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10/1/2007 Car Seat Sharing Safety Preemies and Holidays Toddlers and Their Toys Poor Dental Health Contributes to Premature Births |
Date: 10/1/2007 Title: Car Seat Sharing Safety Car Seat Sharing Safety Can I pass my child's car seat on to a friend? By Kay Green, www.MyPreciousKid.com Copyright 2000-2005 Your daughter has outgrown her car seat. A friend is in need of a car seat. Can you safely pass it along? What things should you look for? "If the car seat was made in the last 7-8 years, there should be an expiration date on it. My daughter will be 6 in May, and her car seat expires in October of 2005. That was the date imprinted on the car seat." says Cris of http://phoenixcandlelites.com/cimfundraiser.htm "Always ask if it has ever been in a car when there was an accident (sudden force can damage the plastic even though it is not noticeable to the naked eye) and is it less than 6 years old. The plastic does deteriorate over time, and 6 years is the longest you can use a car seat. We had car seats for my oldest granddaughter, who would have been 7 last Sept., and we couldn't use them for the newest baby because they were too old." Says Anita of http://www.blessedenterprises.org THE TEST - These are both valid points. Before passing on a car seat I like to do the following: 1. Be certain the seat was never in a car accident 2. Check the age of the seat 3. Check with the seat manufacturer for recalls 4. Check for any breakage or tearing If the car seat is free from accident, recalls, and breakage and the seat belts are strong then you can pass the car seat onto a friend. If your seat does not pass the test then please do not pass the car seat along. IN AN ACCIDENT - If you own a car seat that is ever in a car accident please mark the plastic of the frame with a permanent marker "IN ACCIDENT - DESTROY" then break it down and put it in the garbage. Your own car insurance will almost always pay for a replacement car seat after a car accident. Call them to request this. Do not risk putting your child in a car seat that could have underlying damage that puts your child at risk. RIGHT SIZE - Be sure your child is in the RIGHT size car seat. Every car seat comes with weight and height requirements for that seat. Please follow them. I have often seen children riding in car seats clearly not the right size for them. I saw a 15 month old child in an infant carrier car seat. The mother insisted that because he was under 20 pounds she could not move him to a front facing. She was right. BUT what he needed was a rear facing convertible car seat made for a child of his height and weight. His head was all the way to the top of the car seat. It needed to be no less than one inch from the top of the seat. CAR SEAT ID CARD - Always have an car seat ID card attached to your child's car seat. This card should have your child's name, age, weight, height, medical info, 5 contact numbers for family members and a medical release signature. This card can make the difference in getting quick care or finding a family member to come get your child in an accident where you can not care for your child. We as moms love to share our baby items with friends. With car seats it is very important that we carefully look at all the criteria before passing along car seats to be certain the child we want to share with is safe as well. Article written by Kay Green, Christian homeschool mom to Melissa 22, Jordan 19, Allison 17, Haley 5. She and her husband of 25 years live in rural Oregon with their children. Kay owns http://www.MyPreciousKid.com children's safety products and home business program. Kay loves helping others have a successful home business too. http://www.PreciousKids.org Adoption & Homeschool Resources, http://www.123HomeBusinessGuide.com Home Business Resources http://www.KayGreen.com Author and Family Site COPYRIGHT 2000-2005 My Precious Kid®, Kay Green All rights reserved. Reprinting is only with permission and with this author's box and copyright intact. Kay Green Date: 10/1/2007 Title: Preemies and Holidays Preemies and Holidays My last two preemie granddaughters were born in November and were in the NICU for about 3 weeks. As a result, our holiday plans were changed. Alexis was born Nov. 22 and her mother spent Thanksgiving with her in the NICU. We were afraid we might not have her home by Christmas and cancelled some other plans for family get-togethers until well after the first of the year. If your baby is still in the hospital over the holidays it can be a very emotional time for the parents, and other children in the family. Mommy will probably spend part or most of Christmas Day with the baby, and the rest of the family may or may not be allowed into the NICU. Because this can be so stressful, my daughter and I decided we wanted to let the families that are in our local NICU know that someone cares, and understands their situation. So, we make up baskets with things for the baby and the mommy and daddy and take them to the NICU on Christmas Eve. It has been our way of making Christmas a little brighter for these families. The most questions come up when you have brought a preemie baby home from the hospital just in time for the holidays. Everyone wants to come see the baby, hold the baby, and kiss the baby. What do you do? Preemies are much more susceptible to germs than full-term babies. Although mothers have always been cautioned not to take the baby out into crowds