Before there was an embryo, there were an egg and a sperm, collectively called gametes. And before the gametes, there were germ cells. The pathway from germ cells to gametes to embryo is long and complicated and occurs only in the human reproductive organs. Or at least it used to.

There have been previous similar claims of artificially creating gametes in the lab. Some claims had some degree of credibility. Some were simply hoaxes.

If you remember, just a few months ago, British researchers from the University of Newcastle claimed they did it first. However, their report published in the journal Stem Cells Development was later retracted due to plagiarism claims so that their claim to be “first” is currently still unsubstantiated.

Well, the latest claim to achieve this feat is coming from no less than researchers of Stanford, an educational institution of impeccable reputation. And the fact that the results have been published in no other than the highly esteemed science journal Nature tells us – this is really it.

The Stanford researchers developed a technique to isolate germ cells from embryonic stem cells. However, they went further and induced the germ cells to give up half of their chromosomes in the process called meiosis. Eureka! The first “lab-made” sperms are here. OK, so they were actually only spermatids, i.e. immature sperms.

But hey, can you imagine the controversy this latest development triggered? If sperm (and eventually eggs) can be made in the lab, the next logical step is to use these lab-made gametes in IVF. This is definitely taking the “test tube baby” one step further. Is this the start of the eugenics era?

However, the researchers claim they have different intentions and site the following benefits that may come out of this discovery:

• Learn more about the earliest stages of human development

• Understand inherited diseases better

• Find treatments for infertility

Understandably, there are those are not too happy about such scientific advancements. Those who object would probably base their objections on the following:

• The use of embryonic stem cells.

• The act of playing God, trying to make human beings in the lab.

Some scientists, however, dismiss these objections as groundless and irrelevant. According to a Bioethics professor:

“It seems to me this is one of those examples where people are groping around for a problem and there literally isn’t one.”

So how do you feel when you hear about such developments? Outraged? Scared? Skeptical? Or fascinated?

Road traffic safety and prematurity are just a few of the many interesting health-related events going on in November. However, I’ve prepared a short list focusing on family health.

GLOBAL EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES

• November 14 is World Diabetes Day

• November 16 is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

• November 19 to 20 is the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety

• November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

US EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES

• November is American Diabetes Month
  by the American Diabetes Association

• November is National Adoption Month
  by the Child Welfare Information Gateway
  “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent”

• November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
  by the Alzheimer’s Association

• November is National Family Caregivers Month
  by the National Family Caregivers Association

• November 18 is Prematurity Awareness Dayby the March of Dimes Foundation

• November 6 to 8 is the Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Movement Weekend and half marathon/5K race
  by the Gynecological Cancer Foundation’s (GCF)

• November 19 is the Great American Smokeout
  by the American Cancer Society

HEALTH WEB CHATS AT CLEVELAND CLINIC

Check out the online health chats with Cleveland Clinic’s health experts. It’s free.

• November 6: Facelifts with Dr. James E. Zins

• November 9: International Adoption Right For You? with Dr. Elaine Schulte

• November 11: Congenital Heart Disease in Children, with Dr.Constantine Mavroudis

• November 13: Ask the Expert: Menopause: Ready or Not!, with Dr. Holly L. Thacker

• November 19: Are You Concerned About Your Baby’s Motor Development?, with Ann Marie Pace, MPT and Merri Jo Somodi, PT

School had already started here in Switzerland when the ‘walk to school’ debate started in the US in September this year. It was partly initiated by an article in the New York Times ‘Why can’t she walk to school?’ The story featured a mother who let her 7-year old girl, a second grader in upstate New York walk a block and half to school. Friends, neighbors, and families were just horrified at this apparent “lack of judgment” on the part of the mother.

In the part of the world where I live in, walking to school is the norm rather than the exception, and moms who chauffeur their kids to school, the so-called Mama-Taxis, are considered a traffic hazard frowned upon by school authorities, traffic officers, and other parents.

Why Parents are Afraid

Walking alone, even in familiar territory, presents danger to little children. The story of Little Red Riding has been our guiding lesson at a very young age. Kidnapping, pedophilia, bullying, and traffic accidents are just a few of the reason why parents would practically delivery their children right at the school doorstep and pick them up the same way. We’ve all heard the horror stories over the years of abductions and murders that have occurred.

However, because of these fears, parents would, according to the NYT, watch over their kids with unhealthy paranoia. Examples of these behaviors are:

• Parents and children sit in their cars at the end of the driveways to wait for the school bus.

• School buses are fitted with surveillance cameras.

• Parents drive to school with their kids’ names on the dashboard and children are individually escorted out by a school staff.

• People who see kids walk to school alone call the authorities.

• Parents who let their kids walk to school alone are reprimanded and are threatened to be charged with child endangerment.

What are the Benefits of Kids Walking to School?

• Walking to school builds character - It’s my kids’ way to independence.

• Walking prepares kids to navigate the world – Some experts believe that children who are chauffeured to and from school are not prepared to navigate the outside world.

• Walking is healthy – Lack of physical exercise is one of the major factors that contribute to chronic health problems and obesity in children these days. Walking to school give kids the chance to get physical exercise, get some fresh air and sunshine.

• Walking is cheaper and environmentally friendly – Gasoline  is expensive and driving adds to air pollution. According to the traffic officer, a lot of traffic accidents involving children happen because of the traffic hazards presented by Mama-Taxis.

With these things in mind, I give some tips as to how I got my kids ready for walking to school.

Make sure your child is ready -I rehearsed with my kids several times before school started. On the way to school, they have to cross the main street which is usually manned by 2 traffic guards during school days. However, they have to learn to cross on their own, just in case the guards aren’t around. If your child doesn’t feel too secure about walking alone, then walk with him or her until she gains confidence.

Choose the safest way – The safest way is not necessarily the shortest way. I showed my kids to take a way where they aren’t exposed too much to vehicular traffic. However, I did check it out several times, paying attention to hazards such as steps, dogs, water, insufficient street lighting etc. that they might encounter along the way.

Once they grow older and more street wise, I’m sure they’d take the shorter route. But that’s years away from now.

There is safety in numbers – I always emphasize this to my twin boys. They go to separate classes but they have similar schedules and the rule is: wait for each other. It is advisable that your child walks with other children even if it means making a detour. Talk to other moms and pool your kids together.

Leave the wheels at home – Bicycles, skates, and scooters, leave them at home until the kids are old enough. The safest way to get to school is walking, even though it may not be the fastest.

Make your child as visible as possible to motorists – Reflectors on jackets and school bags make children more visible to drivers. Kindergarten kids in Switzerland are required to walk the streets with some sort of reflector vests.

