Have you ever thought about signing your child up for yoga?  Hmmm…Let me guess, you’re thinking right about now, “if anyone needs a yoga class (think, relaxation), it’s me, not my kid.”  

Children’s yoga programs are catching on throughout the country. Why? Yoga is about strengthening the mind/body connection and creating balance.  For children, yoga means learning relaxation techniques, increasing flexibility, developing body awareness, and enhancing self-esteem.  In our fast-paced world, yoga gives children a chance to slow down, to focus on the moment, and think quietly–sounds like the benefits yoga offers grown-ups, too, don’t you think?  And, for children with ADD/ADHD, sensory integration dysfunction,  or autism, yoga is also thought to offer meaningful health benefits.

Beyond children-only classes, many yoga studios offer “mommy and me” yoga classes and family yoga classes.  Even baby can tag along with mom!  For moms and families, yoga classes make a nice complement to stroller walks and jogs–that’s good news, given that there’s no such thing as too much quality family time.

Does your child take yoga classes?  If so, do you recommend yoga for children and/or new moms?       

The flu has hit home. My household had a brush with what I thought was the flu a couple of weeks ago, but obviously it was not the flu. Maybe a cousin or distant relative, but a far cry from what has now taken up residence in my home. Lysol has become a good friend. Speaking of which, according to Dr. Jim Sears and Lysol, these are the five best things you can do to safeguard against the flu:

1. Frequent hand washing. Think soap and water, or hand sanitizer.
2. Regular surface disinfection. Disinfecting surfaces like counters, faucets and doorknobs keeps you healthy. I’ve been using Lysol wipes this time around–so much easier than pulling out separate cleaning products and towels.
3. Good nutrition and regular exercise. Eating well and exercising helps to boost your immune system, so you can better ward off illness.
4. Stay well-stocked. Keep cleaning supplies, soaps, and medicines on hand, so you have them when you need them. I’ve discovered kid-friendly “sore throat” lolli-pops are a good addition to the medicine chest.
5. Talk with your doctor, in advance. Discuss what, if any, steps you should take to stay healthy (e.g., flu shot) and learn what medicines you should keep in your home–so you are prepared when the cold or flu strikes.

Since I’m convinced that my toddler’s contact with a germ infested shopping cart has something to do with this plague, I think cart cover is a reasonable addition to the list. Oh, and add lots and lots of laundry detergent to the list, too.

What additions would you make to this list?

In baby circles, Phthalates are the latest uh, oh. Just the look of the word sounds threatening–not to mention trying to pronounce it. And it is.

Phthalates are man-made chemicals which can potentially interfere with reproduction. A new study shows that Phthalates are showing up in children’s bodies (in urine specifically). That’s not good news for children’s health.

Wondering how children are getting exposed in the first place?

Phthalates are used in the manufacture of cosmetics and plastic products. According to the Washington Post, children are exposed to Phthalates through the skin, liquids, and even air. Shampoos, lotions, powders, diaper wipes pose potential threats.

Want to know how to protect your child?

Avoid applying lotions and powders to your child, unless of course, advised to do so by a doctor. Opt for shampoos and other products that are proven to be Phthalate free. Ultimately, keep in mind the golden rule: the less chemical exposure, the better.

In late fall, news hit that cough medicines could pose dangers to young children.  Recently, the FDA has warned against the use of cough and cold products in children under 2 years of age unless given specific directions to do so by a doctor.

Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (”CDC”) released findings of its study of cough and cold medicines, finding that ”Cough and cold medicines send about 7,000 children to hospital emergency rooms each year.”  The study reiterates and expands upon previous warnings. 

For more information about this new study, head on over to the CDC’s website.

Let’s make a project!  Without fail, that’s my preschooler’s predictable response to the question, ”so, what do you want to do today?”  Give her paper, scissors, glue, and crayons, and she’s one happy crafty camper.  She made the most adorable tissue art flower poster today, using green ric-rac for a flower stem, a button for the flower center, and scrunched up tissue paper for petals, thanks to ALEX art supplies.  If you aren’t familiar with ALEX products, you don’t know what you’re missing!  ALEX makes quality art supplies and kid pleasing games, like the cool and sturdy Jungle Bean Bag Toss.  I find it hard to resist buying ALEX.  I even gravitate to ALEX products when I need affordable, guaranteed to please gifts.

When it comes to art supplies for kids, safety is key, especially in this age of recalls.  Recently, I happened to stumble upon a blogger’s post about safe craft supplies for children.  Who knew that Wikki sticks are made in the U.S. and out of food grade wax?  Thanks for that tidbit Mamanista!

Knowing craft supplies are safe for my preschooler is important to me.  While I’m not so much worried about intentional consumption, like eating a crayon or licking glue, I am concerned about what she may touch and unintentionally ingest.  Remember the huge 2003 lead-laced sidewalk chalk recall, not to mention the wave of recent recalls? 

Children can ingest lead by coming into contact with products containing lead–i.e. touching the products.  The ingestion of lead is linked to behavioral problems, potentially dangerous blood levels, and learning disabilities, among other medical issues.  To learn more about product safety, check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

Obviously, the use of safe art supplies is crucial for making project time safe.  Good hand washing as part of clean-up time is also part of the equation, if anything, as a just-in-case precaution–but, then again, if you want to rid those sticky hands of glue, you’re probably planning to hit the sink anyway!

