5 NATURAL SOLUTIONS FOR A TEETHING BABY

Now that baby Vienna is almost six months old I’ve had a few months of trying different teething remedies. She started with symptoms around 2.5 months and her first bottom tooth poked through about a week ago. We were pretty excited!! It’s a sharp tooth though — ouch. No more munching on mommy’s finger. Thankfully we’ve had no breastfeeding mishaps.

As a natural mama and holistic nutritionist it is always my goal to seek out natural remedies first. From red cheeks, irritability to drooling to restlessness, pain and even fever — these are all common symptoms that can happen from teething. These are symptoms that can be addressed naturally and effectively. In fact, Vienna felt like she was burning up one night so before I took her to the walk-in-clinic I called “Telehealth” and a nurse rest assured me it will pass and just to keep a close watch on her for any changes. Now of course, you must always be careful with fevers which is why I wasn’t trying to treat it naturally until I had confidence from a nurse that it was not high enough to warrant medication.

After doing extensive research and testing out different options, these are the 5 best natural solutions for lessening the symptoms associated with teething in this video (links all the products below). I have personally found them to be very effective with my babe.

Chew Bead Necklace: The necklace I’m wearing is awesome because Vienna LOVES chewing on it and the counter-pressure on her gums relieves pain. It’s made of silicone, not plastic. I also find it handy because when she’s nursing, instead of pulling on my hair she grabs the necklace — it’s a good distraction!

Amber Necklace: This has helped to lessen the drooling. These necklaces have some controversy because some people worry they are a choking hazard. However, you take it off at night and don’t leave it on your baby unattended. The length is perfectly thought out because it can’t get tangled on anything as it is pretty short.

Mesh Ice Teething Feeder: If your baby isn’t on solids yet, just pop in some ice. The cold will feel good on her gums and relieve pain. Once your babe is old enough and has tried out different foods you can add frozen fruit.

Camilia: This is an effective homeopathic medicine. It helps with irritability and restlessness. When Vienna’s cheeks get super red and I can tell she’s restless this really helps. I have been using it as a preventative as well.

LOVE! This needs no explanation. Love is a proven endorphin producer which is the best natural pain reliever in the world. When Vienna is a cranky-pants because she is suffering (those cheeks give it away!) I just give her extra hugs and kisses.

I hope you find these tips useful mamas. Please do let me know what you’ve found to be helpful.

Wishing you joyous health!

Author,

JOY MCCARTHY

MELANOMA RATES DROPPING AMONG CHILDREN AND TEENS

Melanoma, characterized by mole-like cancerous growths, is on the rise in the U.S. The most serious form of skin cancer, it’s particularly rising among women and seniors. But what about kids?

While melanoma is significantly less common among children, five to six kids in every million develop melanoma in their youth. It takes just a few blistering sunburns to double the chance a child will develop skin cancer in her lifetime.

But while studies in years past suggested the rate of melanoma in children was also rising, the newest research says the opposite. Last summer, researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and its affiliated medical center reported in the Journal of Pediatrics that the rate of melanoma diagnoses in children and adolescents is actually declining.

Researchers analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry of the National Cancer Institute on more than 1,100 people under 20 years old who were diagnosed with melanoma between 2000 and 2010. Melanoma rates dropped by nearly 12 percent from 2004 to 2010, with the largest decline among teens and boys.

The researchers can’t pinpoint one particular cause of this trend, but growing awareness about sun safety may be responsible. Research indicates that teenagers are taking more steps, such as applying sunscreen, to protect themselves from damaging sun exposure. The authors also suggest that parents are becoming more proactive in safeguarding their young children.

They speculate that a negative trend may contribute to the decline as well: children, particularly boys, are spending more time playing video games and watching TV. That’s nothing to celebrate, as playing indoors may mean less harmful sun exposure, but also less exercise and other physical activity.

Whatever the cause, we hope the rates of pediatric melanoma keep dropping. The National Cancer Institute estimates more than 75,000 cases of adult melanoma in the U.S. this year. A lower risk of pediatric melanoma could mean fewer diagnoses when these children reach adulthood.

We encourage parents to continue to take healthy steps to protect their children from harmful sun exposure. Here are some helpful tips for the whole family:

Cover up

Wear protective clothing such as hats, visors, dark sunglasses, long sleeves and pants to block harmful UV rays.

Stay in the shade

While outdoors, seek shelter under overhangs, canopies, trees and awnings. Stroller hoods and umbrellas offer extra protection for little ones. Keep infants under six months out of direct sun.

Wear sunscreen

Look for sunscreen lotions – not spray or sticks – with zinc or titanium as the active ingredients (avoid oxybenzone or retinyl A). Apply liberally and reapply frequently, especially when swimming, sweating or playing in water.

Watch the clock

Harmful UV rays peak midday, so schedule errands and playtime during morning or late afternoon.

Be safe on the go

Pack diaper bags, purses and backpacks with sun safety essentials such as hats and sunscreen. Keep extra at your school, office or in the car.

COUGHS, COLDS & CONGESTION: LEARN NEW HOME REMEDIES FOR YOUR KIDS

It’s that time of year again for many of us – less daylight, busy holiday schedules and colds and flus making the rounds.  The discomfort (and even pain) associated with congestion is one of the most common symptoms.  (Not to mention that the inability to breath is just plain annoying.) This post featureshome remedies for congestion that will hopefully get you breathing right and on the fast track to healing the next time you’re battling congestion.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #1 – Tomato Tea

From Earth Clinic, a great site for home remedies, the top choice for sinus congestion is a recipe called “Jean’s Famous Tomato Tea“.  This recipe has received rave reviews for its ability to clear congestion. (Follow the link to read more from Jean and all the feedback from others at Earth Clinic.)

TOMATO TEA RECIPE

2 cups V8 Juice?2-3 cloves Garlic crushed (use more if you can)
?2 T Lemon Juice?Hot Sauce (the more the better, so as much as you can handle)
Mix and heat in a pan or in the microwave.
Sip slowly and re-warm as needed to get the full effects of the fumes. Let it sit in the back of your throat to bathe it. Suck the fumes through your sinuses and also down into your lungs. Its all natural and healthy, so drink as much of it as you want or need until you are SURE the infection is gone. This is past the time when you “feel better.”
This appears to be the best recipe, but from the comments, people often don’t have the right ingredients. Don’t let that hold you back. Use whatever you have available. Below are some substitutes that may not work as well or as fast, but will still help. I’ve listed them by their likely effectiveness:

Tomato Tea Ingredient Substitutes:

V8 Juice – tomato juice, vegetable juice, canned or fresh tomatoes crushed, tomato soup (if really desperate, try another kind of fruit juice, vegetable soup or even chicken soup. You’re aiming for high Vit C content)
Garlic – garlic in olive oil, dehydrated garlic, garlic salt (aiming for the strong anti-bacterial/fungal effects)
Lemon Juice – Fresh lemons, bottled juice, limes, lime juice, oranges, frozen lemonade
Hot Sauce – ANY kind of hot sauce works, fresh hot peppers, cayenne pepper, dried pepper flakes (if really desperate, try horseradish, black pepper or even mustard. You’re aiming for the highly anti-bacterial/fungal properties of capsaicin which is found in hot peppers, and its effectiveness at clearing out the sinuses.)

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #2 – Apple Cider Vinegar

Whether you drink it, inhale it, gargle it or squirt it up your nose, Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is another popular choice for treating congestion. For drinking, some folks take a shot of it straight up, others add lemon juice and cayenne, or mix it with water and honey. Popular proportions on Earth Clinic are 6 ounces of water, two tablespoons ACV, two – four teaspoons honey, consumed warm, every 6 to 8 hours.
To inhale ACV, boil some ACV on the stove and breathe the fumes, or mix a drop or two in your saline nose spray. (Make sure not to overdo it, and keep things clean.)  Read more about ACV and sinus congestion at Earth Clinic.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #3 – Steam – With or Without Herbs

A hot, steamy shower is a godsend when you’re stuffed up, but you can sneak it a little relief in a much smaller area by using a bowl of boiling water tented with a towel. Take a large bowl and add fresh or dried herbs such as eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint or New England Aster. (A few drops of high quality essential oils may also be used, or you can skip herbs altogether, but in my experience they do help.) Pour in boiling water. Lean over bowl and inhale as best you can, tenting your head with a towel to trap the vapors.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #4 – Hot Tea – Herbal or “Regular”

Hot tea with lemon and honey has been a congestion fighting favorite of mine for years.  Momma always stocked Lipton tea bags, but now I buy my black, green and oolong in bulk, and sometimes enjoy some tulsi(holy basil) tea blends as well.  Lemon is a great mucus clearer on it’s own, and con provide extra vitamin C, and honey is naturally antibacterial, so do include them in your brew.

For extra “oomph”, try herbal tea such as mullein, sage, ginger, peppermint, chamomile, eucalyptus, wild thyme and blackberry. (Source – New York Sinus Center.)

