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

When school starts, parents will once again face an increase in ear, nose and throat (ENT) ailments –– which are nothing to sneeze at. But ENT problems often aren’t the result of spreading germs.

Ear, nose and throat problems can come from unexpected sources. By knowing what to look for, parents can better protect their kids. For example:

It’s in the genes. Most doctors agree genes could play a role in susceptibility to ear infections. If one or both parents experienced chronic ear infections growing up, their children are likely to be prone to ear infections too.

Misdiagnosed ADHD instead of sleep apnea. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids can cause sleep apnea––a common ailment in overweight children––which has symptoms similar to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Dr. Pine strongly suggests ruling out sleep apnea, before starting children on ADHD medication. Read More

1.  Do not skip meals, and especially do not skip breakfast. Breakfast is the energy start for the day. It is the meal that “breaks the fast,” hence the word breakfast. When you skip meals, you rob the body of the fuel it needs to function, like staying awake, and being able to handle stress. When you finally slow down, the hunger creeps up on you and then you tend to overeat or make unhealthy choices. If you can’t find the time to eat a “meal,” then eat something to hold you until you can eat a meal.

2.  Drink 8 – 10 glasses of water per day. Our body is over 60% water.  We need liquid to help transport nutrients, minerals, and energy, etc. to every part of our body.  Water and other non-calorie liquids help keep us healthy and functioning at our best. Drinking water also helps us to remove toxins and other waste products from our body and also help us “poop” without straining.

3.  Eat whole grains. Whole grains have more nutrients, like vitamins and minerals and fiber than processed grains.  When you eat things like whole grain cereals and bread, potatoes, brown rice, you are providing long term fuel for your body, so you feel full longer. You are also giving your body lots of nutrients to stay healthy.  Whole grain foods also help us to remove toxins and dead cells from our bodies and also to “poop” without straining. .

4.  Limit portions. Most of the food we get when we eat out is enough to feed 2 or 3 people. Therefore, it is better to eat ½ of everything that you ordered. This is a way to get the nutrients you need, without the excess calories — and you have food left over for another meal!  So you get to be healthy and save money!

5.  Go lean with protein. All the foods that we get from animals, such as cheese, milk, meat, eggs, fish, chicken, sausage, etc, are naturally high in fat.  However, it is possible to get these foods with less fat in them, for example, 1% or skim milk, non-fat yogurt, lean meat, fish and fowl. Also, it is best to eat these foods baked, broiled, or grilled, not fried.  Frying any food just adds lots of unnecessary fat.  You can also get protein from legumes, such as garbanzo beans, soybeans, white beans, and peas.  Nuts and seeds also provide some protein, but are also high in fat, so they should be eaten in small quantities, i.e. 2 oz. servings. Read More

About 6 million US women will get pregnant this year. Women used to get their pregnancy information from other women–the “old wives” of old wives’ tales fame. Today, however, the most common source of information for pregnant women is their obstetrician. But 3 out of 4 will also look for health answers online, and that’s where the problem starts. According to womenshealth.gov, the accuracy of pregnancy information on the Internet varies widely.

Virtually everything about pregnancy has changed since our mother’s time–nutrition and exercise recommendations, pre-term screening tests, and what goes on in the delivery room, for example. What hasn’t changed is that old wives’ tales still abound!

Here are seven untruths we hear all the time from mothers-to-be.

You can tell whether it’s a boy or girl by how you are carrying.

False. The way you “carry” (the shape and distribution of your baby bump) is based on a few things, such as the depth of a mom’s pelvic cradle or the mom’s weight, but it won’t predict your baby’s gender.

Avoiding peanuts during pregnancy will keep my child from developing a food allergy.

False. A recent definitive study in the New England Journal of Medicine put this myth to rest once and for all. It’s okay to eat known allergens while you’re pregnant.

Pregnant women shouldn’t fly because of radiation risk.

False. The amount of cosmic radiation is negligible and not a health concern. Read More

Nearly one-third of our children are either overweight or obese and the sad fact that this generation is the first not to have the life expectancy of their parents is part and parcel to this.  There is good news however in that one statistic states that the more education people had the less likely they were to be heavy, so let’s all focus on educating ourselves and our children.  Improving children’s health by teaching them to eat better is critical to academic success as well.

BROWN BAG

As parents, we start out the school year with a vow to make more creative, healthier lunches only to have, by mid-December, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches three times a week. This year let’s try something new; involve your child in the creation of their lunches. If they are part of this process, their lunches are more likely to be eaten. Sit down with your child and create a menu. Do try to change your menus seasonally and if possible, purchase organic foods when you can. Here are some ideas for you.

Sample Menus:

Week one

• Monday: Hummus, celery, carrot and red pepper sticks, apple

• Tuesday: Peanut or almond butter sandwich on whole grain bread, broccoli florets with dip of choice, orange slices

• Wednesday: Cold noodle salad, snow peas, and peach

• Thursday: Bean salad, red pepper slices, and apricots

• Friday: Whole grain tortilla with black beans, salsa, lettuce and cheddar cheese

Week two

• Monday: Turkey sandwich on whole grain bread with sprouts and grated carrots, jicama slices with lime juice, nectarine

• Tuesday: Diced chicken drizzled with your favorite dressing, small salad, and apple

• Wednesday: Hardboiled eggs with dip of choice, cucumber slices, red pepper strips and carrot sticks, nectarine

• Thursday: Peanut or almond butter spread on a whole grain tortilla topped with sliced bananas and honey, thinly sliced raw zucchini with dip of choice, orange slices

• Friday: Tuna mixed with chopped olives, chopped celery and mixed with Italian dressing, raw cauliflower, cherry tomatoes

Easy tips:

You need a protein source with each meal, which can be a meat protein such as chicken, turkey or fish such as tuna, or your protein can be from beans, nut butters, tofu, tempeh or eggs. Vegetables are the key to good health; so always have veggies in the lunch. A fruit included is a healthy addition and can be eaten later in the day for a sweet pick-me-up. Veggies and fruits also supply a good carbohydrate source. Healthy fats are also necessary and can be found in avocados, olive or flax oil (used in the bean salad or in the tuna salad), and nuts. Read More

Pregnancy certainly affects the lives of expectant moms and dads, but it doesn’t have to put a damper on your summer vacation plans.

Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about traveling while pregnant that we hear from pregnant women every day.

Is it safe for me to travel while pregnant? Are all forms of transportation safe?

We don’t recommend hot air balloons or camels, but most conventional modes of transportation are safe. If you have a “high risk” pregnancy or are carrying multiples, your doctor may have a different restriction date in mind, so ask him or her for recommendations tailored to your specific health profile. Here are some general guidelines:

· You can travel by plane up to your 36th week — but check individual airline policies, which may vary.

· For cruises, the last acceptable time frame is 23-27 weeks, depending on the cruise line.

· If you are going by bus, train, or driving, stay no more than 1 hour away from a hospital. Camping in a remote area, for example, is not advisable. You can travel by car right up to the end of your delivery date, but try to stay an hour away from your doctor or delivery hospital.

How can I stay healthy while pregnant and traveling? Read More

Every year, more than 4 million women give birth in the United States. That’s more than 10,000 every day, which leaves many new mothers — and their babies —feeling lost in the crowd.

In order to find a more “boutique” approach to prenatal and primary health care, a growing number of women are turning to midwives. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2005, midwives attended more than 300,000 U.S. births — and more women are seeing midwives for family planning, annual exams and for help navigating normal life transitions.

“When you decide to visit a midwife, you can expect a special kind of care. Some midwives spend up to an hour with first-time patients, and most midwives stay with women through the entire birth process,” says Cathy Collins Fulea, a certified nurse-midwife and midwife expert at www.RealSavvyMoms.com.

Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) are independent providers who care for women through all stages of life and are trained through graduate-level education to handle the majority of complications that may arise during pregnancy and birth. Most CNMs and CMs attend deliveries in hospitals, and with low rates of induction, cesarean section and episiotomy, midwives maintain an impressive safety record for both mothers and babies. Read More

Many schools have reduced or eliminated the junk food they used to offer students. That’s good news, since about a third of American children are overweight, a rate three times greater than a generation ago.

Now, experts say, it’s time for schools to take the next step by offering more nutritious foods.

“It is great that many schools are pulling junk food from vending machines, cafeteria lines and school stores,” says Rob Bisceglie, executive director of Action for Healthy Kids, a nonprofit organization that works to improve school health practices. “But switching from fried to baked chips is only part of the solution. Schools need to offer more nutritious foods.” Read More

Secondary infertility, the inability to conceive after having one or more biological children, touches the lives of more than 3 million Americans each year.

Unfortunately, many people have no idea it could affect them or their loved ones, leaving those struggling with it feeling isolated. The Centers for Disease Control states that over half of women of reproductive age who experience infertility already have one child. Alyssa S. of Kentucky experienced firsthand the fear and frustration of not being able to conceive for the second time: “Several months after the birth of our first beautiful daughter, my husband and I decided that we wanted to have another child. After a year and a half of many costly fertility treatments, we had run out of options. Flipping through a parenting magazine, I came across an inexpensive treatment that didn’t involve surgery or drugs. I ordered the Conception Kit and we became pregnant on the first try.”

In the U.S. today, several factors can affect fertility, including having children at a later age and chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity. Dr. Charles Barker, a family practice physician in Michigan, explains: “Secondary infertility is more common than many people think — previous births and cesarean sections can affect the position of the woman’s cervix, making it more difficult to conceive later on. In many cases, couples can improve their chance of conceiving again by following some basic nutritional and behavioral advice. Living a healthy and fertile lifestyle in combination with the use of a simple at-home conception kit can help you get pregnant.” Read More

There are a number of simple ways by which parents can help keep their children’s teeth healthy. Yet the rate of cavities in baby teeth is on the rise, according to the most recent report on the topic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, over one-fourth of children 2 to 5 years old have cavities.

Dentists point to several contributing factors, including increased consumption of juices and soda. And while baby teeth will eventually wind up with the Tooth Fairy, cleaning the teeth and gums at an early age helps develop healthy habits for a lifetime of beautiful smiles.

Here are a number of tips for keeping their smiles healthy:

• Select a toothbrush with soft bristles.

• Encourage your toddler to engage in brushing his teeth twice a day.

• Bring along a “friend” to the bathroom sink–such as a favorite stuffed animal or doll — so the “friend” can also have his teeth brushed.

• Encourage toddlers to drink plenty of water after meals. This is especially important with toddlers who won’t allow parents to brush their teeth as often as recommended. Read More

When packing for a family vacation, don’t forget to bring a travel first aid kit and some safety common sense. Sometimes injuries happen while on vacation because families are relaxing and don’t take the precautions they normally would at home. You can create your own travel first aid kit and place the items in a plastic container to keep moisture out.

Travel First Aid Kit Checklist:

▪ Acetaminophen such as Tylenol or ibuprofen such as Advil for mild aches, pains and fever

▪ Non-stick bandages, gauze, tape and antibiotic ointment for cuts and blisters

▪ Eye wash for dust and other irritations in the eye, and ear wash for swimmer’s ear

▪ Antihistamines such as Benedryl for airborne allergies and itchy rashes

▪ First aid tools such as tweezers and a small pair of scissors

▪ Your child’s prescription medication

Since summer involves activities in the sun, parents should protect children from overexposure to the sun and avoid serious sunburn. Read More