Do spot checks – I have to admit it. I spied on my kids during the first few weeks of school just to make sure they are alright. I also try to observe their behavior while walking. Are they being careful? I have stopped spying on them since but I do spot checks from time to time and tell them ‘I just happened to be nearby.’

Let go. And don’t feel guilty – I know a lady who’s been waging a battle for the last couple of years against her daughter, her daughter’s teachers, and her fears. She was traumatized as a child when she witnessed a friend fatally ran over by a car on the way to school. I can imagine how difficult it is for her to let go and let her daughter walk to school alone. But we cannot protect our kids forever. And we shouldn’t make our fears their fears. We have to let go at some stage, and we shouldn’t be feeling guilty either.

Oh no! Not another Halloween warning to dampen our spirits. Every year, we parents are faced with the choice of locking our kids in (thus protecting them from harm) or letting them out and enjoy childhood for a little bit longer. Mrs H’s Halloween Safety Tips just about said it all.

Now, there’s nothing like face paint to make Halloween or any kiddie party for that matter, fun and festive. From the shimmering to the neon, to the glowing-in-the dark colors, most parents have used face paints on their little ones.

Beware of Halloween Face Paint

Then comes this warning from no less than the US FDA itself. Was it only yesterday that we were advised to use face paints instead of masks? Masks can obscure child’s vision and can present choking or asphyxiation hazards. Now, we have to take care which face paints to use.

Why To Be Cautious When Using Face Paint

Face paints may contain toxic or irritating substances that can trigger allergic reactions. Some have been reported to contain lead and mercury. Reported adverse effects of the paints on the skin areas it was applied to are:

• Rashes

• Itchiness

• Burning Sensation

• Swelling

So which will it be, mask or face paint?

Well, luckily the US FDA gives some recommendations regarding the safe use of face paints. So before you do a Spiderman or princess masterpiece on your child’s face, please read the following:

• Use only paint or make up that is intended for the skin.

• Check for allergies before extensive use by doing a patch test before the big day.

• Avoid applying paint around and close to the eyes, especially fluorescent (neon) and luminescent (glow in the dark) colors. The fluorescent colors (D&C Orange No. 5, No. 10, and No. 11; D&C Red No. 21, No. 22, No. 27 and No. 28; and D&C Yellow No. 7) should especially be avoided near the eyes.

• Follow application instructions carefully.

• Read the labels and check the ingredients. Watch out for colors not approved by the US FDA. Colors approved for cosmetic use are listed on the FDA site.

• Use newly purchased products. Paints already opened and previously used may be contaminated.

• Watch out for recalled products. In May of this year, the FDA advised consumers of several types of children’s face paint recalled by Fun Express. Check out the list of products here and here.

• Remove the paint thoroughly after all the fun is over. Don’t sleep with paint or make up on. Follow removal instructions on the product labels.

Halloween is a fun holiday! With a little caution and awareness from parents, it can stay that way.

The flu, especially the swine flu is making headlines everyday and I deemed it wise to give you the latest flu updates that may be relevant for you and your family.

Swine Flu Shots in New York Schools

Schools in New York City will start offering H1N1 shots end of October, the NY Times report. Those of you residing in NYC might already have received the consent forms. The vaccination will cover primary public schools but private schools who want to participate will also get access to the vaccine. The shots or nasal sprays will be administered by school nurses. Middle and high schools are scheduled later in November and December. Other cities and states are expected to follow suit.

Pregnant Women Urged to Get the H1N1 flu Vaccine

Pregnant women are on top of the H1N1 vaccination priority list. This is because pregnant women seem to be especially vulnerable. Health authorities say that the mortality rate among women infected with H1N1 is six times higher than what is normally observed in the general population. The reasons for pregnant women’s vulnerability are their young age and an immune system that is naturally weakened in order not to reject the growing fetus. It is, however, very hard for pregnant women to accept the flu vaccine despite health official’s reassurances of its safety. So far, 28 deaths have been reported among pregnant women in the US but health officials think it could be more. Many cases go unreported for confidentiality reasons. An NY Times report features one almost fatal case.

Tamiflu for Children in Short Supply

In another report from the NY Times earlier this month, Mary Poppin’s advice that a spoonful of sugar would make medicine more palatable may also be true for the flu drug Tamiflu. The liquid pediatric version of the drug is in short supply as drug companies are concentrating on producing more pills which are definitely much faster to manufacture than Tamiflu syrup. Some sources say that the manufacturing process for the suspension is almost 25 times longer than for the pills. Pharmacists are therefore advised to mix Tamiflu capsules in a liquid that consists of sugar, purified water, artificial cherry flavoring. The instructions on how to mix the liquid version are given in the Tamiflu labels, the report says. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also gives easy to understand instructions in their site.

Flu Fears Prompt Review of the Sportsman Handshake

The hockey season has started and sports associations are scrambling to come up with hygiene guidelines that would hopeful prevent the swine flu. CBC reports that the chief medical officer of Hockey Canada sent out a bulletin with recommended precautionary measures which include no sharing of water bottles and – yes – maybe even do without the end-of-game handshake. It’s not only hockey that is affected. I am a soccer mom here in Switzerland and as early as school start in August, there were already instructions to avoid the sportsmen handshake, if possible. Just one more challenge for parents to find the balance between short-term preventive measure and long-term character building. At least hockey players wear gloves…

Fourteen years is a long time. In this period of time, many of us have:

• upgraded our cell phone, computer hardware, and software several times.

• gotten married, delivered babies and have raised them up to puberty.

• moved into the digital age, set up our blogs, and expanded our social media.

• updated our knowledge of parenting, the environment, and nutrition.

In the meantime, obesity has become an epidemic, even among children, and smoking bans are in place almost everywhere. Very few things have remained unchanged during the last 14 years. And one of them is the US Nutrition Standards and Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). No kidding! The standards have been in place in 1995 and haven’t been updated ever since.

In July this year, Joan Blades of MomsRising.org challenged moms to take the following test

Which of the following is considered a junk food according to national school nutrition standards?

• A. Hi-C Blast – vitamin fortified sugar water

• B. Poland Springs seltzer water – water with bubbles

• C. French fries

• D. Candy Bars

I am sure most, if not all of us, got it wrong by just using our common sense. The correct answer is – brace yourself – B water. No, this isn’t a joke. Based on the current nutritional standards, it is the only item on the list that does not contain any vitamins or minerals. If you think this is all rubbish, then you are not alone. In fact, MomsRising prepared a petition to the Congress to “update outdated nutrition standards immediately to ensure our schools provide healthy food for our children.”

