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We all obsess about organic food (some more than others), lead free toys, and non-toxic house cleaners, but there is rarely a discussion about the mattresses our children sleep on. Most mattresses DO contain untested toxins, which is scary considering an average child spends 10-12 hours a night sleeping in their bed. In our house, many of those hours are spent in mommy and daddy’s bed. I wouldn’t
A generation ago food allergies were far less frequent than they are now. Parents could send in homemade treats for their children’s parties at school and serving peanuts on airplanes was commonplace. Unfortunately, times have changed as an increasing number of children are diagnosed with food allergies every year. Nearly every packaged food product now displays what allergen it contains and/or was made in the same vicinity of. Most schools now require that any food sent in for a party be store bought to avoid any possibility of homemade snacks containing even the slightest residue of “harmful” allergens. How did such a drastic change come about so quickly? What has happened in our society and environment to make food consumption so restrictive and frightening?
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There is more fuel on the fire over the debate of the possible negative aspects of television watching and young children. A new study concludes that prolonged television watching by young children can be a contributing factor to the onset of asthma.The study by researchers at Glasgow University, the results of which were published in the respiratory journal “Thorax”, concluded that young children who watched more than two hours of television on a typical day were almost twice as likely to develop asthma for every one child who watched less.
Before your child even sprouts that first, long-awaited tooth, your doctor is likely to start threatening you with all the ways you can damage it. Of these many ways (sleeping with a bottle, excessive sugar, not brushing regularly), one of the biggest hot topics in parenting circles today is water fluoridation. Like many of the issues that divide parents into two distinct categories, this one walks the line between posing a real health risk and falling prey to an over-hyped media frenzy.
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According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, over 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies. Since I too am an allergy sufferer, my family completely relates. So, when my son’s school sent home a letter last year notifying all parents of their new “Peanut-Free” policy, I took it in complete stride. Studies show there are over 30,000 schools in American currently operating under a “Peanut-Free” policy. There are a multitude of dangers associated with food allergies and because of my own peanut allergy my family doesn’t bring any peanut products into our home due to the risks.
I have been obsessing about getting my 3-year old into private school. Driving my husband crazy, annoying my friends, having sleepless nights. Basically all of the crazy cliches you’ve heard of. Well, it was the night before one of our big interviews and I decided to make salmon for dinner. MY daughter didn’t want to eat it but I made her it even though she didn’t want to. That night she broke out in hives! I had no idea she was allergic. Luckily it didn’t affect her throat or anything serious but her entire face broke out and she was scratching all night. The next morning not only was she exhausted, but one of her eyes was almost swollen shut. She looked awful. I made an early doctor’s appointment and pumped her with Benadryl. I of course tried to reschedule the interview with no success. At the interview she was a nightmare, irritable and scary looking. My husband told me it served me right for getting too caught up in the competition. I didn’t want that school anyway:)
