Latest Additions - Health and Wellness

So, it seems that when medical device manufacturers release products for children, they are usually just adult products with small adjustments for a child.  Devices are almost never designed specifically for children because the market is not big enough.  But, it is important to consider issues like growth and long-term effects when applying devices for children’s use. 

Lawmakers are taking notice on this one.  According to the Associated Press article, “Congress asked the Institute of Medicine — an independent group that advises the government on health matters — to study postmarket safety monitoring of children’s medical devices.” Lack of data is a huge problem----parents do not always know who to report problems to when they occur, and the recommendations include increased FDA involvement.

If you have a child who uses a medical device, check out this story. 

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How often do we get practical suggestions on getting kids to eat healthier?  Yahoo! published a great Associated Press article that has amazing ideas and incorporates the realities of picky eaters and lunch trading at school.  One of the dietician contributors follows an 80-20 rule with her family:  80% healthy, 20% fun.  Each of her kids gets a small treat like 2 cookies or a piece of candy each day.  Variety seems to be a key factor in a successful approach.  Kids need to have some sense of control over their food choices, and not get too bored with their meals.  Also, don’t get too stressed out if your child doesn’t eat their lunch at school, because you have control over breakfast and dinner, so if you make the most of the at-home meals, the lunch problems aren’t as crucial in their overall intake. 

Other tips include making sure that lunch foods have been introduced at home first.  If the child has not seen the food before, it will not be eaten.  Also, avoid the temptation to pack sodas and sweets because your kids will take their cues from you in developing their long-term food habits.

One factoid from the article:  Kids over 5 should have skim or 1% milk.  Who knew?

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I figure I’ve been talking about our education system enough lately, so I thought I’d share this article on the dangers of E.coli and how to make sure your next cookout or petting zoo doesn’t breed illness.  E.coli bacteria normally hang out in the colon and do not cause problems, but certain strains can cause disease. 

BabyZone offers:  “Modes of transmission of the E. coli bacteria are, ‘through food or water contaminated by animal or human feces, or by contact with animals or humans infected with or carrying the strain in the bowel. It can be spread from person to person,’ explains Dr. Michael J. Muszynski, MD, FAAP, Dean, Professor of Clinical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Orlando campus.

This means that you need to make sure your meat doesn’t sit unrefrigerated for more than two hours, cook your meat thoroughly, and make sure that your kids wash wash wash after hanging around farm animals in petting zoos.  If you are planning a visit to a petting zoo, call ahead to ask about the washing facilities.  Don’t go if they are not adequate, that way you avoid the begging and tantrums if you have an animal-loving child.

It is tough when we have to be so careful to have good old-fashioned American fun, but with just a few steps, your summer can be E.coli-free.

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Good article in Salon covering one parent’s story of having a child expelled from preschool.  Also contains some interesting statistics on child expulsions.  The prevalence of this practice is scary, as are the implications for individual and societal school performance.

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For those of us getting ready for a big cookout or dinner out on the town, this is a really helpful article.  The Los Angeles Times brings us some helpful reminders of food hygiene for cookouts, including eating food within two hours of preparation and making sure we keep foods at their appropriate temperatures - in other words, hot foods should stay hot and cold foods should stay cold.  Also, there is a mention of mayonnaise since it seems to be the culprit of many food-borne illnesses.  Stick with commercially prepared mayo since it has enough acid (vinegar) to keep bacteria in check.  If you are planning to travel and go out to dinner, this article has a website that will allow you to check out the health inspection record of many restaurants in the United States.  If your chosen feeding spot is not listed, then you should ask the manager for the latest inspection report.  What to do if no report is available?  Read on…

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The Associated Press brings us a new article further highlighting the suspected link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism.  While it is unclear whether officials blatantly covered up research or simply experienced a lapse in judgement, the fact is that it looks like a link could be there and someone was not acting on the possibility.  According to the president of the National Vaccine Information Center, “...a subset of kids can’t handle mercury because of a genetic or other kind of predisposition...,” and oddly enough, this is exactly what our own physician told us when we asked about this issue.  When comparing the idea of mercury sensitivity to food allergies and other genetic conditions, it seems entirely plausible that some children would not handle mercury well, so why a medical professional didn’t catch this is beyond me. 

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Are you thinking about finding a swim class for your kids?  ParentCenter brings us a helpful guide to finding the right class for your children, including recommendations on class level placement procedures, teaching methods and group behavior management.  There are even suggestions on student-teacher ratios to make sure everyone stays safe as they learn.  It is important to consider various factors when choosing a class so your child doesn’t end up singing songs and not swimming or working so hard swimming that they aren’t having fun.

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There is a plethora of advice available on children’s eating habits, but should we be worried when our kids only want mac and cheese for a month?  The New York Times published an article that could allay some of our fears, but also offers pinpointed concerns that we may be able to address.  It is hard for parents to apply broad guidance recommending a healthier diet, but if we know that certain food groups or minerals need some focus, it can be easier to work through at the dinner table...maybe.

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Kemps LLC has recalled half-gallon packages of Kemps Bakery Classics French Silk Pie Ice Cream due to undeclared wheat, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.  Consumers who purchased the ice cream can return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund, and can call Kemps LLC with questions.

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Have you ever wondered how well your city ranks against other areas for kid friendliness?  Well, Population Connection offers rankings and suggestions for improvement that are intended to encourage parents and local citizens to take action.  According to the website FAQs, “...Our report should inspire families, individuals, activists, and officials to work together to create better communities.  It is not a relocation guide....” The folks at Population Connection are also not suggesting that all relevant criteria are covered in their report because the data may not compare properly across regions.  The point is that this information can be a starting place for communities to take stock, and ultimately take action to create better communities for their children, in whatever way makes sense for them. 

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