I have a 2 yr. old, and before she started walking, I used to carry her all over the house, up and down the stairs. I remember having her with me while I attended to my chores like vacuuming . It definitely felt like a workout to me, and despite putting a stop to my regular gym visits, my muscle definition didn’t suffer during that time (we won’t speak about the rest of my body ). Well, a study done by Dr. Kelli O’Neill says to not count on the workout of chasing your kids to help you lose weight or get in shape. Most moms, the study found, overestimate how many calories they actually burn playing with their kids if they don’t put in an actual formal workout.

The study isn’t exhaustive by any means, with only 58 moms with kids under 6 were included in the study. Of those 58, only a third of the moms ended up receiving the recommended 30 mins a day of physical exertion, though most actually exerted one hour’s worth of activity. The level of activity was monitored by an electronic device they wore for a week. Afterward, the moms also filled out a questionnaire.

Of the moms who were getting the recommended 30 min. daily moderate/intense workout, some were actually making time for working out in the form of sports and other formal exercise. Many moms were surprised that they were way off in their estimate, especially after considering how tired they felt at the end of the day.

Guideline for Physical Activity

The federal recommendation for adults is 2 hrs. and 30 mins. of moderate aerobic activity a week with at least 1/2 of that time spent performing intense aerobic activity. To break it down, you need at least 30 mins of moderate-intense activity, or 15 mins of intense activity 5 times a week.

How Does a Mom Find Time to Workout?

• You can go to the usual gym, and leave your kids in the kids’ station, but I know many moms will find all that driving to be a chore. There are also moms who don’t find leaving their kids with strangers appealing, and still many gyms who don’t offer childcare.

• Next option is to work out at home, but one’s house often has so many distractions in the form of the couch, your kids, even your husband and it’s easy to end up in front of the TV watching your favorite show other than that fitness DVD.

• Consider stroller stride. There are formal stroller stride classes out there, but you can easily set one up with your neighbor, friend, members of your Moms Group.
  • The basics: you work out pushing your baby with other moms or even dads, and all you need is a pair of walking/running shoes and the one piece of equipment you probably already have: your baby’s stroller.

  Some mothers opt to buy a special jogging stroller if you’re planning to go on terrain other than the sidewalk. But if you’re planning to simply walk and not run, a regular, well-built stroller should be fine.

• Get a bike trailer and attach it to your bike. Take a ride around the neighborhood with the added resistance of your kids’ weight.

• Go to workouts that encourage and welcome baby involvement. There’s a Yoga Mama teacher in my own Moms Group, which welcomes babies. Just Google your neighborhood and see what comes up.

Be creative, be persistent. If you can’t do any of the above, make the time with your baby count! One of my favorite ways of getting a workout in was to put together a playlist on YouTube of my favorite songs and music videos and dance in the computer room with my daughter. It instilled a love of music and dancing in her, and it sure worked up a sweat for me.

After a seemingly endless assortment of coughing, sneezing and general feelings of unwellness, we seem to have turned the corner on our sickness. My toddler is happily playing by herself again, singing songs and arranging and rearranging a set of nesting boxes all over the living room. My baby son is nursing more frequently again – but much more efficiently, now that his nose isn’t so congested he doesn’t have to stop eating every few seconds to breathe.

We’re better.

Which means the real work begins. After anyone in the house is sick, I like to give everything a good scrub down to get rid of any residual germs and freshen things up.

Starting with our linens, I pull everything off the beds and wash in hot water. Same with towels, wash cloths and any other fabrics we came in contact with – stuffed animals, pillows, clothes, shoes, jackets, or anything else that can go through the washing machine.

Hard plastic toys get cleaned and sanitized in a diluted bleach solution – ½ cup bleach to a gallon of water; soak for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry.

Fabric or plush toys are a little trickier to clean; most are spot-clean only, so they get wiped down with some gentle soap and water and allowed to dry in the sun to bleach out any germs.

The house also gets a good scrubbing, including high traffic areas like the entire bathroom, door knobs, the refrigerator door handle, and anything else that gets touched frequently – and frequently by germy kid hands. Toothbrushes get tossed out and replaced, and combs and brushes are scrubbed with soapy water. Dishes are washed in the dishwasher using the “sanitize” setting to make sure that they’re nice and clean.