To make an herbal tea, cover 2 teaspoons dried leaves or 1/4 cup fresh leaves with 1 cup boiling water, steep for five to ten minutes, then strain and enjoy.  (For ginger root, use about a 1/2 inch piece of fresh root, or 1/2 tsp-1 tsp of dried root bits.)  I like to steep in a tea pot or cover my tea mug to keep the vapors from escaping. If you’ve really got a stubborn cough or cold, check out the recipes for Cough-Be-Gone and Sore Throat Syrup and Cold and Flu Tea.

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #5 – Foods

Livestrong.com suggests the following foods to help fight sinus congestion:

Pineapple

Omega 3 Fatty acids (found in cold water fish, nuts, eggs, fish oil, cod oil and flaxseed)

Garlic

Fluids (see hot tea)

Spices and Herbs

Vitamin C

Apple Cider Vinegar

The Holistic Herbal suggests limiting the following foods to reduce mucus:

Dairy products

Grains

Sugar

Potatoes and other starchy root vegetables

Home Remedy for Sinus Congestion #6 -DIY Vapor Rub

Simply take a small amount of coconut oil or palm shortening (about an ounce) and add a good quality essential oil (eucalyptus, mint or wintergreen)  (7-10 drops or more if needed) to get the strength you want and mix well.  Never use essential oil directly on your skin – always use a carrier oil.  Spread on the chest area or dab under the nose. I have found that oil pulling will also help loosen mild congestion, as will salt water gargles, but these are generally less effective than the above remedies, at least for me. Mountain Rose Herbs carries the herbs, spices and oils mentioned above, as well as tea making equipment, salve containers and just about anything else you need to make your own home remedies.

Author,
By Laurie of CommonSenseHome.com

QUENCH SUMMER’S THIRST WITH SAFER DRINKING WATER

No matter where you are in the country these days, chances are it is hot. From pediatricians to summer camp counselors the advice is currently the same: Make sure you keep hydrated. There are some 326 million trillion gallons of water on Earth, but when it comes to summer thirst, it’s the tap water that matters. And while most tap water is fit to drink, that’s not always the case.

Though water companies and municipalities check and purify their water, a lot can happen between those tests and your tap. Water may pass through old lead pipes. It might acquire toxic vinyl chloride from PVC pipes. It could be over-chlorinated or contain bacteria picked up along the way. Here’s how to keep your family hydrated with safe water:

First, get a Consumer Confidence Report from your water supplier. All public water systems serving at least 15 connections and 25 year-round residents must supply these annual reports, which summarize your water’s quality at the source.

To make sure it’s arriving in a similarly drinkable state, test your water at a lab like Suburban Water Testing Lab or National Testing Labs or ask your supplier or environmental officials to direct you to a local lab. Testing is tricky because you’ll need to specify the contaminants to check for. Here’s some guidance:

Always test for lead, which remains all too common in water supplies.

If your water company disinfects with chlorine, check for trihalomethanes, toxins created when chlorine reacts with natural organic chemicals in water.

If you live in an agricultural area, look for pesticides.

If you live in an industrialized or urban area, or near a waste dump, research your neighborhood on the Environmental Defense Fund’s Chemical Scorecard which summarizes local toxic releases. Test for any pollutants the Scorecard lists for your zip code.

Well water is different than municipal water. Private well owners should check for nitrates and bacteria. For more information, visit the EPA’s website for private well owners.  If your kids are at a summer camp with well water and you’re concerned, ask the camp owners if they’ve tested their water.

If your water has specific issues, like discoloration or odors, consult this EPA Home Water Testing Fact Sheet to see what your test should cover.

Results will dictate what if any further steps to take. If you need filtration, our Find the Right Water Filter Easy Step will help you secure a safe water supply—the only kind worth drinking to!

Special thanks to Aisha Ikramuddin, who wrote the original June 2007 post from which this has been adapted.

Author,

Alexandra Zissu

4 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR CHILD’S ASTHMA TRIGGERS

Some 6.8 million American children have asthma. Help your child breathe easier with these asthma-fighting tips:

TOP TIPS FOR BEATING SEASONAL ALLERGIES

Are you or your loved ones sneezing, wheezing and reaching for tissues? Welcome to spring – and seasonal allergies.

Every year, pollen and mold trigger uncomfortable allergic reactions from February to early summer across the United States. In severe cases, it can take allergy shots and prescription medications to alleviate the symptoms. For those seeking relief without visiting a doctor, try these tips:

Neti Pot

This teapot-like device can relieve congestion and sinus pressure by flushing mucus out of nasal passages. When used correctly, neti pots are generally considered safe, even for children. To prevent infection, prepare a saline nasal rinse at home. Use distilled or boiled and cooled tap water and clean the device thoroughly between uses. For a hassle-free option, try a ready-to-use nasal spray, available for purchase in drug stores.

Spring Cleaning

Good housecleaning habits can help keep allergies at bay:

Keep windows and doors closed when possible and leave shoes outside.

Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean floors and carpeted surfaces.

Regularly launder outdoor play clothes, bed sheets and pillowcases. Machine dry instead of using the clothes line. Pollen and mold can cling to fabric when it dries slowly.

If your pets spend time outdoors, consider bathing them more frequently during allergy season.

OTC Medications and Herbal Supplements

Antihistamines, nasal steroids, decongestants and cromolyn sodium are all common over-the-counter medications used to treat the symptoms of allergies. Available in spray or capsule form, they work by blocking the release of histamines that trigger allergy symptoms or lowering mucus and sinus pressure.

In clinical trials, some herbal supplements and nutrients, such as butterbur, have shown potential for curbing allergy symptoms. But they may not be as effective or safe as medication, especially for long-term use during allergy season.

Avoid Triggers

If you know what causes your allergies, take steps to avoid the triggers:

Check local weather reports for pollen and mold counts and stay indoors when they’re highest, generally at midday and in the afternoon. Plan kids’ outdoor playtime for the morning.

When you garden or mow the lawn, wear a face mask and goggles to block pollen and mold from entering your nose, mouth and eyes. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology recommends a NIOSH-rated 95 filter mask.

Minimize other allergy triggers such as foods, insect bites and chlorine, which can exacerbate symptoms.

Author,

Megan Boyle

STRAWBERRIES TOP THE LIST OF WORST FRUITS AND VEGGIES FOR PESTICIDE RESIDUES

One of your kid’s favorite fruits is hiding a dirty secret.

Of all the fresh fruits and vegetables available for sale in the United States, sweet, sun-kissed strawberries are the most likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues, according to EWG’s 2016 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.

This year, for the first time strawberries top EWG’s Dirty Dozen list of produce with the highest amount of pesticide, even after you’ve washed them. Other dirty produce includes peaches, nectarines and apples – previously No. 1 for five years running. Click here to see the full list.

EWG analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whose tests found nearly 150 different pesticides on thousands of produce samples from 2014, the most recent year available. Nearly three in four fruit and vegetable samples contained residue from at least one pesticide.

But the results aren’t all bad. EWG’s Clean Fifteen list names the produce with the lowest amount of pesticide residues. Avocados lead the pack, with less than one percent showing any traces. Sweet corn, pineapples, cabbage, frozen sweet peas and onions rank among the clean fruits and veggies as well. Click here to see the full list.

EWG’s 2016 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce aims to help parents make healthy shopping choices. Here are our top tips for putting this information into action:

Eat plenty of fruits and veggies, regardless of where they fall on these lists. The nutritional payoff is worth it.
To limit pesticide exposure, buy organic produce whenever you can. But if your options or budget are limited, focus on choosing organic versions of the Dirty Dozen to get the biggest benefit for your family.
Always wash fruits and veggies before eating, whether they’re “clean” or “dirty,” organic or conventional. Rubbing produce under running water removes not only pesticide residue, but also dirt and germs from handling.

US researchers confirm Zika causes birth defects

The mosquito-borne Zika virus causes birth defects, including a syndrome in which babies are born with unusually small heads, US health authorities attributing scientists confirmed on Wednesday after months of debate and uncertainty.


"Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have concluded, after careful review of existing evidence, that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects," said a statement from the federal agency.


The decision was based in part on a series of studies in Brazil, where thousands of babies were born last year with birth defects, coinciding with a spike in Zika virus infections among the general public.


"This study marks a turning point in the Zika outbreak," said CDC chief Tom Frieden.


"It is now clear that the virus causes microcephaly."


There was no "smoking gun," or single piece of evidence that offered conclusive proof, said the full report, published in New England Journal of Medicine.


Rather, the decision was made based on "increasing evidence from a number of recently published studies and a careful evaluation using established scientific criteria," said the CDC.


Further studies are being launched to "determine whether children who have microcephaly born to mothers infected by the Zika virus is the tip of the iceberg of what we could see in damaging effects on the brain and other developmental problems," Frieden added.


Zika virus was first identified in 1947 in Uganda, but the virus was poorly understood and symptoms have typically been mild, including rash, joint pain and fever. Most of those infected report no symptoms at all.

Zika was first identified in Brazil in early 2015, and a surge in infants born with microcephaly began nine months later, in September.


Brazil has confirmed 907 cases of microcephaly and 198 babies with the birth defect who have died since the Zika virus outbreak started, officials there said last month.


The Brazilian health ministry said it is still investigating 4,293 suspicious cases.


