Kids' Health

The 5 S's - Simplify Soothing

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:46:42 +0100

Not sure about swaddling your infant when he’s fussy? A new study published in Pediatrics (from the American Academy of Pediatrics) backs up the claim that the happiest infants may be those who receive the 5 S’s of soothing when they’re upset. The 5 S’s come from Harvey Karp, M.D., author of The Happiest Baby on the Block (Bantam; $15.99 on Amazon). In aforementioned study, 230 2- and 4-month-old infants received either standard comfort from parents or the 5 S’s after receiving s...

Diagnosing ADHD in Preschoolers

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:12:31 +0100

• Is your child in constant motion?• Does he make careless mistakes?• Does he seem to not listen?• Is he easily distracted?• Does he not finish tasks? Do the above points sound like a typical 4-year-old? Absolutely. Kids are like puppies when they are young, full of fun and energy ... and in need of self-control. That’s what growing up is for. But that’s also why the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) relatively new (five-month-old) guidelines to include children as young as 4...

5 Most Common Childhood Illnesses

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:13:40 +0100

As much as you can’t stand to see your child sick, it’s going to happen. You’ve instilled good hand-washing in your children, but you can’t be everywhere with them 24/7. Kids are exposed to a number of germs and viruses every day. Here are the most common ones they are susceptible to:COLDS & RESPIRATORY INFECTIONSColds and respiratory infections are the most common problem for babies and toddlers. While Mom and Dad may average two to four colds a year, your child may get six to 10,...

Tooth Talk

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:02:31 +0100

Don’t be blasé about your child’s teeth.Preventative care begins even before the first tooth erupts! This year, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentisty (AAPD) is pairing up with the Ad Council to launch a program to teach the importance of oral health in children ages 2 - 5. Why? There’s been an upsurge in tooth decay in this age group. The AAPD says parents need to bring their youngsters in for pediatric dental care early for long-term healthy teeth. Here’s your game plan:BEFORE TEE...

Revealing Flu Facts

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:27:35 +0100

Why do kids end up hospitalized with the flu? Discover a few things you don’t already know. What’s the main reason why children end up hospitalized for the flu, and how can a parent prevent that from happening? Influenza is a respiratory illness and the most common reason for hospitalization is pneumonia, either from the primary viral infection or from bacterial secondary pneumonia, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An average of 20,000 children younger tha...

toy safety: what you should know

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:17:38 +0100

This year, be on top of your game when it comes to household toys. Each year, more than 120,000 children younger than 14 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. Even innocent-looking toys — such as marbles and balloons — can present a choking hazard to small children. The Child Safety Protection Act, a federal toy-labeling law, requires manufacturers to place warning labels on toys that pose a choking hazard to young chil...

Autism Related to Low Birth Weight

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:25:22 +0100

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania shows that low-birthweight babies should be screened for autism like they are hearing, says Director of Autism Speaks Alycia Halladay. Autism Speaks is the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization. The study found that premature infants weighing less than four-and-a-half pounds at birth are five times more likely than babies born at normal weight to have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Published in Pediatrics, from the Americ...

BIG BOY?

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:21:11 +0100

When your toddler shows “potty awareness,” he’s telling you he’s ready to start training. When your toddler starts realizing that he’s already gone in his diaper or recognizes that he needs to go, he’s become “potty aware,” experts say, and ready to go the distance. In other words, efforts to train your little guy before he has this recognition will most likely be in vain. Pediatricians agree that the “age of awareness” falls somewhere between 20 and 28 months, so...

Life-Saving Newborn Test

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:41:08 +0100

A federal advisory panel is recommending that all newborns receive a simple test to detect heart problems before they leave the hospital, Pediatrics (the American Academy of Pediatrics’ journal) reports. The test — pulse oximetry — uses an infrared sensor placed on the fingers and toes to detect the level of oxygen in the blood. Low oxygen levels signal the need for further testing to look for a heart-related issue. Currently, about 1 in 6 babies who die from critical congenital heart ...

Milk Hydrates Best

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:35:32 +0100

Water loses out to milk when it comes to the best choice for countering dehydration in kids, say researchers in a new study from McMaster University. Principal investigator of the study, Brian Timmons says that when kids work up a sweat during sports activities, milk’s the superior choice for replacing lost sodium. “Children become dehydrated during exercise, and it’s important they get enough fluids, particularly before going into a second a game,” says Timmons. “Milk is...

Power Breakfast?

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:40:18 +0100

Is it dumb to let kids skip the morning meal? Probably. Remember simpler mornings of not too long ago? Sitting, chatting and nibbling, reading the paper, feeding the baby. That’s so over. Now, parents wake up around 5 a.m. to check e-mail, Facebook and Twitter accounts while kids start with text messages, video games and Facebook. Families literally wrestle for the computer like they used to for the shower. Mom might try getting the kids to eat a decent breakfast, but before you know it, she�...

Food Fight!

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:10:34 +0100

WE ASK:Will the newly designed food plate help moms, dads and children eat better? Who knows? There hasn’t been a whole lot that seems to “help” people eat better besides a little thing called personal responsibility, but at least a step in the easy-to-understand direction is useful. When feeding the kids, also keep in mind these Dietary Guidelines from dietaryguidelines.gov:• Eat less and avoid oversized portions.• Make half the plate fruits and veggies.• Switch to fat-free or 1 per...

