1. Infants don’t have to know how to swim to go swimming. Blame the English language for the confusion. “Swimming” also means “bathing in a body of water.” Do place infants in water soon after birth, if you wish, to acquaint them with it and help them to overcome fears, if any. Start with sprinkling […]
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. […]
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 […]
Children / Antibacterial soaps/ Hand sanitizers
March 16, 2013 by
Bar soaps. Liquid soaps. Antibacterial/antiseptic soaps. Hand sanitizers. Hand wipes/rubs. The list goes on. A bewildering number of products, some intended for home, some for away from home, claim to rid kids’ hands of disease-causing microorganisms. Some products are quite effective, others far less so. Here is what you should know: 1. Proper hand washing […]
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 […]
Appropriate drinks for active children
November 11, 2012 by
Sports drinks. Energy drinks. Electrolyte solutions. Carbonated drinks. Milk. What is healthy, what is not? Young children and adolescents participating in non-competitive play do not benefit from the wide variety of beverages that are heavily marketed as means to prevent dehydration and improve performance. In fact, some of these beverages are counterproductive at times. Yes, […]
Update on Children / Vacations*
April 9, 2011 by
Update on Children/Vacations* Unreasonable parental expectations and poor parental planning mar more family vacations than obstinate children. While traveling with kids will always have its ups and downs, savvy parents can keep the inevitable squabbles down to a manageable few. Here is what you should know: Your primary goal should be kids having fun. Family […]
Backpacks / Children
October 17, 2010 by
Backpacks here. Backpacks there. Backpacks practically everywhere. Kids of all ages wear them – and, increasingly, so do adults. Toddlers wear them for the sake of wearing them, often empty and sometimes in the shape of cartoon characters. Older kids use them for books and sporting equipment and when hiking and traveling. For high school […]
The Sun is No Friend of Children
July 16, 2008 by
The sun does to skin what tobacco smoke does to lungs. Both produce progressive, cumulative, and irreversible tissue damage, often culminating in very serious health issues many decades later. But it need not happen. There are positive rays of sunshine, too: information on how to neutralize the harmful effects. Here is what you should know: […]
Families at Altitude: How Not to Feel Low When You Are Up High
June 11, 2008 by
Visiting Mexico City: 7,550 feet. Viewing the Grand Canyon: 8,000 feet. Skiing in Colorado: 8,000 feet (with some slopes going higher.) Driving up Pike’s Peak: 14,000 feet. At these elevations most children run circles around their huffing and puffing parents. But some children will show symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS), and a rare child […]
