Babies & Kids Blog » Health

Speaking of baby kangaroos (Freebie Friday question), I was searching for some news to share with you all and came upon an column from BradentonHerald.com which explains the term “Kangaroo Care” and the benefits of this type of nurturing. It is exactly what you think it is: skin-to-skin contact with you baby right after birth which studies have shown “amazing results” in premature babies:

“….they found mothers and babies thrived as a result of KC. Mothers report they get to know their babies better, have a greater milk supply, have feelings of confidence and competence in the care of their babies and feel prepared to take their babies home.

The babies also benefit. They are able to maintain a normal temperature, heart rate and breathe better while doing KC. These benefits can last up to three hours after the KC. They are calmer, as are their mothers. They seem to have less pain and gain weight quicker.

For the hospitals, KC also has benefits. The babies are discharged sooner than those that do not have the benefit of KC. The parents are involved with the care which gives nurses more opportunities to teach parents about the care of their infant.”

No matter if your baby was born premature or not, it would be great if all mothers were able to stay in the hospital longer for free in order to learn how to properly bond with their newborn, but unfortunately that’s not how our medical care system works. Let’s see what happens in November. Vote, people!

I found the following books on Kangaroo Care on Smarter.com:

Kangaroo Babies: A Different Way of Mothering: $19.40 - Lowest Price on Smarter.com  

Kangaroo Care: The Best You Can Do to Help Your Preterm Infant: $13.50 - Lowest Price on Smarter.com

Baby slings also promote a bit of Kangaroo Care.  They serve as your own mommy kangaroo pouch and fathers can also bond this way.  I happy that the trend is has caught on for a while.

Shop for baby slings at Smarter.com.

So, we all enjoyed/wanted to yack at/were affected by the documentary Super Size Me.  Soon after McDonald’s replaced their “super size” menus with healthier options & many other restaurants followed.  These days we are more consciously aware of the need for us to “go green” not only take care of nature, but take care of ourselves. It’s no surprise that a national poll conducted by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital on Children’s Health lists parents’ top concern as obesity.

Here are the top ten overall health concerns for U.S. children in 2008 compared with 2007:

1. Childhood obesity -This was bumped up from number three.  

2. Drug abuse - This concern remained at number two.  I don’t think this concern will fall from the top ten anytime soon.

3. Smoking - Same with this concern.  This basically switched places with childhood obesity and was at number one last year. 

4. Bullying - This concern goes along with the “school violence” concern at number eight last year.  It jumped four spots.

5. Internet safety - This was bumped up a couple of spots I’m assuming due to the growing popularity of the internet with kids these days & shows like “To Catch a Predator.”

6. Child abuse & neglect - This concern was at number ten last year.

7. Teen pregnancy - This concern actually moved down a spot.  Could this maybe be evidence that teens are not learning to get pregnant from movies & TV?

8. Alcohol abuse - This one was pushed down four spots.  Maybe parent gave up & think kids will drink as long as they have peers to help them along.

9. AD/HD - Sexually transmitted infection - This concern stayed put at number nine.

10. Chemicals in the environment/Not enough opportunities for physical activity - This concern is new to the top ten and frankly, I’m glad it made it!  I do think that “not enough opportunities for physical activity” goes along with the concern over childhood obesity.

The concern from last year that did not make the top ten this year is driving accidents.  I’m sure if we compared top news stories in the media to this year’s top new stories we can tell why parent’s concerns change from year to year.

All these ”issues” are what parents feel they have no control over.  However, parents do have some control over this, and not too sound too “The More You Know”, but really….talk to your kids about these things before their friends do!  How would you suggest parents bring up issues like these with their kids?

Click here for more information on these poll results.

Okay, don’t get freaked out. I just thought the Poltergeist picture would be funny.  :)  Also, these are just studies & there is no “conclusive evidence.”  I read an article this morning from Canada.com that explained the research that was conducted on background television & a baby’s growth & development.  Americans sure love their television & kids’ are often raised by television so I’m sure that’s another reason why the researchers were curious to find out if  having the TV on constantly has any effect on kids’ development. I feel that children this young watch TV for the colors, sounds & shapes.  They are not necessarily learning anything from the TV shows they are watching yet anyway, but I’m no expert.  Here is a portion of the article:

Researchers studying children aged one to three found that when a TV was on and playing an episode of Jeopardy, the toddlers spent half as much time playing with a toy before moving onto another activity and three-quarters as much time in intense, focused play as they did when the TV was switched off.

“It’s all just play, but it’s thought to be very important and essentially the child is programming their own brain with this kind of activity,” says author Daniel Anderson, a psychology professor at the University of Massachusetts. “At the very least, parents should make sure children have plenty of quiet time for play.”

You would think that adult shows like Jeopardy would be GREAT to have on in the background because kids can somehow store that information somewhere deep in their memory for retrieval later in life.  It seems to me that they may be trying to link being distracted by TV at a young age to ADD.  Also, what about background music?  That can sometimes be “distracting”…right?

Click here to read the full article yourself.  It will be interesting to see the results of further research.

Kids love Kool-Aid, Juicy Juice & every type of drink packaged & marketed with kids’ tastes in mind.  These fruity juices are usually convenient to serve to your kids, but which are actually keeping them healthy?  Health Magazine listed the top ten best drinks for kids/adults:

1.  Pomegranate juice - At number one, this juice is known to help prevent heart disease & has Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E & has more antioxidants than red wine!

Find pomegranate juice & supplements at Smarter.com.

2. Red wine - We’ve known for a while now the great benefits of red wine.  A glass before bed always helps a restless sleeper.