"The severe microcephaly and other brain anomalies that have been observed in many infants are consistent with an infection occurring in the first or early second trimester of pregnancy," said the report in the New England Journal of Medicine.


Until now, no mosquito-borne virus has been known to cause birth defects, and the last infectious pathogen known to cause an epidemic of birth defects was the rubella virus more than 50 years ago.


Experts reviewing the evidence of microcephaly in Brazil found a similar increase in the birth defects in French Polynesia, which was hit by an outbreak of Zika in 2013 and 2014, though the number of microcephaly cases was small, totaling just eight.


Microcephaly is a rare defect that occurs in six out of every 10,000 births in the United States.


The lack of clarity on whether or not Zika could be established firmly as a cause of birth defects may have contributed to poor public understanding of the virus and its risks, the report said.


A recent poll of Americans found that one in four were unaware of any association between Zika and birth defects, and one in five believed, wrongly, that there was a vaccine to prevent it.


Women who are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant are advised to avoid the more than 30 places in Latin America and the Caribbean where Zika is circulating, and to wear mosquito repellant if they live in those areas.


While is now known to Zika cause microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects, the actual risk of such birth defects remains unknown.


Indeed, some women who were infected with Zika while pregnant gave birth to apparently healthy children.

The CDC said it would not change it recommendations for women who are or want to get pregnant. They should continue to avoid traveling to Zika infected areas. Their partners should either use condoms or abstain from sexual contact while the woman is pregnant.


"Establishing this causal relationship between Zika and fetal brain defects is an important step in driving additional prevention efforts, focusing research activities, and reinforcing the need for direct communication about the risks of Zika," said the CDC.


"While one important question about causality has been answered, many questions remain."

FDA TAKES A BABY STEP TO LIMIT ARSENIC IN RICE CEREAL

The Food and Drug Administration has for the first time proposed a limit to the amount of inorganic arsenic that manufacturers can allow in infants’ rice cereal. The question is whether the new “action level” – 100 parts per billion – is low enough to protect children’s health?

Before taking action, the agency tested 76 samples of infants’ rice cereals and found that nearly half met the proposed action level. Most were at or below 110 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic, just 10 percent above the proposed limit. You can read the FDA’s full risk assessment report here.

Rice and other plants take up arsenic from soil and irrigation water, but rice absorbs much more than other crops, potentially endangering people who eat a lot of rice or rice-based foods. Arsenic exposure can lead to serious health problems, including cardiovascular and lung disease, diabetes and cancer, especially of the bladder, lungs and skin.

The FDA is particularly concerned with children’s exposure, which can be two-to-three times higher than adults’ and typically peaks when a baby is around eight months old. Studies suggest that in addition to increasing the risk of cancer, arsenic exposure during pregnancy and childhood can lower a child’s IQ.

At the 100 ppb limit in rice cereal intended for infants and young children, the FDA’s proposal mirrors the one set by the European Union in June of last year. The EU also mandated limits for white rice (200 ppb), parboiled rice and brown rice (250 ppb) and processed foods made with rice, including pasta, crackers and rice cakes (300 ppb).

Experts in arsenic and its health effects have criticized the EU limits as too high to offer meaningful protection. Healthy Child Healthy World also questions their effectiveness. At 100 ppb, the FDA’s proposed maximum is only slightly lower than the current average for baby cereals on the U.S. market. Most companies won’t need to do anything to comply.

A lower level would do more to protect infants. At 90 parts per billion, manufacturers would have to buy rice grown in less contaminated areas or mix it with other grains in order to drive down the amount of arsenic in baby cereal.

Even then, Healthy Child Healthy World recommends that parents limit the amount of rice cereal they feed babies. Here are steps parents and pregnant women can take to protect their little ones from arsenic exposure.

The FDA will accept and consider public comments on its draft proposal through July 5. Click here to tell FDA to take stronger steps to limit babies’ exposure to arsenic.

And though the FDA action focuses on baby cereal, its report highlights the serious risks of cancer for anyone who eats rice frequently. There’s no easy fix for this, but the agency’s report does confirm some good news: Cooking rice in extra water and then draining it is an effective way to lower the amount of arsenic your family consumes.

EWG RANKS CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR BABIES

Every parent knows that caring for a new baby requires lots and lots of cleaning. But can washing up the milk and spit-up introduce your baby to potentially harmful chemicals?

For its spring 2016 update, EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning analyzed more than 400 new cleaning products and formulations, including ones marketed for new parents and their babies’ needs.

The guide looks closely at product ingredients, labels and online transparency, then ranks products with a letter grade from A (best) to F (worst). Of course, some of the products are better than others. Click here to view the list of cleaning products for babies.

Products that score poorly contain such hazardous ingredients as the allergenic preservative methylisothiazolinone (MIT) or sodium borate (borax), which can disrupt hormones and harm the reproductive system.

Poorly rated products use sparse or vague terminology – such as “biodegradable surfactants,” “fragrance” and “fabric brighteners” (also known as optical brighteners) – but do not disclose specific ingredients on the label. Visit the guide’s Label Decoder to learn more about what these terms mean.

Almost half of the products EWG analyzed failed to display a complete list of specific ingredients anywhere. Manufacturers can get away with this legally, since virtually no federal or state laws require manufacturers to disclose their cleaning products ingredients.

Products with better scores contain ingredients with fewer health hazards and make more ingredient disclosure on the package and on the company website.

The cleaning products for babies are among 406 new products from 85 brands just added to EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning. The new products were available in stores from October 2015 to February 2016 or were submitted directly to EWG by manufacturers. EWG evaluated and rated the products according to the Guide to Healthy Cleaning methodology.

For more information on the cleaning products for babies – as well as those for your whole household – visit EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.

FIND SAFER BABY FORMULA

Debating between breast feeding and formula feeding? Healthy Child recommends breastfeeding if possible for at least the first 12 months of life. We’re in good company here – the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization agree.

However, there are important and valid reasons a family might need to use formula.

It’s important to consult with your pediatrician to pick the best and safest option for your baby, especially in light of increasing recalls on infant formulas. The number one thing to keep in mind is to choose organic to avoid pesticide residues, synthetic hormones, and genetically modified ingredients, among other concerns.

Here are other considerations when shopping for baby formula and baby bottles:

When deciding between powdered and liquid, read up on the issues with either to make an informed choice. Powdered isn’t a sterile product and has been subject to recalls in the past due to contamination, so might not be the right choice for very young infants. (For best powdered formula preparation practices, turn to this World Health Organization guide.) If you opt for liquid formula, make sure it comes in a BPA-free container.

Use distilled or filtered water for preparing formula. There are many reasons to do this, including that fluoride found in municipal drinking water can harm rather than help baby’s teeth. The American Dental Association suggests mixing formula with water that either is fluoride-free or has low concentrations of fluoride.

Choose glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free bottles with silicone nipples.

Do not heat water or formula in plastic. If you’re using a plastic bottle, heat in glass first then transfer to the bottle.

If you’re using plastic, wash bottles with a mild plant-based detergent by hand to prevent degradation. Replace bottles and nipples when they become worn.

You may see DHA and ARA mentioned on product packaging. These fatty acids, vital for brain and eye development, are most efficacious as naturally occurring components of breast milk; artificial versions have not been shown to have the same developmental results. There has been some concern regarding the method used to extract them for use in formula, but they’re difficult to avoid as nearly all formulas are fortified with them. Still, these nutrients are vital for healthy development and manufacturers continue to look for natural, effective sources, so do a little research to see what the latest recommendations are from sources like the FDA and American Academy of Pediatricians.

Formula contains added sugar to help babies digest proteins. The FDA doesn’t set an amount of sugar per serving or specify which sugars can be used. Discuss with your pediatrician to determine how much is too much and which kind (i.e. sucrose or lactose) is preferable for your baby.

FIVE NATURAL REMEDIES FOR EAR INFECTIONS

Fever, headache, tugging at the ear, crying more than usual and trouble sleeping – most parents recognize that these dreaded symptoms mean an ear infection.

More than 80 percent of children will get at least one ear infection by age three, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates. That makes them the most common reason parents take young kids to see a doctor.

These days, however, pediatricians are intervening less in the healing process and prescribing far fewer antibiotics. Globally, taking antibiotics when they aren’t strictly necessary is contributing to the buildup of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a problem that threatens the health of both children and adults.

If your child has an ear infection, pediatricians may suggest medicated eardrops, nasal spray or over-the-counter pain relievers to ease your child’s discomfort. Tylenol and Motrin are often recommended for fever pain.

Consult a health care professional first if you suspect your child has an ear infection or if your child experiences new or escalating symptoms, especially a rising fever or fluid seeping from the ear. For more natural steps you can take, here are some options to consider. Note that these approaches have varying degrees of effectiveness.

Things that work

Time

In most cases, time is the best cure. Symptoms often clear within 72 hours. Warm compresses and steam inhalation may alleviate pain as you wait it out.

Prevention

These steps can lower the odds that your child will develop an ear infection in the first place:

Avoid secondhand smoke. Studies show that children exposed to cigarette smoke develop more ear infections.

