Archive for the ‘Health and Nutrition’ Category

Baby Teeth: To Brush or Not to Brush

Feb 28th, 13 / 0 Comments
baby-teeth-to-brush-or-not-to-brush

We all know the drill, no pun intended.

Your child hands you his toothbrush and bares his teeth. He giggles and grins as each tooth is expertly polished. Then he gives you a hug, climbs into bed and sleeps until morning.

Oh wait, that’s not it. It’s more like we carry him screaming into the bathroom, he squirms mightily while we try to get the toothbrush past his locked lips, then he deliberately dumps the glass of rinse water onto our laps.

Tooth brushing. It’s a chore many of us dread as parents. And for some parents, it’s a chore they’ve simply decided to skip.

We were chatting with a friend of ours recently, a woman who has a son about the same age as ours. The conversation eventually settled on how to get Louie to let us brush his tiny teeth. Teeth which sometimes have a sort of orange film on the front.

Our friend said she doesn’t brush her son’s teeth. Ever. She explained that since they’re just baby teeth, what’s the point?

And I thought “Great! We don’t have to brush our son’s teeth then?”

Ummmmm, no. We do have to brush his baby teeth even if they are all going to fall out anyway, and here’s why.

According to an article on the University of Washington’s site, toddlers are susceptible to something called dental “caries,” or rot that leaves small holes in their teeth. It’s a disease that can affect their whole body and can easily be prevented by brushing. If left untreated, caries can lead to infection and tooth loss.

I had never heard of dental caries, but the best way to identify if your child has tooth decay is to take him or her to the dentist. It’s difficult to diagnose on your own. Nowadays, dental pros are recommending a child have their first dental examination and risk assessment by the time they turn 1.

At home, it’s best to brush your toddler’s teeth at least twice a day, if not more. And it’s especially important to brush before bedtime, so that bacteria don’t linger on teeth overnight.

So, the battle continues. We are trying to make a game of brushing his teeth, showing him how mommy and daddy brush, and making up silly songs about his incisors. But if none of that does the trick, I hold Louie on my lap, dip his head back over my arm until his mouth falls open and scrub away. He’ll thank us later. I’m sure of it.

For more information about children’s oral health, including tips, a dental dictionary and a list of free and low-cost dental care facilities, visit our Oral Health Campaign Hub.

Who’s Brushing Baby’s Teeth?

http://www.washington.edu/earlychildhood/articles/brushing-babys-teeth

 

Optimizing Infant and Toddler Oral Health: The Importance of Early Intervention

http://www.dentistrytoday.com/pediatric-dentistry/1580

 

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Health and Nutrition, Parenting

A Brighter Smile

Feb 5th, 13 / 0 Comments
a-brighter-smile

I recently read an alarming statistic in January ‘s issue of Parents magazine: “52: The percentage of kids ages 2 to 4 who had one dental visit within the past year, according to a recent government report.” The paragraph continued, “Most children this age should see a dentist twice annually.” Not only was I alarmed because the United States already has enough childhood health problems, but I was embarrassed because I was among the 48 percent who failed to be vigilant about oral health.

As part of my new year’s resolution, I decided to put my family on an oral health regime which includes brushing twice a day, nightly flossing, and semi-annual visits to the dentist. To engage my kids in the process, I let Adrian (age 4) and Daniel (age 2) pick out their own toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss. With the plethora of super heroes and popular television characters adorning the items in the oral hygiene aisle, they had a terrific time choosing their new tools. If these licensed products are too costly, let your child decorate less expensive products with stickers of his/her favorite characters.

Adrian is quite good at brushing his teeth, but I still have to do the “once over” to make sure he hasn’t missed a spot. Daniel is another story all together; he wants to be like his big brother and insists on brushing his own teeth. Although I allow this, I insist on brushing his teeth again when he’s done. This is when his jaw clamps shut and I spend the next 15 minutes fruitlessly arguing with him. On the Coast Dental website, Dr. Jeffery May suggests making up a silly song or using plaque-revealing mouthwash to help with fiercely independent kids.

