just parenting advice » Baby

Kids Who Get Flu Shots Protect The Unvaccinated

Hong Kong Tran — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:06:46 +0000

This may sound like common sense, but Canadian researchers have recently shown that kids who get flu shots help to protect others who haven’t been vaccinated.

Dr. Mark Loeb, a professor of pathology and molecular medicine at McMaster University says…

There is an additional benefit in immunizing children and adolescents in terms of reducing the spread of influenza in the community. It doesn’t only benefit them, but it will protect their grandparents and older people in the community as well.

Many kids aren’t aware of their potential at spreading germs. In the U.S., the seasonal flu kills around 36,000 people each year. If your kids haven’t gotten their flu shots yet, take them to your doctor or local pharmacy as soon as you can.

Let’s all do everyone else a favor by getting vaccinated.

Did your kids get their flu shots yet? Did they get the flu this year?

Kids Who Get Flu Shots Protect the Unvaccinated [Yahoo!]

Things New Moms Should Ignore

Hong Kong Tran — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:35:18 +0000

Becoming a new mom is something exciting and rewarding. Knowing that you’re about to raise another human being into this world can be scary, but that’s where the excitement lies. You never know what to expect.

Other moms have probably told you what to expect, both the goods and the bads about being a new mom.

Among all the advice that you’ve gotten, here are 3 things you should ignore, as written in Babies Online…

TV Moms
A busy mom with an immaculate house? Yeah, right…
Your Perfect Friend
There are no such things as Supermoms.
Unrealistic Advice

You’re a new mom, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have common sense. Advice that just makes you shake your head in disbelief shouldn’t be followed, no matter how insisting it is.

Do you believe TV moms? Do you have a perfect friend? Have you ever been given unrealistic advice?

3 Things New Moms Should Ignore [Babies Online]

Kids And Choking

Hong Kong Tran — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:11 +0000

Food is dangerous. We all need food to live, but it can kill us at the same time. And for younger kids who are still learning how to chew and swallow, food is especially dangerous.

According to a study in 2001 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60% of the kids brought to the hospital due to choking actually choked on food.

A blogger for the LA Times argues that pediatricians and food manufacturers aren’t doing enough to protect children from choking. In other words, they’re not taking choking seriously.

And I agree. But the good thing about being a parent is you don’t have to wait for others to tell you that choking is more common than people assume. Take your own steps to protect your kids by being extra careful about what you feed them and what kinds of toys you buy them. And don’t forget that just because the item isn’t labeled as a choking hazard, doesn’t mean that it can’t choke your kids.

Do you think that pediatricians and food manufacturers should take choking more seriously?

Are You Sufficiently Worried About the Risk of Choking? Probably Not, Pediatricians Say [LA Times]

Kids and Pets

Miss Mona — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:30:48 +0000

If you’ve never had a pet in the family, the idea of kids and pets can be an attractive one.

But before you decide to get your kids that cute puppy or kitten, there are 3 main things you should keep in mind…

Are the pets age-appropriate when it comes to children?
According to Anne Vasquez on SunSentinel.com, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommends smaller pets for children ages 3-5. If you’re going to get a larger animal, like a grown dog, make sure the animal is friendly towards kids.
Pets can be teachers
A pet in the family is a great way for your kids to learn responsibility. Assign chores like feeding and socializing the animal. Quality time with pets will help your kids recognize trust, companionship, and compassion.
Your current pet may not be used to a new bab
Pets need to get used to new additions to the family, too.

Do you have a pet? How do you kids get along with the pet?

Kids and Pets: What Parents Need to Consider [SunSentinel.com]

Protect Your Baby’s Smile

Hong Kong Tran — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:00:29 +0000

Your baby’s first smile is something you’ll remember forever. There’s something about the innocence of babies’ smiles that is contagious and heartwarming…you can’t help but smile back!

But as babies grow older, they begin teething. Soon, teeth become a part of their smiles. And it’s important to protect those teeth to protect the smiles.

Here are 7 tips from the American Dental Association to keep your kids’ teeth healthy…

Visit the dentist regularly.
Remove plaque and prevent tooth decay by cleaning your baby’s mouth within a few days of birth, and wiping the gums after feeding.
Don’t breastfeed for long periods of time.
By age 1, your baby should be drinking from a cup.
Discourage use of a training cup.
Consider encouraging use of a mouth protector for older kids who ride scooters or bicycles.
Know the dentist’s emergency number in case of an emergency.

Protect Your Baby’s Smile [Yahoo!]