Practice good hygiene. Encourage kids to wash their hands frequently. Avoid playtime with sick children. Thoroughly clean bottles, which harbor more bacteria than sippy cups.

Breastfeed if possible. Breastfed babies are less likely to contract viral or bacterial infections, including ear infections. For bottle-fed babies, sitting or being held upright while eating has been shown to decrease infection rates.

Limit pacifier sucking by babies over six months old. Evidence suggests that it increases the risk of recurrent ear infections.
Vaccinations are also protective. Studies show that kids who are up to date with their shots – especially for pneumonia, meningitis and flu – get fewer ear infections.

Things that might work

Researchers have explored a variety of alternative measures to prevent ear infections. Although clinical data shows mixed results, these are generally safe to try.

Vitamin D

Studies suggest that children with recurrent ear infections are more likely to have low vitamin D levels. When researchers gave vitamin D supplements to kids with recurrent infections in two separate studies (here’s one), they got fewer new infections during the study period.

Researchers still lack evidence to show cause and effect, but many kids are low in vitamin D, so a supplement will likely offer other health benefits. Babies need 400 IU (10 mcg) per day, and daily supplements are especially important for breastfed babies. Everyone else needs 600 IU (15 mcg) per day, which generally requires taking a daily supplement during the winter months.

Probiotics

Researchers have also studied oral probiotics and nasal sprays for preventing ear infections. More research is necessary to determine which strains of bacteria might be most helpful, whether it’s best to administer them as a spray versus oral supplements, and the best dose. But probiotics are generally low-risk and offer other health benefits, such as aiding digestion.

Vitamins and Nutrients

Some studies suggest that common vitamins and nutrients such as zinc, vitamin A and omega-3 fish oils may help kids stay healthy and prevent ear infections, but the evidence is mixed. Be sure to read bottle labels carefully for the appropriate dose for children.

Xylitol

Surprisingly, several studies have shown that this natural fruit sugar, common in sugar-free foods, can also help prevent ear infections. Xylitol inhibits bacterial growth, which is one reason why toothpastes and gums made with xylitol are good for teeth.

Several studies found that giving kids xylitol – as gum, syrup or nasal spray – prevented recurrent ear infections, but mainstream doctors caution that they need more data before they’ll routinely recommend it.

To produce a preventive benefit, most of the studies to date have found that it is necessary to give xylitol to kids five times a day (approximately 10 grams per day total). At this dose, kids generally had a 30 percent decrease in recurrent ear infections. Gum and lozenges appear to be more effective than syrup, although syrup may be the only realistic option for young children.

Physicians and parents know that such frequent treatments can be a challenge for busy families, and lower doses may not be helpful. A recent study that gave kids xylitol three times a day (15 grams total) did not show any preventive benefit.

Be aware that some kids may develop digestive problems when given xylitol, particularly in higher doses.

Not enough evidence

Other herbs and alternative treatments

Most herbal supplements have not been rigorously tested for preventing or treating ear infections. The NIH Center for Complementary and Integrative Health offers these tips for parents considering herbal supplements for children.

Osteopathy, chiropractic and traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine all suggest alternative approaches for ear infections. These options have been little studied and may vary from one provider to the next. High cost or low availability may make them impractical for some families.

Don’t go there

You may see resources that recommend trying ear candling or herbal preparations that include mercury, goldenseal or colloidal silver to prevent ear infection. These are not safe for children. Don’t try them.

Author,

Megan Boyle

CLEAR ADVICE ON HEALTHY EATING: INTRODUCING EWG’S NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES

News outlets around the country covered the Obama administration’s release of new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, praising the good, scolding the bad and shining a bright light on the ugly.

And there’s certainly ugly. While the guidelines aim to reflect the most up-to-date wisdom about health and nutrition, they’re far from perfect – or unbiased. Under the influence of food industry lobbyists, the guidelines fail to encourage people to eat less meat or explain the risk of eating too much fish that’s high in mercury. They also fall short on advice about sugar. Information about drinking more water and fewer sweetened beverages is hard to find and gets low priority.

The guidelines have consequences for Americans of all ages. They help set policy, such as determining what’s served to children in school lunches and what’s covered for families on food stamps. They can also shape the guidance health care professionals give their patients. That’s a scary proposition at a time when far too many people, including growing children, suffer from chronic, preventable diseases such as obesity and diabetes that are linked to what we eat and how little we exercise.

The government’s problematic guidelines fail to provide the clear and simple advice about healthy eating that we all need. So EWG compiled its own Dietary Guidelines to help families make better food decisions, emphasizing what’s good for our health as well as the planet.

Here are the top five guidelines from EWG, based on the organization’s own research on food, meat, seafood, pesticides in produce and more. Read the full guidelines – and how you can easily apply them at home – by visiting the new EWG Dietary Guidelines web site.

Eat more vegetables and fruits. Avoid pesticides when you can.

Eat less meat, especially red and processed meat.

Skip sodas and sugary or salty foods.

Eat healthy and sustainable seafood that’s low in mercury.

Beware of processed foods with harmful chemicals.

IS MY FAMILY’S TAP WATER POLLUTED?

 The drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan, has people across the country wondering: how can I tell if our tap water is polluted with lead?

As has been widely reported, lead pipes or the solder that connects them may leach lead into tap water. Municipal water utilities may be responsible for these pipes, or they may be inside your home.

How much lead is in your family’s tap water can vary considerably, from tiny amounts to concentrations well above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s action limit – 15 parts per billion in water. That’s the level at which public utilities must inform the public about lead contamination and take steps to stop it from migrating from pipes into water.

But even water contaminated at lower concentrations than 15 parts per billion can be harmful, especially to kids and pregnant women. The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control says that “No safe blood lead level in children has been identified.”

Here are the questions you need to ask:

Is the plumbing in my neighborhood or home exposing my family to lead?

Ask your water provider if your tap water enters your home through a lead service line. Although most utilities stopped installing lead lines decades ago, the nation’s aging infrastructure still counts between 3.3 and 6.4 million lead service lines, particularly in older neighborhoods in the Northeast and Midwest.

A 1986 amendment to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act banned the use of lead in plumbing materials, but nearly all houses and apartments built before then still use copper pipes connected by lead solder. As these older pipes and fixtures corrode or the soldering breaks down, lead particles can get into your tap water.

Check your utility’s water report or independently test your water if you live in a structure built before 1986. Newer houses pose less risk but could still harbor lead in the plumbing: the 1986 amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act allowed “lead-free” pipes to contain up to 8 percent lead, or solder and flux up to 0.2 percent. Congress did not tighten these restrictions until 2011.

Does my water utility test its output and take measures to reduce lead contamination?

Since lead gets into water after it leaves the treatment plant, the EPA requires water utilities to test lead content in customer residences and take action if the lead level reaches 15 parts per billion in more than 10 percent of tested homes.

But the EPA regulations contain some important loopholes: they exempt water systems serving fewer than 25 people and well water from the residential lead testing requirement. This exemption affects some 40 million to 45 million Americans.

How do I get the test results for my water?

Public drinking water utilities that regularly test water for contaminants are required to disclose their results. If you live within a utility’s boundaries and do not receive this information by mail, call its local office to request a copy of the report or look for it on the utility’s website. You can call EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 to learn how to get your results.

Consider testing your own tap water if: any homes in your community test positive for lead, if your family lives in a remote or small community that does not test tap water, or if you drink well water.

Test your water through a state-certified commercial laboratory. Labs generally recommend that you collect a sample of cold water that has sat overnight and another sample of cold water after you have run the tap for one minute. The EPA sets its action level at 15 micrograms per liter (ug/L) or parts per billion (ppb), a measurement equivalent to 0.0015 milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm).

Author,

Megan Boyle

FDA-APPROVED FOOD PACKAGING EXPOSES BABIES TO TOXIC ROCKET FUEL CHEMICAL

Perchlorate, a toxic component of rocket fuel, may be harming your baby’s development – and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing it to happen, even in the face of clear health hazards.

That’s why Environmental Working Group has joined the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental and public health organizations to sue the FDA for letting manufacturers use perchlorate as a food additive.

Perchlorate disrupts thyroid function and hormone production, both essential for healthy brain and organ development. At greatest risk of harm are fetuses, babies and young children.

Millions of Americans face unavoidable exposure to perchlorate in drinking water and contaminated produce and milk. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and local water utilities, particularly in California, are making major efforts to identify, regulate and clean up perchlorate in drinking water.

Yet the FDA permits manufacturers to add perchlorate to plastic packaging for powdered baby formula and foods such as rice and beans. FDA argues that perchlorate is safe in food packaging, but that position is based on a deeply flawed analysis and also ignores new science underscoring the risk.

“Banning perchlorate should be a no-brainer when you consider its threat to human health, particularly to fetal development,” said Ken Cook, co-founder and president of the Environmental Working Group. “We hope this lawsuit spurs FDA to give a new look at the science, instead of relying on its original, flawed reasoning, and to move swiftly to protect consumers from exposure to this toxic chemical.”

The Breast Cancer Fund, Center for Food Safety, Center for Environmental Health and Center for Science in the Public Interest joined EWG and NRDC in the suit, filed March 31.