Visiting the dentist was the last piece of the puzzle. I decided to set an example by scheduling myself for the first appointment. I brought both of my children with me so they could see the process.  First, the dental assistant took X-rays of my teeth. Next, the dentist reviewed the X-rays with me and examined my teeth. Although I did not have any new cavities, the fillings I had gotten many years ago needed replacing.  Together, we decided on a reasonable plan to achieve this while staying within my budget. She also urged me to floss every day because tooth decay and gum disease can lead to other health problems, including heart disease. Finally, the dental assistant scraped the tartar build-up off my teeth and used an electric toothbrush to clean them. The entire visit was surprisingly quick and painless. At the end of it, Daniel jumped off his chair yelling, “My turn; my turn! I’m next!” I call that the start of a much healthier year.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Find resources for good dental health HERE.

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Health and Nutrition, Parenting

Sugar Solution

Oct 2nd, 12 / 0 Comments
sugar-solution

By HappyMamaX2

Despite having a terrible weakness for sugary drinks, my family last summer accepted Potter the Otter’s challenge to choose more water as part of First 5 LA’s Rethink Your Drink campaign. To be honest, I was worried about restricting my sons’ consumption of sugary drinks. When they are thirsty, juice is the first request! Like most parents, I dreaded the meltdowns that often occur with changes in our children’s lives. I decided to take a proactive approach by educating my young boys about why we were cutting down on sugary drinks.

I began by educating myself first. From Kaiser Permanente, I learned that the average person consumes nearly 175 pounds of sugar a year. The biggest source of our sugar intake comes from sugary drinks like soda, juice and sports drinks. Drinking 20 ounces of soda a day for one year can cause a 25-pound weight gain! Even though I don’t allow my kids to drink soda, I drink them almost every day. For the past year, I’ve noticed my boys asking me more and more often for sips of my sodas. It’s made me realize how much they want to mimic me: Because I consume sugary drinks, my children think it’s okay to drink them. I have not been providing a good example.

I introduced the idea of cutting down on sugary drinks to my children by talking about it for a few days. In simple words (so as not to overwhelm them), I explained how too much sugar can hurt our bodies by causing unhealthy weight gain, diarrhea and tooth decay. I also shared that it could cause a sickness called diabetes that requires medication every day. I told them that soda is one of the worst drinks because it has no healthy ingredients, and I promised them that I would drink less cola so I could be a better mom for them. The boys then agreed to drink less juice so their bodies could grow better and stronger.

Since then, I have limited my sons’ intake of juice to 4-6 ounces a day, which I dilute with water. I have stopped offering juice as an option at meal times; I only give them milk or water. I didn’t eliminate juice all together because I wanted to teach the boys a lesson in moderation: We can have treats as long as we don’t over-do it! I also leave cups of filtered water at eye-level so that they stay hydrated throughout the day. When I treat them to chocolate milk, I add white milk to cut the sweetness. Instead of juice boxes for picnics and school lunch bags, I’ve been buying single servings of milk or small water bottles.

Both boys have readily accepted Potter the Otter’s challenge with only a few meltdowns along the way. Surprisingly, Adrian, 4, has become very interested in which foods and drinks are the best for him. My father-in-law recently told me that Adrian chose water over a chocolate shake because the shake had “too much sugar and that’s not good for me.” Little brains are so amazing!

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Health and Nutrition, Parenting

Pacifiers: The Great Debate

Aug 29th, 12 / 0 Comments
pacifiers-the-great-debate

By HappyMamaX2

One day when my son Adrian was not yet 1, I took him grocery shopping. As usual, Adrian was using his pacifier to distract him from the discomfort of being strapped into the cart as we did this boring errand. While waiting to purchase our groceries, I noticed the elderly woman in front of us staring at Adrian. I caught her eye and smiled, to which she replied, “Take that thing out of his mouth. He’s never going to start speaking if you plug him up all the time.”

