With cold and flu season upon us, it’s more important than ever to employ good practices to control the spread of infections and avoid illness. This is especially important for child safety.

“We need to be proactive not only to keep ourselves healthy, but to avoid transmitting illness if we’re sick,” said Eileen Finerty, RN, MS, CIC (certified in infection-control), nursing director for infection control and occupational health at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in Manhattan.

Hospital for Special Surgery has one of the lowest infection rates of any hospital in the country and was recently commended by the New York State Department of Health for its low infection rate in patients undergoing hip replacement. The overall infection rate refers to all infections acquired by patients in the hospital, not only viruses such as those that cause the flu.

Infection control in the health care setting is critical. Nationwide, hospital-acquired infections result in 100,000 deaths each year.

“We emphasize infection control as a best practice,” said Thomas P. Sculco, M.D., surgeon-in-chief at HSS, “and strive to maintain it at every level of patient care from washing hands to a clean and safe environment for our patients in the operating room and the entire hospital.”

HSS employs a combination of infection-control measures, according to Ms. Finerty. Some are highly sophisticated and others are basic good practices.

Strategies used by the hospital to keep germs in check can be adapted for use at home and in everyday life, according to Ms. Finerty. These practices include:
1 - Good hand hygiene using sanitizers.
Hospital: Hand sanitizers located all around the hospital have a sensor that dispenses foam without the need to touch it. The sensor detects hand motion and automatically releases foam.
What everyone can do: Sanitize hands frequently using an alcohol-based liquid hand cleaner. Use about a tablespoon, rub it into your hands and let it dry. Do not wipe it off. Ms. Finerty carries a hand sanitizer in her purse at all times.
2 - Frequent hand-washing.
Hospital: Hospital staff are instructed to wash their hands often. Signs around the hospital say: “Good Hand Hygiene Saves Lives.”
What everyone can do: Wash your hands for at least 15 seconds. You can sing “Happy Birthday” to get an idea of how long it should take. Work up a good lather and rub your hands together.
3 - Good ventilation.
Hospital: Clean air in operating rooms and the use of special panels to direct air flow to maintain the most sterile environment possible for the patient.
What everyone can do: Open the windows and let in some fresh air to ensure adequate ventilation. A stagnant, stuffy environment causes germs to re-circulate around the house.
4 - Controlling the spread of germs.
Hospital: The entire staff is trained in infection-control measures, such as coughing into a tissue and not into one’s hand. Boxes of tissues are located throughout the hospital. Staff are encouraged to stay home if they have a contagious illness.
What everyone can do: Carry tissues and dispose of them properly and immediately after coughing or sneezing. Then wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer. You can also cough into your sleeve to avoid getting germs on your hand that can later be spread.
In general, when you’re outside or at work, or if you have come in contact with a sick person, avoid touching your face. Germs on your hand get you sick when they enter your body through your eyes, nose or mouth, or through a break in the skin. Don’t go to work if you’re sick.
5 - Cleaning and disinfecting.
Hospital: HSS housekeeping staff is especially diligent about cleaning. The routine entails mopping, cleaning, and disinfecting surfaces, getting into cracks and crevices where bacteria can grow.

SOURCE Hospital for Special Surgery

If fashion mimics our culture, what does the dawn of a new decade bring for our baby’s child care and fashion? With over 8 years experience in running a successful on-line baby boutique in trendsetting Los Angeles, proprietor Dawn Torress of RecurrentDreams sought out to answer this question. “Parents have a new sense of social awareness, and are optimistic for what the future holds for our children”, states D. Torress. “They continue to want the best for their babies, but what’s changing is what they consider ‘best.’”

The new “best” is unique baby clothes that are free-trade, sweat shop free, preferably made in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Europe or Australia. And “best” is even better, if it’s eco-friendly, made from sustainable fabrics, organics and bamboo. “These next genesis fabrics are full of color and are luxuriously soft for baby’s delicate skin. Long gone are the drab scratchy organic wools of yesteryear” says Torress.

Styles are preciously classic yet relaxed as we emerge from recession. Warm pinks and sky blues are modern again with aargyle and kimono side ties. Colorful whimsy prints are seen on traditional baby rompers. Think orange owls, rich chocolate trims, turquoise guitars and animal prints. Little girl dresses take their inspiration from the storybooks of renaissance princesses and a midsummer’s night dream. “Celebrity favorites are California designers Luna Luna Copenhagen, Made Sky Kids and Toni Tierney Designs. They are constantly mixing things up season to season”, states D. Torress. “Miraculously, they have managed to keep their prices at bay, while maintaining high quality and excellent work conditions for their sewers.”

Will the twenty tens be as fashion iconic as were the 60’s and 70’s? Then again, when all is said and done, every generation laughs at the old fashions and follows the new; and babies base most of their fashion taste on what doesn’t itch!

Source Recurrent Dreams

Think your kids won’t eat healthy foods? Think again for child development. A preliminary report of the Chefs in Schools Initiative by the Harvard School of Public Health, funded by Project Bread, proves that kids not only like healthy school meals, but actually eat more of the healthy foods than they would if they were eating a traditional school meal.