The groups previously petitioned FDA to ban the use of perchlorate in food packaging, but the agency failed to respond.

INFANTS’ EXPOSURE TO TOXIC FIRE RETARDANT LINKED TO BABY ITEMS

Evidence of a chemical linked to cancer and hormone disruption was found in the urine of all babies tested for a new study from Duke University. The sources, researchers say, could be nursery gliders, car seats, bassinets and other baby products that might be treated with toxic fire retardant chemicals. The remains of a second chemical also linked to endocrine disruption were found in 93 percent of the infants tested.

The chemicals are TDCIPP (tris(1,3-dichloro-isopropyl)phosphate) and TPHP (triphenyl phosphate). Four years ago, Duke researchers found TDCIPP in 36 percent of the baby products they tested that were purchased between 2000 and 2010. In the new study, the same research group tested the urine collected from 43 babies for evidence of TDCIPP and TPHP, and the results were alarming.

Each of the babies tested had detectable levels of a chemical produced when the body processes TDCIPP, known as a metabolite. A metabolite of TPHP was detected in all but three infants.

Adding to the concern, more infants in this study had extreme levels of the TDCIPP metabolite in their urine, compared to toddlers tested in a separate study conducted last year by Duke and EWG. What’s more, the levels of both chemicals were on average higher than amounts previously found in adults.

The State of California lists TDCIPP as a known carcinogen and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission considers it a probable human carcinogen. It may also disrupt endocrine signaling – the chemical messages hormones send throughout the body – which is vital during the early stages of a baby’s development. TPHP is also linked to hormone disruption that may cause developmental or reproductive harm.

In the new study, the level of the TDCIPP metabolite in the babies’ urine was closely related to the number of infant products their parents owned. Babies whose parents reported owning more than 16 such products had on average almost seven times more of the metabolite in their urine than babies in families who owned fewer than 13 products. Children who attended daycare centers also had higher levels of the metabolite, suggesting that products there added to their exposure.

This study is not intended to be a warning to parents to avoid buying the things needed to keep their babies safe and comfortable. However, it does mean parents should consider doing their homework before shopping. Not all baby items have added fire retardants, and parents can choose items free of these chemicals.

Read this Guide to Fire Retardants in Children’s Products to learn what you need to know to minimize your family’s exposure to these toxic chemicals.

But smarter shopping may not be enough. The United States’ weak and outdated regulations fail to adequately protect babies or others who are most vulnerable from the effects of toxic chemicals. The system needs reform, so that parents can be confident that the products they buy for their newborns are safe. To learn more, visit EWG’s website on the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Q&A: ARE CHILDREN SAFE PLAYING ON ARTIFICIAL TURF?

Is artificial turf safe? The debate is heating up:

The Connecticut legislature is reviewing a new bill to ban crumb rubber playgrounds across the state.

California state scientists are evaluating the “potential human health effects associated with use of recycled waste tires in playground and synthetic turf products.”

Last month three federal agencies launched a joint investigation into the safety of popular crumb rubber surfaces on playgrounds and playing fields.

Dr. Robert Wright, chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City, answers our questions about how artificial turf may pose concerns for children’s health.

HCHW: The Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center has called for a moratorium on the use of artificial turf made from recycled rubber tires. Why?

Robert Wright: We are advising against the use of crumb rubber fields until safety is proven. This is because the product is made from recycled automobile tires, which are well known to contain metals and other toxic chemicals. Some components of tire rubber are linked to cancer and others are toxic to the nervous and other systems.

The risks of exposure have not been fully studied, especially in the context of the wide range of potentially harmful chemicals, which are found in rubber tires. Ironically, if a field was filled with discarded tires it would be considered a hazardous waste site. The primary difference is that the tires were ground up in the crumb rubber field.

What makes children uniquely vulnerable to harmful exposures from crumb rubber surfaces?

RW: There are many reasons to think children will be more vulnerable:

Children on average are lower to the ground and therefore closer to the source of off-gassing.

Children have higher ventilation rates relative to adults and if significant off-gassing occurs, they will inhale a larger amount relative to their body size.

If ingested, a crumb rubber pellet would represent a larger per kilogram dose in a child versus an adult, because of their smaller size.

Many of these fields are in schools and therefore used almost exclusively by children.

Young children are not able to regulate their body temperature as well as adults, making them more vulnerable to injury from the extreme heat exposures that are possible on crumb rubber fields.

Children are commonly more susceptible to environmental chemicals, biologically, because their bodies are developing and the chemicals or toxic insults can offset the normal developmental trajectory.

What responsibilities do schools, communities and sports organizations have in making play surfaces safe for kids?

RW: The decision to purchase a particular type of field is not in the hands of parents, which we believe means that these organizations must take these issues into consideration.

At a minimum, these institutions need to address the concerns of parents and whether there are alternatives that can be mutually agreed upon as safe. There are such alternatives for fields – cork, for example. In addition, while grass fields can have pesticide applications, such applications are not mandatory and can be controlled or minimized with proper planning.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Consumer Product Safety Commission have teamed up to investigate the safety of crumb rubber surfaces on playgrounds and playing fields. What do you hope their investigation achieves?

RW: The research on off-gassing and exposure is very incomplete, and does not consider the full spectrum of chemicals that are found in crumb rubber, either individually or as a mixture.

We hope to see comprehensive studies that consider, at a minimum, exposure assessment under realistic playing conditions, all possible routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion and absorption through skin) and potential health effects not only of individual chemicals, but also of mixtures of chemicals. Mixtures are the real life scenario.

What can concerned parents do to safeguard children who play on crumb rubber surfaces?

RW: Concerned parents should spring into action even before a crumb rubber field is installed. The most effective strategy is for parents to join with each other and also to form alliances with medical societies, nursing organizations, elected officials and anyone else in the community who is in position to raise vociferous opposition to the installation of these untested products.

Once a field has been installed, parents can minimize their children’s risk by always making their children shower as soon as they return home from playing on the fields in order to remove any crumb rubber.

A second step is to avoid playing on the field on very hot, sunny days when temperatures can reach dangerous levels.

A third step is to meticulously clean any cuts or abrasions caused by the field, because there have been outbreaks of [staph bacteria] skin infections associated with such cuts and scrapes.

PREMATURE BIRTHS LINKED TO TOXIC CHEMICALS

The rate of premature births in the U.S. is among the highest in the developed world, with nearly one in 10 babies born in 2014 arriving before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

It’s also the number one cause of infant mortality. Very premature babies who do survive often endure serious problems for the rest of their lives, including diabetes, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities and breathing and vision problems, among other issues.

It’s difficult to pinpoint what causes pre-term birth, but many obstetricians as well as federal health authorities strongly urge pregnant women to avoid smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs. Poor nutrition, infection and carrying twins or triplets can also trigger early births. But research indicates the cause of roughly half of all premature births is unknown.

An emerging body of research is connecting pre-term birth to in utero exposure to toxic chemicals. You can learn more in this terrific video, Little Things Matter: The Impact of Toxins on Preterm Birth, by Bruce Lanphear, M.D., Ph.D, one of the world’s leading experts in children’s environmental health.

EWG was a pioneer in investigating industrial pollution in the womb, documenting the presence of toxic chemicals in the bodies of newborns.

EWG co-founder and president, Ken Cook, brought the findings of this landmark research to tens of thousands of people through a widely seen presentation titled 10 Americans. It’s a little over 20 minutes long – worth every second of your time if you’re worried about the impacts of toxic chemicals on our children’s health. 

Author,

Alex Formuzis

HOW TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AT YOUR CHILDREN’S SCHOOL

A healthy, resting adult takes 12 to 20 breaths per minute.

Children, from school-age to preschoolers and younger, take many more. It’s normal for a toddler to take twice as many breaths as an adult, and an infant may take a full three times more.

Every breath matters, especially for their developing lungs, and approximately 75 million Americans live in communities with unhealthy air. In addition, the EPA reports that half of the 115,000 schools in the United States have problems linked to indoor air quality. So it’s not too surprising that 6.8 million American children have asthma, and the number is climbing.

How can parents and teachers help children breathe easier? Here’s what you need to know about air quality in and around schools and what you can do to improve it.

Indoors

Almost 55 million students and 7 million staff members spend their days in school facilities across the country. If you and your loved ones are among them, you might be inhaling a host of indoor pollutants including building materials (such as asbestos), cleaning products, radon and even mold. In addition to triggering health problems such as headaches and asthma, indoor air quality can affect children’s academic performance and increase absenteeism.

The good news: Administrators, teachers and families have tools to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools. Many are similar to those you may use in your own home.

EPA offers an IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit that provides guidelines, best practices, sample policies and a sample management plan. Areas to focus on include improving HVAC systems, maintaining filters and carbon monoxide detectors, controlling moisture and mold, managing pests and carefully selecting cleaning and building materials.

EPA does not require schools to monitor their air quality, submit information about it or use these voluntary tools, so it’s important for parents to speak up. Share the action kit with your school and talk to decision makers about what they’re doing to improve indoor air quality. Here are additional recommendations for parents, particularly those whose children suffer from asthma.