I was startled. How do you respond to someone criticizing your parenting choices? As a new mom, I constantly worried that I was ruining my child. And pacifiers were a particularly sensitive topic for me.

Boy with pacifier.

When I was still pregnant with Adrian, I had heard all the terrible things about pacifiers from veteran moms. I swore I’d never use them. But on the first night home from the hospital, when Adrian wouldn’t stop crying, I caved. As he slipped quietly into sleep sucking blissfully on his new binky, I felt guilty. Was I encouraging a bad habit?

As it turns out, most experts agree that the decision is up to the parents because there are both advantages and disadvantages to pacifier use. The Mayo Clinic’s website lists some of the drawbacks of using a binky: it may interfere with breastfeeding, your baby may not learn to soothe himself and it may increase the risk of ear infections or dental problems. However, the same website also lists the benefits of pacifier use: it may protect against SIDS, it provides a source of comfort or distraction for a fussy baby, it satisfies a baby’s strong suck reflex and it eases discomfort on airplanes. In addition, WebMD suggests it is easier to wean a child off a pacifier than his thumb.

On Parents.com, Marguerite Lamb’s article discusses a few expert-backed options for when and how to wean children off pacifiers. My husband and I decided to wait until Adrian was 2so that he could understand what was happening and communicate his feelings. We chose to follow Lamb’s “Three Day Plan” because it best fit our parenting style. For a few days, we talked to Adrian about giving up his binky. Then, Adrian helped us find all the pacifiers and placed them in a special box. My husband had Adrian say “thank you” and “goodbye” to his beloved friends, and then I quietly disposed of the box while Adrian was distracted. Adrian was tremendously proud of himself and told everyone that he was a “big boy now.” He struggled with sleep for a few nights, but overall it was a smooth process.

The lady in the grocery store had a very valid opinion: there are drawbacks to using pacifiers. But experts also argue that there are tremendous benefits, and that it is a personal decision all parents must make. Adrian’s binky brought him comfort when he needed it, and that is what was important to me in the end.

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Behavior Issues, Breastfeeding, Health and Nutrition, Parenting, Safety, Uncategorized

Breakfast: Sweet Potato Pancakes

Aug 21st, 12 / 0 Comments
breakfast-sweet-potato-pancakes

By justJENN

My kids love breakfast food — it’s truly their favorite meal of the day. Making the same old thing can get dull, so I like to come up with variations on tried-and-true recipes just to keep meals interesting.

Adding sweet potatoes to the mix gives these pancakes a nice flavor and some veggies to start the day!

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 sweet potato, mashed
1 egg
1-1/2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon melted butter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start by roasting the sweet potato. Prick it with a fork and place it on a baking sheet in a 350 degree oven for one hour. When it comes, out the skin will peel off easily. Mash it with a fork or a masher and set aside.

In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, brown sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon.

Add the mashed sweet potato, egg, milk (you may not need all of it depending on the consistency), vanilla and butter. Stir, making sure all the flour is dissolved. If the mixture is a bit thick, add a little more of the milk.

Ladle the batter into a hot pan. When bubbles form, flip them over and cook until done.

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Recipes and Cooking

Get Out & Collect

Jun 27th, 12 / 0 Comments
get-out-collect

By Double Duty Mama

On a camping trip last year, my kids found in the dirt all around our site little colored balls that we assume are pellets from air soft guns. They spent hours scanning, squatting and scooping these tiny “treasures” from the dirt and putting them into sandwich baggies. They’ve done the same on every camping trip since.

My younger son, especially, coveted his newest collection for his treasure box (an old shoe box on the floor of his room). Inside that box are rocks from past hikes, sea shells from beach visits, bottle caps he finds on walks that he’s keeping for a friend who has a collection, a disintegrating pine cone and other odds and ends he finds.