The study sought to analyze the value of the Chefs in Schools Initiative, which was launched by Project Bread in 2007 with the help of the Office of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Boston Public Schools, and the Boston Public Health Commission. The concept behind the Initiative was simple: over 74% of the nearly 56,000 Boston public school children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, which include breakfast and lunch.

Clearly, many of these children come from families that struggle to put food on the table, making these children especially vulnerable to hunger and under-nutrition. The Initiative sought to make cutting-edge nutrition available to these children as an ordinary part of their school day.

To accomplish this, the partnership hired Chef Kirk Conrad, a master chef and graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, to work with the Lilla G. Frederick Middle School in Dorchester and the Mario Umana Middle School in East Boston. Chef Kirk, as Conrad is known by all, was charged with serving healthy, cost-effective meals that kids love to eat and creating an environment that signaled to kids, their teachers, and parents that school meals were crucial to their overall health and learning. Chef Kirk’s menus feature fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats — and remove excess fat, sodium, and sugar. These healthy meals are cooked from scratch, using fresh ingredients and herbs to enhance taste, by Conrad, who has also trained a willing kitchen staff in his techniques, who regularly test the palatability of new dishes with their students as they would guests in a restaurant.

As the final step in the rollout of the Initiative, the Healthy Lunch Study analyzed the results of this innovative program. The study compared Boston middle schools receiving the district’s traditional school lunch with the middle schools participating in the Chefs in Schools Initiative who received the healthy lunch. Results were collected from 3,188 trays and researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health stated their preliminary findings as significant:

Over three times as many students ate the vegetables at the Chefs schools as compared with the control schools.

Among students who ate vegetables, students at the Chefs schools ate on average about 30% more of their vegetables.

When only 1% white milk was served instead of chocolate milk, students still drank the same amount of milk.

Meals had over 50% more whole grains at the Chefs schools compared with the control schools.

SOURCE Project Bread - The Walk for Hunger

Munchkin, Inc., designer and manufacturer of clever infant care and toddler products, in partnership with Church & Dwight Co., Inc., makers of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda, today unveiled the ARM & HAMMER Diaper Pail, a breakthrough diaper disposal system. The ARM & HAMMER Diaper Pail neutralizes odors in the nursery through a patented odor control system with the power of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda at its core.

“The most important thing about any diaper disposal system is that it controls odors. This new system employs the built-in power of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to provide natural, safe and effective odor elimination,” said Doug Gillespie, Munchkin Vice President of Marketing. “We also knew the pail had to be easy for parents to use, so we developed a patented self-sealing system and refill bags that you simply snap, seal and toss in the trash.”

The ARM & HAMMER® name has been trusted for generations to eliminate odors, and Munchkin is known to today’s parents for delivering clever solutions to their everyday needs. The ARM & HAMMER(TM) Diaper Pail has numerous innovations that reflect the respective strengths of the two brands.

Baking Soda Dispenser: A built-in, vented dispenser sprinkles odor-eliminating baking soda each time the lid is closed and continuously absorbs and eliminates odors even when not in use.

Self-Sealing System: Munchkin’s patented system automatically seals the bag when the lid is closed and keeps it sealed when the lid is reopened.
Snap, Seal and Toss Bags: The disposable refill bags, each of which can hold up to 25 diapers, shut tight with a snap and can be easily tossed and replaced without cutting or tying.

Source: Munchkin

Bright Baby Tees announces the launch of a new line of women’s, men’s and older children’s T-shirts specially designed to deliver early child education benefits to infants. According to research reported in The Daily Parent, wearing designs of high-contrast colors and visually stimulating patterns can help boost a baby’s brain power — including their curiosity, attention span, memory, and physical coordination. Infants can reap these benefits even while the T-shirt wearer is performing the most mundane of tasks.

Bright Baby Tees (which is also planning a collection for babies) is the nation’s first producer of clothing that incorporates the concept of Infant Visual Stimulation (IVS). The high-contrast colors and patterns grab and hold an infant’s attention, having a positive effect on visual processing and neural and synaptic growth — meaning, when baby starts wiggling, giggling, kicking and arm-waving at the sight of their parent’s shirt, they’re getting a healthy head-start on their mental and physical development.

With 15 child-engaging T-shirt designs currently available, and 60 more in the works, parents, caregivers and older siblings will have an abundant variety of shapes, colors and patterns to sport in helping babies learn and grow. “We have geometric designs, letters of the alphabet, interesting halftones, animal themes, and much more to come,” says David Hagan, President of Bright Baby Tees. “A wide array of styles, sizes and colors are already available for purchase on our website, http://www.BrightBabyTees.com, at very reasonable prices.”

Hagan assures parents they needn’t worry if their baby is so delighted with the tees they can’t resist grabbing or biting the fabric. The line is eco-friendly. Designs are printed on organic cotton with non-toxic inks that are safe for both babies and the planet. To emphasize these benefits, the line was launched on Earth Day at the La Leche League Conference in Cherry Hill, NJ.

The new T-shirt collection has received the professional endorsement of neuropsychologist Dr. Darren Caffery, who confirms that early environmental influences exert significant effects on neural growth and visual/perceptive processing. “We have smart cars and homes,” he asserts, “so why not wear smart tees to nurture smart kids?”

