Today's Parent | Parenting Resources… Articles, Advice, Help & Tips

Although summer is commonly considered a time of relaxation and cheerfulness, it can easily become a time of stress and chaos for children battling neurobehavioral issues, such as ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorders or Asperger’s. The change to a summer routine can create anxiety and result in tantrums, leaving children upset and parents feeling helpless. To counter these concerns, below are some preventative measures parents can implement to ensure a happier summer for all.

Avoiding Meltdowns:

1. Keep a Schedule – Whether it’s a written schedule or one with pictures for younger kids, your child will feel calmer and safer knowing what is coming next. During summer break, it can be more difficult to give your child a concrete schedule since activities can be short-lived or even spontaneous. For the parts of your day that are open-ended, try adding a block of time to your child’s schedule called “open play” or use a question mark to indicate the time slot has yet to be filled. Discuss the schedule regularly and provide details for spontaneous events as they arise. Also, always let your child know which events will take place outdoors and which will be loud or crowded. Helping a child understand their day makes for an easier transition.

2. Use a Code Word – Choose a code word your child can use if he/she feels overwhelmed and needs a break. Assure your child that if he/she uses the code word, you will respond immediately. Again, giving children some control during activities that may be over-stimulating will reduce anxiety. A code word can be particularly helpful during parades or at your neighborhood’s crowded pool.

3. Have a Family Meeting – Before you attend parties, parades, or other outings, have a quick family meeting so your whole family knows how long you plan to stay and how you expect them to behave. This will benefit neuro-typical children as well, since any child can get overstimulated from summertime excitement.

4. Make Sleep a Priority – Continue to make your child’s sleep schedule a priority even during the summer. It is still important to establish consistent sleep and wake times throughout the season. Revert to your school schedule two to three weeks before classes begin so your child is well-rested and ready to learn.

5. Plan Ahead – Children with significant sensory sensitivities may require a little extra planning to enjoy summer activities. For example, you may need to bring along ear plugs if you will be in a noisy environment. For sensitive kids who need to wear bathing suits or other potentially aggravating attire, bring along soft, comfortable clothes for them to change into as soon as they’re done swimming. Be prepared by knowing your child’s specific limitations and how you will handle them if the need arises. Don’t wait for the meltdown to begin.

6. Be Inclusive – If your family members have food sensitives or allergies that prevent them from eating summertime treats, plan ahead to offer alternatives like all-natural candy or a gluten-free treat from home. Children with neurobehavioral disorders often feel different already, so make an extra effort to include them in as many activities as possible.

As you implement these methods to prevent breakdowns, it is important to meanwhile encourage regular physical activity. Kids with learning and behavioral problems often have issues with processing and motor skills. Finding sensory activities your kids enjoy can help fill long summer days while improving motor planning and processing skills.  Read More

Children can get five to 10 colds each year, so it’s not surprising that adults often turn to over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to relieve their little ones’ symptoms. But a new University of Michigan poll shows that many are giving young kids medicines that they should not use.

More than 40 percent of parents reported giving their children under age 4 cough medicine or multi-symptom cough and cold medicine, according to the latest University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.  Twenty-five percent gave those children decongestants.

In 2008, the federal Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory that these over-the-counter medicines not be used in infants and children under age 2. They have not been proven effective for young children and may cause serious side effects.

In response to the FDA, manufacturers of over-the-counter cough and cold products changed their labels back in 2008, to state that the medicines should not be used for children under 4 years old.

These products don’t reduce the time the infection will lasts and misuse could lead to serious harm.  What can be confusing, however, is that often these products are labeled prominently as ‘children’s’ medications. The details are often on the back of the box, in small print.  That’s where parents and caregivers can find instructions that they should not be used in children under 4 years old.

The side effects from use of cough and cold medicines in young children may include allergic reactions, increased or uneven heart rate, drowsiness or sleeplessness, slow and shallow breathing, confusion or hallucinations, convulsions, nausea and constipation.

The poll found that use of the cough and cold medicines in children age four and under did not differ by parent gender, race/ethnicity or by household income.

