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The holidays are here and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has its list. Parents and gift buyers are encouraged to check it twice. CPSC has issued its annual holiday safety messages, joined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Safe Kids Worldwide, to remind parents to be diligent when making holiday shopping choices.

"CPSC, CBP and industry activity has been with one goal in mind, to keep the toys our children play with the safest in the world," says Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "Vigorous inspection of toys, testing and law enforcement have made toys the safest this season."

For 2007, the commission has reports of 18 toy-related deaths, and CPSC staff estimates that there were about 170,100 toy-related injuries to children under 15 treated in hospital emergency rooms. Most of the deaths were associated with airway obstruction from small toys, drowning or motor vehicle accidents during play. Most of the injuries were lacerations, contusion and abrasions; the head and face was the area most frequently affected.

The top five toy hazards:

• Scooters and Other Riding Toys – Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be worn at all times and be sized to fit.
• Small Balls and Other Toys with Small Parts – For children younger than age 3, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.
• Balloons – Children under 8 years can choke or suffocate on un-inflated or broken balloons. Keep un-inflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once.
• Magnets – For children under age 6, avoid building or play sets with small magnets. If magnets or pieces with magnets are swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur.
• Chargers and Adapters – Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children.

Once the gifts are open:

• Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys before they become dangerous play things.
• Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings.
• Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any device to prevent overcharging.

With the increased popularity of secondhand stores and online vendors, gift-givers should be especially vigilant to prevent the sale or purchase of hazardous products that have been recalled, banned or do not meet current safety standards. Before placing products in the second-hand market, check its recall status at www.cpsc.gov. Buyers should make sure their gifts do not include any of the recalled toys or children's products on CPSC's Web site.

Keep updated about all recalls here.

(11-18-08)

High-profile celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Madonna are often photographed traveling internationally, sometimes to underdeveloped countries, with their young children in tow. While they make traveling with children seem safe and easy, there are real dangers to consider when traveling to the underdeveloped and tropical regions of the world with young children.

"Depending on the final destination, there are certain vaccines that may be recommended to help keep children safe during travel," says Dr. Andrea Summer, member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and associate professor of pediatrics at Medical University of South Carolina. "The most common infectious health threats to children traveling to underdeveloped, tropical regions of the world may result from exposure to contaminated food and water, and disease carrying insects. With the help of available destination-specific vaccines such as hepatitis A, typhoid fever and yellow fever, parents can feel more comfortable traveling with young children."

Aside from preventive vaccines, there are other precautions parents should take to ensure a safe trip for their children. For this reason, Dr. Summer offers tips to keep children safe:

• Animals: Very often children are drawn to animals. However, animals in developing countries are usually not required to have vaccines like they are in the United States and can carry a variety of transmittable diseases including rabies. For this reason it can be dangerous for children to have contact with animals.
• Mosquitoes: Insects such as mosquitoes are cause for concern in tropical areas because of the many diseases they can spread to humans, including Dengue fever and malaria, which are potentially fatal. There are many physical barriers parents can use to protect children, which include long pants and long sleeve shirts, bed nets and DEET-based repellents.
• Toxins: Parents should research if there will be toxins in developing countries that may not be considered toxins in the United States. Such toxins may include plants or flowers that contain poisons, insecticides, lead-based paints or rodent bait.
• Vaccines: Children should be up-to-date on all routine vaccines, including an annual flu shot, before international travel. Destination-specific vaccines may also be recommended.
• Water Safety: Parents need to provide children with the proper safety devices for water activities, such as life preservers. Underdeveloped and rural areas may not have these devices available.
• Motor Vehicle Safety: Because motor vehicle accidents are the top cause of child mortality during travel, parents are advised to bring a car seat or booster seat with them, since these may not always be available in developing countries. Parents should also consider traveling during the day, as many roads may be dangerous to travel at night.

"Prevention doesn't end when travelers return home," says Dr. Summer. "There are various post-travel symptoms, such as fever, persistent or bloody diarrhea and respiratory infections that parents should watch for in children, as they can be indicators of a more serious problem and require immediate medical attention."

