by kmlevis on 1 March 2010
This is a very good guideline for parents who are not certain about the babysitter they’ve hired. There are a lot of signs you can watch out for to make sure you got the right sitter for you.
Be sensitive to your child’s signals, and follow these warnings from Baby Centre.
• Your toddler isn’t happy to see the nanny or babysitter and has become anxious and withdrawn.
• Your nanny or babysitter seems secretive about the daily routine.
• Your child has been in one too many easily avoidable accidents.
• You notice your requests aren’t followed.
• She seems critical of they way you’re raising your child.
• Your nanny or babysitter often shows up late.
• Your toddler often looks unkempt and dirty.
• Her stories don’t add up.
For more a more detailed guide, check out the story here.
by kmlevis on 22 February 2010
According to a new study, children who start swimming before the age of 2 may be at increased risk of a common infant lung infection, and possibly asthma and respiratory allergies later in life, a new study suggests.
“The findings, reported in the European Respiratory Journal, add to evidence that exposure to chlorinated pools may affect children’s respiratory health — particularly if they have a family history of asthma or respiratory allergies like hay fever.
Experts have suspected that the air quality around pools, particularly indoor ones, is to blame. When the chlorine used to disinfect pools combines with swimmers’ sweat, saliva or urine, irritating chlorine byproducts are formed, and over time these chemicals may damage the airways.”
For more on the story, click here.
by kmlevis on 15 February 2010
The Foods Standard Agency wants UK ministers to push for the voluntary removal of six artificial food colourings after research found a link with hyperactivity in children.
“In September 2007, a UK study reported children behaved impulsively and lost concentration after consuming a drink containing additives.
In the study, 300 children were randomly given one of three drinks, either a potent mix of colourings and additives, a drink that roughly matched the average daily additive intake of a child of their age or a “placebo” drink with no additives.
Their hyperactivity levels were measured before and afterwards, and researchers found that the drink with the highest level of additives had a “significantly adverse” effect compared with the placebo drink.”
For more information, see the news story on BBC.
by kmlevis on 8 February 2010
An Australian-led study has confirmed a lack of serotonin was a common factor with babies who die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
“The breakthrough offers a “much clearer direction” in the search for a cure for the mysterious syndrome, which still claims one in 2,000 apparently healthy children. Researcher Dr Jhodie Duncan, of the Melbourne-based Florey Neuroscience Institutes, studied cases of infant deaths from confirmed SIDS and other causes. The SIDS babies were found to have lower levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter which regulates the body’s basic life-sustaining functions. “Things like heart rate, blood pressure, sleep cycles, respiration, serotonin plays a very important role in all these things that you need to stay alive,” Dr Duncan said. “Our study has proven that in infants dying of SIDS there is lower TPH2 (a related enzyme) levels and reduced serotonin production.” Earlier research had indicated serotonin production may play a role in SIDS deaths though scientists were yet to determine whether it was more, less or the same as unaffected children. – AAP”
More on this story here.