Drink Water!

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:07:03 +0100

WE ASK:With more than 200 different kinds of energy and sports drinks available to kids, what can possibly be so bad about them? “Sugar!” says Jill Obremsky, M.D., an instructor of emergency medicine at Vanderbilt. The recent study that caused the American Academy of Pediatrics to launch new recommendations against energy drinks (like Monster and the like) for kids concludes that these beverages and sport’s drinks (like Gatorade) are no more beneficial to children than water, but hig...

In A Sec, Honey!

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:39:42 +0100

WE ASK:Is it good for kids if parents are constantly putting them off for their phones? Parents are high-tech jugglers these days, managing kids, family life and ... smartphones. But our 21st century habits might not be so smart, say researchers from Stanford University. According to the study, “Media Multitaskers Pay Mental Price,” people who regularly try to handle several streams of electronic information while trying to do something else — like manage little Sophie and Jack — a...

Why Wear a Helmet?

Sun, 22 May 2011 14:25:22 +0100

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 3.5 million kids are treated for sports-related injuries annually, while nearly half of the injuries are preventable, says Safe Kids USA. Parents can take steps to help kids prevent sports injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics (healthychildren.org) suggests the following tips for athletic kids. Take time off at least one day a week to allow the body to recover and take breaks during practice. Wear the right gear and ...

Gimme Some Sugar

Sun, 01 May 2011 21:42:32 +0100

End your child's sugar addiction in six months time with a few simple steps.

For Childhood's Sake: Bring Back Play!

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:53:39 +0100

If you're not limiting your children's gaming and other screen time, Moms and Dads, you should be: Studies and statistics show that the culture of play in the United States is vanishing, and that's not a healthy thing for kids. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2010, children spent seven hours and 38 minutes a day on average in front of some kind of screen, and the numbers for 2011 are increasing, robbing kids of an active lifestyle. What can you do? Have them put down the ...

National Nutrition Month: Veggie Up!

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:28:20 +0100

Do you and your children eat enough fruits and veggies? Find out at the Centers for Disease Control's website, fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov. The site offers interactive tools to help you determine how many fruits and veggies you and your family need each day. You can also build a typical breakfast, lunch or dinner at "Analyze My Plate" and get feedback on calories, fat, fruit and veggie intake, plus recommendations on how to build a healthier meal. Visit fruitsandveggiesm...

Energy Drinks & Kids Just Say "No"

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:27:42 +0100

We've written here before about the negative mix of energy drinks and kids – do kids REALLY need all that sugar and caffeine? Now there's more reason for concern. The popular highly-caffeinated drinks are especially risky for kids with heart abnormalities, diabetes, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or other emotional problems, say authors of a study that appeared last month in Pediatrics, the online journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Caffeine can affect children...

Colic: Probiotics For Babies?

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:27:06 +0100

Could a higher level of tummy-friendly bacteria make a difference to a colicky baby? In two separate studies involving babies with colic (one study done in 2007, the other in 2010) some breastfed infants were given simethicone, a medication that reduces gas; other infants were given a supplement containing L. reuteri, one of the beneficial bacteria known as probiotics often found in yogurt. At the end of the 2007 study, the babies who received the probiotic cried about 51 minutes a d...

Fever: How to Treat Your Child

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:06:34 +0100

You can tell your child has a fever the second you touch her forehead. That tell-tale heat that won't go away let's you know it's real. First, know that the fever is a symptom, not a disease. But what's going on that's causing it?

Hula Hoop & Ice Skating

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:04:47 +0100

HULA HOOP A hula hoop craze is swirling around in Los Angeles â€” why not here at home? It's easy and all you need is a little room for your hoop:1) Use the right stance. 2) Stand with one foot in front of the other, hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, and tuck in your pelvis. Then shift your weight from one leg to the other.3) Choose music with a varied tempo so you can practice both fast and slow speeds. 4) Get the kids in on it GO ICESKATING Once you get started with ice skatin...

Smoking Gun

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:52:06 +0100

Do you smoke? You just might be raising your kindergartener's blood pressure say researchers from the University of Heidelberg in Germany. After tracking thousands of 4 and 5-year olds, of the children with smoking parents, 21 percent were more likely to have systolic blood pressure (the top number in a reading, measured as the heart contracts) in the highest 15 percent, even after adjusting for other heart disease risk factors. "Childhood blood pressure consi...

Chin Up: It's Good for You

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:51:02 +0100

Being optimistic makes a difference in teen mental health and behavior, especially against the onset of depressive symptoms, concludes "A Prospective Study of the Effects of Optimism on Adolescent Health Risks," published recently in Pediatrics. Thousands of kids age 12 - 14 years were assessed over three years on optimistic thinking style, emotional problems, substance use and antisocial behaviors. At any given time, optimistic teens were doing much better in terms of health r...

video gaming: set limits on it

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:08:06 +0100

The gaming craze â€” kids everywhere with a hand-held gaming device or in their own family room playing Xbox 360 for hours on end â€” needs a bit of tampering, suggests a study conducted on 3,000 elementary and middle school children in Japan. Researchers assessed pathological gaming, weekly amount of game play, impulsiveness, social competence, depression, social phobia, anxiety and depression. Children and teens who played more video games showed lower social competence ...

