There are more than a million known species of insects and, according to experts, millions more waiting to be identified. And it seems as if there are almost as many insect repellents, with new ones popping up frequently, some containing new ingredients and safety warnings aimed at young children. Here is the latest: 1. The […]
Children/Sunscreens – an update
June 6, 2014 by
To protect your kids from the sun it would be helpful if you were a dermatologist and a chemist. If you are not, you should read this article. (Some readers complained that my previous posting, “The sun does to kids’ skin what tobacco smoke does to adult’s lungs was “unnecessarily scary.” Click here to read […]
THE SUN DOES TO INFANTS’ SKIN WHAT TOBACCO SMOKE DOES TO ADULT’S LUNGS
May 21, 2014 by
1.The younger the child, the greater the risk. Young children burn rapidly. Their skin contains less melanin to neutralize the sun’s rays. Severe sunburns early in life increase the chances of cancer in later life. Children spend much time outdoors and with increasing longevity have ever more years of exposure ahead of them. 2. Rethink […]
Kids/Winter/Sunglasses
February 5, 2014 by
Having your kids wear sunglasses when the ground is covered with snow is as important as having them wear them on a summer day at the beach – perhaps even more so. Wearing the right winter sunglasses prevents snow blindness and, more important, helps prevent cataracts in later life. 1. “Snow blindness” is not exactly […]
Children/cars/heat stroke
July 28, 2013 by
Where’s the Baby? Look Before You Lock. This is the slogan for National Heatstroke Prevention Day (July 31), a program designed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission (NHTSC) and HealthyKids to increase awareness of young children becoming trapped in cars in hot weather. Here is what you should know: 1. Parked cars can be […]
Sunscreens for Infants and Young Children
July 18, 2013 by
Protecting your kids from the sun is not child’s play. For kids to have safe fun in the sun you must decipher ongoing barrages of conflicting information on sun protection and evaluate innumerable products claiming to provide that protection. This is Part Two: Sunscreens. If you haven’t already read Part One: Sun Protective Clothing, click […]
Children / Sun Protection
June 29, 2013 by
The sun does to skin what tobacco smoke does to lungs, frequently causing serious health issues, including cancer, decades later. Moreover, the concept that wrinkling and other skin damage is merely a normal consequence of aging is wrong. Much of the damage is due to excessive sun exposure – and is preventable. 1. The younger […]
Children/Cold weather/Car rides/Health and safety
January 6, 2013 by
Many steps that parents take to keep infants and toddlers safe and warm for car rides in cold winter weather are ineffective, unhealthy and, sometimes, dangerous. Here is what you should know: 1. Secure your footing when maneuvering a car seat and infant in and out of cars. Is the ground icy? Holding an infant/car […]
Keeping kids healthy and safe on cruises
March 27, 2012 by
Of the 14 million passengers who sailed from American ports last year, 1.5 million were children. Families are the biggest growth segment for cruise ship companies. Every ship being designed has children in mind. Some ships are planned entirely for families. (Some adults without children are clamoring for adult-only voyages; children have overtaken ships, especially […]
Children/Outdoors/Good health
February 12, 2012 by
Do your kids a favor. Pry them away from their TV, video games, computers, and smart phones – forcefully, if necessary. Ignore their yelling and sarcasm. Then kick them out the door – literally, if need be. If they threaten to report you to child welfare services, inform them that merely being outdoors is the […]