What’s your routine after everyone feels better from being sick?

Surprise! Surprise! It’s lean times but we are actually getting fat! This is because we may be cutting down on the wrong things. A survey conducted by the American Heart Association is showing a troubling trend, people are skimping on healthy activities due to the bad economy! Let’s check out what we are doing wrong:

People are eating worse.
It seems that more and more people are cutting down on fresh fruit and vegetables. Cheap, fast but filling food such as chips, fries, burgers, and 1-minute noodle soups are becoming more popular.

People are cutting down on health care.
Many families are cutting down on medical bills by avoiding visits to the doctor or dentist, even for children. Some people are delaying screening and check ups and even skip taking medications!

People are doing less exercise.
Many of those who used to go the gym or sports club have had to cancel their memberships. Bye, bye exercise.

People are getting less sleep.
Let’s face it. Many people have to work longer hours to make ends meet especially in families which have to make do with one income instead of two.

People are having more stress, but less relaxation.
The travel and tourism industry is suffering as more and more people are cutting costs by foregoing vacation. However, the old adage about all work and no play not being good for our health is applicable now more than ever. Go for recession-friendly holiday activities and destinations. Take a break on the weekends.

All these can actually contribute to weight gain, high blood pressure and poor heart health. The end result is poor physical and mental health outcomes.

However, the economic downturn does have its upsides. This should be the biggest chance for people to break some bad habits.

Quit smoking.
Cut down on smoking and save money.

Eat out less.
Home-cooked meals are definitely better than any fast food meal. Most of the time, at least. This can be your chance to lose a few pounds!

Drink less alcohol.
While a little bit of alcohol may not hurt, excessive consumption is bad for our health. Alcoholic drinks are calorie-rich and binge drinking is hard on the body and wallet!

It seems that the current economic problems are forcing people to cut down on a lot of things. To survive this recession, we should learn to prioritize and cut down on things which are bad for our health but still allocate for things that are essential for good health. Remember, there are things that we just can’t put on hold and our health is on top of the list.

Our whole family seems to have come down with a cold. It started with the toddler, who ran a fever one afternoon. Then I caught it, and passed it on to my nursing son. My husband didn’t take long to follow, and before we knew it, we were all sick.

Having a sick household is no fun, to say the least. Between all the coughing and sneezing and fevers, we are all miserable. But it gave us a chance to try some natural ways to soothe our colds – without side effects. Here are the ones that worked best for us.

• Steam for congestion. A humidifier in the bedroom can provide some much needed humidity to the dry indoor air – use a cool mist humidifier in kids’ rooms. If you don’t have a humidifier or need quicker relief, a steamy hot shower can work wonders. Adults can take a hot shower, or you can just close the bathroom door and turn on the hot shower, letting the steam collect in the room. Be careful not to let little ones overheat.

• Honey and lemon for sore throats. Combine equal parts lemon juice and honey, then microwave for about 10 seconds on high power. Stir and serve, one teaspoon at a time. The honey helps to soothe and coat the throat, and reduces the urge to cough. The lemon dries up congestion and mitigates some of the scratchy, rough feeling throat. Note: Honey is not safe for babies under 1 year of age.

• Chicken soup. Nothing is more comforting for a cold than a warm bowl of chicken soup. Try chicken or other broths for young children – float goldfish crackers on top to get them interested in eating.

• Rest and TLC. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do but rest. When you can, take a nap or just lie down on the couch – cuddle up with the kids to help them to rest as well. Take care of yourself and your kids – give them a little extra love and relax the rules a bit. In our household, we let our daughter watch a little more Sesame Street, usually curled up with one of us on the couch. It helps her to settle down and is nice to have some down time together.

A sick household is never fun, but there are natural ways to help everyone feel better.

This book starts out with a warning from the author to parents.  Readers are urged to not get overwhelmed by what they are about to read.  It’s a lot of information, the author admits, but don’t freak out.  I read that part and then continued on to the rest of the book, and promptly freaked out.

Plastic bottles? Don’t use them because they’ll poison you.  Lotion? No way; it will seep into your skin and pollute your insides.  Don’t even think of the term “aerosol air fresheners” because you might lose consciousness from the anxiety that will undoubtedly ensue.