Products like these may work for adults, and parents think it could help their children as well. But what’s good for adults is not always good for children.

Parents need to be vigilant about reading the directions and should always call their pediatrician or health care provider about questions regarding over-the-counter medications.

Because young children often suffer from cold-like symptoms, more research is needed to test the safety and efficacy of these cough and cold medicines in our littlest patients.

Matthew M. Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P., director of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.
Full report: http://mottnpch.org/reports-surveys/parents-ignore-warning-labels-give-cough-cold-meds-young-kids
Website: Check out the Poll’s new website: MottNPCH.org. You can search and browse over 70 NPCH Reports, suggest topics for future polls, share your opinion in a quick poll, and view information on popular topics. The National Poll on Children’s Health team welcomes feedback on the new website, including features you’d like to see added. To share feedback, e-mail NPCH@med.umich.edu.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mottnpch
Twitter: @MottNPCH
Findings from the U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health do not represent the opinions of the investigators or the opinions of the University of Michigan.

As schools prepared for standardized testing this spring, school leaders, teachers and parents focused on ensuring students were prepared to do their best. However, research shows that regular access to better nutrition — starting with breakfast — coupled with increased opportunities for physical activity may help students reach their potential throughout the school year, which may lead to better performance at testing time and beyond. Nutrient-rich foods and physical activity are not only good for child health, but also learning. Finding a balance between academic rigor and health and wellness efforts in the school environment has become an increasing priority.

A new report called, The Wellness Impact: Enhancing Academic Success Through Healthy School Environments, reinforces the “learning connection” — the crucial link between quality nutrition, physical activity and academic performance. Finding a balance between academic rigor and health and wellness efforts in the school environment has become an increasing priority. Key findings from the report suggest:

• More than half (62%) of all teens say they do not eat breakfast every day of the week.

• Breakfast eaters have better attention and memory than breakfast skippers.

• Three-in-four high school students aren’t active for the recommended 60 minutes each day.

• Students who were more active during school performed better on standardized tests for reading, math and spelling.

• Students who eat school breakfast increase their math and reading scores and improve their cognitive speed and memory. Research also links eating breakfast at school to improvements in student behavior, fewer absences and limited class disruptions.

While many schools lack the funds to execute school wellness policies or to start breakfast programs, progress was made in Florida earlier this month when Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced a partnership with the Dairy Council of Florida to support Florida schools in implementing innovative methods to promote breakfast.

The Dairy Council of Florida committed $300,000 to aid six Florida school districts in increasing breakfast participation using innovative methods like providing grab-n-go options at the bus drop-off area, allowing breakfast carts to distribute meals in the hallway and serving breakfast in the classroom. Read More

Summer will soon be upon us and one of the first things your child will ask about is going outside in the sun. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new regulations on labeling of sunscreens. These new guidelines establish which products are allowed to be labeled as “broad spectrum”, meaning they protect against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which can cause a sunburn and contribute to skin cancer and early skin aging. It is important for the entire family to use sunscreen, and there are multiple options available in the market that everyone can use. Kid friendly sunscreens may have the same ingredients as the adult ones. Sunscreens with the ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are generally recommended for children and people with sensitive skin, as these tend to be less irritating and not cause the stinging or burning that other sunscreens may cause. Sunscreens specifically marketed for children may or may not have these ingredients, so it is important to read the labels on the bottles.

It is easy to feel a little overwhelmed and confused with the sunscreen options packing store shelves, especially when there is such a range of different sun protection factor (SPF) numbers. The higher the number, the more protection the sunscreen will provide, but once you get above SPF 50 there is not really a difference in protection results. The new guidelines from the FDA will require sunscreens with an SPF of 50 or higher to be labeled as “SPF 50+” because the FDA does not have adequate data to show that anything higher than SPF 50 really gives you better protection than SPF 50.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends the use of a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. It is important to apply sunscreen generously to all exposed skin 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply it every two hours. This is especially important after swimming or sweating. The new FDA guidelines have also clarified the water resistance of sunscreens. The label should indicate if the sunscreen will be effective for 40 or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating. Sunscreen should be used as protection, not as an excuse to stay longer in the sun. Don’t forget, you can get a sunburn even on cloudy days. Read More

