Date: November 27th 2006

BABY 411 and TODDLER 411 NEWS UPDATE December 2006:
Dr. Brown on Rachael Ray (again!) Thursday Nov 30, AAP & play, holiday advice and more

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BABY 411 and TODDLER 411 NEWS UPDATE: December 2006
The free eNewsletter for the readers of BABY 411 and TODDLER 411
http://www.Baby411.com
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What’s in this issue?

1. Dr. Ari Brown and Rachael Ray tackle the challenges of kids who don’t listen.
2. AAP says, “Just let ‘em play.”
3. Got lice?
4. Winter and holiday tips
5. Tamiflu update
6. Dr. Brown debuts on Parents Magazine website

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1. Dr. Ari Brown to appear on the Rachael Ray Show.

Set your TiVo for another fun and helpful episode as “Dr. Ari” advises parents with kids who don’t listen to them (do you know any kids like that?) The show will air this Thursday, November 30. Check here to see when the show airs in your local area:

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/?q=tvschedule

If you’ve got a question you’d like Dr. Brown to answer on the show, drop Rachael Ray a note at “Got a question for Dr. Ari”:

https://rachaelrayshow.com/plugger/?IDX=respond&PlugID=210

Send in those questions today!

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2. Just let ‘em play.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued a statement stressing the importance of play in a child’s life. American kids, like their parents, are over-worked and over-scheduled. And with that, comes stress. The new report calls for free, unstructured playtime that lets children think creatively, problem solve, and develop reasoning skills. According to the report’s lead author, Dr. Ken Ginsburg, “Pediatricians mustn’t let parents think good parenting is being a chauffeur.”

Bottom line: Think about how your child spends his or her day. If you are a family that is always on the go, make sure you schedule in some downtime. And, when you are buying toys for the holidays, consider simple toys that stimulate the imagination.
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3. Got Lice? Who you gonna call…Lousebuster!

A recent study showed that a 30 minute hot air treatment to the scalp can effectively kill lice and their eggs. Standard blowdryers can deliver the hot air treatment, but the most effective way was with a commercial grade product called the Lousebuster. Nope, you can’t buy one at Wal-Mart, but your local preschool may be able to purchase one in the future based on this study’s results.
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4. Winter/Holiday Tips . . . Remember the 4 S’s

SLEEP: When your child is traveling across time zones, missing naptimes, pushing back bedtime for special holiday activities, or simply sleeping in a different crib or bed—be prepared for him to have disrupted sleep. The solution? Try to stick to your child’s sleep routine as much as possible. And, then be prepared to give your little one a refresher course in the sleep schedule once you get back home.

Read the 3 more S’s on Dr. Brown’s blog here:

http://baby411.typepad.com/baby_411_blog/

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5. Feeling funny with the flu? Maybe it’s the Tamiflu.

We reported on our blog last month that the FDA was reviewing cases of patients with bizarre behavior while taking the drug, Tamiflu, during their flu virus infection. The FDA is now requiring the pharmaceutical manufacturer of the drug to include “neuropsychiatric events” as a side effect on the product insert. Over the past six years, 42 million people have taken Tamiflu, the antiviral drug used to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms of “The Flu”. About 1 in 100,000 patients report psychological changes while taking the medication, but it still has not been determined whether the drug causes the odd behavior.

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6. Look for Dr. Brown at Parents.com.

Starting in January 2007, Dr. Brown will begin hosting a message board at the Parents Magazine website, www.parents.com. Look for timely tips and her practical, real-world advice for moms and dads. You can also check out the Parents Podcasts, found at parents.com or iTunes.

Have a wonderful holiday season and a healthy new year! Remember, Baby 411 and Toddler 411 make great gifts!

Sincerely,
Dr. Ari Brown and Denise Fields
authors, BABY 411 & TODDLER 411