At least, that’s how it seems at first.  I was assaulted with a bunch of information that really made me want to pack up my kids and go live in a cave that was first tested for lead before we moved in.  After I got over the initial nervousness from what I was reading, however, I started to digest what was being presented and realized that this is the perfect book for any parents who want to create a better environment for their kids.  This isn’t just about how to be greener, but also how to be safer and healthier.  After all, if you don’t really care about the environment, my guess is that you at least care about the well-being of your offspring in one way or another, right?

One of the best parts of this book are all the “recipes” for healthy, environmentally-friendly items such as household cleaners and finger paint.  Everything is easy to follow and actually a lot less expensive than the stuff you can buy in the stores.  It helped me a lot that the author didn’t just say, “Don’t use toxic cleaners!” but instead said, “Use this instead, and you can make it yourself.  You’re so clever!” I’m paraphrasing there, by the way.

Another thing I really liked about this book were all the excerpts from famous parents.  Some of them were incredibly environmentally conscious while others had changed some things but were still using disposable diapers or hadn’t given up their gas-guzzling cars.  The point is that even little changes can make a difference in the health of your children and your impact on the environment, and that’s an incredibly valuable lesson to learn…even if it initially freaks you out a little.

Available now at Amazon.com

I love e-cards. I love receiving them and sending them. Which is why I am so delighted to find free e-cards that serve a special purpose. Not only as birthday or holiday greetings. Not only for special occasions. These are e-cards that serve as health reminders as well.

I am referring to the health e-cards available on the site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Some are really pretty cute but with some serious messages. One, for example says “Peep, chirp, quack! Why parents should think twice before giving baby birds to young children at Easter.” The card links to risks of Salmonella infection from baby chicks and ducklings. There’s one on safety and healthy tips for brides. And some on pregnancy health tips with really nice photos. There is almost an e-card for every type of health situation. What is also great is that the CDC continues to add new e-cards in accordance with the season as well as with health observances. Plus, they are available in Spanish as well. And like other e-cards, you can personalize them, are easy to make and send.

So if you want to send an e-card to a friend, a family member, a colleague, I suggest you check out the health e-cards at CDC. E-cards are a great way to spread cheer and laughter – and health messages.

Nursing your baby should be a comfortable and enjoyable experience for you both, right? Then why is it that so many women find the experience to be difficult, uncomfortable or pain-inducing? Before you throw in the towel and turn to formula, there are a few things that you can try to make the process of nursing more comfortable.

First, make sure you are relaxed. Choose an area in your home where you are comfortable, such as a cozy and supportive chair, preferably with arms. Put your feet up on a foot rest or stool and relax. Use pillows to support your back or arms, and a nursing pillow to prop up the baby to the correct position and make feeding easier on your back. Take deep breaths, relax, and enjoy the closeness of your baby.

Have your essentials nearby. Before you begin nursing, make sure there is a table or other surface within arm’s reach, and place your essentials there for easy access. You might be there a while, so plan to have a big glass of water, snacks, a book, the television remote, a phone or any other items you might need.

When beginning the nursing session, be sure you’re comfortable. Resist the urge to hunch forward when getting your baby to latch – instead, use those pillows to prop the baby up and to support your arms.

Take care of yourself. If you are beginning to get sore nipples, treat them with lanolin made especially for nursing moms. Also be sure to get plenty of rest, as well as healthy foods and plenty of water. In addition, if you are feeling pain or discomfort while nursing, contact your doctor or a lactation consultant as soon as it starts so that you can be treated right away. Mastitis, plugged ducts and other problems can make nursing difficult for both you and baby – the sooner you are treated, the sooner you will both feel better.

Breastfeeding isn’t always easy, but you can do some simple things to make the experience more comfortable and relaxed.

Two research studies on the health of premature babies. One gives promising results, the other gives disappointing outcomes.

This research gives hope to parents of preemies. Researchers at the University of Adelaide, Australia found that a fatty acid in the brain is not well-developed when babies are born before the 33^rd week of pregnancy. The lipid has been identified as omega-3 fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and insufficiency of this compound in the preemie’s brain may lead to impaired mental development.

The researchers went on and studied the effect of a DHA-rich diet on preemies’ mental development. DHA supplementation was given through the mother’s milk or the infant formula. Breast milk was enriched with DHA by giving breastfeeding moms 1000 mg DHA per day in the form of tuna capsules.