(11-18-08)

Motherhood is exciting, exhausting and thrilling all at once. And while there's no doubt that a woman's life will never be the same once she enters motherhood, there's no reason the same has to be true for her waist. Despite many hurdles faced by new moms, one of New York City's most prominent fitness experts, Stacy Berman, says it is possible for a woman to regain her pre-pregnancy figure.

"Most mothers who come to me say they're thrilled with their new life but not with their new look and are willing to work hard to get back to a shape that they are proud of," says Berman, founder of Stacy's Boot Camp (www.stacysbootcamp.com), which offers a twice weekly class for moms. "Motherhood, especially recent motherhood, used to be an excuse not to work out, but now new mothers say they actually crave the increased energy and restorative effects of working out."

Check with a physician before starting up a fitness regimen. Once the green light has been granted, there are many ways to lose baby weight. Here are a few child-friendly workouts Berman created for new moms:

Warming Up:

• It's important to begin any workout with a brief warm up and stretching to get blood pumping.
• She suggests doing joint rotations from the feet up and doing 10 or so rotations of each major joint including the ankles, knees, elbows, shoulders and neck. Naming the joint and counting aloud helps the baby or toddler stay involved.
• Next up is a few minutes of aerobic activity to increase blood flow in the muscles (enhancing performance and lowering risk of injury). With older kids, Berman recommends incorporating one of their favorite pastimes. "Jumping rope, using a hula hoop, or playing one round of tag are all great ways to get your blood pumping."
• Warming up should end with some stretching. If the child can mimic the stretches, do them together. Touch your toes; "reach for the stars;" hug legs to the chest; and with feet flat against one another and pulled in toward the groin, create a "butterfly" and flutter its wings. Hold each for a few seconds to get the full benefit.

Cardio:

• Walking is a low-impact workout that renders excellent results. With the baby in a stroller, walk 20 minutes four or five days a week and build up to 50 minutes. A light jog can also be incorporated by alternating walking with jogging for three minutes and 60 seconds, respectively. Many companies offer jog-friendly strollers that can accommodate children of any age and come in varieties to seat more than one child.
• For a more intense workout, Berman suggests indulging in 20 minutes of heart pumping activity with your child like dancing, playing in the pool, taking a dog for a walk or playing tag. "You need at least 20 minutes of aerobic activity to burn fat, and while that's a lot for many younger children, it's something that can be done with them whether they actually participate or just watch," she says.

Building Muscle Tone:

Legs – Squats target the thighs and buttocks. Standing with feet hip distance apart and toes, knees and hips in a straight line, pull the stomach in and slowly lower the body as though sitting down in an invisible chair. According to Berman, a safe way to get young children involved is by asking them to count to five and to check on position.

Arms – "Mothers of infants and toddlers are constantly holding up to 20 pounds. That cargo can be used to sculpt arms with a few small adjustments," says Berman.

• With arms extended and still holding the baby, bring the child toward your chest until elbow create a 90-degree angle. Be careful that the elbows never lock and gently push back up. Repeat eight times or until arms feel slightly fatigued.
• Lie down on your back, firmly grip your child under the arms and extend upward. Hold for 20 seconds for an effective isometric workout.

Abs – Most mothers especially target their stomach to rid themselves of any residual "baby bulge."

• On your back, pull feet in so that knees form a peak. Let the child sit with her back resting against your legs. Use core muscles to pull up, keeping lower back on the ground and slap her a high five with the completion of each crunch.
• Turning the traditional game of "superman" into an isometric workout works abs and keeps children entertained. Let him sit astride your feet with his chest against your shins and grip his hands. Raise shins to create a right angle with thighs. Since you're holding the child's hand, your head and shoulders should be raised as if you were doing a crunch. Hold that position for eight to 10 seconds and repeat if desired.

(11-18-08)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isn't the flu, but its cold- and flu-like symptoms are surging in children, say infectious-disease specialists at UT Southwestern Medical Center. RSV is the leading cause of viral respiratory infections and hospitalizations in infants and children worldwide.

"RSV can cause bronchitis and pneumonia in several high-risk groups," says Dr. Asuncion Mejias, assistant professor of pediatrics. "These include prematurely born infants, children with heart disease or immune deficiencies and children up to 3 years of age who suffered from asthma or any other chronic lung ailment within six months prior to showing RSV symptoms."

