Safer Child Products

In our house we very rarely drink Soda and I buy herbal or decaffeinated tea, because I don’t like how caffeine makes me feel. Coffee is not something any of us drink. Though we do have the occasional Gatorade, or Powerade type drink, I’ve worried more about the sugar content than caffeine.  Energy drinks do have caffeine, and too much of it can be dangerous for our children.  Did you know there are recommended limits on how much caffeine a child should have based on their weight?

“Based on average body weights, the maximum daily caffeine intake for children between four and 12 years is:
45 milligrams for children aged four to six.
62.5 milligrams for children aged seven to nine.
85 milligrams for children aged 10 to 12. 

Emergency rooms across the country have seen a dramatic spike in caffeine overdoses, up from 1,128 in 2005 to 16,055 in 2008 and 13,114 in 2009, according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.”

According to an article in the New York Times, Business Day sections on October 22, 2012, “Under current F.D.A. rules, companies are not required to disclose caffeine levels in their beverages and can choose to market them as drinks or as dietary supplements. Those regulatory categories have differing labeling and ingredient rules.”

Back in May of 2011 the American Academy of Pediatrics even took a stand, saying that kids should not drink energy drinks and generally do not need sports drinks, they should stick to water. “Energy drinks contain substances not found in sports drinks that act as stimulants, such as caffeine, guarana and taurine. Caffeine – by far the most popular stimulant – has been linked to a number of harmful health effects in children, including effects on the developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems. Energy drinks are never appropriate for children or adolescents, said Dr. Schneider and Dr. Benjamin. In general, caffeine-containing beverages, including soda, should be avoided.” They also found that “In many cases, it’s hard to tell how much caffeine is in a product by looking at the label,” Dr. Schneider said. “Some cans or bottles of energy drinks can have more than 500 mg of caffeine, which is the equivalent of 14 cans of soda.” In addition to the health affects relating to your heart and blood pressure, Energy Drinks can be linked to Obesity, Sleep Disorders, Calcium Deficiency and Dental problems.  Be aware that if your child is Medicated for ADD, Depression or even Pain, there can be serious interactions.

Let’s keep all our children safe!

Safer Child Products

My friend just told me the other day that her baby is not up to date with her immunizations.  I was very concerned about this.  I know that people have different opinions about giving their babies shots, or how many at a time should they give.  There are still very serious diseases out there that immunizations can prevent.  My daughter’s school is collecting change to support our local Rotary Club fight Polio. I was not aware that Polio was still around, but according to the NIH, Polio still exists in a few countries in Africa and Asia. Talk to your child’s health care provider to address your concerns about immunizations and how you can best protect your child, and the community around you. http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/vaccine.html

Safer Child Products

Recently, we were at my sister’s house and the kids wanted to play on the trampoline.  It makes me very nervous when too many kids are on the trampoline at the same time.  I am always concerned that someone is not only going to get stepped on, but jumped/ landed on.  I know my nephews like to play “popcorn” where someone lays down in the middle and the other kids jump and try to make him pop up.  I don’t see the joy or adventure in this, but maybe because I am not a 13 y/o boy.

However, I found an article on Trampoline safety in the October 4^th issue of Pediatrics, Volume 130, Number 4. It addresses something I hadn’t even thought about, injuries relating to falling off the trampoline, or injuring the spine when attempting flips. 

According to Pediatrics, but not surprisingly, when there are several people jumping on the trampoline at the same time, “the smallest participants were up to 14 times more likely to sustain injury relative to their heavier playmates.” Not only are strains and strains common trampoline related injuries, but bone fractures and dislocations are a frequent problem as well. The injury rate for children under age 5 is greater than in ages 6 – 17, but even with the older children, the injury rate is significant.

In conclusion, the AAP recommends against recreational trampoline use.  If you choose to allow trampoline activity, be sure that it is placed on the ground, on a flat, cleared area.  Check your trampoline to ensure that the padding and netting is in good condition. Because of the frequency and severity of cervical spine injuries on trampolines, discourage or disallow flips and somersaults on the trampoline. The AAP also recommends active supervision by an adult with one jumper at a time.

Let’s keep our children safe.

Safer Child Products

Our 3 y/o Niece has severe food allergies.  One minute she is playing like any other little girl, then the next thing you know, she breaks out in hives from head to toe and gets very swollen.  Yes, sometimes it is that fast and with unknown trigger. Her allergic reaction even includes diarrhea and can lead to difficulty breathing.  It is so scary to see her like that.  Last week she started preschool and I worry about her being around food from other students.   A letter was sent home asking families not to send in Peanut Butter or certain other types of food.  Sure enough, the next day, someone brought in an Almond Butter Sandwich and my niece had a reaction.

She is not alone.  According to the Food Allergy and Anaphalaxis Network (FAAN) about 6 million children have food allergies, boys typically more often than girls.