The study looked at 657 preterm babies and the results showed that:

• Female preemies responded better to DHA enrichment than male preemies, and thus showed better mental development.
• Preemies weighing less than 1250 mg responded well to DHA supplementation.

It is not clear why baby boys did not respond well to DHA. The researchers hypothesized that this may be due to the fact that baby boys have faster metabolic rates than girls. At any rate, more research is necessary before this type of diet can be given to all promise. But it sure is promising.

Another research on preemies, however, did not show positive results. Preemies are highly susceptible to systemic infections because their immune system is not yet well-developed. If they survive the infection, they may suffer from neurological and developmental problems. British researchers investigated whether prophylactic administration of a blood cell growth factor to premature babies can reduce the risk of systemic infection and increase survival of preemies. Blood growth factors would raise white blood cell counts, the blood cells which primarily fight infection. The study results showed that although the white blood cell counts did rise, there was no improvement in infection and survival rates. More in depth studies on neonatal immune system is needed before similar procedures can be applied.

Although our society has become more open-minded to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBTs), the social stigma still remains and many adolescents are rejected even by their own family based on their sexual orientation. In a recent report published in the journal pediatrics, researchers at the San Francisco State University found a clear association between rejection of LGBT adolescents by their families and negative health outcomes. The health problems include depression, suicidal tendencies, use of illegal drugs, and risky sexual behavior.

In some cultures, sexual orientation that doesn’t confirm with the norm is not acceptable. In others, such “behavior” is even illegal, dealt with by capital punishment.

In the US and many developed countries, however, LGBTs are gaining acceptance. There are support groups all over to provide counseling to LGBT youths. But what about the family? Based on the study results, family behavior still plays a big role and rejection, although sometimes, well-meant actually does a lot of damage. The San Francisco State University set up the Family Acceptance Project which conducts research on the topic and aims to develop a new model of helping families increase supportive behaviors for LGBT adolescents. In addressing the family behavioral problems, the negative health outcomes can hopefully be prevented.

I have two small sons and I must admit that like most mothers, I picture my sons’ future as becoming husbands and fathers according to the social norm. How would I feel if they turn out to be gay? Honestly, I don’t know. But I will never reject them, that’s for sure. They are my sons, no matter what.

It’s the biggest holiday of the year. And it comes with lots of fun and presents, cheers – and calories. I don’t want to dampen your Christmas spirits but there’s no denying it – we tend to feast and fatten ourselves during the holiday season. But cheer up. We need not deprive ourselves of the goodies that Christmas brings. Health experts give us some tips on a healthy holiday diets for us and for our family – with out taking the fun out of the party.

At home

Get yourself a couple of those low-calorie, cholesterol-free recipe books. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends The Best Healthy Soul Food Recipes cookbook. In addition,

• Load on the vegetables
• For meat, the lean type is preferable; for poultry, go for the light breast mean and take it easy on the thighs and the skin.
• Pan drippings are fat traps, use fat-free liquids instead such as wine, low-sodium tomato juice or lemon juice for basting.
• Slim down the gravy. If you have to use the drippings (it just tastes better, let’s face it), then chill the dripping first and then remove the fat.
• Go for the cranberry sauce. Check out its health benefits here.

At a party

• Go for a variety of food – in small portions.
• At the buffet, go for the sushi and the veggie cuts. However, take it easy on the dips and the salads.
• Take it easy on the wraps and the dim sum. You never know what’s inside.
• If you are sure it’s reduce-fat cheese, then go for it. Otherwise leave the cheese alone.
• Water is still the healthiest drink you can get. If you have to drink alcohol (it has calories, too!), then go for red wine – in moderation. But keep in mind, drinking alcohol while pregnant or even while breastfeeding is a bad idea!

At the supermarket

• Check for products with the AHA heart-check mark. A product carrying this mark “has been screened and verified to meet the AHA’a certification criteria to be low in saturated fat and cholesterol for healthy people over age 2.“
• Check out nutritional facts on the packaging. This US FDA resource: How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label can help you out.

I just saw a news article about a woman in labor driving herself to the hospital. She was ticketed for speeding, but incredibly, the cop didn’t buy her story. She had to provide him with proof of her pregnancy!