My daughter, Catharine, died in 1995 in Los Angeles, California after ending a four year fight with Anorexia Nervosa. After first being diagnosed in Washington, DC, Catharine had undergone extensive inpatient hospitalization at National Children’s Medical Center in Washington. It was a comprehensive metabolic unit with pediatric nurses, metabolic experts, psychologists and the unit was strictly dedicated to young girls with eating disorders, both anorexics and bulimics. All of the girls looked like they were cut out with a cookie cutter – small, thin, and extremely bright but shy. When we moved to Los Angeles, Catharine continued her care at UCLA and had psychiatric visits as an outpatient. Whereas in the 1980s there were only occasional patients dealing with eating disorders, now it had become an epidemic. Catharine continued fighting her eating disorder but eventually lost her battle and the war. She developed a cardiac arrhythmia that became fatal. As a father, I look back at those moments when I saw a young girl fighting for her life. I admire her, respect her, and remember her every day for the strength she demonstrated. I look at the efforts now by physicians and specialists dealing with eating disorders and smile because there is a much better understanding now of the disease.

Young girls with eating disorders classically see themselves as being overweight or obese. They severely decrease their caloric intake while aggressively increasing their physical activity to burn any caloric intake they may have. In 2009 the Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 33% of these young ladies think they are overweight while 56% of them said they were actively trying to decrease their weight. Cardiac complications are a possible result of severe protein deficiencies. The electrical activity of the heart becomes abnormal and the transmission of the electrical impulse through the heart is either retarded or not present at all. Sudden Cardiac Death is the final fatal event. Autopsies by the coroners are negative for any abnormality of the heart. EKGs are normal but a 48-hour or a two-week recording of their heart electrical activity may show electrical abnormality events. The treatment for these events is either medication or insertion of a pacemaker or both. In an article in journal Annals of Internal Medicine in January 1985, an extensive exposition of these electrical cardiac abnormalities is discussed. There is a 3-5% mortality rate. Some of them die from fatal cardiac arrhythmias while others die of suicide.

There are no happy thoughts that surround a young girl with an eating disorder. But, good moments are coming up on the horizon. Number one, specialists in America are taking eating disorders very seriously. Specialized metabolic units at major hospital centers throughout the United States are being established. Young girls with possible irregular heart activity are being monitored for days or even weeks to prove that the heart may indeed be involved. Secondly, psychiatric therapy is being directed specifically at eating disorders and there are now multiple medications available for mood disorders as well. Thirdly, because of the two medical advances above, the mortality rate is at least holding steady instead of sharply increasing. And finally, parents and teachers are being invited more and more to become a part of treating these young girls in order to empower the patient, the parents, and the teachers. Siblings are being brought into the team as well. There is hope on the horizon. I lost my daughter physically, but I carry her spirit with me daily. Through her loss, my wife and I have understood parenting even more. Cohesiveness and companionship as well as a feeling of control and accomplishment are replacing feelings of frustration and worthlessness on the part of the family. Good things loom on the horizon for young women struggling with eating disorders.

Dr. Ismael Nuño is the author of the book “The Spirit of the Heart: Stories of Family, Hope, Loss, and Healing”. He received his training in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He was Chief of Cardiac Surgery and Chief of Staff Elect/President Elect of the Medical Association at the Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center, as well as Assistant Professor of Clinical Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine. He is currently Medical Advisor for the Alfred Mann Institute of Bioengineering at USC, and was previously Medical Advisor for the St. Jude Medical Corporation for the Western United States. Website: http://www.NunoMD.com/

The Spirit of the Heart: Stories of Family, Hope, Loss, and Healing is available at Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com.

Parents of a newborn will have questions about common health problems, including cold symptoms, constipation and/or diarrhea, spitting up, and colic. These seem to be the top things parents are looking for answers on.

Here are some common things to look for.