SOURCE Bright Baby Tees

In the end, there is no better substitute than real child care and parenting.

The Baby Einstein videos seemed the solution to many busy parents. Just leave it on for your babies to watch and they’ll grow to be fine and intelligent like the namesake of the videos. But a New York Times report debunks this belief. Songs and bright colors are not that effective for infants.

When one comes to think of it, the logic behind letting babies watch colorful videos may be counterintuitive to their development especially for their eyes. The American Academy of Pediatrics believe that until a child reaches two years old, they should not watch television. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood points to a study which found a correlation between early television watching and low attention spans.

This has intense ramifications especially for the credibility of the videos. Lawsuits are waiting if cases of deceptive advertisements are hurled towards the makers of Baby Einstein videos.

This development is important in emphasizing that parents should spend as much quality time as they can with their babies.

Source: New York Times

Health and eco conscious parents nationwide have a new resource for adorable and affordable child care clothing for infants. Funkoos, a brand new line of playful baby clothes and accessories made from the finest certified 100 percent organic cotton, is officially available.

“Funkoos is now the great equalizer when it comes to making organic clothing affordable. No longer will discerning shoppers have to pay a premium for durable, stylish, organic clothing,” said Aaron Wasserman, Director of Marketing, Funkoos. “When parents touch our products, they’ll feel how soft the fabric is, how it actually breathes as it’s laying against the skin.

“Not only does this line provide the well documented health benefits of 100 percent organic cotton clothing, but the design is playful and easy for parents to manage,” added Wasserman.

“We believe that the superior construction of Funkoos clothing - from the soft, breathable fabric to the practical, fun design - will change the way people shop for baby clothes.”

In addition to designing clothing with pure organic cotton that has been manufactured in factories certified as per the internationally-recognized Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS), Funkoos is dedicated to ensuring that all products are manufactured in fair trade work environments. Additionally, the brand is giving back a portion of all revenues through charitable environmental causes.

“At Funkoos, we truly take pride in maintaining completely fair work environments and compensation plans, and are involved with a number of nonprofit organizations, including the internationally recognized One Percent for the Planet.” said Sitwat Shah, Director of Operations, Funkoos.

Source: Funkoos

The end of outdoor swimming and pool season doesn’t mean the end of drowning dangers for young children. After pools, more children drown in bathtubs than in any other product in and around the home. Here are some important child safety insights.

For 2003-2005, CPSC staff received reports of an average of 90 children younger than 5 years of age who drowned in bathtubs (62%), baby seats or bathinettes (15%), buckets and pails (11%), landscaping or yard products (6%), and other products (4%). There was an annual average of an additional 39 reports of non-fatal submersion incidents for 2005-2007 that were reported for the same products. The majority of drownings and non-fatal submersion incidents involved children younger than 2 years old.

“What parents need to know is that anywhere there is water, there is a potential drowning hazard to children,” said Inez Tenenbaum, CPSC Chairman. “Parents shouldn’t let their guard down; young children need constant supervision around bathtubs, bath seats and buckets.”

Many of the reported incidents involved a lapse in supervision by caregivers, such as leaving the bathroom momentarily while the child was in the bathtub to answer the phone/door or to retrieve an item like a towel. In other incidents, an older sibling was left to watch a younger sibling.

CPSC recommends parents and caregivers follow these safety tips when children are around bathtubs, bath seats, buckets, spas, or decorative ponds or fountains:

Never leave young children alone, even for a moment, near any water. Young children can drown quickly in even small amounts of water.

Always keep a young child within arm’s reach in a bathtub. If you must leave, take the child with you.

Don’t leave a baby or toddler in a bathtub under the care of another young child.

Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended. Toddlers can fall headfirst into buckets and drown. After using a bucket, always empty and store it where young children cannot reach it. Don’t leave buckets outside where they can collect rainwater.

Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). It can be a lifesaver when seconds count.

Source U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Changing diapers will never be out in the list of your many child care responsibilities and works. It is the moment of truth when you have to sacrifice your olfactory nerves and be able to master the strokes in cleaning your baby’s mess from the defecation.

Much of the time you will spend with your little baby will involve this act.

Before you actually begin ripping diapers open, it’s a good idea to set up the diaper changing station. Having it ready for each change will prevent the temptation to move away from the baby to reach what you need.

Your changing station should include:

* a diaper changing table
* a good diaper pail
* clean diapers (cloth or disposable)
* diaper ointment (or other remedy) for diaper rash
* a washcloth or wipes
* Antibacterial wash
* clean water

Have your baby be in some form of distraction while you do the cleaning. Eliminate that by offering a small container of toys to hear at diaper changes. Have a lot of toys to give your baby every time  you lay him down for a diaper change. You

Healthy babies should have light to dark-yellow urine. The darker the color, the less liquid the baby is getting. So, lighter is better.

Occasionally you may see what looks like a pink stain on the diaper. This is usually not blood, but highly concentrated urine interacting with the gel used in disposable diapers, producing a pinkish color.