In all fairness to the cop, I suppose he’s seen and heard just about everything. I assume that there are people who lie about labor and pregnancy just to get off without a ticket. I feel so sad for this woman because, I’ve driven myself to the hospital while in labor. It isn’t easy to do.

This brings up a good point which isn’t normally a topic of conversation–just how are you getting to the hospital? Perhaps your spouse is in the military and is deployed and you are “alone”. Perhaps you are a single mom without any family support. I knew of one woman who planned to take the bus to the hospital as she had no car and lived a long way away from her family. Taking the bus isn’t the best strategy.

I know of military families who have a relative come to stay with them during the last few weeks of the pregnancy to be available for the inevitable. I know of women who have asked their neighbors to take them to the hospital and I also know of women who have taken a taxi when “the time” arrived.

I can honestly say that driving while in labor was a scary and very dangerous thing for me to do. Can you imagine being pregnant and getting into a car accident on the way to the hospital? At the time, I just didn’t feel I had a lot of options though and wasn’t thinking very clearly. I’d made arrangements for a relative to take me to the hospital and when I ended up going into labor very early on a holiday no less, the person wasn’t available. Some folks asked me why I didn’t just call an ambulance, but I was worried about co-pays and insurance deductibles. How could I pay $500 for the ambulance ride?

If I had to do it again, I’d have prepared for labor a  little better. I’d make sure to have several back up plans and if those plans fell through, I’d call the amubulance and make payment arrangements on that $500 fee. I guess hindsight is always 20/20!

Once in a while I’ll add food coloring to the food I serve to my kids in an effort to make things a little more interesting and maybe to compel my son – who I like to call Mr. Picky Eater – to actually nibble a little on the food I make for him. My daughter flips out for pink pancakes and my son giggles when I draw little designs on sandwiches. It’s just something I do to try to make mealtime more amusing.

Recently I read an article that says that certain food dyes may actually be harmful to children and influence the way they behave. According to one woman quoted in the article, her son appeared to have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) until she took all the artificial dyes out of his diet and suddenly his symptoms were gone. I don’t know if I buy the idea that artificial dyes are the reason for every kid’s temperament problems, but it did get me thinking about my liberal use of food dyes. Is it really bad for my kids?

Not only do I use food dyes once in a while in the foods I prepare, but I’ve been known to put a few drops into the bathtub to try to entice my kids into the bath while also teaching them about how different colors mix together to form different combinations. It was an effective solution for babies who hated bath time. My son and daughter really love when I add the colors, but I never stopped to think that it might be doing bad things to their skin or seeping into their bodies and actually doing some harm.

So does this mean I’m going to rummage through my cabinets and toss out all the food dyes I have? Probably not. I am going to think a little more carefully before lacing their food with dye just for the entertainment value. I may look into buying some dye made from all natural ingredients. We have a health food store in town and I’m pretty sure I saw food dye made out of organic ingredients there, so I’ll probably head over there and pick some up. I would hate to think that pink pancakes might actually be harming my kids!

Then again, my kids don’t really have behavioral problems. I suppose it may be different when there is a real issue present.

Buying used or second hand baby clothes is an easy way to go green. Not only are the clothes being used again rather than going into the landfills or stored in the attic or basement for all eternity, but they are also helping to reduce the amount of packaging being thrown away.

They’re also a great way to save some green – dollars, that is. Babies are expensive enough – why spend more than you need to on clothes they’ll soon outgrow?

My husband and I are big believers in buying second hand baby clothes. Our daughter grows so quickly, it seems like she is never in one size or one outfit for more than a few months and, now that we are expecting a boy, a large amount of her clothes won’t be handed down. What’s more, there have been times when she needed a special outfit, such as a dress for a wedding, and the store prices were exorbitant compared to the prices we found at a consignment shop, for nearly the same piece of clothing.

That said, there are a few safety precautions to take when purchasing used clothing.

• Inspect. – Look over the garment to make sure that zippers, buttons, etc., are securely fastened to the piece of clothing and work properly. In addition, any holes or tears can be a potential hazard and should either be fixed before wearing or not given to the child. The same goes for knit fabrics – make sure the knit is tight so that your child can’t get a finger or toe caught.

Also check to see that the garment is clean looking, with no spots or stains.