Most children recover within a week, but RSV can cause repeated infections throughout life. There is no vaccine available.

Dr. Mejias says you can help prevent infection by maintaining high nutrition, washing hands regularly, keeping those infected away from children and not taking infants to areas of potential infection. Also, regularly cleaning bathrooms, other home and daycare surfaces, toys and eating utensils are effective steps in limiting exposure to RSV.

Monthly intramuscular injections of RSV-fighting antibodies are recommended for treating some higher-risk children during the fall-to-spring RSV season. Children with heart disease can be hospitalized and treated with high doses of aerosolized ribavirin within 48 hours of infection.

"RSV is mild to most adults, but elderly folk and others with immune deficiencies are at high risk for severe RSV impact," says Dr. Ramilo.

"This research suggests that there's a potential new mechanism for asthma related to viral infections in children that could be associated with RSV," says Dr. Mejias. "These findings could aid in the development of preventive and therapeutic interventions."

The most striking finding, Dr. Mejias says, is that the amount of virus detected in the lungs of the mice directly correlates with the severity of airway hyperreactivity. Airway hyperreactivity, or episodes of bronchospasms in humans, is the main characteristic of asthma.

(11-18-08)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) appears to affect movement in boys more than it does in girls, according to a study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders found in children. Symptoms include impulsiveness; hyperactivity, such as not being able to sit still; and inattention or constant daydreaming. Few studies have been done that compare ADHD and movement in both boys and girls.

Researchers tested the movement abilities of 132 boys and girls with ADHD and 136 without the disorder. The children were between the ages of 7 and 15 years and were tested for how fast and how well they could tap their toes, walk on their heels, maintain balance and keep a steady rhythm during a task compared to scores typical for their age.

The study found that girls with ADHD and the control group of children without ADHD were twice as likely to be able to control their movements for their age compared to boys with ADHD, who showed continued difficulties.

"Our findings suggest that the differences between boys and girls with ADHD show up not only in behavior and symptoms but also in development of movement control, likely because girls' brains mature earlier than boys' brains," says study author Dr. E. Mark Mahone with the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md.

"More studies related to ADHD and movement are needed that look at boys and girls separately and at younger ages," says Dr. Mahone.

For more information, visit www.aan.com.

(11-18-08)

A new American Academy of Peditrics (AAP) policy statement recommends that all children, 6 months through age 18, receive an annual influenza vaccine. The policy statement expands the previous recommendations to include all school-aged children, the population most likely to contract the disease and need influenza-related medical care.

The policy statement, which mirrors a similar recommendation earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calls for all children to be immunized during the 2008-2009 influenza season. The policy statement also recommends that household contacts and out-of-home care providers of children with high-risk conditions and healthy children younger than age 5, pregnant women and health care professionals, also receive a flu vaccine each year. Influenza vaccine administration should begin as soon as the vaccine becomes available, and immunization efforts should continue until May 1.

(11-11-08)

Adolescents may have more in common with their smoking parents than previously thought, a new study conducted by researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital finds. These adolescents may also share a tendency to act impulsively, a trait that could be linked to a decision to become a smoker. The study, slated for print publication in the January issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence and currently available online at ScienceDirect, may help identify behavioral risk factors for adolescent smoking – risk factors that could increase some teens' chance of addiction even before they pick up their first cigarette.

Dr. Brady Reynolds, the study's lead author and principal investigator with the Center for Biobehavioral Health of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, has focused much of his work on the connection between smoking and impulsivity, or more specifically, delay discounting. Delay discounting describes a person's preference for a smaller, more immediate reward over a larger reward that is delayed for a period of time. It also has been shown to play an important role in the behavior of cigarette smoking.

Dr. Reynolds' recent manuscript found that cigarette smoking mothers chose the immediate reward (discounted) significantly more than nonsmoking mothers. Similarly, children of mothers who smoked discounted significantly more than children of nonsmokers. These results parallel findings between adult addicted and non-addicted populations.

