who are at least one year old, weigh 20 to 40 pounds, and can no longer ride rear-facing should ride in forward-facing car seats secured with harnesses. Always check the harness for proper fit according to the car seat manufacturer.
Baby Safety Month is an annual observance led by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association since 1991.
Labor Day Weekend
Have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend. Baby to Kids Boutique
Steps to Finding the Best Swim Class
Ready to enroll your water bug in swimming lessons? Keep these important guidelines in mind
Check Credentials
You can feel confident about any program that is certified by the YMCA or the American Red Cross
Look for Safety InfoChoose a class that includes safety info and drowning-prevention training along with basic swimming skills.
Consider the Student-Instructor RatioFor 4- and 5-year-olds, under four students per teacher is ideal; for beginners 6 and older, no more than six students is best.
Visit First, Sign Up LaterObserve a class to be sure you are okay with the instructor’s teaching style.
Watch Water TemperatureFind a pool with water at about 86°F. Kids learn better when they aren’t chilly.
Learn CPRLearn to perform CPR on a child. Take a class through your local YMCA or American Red Cross chapter
When Should Your Child Start Swim Lessons?The answer to that question really depends on your child. In the past, pediatricians worried that placing children under 4 in swimming classes might make them less cautious at a pool and parents less vigilant about watching them. But after a major study found that kids ages 1 to 4 who took formal lessons had a lower risk of drowning than those who hadn’t had lessons, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is now more open toward classes for younger children. In new 2010 guidelines, the AAP stresses that not every child will be ready to learn to to swim at the same age, and therefore the organization advises that parents consider a number of factors, including their children’s frequency of exposure to water, emotional development, and physical abilities before enrolling them in lessons. (The AAP does not recommend formal water safety programs for babies under 1 year of age.)
Other Lesson AlternativesNo budget for lessons? USA Swimming now offers free or low-cost water-safety instruction in 27 states for kids ages 5 to 14 who are most at risk for drowning. Visit swimfoundation.org for additional information.
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Top Toddler Fears
Toddlers exhibit many fears, and it can be tough to know how to reassure them of their safety. We talked to Dr. Ayelet Talmi, associate director of child development and infant health at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, about the most common toddler fears and what you can do to help your child through his insecurities. Plus, she has tips on raising a child capable of managing fear.
Parenting Tip of the Day
Crib shopping offers a wealth of options these days: compact cribs, transitional styles, and travel options, all in bare-bones models and super-posh buys. To make your search easier, be sure to check for the latest recalls before you hit the stores. And take a moment to outline what you really need before pulling out your credit card.
Volunteering is a great way to teach your kids the importance of philanthropy. Let them participate by creating a “giving jar” to put a fraction of their allowance into each week. They’ll love watching as the money accumulates.
Mom, Dad, and Baby all benefit from a daily routine, but finding one that works for everyone is challenging. Try establishing a regimen while your babe is still a newborn. Nursing in the same chair, establishing a bedtime routine, and scheduling regular playtimes are good places to start.
Potty Training Tips
Are you counting down the days to the toilet transition? Or maybe you’ve already dabbled in a few less-than-successful attempts? Either way, we heard one thing again and again: Your kid has to be good and ready. And don’t worry, he will be someday. “No child is going to graduate high school in diapers,” says Carol Stevenson, a mom of three from Stevenson Ranch, California, who trained each one at a different age. “But it’s so easy to get hung up and worried that your child’s a certain age and not there yet, which adds so much pressure and turns it into a battle.” Once you’re convinced your kid’s ready to ditch the diapers (watch for signs like showing an interest in the bathroom, telling you when she has to go, or wanting to be changed promptly after pooping), try any of these tricks to make it easier.
Daddy Does It
After a couple of failed attempts, I tried a new technique while Mom was away on a well-deserved weekend with her friends. We covered the couch and chairs with plastic and bought “manly-man” underwear — just like Dad’s. We spent the weekend in underwear and T-shirts, making a game every hour or so to see who could go to the restroom. There were very few accidents and just blocking out a weekend made for very little stress. It’s still one of my favorite memories.
– Scott Smith; Mount Washington, Kentucky
Sticker Shock
Every time each of our toddlers used the potty, I decorated their outfits with stickers. At the end of the day they showed off their rows of stickers (which looked like an army general’s stars) to their father. So they got double the praise for their potty training successes, and I got an inexpensive and easy way to reward them.