It seems that their prayers have been answered. Earlier this week, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released the report School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children which reviewed the NSLP as well as the US School Breakfast Program (SBP). And on top of the list of the IOM recommendations are: more fruits and vegetables! The recommendations are aiming to be consistent with 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans set by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA). In general terms, the IOM committee advise to take the following into consideration in menu planning:

• increase the amount and variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

• set a minimum and maximum level of calories.

• increase the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat and sodium provided.

Here’s what the changes, if ever implemented will bring:

• An increase in the amount of fruit offered in school breakfast to 1 cup per day for all students

• An increase in the amount of fruit offered in school lunch to 1 cup per day for students in grades 9-12

• An increase in the amount of vegetables offered in school lunch to ¾ cup per day for grades K-8 and to 1 cup per day for grades 9-12

• An acknowledgment that improving the nutritional value of school meals by increasing servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains will increase the cost of breakfast by 25% and lunch by 9%

• A requirement that students take at least one serving of fruit at breakfast and at least one serving of fruit or vegetable at lunch.

• A reduction in sweetened beverages to be replaced by water, low-fat or nonfat milk, and unsweetened fruit juices.

With these recommendations, the answer to the above question completely changes. In fact, our common sense was right in the first place. Let’s hope it won’t take another 14 years for the recommendations to be implemented…

The IOM report comes in a timely manner. Oct 5 was National Child Health Day and Oct 12 to 16 was National School Lunch Week.

Not Bright Enough to Marry?

For 17-year old Kerry Robertson, what stands in her way to marriage and motherhood is her learning disabilities. Social workers already canceled her wedding to her 25-year old fiance Mark McDougall 2 days before the church ceremony. The Fife Council where Robertson lives feels that her learning disabilities render her incapable of understanding the institution of matrimony. Under such circumstances, according to Scottish Law, authorities have the right to refuse sanctioning a marriage. Her age is not a factor here because the minimum legal age for getting married is the UK is 16. Although some places require written consent from guardians of those under 18, this is not the case in Scotland where Robertson lives. Besides, Robertson’s guardian is her grandmother who doesn’t oppose the nuptials.

Not Bright Enough to be a Mother?

Robertson’s lack of mental capacity to comprehend marriage also extends to her understanding of motherhood, the authorities say. She won’t therefore be allowed to keep her baby boy after her delivery in January next year as she lacks the mental capacity to take of the baby. What about the father of the child? He, too, is not deemed eligible to keep the baby boy because he’s not legally married to Robertson in the first place.

Social Legislation Gone Awry?

To be fair, social legislations are in place to protect those who need protection. But how far should the authorities meddle in people’s affairs on the grounds of benevolence and protection?

In halting the marriage, the social services feel they are protecting Robertson from getting into something that she might do her more harm than good, something she might regret later. Well, tell that to millions of people who entered matrimony and got out again, many via messy divorces.

In taking away the baby from his mother, the social services feel they are protecting the baby. The baby will be placed in an institution and put up for adoption. Would the social institution prove to be a better alternative to a mother who wants and loves him?

What’s Social Services Have to Say?

The authorities say they cannot divulge all the details that made them reach their decisions for confidentiality reasons. However, according to a spokesperson, they try to “balance risk and welfare while supporting people at times of personal or family need.” Platitude or genuine concern?

What the Couple Has to Say

According to Robertson and her fiance, Robertson’s learning disabilities are “mild”. She can read and write and she is “loving and caring” and “enjoys being pregnant. They already named the unborn baby boy Ben.

Social Services Mean Well But…

We may never know everything about this affair or hear what the full truth from both sides. But we know for sure that this isn’t the first time nor last time that social services or child protection authorities interfere with people’s lives for the “right” reasons. In most cases they succeed. Think about how many children are rescued from their abusive parents each year. But in some cases they fail.

Take the following cases:

• A teenager who committed sexual offenses was placed by social services in a foster family in Wales who wasn’t informed of his personal history. He sexually abused the family’s two young children. In protecting the teenage boy, social services failed to protect the foster family.

• In the US, a 5-year old girl and her younger sister were taken away from their birth mother and placed in a foster family. The 5-year old was found dead in the foster family’s cellar. She was restrained in a high chair with duct tape and died of asphyxiation. The foster mother was a respected case worker at Maine Department of Human Services.

• More painful is the plight of Australia’s stolen generation wherein aborigine children were taken away from their parents to be raised in a “civilized” way.

Do you think social services have the right to stop Robertson’s marriage?

To take away the baby from parents who want him?

BPA in baby bottles, phthalates in baby sunscreen, melamine in baby formula, lead in baby toys. What are parents supposed to keep their baby healthy? Move to a desert island and live like Swiss family Robinson? Buy your own organic farm? Unfortunately, these options are not feasible for most of us.

Matilda is a very lucky little girl. Instead of giving in to panic or resignation, her parents did extensive research about the products they used on her, from her cloth diapers to her eczema remedy. And what’s more they’re nice enough to share their findings with other parents in their website Squeaky Clean Tot. The site is user and family-friendly and is a great platform to get shared information about baby products, household cleaning products, home remedies, you name it. Truly a site made by parents for parents.

Here’s what you can do Squeaky Clean Tot:

Rate and Review
Who can better rate a product than the firsthand consumers themselves? Say what you think and tell what you know about products. Whether it’s a sippie cup or a silicone pacifier, a stroller or a dishwashing liquid, you can vent your frustrations or sing your praises about the products you’ve encountered as a parent. Just remember to be fair.

Get and Search for Info
Before buying or using something new, you can read about other parents’ experience and opinion of different types of products. If what you are looking for is not on the list of reviewed products, email Matilda’s parents and they will try to get the information for you.

Give Suggestions
I’ve lost count of the number of products I’ve used on my babies but they reach into the hundreds. The site also welcomes suggestions and ideas from other parents to make the list of products reviewed as complete as possible.

Other resources

• The site includes links to useful sites including Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database of the Environmental Working Group which look at body care products for babies and the whole family.
• Matilda’s mom is a firm believer of cloth diapering and in this Cloth diapering resources section, she specially reviews makers and retailers and different types of cloth diapers and wipes.
• There are also links to organic product sites and other family-friendly sites.

October 20 is the deadline for joining the website launch competition. The giveaway grand prize is a Squeaky Clean Tot gift pack (see the front page for more information).

Another high profile adoption case, another celebrity runs into adoption problems due to certain legislation. This time it’s the British rock singer songwriter Elton John who is having problems. John met 14-month old Lev during an AIDS charity foundation trip in the Ukraine. While visiting an orphanage specially set up for HIV- positive children John fell in love with the boy and decided to adopt him. Unfortunately, according to Ukrainian law, John is not eligible to be an adoptive parent. As we know, John is not the first celebrity to run into problems when it comes to adoption.

So what are the reasons that could stand in the way of adoption?