Monitor the times, frequency of changing the diapers and the consistency of the urine and stools of your baby. If your  doesn’t wet 4 diapers a day, contact your doctor and report the changes.

* If your baby urinates less than 3 times in a 24 hour period, it is a possible sign of dehydration.
* If he is urinating more than every half hour, it may cause dehydration.
* If the urine drastically changes color, there might be an underlying problem that needs immediate preventive action.

Monitor as well if there are any rashes formed in your baby’s skin. Presence of rashes may indicate that your baby is allergic to the diapers. Report the rashes to your pediatrician and immediately change the brand of the diapers to a new one.

Use these diaper changes to build and to promote loving bonds between you and your baby.

Teething is a part of your child’s lifetime. The most common problem while teething that causes irritation and pain in babies is swelling of gums and itchiness in them. This is caused by the teeth that push the gums from beneath, causing them to bulge. Sometimes, the pain in jaws becomes so severe that it gets shifted to ear canal too. Babies cry inconsolably bringing the helpless parents at a loss about what to do to soothe their little angels.

Here are some tips for soothing babies with soreness in gums while teething:

* Cool off the pain: Use fake Popsicles or teething pacifiers that have bumps on them by keeping them in the refrigerator and giving them to the baby to bite, chew or suck and cool the pain off, when he/she is hurting. Remember that teething rings or teethers are not to be kept in the freezer as they can harm the tender skin of the infant.
* Distraction: Teething pain can be chronic and cause great discomfort to the baby making him/her irritable. You can cuddle the baby more often, talk to him or offer her a new toy as a way of distraction to soothe her so that she forgets her ache for sometime as she gets attracted to you or the toy.
* Massage: A tooth deep in the gum may be painful and yet not have bruised the gum. In such cases, counter pressure created by chewing can help to soothe the baby and plastic toys, teething rings and other soft plastic toys for teething babies may help her to satisfy her urge to chomp. If the babies’ gums are too tender, then you can lightly massage them with a clean finger or a finger wrapped in washcloth to soothe the baby.
* Medications: Many parents trust over-the-counter local anesthetics like Anbesol or Orajel for their babies but do remember to follow the directions carefully or the baby may fall sick. They should never be given to a baby more than four doses a day or for more than two weeks. Acetaminophen drops may also help the baby to fall asleep but they must be used only at the time of nap or in nighttime. Do not use them to soothe the baby when he should be awake.

All these might help you as you go on with your child care responsibility in teething stage.

Newborns have a huge number of reflexes that are present at birth. Grasping is one. The newborns wrap their tiny fingers around anything that comes in or put in their hands. At the time, the baby is two months old, this reflex action begins to disappear. Baby’s fists, which used to be always clenched up together, start opening up. The baby may also try to grab things that are within his/her immediate reach, such as his/her mom’s clothing or hair. He/she may also try to explore these things and try to put them in the mouth, after grabbing them. This is the time, when small things such as buttons, bright colored pills and coins should be kept out of their reach, otherwise they may try to pick it up and swallow them.

Right after your child is born, up to a period of two months, he/she would start to grab things. The baby would drop the things within a few seconds after holding them, because the grasping skills are not refined at this stage. When you touch your child’s palm gently, he/she will curl his/her tiny finger around yours. These movements are inherent in the newborn and would continue to be involuntary for the first eight weeks post birth. Your baby would clench in his/her fist during this stage. He/she would also begin to open and close his/her fist at this time. The infant would even try to grab soft objects such as stuffed animal.

By the time, your baby is three months old; he/she would develop the skill of eye-hand coordination. After noticing things your baby would like to hold, he/she would attempt to grasp them. During this stage, lay your child on a soft mat. Let him/her swipe at attractive things hanging above him/her. As the child grows one month older, he/she would try to pick up larger objects such as plastic blocks, although he/she would be unable to hold a tight grip. This is because the finger dexterity is still not developed in the baby. When the infant is five to six months old, he/she will close their fingers and grasp an object placed in his/her hand. Even if something strokes your baby’s palm, he/she would immediately close his/her fingers in order to grasp, which is called the palmar grasp. This grip can be strong at times. The baby may also release their grip suddenly. Just touch your kid’s palm - he/she will curl his/her fingers around yours.

Pincer grasp is a developmental milestone for the infants. When your little one is nine months old, he/she would learn the pincer grasp or the ability to pick up very small objects, between the index finger and the thumb. In fact, it is the foundation of the activities such as coloring and eating. As part of your child care role, the best way to inculcate pincer grasp in your child is to give him/her soft, lightweight objects with different and interesting textures. Make sure that the things you give your toddler, in order to explore them, are not hazardous.

Swimming is one the best and therapeutic form of exercise for kids and adults alike. It tones muscles, relaxes the mind and exercises joints. Even newborns are natural lovers of water as they keep floating around in mother’s womb for nine months.The benefits of “baby-friendly”, infant/toddler swimming are unique, uplifting and contribute to the positive child development. Through the soothing medium of water, we are able to tap into the child’s potential, both within and without.

