Quiz: Look at the pictures. How could the adults and children improve their sun protection? Answers at the end of the article. If you live in snow country or are planning to take your kids on a visit there, outfit them with a pair of snow-appropriate sunglasses (“shades,” in teen talk). While the sun’s warming […]
Update: protecting kids from the sun
August 1, 2015 by
(After you read the article, test your knowledge. Look at each picture and ask yourself what the parent could have done better to protect the child from the sun. Answers are at the end of the article.) Just when you thought that you knew all you have to know to protect your kids from the […]
Infants/Sleeping away from home
May 17, 2015 by
At home, putting infants to sleep is a no-brainer. You place them in their crib – and pray they’ll sleep all night. But when traveling, there are many do’s and don’ts regarding sleep safety and getting infants to sleep in new surroundings, the latter often a real hassle. 1. Never “co-sleep,” even for a night […]
Rabies/Children/At home and abroad
April 23, 2015 by
Protecting your kids from a dozen or so nasty childhood diseases has become a no-brainer. You take them regularly to where they get their shots and you can relax. Available vaccines are extremely safe and effective. Protecting your kids from rabies is different – it’s up to you. 1. Rabies is caused by a virus. […]
Should young infants travel by air? (An update)
October 15, 2014 by
No single answer fits all infants nor all situations. Moreover, the answer changes based on new findings – like the one that just came to light: apparently, very rarely, parents may accidently suffocate infants sitting on the parent’s lap. Here is what is known: No government agency regulates the age at which newborns may fly. […]
Backpacks/Children (An update of a previous article)
September 20, 2014 by
Backpacks here. Backpacks there. Backpacks practically everywhere. 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; it doesn’t matter what’s in them. But for parents, there are health and […]
Go Take a Hike
July 27, 2014 by
It’s all in the tone of your voice when you tell someone, “Go take a hike!” Are you telling them to “Get lost!” or are you recommending that they adopt a healthier lifestyle? Hiking benefits both kids and adults, combining exercise, quality togetherness and exposure to the outdoors. Hiking requires little or no equipment, is […]
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 […]
Children/Air Travel/Ear infections/Prevention/Treatment
April 12, 2014 by
Should children fly with ear infections and colds? 1. No studies exist to help you make the decision. While saying “no” is prudent, doing so ruins long planned family trips, often unnecessarily. Worse, sometimes it strands families on vacation. The scenario: An infant is cranky and has a fever or an older child complains of […]
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 […]