1. Spitting up. This is common in babies, almost half of young babies spit up regularly. You will probably see this peak around 4 months old. Any air that your baby takes in along with breast milk or formula will get trapped. The air has to come up, and sometimes the liquid will come up with it. Hold your baby in a fairly upright position when you feed him/ her. If you are breastfeeding, ask your doctor if there’s something in your diet that may be making the baby spit up more. Also try to burp your baby after each feeding. Keep your feeding time calm by minimizing other distractions. Another tip is to make sure you are not overfeeding the baby. If your baby seems to spit up a lot after every feeding he/ she may be getting too much to eat.

2. Colic. Colic is a term used to describe uncontrollable crying in an otherwise healthy baby. Most babies with colic are younger than 5 months old. Watch if your baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, on 3 or more days a week, for at least 3 weeks. Talk with your doctor if you think your baby has colic, so your doctor can rule out other possible causes. Fever, vomiting or blood in the baby’s stool are not symptoms of colic. It’s also important to remember that caring for a baby with colic can be really stressful, so have someone give you a break once in awhile so you can take a walk or maybe even cry yourself!

3. Cold symptoms. Typical colds do not cause more than a slight fever in children. If your child’s temperature is high, he or she may have something other than a cold. It’s ok to let a slight fever run its course if your child is taking liquids and acting well. Don’t give aspirin to infants, children or teens because of the risk for Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease that can cause liver and brain damage. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends against using over-the-counter cold and cough medicines in children younger than 2 years old. Let your child rest, and make sure to give plenty of fluids. Read More

Practical Advice for Healthy Eating Before, During and After Pregnancy

Nothing is more important than a mom’s diet and lifestyle before and during pregnancy: it can set the stage for a lifetime of good health for her baby. But if mom (or dad’s) diet are lacking, it could “program” their baby for birth defects, obesity or chronic health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma. Each year approximately 4 million women give birth in the US. Those moms-to-be struggle with often–conflicting and confusing advice about what to eat (and especially what not to eat), how much to gain and how to conquer eating challenges like morning sickness, heartburn, gluten intolerance and eating for a high-risk pregnancy.

Bridget Swinney, MS, RD wanted to make it easy for pregnant mothers to eat better when she wrote Eating Expectantly: The Essential Eating Guide and Cookbook for Pregnancy back in 1994. Second and Third Editions were released over the years and there are more than 120,000 copies of all editions in print. The new Eating Expectantly Practical Advice for Healthy Eating Before, During and After Pregnancy, 4th Edition has been thoroughly updated and expanded. An e-book and the companion Eating Expectantly Cookbook will be delivered in late summer.

The new Eating Expectantly gives moms-to-be the tools, tips and tricks they need to eat well from preconception through postpartum. Highlights include:

• How to have a healthier lifestyle and diet before conception to improve fertility and the odds of delivering a healthy baby–including advice for women with PCOS.
• Step-by-step advice for each trimester–including power nutrients and super foods.
• How to gain just the right amount of weight with the “smart carbs” approach.
• How to eat “cleaner” and “greener” by limiting pesticides and other chemicals.
• Diet and lifestyle tips to prevent high-risk conditions like gestational diabetes, hyper-tension, pre-eclampsia and preterm birth.

Contributions from other RD experts, including Dave Grotto, Tammie Lakatos Shames, Connie Evers, Angela Grassi, Diane Welland, Dr. Jo Lichten, Sharon Palmer, Judy Simon and Tamara Duker Freuman.

Eating Expectantly contains QR codes (that can be read with a smart phone) that link to websites, videos and updates. It’s the first interactive pregnancy book of its kind!

In addition to Eating Expectantly, Swinney is the author of several other books, including Baby Bites: Everything You Need to Know about Feeding Babies and Toddlers in One Handy Book, winner or an iparenting.com Media Award. Read More

Every expecting parent knows what a birth defect is, but how many know that the odds of your child having a birth defect is on the rise?  Current statistics show that 1 in 33 babies are born with a birth defect.