• No embellishments. – For infant and baby clothing, extra embellishments such as buttons or bows should be removed. Any small, decorative item can come off and be a choking hazard for your child.
• Wash first. – Just like clothing bought in the store or given by friends or family, any and all fabrics that will touch your baby’s skin should be washed. You never know if the clothing is clean or what the household conditions may have been; perhaps the family had a dog in the house and there are pet hairs on the clothes that may be an irritation or possible allergen to your infant. In addition, used clothing can sometimes carry germs or bugs that can get you or your baby sick. Or, for store-bought clothes, washing removes any excess dyes in the fabric. Most parents prefer to use gentle , dye-free detergents such as Dreft to minimize any irritation, at least for the first few washings.

As you begin to enter the home stretch of your pregnancy, you?ll want to start thinking about packing a bag for the hospital. Not only do you need to pack for yourself, but your new baby and your birthing coach(es) will need a few items as well.

For You

When I packed my bag the first time around, I went a step beyond simply preparing for labor. In fact, there was little I didn?t bring along. Not only did I have an iPod docking station, but the iPod was loaded with playlists for delivery, birth, infant and many other events. Not only did we barely listen to it, but it was one more thing to have to haul out of the hospital and home upon discharge.

When packing for yourself, think about what you really need ? do you need a nightgown? The hospital will have you in a gown for the duration of your stay, and most likely you?ll need to change it a few times over that period. Do you want to have to bring several nightgowns that may end up stained?

My necessities list includes:

• A camera
• Pad of paper and pen
• Phone list of friends/relatives to notify
• Shampoo and other toiletries
• Change of clothes for the ride home (note: these clothes are maternity clothes; most women continue to wear maternity clothes for at least a month after delivering)
• Magazines
• Lip balm
• Makeup

For Partners/Coaches

Your partner and/or birthing coach will probably be there a while; bring along a magazine or two, as well as bottled water and snacks.

For Baby

Newborn babies need very little, and much of it will be provided by the hospital, including receiving blankets and diapers. However, there are some items to make sure you have, and a few that you will be required to have. My list includes:

• Car seat
• Blanket to put over the car seat in case it?s cold outside
• Outfit for coming home
• Pacifiers

Don’t wait until it’s too late for those last minute things to do. Making a checklist and completing early will give you much needed peace of mind.

What are your hospital essentials?

Just when I thought I was out of the woods, it struck. That horrible, nothing sounds good to eat, nothing sounds good to drink, I think I?ll just lie down right here and wait for it to be over feeling also known as morning sickness. Except my morning sickness (as is the case with most) doesn?t seem to be able to tell time. It?s not morning sickness ? it?s afternoon sickness, or nighttime sickness, or any time of day sickness.

Turns out, a hormone surge that takes place in the third trimester (as well as the fact that your organs are all squished up to make room for your expanding uterus) can cause an increase in nausea, as well as indigestion, stomach shrinkage and a general feeling of un-wellness.

To deal with third-trimester morning sickness ? or morning sickness any time during your pregnancy ? find out what calms your tummy down and eat or drink it. It may be plain pasta, bread, a banana, ice water, or a greasy cheeseburger, but whatever sounds good is going to be the best thing for you. Eat small, frequent meals to avoid or decrease your chances of getting heartburn, indigestion or nausea.

In addition, try to find a juice, water or tea that tastes good to you and that will keep you hydrated. Ice water can be more soothing and easier to drink than room temperature water, and lemon water might be even better. Just be sure to drink small amounts at a time ?large quantities will end up making you feel sicker.

Other foods to try include citrus fruits, especially lemon or orange, or sucking on citrus flavored hard candy. Also try eating solid foods that are bland in taste and smell, and high in carbohydrates, such as pasta, crackers, mashed potatoes, or rice or pasta. Avoid anything with a strong smell or taste, such as garlic or many ethnic foods, as it may trigger more nausea. In addition, consider telling your family members or immediate coworkers about which foods make you nauseous; if they can, they might be able to alter their mealtimes or routines to avoid making you feel worse.

What foods or drinks help you when you are feeling morning sickness?