For more statistics on food allergy sufferers, visit http://www.foodallergy.org/page/facts-and-stats, and please heed the requests sent home from school.  A child’s life could be at stake.

Safer Child Products

There have been episodes over the years that my daughter can’t fall asleep because her legs hurt or she has woken up in the night complaining to leg pain.  She tends to feel it most behind her knees and backs of her thighs, but surprisingly gets it more in one leg than the other.  With no other symptoms, I attributed it to “growing pains.” I thought that maybe she is growing faster than her ligaments can keep up, but there is no evidence of that being the cause.  In fact, I have read different explanations for such pain, which is said to occur in the muscles of 3-5 y/o and 8-12 y/o but in most cases it is nothing alarming. Some people say it is overuse of muscles, or a vitamin deficiency (of calcium, potassium or magnesium).  I’ve even heard flat feet!

The Nemours Foundation (kidshealth.org) suggests trying to massage the area, stretching, heating pad or ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help relieve the pain. They also suggest calling your child’s doctor if the pain continues in the morning, or if there is “swelling or redness in one particular area or joint.” Take your child to be seen by their health care provider if the pain is associated with fever, limping, rash or loss of appetite. Mayoclinic.com gives the same advice. 

So be patient with your little ones.  If they are complaining of leg pain and that they can’t fall asleep, it is probably not a delay tactic.  Then again……

Safer Child Products

In our house, we are getting ready to go back to school.  It doesn’t matter if your child is in preschool or middle school, they still need snacks, usually packed for school.  We have tried every snack bar imaginable; If one of my kids will eat it, the other wont.  Otherwise, after re-stocking, they decide they’re tired of it.  I don’t want something too sugary and it has to be filling.  Oftentimes I find myself at a loss as to what to pack.  I am afraid to send anything with nuts to school because there are so many kids with food allergies, but that cuts out a huge category.  I was thinking of sending hummus with pretzels or veggies to dip. I could send cheese and crackers, but the cheese will get warm if I can’t keep it with an ice pack. 

Our School is really pushing for a healthier lifestyle, by participating in the G.Y.M.M. program, (encouraging children to be active and log their time everyday), to building a vegetable garden and enjoying the fruits of their labor. Now there have been changes to our lunch program, cutting down on protein (meat or meat alternative) serving size while increasing the serving size of fruits and vegetables. 

At Dr. Allen’s office, I came across a few brochures on healthy snacking, really emphasizing fruits and vegetables.  They are put out by www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. They liked my idea of hummus with veggies.  Other suggestions were to freeze grapes, melon balls and berries for a quick cool treat.  Baby carrots, bananas and grape tomatoes are small and portable, great for snack time.  Dried fruits can be good too. I like trail mix/ snack mix with dried fruit such as raisins, craisins, pineapple, apricots, mixed with nuts but not to send to school.  In this brochure they suggest making your own snack mix with dried fruit, nuts and whole grain cereal. I keep hearing that you should eat as many colors as you can, as colorful fruits and veggies are “great sources of vitamins and minerals that can help protect your health, such as fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A and Vitamin C.”

By keeping fresh fruit on the counter and keeping fresh veggies sliced and within reach, our children will go for these first and will develop healthy habits early.

For more snack ideas, how to get kids involved and quick, healthy recipes, go to www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org .  You can also check out Today I Ate A Rainbow with a great story and kit for young children. http://www.todayiatearainbow.com/.

Safer Child Products

The other day, we were out at a friend’s backyard party.  I had forgotten to apply bug repellent before we left the house.  One woman in our group was using some non-topical bug repellent.  I’m not sure if it was battery operated, but it looked like it was.  Whether it was her repeller, or just sheer luck, I did not come out covered in bites, nor did my children.

However, we all have had those days when we are itchy and bumpy from what we assume are mosquito bites.  When should we be concerned?  Most of the time bug bites are no more than a minor nuisance and we should try to avoid scratching them.  Use some type of anti-itch cream or an over the counter anti-histamine if those do not help.  As long as your red/ puffiness does not extend over a large area, such as a full arm or leg, it’s probably fine.  It’s just a minor irritation.

There is a rare occasion when someone will have a more serious or life threatening reaction.  According to Dr. Leslie Barakat,“parents should seek medical care.....

• if the sting or bite is inside or near the mouth, if the child has a known history of severe reaction to a stinging or biting insect. 

• If they are having a severe reaction, such as swelling of the face or mouth, difficulty swallowing or speaking, chest tightness, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, or dizziness or fainting, parents should call 911 immediately and administer an Epinephrine pen if they have been prescribed one by their pediatrician.

• Parents should also seek medical attention for any insect bite or sting if the site looks infected, meaning that there is increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pain, or pus occurring several hours or longer after the sting or bites.”

For more tips on how to handle bug  bites and stings, go to http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/insect_bite.html