Experts say there are many psychological benefits to children collecting … but there isn’t a lot of mention about the physical benefits. It’s pretty simple when you think about it: You give a young kid a bag, bucket, pail or cup and send him off in a park, at the beach or even in the yard to find treasures. You can give him a theme, like things that are “red” or different kinds of leaves, for motivation if he needs it.

What happens next is lots of moving. Large motor skills are being activated as she walks, squats and bends, and her small motor skills are getting a workout too, as she uses her pincer grasp (the thumb and forefinger) to pick up objects and place them in a container.

With young kids needing at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day to keep them healthy, encourage your kids to Get Out & Play by starting their own collections, going on a treasure hunt or even creating a scavenger hunt. Of course, when you join in, your kids will have even more fun.

This summer and always, First 5 LA and Ready. Set. Grow! want families with young children to learn about ways to increase physical activity to combat the childhood obesity epidemic. Visit the Get Out & Play web hub and be sure to enter the Get Out & Play Fitness Challenge for a chance to win prizes.

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Health and Nutrition, Just for Fun, Uncategorized

Cherry Frozen Yogurt

Jun 21st, 12 / 0 Comments
cherry-frozen-yogurt

By justJENN

I like to go to farmers’ markets and buy all the fresh cherries I can find during the season. My kids are big fans of fresh fruit and, while we eat all we can, I like to show them you can use the produce to make some tasty, healthy recipes, too.

Getting the kids involved in picking out fresh fruits and vegetables and having them help in the kitchen will make them more keen on trying new, healthy recipes! This recipe is a hit during warm summer months.

Ingredients:

2 cups cherries
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1-1/2 cups vanilla yogurt

In a blender, combine cherries, sugar and lemon juice. Once blended, fold the fruit mixture in with the yogurt.

Add to your ice cream machine per directions. Spoon into a freezer safe container and freeze until you are ready to serve!

Find a kid-friendly farmer’s market here with our one-of-a-kind list or read more of justJENN’s ways of inspiring healthy eating at farmer’s markets here.

If you like justJENN’s kid-friendly recipes here, or you like creative cooking, design or geeky things (both kid-related and not) in general, be sure to check out her website http://justjennrecipes.com.

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Health and Nutrition, Recipes and Cooking

Just How Much Do Kids Need to Get Out & Play?

Jun 11th, 12 / 0 Comments
just-how-much-do-kids-need-to-get-out-play

By Ready. Set. Grow!

(This article is reprinted from the First 5 LA weekly newsletter, the Monday Morning Report, in conjunction with the Get Out & Play campaign.)

Sure, it’s easy to say that children should get lots of physical activity for good health and development. But how much is the right amount?

National standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say children should have an hour or more of physical activity every day. What kind of activity qualifies depends on the age of the child. For example, children 5 and younger generally don’t need to engage in weight lifting since their bodies should receive an adequate amount of muscle strengthening through regular play, like climbing on the jungle gym or in a tree.

The CDC recommends that moderate or vigorous intensity aerobic exercise make up most of a child’s physical activity. A brisk walk is considered moderate intensity while running is vigorous. During moderate intensity activity, the heart will beat faster than normal and breathing is harder. The heart beats much faster and breathing is much harder than normal during vigorous intensity exercise. Walking to school may be moderate intensity, but a game of tag on the school yard is probably vigorous intensity.

The National Association for Sport and Physical Education focuses specifically on exercise for young children in its Active Start: A Statement of Physical Activity Guidelines for Children from Birth to Age 5, 2nd Edition. “All children from birth to age 5 should engage daily in physical activity that promotes movement skillfulness and foundations of health-related fitness,” according to NASPE’s position statement.

