Date: April 15th 2009

=====================================
BABY 411 and TODDLER 411 NEWS UPDATE: April 2009
The free eNewsletter for the readers of BABY 411 and TODDLER 411
http://www.Baby411.com
=====================================

What’s in this issue?
1. When should baby try high-allergenic foods?
2. Update: whole milk and toddlers—advice has changed!
3. Car seat safety: How long should your child ride rear-facing?
4. Update on HIB vaccine booster
5. Baby 411 now available at Target!

=====================================

Hello again!

Yes, we know it has been a while since we sent out a full-fledged newsletter. Please forgive our silence. We are emerging from hibernation after updating the latest Baby Bargains, 8th Edition (now on sale at all major bookstores and online). We’ve also been busy updating Baby 411 for a revised 4th edition, due this fall.

There have been several newsworthy items for parents of babies and toddlers, so we wanted to pass them your way.

=====================================

1. When should baby try high-allergenic foods?

As we’ve discussed on our blog (http://baby411.typepad.com/baby_411_blog/), researchers have found some evidence that EARLIER introduction to high-allergy foods (like peanut products) may actually REDUCE the risk of having a food allergy. This is the exact opposite of what has been accepted wisdom for many years!

Based on this, the American Academy of Pediatrics Nutrition Committee has changed their recommendations. They now say that infants over six months of age can try a variety of foods such as seafood, shellfish, eggs, peanut products, and nut products.

Wow—that is a major change. We do suggest you discuss this with your baby’s doc as she may have her own opinions and suggestions based on your child and family’s health history. And, remember to only offer one new food every few days so you can identify which food is a problem, if there is one.

Note: Honey is still taboo until after one year of age. It’s the botulism risk, not a food allergy that makes it off limits.

=====================================

2. Update: whole milk and toddlers—advice has changed.

Here’s another surprise change, brought to you by the AAP Nutrition Committee again and the American Heart Association. Previously, it was recommended that all toddlers from age one to two years of age drink whole milk. The reason? Toddlers need more fat in their diets to promote their rapid brain development.

However, our obesity epidemic is rooted in a problem starting early in life: Many toddlers already get way too much fat in their daily diets. So there is no need for whole milk on top of this.

Hence, the new recommendation states that you and your child’s doctor should decide if your 1 to 2 year old should drink whole or 2% milk. This decision is based on your child’s growth chart and his diet.

Once he turns two, your child should drink what the rest of the family is drinking—that should be nonfat or 1% milk. Sorry, folks, the extra milk fat isn’t healthy for anyone in the house.

=====================================

3. Car seat safety: How long should your child ride rear-facing?

When is the right time for your child to go from rear-facing to forward-facing in his convertible car seat? The current recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (which dates back to 2002) is after your child weighs 20 lbs and after his first birthday.

However, newer studies suggest that kids are actually safer to be rear-facing until TWO years of age. Rear-facing seats provide better support to the back, head, neck, and pelvis. Many parents worry that a child may have a leg injury if a car accident occurs when he is rear-facing. This is more a perception than a reality, based on actual crash evidence. And, leg injuries are much less serious than one to the head, neck, or spinal cord.

While the official AAP recommendations have not changed (revised policy statements take quite some time), the President of the AAP, Dr Dave Tayloe, comments that pediatricians should, “encourage parents to keep their children in rear-facing car seats as long as they do not exceed the size limits of the car seats.”

FYI: We review the latest convertible car seats in our book, BABY BARGAINS (http://www.babybargains.com). If you want to keep your baby rear-facing to age 2, be sure to pick a seat with a higher rear-facing limit (35 pounds is a good). Unfortunately, not all seats work to 35 pounds rear-facing!

=====================================

4. Update on HIB vaccine booster

As many of you know, there is an ongoing shortage of an important vaccine that protects against one form of bacterial meningitis, HIB—Haemophilus Influenzae B. Infants are receiving their primary protective vaccines for it. But toddlers have to wait on their booster shots until the shortage resolves.

There is no official word yet when the vaccine shortage will be over, but it may be this summer. Please stay tuned to our website, enews, blog, and now on our twitter account (follow us at twitter.com/baby411) and we will be sure to let you know when the shortage is over. Ask your child’s doctor if your toddler will need to get the booster
shot(s) of HIB.

=====================================

5. Baby 411 now available at Target!

Yes, we all love Target for their great deals and affordable kids clothes. Here’s one more reason to love the place: You can now pick up a copy of Baby 411 for your next friend’s baby shower at your local Target store!


Happy Spring!

Dr Ari Brown, and Denise Fields
Authors, BABY 411 * TODDLER 411