According to documented researches, the stimulating effect of child-paced infant/toddler swimming lessons has the potential to increase intelligence, concentration, alertness, and perceptual abilities.
Here are some tips to develop the taste for swimming in your baby and make him learn it:

* Make your baby learn to be comfortable and have fun with water. Take baths and showers with the baby and let him splash the water and watch and observe toys that float.
* Trickle water over baby’s forehead slowly so that baby can feel comfortable with the sensation of running water.
* Snuggle the baby to your chest as you recline in the tub and you may even nurse the baby to help him relax while almost floating. However, be sure that the water does not have soap or has a tear-free gentle soap that does not hurt baby’s eyes.
* Help your baby to trust the water and feel safe in it by exposing him to the water for short but frequent periods of time.
* When the baby feels comfortable in shower and tub and is about one to two months old, you can take him to the pool. Early exposure to pool lessens the fear of water in the child.
* Make sure that pool has lukewarm water before you immerse the baby in water so that they do not get cold.
* Limit the time in a cold pool at first.
* Make sure that pool chemicals are at safe level for the baby and chlorine levels will not hurt baby’s skin, eyes and breathing passages. Indoor pools often have heavy chlorine levels that you can smell from the poolroom. They can be hazardous for the baby.
* Pools with ozone filters are clean and baby-friendly.
* Make sure that babies do not soil the pool from bowel movements by checking and cleaning the diaper area of the baby and making him wear ‘swim diapers’ before taking him to the water.
* Do not take the baby to the pool immediately after a feeding.
* Make sure that your baby does not swallow pool water, as it is not good for baby’s health and his safety.
* Most babies love buoyancy of water and freedom of movement, so hold the baby securely on your arms and let him move in water. Water exercise and water relaxation often makes babies nap after pool time.
* Children who are six months old can be enrolled in swimming lessons for infants with qualified instructors, where most babies learn to ‘swim’ by the time they are nine months old for a few seconds between two adults.
* Participate in the lessons for swimming along with infant swim instructors.

Diaper changing is one of the more important skills in infant care which take constant practice to perfect. You should have a very suitable changing table to accompany your child care routine. So here are a few things to consider when choosing a baby changing table from the good folks at the Nemours Foundation:

- Opt for a sturdy wooden table with guard rails to prevent tipping if a curious baby pulls on it from the floor.
- If you select a changing table that folds, always make sure it’s sturdy and secure when open and in use.
- Make sure that the table has a wide base to prevent being pulled over.
- Choose a table that has shelves or a compartment to store baby supplies, so you can give baby your complete attention.
- Guard rails on changing tables should stand at least 2 inches high.
- Make sure the changing table has a safety belt, and always use it.

Here is a recent Health Day press release about how depressed dads can affect child development:

“Don’t automatically blame mom: A crying, colicky baby can be just as much the result of dad’s state of mind, Dutch researchers report.

Other studies have found that depression among mothers can be related to excessive crying or colic, a common problem with newborns, but the researchers said that little was known about whether fathers’ emotions and behavior also have an effect.

“Up to now, almost all attention went to the prenatal effects of maternal depression on child development, leading to the development of detection and treatment programs that focused on mental well-being of mothers,” said lead researcher Dr. Mijke P. van den Berg, a psychiatrist at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam.

“This study showed the importance of taking paternal factors and well-being during pregnancy into account, next to maternal,” she said.

The report is published in the July issue of Pediatrics.

To see how parental depression was related to excessive crying, van den Berg’s team gathered data on symptoms of depression among parents of 4,426 infants who were 2 months old. Excessive crying was defined as crying for more than three hours a day on more than three days in the past week.

Overall, just 2.5 percent of the infants in the study fit the excessive crying criteria. But, the researchers found a 30 percent higher risk for depression among parents whose infant cried excessively.

“This finding could not be attributed to co-existing depressive symptoms of the mother, which is already known to be a risk factor for excessive infant crying,” van den Berg said. It could be related to genetics, a depressed father or, indirectly, through factors such as marital, family or economic stress, she said.

In fact, a dad with symptoms of depression was twice as likely to have an infant who cried excessively as was a dad who was not depressed, the study found.

“Fathers do matter, so take care for the mental well-being of fathers during pregnancy,” van den Berg said.

Dr. Jon Shaw, a professor and director of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller of School of Medicine, said that the study shows how depression can lead to infant’s excessive crying.

“This study demonstrates in a paradoxical way the importance of fathers, in that fathers’ measurable depression during pregnancy is a risk factor for excessive infant crying at 2 months of age,” Shaw said.

“This seems to be related perhaps to the enduring effects of fathers’ depression on the family ambience, the parental relationship, child parenting and, perhaps as the authors suggest, there may be a genetic factor involved,” he said.

SOURCES: Mijke P. van den Berg, M.D., Ph.D., Departments of Psychiatry/Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Jon Shaw, M.D., professor and director, child and adolescent psychiatry, University of Miami Miller of School of Medicine, Miami; July 2009 Pediatrics”

Milk is still very important for child development - even if they are no longer babies. Sadly, children are starting to leave their milk glasses for sodas and sugary drinks so parents should step up and ensure that milk is still part of the diet of the child because it can have long term benefits to your child.