Parental consent

Lev is not an orphan. His mom Marina is a still alive but was deemed incapable of taking care of her and another older sibling because she, too, is HIV positive and has an alcohol problem. Marina declares she is determined to get her life together and get Lev back.

Madonna’s first adoptive child David also wasn’t an orphan. He still has a father who unfortunately, couldn’t, provide for him. The pop star was severely criticized for taking the boy away from his family and homeland.

Marital status

It is not Lev’s mom that stands in the way of John’s adoption plans. It’s his marital status.  Adoptive parents must be married. John is married to his partner David Furnish. Ukrainian law, however, doesn’t recognize same sex marriages.

The Puerto Rican star Ricky Martin reportedly also considered adoption but resorted to surrogacy to avoid the legal hassles due to his single status. Martin is the father of fraternal twin boys Mateo and Valentino.

In fact, many countries do not consider single parents, male or female.

Age

In addition to his unacceptable married status, Ukrainian officials also think John is too old (he is 62) to be an adoptive father. The maximum age limit for adoption in the country is reported to be 45. In some countries it is 60. If there is a maximum age limit, there is also a minimum age limit. In many countries, people under the age of 35 are not eligible to adopt.

Residency

Many countries only allow residents to adopt. Madonna made headlines earlier this year in her efforts to adopt 3-year old Mercy from Malawi. She was denied the right to adopt due to her non-residency status. She eventually won after an appeal.

Health status

Many countries also consider health status of adoptive parents (local or foreign) a major criterion for giving approval. There have been cases of court rulings against adoptive parents who are overweight or obese. A complete medical history may be required from prospective parents.

Other criteria

Aside from the aforementioned criteria, criminal records, financial status, and psychological readiness are also taken into consideration. Rightly so, for the welfare of the adoptive child.

What are the options?

Some celebrities may opt for surrogacy. Other Rumors have it that John and Furnish are considering adopting a child from another country with less restrictions but this still has to be confirmed.

It is advisable for those who plan to adopt to check the adoption laws, whether locally or foreign, before making a decision. This will avoid legal hassles, disappointment, or even heart break.

I used to be an office-based working mom. Currently I am a work at home mom (wahm), which unfortunately, many people don’t take seriously as work. But I am a working mom and my kids are at a childcare facility while I am typing this on my home computer.

It is with trepidation that I present the results of a study here that will surely illicit strong reactions from other working moms out there, reactions that may probably range from outrage, defensiveness, to guilt.

Kids of Working Moms Are Less Healthy

It’s true, according to a study reported by MSNBC. British researchers looked at 12,500 children aged 9 months to 5 years and analyzed their dietary habits and physical activity. The results showed that kids of working moms, regardless of their race, maternal education, job level or whether they are working full time or part-time, are less healthy. For example, they are more likely to eat junk food and spend more time in front of the TV or the computer. In addition, they are more likely to be driven to school and snack on chips and sweetened drinks. The researchers put the blame on the time constraints of working moms.

Now, before we overreact and blast the researchers for their bias against working women, let’s take a deep breath and look at ourselves and our family whether there is any truth to their findings. And if your first thought would be “I don’t have time for this,” then they’re right.¨

I suggest that we take the results of the study as a constructive criticism and an opportunity to check out our current lifestyle. There is a lot that we can do and here are my suggestions:

What’s in the Fridge?

If there’s no or very little produce in your fridge or in your pantry, then you have to rethink your family’s dietary habits. There are fresh produce that keeps long and this includes tomatoes, cucumber, bananas capsicum, and apples. Incorporate these into your shopping list and weekly menus.

What’s in Your Child’s Lunchbox?

If there are only potato chips, cookies or peanut butter sandwiches in there, then there’s something missing. An apple or a banana would be a health addition. Apples are especially great – they keep, they are sturdy, and can fit in a pocket. Choose the sweet varieties such as gala, pink lady or golden delicious.

Junk Food

Another British study reported that people who consume too much sweets as children have a tendency towards aggression in adulthood. So why do some of us keep buying junk food for our family against our better judgement? Some suggest it may be guilt, that those treats are our way of saying sorry for not spending enough time with our kids. Some people think if they don’t get it at home, they’ll get it somewhere else. In a previous post, I’ve listed some tips on children’s nutrition.

Communicate With Your Child.

How did his/her day go? If it’s just all about TV shows or video games, then it’s time to look for alternatives. What about a sports club? Soccer and tennis camps during the holidays? Active family outings on the weekends? Don’t wait until your child becomes overweight. The earlier they start the better.

Childcare

It is not easy to find the perfect childcare provider but we should make the effort to monitor what kind of care is being provided. My twin boys started at a daycare at 12 months, preschool-daycare at 3 years. Now at 1st grade, they attend after school childcare provided by our town. In other words, I’ve had experience about checking out childcare facilities. I, for one, wouldn’t go for a daycare with a TV set. I talk to the caregivers about the daily activities and compare their version with my child’s version. It’s not that I don’t trust them. I simply want to know whether I am getting my money’s worth. Yes, I pay for childcare and I make sure that as the customer, my child gets what he/she needs in terms of healthy food and physical exercise. The same goes if you have a nanny or a babysitter coming in. I am not saying you have to install a nanny cam at home but if we need crosschecks at work, there should also be some at home.

Some of us may not have the means to pay for childcare. A family member such as grandma or aunt might have to pitch in to help with the child care. Check their dietary and exercise habits. Talk to them about nutrition and health. A healthy child needs a healthy caregiver.

Look Within

Your diet and physical activity level reflects that of your family. What you eat at breakfast and at suppertime, your children eat. You are their role model and they learn your good and bad habits. A workout or a run is a great way to wind down. But how do you include your children into your adult exercise routine? Do cycling or inline skating together. I am not keen on both so my kids do either why I jog along side. It helps me keep up my pace. Check out Mrs.H’s list of habits of a healthy family.

I know that as working moms, we are juggling too many things at the same time: motherhood, job, marriage. It is difficult to be a career woman and the perfect mom at the same time. But hey, it’s not about being perfect that counts. It’s about being happy and healthy.

It used to be said that a mom is always sure it’s her child but a man’s paternity can always be questioned. Not anymore.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of embryos are implanted into women’s wombs during in vitro fertilization (IVF). What are the chances that an embryo is implanted in a womb where it isn’t supposed to be? No, this is not something out of Private Practice. It happened before and it has happened again.

According to this CNN report, when the couple Carolyn and Sean Savage got a phone call informing them of the mistake after implantation, shock is a poor word to describe their feelings. It is not only about the “strange” embryo that is growing in Caroline’s uterus that concerns them. In fact, there are many things one has to consider when one is involved in embryo mix up situation.