for several weeks, I see more and more tiny newborns out at Wal-mart and other places during the holidays. You definitely do NOT want to do this with your preemie. Here is some good information from the University of Wisconsin Medical School website. ”When your baby gets home there will be many well meaning people who want to come and visit. Some things to keep in mind are: • People with colds or the flu will have to visit at a later date. • Your premature baby will be more sensitive to stimulation and may do better if not held or only held for a limited time by one person. • You can limit the number of people who visit at one time and limit the amount of time they visit. • Don't let people drink hot liquids or smoke and hold the baby at the same time. • Remember you are your baby's best advocate. It is okay to say that your doctor said it is not good to have visitors until your baby is a little older. “ It is also recommended that you not take your baby out in public places for about three months after you bring him home. This can be a very long time to be “stuck” inside with a baby, so you need to find some help. Hopefully your own parents, or other trusted friends will be available to watch the baby for a couple of hours so that you can do your holiday shopping, or just get out for a little while. Mommy and Daddy still need a little time for themselves too, so try to get someone to watch the baby for just a little bit, take a walk, go get a cup of coffee, or just spend some time on the couch together. As far as Christmas get-togethers, it will probably be best to wait until next year. By that time everyone will be able to participate. By Anita Shelton Date: 10/1/2007 Title: Toddlers and Their Toys Toddlers and Their Toys There has been a lot of confusion about what toys are good for 2- and 3-year-old children. McDonald’s has had to offer toys in their Happy Meals that are specific for 3 and under, because of the small pieces. But beyond the size of the pieces, what toys are appropriate for toddlers? What will be beneficial in helping them grow and mature? I found some information that I thought would be helpful in choosing toys for your 2 to 3 year old child. Remember that toddlers are different from preschoolers. They are at the beginning of skills such as running, jumping, riding tricycles, and they love to play with YOU. Spending time each day playing with your child will help him grow and mature in the directions we would like him to go. Do not depend upon the other children in his life to teach him how to do things, instead make it your job to introduce new toys with new things to learn. Check the directions on the toys that you buy, making sure that they are appropriate for 3 and under. Some preschool toys have small pieces that can be a choking hazard. One of the worst toys to give a toddler is a balloon. “Balloons Cause More Childhood Deaths Than Any Other Toy! That's right. Balloons! This shocking fact was established by a study conducted by Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in conjunction with DuPont Institute and Inchcape Testing Services Risk Analysis and Management. Balloons have the ability to conform to the shape of a child's airway. Of additional concern is the fact that the number deaths caused by children inhaling a portion of a balloon are still very high in the 3 - 6 year-old range, which we consider out of danger from choking.” (This is from http://www.dr.Greene.com ) How your toddler plays • Hops, jumps, walks down stairs one step at a time, starting to master riding toys. • Begins to play with other children. • Hand-eye coordination is improving. Can build with blocks, beginning to roll and cut play dough, will tell you what he is drawing. • Wants you to put her work up where others can see it. Needs you to appreciate and praise her work. • Imitates what others do. Now is the time to make sure you model good manners and good speech. Also, watch children he plays with, as he will also imitate them. • Putting words together, and using “I”, “me”, “you”. • Can follow simple directions. • May count to 3 or more. (older 2 or 3 year old) • Starting to understand position words—under, over, behind, on top of, etc. • Clothes for dress-up play Toys that help in these areas of play • Play kitchen and accessories. • Dolls and stuffed toys • Music-making toys • Simple puzzles • Crayons, coloring books, play dough, finger paints • Play cash register and/or store • Role-play toys—medical kits, firefighter toys, construction toys, baby dolls and baby doll accessories, cooking/cleaning toys. • Large building blocks • Shape sorters • Counting toys • Tricycle or other riding toys • Wagons, doll strollers, and other toys to pull, or push and load and unload. • Balls, but not balloons and balloons are one of the most dangerous toys at this age since children put them in their mouths or put them up to their mouth and if the balloon should burst the rubber can go into the child’s throat and suffocate him. • Old clothes that Mom or Dad may have around. Things You Can Do To Help Your Child In His Development Role-Playing Toys: Play being the patient and the child the doctor/nurse. “Take Mommy’s temperature.” Encourage imaginative play and you play along. Ask questions like: How is your baby today? Whose clothes are you washing today? What are you cooking? Where are you going to work? Are you driving your car to work? Teach manners during play. Help her set up a table, put a napkin in her lap, and