Killing Kids With Bad Food

Hong Kong Tran — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:31:00 +0000

Jamie Oliver won the 2010 Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) award with his vision that diet habits in kids can be changed in the home and at school.

I wish for everyone to help create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity.

Diet-related diseases are the biggest killers in the U.S. today. But these diseases are entirely preventable, as Oliver repeats in his talk over and over again.

In watching the video below, you will learn…

How often Americans die as a result of the food they eat
How much children’s lives are shortened by diet habits
How to teach kids about food at home and in schools.

Oliver believes that we are all capable of making real, tangible change in the way we feed our children. Do you believe?

Watch the video and tell us what you think!

Jamie Oliver’s TED Talk: How We’re Killing Our Kids With Bad Food [Barking Robot]

Things You And Your Child Will Survive

Hong Kong Tran — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:34:19 +0000

Waves of panic seem to rise when it comes to parenting…

The smallest things that would normally be insignificant suddenly become the biggest problems.

That’s natural. That’s understandable. You want everything to run smoothly because you want the best for your kids. But somehow nothing seems to be right.

Guess what? You and your kids will make it! Shara Lawrence-Weiss from Examiner.com sheds some light on 10 things you and your kids will get through. It’s not the end of the world if…

You say no and you child begins to cry.
Your child isn’t invited to a birthday party.
You child falls and cuts himself or herself.
Your child sings nonstop.
Clothes don’t fit your child exactly right.
Your child says they hate you.
Your child develops an obsession with one movie…and one only…
Your child says something inappropriate in public.
Your child thinks you don’t know as much as his or her friends.
Your child eats a little of their own poop.

I’m not so sure about that last one, but as for the rest, there’s nothing you and your kids can’t overcome with some teamwork.

Were there ever situations in your parenting where you thought you would never get over?

10 Things You and Your Children Will Survive, Believe It or Not [Examiner]

Seven Secrets To Raising A Happy Child

Hong Kong Tran — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:40:09 +0000

With the bad economy, the increase in tuition fees, and the lack of jobs, it wouldn’t be surprise if your kids don’t turn out to be the happiest kids in the world.

Although you can’t really control what happens outside of your family, as parents you can at least raise happy children. What happens next is up to your kids.

But let’s start with some of the ways you can help raise your children to be healthy ones…

In addition to tips like giving your kids choices, being a role model for your kids, and respecting your children’s privacy, one “secret” that I think would really make your kids optimistic in the future is for you to be confident yourself.

Be positive about your job, and do not walk in the front door complaining about the economy and your coworkers and boss. Let your kids know that you will have a way to support yoursefl and them…When you need a new job, go ahead and look, but do not make it your child’s problem.

You are your children’s most influential teacher–they learn the most from seeing what you do, and seeing how you act and feel. If you feel unhappy about the situations you are in, don’t reflect that onto your children. Don’t make them feel unhappy for your unhappiness.

Following the seven steps at the link below will help you raise happy children for the future.

Are your kids happy? How do you make sure that they are happy?

Parenting: 7 Secrets to Raising a Happy Child [More4Kids]

Naptime Helps Babies Remember New Things

Hong Kong Tran — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:30:20 +0000

Here’s another reason why you should encourage your baby to nap, not just because you need some time to recuperate after a busy day of taking care of your child.

A new study shows that naps help babies’ brains retain information. Researchers at the University of Arizona in Tuscon studied 48 infants and found that babies who nap during the day show evidence of abstract learning, which is “the ability to detect a general pattern contained in new information.”

Lynn Nadel, a professor in the department of psychology at the University believes that ensuring that your babies get enough sleep is as important as other activities such as talking and reading to them.

So get your babies to nap daily…it’s good for them, and good for you, too.

How often does your baby nap? Do you find that naptime helps babies remember new information?

Naptime Helps Babies Remember New Things [Yahoo!]

Little Touches Mean So Much

Hong Kong Tran — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:35:24 +0000

When you (mothers) give birth to your baby, the first form of communication when they enter this world is that of touch.

My mom tells me all the time that in order to stop me from crying the nurses would let her hold me, and I would immediately stop.

The power of touch is, indeed, true as researchers are finding that physical contact and brief touches in the form of a high five or a hand on the back can communicate emotions much better and more accurately than words.

Studies show that…

Students who received a supportive touch on the back or arm from a teacher were nearly twice as likely to volunteer in class as those who did not.

So if you’re a teacher, consider giving your students a friendly touch to encourage them. And for your parents, if you want to comfort your kids, sometimes a simple hand on your child’s shoulder will do so much more than words.

Do you agree?

Evidence That Little Touches Do Mean So Much [The New York Times]