Do you have a tip to share for making project time safer?  

Pregnant or hoping to be soon?  If so, here’s some news you don’t want to miss.  A new study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology cautions women that consuming more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day may significantly up the risk of miscarriage.  According to researchers, the source of that caffeine makes no difference.  What this means is that drinking, coffee, tea or soda–even munching on chocolate–during pregnancy could be potentially dangerous.

Curious what products and how much add up to 200 milligrams?  According to CNN.com calculations, depending on brand and actual caffeine content, the following have roughly 200 milligrams of caffeine:

                           * 1-2 cups of coffee (12 oz. serving)

                           *2-3 cups of tea (12 oz. serving)

                           *5 cans of soda

What’s your reaction to this new study about caffeine during pregnancy?  Will you go 9 1/2 months without caffeine? 

Autism disorders affect roughly 1 in 150 U.S. children.  A child is diagnosed with autism in the United States every 20 minutes.  Fresh news brings hope to those statistics. 

Researchers have “identified two separate genetic defects linked to autism, one that directly causes the disorder in about 1% of cases and a second that may play a role in a much larger percentage of patients by increasing their susceptibility to environmental or other genetic influences.”

Thanks to the Internet, parents have thousands of resources to look at for education about “autism spectrum disorders” and support, like blogs written by real parents journaling about their experiences parenting children with autism disorders. 

To learn more about autism or to get involved with autism awareness initiatives, go to Autism Speaks.

Merck & Co. announced a recall yesterday of 1.2 million doses of the Hib vaccine.  The vaccine is used to protect against meningitis, pneumonia, and other infections.  This vaccine is routinely administered to children, beginning around two months of age.

For more information about the recall, and to better understand how the recall may affect your child, check out Merck’s recall notice.

Yesterday, I took my baby to the pediatrician. She’s plagued with a cold. I suspect a sibling brought home the pesky virus-so I’m guessing based on the number of tissues that have been consumed in my house lately.

Cold and flu season has arrived. Frequent and vigorous hand washing (for at least 20 seconds) is considered the best way to prevent the spread of infections, like colds and the flu. You can help keep your children healthy by encouraging them to wash their hands frequently, especially upon returning home from an outing and before meals. Consider teaching your kids to sing the ABCs while hand washing-hopefully, that should be long enough to do some decent scrubbing.

Besides hand washing, parents can also help keep their children healthy by:

–considering flu shots
–taking antibiotics as directed (keep in mind, antibiotics don’t cure viral infections, like the cold)
–cleaning frequently used surfaces, like counters and toys
–avoiding people with colds or the flu
–using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially useful when you can’t get to a sink
–using shopping cart or high chair covers

Just three days after the release of Dr. Bob Sears’ The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (2007), the latest addition to my family was due for her first round of immunizations.

Shortly after the birth of each child, I have found myself agonizing over the “vaccine decision”—whether I should immunize my child, and if so, when.  Usually, this agony sets in at the eleventh hour, like the night before each “big” appointment. 

Luckily, immunizations have gone well in my household.  By well, I’m talking no obvious or immediate adverse reactions—maybe a little crankiness or redness at the injection site, but nothing that has set me into panic mode. 

But, I can’t help but worry generally about vaccines, especially about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “recommended” immunization schedule.  Don’t get me wrong, I know that vaccines are important.  I know that the polio vaccine has virtually eradicated polio.  I understand that “croup” (pertussis) can be life threatening, especially to infants.  I know children can die from the flu.

It’s what I don’t know that concerns me—even scares me.

So, like many mothers who agonize over the “vaccine decision”, I was thrilled to learn about Dr. Sears’ new book.  Though, the way I stumbled upon it was purely accidental.  My friend happened to have brought The Vaccine Book with her one morning to our coffee date.

Thankfully, I was late that morning—how often do we actually find ourselves thankful for that, especially when we have kids?  Well, my friend decided to pass time by reading the book, and she was still reading it when I arrived.  I happened to tell her about my baby’s upcoming appointment, and she insisted I take the book—given that she had just purchased the new release and was dying to read it, I think that was pretty thoughtful, don’t you?

Well, that night I read (okay, there was a lot of skimming mixed in there, too) the chapters pertinent to the first round of recommended immunizations, including Dr. Sears’ alternatives to the “recommended” vaccine schedule.  I learned more about vaccines in Dr. Sears’ easy to read, objective book than I’ve learned from all of those vaccine “handouts” given to me by the pediatrician.
 
Dr. Sears’ presentation of an “alternative” vaccine schedule supported my own thinking about vaccines—that the decision need not necessarily conform to a one size fits all approach and can often be tweaked to address individual concerns or parenting preferences.  Thanks to The Vaccine Book, I went to my baby’s appointment with an alternative immunization schedule in mind.  The pediatrician supported that schedule. 

While the schedule may require a bit more organization on my part, since I now need to bring the baby to a few extra appointments, I’m okay with that—after all, that’s why baby organizer books exist!

For the first time, my agony over the vaccine question has subsided—at least until the next eleventh hour.