According to the Milk Processor Education Program study in the United States, calories consumed from milk (which includes flavoured milk), drop as children mature. ‘Our study found that milk is a primary source of nutrients in a child’s diet,’ said Mary Murphy, who works at the Environ Health Sciences Institute, Arlington, adding, “But milk consumption steadily declines as children grow older, which may prevent older children and teenagers from consuming the nutrients they need for growth and development.”

Here are some facts on the calories that milk provides for children over the years:

* Ages 2 to 5: 13 percent of daily calories.
* Ages 6 to 11: 9 percent.
* Ages 12 to 18: 6 to 7 percent.

So make sure to prepare a glass of milk for your child. You can join him/her drink milk while you’re at it.

You’ve heard the line breastmilk is still best for babies in television. That cliche has been up and running for a reason - it is a true nugget of wisdom. Breastfeeding allows children to get their optimum requirements for nutrients and antibodies and also give mothers more time to bond with their children during infant care.

How optimum is the nutrients in breast milk. Well, like magic, it has the right amount of fat, sugar, water and protein needed by the baby for his growth. It is also easier to digest than cow’s milk. After all, the baby is not a cow. Human breastmilk is much more easier to absorb and break down.

Apart from the nutrients, breast milk has anitbodies to provide important protection against bacteria and viruses. In today’s polluted environment, this is no laughing matter. Breastmilk can really help strengthen your child. It makes babies less susceptible to contract lower respiratory infections, ear infection, septicemia and urinary tract infections.

More importantly, for the mother, breastfeeding helps to lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. It also helps the uterus return to its normal size more quickly.

First time parents are confused at a loss most of the time during infant care of their newborn. It’s hard to blame them; they would want to perform these duties flawlessly. So here are some suggestions from the Nemours Foundation to help you get by:

- Support baby’s head with a gentle hand whenever you hold, carry or lay baby down.
- Treat baby gently. Never shake the baby for any reason, including to wake him or her up. Instead, tickle the feet or blow on the cheek to rouse your little one.
- Make sure you’re using the baby car seat and stroller correctly, and that baby is safely secured.
- Newborns just need to be held and cuddled. It’s too soon for games such as bouncing on the knee or lifting in the air.

Moreover, it wouldn’t hurt to seek the advice of those with considerable experience in raising babies. Yes, that’s your parents and your in-laws. Their experience is golden but take care not to get too dependent on them.

You don’t have to wait for school in order to orient your little bundle of joy with some basic child education. Here are a few things you can do in the comfort of your own home:

Sometimes the emotional quotient of a child is more important than his/her IQ. So before you introduce to all sorts of concepts make sure he/she has the patience to listen carefully. This will create a whole lot of difference when your child steps in school. After ensuring this, now it’s time to introduce him to basic and fun concepts which can be found in your home such as vivid colors, various sizes and shapes and other fun educational games.

Colors, sizes and shapes can be fairly easy to learn if there are many objects inside your home which you can point to your child for him/her to identify. There are many games you can create to engage the curiosity and attention of your child from numbering activities to identification of spaces and sizes. You can even teach him some basic words and spellings. Give it a dose of the alphabet too for good measure.

The important thing here is preparing the mind of the child for school and not to overload it. Do it in a very loving manner.

As tiring as infant care can be especially with uneven sleeping patterns, one of its best rewards is the chance to bond with that little bundle of joy. There are no actual words to describe how it feels; a parent just experiences a more solemn connection with the baby.

In fact, science is having quite a hard time to explain such an instinctive phenomenon. All these medical minds know is that this early relationship bonds with parents form the emotional framework of the child.

Studies of newborn monkeys who were given mannequin mothers at birth showed that, even when the mannequins were made of soft material and provided formula to the baby monkeys, the babies were better socialized when they had live mothers to interact with. Scientists suspect that lack of bonding in human babies can cause similar problems.

Even with all the scientific fanfare, bonding is a process which both the parent and the child should enjoy and experience to be fully felt.

Some might think that cleaning the gums should only happen when the baby starts showing his first tooth. But conventional wisdom suggests that it’s always a good habit to wipe the gums regularly even earlier into the teething timetable.

This procedure is much helpful in ushering a hassle-free child development phase for your child’s teeth because bacteria may make it hard for the teeth to emerge.

After a while, the first teeth will emerge and you should need to buy a reliable baby toothbrush. It should come at around the fifteen to eighteen month mark.

As long as you’re cleaning your child’s teeth regularly, you don’t need to use any toothpaste yet. Just brush the teeth gently on both the outside and inside surfaces twice a day. Brush his tongue as well A little fluoride is a good thing for your baby’s teeth, but too much of it can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which in mild cases causes white spots to show up on your child’s adult teeth.

There may be times when we may grow tired of the talkative nature of toddlers but talking remains to be one of those milestone achievement in child development which you can’t wait to unfold.

Setting up a favorable environment is one of the best ways you can do to help the learning process flow in easier. The first thing you can do is to stop speaking in a baby tone and try to talk to youur child in an adult manner so that the child can get the proper inflections and word meanings/contexts. Also ask them a lot of questions in order to engage in conversations. Here are a few more guidelines:

1. Be sure to tell them what you’re doing. If it’s time to change their clothes for bedtime, tell them. “Off with your shoes. Remove your pants and shirt.” Repeating this each time you change them helps them learn to use labels for their clothing.