"Based on our findings, campaigns to prevent adolescents from smoking are likely to be more effective if they emphasize short-term consequences to smoking, as opposed to long-term consequences," says Dr. Reynolds, also a member of the faculty at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. "This strategy would seem to be especially important for those adolescents most at risk of nicotine addiction."

The research did not address whether or not discounting differences are due to genetic factors, home environmental factors related to cigarette smoking or perhaps smoking during pregnancy. Regardless, it does identify a measurable tendency that could increase the chance of addiction for adolescents who are already at increased risk for smoking, before any substantial use of nicotine.

(11-11-08)

With so much information about preschools available to parents, it can be difficult to choose the right program. One approach to evaluating a school that can help parents choose is the level of emphasis on learning through play. For young children, play is the natural way to learn, according to the experts.

In fact, research studies confirm that children who are allowed to play function better later in life, both socially and academically. "Young children who learn through play are more ready to make their own decisions, advocate for themselves and use creativity to solve problems as they grow," says Dr. Kyle Pruett, a Yale University child psychiatrist and consultant to the Goddard School, the fastest-growing franchise preschool program in the United States.

Dr. Pruett points out that play helps children learn to solve problems, promotes flexibility and motivation, teaches regulation of emotions and builds resilience and confidence. Play is also essential to the development of the child's brain, triggering trillions of neural connections that form the basis of healthy cognitive function and mastery of the child's physical world.

Playing alone and with others not only builds brain development, it also helps children develop social skills and a sense of ethics, say experts. The most effective play is free of evaluation and correction (after all, throwing a ball shouldn't be "right" or "wrong"), while promoting autonomy.

"True play is actually hard work," says Sue Adair, senior manager of quality assurance at Goddard Systems, Inc. "The child lost in play is exploring infinite possibilities. Caretakers and parents can assist the child's growth by participating in play and creating an environment that encourages play as a means to meet new developmental challenges."

So after parents have checked the basics that are required for any preschool, how can they find one with the right emphasis on play? Adair suggests looking at three things:

• Find a school that puts a priority on learning through play. For young children, play is unstructured and freeing. It's not about expensive toys. In fact, the simpler the toy, the more ways it can be used by a child developing his or her imagination. Toys and equipment should be carefully chosen, first for safety and then for how they stimulate young imaginations and help children develop.
• Look at the total environment. Environment means having clean, safe and spacious places to play, as well as the resources to provide imaginative, rewarding playtime. It also means a caring and well-trained staff, a critical element for any preschool. "Remember, how children are treated is as critical to their development as what they are taught," Dr. Pruett says.
• Ask about enrichment programs. Only the best preschools offer special enrichment programs at no extra cost, as part of the tuition. Enrichment programs – including yoga, manners and world cultures, for example – develop the whole child by encouraging their innate curiosity and imagination.

"At the end of the day, parents know they've chosen the right childcare program when their children are given time for child-centered exploratory play during the day," Adair says. "For a child, play isn't optional. The educational and other benefits of play are so important – in terms of healthy bodies and minds – that parents should put play at the top of their list when comparing preschool programs."

(11-04-08)

In honor of November's National Diabetes Month, The Cliffs Communities' Wellness Team – serving residents at The Cliffs at Keowee Springs, America's First Luxury Family Wellness Retreat – recommends parents educate themselves with helpful information and lifestyle guidance to lead their families down a healthier path. Wellness programming at The Cliffs, overseen by Dr. Nick Ulmer, the communities' executive medical director and vice president of Health and Wellness, and supported by on-staff Registered Dietician Katherine Spinks, is designed to engage the mind, body and spirit toward vitality and health.

"Healthful living starts at home," says Dr. Ulmer. "Many diseases are directly impacted by nutrition and exercise, none more so than childhood obesity, possibly the greatest health challenge facing the nation today. There is a direct correlation with Type II diabetes and obesity, and we are seeing this occur in much younger populations now."

