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It is such a simple solution—the fact that it works may surprise many—a five-minute conversation between a health care provider and a parent during their baby’s 9-month checkup increases the likelihood of bottle-weaning. Why is this important? Because prolonged bottle-feeding (beyond 15 to 18 months) has been shown to increase a child’s risk for iron deficiency—a condition that is common in children whose diet is primarily milk rather than a wide variety of healthy foods. And bedtime bottle use also increases the risk of tooth decay—another reason for why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends complete bottle weaning around 12…

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation, there are more than 11 million U.S. children under the age of 5 who are in some sort of child care arrangement. The majority of those not being cared for by a relative are in settings where, unfortunately, germs do run rampant. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the risk of spreading infectious diseases exists in child care settings, especially among infants and toddlers who are most likely to share germs through putting toys in their mouths. In fact, most children in child care and school settings…

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The lack of adequate, restful sleep can affect your child’s mood, behavior, health, memory, and growth. If there is anything standing in the way of a good night’s sleep it’s important to address the issue and solve the problem. Following is a list of typical sleep disrupters and possible solutions.

Nightmares
Children spend more time dreaming than adults do, so they have more dreams—both good and bad. After a nightmare saying “It was just a dream” doesn’t explain what they experienced—after all, most kids believe that the tooth fairy and Big Bird are real, too. After a nightmare, offer comfort just as you…

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If you are able to enjoy fresh, local produce at a farmer’s market this summer, consider yourself lucky.

According to The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation’s State Health Facts, 23 states have less than 2 markets per 100,000 people. And only 1 out of 5 middle and high schools offer fruits and vegetables as “competitive foods,” or foods sold outside of school meal programs, like in vending machines, school stores, or snack bars. That fact is based on data from 27 states, which means the number of schools that offer such choices is actually less than 1 in 5.

The State Health…

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Pass the peanuts may soon be passé if opponents of peanuts on airplanes have their way. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is considering banning peanuts on airplanes, and has given the public until August 6, 2010 to comment on the ban. But the DOT cautions that without scientific proof of severe allergic reactions to the tiny peanut particles that might be present on a plane, it cannot implement a ban.

Although peanut allergy is thought to be among the most serious food allergies, the overall prevalence of food allergies is unclear—so too are strategies for their diagnosis and management. The National Institute of…

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Two new Pediatrics studies share disturbing information: there are increasing instances of young children swallowing batteries—especially 20mm-diameter lithium cell batteries found in remote controls.

What’s the big deal you might ask? You probably swallowed a quarter or two as a kid. I’m pretty sure my son ate a Band-Aid. But small batteries are not nearly so benign.

There are serious—even fatal—consequences to ingesting button batteries, which can lodge in the esophagus (the tube that carries food to the stomach) and cause severe tissue damage within just two hours. Even after the button-sized battery is removed delayed complications can occur including a hole in…

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I’ve heard it from my own husband and other fathers: when it comes to discussions of parenthood, dads are routinely left out, even though they are experiencing many of the same things as moms.

In the early days, dads are just as confused, intimidated, elated, anxious, and sleep-deprived. They have that same moment of clarity of realizing that parenting is little more than winging it. They understand that brand-new and fierce instinct to protect and nurture at all costs.

Here, dads from around the world share their views on birth, surprises, and lessons from their smallest teachers.

Making introductions
“My son was born…

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Ignorance is bliss. Or so they say. Remember the good old days, when you didn’t worry about what your baby’s bottle was made from? Glass, plastic…it didn’t seem to make a difference other than the look, feel, and style. That all changed in 2008, when the National Toxicology Program released its report on bisphenol A (commonly known as BPA), a chemical found in plastics. At that time, the government agency stated a series of concerns about the chemical used in many plastic food containers, including baby bottles. Among those concerns was that human exposure to BPA could cause brain, behavior,…

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In May, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved a new federal safety standard for infant bath seats. This is the first mandatory standard for infant and toddler products issued by the CPSC as required under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

Intended for use in sinks and tubs, infant bath seats provide front and back support for babies 5 to 10 months of age. Since 1983, infant bath seats have been implicated in 174 deaths and 300 serious injuries, many due to babies being left unattended.

In a warning to parents, the CPSC cautioned, “Young children can drown quickly, even…

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Why is television so appealing to toddlers? Whether it’s the bright lights or the colorful shapes, it’s almost like my 14-month-old son is transfixed with the tube the minute I turn it on. Though it’s tempting to spend a few minutes in the kitchen while the TV acts as babysitter, I just can’t do it.

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Like most of you, I know that television is bad for babies and may stunt their intellectual development. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) discourages any TV watching for children under the age of 2. In 2008, Dimitri Christakis, M.D., with the Seattle Children’s Research…

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My stomach was full, but food remained on my plate. It’s not that I hated hot dogs and sauerkraut, but the portion before me was more than my 8-year-old stomach could hold.

I grew up in the post depression, post-war 1950s—a time when food security was highly valued. As children, six in all, our parents encouraged us to be members of the ‘Clean Plate Club,’ and we were aptly rewarded for eating everything on our plates at mealtime. What wasn’t consumed was placed (plate and all) on top of the refrigerator. No dessert (or other foods), until that plate was…

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The fact that Americans are eating too much salt is hardly breaking news. Though the average adult should be consuming between 1,500 and 2,300 milligrams per day, daily sodium intake for most Americans is well over 3,000 milligrams.  What is new news is that several well-known health organizations, including the U.S. Institute of Medicine, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the World Health Organization, among others, have recently called on either the government or the food companies themselves to begin lowering levels of salt in processed and restaurant foods.

And…

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