Health and Future Pregnancy

If you were the one who is carrying the embryo, how would this pregnancy affect your health? Does it put you at risk for pregnancy complications? Does it jeopardize your chances of getting pregnant again? And as the DNA mom, are you willing to wait out this pregnancy until you try for the next one? Is your age a determining factor?

After going through miscarriages, several failed IVF cycles, health problems and difficult pregnancies, this could be Carolyn’s last chance to have another child. In fact, the doctor has advised Carolyn from getting pregnant again.

Religious Beliefs and Convictions

In cases of mix ups, a termination of the pregnancy is a very likely outcome. How would you feel about an abortion if you were the DNA-mother? If you were the accidental surrogate mother?

Carolyn and Sean, due to their religious beliefs, strongly believe in human life in the embryos. Carolyn is not willing to terminate this pregnancy. To complicate things, the couple still had 5 frozen embryos left over from IVF which they are not willing to destroy or leave frozen forever. They are now looking at surrogacy options for these embryos.

Unintended Surrogacy

What is your attitude towards surrogacy? How would you feel if you became a surrogate mother unintentionally? Would you treat this pregnancy the same way as any other normal pregnancy? A clinic in Wales accidentally implanted the last of a couple’s embryo in another woman. The unwilling surrogate mom decided to terminate the pregnancy and the couple was left with nothing.

Isn’t it ironic that Carolyn and Sean are looking for a surrogate mother for their embryos when Carolyn herself has become an unintentional surrogate mother to somebody else’s embryo?

Custody

Whose child is it? In 1993, a white couple in Australia gave birth to black twin babies after going through IVF. At that time, according to the Australian Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, a woman delivered the child, even if it is not through genetically hers, is the “legal mother”. Paternity, however, is “open to legal interpretation.” In another mix up case in 2004, an American woman who got implanted with the wrong embryo was sued by the DNA parents for custody after delivery. Laws change but still vary from country to country or even from state to state in the US.

Carolyn is the biological or womb mother but she is not the DNA mother of the child. It is not clear how the law will decide when it comes to a custody battle. Fortunately for the DNA, Carolyn, again due to her strong religious principles, will never put a claim to a child that is not hers despite the ordeal she has to go through. Both sets of parents are talking to each other to find a solution. After all, this was none of their fault. Nor it was that of the unborn child.

Bonding

Mother-child bonding starts at the womb. Will you be able to give up a baby after carrying it for 9 months in your womb? Surrogate moms can do this but Carolyn is not just any surrogate mom. She really wanted, fought for, and risked a lot for this pregnancy.

In the current case, will the DNA mom bond with her baby? She, too, wanted to be pregnant and now she has been denied of the privilege (at least this time around) of carrying her baby in her womb.

Nowadays, mix ups are discovered before delivery. In case of the Australian couple, and another reported case in the Netherlands, they only found out about the mistake at birth. The blow in these cases is much harder since mom and baby have already strongly bonded for 9 months without any doubts about their relationship.

This is not the first case of embryo mix ups. According to American Fertility Association experts, the odds of this happening are 1 in a million, mainly due to human error.

So what would you do if you were involved in an embryo mix-up?

After a slow summer, autumn brings us lots of health-related events in the form of awareness campaigns, observances as well as podcasts and webchats. Once again, I’ve compiled a list which I think might be interesting to out BOL readers.

EVENTS ABOUT CHILDREN’S HEALTH

• October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
  National Down Syndrome Society

• October is National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
  Spina Bifida Association
  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month
  First Candle/SIDS Alliance

• October 5 is National Child Health Day
  Maternal and Child Health Bureau
  Health Resources and Services Administration
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• October 12 to 16 is National School Lunch Week
  School Nutrition Association

EVENTS ABOUT MOM’S HEALTH

• October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Board of Sponsors

• October 13 is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
  Metastatic Breast Cancer Network

• October 14 to 17 is NPWH 12th Annual Premier Women’s HealthCare Conference
  Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health

EVENTS ON FAMILY SAFETY

• October is Eye Injury Prevention Month
  American Academy of Ophthalmology

• October is Halloween Safety Month
  Prevent Blindness America

• October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
  Domestic Violence Awareness Project
  National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

• October 4 to 10 is Fire Prevention Week
  National Fire Protection Association

• October 5 to 11 is Get Smart About Antibiotics Week
  Division of Bacterial Diseases
  National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• October 14 is Stop America’s Violence Everywhere Today
  American Medical Association Alliance

ONLINE CHATS AND PODCASTS ON FAMILY HEALTH

Webchats at Cleveland Clinic

• October 15
  Are You Concerned About Your Baby’s Motor Development? by A. Pace, PT and MJ Somodi, PT

• October 16
  Breast Reconstruction hosted by Risal Djohan, MD

• October 27
  Male Infertility: Your Questions Answered by Edmund Sabanegh, MD

Available Radio Podcast at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

• Gestational Diabetes: A Guide for Pregnant Women, from September 30 on

Available Podcasts at CDC

• Snort Sniffle Sneeze: No Antibiotics Please from September 29 on

• 2009 H1N1 ACIP Vaccination Recommendations

The flu season is here and if it isn’t bad enough dealing with the threat of the seasonal flu, the H1N1 flu (aka swine flu) is also ready to add its virulence to autumn-winter sniffles. Mexico is already possibly seeing the second wave of H1N1 flu and it is only a matter of time till the bug again crosses the border to the rest of the Americas and the world.

Many parents with little children (including me) are on the verge of panic and are scrambling to find out how to best protect their families from the pandemic that’s almost here. Other than the options of moving to South Pole, to a remote tropical island or isolated cave, we can’t avoid being exposed to the flu. My physician told me she believes everybody will get it sooner or later and I tend to agree with her. So how do we live with the epidemic that’s hanging over our heads? Here are some tips aside from the usual wash-your-hands-and-cover-your-nose advice.

Be Informed About the Flu.

This may be an overused cliché but the “knowledge is power” adage still holds true. Inform yourself about the disease, the symptoms, and the treatment. There questions about the flu that can only be answered by gathering as much information as we can. Only then can we make “informed” choices.

Flu Prevention.

I will use another overused adage here. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And prevention is not just about washing hands. It’s about a whole lifestyle of healthy nutrition, physical fitness, and thinking positively.

Here is a list of resources on prevention which I found useful and therefore would like to share:

• 100 Healthy Hacks to Help You Through Cold & Flu Season at Online Nursing Programs

• What You Can Do to Stay Healthy at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• For those with kids in college: CDC Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009-2010 Academic Year

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) H1N1 Flu Information.

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate.