– Jen Singer; Kinnelon, New Jersey
Patience Is a Virtue
When I thought my daughter was ready (around 26 months), we went to the toilet every 10 minutes — even if we were out. We slowly worked up to 15 minutes, 20 minutes, etc., and after a day or two, she could pee on her own. Poop was a different story — I had to goad her with M&M’s!
– Elissa Murnick; Fairfield, Connecticut
My son mastered peeing on the potty pretty quickly, but nailing #2 took some extra effort. At first we had to watch for his “cues” to tell he was trying to go poop and then bring him to the bathroom. Because it took a while (sometimes more than a half-hour) we started reading to him to make the wait more fun. But above all else, patience, patience, patience is the key!
– Karen J. Wright; Mankato, Minnesota
Are Your Child’s Toys Safe?
Stocking up on toys for summer fun? Ensure that your choices are safe by checking out our up-to-date lists of hazardous and risky products. Start now to see the latest gear, clothing, toys, and sports equipment recalls.
RECALL ALERT! 1 Million Baby Slings
We post this infomation two week ago but feel it is worth posting again.
Infantino announced a recall today of the SlingRider and Wendy Bellissimo baby slings due to a risk of suffocation for infants younger than 4 months of age. Infantino is asking parents to immediately stop using the slings, which were sold at stores such as Walmart, Target, and Babies “R” Us. This recall follows a recent warning by the Consumer Product Safety Commission which more broadly warned about the risks of sling-related suffocation.
Bed-Wetting Myths
If your child wets the bed, it might seem like the problem will never go away. Although it’s frustrating, it’s important to remember that bed-wetting is a very common problem — up to 7 million kids in the United States wet their beds. Plus, it’s normal for kids up to about 10 years old to have difficulty staying dry at night. Our tips for ending bed-wetting and establishing healthy sleep routines are sure to make nights easier at your house.
Myth: A child who wets the bed is just too lazy to go to the bathroom.
Truth: Your child isn’t lazy because he isn’t dry at night yet — he just has a small bladder, cannot hold it all night long yet, and is not aware enough to his body urges to wake up when he is sleeping.”
Myth: Punishment helps a child stop wetting the bed at night.
Truth:”It’s like reprimanding someone for sneezing! Punishing a child for wetting the bed will just damage his self-esteem and make him feel like he’s disappointed you.”
Myth: Bed-wetting is caused by stress.
Truth: ”The most common reasons for bed-wetting include delay of bladder maturation, a small bladder, genetics (parents who were bed wetters are more likely to have children who wet the bed), and deep sleepers who don’t awaken to the bladder feeling full.”
Myth: Boys wet the bed more than girls.
Truth: Research shows that boys do tend to wet the bed more than girls. “Boys usually toilet-train later than girls, so they may also be later to stay dry at night. But girls are certainly not immune to this issue,” Dr. Ari Brown says.
Myth: Most bed wetters have a true medical problem.
Truth: In general, children under 6 years of age who have been wet at night before are not a cause for concern, Dr. Harvey Karp says. “If a child has been dry at night for six months or more, then starts wetting herself again, that is something you want to discuss with your doctor,” he says. Some medical reasons for sudden bed-wetting include urinary tract infections, diabetes, a bladder abnormality, and pinworms.
Myth: The best tactic is to just wait it out.
Truth: This is actually true! “If the child is under 6 and still wetting the bed, the best plan for parents is to just give the child some time,” Dr. Harvey Karp says. “Put her in a diaper for the night, and usually when the child is tired of or uncomfortable in the diaper, that will motivate her to stay dry on her own.”
Myth: A bed wetter simply drinks too much before bedtime.
Truth: While it is true that drinking within the two hours of going to bed can contribute to nighttime bed-wetting, it’s often not the cause of bed-wetting.
Myth: Bed-wetting is brought on by poor potty-training.
Truth: Bed-wetting is not caused by poor potty-training and should not be seen as failure for the parents or the child, Dr. Alanna Levine says. “It is not in the child’s control, so it has nothing to do with potty-training. I advocate positive reinforcement for dry nights but never punishment for accidents. It is, however, helpful to have the child participate in the morning clean-up so that he takes responsibility for achieving nighttime dryness.”
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