The most prevalent birth defect may surprise you – Congenital Heart Defects (or “CHDs”).  A Congenital Heart Defect refers to problems present at birth that affect the structure and function of the heart, all of which form very early in pregnancy – around 6-8 weeks gestation.   Nearly 1 in 100 children in the United States is born with a Congenital Heart Defect.

There are over 35 types of congenital heart defects, ranging in severity with some not requiring surgery or intervention and others requiring immediately life-saving open heart surgery following birth.

Amy, an entrepreneur and founder of Smart Mom Jewelry and Stacey, a mother raising a child born with a congenital heart defect are on a mission.  Amy and Stacey, two women significantly affected by congenital heart defects, are determined to raise CHD awareness and encourage funding for research and data collection.

A simple and effective way a new parent can rule out heart defects in their unborn child is by knowing what questions to ask.  Our intent is not to frighten new parents, but to provide some tools to be certain that your child is heart healthy.  Yes, heart health starts before your child is born!

Below are six questions to ask during your 18-20 week ultrasound to help ensure your unborn child is heart healthy :

1. Do you see four chambers in the baby’s heart?

2. Are there two upper chambers (left and right atria) each with a valve controlling blood flow out of them?

3. Are there two lower chambers (left and right ventricle) each with a valve controlling blood flow out of them?

4. Do the two vessels leaving the heart (aorta and pulmonary artery) cross each other as they exit?

5. Is the wall between the two lower chambers intact, without any holes?

6. Is everything else in the heart normal?

As a mother who, at an 18-week ultrasound, heard the haunting words “there is something wrong with your baby’s heart,” Stacey knows the thought is terrifying.  As terrifying as the diagnosis of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) was, she also knows that learning of her daughter, Zoe’s half a functioning heart allowed time to carefully assess Zoe’s heart and to plan appropriate cardiac reconstruction.  Today, after two of three required open-heart surgeries (the first at 15 hours old, the second at four months old), Zoe is not only surviving, she’s thriving! Read More

Parents sending their children off to college for the first time typically have prepared years in advance for the big occasion. And since tuition rates continue to increase, parents are, more than ever, focused on having their child be successful and graduate.

The average cost for an in-state public college for the 2012–2013 academic year is $22,261, and a moderate budget at a private college averaged $43,289. While many American families have seen a sharp decline in their household income, higher education for their children is still a top priority.

So, what might parents be overlooking when trying to ensure their child starts off a career with a college degree? It’s the school’s dining program and the role it plays in campus life, including the location(s), facilities, the menu, meal plans, hours, operating days and more.

It can and will be the most powerful aspect of day to day life for your son or daughter to connect to their class, make friends, see and be seen and connect to the school. The sooner they connect to one another, the more likely they are to return as sophomores and eventually graduate.

Social architecture is the conscious design of an environment to encourage social behaviors that lead toward a goal — in this case, solidifying college students’ connection to one another, and a commitment to their school, through dining.

Social architecture is a catalyst for students to connect, make friends and be social; it’s crucial to helping students connect with their school and develop bonds with other students, which are both critical to student success. Students who live and dine on campus tend to have higher GPA’s and are more likely to graduate.

A meticulously planned, student-focused and socially rich dining program on a campus can help a student graduate for the following reasons:

• Crucial social steps: Out of the house for the first time, living alone or with roommates he or she doesn’t know, often far from home, studying challenging material and without the life skills of a mature adult – your child’s well-being is largely dependent upon the friends and colleagues he meets at school. Meals are when families, coworkers and friends come together and bond, and it’s also when students come together to meet new people, study or just blow off steam.

• Meal plan: These have often been the bane of a student’s existence, complete with limited food options, which are often scattered and frequently hamstrung with time limits. And, they can be expensive. But students won’t complain about a meal plan’s price is they’re happy with what they get. Many conscientious students today choose a vegetarian or vegan diet, or they have other diet restrictions, such as gluten, due to their health. A meal plan should complement a campus and the student clock, which is different from that of an administrator’s schedule.

• On-campus: It’s important to unify meal plans with dining halls; otherwise, students tend to experience the campus in a fractured manner. Meal plans that offer off-campus options are even more problematic, because that steers the focus away from studies, students and other areas of university life.