remind her to say “please” and “thank-you”. Let her serve you as a guest and be sure to say please and thank you too. Help your child learn to use the ride-on toys. He will at first go backwards and then forwards, pushing with his feet. When he graduates to a toy with pedals you may have to help him learn how to put his feet on the pedals and how to push them to go forward. Some children catch on right away, but others will push back and forth and just rock. The toys should be set up so that both feet are on the ground when he sits on the seat. Two-year-olds are old enough to learn to “park” their ride-on toys. Give her a “parking place” in the garage or on the patio. Tell her, “This is your parking place, just like Mommy has a parking place in the garage. This is where you park your tricycle when you are finished playing with it, just like Mommy parks her car in her parking place.” Toddlers love to use the little storage compartments that are on some of the toys. Have her take a doll or teddy for a ride, and/or make a snack for her to take her friend on a picnic. Help your child learn to take turns by using a ball and a basketball net, or a box to throw the ball in. Tell him, “You take a turn and throw the ball in the box. Now it is my turn to throw the ball.” He will be learning that taking turns works better because two people can’t throw the ball at the same time. Praise her efforts of getting the ball in the box. “Wow, you are getting better and better.” “You got the ball in the box this time, wonderful.” This just a little of your time and attention, you will find your toddler is growing into a "big girl/boy" right before your eyes. Most of all, have fun playing with your child. By Anita Shelton Date: 10/1/2007 Title: Poor Dental Health Contributes to Premature Births Prematurity Can be Linked to Poor Dental Health 19 Jun 2005 As the grandmother of three premature baby girls, I am always trying to find out ways to help prevent premature births. While doing research I came up some interesting, and rather frightening data concerning pre-maturity and dental health. If you are pregnant, or expect to become pregnant soon, here are some things you need to know. A growing body of research has shown that expectant mothers with gum disease are seven times more likely to have a low-birth weight infant than mothers with healthy gums. Of the over 250,000 low-birth weight and premature infants born each year in the US, as many as 18% may be a result of oral disease.[1] What are oral diseases? Oral or gum disease is call periodontal disease. Periodontal diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious diseases caused by bacterial infections around the tooth. It can affect only one tooth or many teeth. The cause is bacteria in the plaque that forms on the tooth. Gingivitis is the mildest form and is generally caused by lack of good oral hygiene. Gingivitis can be reversed by professional treatment and better brushing and flossing at home. Gingivitis, however, can lead to periodontitis where the plaque spreads below the gum line and which can spread to other parts of the body. How does periodontal disease affect the baby? The gums of a pregnant woman are very sensitive to the toxins of dental plaque. The gums are full of small capillaries. Capillaries are thin walled highly branched vessels that feed the tissues and collect wastes to be carried to the lungs, liver, or kidneys for elimination. These capillaries often become damaged due to periodontal disease and will leak. This allows bacterial toxins to enter the blood stream. The body’s immune response to bacterial infection of the gums is to produce chemicals called cytokines. Two of these cytokines, PGE2 and TNF-alpha have been show to induce preterm labor. Such cytokines produced in the gums as a result of bacterial infection could enter the damaged blood vessels of the gums, travel to the placenta, and once again result in premature birth.[2] How to avoid periodontal disease Hopefully the expectant mother has been brushing and flossing each day. The American Dental Association recommends brushing and flossing at least twice a day. They also recommend limiting snacks, especially sweets. If she must have sweets, she should eat them at the end of the meal, and then brush. It is very important to see a dentist at the beginning of the pregnancy. If the mother has not had her teeth cleaned before she found out she was pregnant, an appointment should be made as soon as possible to have it done. This may prevent most problems. If the dentist finds a lot of plaque, as a common procedure, scaling and planing can remove the plaque. A report published in the Journal of Periodontaology found “as much as an 84 percent reduction of premature births in women who were less than 35 weeks pregnant and who received scaling and toot planing.[3] Unfortunately, gum disease is not the only oral condition that may lead to premature births. According to HealthDay News, March 23, 2005, a study of 300 women found a significant association between high levels of an oral bacterium Actinomyces naeslundii genospecies 2 and premature birth. The bacteria is associated, not with gum disease, but with tooth decay. Therefore, it is extremely important that you see your dentist and have the necessary work done. [1] www.nidcr.nih.gov/spectrum/NIDCR2/2grasec3.htm [2] http://www.saveyoursmile.com/somen-dental/women-a.html [3] http://www.perio.org/consumer/pregnancy-news.htm By Anita Shelton |