Some states and school districts have specific policies or regulations to improve indoor air quality. To learn about your area, visit the Environmental Law Institute’s database of state indoor air quality laws or contact your state’s IAQ or IAQ Tools for Schools coordinator.

Outdoors

When students step outside school buildings for fresh air, that air might not be so fresh. Pollutants such as smoke, road dust, car exhaust and factory emissions can all add up to poor quality air. And some days are better than others.

How can you tell the difference? Check your local Air Quality Index. The daily index reports how polluted your air is and what it means for your health. Among other pollutants, the index tests for ground-level ozone (smog) and airborne particles, the two most hazardous types of air pollution.

Children are particularly sensitive to air pollution, so when air quality is rated orange – “unhealthy for sensitive groups” – it might be wise to limit prolonged periods outdoors and avoid heavy exertion, including outdoor sports.

Some school districts adjust recess and outdoor play based on air quality. Ask your children’s school about its air quality policies and share the EPA’s Air Quality Index Toolkit for Teachers. To find your Air Quality Index, search by zip code on AirNow.com, sign up for email alerts on EnviroFlash.info or check local weather reports on television or in the newspaper.

Do you see buses idling outside your children’s school? Diesel exhaust can damage lungs, irritate eyes and throats and trigger asthma or allergies, so check out these tips and tools for reducing bus idling. These resources are designed not just for schools, but for students, parents and community members as well. Talk to your kids about why air quality matters and encourage them to get involved, too.

Author,

Megan Boyle

FEEDING ANTIBIOTICS TO HEALTHY ANIMALS RISKS CHILDREN’S HEALTH

The influential American Academy of Pediatrics, which numbers 64,000 pediatricians, has added its voice to the growing movement of public health professionals who are demanding an end to the dangerous overuse of antibiotics in meat and poultry production.

A new technical report by Dr. Jerome A. Paulson and Dr. Theoklis E. Zaoutis of the AAP Council on Environmental Health and Committee on Infectious Diseases described how the widespread agricultural practice of dosing healthy, if overcrowded, livestock and poultry with antibiotics to induce weight gain and prevent disease has contributed to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant microbes.

“Infants and children are affected by transmission of [antibiotic-resistant, disease-causing pathogens] through the food supply, direct contact with animals, and environmental pathways,” they wrote. “…For most [food-borne] infections, incidence was highest among children younger than 5 years.” And when antibiotics fail, these children are in a fight for their lives.

Paulson and Zaoutis took aim at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, whose guidelines urge meat producers to take voluntary measures to curb the use of antibiotics on well animals. “Because the lines between disease prevention and growth promotion are not always clear,” they wrote, “the current FDA policy may allow drug manufacturers to continue using ambiguous language on labels of antibiotic drugs.”

“The message is to change the practice of agribusiness, either through government changes or marketplace changes, so everybody is safer,” Paulson told CBS News. “I think if people vote with their pocketbooks, then industry will be required to change. Hopefully the USDA and the FDA will require them to change. I think this is something that with a large enough movement in society, the industry will be forced to change.”

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause about 23,000 deaths and 2 million illnesses in the U.S. each year, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And about one in five antibiotic-resistant infections are caused by germs from food and animals.

The public community’s demands for action intensified recently, when, according to the Reuters news agency, Chinese scientists reported that they had discovered a new “superbug” gene in people and pigs that could render useless “last resort” antibiotics called polymyxins. Medical professionals consider polymyxins, widely used in agriculture, the last line of defense against certain antibiotic-resistant pathogens that cause serious illness in humans.

What can families do reduce their risk?

Take antibiotics only when necessary and use them precisely as instructed by your doctor. Click here to learn more tips from the CDC about antibiotics use.

Children, who are especially vulnerable to pathogens, can be exposed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria by eating contaminated meat or through contact with the animals. Treat all meat as if it is contaminated: cook it thoroughly and avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen.

When shopping for meat, look for labels that confirm no antibiotics have been used on healthy animals. These include:

USDA Certified Organic

Certified Humane

Animal Welfare Approved

American Grassfed Association

Food Alliance Certified – Grassfed

Global Animal Partnership

When dining out, ask restaurants where they buy their meat and their suppliers’ antibiotics policies. Some fast food chains such as Panera have already begun serving meat exclusively from animals that have not been treated with antibiotics.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR EAR INFECTIONS?

Fever, headache, tugging at the ear, crying more than usual and trouble sleeping – most parents recognize that these dreaded symptoms mean an ear infection.

More than 80 percent of children will get at least one ear infection by age three, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates. That makes them the most common reason parents take young kids to see a doctor.

These days, however, pediatricians are intervening less in the healing process and prescribing far fewer antibiotics. Globally, taking antibiotics when they aren’t strictly necessary is contributing to the buildup of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a problem that threatens the health of both children and adults.

If your child has an ear infection, pediatricians may suggest medicated eardrops, nasal spray or over-the-counter pain relievers to ease your child’s discomfort. Tylenol and Motrin are often recommended for fever pain.

Consult a health care professional first if you suspect your child has an ear infection or if your child experiences new or escalating symptoms, especially a rising fever or fluid seeping from the ear. For more natural steps you can take, here are some options to consider. Note that these approaches have varying degrees of effectiveness.

Things that work

Time

In most cases, time is the best cure. Symptoms often clear within 72 hours. Warm compresses and steam inhalation may alleviate pain as you wait it out.

Prevention

These steps can lower the odds that your child will develop an ear infection in the first place:

Avoid secondhand smoke. Studies show that children exposed to cigarette smoke develop more ear infections.

Practice good hygiene. Encourage kids to wash their hands frequently. Avoid playtime with sick children. Thoroughly clean bottles, which harbor more bacteria than sippy cups.
Breastfeed if possible. Breastfed babies are less likely to contract viral or bacterial infections, including ear infections. For bottle-fed babies, sitting or being held upright while eating has been shown to decrease infection rates.
Limit pacifier sucking by babies over six months old. Evidence suggests that it increases the risk of recurrent ear infections.
Vaccinations are also protective. Studies show that kids who are up to date with their shots – especially for pneumonia, meningitis and flu – get fewer ear infections.

Things that might work

Researchers have explored a variety of alternative measures to prevent ear infections. Although clinical data shows mixed results, these are generally safe to try.

Vitamin D

Studies suggest that children with recurrent ear infections are more likely to have low vitamin D levels. When researchers gave vitamin D supplements to kids with recurrent infections in two separate studies (here’s one), they got fewer new infections during the study period.

Researchers still lack evidence to show cause and effect, but many kids are low in vitamin D, so a supplement will likely offer other health benefits. Babies need 400 IU (10 mcg) per day, and daily supplements are especially important for breastfed babies. Everyone else needs 600 IU (15 mcg) per day, which generally requires taking a daily supplement during the winter months.

Probiotics

Researchers have also studied oral probiotics and nasal sprays for preventing ear infections. More research is necessary to determine which strains of bacteria might be most helpful, whether it’s best to administer them as a spray versus oral supplements, and the best dose. But probiotics are generally low-risk and offer other health benefits, such as aiding digestion.

Vitamins and Nutrients

Some studies suggest that common vitamins and nutrients such as zinc, vitamin A and omega-3 fish oils may help kids stay healthy and prevent ear infections, but the evidence is mixed. Be sure to read bottle labels carefully for the appropriate dose for children.

Xylitol

Surprisingly, several studies have shown that this natural fruit sugar, common in sugar-free foods, can also help prevent ear infections. Xylitol inhibits bacterial growth, which is one reason why toothpastes and gums made with xylitol are good for teeth.

Several studies found that giving kids xylitol – as gum, syrup or nasal spray – prevented recurrent ear infections, but mainstream doctors caution that they need more data before they’ll routinely recommend it.

To produce a preventive benefit, most of the studies to date have found that it is necessary to give xylitol to kids five times a day (approximately 10 grams per day total). At this dose, kids generally had a 30 percent decrease in recurrent ear infections. Gum and lozenges appear to be more effective than syrup, although syrup may be the only realistic option for young children.

Physicians and parents know that such frequent treatments can be a challenge for busy families, and lower doses may not be helpful. A recent study that gave kids xylitol three times a day (15 grams total) did not show any preventive benefit.

Be aware that some kids may develop digestive problems when given xylitol, particularly in higher doses.

Not enough evidence

Other herbs and alternative treatments

Most herbal supplements have not been rigorously tested for preventing or treating ear infections. The NIH Center for Complementary and Integrative Health offers these tips for parents considering herbal supplements for children.

Osteopathy, chiropractic and traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine all suggest alternative approaches for ear infections. These options have been little studied and may vary from one provider to the next. High cost or low availability may make them impractical for some families.

Don’t go there

You may see resources that recommend trying ear candling or herbal preparations that include mercury, goldenseal or colloidal silver to prevent ear infection. These are not safe for children. Don’t try them.

Author,

Megan Boyle

BABIES AND SUN EXPOSURE: A PARENT’S WATCHLIST

Is your family spending a lot of time outdoors this summer?

Babies join their parents and siblings for all kinds of outings, and the sun exposure adds up. The littlest members of your family are also the most vulnerable to sun damage.

Only a few blistering sunburns in childhood can double the chance a person will develop skin cancer in over a lifetime.