• School pride: If universities are like businesses, then loyal alumni are like customer loyalty and positive word of mouth wrapped in one idea. When all of the factors come together for a pleasant, sociable, convenient and generally inviting dining hall, it’s a concrete and positive way students can see themselves as lifelong proponents of their schools.

David Porter, FCSI, author of “The Porter Principles: Retain & Recruit Students & Alumni, Save Millions on Dining and Stop Letting Food Service Contractors Eat Your Lunch” (www.porterkhouwconsulting.com) and chief executive officer and president of Porter Khouw Consulting, Inc., a foodservice master planning and design firm. David has more than 40 years of hands-on food service operations and consulting experience and is a professional member of the Foodservice Consultants Society International. Porter Khouw Consulting has worked with more than 350 clients to conduct market research and develop strategic plans, master plans and designs for the college and university market. Porter is a graduate of the prestigious hospitality program at Michigan State University and has been recognized repeatedly as a leader in his field.

Everyone knows that sweeping self-improvement New Year’s resolutions get broken faster than you can say “I’d like the cheesecake for dessert, please.” Resolve to ban sugar forever, exercise every day or read every word of the New York Times seven days a week, and you’ll be lucky to last a month before you fall off the wagon. The key is to start small. (As they say, a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.) In the improve-your-diet department, here are 13 tips from online meal planning service eMeals to move yourself – and your family – in the right direction.

1. Adopt Meatless Mondays – Going meatless just one day a week can reduce your risk of several chronic diseases as well as shrink your carbon footprint.  VIPs from Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson and ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney to actress Emily Deschanel, The Biggest Loser’s Bob Harper and Food Network chef Giada De Laurentiis have endorsed the strategy for both the body and the planet.

2. Try “clean eating” – Replace pizza and processed foods with fresh meats, produce and seasonal items. For help and sample menus created by a foodie mom who feeds her own family of six this way, see http://emeals.com/meal-plans/clean-eating/ – complete with ideas like Greek Chicken Wraps with Spinach Cantaloupe Salad that even a toddler can love.

3. Dump the ‘bad’ oils – Banish butter and bacon grease and replace them with healthy fats like canola and olive oil. Try making your own salad dressing with oil and your favorite vinegar. Your cholesterol level will thank you.

4. Eat breakfast every day – The old adage is true: breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. It fuels your body and brain with the energy you need to face the day. Whether it’s a smoothie, Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal or Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins, you can get quick and healthy breakfast ideas at http://emeals.com/meal-plans/breakfast/

5. Purge your pantry and fridge – Get rid of anything that’s expired or unhealthy, then restock with healthy staples like brown rice, dried beans, canned tuna and prepared pasta sauce for quick and nutritious meals.

6. Brown-bag it at least 3 days a week – Pack your lunch for work or school to eat better – and save money too.  You’ll find inspiration – and recipes for goodies like Turkey Pepperoni Pasta Salad – at http://emeals.com/meal-plans/lunch/

7. Eat a colorful ROYGBIV diet – Red foods like tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, red bell pepper and red cabbage contain lycopene, which may reduce the risk of some cancers. Orange choices are filled with Vitamin A and carotenoids that are good for your eyesight. Blue/purple produce includes anthycyanins that support heart health. And green veggies contain isothyiocyanates that help flush cancer-causing compounds out of the body. Bonus: the Vitamin K in leafy greens helps regulate blood pressure, too.

8. Downsize your plates – We all tend to eat everything we put on our plates – and usually that’s way too much. If you start a meal with salad, that helps fill you up so you won’t overeat the rest of your dinner. You can also get ideas for portion-controlled meals at http://emeals.com/meal-plans/portion-control/

9. Switch out soda – All of the calories in soda and sugary drinks are empty calories, meaning they contribute no healthy nutrients. Swap soda for calorie-free beverages like water or sparkling water (add a splash of lemon or lime for flavor), or beverages with some nutritional value, like skim milk or small amounts of 100% fruit juice. Read More