The “official” 2019 debunking issue Hey parents, don’t fret every time your kids catch colds. Yes, you can try preventing colds by having kids wear facemasks, not sending them to daycare or school, banning birthday parties and never having visitors. It may even help. But don’t be surprised if child welfare people come calling. Alas, […]
Caution: New car odors may be hazardous for infants. An update.
December 1, 2018 by
A newborn in your home and a new car in your garage are events worth celebrating. But celebrate them separately. Resist the urge to take your baby for a spin in your new car to show baby and car off to your neighbors. New car odors may be hazardous for an infant’s wellbeing – and […]
Children/Travel/Immunizations. An update
November 2, 2018 by
When planning family vacations, check that everyone, adults included, are up-to-date on their vaccinations, lest one of you returns home with a souvenir you didn’t bargain for – a vaccine-preventable disease. Such souvenirs do not require visiting Equatorial Africa. A trip to Disneyworld or a Caribbean cruise could suffice. 1. Fewer American children are being […]
Can infants and young children travel by air? Answers to frequently asked questions. An update.
October 17, 2018 by
1. Can healthy newborns travel by air? Healthy newborns, yes. However, two groups of infants require medical evaluation prior to flying: those born significantly premature and those having heart and lung issues at or soon after birth. Such infants should be evaluated by pediatricians until they reach their first birthday, even if they show no […]
Backpacks / Children / Safety / Health
September 22, 2018 by
Backpacks here. Backpacks there. Backpacks everywhere, and for almost every reason. Toddlers wear them for the sake of wearing them, often empty and in the shape of cartoon characters. Elementary school-age kids pile everything they have into them. High school kids use them as fashion statements, often slung over one shoulder, a style that tends […]
Strollers
September 5, 2018 by
If your infant’s stroller is recalled because of a safety issue, will the manufacturer be able to contact you? 1. Strollers help keep your infants and toddlers safe and healthy but only if (1) the stroller is structurally sound and (2) you use it correctly. Recalls of basic child-related items occur frequently, says the US […]
Swimmer’s Ear
August 19, 2018 by
On a summer vacation at the beach, five hours from home, your 3-year-old announces that dreaded complaint, “My ear hurts!” What to do? 1. Chances are you dealing with a swimmer’s ear. Also, think ‘swimmer’s ear’ in younger preverbal children who poke their fingers into their ears or are unusually cranky. Swimmer’s ear is quite […]
Family Vacations in National Parks – Health and safety is up to you. An update
August 3, 2018 by
(Editor’s note: A reader writes, “You are an old fuddy-duddy who leaches the pleasure out of family vacations by over-emphasizing the health and safety hazards to children of travel and recreational activities.” Even the Wall Street Journal has chastised me. I was the ogre (my word) in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek article, “If You’re a Kid, […]
Young Children Flying Alone: An update
July 20, 2018 by
Did you know that five-year old children may fly unaccompanied on major US airlines? 1. In airline parlance these children are “UMs”: unaccompanied minors. Each airline has its own rules for transporting UMs. The rules are outlined on each airline’s webpage. There are no government regulations. In Canada and the United Kingdom, children must be […]
Home Alone
June 28, 2018 by
Is it reasonable for parents of young children to go on a seven-day vacation if they leave their child(ren) with a competent caretaker? Lots has been written on the subject. Google has 5,520,000 entries! No, I did not read them all. However, I did look at several dozen and read those who had thoughtful opinions. […]