Meet the National Children’s Study, supposedly the largest human health study ever. Its goal is “to improve the health and well-being of children.” However, before they can do this, the researchers involved need to collect data. They will do this by tracking 100,000 children from all over the United States from before birth till the age of 21 and examine the effects of environmental influences on their health and development. By “environment”, the researchers mean

• natural and man-made environmental factors
• biological and chemical factors
• physical surroundings
• social factors
• behavioral influences and outcomes
• genetics
• cultural and family influences and differences
• geographic locations

The study will be conducted by researches in several centers across the US and will cost millions of dollars in funding. So far, pilot studies have been conducted and study centers chosen. The full study is scheduled to begin in 2010.

Now, before they can conduct such a study, they need study participants, specifically families from 105 chosen locations all over the country.

But if I were living in the US, am I (and my family) willing to volunteer and participate? My science background urges me to say “yes.” No doubt about it, the aim of the study is noble and I completely agree that we can learn a lot from the data that will be generated. Wouldn’t it be great if I and my family can help in finding the cure to childhood problems such as autism, asthma, SIDS, ADHS, and obesity?

The private individual in me however hesitates. Imagine being under scrutiny for 21 plus years, with all the family going ons recorded and archived. Imagine having my son’s complete life history documented and digitized, be it his first tooth, his shampoo (chemical environment!), his friends (social factors!), and his school records. How safe would his data be? Can they be used against him later in life?

So what’s your take on this issue?

If your family participated in the holiday celebrations, you are probably overwhelmed at the sheer amount of candy your children have gotten in a few hours!

I admit that I don’t buy candy for my kids. When Halloween arrives, they absolutely love to trick-or-treat and they actually list the different types of candy they have gotten, along with the amount of that type of candy. Yes, they construct GRAPHS based on their candy. Then, they begin to trade amongst themselves – or fight amongst themselves. Our son was just old enough to go trick-or-treating with his sisters this year, but he really isn’t old enough to eat all of the candy he received.

Perhaps your little pumpkin went trick or treating and now you are wondering what to do with all of that candy. You may? be wondering exactly what kinds of candy are appropriate for your child to eat. I’ll share our system with you, but remember to keep your child in mind when making food decisions. Each child is different, and what is ok for one child may not be for another.

Lollipops are usually a good choice
They may be sticky, but older babies (around a year) are able to enjoy lollipops. Be sure to supervise your child and to make sure that they don’t bite off a small piece, which could be a choking hazard. I only allow my son to eat ‘regular’lollipops; not the kind with the candy in the center.

Avoid sticky and chewy candy
Candy that is sticky and chewy is a bad choice as these are bad for you child’s teeth and they can pose a choking hazard.

Avoid small pieces
If your child is young, small round candy pieces can also be a chocking hazard, even if they are easy to eat.

Avoid nuts and peanut butter
Nuts of course are a choking hazard. Peanut butter can cause allergies or a reaction. In some candy, the peanut butter is chewy or sticky, and can also be a chocking hazard. I actually don’t feed my children peanut butter until they are around 2 years old anyway but I’ve heard of people who wait until their children are around 3.

Chocolate is usually a good choice
I say usually, because the chocolate may have crispy bits, nuts or peanut butter mixed with it. I find that the ’snack bar’size is perfect for my son to eat. Be forewarned however – chocolate can get VERY messy and it’s hard to remove from the carpet and paint on the walls!

Remember that this is a great opportunity to get your child to brush his teeth too! After we eat a piece of candy, we make sure to brush our toddler’s teeth. He loves every minute of it and I’m hoping that we’re creating good habits for the future! Of course, it’s best to also limit the amount of candy that your children eat for a bunch of reasons. I usually allow the children a piece of candy a day.

What happens to all of the sticky, small, chewy, and peanut butter filled candy that our son can’t eat? Well, my husband and I can eat small, chewy and peanut butter filled candy – isn’t that a good thing. I guess you could say that everyone in our house got treated this holiday!

We’re guilty of it – not cleaning our daughter’s toys as often as we should. I’m sure we aren’t the only ones who just don’t seem to have cleaning the toys high on the priorities list, although we certainly should. Kids? toys, especially when shared with other children, can be a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses that can get your kids (and anyone else who touches the toys, including parents cleaning up the playroom) sick. Or, if your child has been sick recently, it’s important to clean his or her toys to remove any germs and keep him or her from getting sick again.

The next time you’re gathering up all those hard plastic blocks, cups, rattles or whatever it is that blankets your play room or living room floor, don’t just dump them back into the toy bin – clean them.