Protect your babies by looking out for these three things:

Direct sun

Babies’ young skins have not yet developed melanin, the pigment that protects us from harmful UV rays. Keep them out of direct sun—particularly infants under six months. Stay in the shade, cover up with hats and clothing, and extend the hood on your stroller and car seat.

If you can’t keep her out of the sun, as a last resort you can apply a small amount of sunscreen to your baby, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. Zinc and titanium-based sunscreens are best, but talk to your doctor first.

Harmful ingredients

When selecting a sunscreen for your child, check the label for retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A that has caused lesions in test animals, and oxybenzone, a synthetic estrogen that penetrates the skin and can disrupt the hormone system.

Another ingredient to avoid: methylisothiazolinone (MI). Manufacturers commonly add this preservative to baby wipes and other personal care products, including sunscreen. A potent allergen, MI is linked to painful allergic skin rashes. Although some manufacturers are beginning to phase out MI, it could still be hiding in your products, even those labeled hypoallergenic.

Visit the EWG Sun Safety Guide to find a good sunscreen for your family and steer clear of the 11 worst sunscreens for kids.

Vitamin D

Sun exposure has health benefits, too. Vitamin D forms naturally in our bodies when we’re exposed to sunlight. People with limited sun exposure—particularly babies—may be deficient in this essential hormone, which strengthens bones and protects against several cancers. Consult your doctor about your child’s intake: Breastfed infants need supplements, and many others do as well. Learn more about whether your family is getting enough vitamin D.

Special reminder for parents: be sure to model good behavior when spending time in the sun. From infancy, babies learn by watching you. Cover up, seek shade, apply sunscreen and reapply after you get wet.

Find more tips in the Healthy Child Healthy World 2015 Sun Safety Guide for Children.

MARS PLEDGES TO DROP ARTIFICIAL COLORING

Mars Inc., the multinational corporation that produces iconic candies such as M&Ms, Milky Way and Snickers, announced last week that it will phase out artificial colors from its products over the next five years.

Mars chief executive officer Grant F. Reid said the company made this market-changing decision in response to growing demand for natural ingredients in food, even though he insisted that artificial colors “pose no known risks to human health or safety.”

“Our consumers are the boss and we hear them,” Reid said. “If it’s the right thing to do for them, it’s the right thing to do for Mars.”

We at EWG welcome Mars’ move. We question Reid’s assertion that artificial colors and dyes are harmless. Some research studies show that they may affect the behavior and attention spans of children. Though these studies are not conclusive, parents have seen enough to worry – and Mars has responded responsibly by taking parents’ concerns seriously. Learn more in our Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Additives.

The Mars move, which will involve 50 of the company’s food brands,  follows the food industry’s “clean label” trend, in which industry leaders are abandoning artificial colors, dyes, flavors and preservatives. Other mega-companies, including Kraft Foods, Campbell’s Soup Co. and Nestle USA have pledged to make similar changes.

The announcement by Mars, best known for its sweets, comes just shy of Valentine’s Day, when Americans are projected to spend more than $1 billion on chocolate.

Wildly popular for its taste, chocolate may also offer health benefits. Studies suggest that a small amount of dark chocolate may contribute to heart health, cognitive health and improved mood, thanks to a class of antioxidants called flavanols also found in onions, curly kale, leeks, broccoli, blueberries, red wine and tea. Chocolate liquor and cocoa powder contain high concentrations of flavanols.

When it comes to a sweet treat, moderation is key. See how your favorite chocolates compare by searching EWG’s Food Scores.

Our top tips for choosing chocolates:

Eat:

Very dark chocolate, 60 percent cocoa or higher

Little or no added sugar

Nuts or fruits, as you like

Don’t eat:

White chocolate, which doesn’t contain heart-healthy flavanols

Chocolate whose label lists sugar as the first ingredient

Partially hydrogenated oils

Artificial colors or flavors

“Yogurt covered” candies, which are commonly made of sugar, partially hydrogenated or palm oils and artificial color – not yogurt

Try these:

Dark chocolate:

Taza Chocolate, 95% Dark Stone Ground Wicked Dark

Scharffen Berger Dark Chocolate

Alter Eco, Organic Chocolate Dark Blackout

Green & Black’s Organic, 85% Dark Cacao Bar

Dark chocolate with fruit or nuts:

Wild Things, Skinny Dipped Almonds + Glazed Dark Chocolate Cocoa

Mitica Chocohigos, Hand Dipped Dark Chocolate Figs

Chocolove, Cherries In Dark Chocolate Bar

NEW FINDINGS ON PEANUT ALLERGY PREVENTION

Eating peanuts during infancy – rather than avoiding them – may be the key to preventing long-term peanut allergies in children.

The benefit of early exposure persists even if kids later take a year-long break from eating any peanut foods, according to a new study from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (part of the National Institutes of Health), conducted by the Institute-funded Immune Tolerance Network.

The new study builds upon a landmark clinical trial called LEAP, or Learning Early About Peanut Allergy, which concluded last year. LEAP showed that eating peanuts from infancy to age five reduced the likelihood of developing a peanut allergy by 81 percent in high-risk children. (Children are considered “high-risk” if they have eczema, other food allergies or if peanut allergies run in the family.) Children in the study ate foods containing peanuts, since the nut itself is a choking hazard for children younger than four.

The latest study, called LEAP-On, was published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine and extended the research to find out whether kids who later stopped eating peanut foods for a year would be more or less likely to develop the allergy: They were less.

In a second study, led by King’s College London for the U.K. Food Standards Agency and released the same day, researchers tested whether the same approach could prevent other common food allergies, but the results were less conclusive.

Just six food groups cause a whopping 90 percent of children’s food allergies: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy and wheat. Rates of peanut allergy in particular have risen dramatically in the past 15 years, afflicting an estimated 2 percent of American children. Symptoms range from hives and wheezing to life-threatening anaphylaxis, prompting schools, community centers and even airlines to adopt strict policies aimed at protecting allergic kids from peanut products.

For years, parents have tried to ward off peanut allergies in their children by avoiding the food altogether. Beginning in 2000, doctors and allergists advised parents of high-risk children that they should not eat potentially allergenic foods before age three. By 2008, however, health care professionals realized the advice wasn’t helping, and retracted the recommendations.

The landmark LEAP study changed everything, shifting the prevailing wisdom from avoidance to exposure. After LEAP was published last year, 10 medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, agreed on new interim guidance that recommended early exposure. If your child is at high risk, however, talk to your doctor first. Click here for the Academy’s recommendations.

Now parents, health care professionals and the public have a chance to weigh in on what may become new, formal recommendations for peanut allergy prevention. The federal allergy institute, the agency that funded LEAP and LEAP-On, has drafted an update to its 2010 Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States. The update, which specifically addresses how to prevent peanut allergies, is open for a 45-day public comment period ending on April 18. All are welcome and encouraged to participate. Here’s how.

While the recommendations remain under review, parents should talk to their pediatrician or allergist about peanut exposure, especially if their child has ever had a reaction to peanuts; has other food allergies, particularly to eggs; has eczema or a family history of allergies.

Author,

Megan Boyle

Game Plan for Positive Parenting Your Preschooler

Ages three to five have been called The Wonder Years, and wondrous they are, ping-ponging from whining and tantrums to politeness to cuddling to exuberance to exploding intellect.

Preschoolers are explorers, scientists, artists. They're learning how to be friends, how to engage with the world, how to control their bodies, emotions and minds. With a little help from you, these years will build a fertile foundation for your son or daughter's entire childhood.

What Your Preschooler Needs to Thrive:

1. Structure.
Regular routines help kids feel safe, and are vital for preschoolers, who grapple with big fears on a daily basis. The world is chaotic and scary to them; their household should be predictable. A calm, orderly and fun atmosphere, with regular meal and bedtime routines, will produce happier children who have the internal resources to meet daily developmental challenges.

2. Enough sleep.
Preschoolers may resist bedtime, but without sufficient sleep, three to five year olds simply do not have the resourcefulness to cope with the demands of their day. Develop a regular routine that helps her wind down and start relaxing well before bedtime. When he gives up his nap, be sure he still gets some downtime to rest every day.

3. Control over her own food intake.
You decide what food is accessible in your house, but your child needs the responsibility to decide how much she eats. Remember that children need frequent small meals, and if you don’t provide that, they’ll end up snacking all day. If you always provide a variety of healthy food, you can feel comfortable letting them choose which foods they eat and how much.

Worried about a picky eater? Serve a variety of healthy foods and avoid power struggles; your child will eventually enlarge her choices as her taste buds mature. As long as sweets aren't available (except as rare -- not daily -- treats), preschoolers will naturally choose healthy foods that meet their physical needs, over a period of time. Never set up a clean plate as the goal; instead, when they say they're done, ask them how their body feels. (Obesity starts in preschool!) If you're bothered by throwing the food away, ask yourself why not wasting food is more important than your child's future physical health and body image?

