Safer Child Products

It’s Memorial Day, and the weather is steamy!  Many families have packed up and taken for the beach!  The summer season has officially arrived. Whether working in your garden, playing on the ball field or playground, or sitting by the pool, make sure you and your children are adequately protected.  Although some sun exposure is healthy, promoting production of Vitamin D, if you are going to be out for an extended period of time, don’t forget the sunscreen, even on cloudy days!

 According to the June 2012 issue of Consumer Reports, Not All Sunscreens are created equal! It is best to choose a sunscreen that is rated well in protecting against BOTH UVA and UVB radiation.  In the article they explain the risks of UV radiation as it “may promote skin cancer by damaging the DNA in skin cells and by weakening the body’s natural defenses against cancer cells.”

Don’t assume that because your sunscreen says “kids” on it, that it is any better than another.  Read the labels and read the reviews as certain ingredients may be harmful .  Also, be sure to wear hats and protect your eyes.  Re-apply every 2 hours and especially after having been in the water.

Have a safe holiday! 

Safer Child Products

I have heard so many stories of frustration from parents saying their car seats don’t fit properly in their car.  This is often a problem, especially if you have to put a larger seat rear­-facing, or when you need to fit 2 or 3 car seats across.  Did you know that Evenflo does not allow a RF car seat to be touching the back of the seat in front of it? Their infant carriers must be 1 ½ inches from the seat back in front of them. Think about it. How many vehicle manufacturers are there?  Multiply that by the number of child car seat manufactures and then don’t forget to include the number of different car seat models and vehicle models!  It’s impossible for every car and every car seat to be compatible with so many sizes and shapes of each one!

I find it so frustrating that some manufacturers allow the handle of the infant carrier to be upright while others require it to be back.  There are no hard and fast rules about what car seat is best.  More expensive does not necessarily mean better.  All child car seats need to meet the same safety standards.  You need to choose the car seat that fits best in your car, is appropriate for the age, height and weight of your child and is easy for you to use, so that you will use it the right way, every time you travel. It is so important to read the owners’ manual that comes with your car seat and to reference the vehicle owner’s manual as well.

When shopping for a car seat, ask the store manager if you can try it in your car.  I’m not sure if you will need to buy it first, but if so, be clear about the return policies of that store.  You may be able to take it right out into the parking lot and try it in your car. 

Do you know which positions in your car are able to be used with LATCH?  Has using LATCH made your car seat installations easier?  That’s now always the case.  Check out this article about the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) which were instituted to make car set installation easier.    http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/04/study-says-baby-seats-hard-to-install-in-most-cars/1#.T7pisEVfEWo

Once you’ve read the owner’s manual and installed your seat, consider going to get your installation checked by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.  Visit www.safekids.org for a list of checkup events or inspection stations in your area.

Safer Child Products

How many of us have looked forward to transitioning our children to sippy cups?  Whether from the breast or the bottle, it is a big milestone when they learn to drink from a cup, and the independence it brings along with it! 

Well, it’s been all over the news this morning, childhood injuries associated with pacifiers, bottles and sippy cups.  Children are ending up in the emergency room because of injuries associated with bottles and sippycups!?  There is nothing inherently wrong with these products, it seems to be that unsteady toddlers are walking around (or maybe even running) the house with their bottle or sippy cup and when they fall, they are getting broken teeth and cuts on their face and mouth. 

According to a study published in Pediatrics 5/9/2012, Cuts were the most common injury seen, mostly on the head, neck and face, but Pacifiers were most commonly associated with soft tissue and dental injuries.

How can this be avoided?  There are several recommendations.  Fist of all, "The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children move from bottles to open cups at age 1 and discontinue using pacifiers by age 3". If the cup is open, then the child must learn to sit or stay in one spot while drinking.  If they are not walking around with the cup or bottle in their mouth, they the toddler will be less likely to suffer from cuts and bruises to the mouth and face when they inevitably fall.

To see the complete study, go to http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/05/09/peds.2011-3348.full.pdf+html

Safer Child Products

^{This past weekend my husband Allen and I attended a Gala to benefit the American Lung Association.  Neither of us are smokers and fortunately, our children are healthy.  However, we all know people with Asthma and my husband’s aunt is a survivor of Lung Cancer.  As a physician,  Allen sees it all.} 

^{However, as I was sitting at the Gala, listening to the speakers and reading the program, it struck me that so many children become “passive smokers”, the ones who are affected by the 2nd hand smoke of their parents or caregivers.  It is not just the burning cigarette but the exhaled smoke as well.  Think about how the smell lingers on clothing and even in upholstery.  This compounds the effects.}

^{According to the American Acaemy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, “Exposure to ETS (Exhaled Tobacco Smoke) decreases lung efficiency and impairs lung function in children of all ages.}  It increases both the frequency and severity of childhood asthma. Secondhand smoke can aggravate sinusitis, rhinitis, cystic fibrosis, and chronic respiratory problems such as cough and postnasal drip.  It also increases the number of children’s colds and sore throats. ”

For much more information on Second Hand Smoke and it’s affect on Children, please visit http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Second-Hand-Smoke-and-Children.cfm

Here are some tips from the US Environmental Protection Agency:             

A few basic actions can protect children from secondhand smoke

1.      Choose not to smoke in your home and car and do not allow family and visitors to do so. Infants and toddlers are especially vulnerable to the health risks from secondhand smoke.

2.      Do not allow childcare providers or others who work in your home to smoke.

3.      Until you can quit, choose to smoke outside. Moving to another room or opening a window is not enough to protect your children.

Let’s keep all our kids safe!