How often should you clean baby and toddler toys? Clorox says weekly, or every other week, especially if your kids have been sick. Always clean toys according to the instructions (especially wood, cloth or plush toys). For hard plastic toys, remember that most of them can simply be run in the top rack of the dish washer or scrubbed by hand with some soapy water in the kitchen sink.

To disinfect hard plastic toys, use a combination of bleach and water. First, wash, rinse or scrub the toys with water. Then, in the sink, a clean bucket or even the bath tub, mix together a solution of bleach and a gallon of water. Let them soak for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly and let them air dry, spread out on a clean, dry towel.

While breastfeeding might be a natural way to feed your newborn child, it isn?t always the easiest. A variety of problems can arise when learning to breastfeed, low milk supply being among the most common. Returning to work, exhaustion, and simply not eating enough or drinking enough fluids can be cause for a reduction in breast milk supply. Fortunately, there are some things you can do about it; try one or more of these five common home remedies to boost your milk supply.

1. Pump or breastfeed more frequently. If you are exclusively breastfeeding your baby, try using a breast pump and pumping for five to ten minutes after each nursing session. You can also try adding a pumping session or two to your routine during the day to boost your supply, such as first thing in the morning or while your baby sleeps or naps. Use a hospital-grade pump if you can ? especially if you are exclusively pumping; it?ll help to more efficiently remove your milk.

2. Drink plenty of fluids. Keep track of how much water you?re drinking during the day; is it enough? Try drinking a glass of water every time your baby nurses to ensure that you?re drinking enough.

3. Rest and relax. While it can be difficult to get much rest with a newborn, make an effort to take care of yourself, rest when you can, and get enough sleep. Try taking a nap during the day or just resting on the sofa with your little one.

4. Eat oatmeal. Many new moms have said that adding oatmeal to their diets increased their milk supply. Steel-cut oatmeal is the most effective (available at most health stores). Have a bowl or oatmeal for breakfast, or snack on oatmeal-granola during the day.

5. Take away the pacifier. It may help to take away the pacifier if your baby uses one; his or her need to suck will ensures that enough time is spent at the breast in order for baby to be fed and your supply to be sufficient.

Many moms also rely on herbal remedies, such as fenugreek, to increase their supply. While it can be a short-term breastmilk booster, you should always consult with your doctor before taking any herbal remedies.

Parenthood changes a lot of things. One thing I noticed was that I had less time for exercise, or so it seemed to me. A recent study I saw confirmed that my suspicions were correct and that I am not alone. The study also confirmed that the reasons I most often skipped my exercise times were also named by study participants. Those reasons (excuses) would be: lack of time, tiredness, and lack of child care options. Another reason for me: finances. With 5 children, I simply can’t justify spending the money I used to spend on a gym membership that I may or may not be able to use depending upon who has the stomach flu this week.

For a while, I was very depressed about the whole thing and critical of myself. I should be making the time and finding the money to do this for me! But the reality is that my husband travels frequently with work, and I am, for many days of the month, a single parent. In between homework and caring for the baby and driving the older children to their activities, there’s not a lot of time to devote to an exercise program.

I decided to try and think outside the box for a solution to my problem. Ok, so my life had changed, but that didn’t mean that I had to give up my life because of that. I just had to find a way to fit exercising into my daily life given my constraints on time, money, and energy. I found that while I just didn’t have the energy to do an energy charged aerobics workout anymore, I did like Tai Chi. Yoga was not only exercise, but it helped calm my nerves too! I found that Pilates workouts were wonderful too.

I discovered DVD’s for Pilates where you could squeeze a mini-workout into 10 minutes! It’s true that I couldn’t find an hour long block in my day to devote to exercising, but I could find a 10 minute segment! I have to admit that some days, I don’t even find the time for 10 minutes, but I’m working on it.

The best part of my new exercise routine is the cost. I can loan a DVD from the library for no cost and I can try a different routine each week if I choose to do so. I have purchased several DVD’s for my own collection, but they are still cheaper than a gym membership! I walk the children to school instead of driving them, and I try to be as active as I can during my daily routine. Just hauling laundry around for 7 people should count as exercise, right?

Not only am I exercising more, but my children are learning that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. They are also learning, just like I am, that sometimes we need to be creative when looking for solutions to our problems!