4. Help with Emotions.
While your child may no longer have frequent melt-downs, he still has big feelings, and he still needs you to "listen" to those feelings on a regular basis. All kids need daily laughter to vent the anxieties that inevitably build up in a small person grappling to manage herself in a big, often overwhelming world, so be sure to build daily roughhousing into your schedule. And you can expect your preschooler to sometimes express his needs as an attack, meaning that a child who is hurting may well yell "I hate you; I want a new Mom!"

Don't take it personally. Instead, empathize even while you set limits. "You must be so upset to speak to me that way...I guess you're very disappointed...You really wanted to, and I said No....I'm sorry this is so hard, Sweetie."

5. Empathic limits.
If you want well-behaved kids, resist any impulse to punish. Kids this age need guidance and limits, because they are actively learning the rules and how the world works, and naturally they will test to see just where those limits are. Remember, though, that their brains are still developing. They get flooded with emotion very easily. When you set limits, they get upset, partly because they want what they want, but partly because they worry about your disapproval. It helps them to calm themselves if you empathize with their disappointment or anger. Doing this now will help them learn to control their own emotions over time, and to maintain their equilibrium in the face of upsets as they get older. Research shows that when young children are punished, their behavior actually worsens. (For more on why, see Why Positive Parenting ».) Instead, set limits and empathize with feelings to help your child WANT to behave. This helps him develop self-discipline, rather than relying on you to regulate him.

6. Interaction time with parents.
Your preschooler's brain is experiencing rapid growth and consolidation, both in learning facts and in learning emotional self-regulation. Lots of intimate time with physically and emotionally affectionate parents is critical for your preschooler's emotional -- and even brain -- development. This means what psychologists call "Floor Time," which is getting down on his level to work together building that train track or tower. The point isn't the intellectual work of the building, but the emotional connection you make over it -- and the nurturing support you offer when the project inevitably runs into snags. Daily, unstructured "Special Time" with your child during which you let your child take the lead will build your relationship. If you can't bear one more game of superhero or dollhouse, offer your child "Cozy Time" instead. Just snuggle up on the couch with a pile of books for a lazy half hour, and make sure you take plenty of time out to talk about what you're reading, or about her day. Here's a whole page of Games to build closeness & emotional intelligence! »


7. To be Heard.
Preschoolers are famous for asking questions, from the incessant "WHY?" to badgering parents to change their minds about a limit. This can drive a parent crazy, unless you look under the surface at the reason for the question. Your child wants more than information; he wants to feel heard, to be acknowledged, to tell you what he thinks, to weave together his world view with your help, and to have you respond to the turbulent emotions that often threaten to overwhelm his emerging intellectual control. When your child pesters you with WHY? questions and doesn't seem satisfied with your answers so she keeps on asking, turn it around and ask her the question.

8. Help in learning to express herself without whining.
Whining can drive even the most patient parent crazy. But whining is a signal that your child needs help, either in processing emotions that are weighing on her, or in meeting other needs. She's not just trying to get her way; she's expressing the need all preschoolers have to begin to master their environment by asserting some control. Luckily, there are some secrets to stop your child from Whining.

9. School.
Children three and older usually thrive at school, and for most of them, it is preferable to a full day at home with a parent or caregiver. But we need to remember that kids under the age of five have to work very hard to hold it together in a group setting. Their cortisol levels -- that's the stress hormone -- become elevated when they stay at school in the afternoon, compared to children who go home after lunch, indicating that they're under stress. In high quality settings, where the caretakers are stable and the child feels connected, this is less pronounced. But if a child is experiencing elevated cortisol levels on a regular basis, that's associated with less effective immune response, sleep issues, crankiness, and other risk factors. That's why many three and even four year olds do better with a nap and the afternoon at home after school. And no child under the age of seven is ready to be in an institution until 6pm daily. If your child isn't thriving with full-day school, the cost of a babysitter to be with your child at home half days after school will more than pay off in a calmer, happier, more cooperative child.

10. Social Time.
Preschoolers are biologically designed to look up to older kids. In the tribal cultures natural to humans, young children who are old enough to leave the parent tag along with the big kids and learn social skills. Since our children are usually in groups of same-age peers, they often need adult help and modeling to learn to "take turns" or refrain from bossiness. Four year olds are experimenting with appropriate use of power, so they're famous for bossiness and even bullying. Don't feel bad about stepping in at the playground to model appropriate social behavior. How else are they supposed to learn?
For help with social skills »
For help with bossiness »
For help when your child is starting to bully »
To empower your child against bullying »

11. Downtime.
Everything is stimulating to your preschooler, from seeing the dump truck on the street to the candy in the grocery store. While playdates and field trips stimulate his emotional and intellectual development, he needs substantial unstructured time at home to simply play and regroup in the safety of his cozy home base, where he can let his hair down and take a deep breath in a quiet place.

Parents of preschoolers in our culture face a big challenge. Most three, four and five year olds don't have lots of siblings or cousins readily accessible to play with, and they can't read yet. Parents have other things to do. How to keep kids constructively occupied?

Many parents solve this by letting their kids spend many of their awake hours watching TV or playing computer or video games. Because preschoolers' brains are still in a critical developmental phase, engaging with screens changes the way their brains develop, literally shortening their attention spans for life. Screens are also so easy to use that kids who come to depend on them for fun are less likely to become motivated readers. What's more, creating this habit early in life deprives children of the essential skill of structuring their own time. But there are alternatives to screen time for your kids, and the good news is that once kids get used to structuring their own time, they'll be much less interested in screens.

Encouraging Longer Naps

Is your child a cat-napper? Does your baby fall asleep being fed, while in a car seat, sling, rocker, or someone’s arms? When transferred to bed, does your baby then sleep 30 to 50 minutes? That’s the exact length of one sleep cycle. These factors combined define the main cause of mini-naps: an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep without aid – your baby wakes fully at the end of the first sleep cycle, resulting in a too-short nap. I refer to this problem as One-Cycle Sleep Syndrome (OCSS). This leads us to understand the reason that many babies are cat-nappers and also directs us to potential solutions.


Cycle-Blender Naps

One way to help your baby sleep longer is to put him for a nap in a setting that will lull him back to sleep when he wakes between sleep cycles. Cycle-Blender naps occur in slings, cradle-swings, rocking cradles, or baby hammocks. Any of these can help cat-nappers extend their sleep time because when Baby begins to awaken the rhythmic motion can lull him back to sleep.

You can also create a Cycle-Blender nap in a stroller. Take a daily walk outside (it’s good for both of you!) or bring your stroller in the house. Walk your baby until she falls asleep, and then park the stroller near you. If she starts to move about, resume walking or give her a bit of a bounce and jiggle.

Once your baby gets used to taking a longer nap in the stroller, you can make a transition to bed naps. Start by reducing the movement, rolling slower and for less time. After your baby is asleep, park the stroller, using the jiggle if she wakes mid-nap. Over time, let your baby fall asleep in the stationary stroller parked next to his crib, and when the nap habit is in place, change to naps in the crib.

Create a Sleep-Inducing Bedroom

To encourage longer naps, keep the sleeping room dark so bright light doesn’t keep him alert between sleep cycles. To soothe your child through sleep cycle changes, use white noise (a recording of nature sounds), or relaxing music. Keep this on all through naptime. This creates a sleep cue and will mask noises that can wake a child who is shifting through sleep cycles.

Build a Better Bed

To entice your baby to have a longer nap, recreate the crib into a cozier nest. Use softer sheets, such as flannel, plus a thicker, softer crib mattress pad. You can also warm the bed surface before naptime with a towel fresh from the dryer (remove this and test the surface before laying your baby down.)

Make the Bed a Familiar Place

Let your baby have several play sessions in his crib during waking hours. Stay with him, engage his interest and introduce a few new toys. Let him see you as a part of the crib experience so that he gets a happy feeling being there. This way, when he is put in his crib for naptime and wakes up mid-nap it won’t be a lonely, foreign place, but one that carries familiar memories of fun times with you. This can help him accept it as a safe place for sleep and allow him to fall back into slumber after that first sleep cycle.

Interpret Signs of Tiredness

If you put your child for a nap before he is tired, or when he is overtired he won’t sleep as well as when you hit that ideal just-tired moment. Observe your child for signs of tiredness, such as losing interest in toys, looking glazed, becoming cranky, or slumping in his seat. Put your child for a nap the moment you see any sign of fatigue. If you take note of the time that this occurs over a week you should see a pattern emerge. This can help you set up a daily nap schedule that suits your child’s tired times perfectly.

Gauge time spans between naps

In addition to signs of tiredness also watch to see how long your child has been awake. Children can only stay happily awake for a certain period of time until they receive a biological pull towards a nap. Once that “pull” begins your child becomes fatigued and his cheerful mood begins to deteriorate. Each child has unique sleep needs, but this chart shows the typical span of time a child can stay happily awake:

Age                  Awake Time Span

Newborn           1 – 2 hours

6 month old       2 – 3 hours

12 month old     3 – 4 hours

18 month old     4 – 6 hours

2 year old          5 – 7 hours

3 year old          6 – 8 hours

4 year old          6 – 12 hours

Keep in mind that children grow and change and their nap schedule should change with them. What’s perfect today may be different than what is perfect next month. Keep your eye on your baby and on the clock.

Author,

Elizabeth Pantley