I am an advocate of immunization but I always drew the line when it came to the seasonal flu vaccine. I thought I and my family never had a need for it. But with the added threat of H1N1 flu, I have to rethink my options. To vaccinate or not to vaccinate, that’s a big question. So what do we know about the flu vaccines?

Flu Vaccination Updates:

• The US FDA approved the new batch of seasonal flu vaccines last month. It was developed from the most common strains of the previous season as well as strains isolated during the winter flu season in the southern hemisphere. It is indicated for adults and children.

• The US FDA has also approved the H1N1 flu vaccine but it is currently available for adults only. The vaccine is still being tested in children and, according to the Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is showing promise (CNN reports). If approved for pediatric use, children ages 6 months to 9 years may need 2 doses versus the single dose mean for adults and children older than 9. For those who would like to know about thimerosal, some formulations of the vaccine have it, and some not. Thimerosal is normally not present in children’s vaccines in the US.

• The AAP has recently updated it guidelines for flu vaccines. It highly recommends that children ages 6 months to 18 years old should receive the current season flu vaccine.

Know Your Family’s Susceptibility.

Children are especially susceptible because they had limited exposure to the seasonal flu. In the UK, the cases of H1N1 among children have doubled since school started a few weeks ago.

Thousands have caught the swine flu but fortunately, it is not as deadly as previously thought. There are certain sectors of the population which are more likely to develop serious symptoms and complications that can result in death.

Here are some of the latest statistics on fatal swine flu cases in children:

• As of end of August, 36 children (under 18) have died of the H1N1 flu in the US (Source: MedicalNews Today).

• The youngest victim was aged 2 months, and the oldest was 17 years.

• Five fatalities were under 2 years old and 7 were under 5 years old.

• The majority of children who died (24 out of 36) have at least one other medical condition that made them highly susceptible. These conditions include developmental delay such as cerebral palsy and chronic pulmonary problems such as asthma.

Thus, considering that there probably won’t be enough vaccines to go around, the AAP suggests that the following high-risk groups should receive the vaccine first:

• Children ages 6 months through 24 years

• Parents and caretakers of infants younger than 6 months

• Pregnant women

• Health care workers and emergency services personnel

• Adults ages 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions

Think about your family’s susceptibility. Does anybody have a serious condition that makes vaccination worth considering? Does anybody have a higher likelihood of more exposure than usual (e.g. healthcare professionals, school teachers, etc.)?

Take care of yourself.

Finally, moms, do not forget to take care of yourself. It is our jobs to look out for our families in good times and bad times and it seems that bad times may be coming. All the more reason that we should stay healthy.

Spanking then

Spanking is supposedly a thing of the past. Just a generation ago, spanking was a common form of discipline. I remember being spanked a couple of times although I don’t think that I was especially problematic as a child. I also remember, coming from a big family with 6 children, that my parents set “age limits” – when kids are too young or too old to be spanked but can’t remember the ages. I never resented my parents for the spankings as long as they were fair and consistent. It was then part of life, part of childhood. I also believe that the spanking didn’t do me any damage but some psychoanalysts think differently.

Spanking now

Spanking nowadays is looked upon as an unacceptable form of corporal punishment. Several research studies report that physical discipline damages the psyche of the child, leading to psychological problems. The new social norm as well as scientific evidence against spanking might be the reasons why I don’t spank my children. It’s not about “I don’t want you to suffer through what I did as a child.” I can’t also claim that my mom loved me less than I love my own kids.

Although the general opinion is that spanking is out, it is still quite widespread in some places and experts are still divided about its costs and benefits. Here are the pros and cons.

Spanking? No way!

Two new studies published in the journal Child Development report that children who experienced physical discipline are more likely to have behavioral problems as adolescents. Associated to the practice of physical discipline are:

• low income

• low educational attainment of the mother

• single parenthood

• family stress

• living in a dangerous neighborhood

However, conservative religious beliefs also seem to promote spanking.

One study, led by Lisa Berlin of the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University suggests (as reported by CNN) that

• Spanking reinforces negative memories.

• Spanking is linked to lower scores in mental development test in 3-year olds

• Spanking predicts aggressive behavior

What I find surprising (and appalling) about the study findings is the fact that children as young as 1 year are being spanked.

Spanking? Why not?

On the flip side, there are also studies which claim that spanking is not that bad.

Robert Larzelere, associate professor of human development and family science at Oklahoma State University based on his research claims:

• Spanking is an effective disciplinary method.

• There is no causal link between spanking and behavioral problems.

• The best use of spanking is at the ages between 2 and 6 in cases milder discipline tactics, such as time out, do not work.

Is physical discipline passed down in families?

Another study reports that current day moms are more likely to follow their own moms’ parenting practices than current day dads from their parents. The researchers looked at three parenting behaviors, namely spanking, physical affection, and reading to their children. Their results showed that moms of today tended to follow closely what their mothers did in all 3 behaviors. In the case of spanking, it is interesting to note that mommies who were spanked as child are more likely to spank their kids compared to daddies spanked as a child. In fact, there is no connection whatsoever in the parenting behavior of today’s daddies compared to their own moms behavior except in the spanking issue. And on this aspect, they moved the opposite way.

Interesting as these results maybe, I can only speak for myself if I say “No, I don’t follow my mom’s parenting style”, especially in terms of spanking and reading. But then, the circumstances were different then. My mom had less income, lower education and more children to take care of.

What I would love to know is what the next generation of parents and scientists have to say about spanking in thirty, forty years’ time…

So what do you think about spanking?

Eighteen months after giving birth to her daughter Jada, Kim Clijsters is back in the tennis circuit, fitter and better. The funny thing is, the Belgian tennis Mama, who used to be the world number 1 and winner of several titles, entered the US Open tournament without a ranking (a real wildcard) after a 2-year hiatus that included marriage (she is married to American basketball star Brian Lynch) and maternity. She is now up from nothing to 19^th in WTA rankings, beating Venus and Serena Williams to win the US Open woman’s title.

Mother and Champion?

At the beginning of the year, Clijsters was just a mom of a 1-year old toddler and a has-been tennis star. She decided to come out of retirement and return to the WTA tour in March when she went for an exhibition match in Wimbledon. The 2009 US Open is just Clijsters 3^rd tournament since her comeback in August this year.

Clijsters is 26 years old, not that young by tennis’ standards but still young enough to make it back to the top. However, going back to professional tennis after childbirth is not easy. Tell that to the likes of Chris Evert Lloyd and Lindsay Davenport. According to CBC sports, Clijsters is the first mother to win a major title in almost 30 years. The last tennis Mommy to do this was the Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley who won in Wimbledon in 1980.

Clijsters herself was not sure how she could manage things on and off court, including traveling with a baby. With this title, she proved to herself and to the world that it is possible to be a mom and a champion at the same time.