The NASPE guidelines are broken down by age. For example:

Infants (birth to 12 months)

  • Infants should interact with caregivers in daily physical activities that are dedicated to exploring movement and the environment.
  • Caregivers should place infants in settings that encourage and stimulate movement experiences and active play for short periods of time several times a day.

Toddlers (1 to 3 years)

  • Toddlers should engage in a total of at least 30 minutes of structured physical activity each day.
  • Toddlers should engage in at least 60 minutes – and up to several hours – per day of unstructured physical activity and should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time, except when sleeping.

Preschoolers (3 to 5 years)

  • Preschoolers should accumulate at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity each day.
  • Preschoolers should engage in at least 60 minutes — and up to several hours — of unstructured physical activity each day, and should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time, except when sleeping.

The guidelines for every age mandate that children be given opportunities and placed in environments that allow them to develop motor skills and perform large-muscle activities. It is up to caregivers and parents to understand the importance of physical activity and provide these opportunities, the NASPE guidelines add.

This summer and always, First 5 LA, as well as its parenting component Ready. Set. Grow! and its place-based effort Best Start, want families with young children to learn about ways to increase physical activity and healthy eating to combat the childhood obesity epidemic. Please read more about the campaign in a previous Monday Morning Report article and visit the campaign web hub on Ready. Set. Grow!

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Health and Nutrition, Uncategorized

Lemon Zest Fries

Jun 6th, 12 / 0 Comments
lemon-zest-fries

By justJENN

Once a year I get a giant bunch of lemons and come up with recipes just to use them up. The best part of the lemons can be the zest — it brings out a refreshing taste in dishes that you wouldn’t expect.

By baking these in the oven you get a good amount of crispness and they are definitely healthier than frying!

Ingredients:

4 baking potatoes
1/8 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons garlic
zest of one lemon

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prep a baking sheet with a wire rack. Set aside.

Wash and pat dry the potatoes. I like the skin on, but if you don’t – go ahead and peel them. Slice the potato into stick-like fries.

In a bowl combine the potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic and lemon zest. Toss together and spread on the wire rack prepped baking sheet.

Bake for 30 minutes and serve!

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Health and Nutrition, Recipes and Cooking, Uncategorized

Get Out & Play with Friends

Jun 1st, 12 / 0 Comments
get-out-play-with-friends

By Ready. Set. Grow!

While a recent study found that older kids are likely to be more active if their friends are – it’s not a stretch to believe the same is true for young children.

The Distribution of Physical Activity in an After-school Friendship Network, published in the May 28 edition of Pediatrics, concluded that friendships play a critical role in physical activity patterns in children 5 to 12 years old. In other words, kids adjusted their activity levels up or down depending on how active their friends were. With terrifying child obesity rates and the need to get kids exercising more, studies like this can lead to inexpensive, easy ideas to get kids moving. (Read a good summary of the study on the CBS News website here.)

Very young children, toddlers on down, don’t really “play” with other children until usually the preschool years — 3 or 4 years old. But young children exposed to older, active children can certainly pick up some pointers. When an older sibling goes out to ride his bike, let your toddler watch. Or take her to the park to see lots of kids climbing the monkey bars and swinging on the swings.

When kids reach school age, they’ll generally start making friends naturally. For younger children, playmates can be a little harder to find. Take your child regularly to places where other families go – story times at the library, community events, the park, noncompetitive activities like art, music or sports lessons (there are often low-cost or free activities offered by local parks and recreation departments). (Read more about making friends in About.com Pediatrics.)

Playing is always more fun with a friend. Get your child used to lots of physical activity, and she’ll want to keep doing it with others. Children keep each other moving, whether it’s through an impromptu game of tag, a bicycle race or simply a walk exploring the playground and sharing what they find with each other.

For more ideas to get your child moving, visit our Get Out & Play pages. Be sure to enter The Get Out & Play Fitness Challenge for a chance to win prizes. The newest Family Guide also has information about public swimming pools and other places to take your children this summer.

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Health and Nutrition