Date: November 30th 2004

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BABY 411 NEWS UPDATE: December 2004
The free eNewsletter for the readers of Baby 411
http://www.baby411.com
December 2004
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In this newsletter:

1. Toy Safety for the holiday season
2. Ways to prevent the flu
3. DHA supplements
4. Bottled water not any safer than tap
5. Baby Bjorn recall

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1. Toy Safety:

As we begin the holiday shopping season, be sure to make your list and check it twice. Over 40% of people are expected to purchase their toys online this year. What you need to know: only 1/3 of online retailers display the toy safety warnings (e.g. choking hazards) that you find on the toy’s package. So get informed before making your purchases. And, this may seem obvious, but be sure to supervise your little ones while they are playing. There were over 200,000 toy-related emergency room visits last year in the U.S. and 11 deaths.

A good way to remember dangerous toys… ELF STEW

E: Electrical toys
L: Loud noises
F: Flying objects
S: Sharp edges
T: Tiny parts
E: Emotional hazards (violent videos/games)
W: Wrong toy for the age of the child
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2. Preventing the flu:

We have all heard about the flu vaccine shortage. Hopefully, many of you have managed to get your babies 6-23 months old vaccinated or yourselves if you have an infant under six months old in the house. But, there are other ways to protect you and your family from getting sick this winter. Here are some tried and true tricks:

*Wash hands: Be sure your child’s hands are washed before meals, after using the bathroom, and after playing with others. We all tend to slack off on hygiene when we are in our homes-which is one of the top reasons why the whole house gets sick when one family member is ill.

*Don’t share drinks or food: That left over chicken nugget on your child’s plate may look tempting but it is full of germs. You’ll regret it the next day when your child wakes up with a runny nose. Teach your older kids not to share food with their friends.

*Keep Kleenex (or your favorite brand) in business: Flu germs live and spread in the cough and sneeze droplets (i.e. snot) that infected people make. If one person in the house gets sick, be strict about using tissues and washing hands afterwards. If someone with the flu has germs on their hands and touches objects (like doorknobs or countertops), the flu germs live there for hours and can spread to the next victim.

The flu can be diagnosed based on a person’s symptoms, which differ from the common cold (higher fever, body aches, longer duration of cough/runny nose). But, a rapid flu test or a simple blood count can confirm it. Antiviral medications can be used to shorten the duration of symptoms and prevent the flu in family members who have been exposed. The catch: the medication needs to be started within 48 hours of symptoms to make a difference. And, the medications are approved only for kids over one year of age.
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3. What’s the buzz about DHA supplements for moms?

You may have seen the ads in parenting magazines about DHA supplements. DHA is an essential fatty acid found in fish oils. DHA is found in breast milk, but the amount varies depending on the nursing mother’s diet. As a result, companies have been promoting DHA supplements in prenatal vitamins and supplements for moms who are breastfeeding.

In a way, they have a point. Because the FDA has issued warnings about limiting fish consumption (Tuna, mackerel, shark, swordfish, tilefish), pregnant and nursing moms may be getting less of those fish oils in their diets. But what you need to know is this: neither the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology nor the American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends DHA supplements. At this point, we suggest you ask your OB/ pediatrician for their opinion.

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4. Is bottled water any safer?

Not necessarily. A Dutch study recently studied bottled water from 16 countries (the U.S. was not one of the countries). 37% of the samples were contaminated with bacteria and 4% were contaminated with fungus. The bacteria identified can cause infections in people with weak immune systems.

Bottom line: It’s probably not worth the extra cost to buy bottled water if you are only buying it for safety concerns. Stay tuned for the American bottled water experiment…

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5. Baby Bjorn Active recall:

49,000 infant carriers have been recalled because of a potential fall hazard for infants. The back support buckle can potentially detach from the shoulder straps. The model number is 1-260, and ‘Baby Carrier Active’ is written on the label. Consumers can contact the company at (877) 962-8400 or www.regallager.com for more information.

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Have a safe and healthy holiday season. Looking for a gift for your newly pregnant friends? Give them a copy of Baby 411—it’s the only parenting book that keeps up with the pace of modern medicine. Click here to order:

https://windsorpeak.com/orderform14.html


Best wishes,
Ari Brown, M.D. and Denise Fields
Authors, Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for your Baby’s First Year.
http://www.baby411.com
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