2. Read to them as often as possible. Picture dictionaries can introduce them to new words. Point to the pictures in the book and name each one. Read simple stories using expression in your voice for the different characters. Your toddler will love it!

3. Try not to talk or mumble to yourself which can confuse your toddler. They may begin to think that words are meaningless if someone isn’t responding when you talk.

4. Play repeating games with your toddler. Start out with simple words. Point to a toy they like and say “toy.” Ask them if they would like the toy and then ask them if they can say “toy.” If they try, praise them whether they can say the word or not. Then give them the toy. Repeat with other things they point to and indicate they want.

5. Leave the television off as much as possible. Parking your toddler in front of a TV for a short while won’t hurt them, but leaving them there for hours can. In fact, some experts have determined that watching television earlier than age two can be a contributing factor to developing Attention Deficit Disorder. If you can’t be with them physically, put them somewhere safe and let them play with their toys.

6. Be patient. Babies all learn at different rates so don’t get too discouraged if your toddler doesn’t learn to speak as quickly as another child. It may not seem like it, but your toddler will be talking when they’re ready. Of course, then you may wish they didn’t talk so much!

7. See the doctor. If you think your toddler is way behind their peers in speaking, you may want to see your child’s pediatrician. They will be able to test your toddler to see if there is a physical reason for them not speaking. If there is a problem, they will be able to give you the best advice for getting your toddler past the problem.

8. Love them as they are. If you put too much pressure on them to talk before they’re ready, it could do more harm than you realize. It’ll happen, just wait and see.

Try not to stress out about whether your toddler is talking or not. Unless your doctor gives you a reason why they won’t, you can expect your toddler to begin talking when they’re good and ready. Until then, talk to them, read to them, and keep on loving them!

Although independence is a virtue we want our children to learn, we can’t just let them by their lonesome especially if they are in the midst of studying at home. It is the duty of parents to be always there to monitor the progress of child education.

Always be on the look out for wrong study habits which may become ingrained in your child. Moreover, always be there so that no matter how difficult the lessons, they can get by. Here are more tips from mychildeducation.com

1. Discuss the lesson with your child. Ask him or her to explain what needs to be done. Then ask which parts are not clear. If necessary, read over the instructions and paraphrase them to your son or daughter. Then try to answer any questions that still remain about what needs to be done. It is always a good idea to let kids do as much on their own as possible, because that prepares them for real-life situations when similar uncertainties will arise, sometimes while working on a deadline.

2. Stay close by but uninvolved. Your presence alone may reassure a child that you are available if needed. But it also may encouragement him or her to work alone to show that he can master the material or she is independent enough to figure out the guidelines for herself. Look in on your child periodically to be sure that he stays focused or doesn’t get distracted. Adjust lighting as the evening wears on and perhaps consider offering a healthy snack that won’t interfere with dinner.

3. Help with major study projects. For example, you can work with your son to learn basic math facts or your daughter’s preparation for the spelling bee. Help her pick out supplies for an upcoming art project or guide him through instructions for a science experiment. But provide plenty of time and space for your kids to remain responsible for their own work.

4. Assist with organizational tasks. Scheduling study time, arranging social plans around homework activities, and providing quiet home space for things to get done teaches a child how to make these decisions in conjunction with a long-term commitment like homework. Kids need to realize at an early age that homework just doesn’t get done automatically. They need to collect supplies, understand the guidelines, and make time to do the work. Parents can help to facilitate these coordinating tasks without taking charge of the entire process.

5. Don’t let them give up or take shortcuts. When your child begs to watch another half-hour of television or keep playing outside instead of doing homework, you have to be firm in teaching him to balance playtime with homework. While some outside play is a good idea to promote exposure to fresh air and exercise, it is also important to instill respect for completing homework accurately and on time. Likewise, don’t allow your children to cheat by copying another student’s homework or looking up answers on the Internet that they are supposed to learn for themselves. Remember to set a good example in your own life, as well.

There are many perils in the world which can be avoided if you can train your child to be able to have common sense skills especially outdoors. Here are some child safety guidelines from the Tulsa police force which you can integrate to your child’s rearing wherever you are:

Speak openly with about safety issues with your child.  Children will be less likely to come to you if the issue is enshrouded in secrecy.

Children can be raised to be polite and friendly, but they need to know that it is okay to say NO, even to an adult.

Parents and guardians should explain to children that the child’s personal safety is more important than being polite.

Kids need to be empowered with positive messages and safety skills that will build their self-esteem and self-confidence while helping to keep them safe.

If your child does share a situation with you, strive to remain calm, non-critical, and non-judgmental.

Call police immediately if your child has been a victim.

Well, over the weeks, the crying of the baby may appear monotonous and borderline irritating. But if you try to listen further and understand the needs of your babies, you’ll eventually get that your baby is trying to communicate a message.