Naptimes and matches

According to Telegraph UK, part of Clijsters’ preparation for her final match was to arrange her daughter’s naptime schedule so the little one could watch her Mommy play. Sounds familiar?

This really paid off because little Jada was in real good spirits and delighted the crowd as she shared the center court (and eventually upstaged) her mom! But tennis Mama didn’t mind. She had 2 trophys – the silver cup and her daughter – and she knew which one was the most precious.

For Clijsters, it’s back to nappy changing, playdates, and naptime schedule till her next major – the Australian Open in early 2010.

Fatherhood and tennis

Fatherhood, on the other hand, never seemed to have stopped male tennis players from pursuing a career. Think of John McEnroe and Andrei Agassi. It definitely wasn’t a hurdle for Roger Federer who became “double” dad to twin girls last July although he lost the US Open finals to the Argentinian Juna Martin del Potro.

Eight years after the September 11 attack at the World Trade Center, the children of 9/11 are still hurting but the feelings of sympathy seem to be waning.

• Almost 3,000 children under the age of 18 lost a parent during the 9/11 attack.

• The average age of the orphaned 9/11 children is 9 years; some were still in the womb when their father died at the attacks, either as victims on the ground and on the planes or as rescuers.

• The ratio of men to women among who died was 3:1, leaving a lot of fatherless children.

• 8 children died during the attacks, mostly as airline passengers

The Support

After the attack, several non-profit groups and charity organizations opened their arms to these children, offering the following support:

• Counseling

• Special camps

• Music and art therapy

• Scholarships

The 9/11 fatigue

Years later, the children of 9/11 are growing up – and are slowly being forgotten. According to those support groups and organizations, the so-called “9/11 fatigue” has set in. Funding for projects is drying up. Due to the economic crisis, sponsors and donors are cutting down on charity donations as part of austerity measures. Even on the familial level, friends and relatives are also getting tired of helping out, thinking that the 9/11 children should move forward and get on with their lives. But the question is: can they?

The Ongoing Problems

A study by researchers at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York showed that children who lost loved ones during the 2001 attacks have double the rate of psychiatric disorders than those who were not affected. The researchers followed up forty five 9/11 children for over two years and found the following:

• More than half had some kind of anxiety disorder

• A third exhibited symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

• 27% showed separation anxiety

• 14% had a major depressive disorder, a rate which is 3 times more than those not affected.

Other observations from the support groups are:

• Boys are particular affected, grieving silently.

• Many children are only just opening up and starting to express their grief.

It goes without saying that now is not the time to abandon them. Eight years is a long time for some people. For many of these kids, it’s a whole lifetime. Losing a parent is hard enough. Losing a parent in such a violent manner, with maximum media coverage is the worst thing for a child to go through. For the 9/11 children, getting on with their lives is not a simple thing.

Tuesday’s Children

The support group Tuesday’s Children was set up in 2001 immediately after the attack. It was set up by family and friends of 9/11 victims “with the long term commitment to safeguard the health, happiness and future of both individual and family.” During the last 8 years, the group has extended to support to more than 5,000 family members.

Project Common Bond

The psychiatric problems mentioned above have been observed not only in 9/11 children but in children from other parts of the world whose lives have been touched by terrorism. The terrorist attacks in London, Madrid, India, Kenya, and Indonesia, just to name a few. Thus, Tuesday’s Children established the Project Common Bond, the organization’s International Community for Children Impacted by Terrorism. It organizes global youth leadership camps for young people from all over the world aged 14 to 18. With the motto “Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief”, Tuesday’s Children hopes to help these children to find healing and peace.

Like other support organizations, Tuesday’s Children is also feeling the pinch. It has teamed up with the NY Road Runners for the ING NYC Marathon. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to the group.

Alas, the Brits have done it again! They gave the world the first IVF baby (the called test-tube baby) more than 30 years ago. Last year, they presented the first “breast-cancer-free” baby. And now, here’s their latest coup: the first egg-screening baby.

Welcome Oliver, the first baby ever produced using Array Comparative Genomic Hybridisation (Array CGH), a new technique that allows doctors to check eggs for chromosomal defects before fertilization. Chromosomal aberrations in embryos are responsible for a lot of miscarriages and failed IVF attempts and they are mainly due to defects in the eggs.

During Ovulation

The egg has to discard duplicate copies of its chromosomes to give space for sperm chromosomes during fertilization. The discarded chromosomes are contained in a small cell called a polar body. Sometimes, something goes awry, producing an egg which has too many or two few chromosomes. Down’s Syndrome or trisomy 21 is due to an extra 21 chromosome in the fertilized embryo. About 50% of female eggs have defective chromosomes. This increases dramatically as the woman gets older and could be up to 75% by the time she reaches 39.

In an IVF cycle, embryos are pre-screened before implantation, usually through visual screening under the microscope. However, this pre-implantation screening method does not seem to increase IVF success.

Array CGH

Array CGH performs an “inventory” of the chromosomes in the polar body in order to determine whether the egg has the right number of chromosomes. The test takes 1 to 2 days to complete. By pre-screening the eggs before fertilization, only viable, chromosome defect-free embryos are implanted. The chances of success during an IVF procedure are increased two- fold. What is interesting is that the scientists who develop the method reported that healthy, defect-free eggs are not necessary the “best looking” when viewed under the microscope, casting further doubt on visual egg screening.

Strictly speaking, Oliver is not the first baby to be conceived pre-screened. However, other babies born using similar techniques developed from frozen embryos. In Oliver’s case, using the new technique, the egg was screened, fertilized, and implanted within 48 hours, skipping the cryopreservation step.

Oliver’s mom is 41 years old and is of advanced maternal age through no fault of hers. She had three miscarriages and 13 failed IVF attempts. Late last year, the doctors screened 8 of her eggs using, Array CGH and only 2 were found to be normal. One of those eggs was fertilized, implanted and produced Oliver. I remember writing a post about this technique and her story in January when she was still in her 2^nd trimester. I’ve been wondering all this time how it worked out and now I’m glad to bring you this update.

The Ethical Issues

As usual, in such cases, there are always ethical issues to deal with. For the pro-life advocates, a human embryo represents life, with or without chromosomal aberrations. Do we have the right to choose? Do we have the right the screen? Is this assisted evolution, favoring the strong over the weak? Others would even venture to criticize: why waste so much time and money on IVF? Why not adopt?

I am pretty sure that for Oliver’s mom, what matters most is that she finally got her wish – her very own baby. After all she’s been through, she must be ecstatic to finally have Oliver, who was born two months ago. Only another mom can understand how she feels.

Oliver is the first but he won’t be the last. With his birth, many wanna-be moms’ hopes have been rekindled. All the best for Oliver and his mom.

