Are flip-flops keeping your preschooler indoors?

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have identified some surprising reasons why kids in child-care centers may not be spending enough time outdoors.

 

Boys are made of … bananas?

Surprising new research out of the UK is suggesting that what (and how much) you eat at conception influences the gender of your baby. And that eating bananas could help you conceive a boy.

Pregnant? Folic acid could counteract bisphenol A

It’s not a new study, but it’s highly relevant in light of recent news about the risks of bisphenol A. Read on for the scoop:

Bisphenol-A in food cans, baby bottles (and more) a risk

A new federal government report is raising concern about Bisphenol A  – a chemical (also called BPA) found in many baby bottles, water bottles, sippy cups, food storage containers, dental sealants, the lining of metal food cans (including infant formula) and some children’s toys. Though it says more research is needed, the National Toxicology Program’s report clearly indicates risk with BPA exposure: 

“…there is some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures. The NTP also has some concern for bisphenol A exposure in these populations based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females …”

How can you reduce your children’s (and your own) exposure to BPA?

Prevent hospital medication errors with your kids

The Wall Street Journal’s health blog is reporting that one in 10 hospitalized kids has a bad reaction to a drug – and more than 20 percent of these reactions are preventable. The worrisome news comes from a report in this month’s Pediatrics journal, which prompted The Joint Commission, the organization that certifies hospitals, to send out an alert advising health care practitioners on how to prevent such errors.

Most medications are formulated for adults, so the problem enters the picture when the hospital staff has to perform calculations to reformulate the dosage for your child. Emergency departments, the study says, are particularly risk-prone environments.

So, what can you do?

10 safest states for kids

 

Does where you live impact your kids’ safety? Parents magazine crunched the numbers  on 30+ criteria to find out. Their verdict? It absolutely depends on your home state. Check out their safest state rankings:

1. Connecticut

2. Rhode Island

3. New Jersey

4. New York

5. California

6. Maine

7. Pennsylvania

8. Massachussets

9. Maryland

10. Oregon

Surprised? There’s a detailed list of the criteria used for the rankings, if you’re interested (or just want to see where your state fits in).

Some of the laws Parents cited seemed a bit heavy-handed, which begs the question of whether we’re breeding the brains out of parents. On the other hand, I was thrilled to see that sex offender rates were part of the mix (sadly, we can never be too aware). 

Either way, great food for thought.

Research: Little swimmers need folic acid too

An earlier post covered the benefits of folic acid for women. But, today, the Washington Post reported on a study that says it can benefit men too. Dads-to-be with low levels of folate (the natural form of folic acid) were at increased risk of having sperm with too few/too many chromosomes, according to the research.

The fine print? Men with “poor nutrition” still had 99 percent normal sperm. But the researchers still advised men in baby-making mode to increase their folate intake (my husband’s multi-vitamin already has 100 percent of the daily folic acid requirement; I bet most do).

The takeaway is that good nutrition is important for both sexes when you’re planning a baby. Study details are in the journal of Human Reproduction.