In general terms, diabetes is an imbalance of sugar metabolism in the blood that requires constant attention to lifestyle habits in order to control it. Decreasing the amount of sugar and processed carbohydrates and increasing vegetables and fruits to offer a balance to what a child consumes daily will provide them with a greater foundation to live a long and healthy life. To achieve that goal, Dr. Ulmer and Spinks offer these 10 family friendly tips:

• Lead by example – Children are greatly influenced by their parents' choices including food, beverage consumption, smoking and exercise.
• Kids want what they can't have – Avoid calling foods "bad." Instead, relegate them to "sometimes" status – these include soft drinks, fried foods and processed items.
• Read (and understand) packaging labels – 4gm = 1 teaspoon of sugar. Many cereals are notorious for being high in sugar but children like them. Wean children off high-sugar cereals by mixing a little in the bowl with a low-sugar, high-fiber option until the blend becomes all healthy. The same goes for white and wheat/whole grain breads and pastas – mix them together until the new flavor and texture is familiar.
• Eat regularly (every four hours if possible) – Avoid skipping meals, which leads to erratic insulin levels and over eating.
• Choose the right snacks – Snacking between meals can actually make you feel better without hurting your diet. Fresh fruit, nuts and granola bars with less than 7gm of sugar are good selections.
• Dine sans TV – Overeating and less satisfaction come from dining in front of the television. Spend time together as a family as often as possible – part of a healthy family is an open line of communication. Sharing stories from the day sets the stage for thoughtful dialogue.
• Encourage active time outdoors – Get outside! Pick a family sport or support each other's interests. Fresh air from hiking, biking, golf, tennis or a simple stroll are essential for health. Establishing a pattern of activity will carry throughout a person's lifetime just like brushing and flossing before bed.
• Slow down with fast food – Eating in the car, on the go and with food that carries hidden calories, fat, sugar and a low level of nutritional value hurts the body. Limit fast food choices as much as possible.
• Include children in meal planning – The medical manifestations of one family member's obesity affect the entire family. Healthy meal planning should include all family members and can be an avenue for providing group support and buy-in to a sustainable wellness meal plan.
• Don't wait to start –The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that over the last three decades, childhood obesity rates have doubled for those ages 2 to 5 and 12 to 19; it has tripled for children aged 6 to 11. And the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data shows that overweight adolescents have a more than 70 percent chance of staying overweight as adults. Everything that a parent can do to help their children be active and make smart food choices will create a foundation for a better life long term.

(11-04-08)

The number of young people who had a food or digestive allergy increased 18 percent between 1997 and 2007, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2007, approximately 3 million U.S. children and teenagers under age 18 – or nearly 4 percent of that age group – were reported to have a food or digestive allergy in the previous 12 months, compared to just over 2.3 million (3.3 percent) in 1997.

The report found that eight types of food account for 90 percent of all food allergies: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. Reactions to these foods by an allergic person can range from a tingling sensation around the mouth and lips to hives and even death, depending on the severity of the reaction.

Children with food allergy are two to four times more likely to have other related conditions such as asthma and other allergies, compared to children without food allergies, the report says.

Other highlights:

• Boys and girls have similar rates of food allergy – 3.8 percent for boys and 4.1 percent for girls.
• Approximately 4.7 percent of children younger than 5 years have a reported food allergy compared to 3.7 percent of children and teens aged 5 to 17 years.
• Hispanic children have lower rates of reported food allergy (3.1 percent) than non-Hispanic white (4.1 percent) or non-Hispanic black children (4 percent).
• In 2007, 29 percent of children with food allergy also had reported asthma compared to 12 percent of children without food allergy.
• Approximately 27 percent of children with food allergy have reported eczema or skin allergy, compared to 8 percent of children without food allergy.
• More than 30 percent of children with food allergy also have reported respiratory allergy, compared with 9 percent of children with no food allergy.
• From 2004 to 2006, there were approximately 9,537 hospital discharges per year with a diagnosis related to food allergy among children from birth to 17 years. Hospital discharges with a diagnosis related to food allergy increased significantly over time between 1998 and 2000 through 2004 to 2006.

The mechanisms by which a person develops an allergy to specific foods are largely unknown. Food allergy is more prevalent in children than adults. Most affected children will outgrow food allergies, although food allergy can be a lifelong concern. The full report is available at www.cdc.gov/nchs.

(11-03-08)