This is one of the finer skills of infant care which you can learn through sheer diligence and passion. Here are a set of meanings which can be interpreted when your child starts belting those shrieks and shouts, courtesy of the respectable Mayo Clinic:

- I’m hungry. Most newborns eat every few hours round-the-clock. Some babies become frantic when hunger strikes. They may get so worked up by the time the feeding begins that they gulp air with the milk, which may cause spitting up, trapped gas and more crying. To avoid such frenzy, respond to early signs of hunger. If your baby begins to gulp during the feeding, take a break.
- I need to burp. During and after each feeding, take time to burp your baby. But don’t stop there. Your baby may need to burp between feedings as well.
- I’m wet. For some babies, a wet or soiled diaper is a surefire way to trigger tears. Gas or indigestion may have the same effect. Check your baby’s diaper often to make sure it’s clean and dry.
- I’m tired. Tired babies are often fussy — and your baby may need more sleep than you think. Newborns often sleep up to 16 hours every day. Some newborns sleep even more.
- I’d rather be bundled. Some babies feel most secure in a swaddle wrap. Snugly wrap your baby in a receiving blanket or other small, lightweight blanket.
- I want to move. Sometimes a rocking session or walk through the house is enough to soothe a crying baby. In other cases, a change of position is all that’s needed. Keeping safety precautions in mind, try a baby swing or vibrating infant seat. Weather permitting, head outdoors with the stroller. You may even want to buckle up for a ride in the car.
- I’m lonely. Sometimes simply seeing you, hearing your voice or being cuddled may stop the tears. Gentle massage or light pats on the back may soothe a crying baby, too.
- I’m hot. A baby who’s too hot is likely to be uncomfortable. The same goes for a baby who’s too cold. Add or remove a layer of clothing as needed.
- I want to suck on something. Sucking is a natural reflex. For many babies, it’s a comforting, soothing activity. If your baby isn’t hungry, try a clean finger or pacifier.
- I’ve had enough. Too much noise, movement or visual stimulation may drive your baby to tears. Move to a calmer environment or place your baby in the crib. White noise — such as a recording of ocean waves or the monotonous sound of an electric fan or vacuum cleaner — may help your crying baby relax.
- It’s just that time of day. Many babies have predictable periods of fussiness during the day, often in the late afternoon and early evening. There may be little you can do but comfort your baby as the crying runs its course.
- My tummy hurts. If you’re breast-feeding your baby, the flavor of the milk may change in response to what you eat and drink. If you suspect that a certain food or drink is making your baby fussier than usual, avoid it for several days to see if it makes a difference.

Some women cannot have the luxury of staying at home while pregnant. Many of them have work to fulfill even during their pregnancy - that is why some are forced to drive themselves to and fro their office and their home. As with any other driver, seatbelts are crucial for pregnant women even at their condirion. Now is it really recommended for child safety?

The primary concern is that the straps on their tummies may be too tight to have an impact on your baby. But of course, as far as risks are concerned, not wearing a seat belt offers a tougher threat to the safety of both the mother and the child.

Moreover, the baby is enveloped in amniotic fluid to help them survive tough blows - so even by a bit, the baby has some sense of protection from the protection of the seat belt.

Finally, as scientific proof, the National Highway Safety Adminstration designed a crash-test dummy for pregnant women and the results point to a safer consequence for the mother compared to not wearing a seatbelt. Thus, seatbelts should be worn faithfully. After all when pregnancy is too deep in the last trimester phase, then the woman should have no more reason to even drive in the first place.

Educational toys are such an integral part of the growing experience of children. Not only do they entertain them, they also teach them critical thinking skills if applied in a proper setting. This is why it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that the toys of the baby are of top-notch condition for child safety. Here are some points to consider:

Almost all toys have recommendations for the proper age range; this is due to hazards of choking especially for toys with very small parts. Take note of this when buying a toy for your child. Moreover, look if it has the approval of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Immediately inspect the toy if it has jagged or sharp edges. It should also withstand chewing as much as possible. For toys that were handed down to your baby, make sure not to expose the baby to toys with paint dating back to 1978 as it may contain lead.

Balloons are also something you should not give to your child until they are about eight years old. It poses a strong risk of choking as well.

Kangaroo care is an infant care technique wherein the baby is held via skin-to-skin contact. Basically it emulates the pouch parenting of the popular Australian marsupial, the kangaroo.

Although this may seem like a gimmick, kangaroo care actually emerged as a knee-jerk response to the alarmingly high rate of preterm baby deaths in Bogota, Columbia in the late 1970s. The deaths then were at a ridiculous 70% clip. The primary culprit pointed by experts was a lack of attention by parents. Thus, it was suggested that parents spend more time close to the bodies of their mothers - in typical kangaroo fashion.

Here are some of the benefits of kangaroo care from ClevelandClinic.org:

* Stabilization of the baby’s heart rate
* Improved (more regular) breathing pattern
* Improved oxygen saturation levels (an indicator of how well oxygen is being delivered to all the infants organs and tissues)
* Gain in sleep time
* More rapid weight gain
* Decreased crying
* More successful breastfeeding episodes
* Earlier hospital discharge

It also has its benefits for parents as well:

* Improved bonding, feelings of closeness with their babies
* Increased breast milk supply
* Increased confidence in ability to care for their babies
* Increased confidence that their babies are well cared for
* Increased sense of control