September marks several nutrition-related health observances and I would like to take this opportunity to touch on family nutrition. Specifically, the most common questions that parents ask regarding their children’s diet.

How much fruit and vegetables do children need?

We all know that our kids need fruit and veggies and we struggle everyday, trying to win the feeding/eating war. But do we know how much our kids really need? The common nutritional advice is that we need 5 servings of fresh fruit and veggies each day. Easy enough except that how big is a serving? Is a serving the same for a child and for an adult? The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has a great tool in calculating the amount of fruit and veggies everybody above the age of 2 needs. By just entering your age, gender, and physical activity, you get your personal food requirements result in terms of cups. What’s more, it even tells you what amounts to a cup. Finally, the sites also has recipes, and features “Fruit and Veggies” of the month. It’s chili peppers and figs for September.

Which products should you buy?

Starting August, the food industry in the US has adapted the so-called green checkmark. The checkmark is part of Smart Choices Program, a US-wide collaboration of scientists, health advocates and food industry representatives to help consumers make healthier choices at the supermarket.

In order to use the green checkmark, food products need to meet certain criteria (Nutrition Criteria for the Smart Choices Program) set by Smart Choices. The program is implemented by the American Society for Nutrition, which also makes sure of maintaining the scientific integrity of the program and checking for conflicts of interest. The standards for the greencheck are based on:

• Nutrients that need to be limited, e.g. fats, sugar, and sodium

• Nutrients that need to be enforced, e.g. vitamins, minerals, and fiber)

• Food groups that to be encouraged, e.g. fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free dairy products

All in all, the criteria cover 19 categories for products found in the supermarket, including cereals, processed fruits and vegetables, breads and pasta, meat, dairy, snacks, and sauces and dressings.

In addition to the greencheck mark, the food manufacturer is already required to display on the front of the package the calorie per serving and the number of servings per package to help us keep to our daily calorie needs.

Do we need to restrict our kids’ diet?

Forbidding certain types of food has high chances of backfiring, according to a study by obesity experts at Pennsylvania State University. It seems that the key factor in weight control is a child’s inhibitory control, which is similar to self-control. Those who lack self-regulation are most likely to be overweight before the age of 15. Low self-control combined with strong parental restriction seem to be a dangerous combination that drives the child towards the forbidden, and therefore more attractive food. Tips to reinforce your child’s inhibitory control are:

• Do not keep restricted food in the house, thus lessening the necessity to “forbid.”

• Find healthier alternatives, e.g. sugar-free or fat-free version of the forbidden snacks (see below).

• Provide different choices. Rather than telling your child “eat this, eat that”, it is better to ask “which would you prefer, the pear or the apple?” Take him/her to the supermarket and allow him to choose something that meets certain criteria (such as the abovementioned greecheckmark). By giving your child the right to choose within certain limits, you give him/her some degree of control over his/her diet.

What about snacks?

Snacking is not that bad. A recent study shows that many of the snacks that kids love – including popcorn – actually contains lots of antioxidants called polyphenols. And whole grain cereals, in addition to fibers, have comparable antioxidant content to fruit and vegetables. However, it is easy to binge on snacks and cereals, according to the researchers. Breakfast cereals contain lots of sugar and salty snacks contain lots of sodium. The key therefore is moderation and keeping to the suggested serving sizes.

The sculptor Daniel Edwards always like controversial subjects. I mean, remember the nude statue of Britney Spears giving birth to her son Sean Preston? Or Suri Cruise’s baby poop in bronze? Or Paris Hilton’s unborn twin fetuses?

This time it’s Angelina Jolie and her twins who inspired Edwards. If you remember, Jolie posed for the cover of W magazine last year while breastfeeding her then newborn twins. Inspired by that photo, the latest piece is called Landmark for Breastfeeding, depicting a life-sized nude Jolie sitting on a park bench and double breastfeeding two babies. According to this ABC report, Edwards depicted one baby as African-American and the other not. Sorry, I can’t confirm this. I can’t really tell from the photos. But I can tell that Jolie is breastfeeding the babies using the so-called “football hold”, something which I’ve tried with my twins, too (not very comfortable for the mom, believe me).

The work is supposedly on display at the Mainsite Contemporary Art Museum in Norman, Oklahoma starting September 11 but will be traveling to London soon for an exhibition

According to Edwards, his new work is meant to raise global awareness of breastfeeding and encourage women to breastfeed in public. Edwards claims to be a social activist, using his works as social commentaries. But he also loves controversy, thus choice of celebrity subjects.

What do you think?

Do you think Edwards is sincere about supporting breastfeeding? Do you think the sculpture is serving its noble purpose?

In many parts of the world, including the US, September marks the month when kids start or go back to school. It is most appropriate that a lot of health observances in the month of September have something to do with children and family health. Below is a list I have compiled for Babies Online readers.

EVENTS ON PHYSICAL FITNESS

• America On the Move’s September Campaign
  America On the Move Foundation (AOM)
  AOM’s annual one-month promotion for healthy eating and active living

• America on the Move Week – September 21 – 27r
  YMCA of Greater Hartford

EVENTS ON CHILDREN’S HEALTH

• September is Childhood Cancer Month
  Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
  Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children younger than 15
  

• September is Craniofacial Acceptance Month
  Children’s Craniofacial Association
  “Empowering and giving hope to those affected by facial differences”

• Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Month
  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

• September is National Infant Mortality Awareness Month
  National Healthy Start Association
  “healthy families = healthy babies”

• September is National Pediculosis Prevention Month/Head Lice Prevention Month
  National Pediculosis Association, Inc.
  “Precaution, Preparedness & Peace of Mind”

• September is Reye’s Syndrome Awareness Month
  National Reye’s Syndrome Foundation
  Check your medications for salicylates!

• September 15 is Get Ready Day
  American Public Health Association
  “get ready for the flu season“

EVENTS ON FAMILY NUTRITION

• September is Fruit and Veggies – More Matters Month
  Fruit and Vegetable Program Office

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH)
  How much fruit and veggies you and family really need. Get tool kits with timely ideas on how to stretch food dollars with fruits and veggies.

• September is National Cholesterol Education Month
  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Center

• September is Grains Month
  Whole Grains Council

• September 13 is National Celiac Disease Awareness Day
  Celiac Sprue Association

EVENTS ON PARENTAL HEALTH

• September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
  National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
  “…raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer”

• September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
  American Cancer Society

• September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
  Zero – The Project to End Prostate Cancer

• September 21 – 27 is Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
  Free or low cost screenings available!

• September is Healthy Aging®Month
  Educational Television Network, Inc
  “because there’s lots of living left to do...”

• September is Sports and Home Eye Safety Month
  Prevent Blindness America