Chubby Baby?

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:28:42 +0100

Researchers says cowâ€™s milk formula may be to blame.

Mom Moments: Don't Cry Over It!

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:07:37 +0100

What mom isn't in need of a pick-me-up from time to time? Enter Spilt Milk: Devotions for Moms (Zondervan; $12.99) by Linda Vujnov. This new book includes brief stories and meditations – at times poignant, at times hilarious – to bring you into the here-and-now by helping you gain important perspective. When Mom's happy, everyone else is, too. Each chapter includes a corresponding Scripture verse with biblically-based applications....

Autism: New Study Focuses on Parent Interview

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:02:44 +0100

Since children with autism are unlikely to properly self-report their experiences, new research suggests that interviewing their parents may add important information to help families understand and better respond to the needs of their children, thereby easing challenges in daily routines. The interview method â€” called the Critical Incident Technique â€” asks parents to determine situations where their child had both â€œgoodâ€ and â€œbadâ€ sensory experi...

Cold or Flu? ... Sore Throat or Strep?

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:55:44 +0100

Wondering if you have a simple cold on your hands, or something more serious, like the flu or strep throat? Here are some signs to look for. According to Gurpreet Thind, M.D.: Viral sore throats: Tend to be associated with upper respiratory symptoms like a runny nose, nasal congestion and cough, and may be associated with a fever An exam will show redness in the throat or white patches (exudate), but more commonly, a pediatrician will see ulcers Strep throat: May be ...

Dressing for the Weather

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:53:44 +0100

Colder weather is on its way, so here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatricians (aap.org) to help you dress your child for the outdoors: Wear a hood, hat, scarf or face mask as most heat loss is at the head. Keep feet dry with waterproof boots over shoes. Wear a thermal knit layer underneath daytime clothes, then top that with warm outwear. Use coats with hoods, thick fabric, linings of flannel or fake fur, overlapping fabric to keep out the wind, and long lengths to c...

Swim Suitable

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:43:07 +0100

It's swimsuit season. Joy of joys. Hallelujah. I get to put on a swimsuit. I'd rather change the diaper of a toddler who just ate three ears of corn. I'd rather pull a splinter out of a screaming child's toe while he kicks me with the good leg. I'd rather spend the afternoon with my sisters-in-law.

A Spoonful of Sugar?

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:47:23 +0100

The enticing flavors of kids' medicine come in every color of the rainbow, but some kids still want none of it. What do you do when your sick child won't take her medicine?

Bringing Back Mommies

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:39:16 +0100

Renewal House Provides a New Direction for Addicted Mothers

Diabetes Rising

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:36:06 +0100

The rise in Type ll diabetes in children is linked not only to genetics, but increasingly, to a sedentary lifestyle and an environment where health is not prioritized.

Dream Weaving

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:33:17 +0100

When you're pregnant, sleep is a hot commodity. Dreams are vivid, though, and often leave a soon-to-be mom wondering what it all means.

Emergency Room Know-How, Stat!

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:30:10 +0100

While you canâ€™t predict when your child might need emergency medical care, you can take steps to help him get the best care possible.

Eyes Wide Open: Looking at Avian Flu

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:27:45 +0100

Some say it's starting to feel like the big "IF." If H5N1 avian - or bird-flu mutates to a human-to-human strain, it could spell worldwide pandemic ... and panic.

Health Bits

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:18:27 +0100

Be in-the-know for optimal family health.

Heart Savers: The Case for AEDs

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:15:47 +0100

Learn how AEDs are saving lives in Middle Tennessee and why there should be one in every public athletic facility.

In Your Hands: Monitoring Kids' Media

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:11:41 +0100

Video games are the new TV. Limits, anyone?

Just Plain Nutty

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:40:45 +0100

When children have food allergies, simple things like peanuts and milk take on a whole new meaning.

Nip/Tuck: Post-Partum Plastic Surgery

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:37:46 +0100

Some moms are eager – to say the least – to get back their pre-pregnancy bodies. Learn about the most common procedures women are ordering up today.

Parenting After Infertility

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:35:29 +0100

Infertility can be a lonely journey, but the end result is something everyone can appreciate.

Power Play! Fitness Classes for Tots

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:32:28 +0100

One remedy to all the fuss being made about kids being overweight: Starting them early with a fun fitness class so they can learn how good it is to get the body moving. The following area programs are geared specifically with the idea of physical fitness in mind.

Prepared Parents, Safe Kids

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:28:14 +0100

An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.

Carpools, Co-ops & Other Parent Swaps!

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:20:10 +0100

When Kristen Hagenâ€™s son was 2, a friend who also had a 2-year-old asked if sheâ€™d be interested in doing a child-care co-op.

Parents' Day Out Programs

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:29:15 +0100

Donâ€™t miss out! Use our handy guide to locate a parentsâ€™ day out program near you.