Choosing Safety Toys for Kids (29 Jul 2008) Millions of toys are out there, and hundreds of new ones hit the stores each year. Toys are supposed to be fun and are an important part of any child's development. But each year, scores of kids are treated in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries. Choking is a particular risk for kids ages 3 or younger, because they tend to put objects in their mouths.
Protecting Young Children From The Flu (27 Jul 2008) Recent studies have shown that children less than 2 years old - even healthy children - are more likely than older children to end up in the hospital with serious complications if they get influenza (the flu). These complications can include pneumonia (an illness where the lungs get infected and inflamed), dehydration (when a child is too sick to drink enough fluids and its body loses too much water), worsening of long-term medical problems like heart disease or asthma, encephalopathy (a disease of the brain), and sinus problems and ear infections. In rare cases, complications from the flu can lead to death.
Kids Wear (27 Jul 2008) Because kids are often more sensitive than adults to synthetic chemicals, it is particularly important that their clothing be made of natural, organic materials. I recommends products made from 100% chemically untreated cotton because it breathes more easily than synthetic fibers and does not emit toxic vapors from pesticides used in growth or manufacture.
Kids Autism (25 Jul 2008) Autism is one of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). ASDs are developmental disabilities that cause substantial impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests. Many people with ASDs also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, and reacting to different sensations. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary—from gifted to severely challenged. An ASD begins before the age of 3 and lasts throughout a person's life.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (25 Jul 2008) When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant and there also does not appear to be a safe time to drink during pregnancy either. Therefore, it is recommended that women abstain from drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy. Women who are sexually active and do not use effective birth control should also refrain from drinking because they could become pregnant and not know for several weeks or more.