 Shop for red wine at Smarter.com.

3. Concord grape juice - Studies show that this juice may improve memory in older adults, reduce blood pressure & has antioxidants.

Shop for concord grape juice & supplements at Smarter.com.

                                                                             
4. Blueberry juice - This juice not only has antioxidants, but is a great source of potassium. POM actually has a blueberry juice that is supposed to be great when combined with pomegranate juice.

Shop for blueberry juice & supplements at Smarter.com.

5. Black cherry juice - I LOVE black cherries!  I can eat them until I explode. :) They are known to help lessen the severity of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease or cancer.

Shop for black cherry juice & supplements at Smarter.com.

                                                                    
6. Açaí juice - This juice is actually used in some energy drinks & energy bars.  It’s known to improve your digestive system, metal focus, sound sleep, fights free radicals, slows the aging process, helps lower cholesterol & much more.

7. Cranberry juice - This juice has moderate levels of Vitamin C, dietary fiber & dietary minerals as well as antioxidants.  It is also know to be helpful in preventing urniary tract infections.

Shop for cranberry juice & supplements at Smarter.com.

8. Orange juice - We all have grown to love O.J. as it is a great source of Vitamin C, it’s always available at restaurants and has been presented for years as the best juice to compliment your breakfast.

9. Tea - When they gave just “tea” as #9 this doesn’t mean all tea.  Green tea & other teas with antioxidants are best.

Shop for tea at Smarter.com.

10. Apple juice - Even though this one is down at number ten, I’m surprised it made the cut!  I’ve always heard that there is so much sugar in apple juice.  My mother used to dilute it with water before serving it to us for that very reason. It has a significant amount of phenolics that are said to help prevent diseases such as heart disease & cancer.

Fireworks scare me.  Unless it’s a firework show conducted far away from me, I don’t like them.  Never played with them & probably never will.  However, they are fun for most.  For those of you who live in cities that are actually allowed to enjoy this holiday tradition of setting off your own fireworks for your friends & relatives….let’s keep it extra safe this year!  Check out this video I found on SheKnowsParties.com.

Happy Fourth of July! 

Westminster Inc. recalled Remote-Controlled Helicopter Toys due to “risk of fire.”

“Immediately stop playing with the recalled helicopters and contact Westminster Inc. for a refund. Retailers will not accept returns or provide a refund.”

Click here to read the full press release.

Stanley Furniture recalled Cribs due to “entrapment hazard.”

“Immediately stop using the crib in the middle mattress setting, and adjust it to the low or high setting. Contact Stanley Furniture to determine if the crib is subject to this recall, and if it is, to receive a free replacement crib headboard.”

Click here to read the full press release.

This would be great for a baby shower gift for the new mommy-to-be!  Many discomforts come along with being pregnant:  aching back, nausea, bloating, heartburn, swollen feet…swollen BODY!  A women needs all the relief from theses “side effects” she can get, while she patiently waits nine months for her precious new bundle of joy to arrive. 

The “Kush” is a “Natural Rest for the Breasts” because it fits perfectly between so you can rest comfortably on your side.  It will also help relieve breast discomfort while you nurse your baby.

If you aren’t pregnant the Kush might be great for breast pain during your menstrual cycle, or for proper spine alignment if you have back problems.

The Kush company knows that all breasts are not created equal, so there are instructions on how you should order your Kush.  For example, if you have breast implants you should order a B Cup Kush regardless of your actually bra cup size.

For more information, testimonials & to order click here.

What?  Yes, umbilical cord blood can be saved & stored after you give birth to your child.  I see it as sort of an insurance of white blood cells for later use of stem cells in case your child or their compatible siblings need them later for a bone marrow transplant.  I saw this on The Today Show this morning.  It’s exciting to here about new developments in the medical world.  Watch.

So, the processing fee is about 2K and about $125 per year to store it.  Would this be worth it to you?  I know it would give me some “peace of mind”…just in case.

Happy Earth Day!  Here is a list of the top 10 economically friendly baby products found on Smarter.com:

                                                         Organic Baby Reference Guide: $24.95

“The Last Word On Raising Baby, Organically.” This book teaches parents how to raise their children in an eco-friendly & stylish environment.

                                               Washable Merino Wool Breast Pads: $14.95

These reusable pads are more comfortable & more environmentally friendly than disposable pads.

                                                              Cariboo Activity Gym: $159.95

This activity gym is made from New Zealand Radiata pine & has a lead free finish.

                                                 Ocean & Tea Onepiece Bundle: $54.95

This baby clothing set is made from soy bean fiber which has “superior warmth retention and moisture transmission.”

                                                                 Roller From Plan Toys: $7.99

This toy is made from eco-friendly rubber wood & contains child-friendly paints & finishes.

                                                          Fleurville Re-Run Messenger: $75.00

The fabric that was used to make this messenger bag is made from use plastic bottles.

                                     Kee-Ka Sweetpea Organic Swaddle Blankie: $25.44

This cozy blankie is made from 100% organic cotton.

                                                Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Skin Creme: $11.99

Burt’s Bees Products are made of natual ingredients.  This cream is 98.71% natural.  Good enough for me!

                                          Contemporary Dollhouse From Plan Toys: $99.99

This dollhouse is made from chemical free & natual rubber wood & finished with child-friendly & non-toxic paint.

                                 Tadpoles Fitted Flannel Sheets Organic Natural Cotton: $29.99

Made with 100% organic cotton & SO SOFT!

Click here for more organic & eco-friendly baby products.