Infant Media Viewing

Recently the pediatric journal Pediatric Annals devoted an issue to children and the media.  Now I have to admit I don't read every journal but this one had me glued to it cover to cover.  So I'm going to summarize some of it in my next few blogs.

If you have been to a baby shower lately you have seen how common baby DVDs have become such as Baby Einstein and Your Baby Can Read.  A recent study was done on 1000 children under age 2.  For children ages 7-16 months who watched baby DVDs it was found that they had poorer language than children the same age who didn't watch them.  Specifically, for each hour of baby DVDs watched the children studied knew on average about 6-8 fewer words.  Another study in Thailand found that infants who watch two or more hours of TV a day had a sixfold increase in the likelihood of speech delay.

I also found another study interesting.  It found that when a TV is on (in the background, the infant is not watching it) the infant vocalizes less and has fewer parent-child interactions.

The Academy of Pediatrics recommends no TV or video viewing for children under age 2.  This seems rather strict but when you consider the outcomes of these studies it makes more sense. So save yourself some money and don't buy baby DVDs.  Then turn the TV off and play with your child!

Growing Lettuce in a Grocery Bag

I am very good at raising children but I can't grow a plant if my life depended on it!  But even I am intrigued about how you can grow lettuce in a reusable grocery bag.  Turns out you can actually grow all sorts of things in containers, such as herbs, flowers, and tomatos. This way you can grow something without baking in the Arizona heat or trying to dig in the rock hard ground.  This would be a great project to try with your kids and many kids are more willing to eat something that they grew themselves.  Give it a try and let me know how it turns out.
http://containergardening.about.com/od/vegetablesandherbs/ss/LettuceBag.htm

TV Turnoff Week

My family loves to play games.

This week is TV Turnoff Week.  (Sept. 19-25)  My daughter and I are going to give it a try.  The idea behind this week is to spend more time with family.  I have discovered that if I leave the TV off I get everything accomplished faster so that I have more free time.
So, what to do instead of TV.  For one, don't replace it with other screen time such as the computer or video games.  Instead try playing a game, going outside (it is supposed to cool down!), cooking together, reading to your child, going to the library, or going to the park.  The possibilities are endless!
Today I saw a billboard on I-10 that was advertising fishing.  It pointed out that your children are not going to have any lasting or special memories of days spent watching TV.  So true!

Flumist Now Available

We just received our shipment of Flumist in the office for patients with private insurance.  Flumist is the live virus nasal immunization against the flu.  Children can receive Flumist if they are older than age 2 and have no health problems such as asthma.  If your child doesn't have asthma but has had an episode of wheezing in the last 2 years they should not receive Flumist because it can trigger wheezing.

Adult Flu Shots Have Arrived

Our flu shots for adults are now available in the office. Cost is $30. You can call for an appointment or let us know you would like one when you are in the office with your child. Kids love to see their parent getting a shot just like them!

As an aside you might have heard in the news that the flu shot "Afluria" is not recommended in children. Our office does not use this brand. We use Fluzone (made by Sanofi Pasteur) for all ages and Fluarix (made by GlaxoSmithKline) for ages 3 and up. If you have a question please let us know.

Gun Safety

Injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in children and teenagers. When I see you in the office I talk about car seats, bike helmets, teenage drivers etc. but then I always run out of time to talk about gun safety. Quite frankly, guns freak me out but I realize that guns are important to many people so let's talk about how to keep your child safe.

First of all, think carefully about whether you really need a gun or not. The easiest way to keep your child safe is to have no firearms in the house.

Second, if you do have a gun please store it unloaded and locked with the ammunition locked separately.

Third, ask if guns are present in the homes where your child is babysat or plays. If there are firearms there that are not safely stored consider having playdates at your house instead. My daughter tells me that I worry about her too much. I tell her that I trust her to make good choices but that someone else's choices can effect or hurt her. Such as a teenager who pulls out a parent's gun to show it off and someone accidently gets shot.

Fourth, remember that BB guns can be deadly as well. I have seen serious injuries from what is often considered a "safe" gun.

Happy Better Breakfast Month!

Mom was right! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives your body and brain fuel for the day. Also, studies show that people who skip breakfast end up eating too many calories later in the day leading to extra weight.

So what is a better breakfast? A good breakfast includes some sort of lean protein. This includes yoghurt, skim milk, eggs (not fried), turkey bacon/sausage, nuts, and peanut butter. Also a good breakfast includes fiber and whole grains such as bran cereal, oatmeal, whole grain bread. Many products now advertise that they include whole grains but you might want to check the label. They label should read 5 or more grams of fiber. Protein and whole grains help keep your blood sugar steady throughout the morning and keep you feeling full longer.