Potty Training

A mom needs your potty training advice!

Here's the question from a newsanchormom.com reader:

"I was hoping to have my son potty-trained before our second child arrives this summer. Evan will be 3 in June and will go pee once-in-awhile on the potty chair... But nothing consistent. Any advice?"

There is a lot of advice about potty training out there. I took the "take off the diaper and let the child run around the house naked approach." I put the potty seat in the living room in front of the t.v. with a towel underneath it. I would ask him frequently if he had to go and he would run and sit on the potty when I said that. Sometimes he would sit there and watch t.v. and eventually go.

If you are really worried about your child soiling your carpet or furniture, this probably isn't your best bet. I just tried it and my son ended up not going anywhere but in the toilet.
Well, sometimes he would run to the bathroom and pee on the bathroom floor. But that was easy to clean-up, so I didn't mind.

Eventually, we moved his potty seat into the bathroom and it was all okay from there. We did do pull-ups when we left the house for awhile because I wasn't sure if he would go on a public toilet. Oh, and we brought the potty seat with us everywhere. I took it into restaurant bathrooms with me when we were traveling. It took a few months before I was confidence enough to put him in underwear all the time.

It's probably a good idea to make sure your child is ready to be potty trained. Here's the checklist from the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Greene has some tips for potty training like reading to your child about it, getting some big kid underwear and putting dirty diapers in the potty chair. I also found a list of five potty training methods.

Family doctor.org has some advice for parents:

"It may take up to 3 months to get potty trained. It is important for you to be patient and supportive. Do not punish your child when he or she has an accident.If your child is not toilet trained within 3 months, consult your family doctor. The most likely reason your child has not learned to use the potty is that your child is not yet ready for toilet training."

How about you? What worked for your kids?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Autism and Vaccines

Update: Here's CNN's coverage of today's news conference with the family of a little girl who has autism in Georgia.

Here's CNN's Sanjay Gupta on todays news conference about autism and vaccines.

This is the ABC story: Government health officials have conceded that childhood vaccines worsened a rare, underlying disorder that ultimately led to autism-like symptoms in a Georgia girl, and that she should be paid from a federal vaccine-injury fund. Medical and legal experts say the narrow wording and circumstances probably make the case an exception - not a precedent for thousands of other pending claims.

The government "has not conceded that vaccines cause autism," said Lindam Renzi, the lawyer representing federal officials, who have consistently maintained that childhood shots are safe. However, parents and advocates for autistic children see the case as a victory that may help certain others. Although the science on this is very limited, the girl's disorder may be more common in autistic children than in healthy ones.

Nearly 5,000 families are seeking compensation for autism or other developmental disabilities they blame on vaccines and a mercury-based preservative, thimerosal. It once was commonly used to prevent bacterial contamination but since 2001 has been used only in certain flu shots. Some cases contend that the cumulative effect of many shots given at once may have caused injuries.

Studies repeatedly have discounted any link between thimerosal and autism, but legal challenges continue. The issue even cropped up in the presidential campaign, with Republican John McCain asserting on Friday that"there's strong evidence" autism is connected to the preservative. Others said they doubt the Georgia case will have much effect.

No link between mitochondrial disorders and autism spectrum disorder has been made in mainstream medicine," said Dr. Michael Pichichero of the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., who has consulted for the government on vaccines and has received speaking fees from vaccine makers.Reported cases of autism have been rising in the U.S., even after thimerosal was removed from most childhood vaccines.

However, some experts believe the rise is due to an expansion of the definition of autism and related conditions, and a desire to diagnose children so they qualify for special services and aid.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

School Gun Threats

I was startled when I came in to work today and found out there was gun threat at a local school, known for great academics and a lot of parental support. It turns out no gun was found, but the school had to go on lock down as a precaution. It is nerve wracking to think this could easily happen at my child's school. I know the thought has to go through the minds of other parents. Yes, security has been stepped up since Columbine, but so has violence. There is really no way to know which school could be attacked.

What are your thoughts about school violence? What do you think needs to be done to protect kids?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Autism Press Conference

I talked to the media contact for a group holding a news conference tomorrow on autism and vaccinations. You may have read about a federal case this week some organizations claim proves a link between autism and vaccinations. I have been hesitant to post the story until I had all the details. I am hoping the details come out tomorrow.

Here is the press release from the group making the claim:

Landmark Federal Court Concession that Local Child From Atlanta Developed Autism From Vaccines. Child joins parents in press conference about this historic result at Atlanta Federal Court House tomorrow. Local couple from Atlanta will join with their 9 year old daughter, Hannah, in a press conference discussing their daughter's development of autism as a result of vaccines.

This landmark case alleged that autism was caused by childhood vaccines and was scheduled to be heard as a test case before the concession was made. The press conference will be held tomorrow, Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 11:30 am on the steps of U.S. Federal courthouse at 75 Spring Street in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Centers For Disease Control have estimated that 1 in 166 children have autism, and many have linked the autism epidemic in this country to the mercury based preservative used in childhood vaccines.

This should be interesting. I haven't seen any response from the federal government yet, but I am sure someone will respond after tomorrow's news conference. I will keep you updated.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Just got this from the Associate Press:

Medical and legal experts say the narrow wording and circumstances probably make the case an exception - not a precedent for thousands of other pending claims. The government "has not conceded that vaccines cause autism," said Linda Renzi, the lawyer representing federal officials, who have consistently maintained that childhood shots are safe.

Testing Toys for Lead Paint

Motivated by recalls of foreign-made toys containing lead, the U.S. Senate sent a clear message Tuesday that hazardous products should not be part of child’s play. They passed legislation that increases funding for the Consumer Product Safety Commission-the agency charged with ensuring the safety of toys.

The bill also increases penalties and enforcement against companies that produce harmful products. The U.S. House passed similar legislation in December, but the White House has expressed some concerns over the Senate version. It’s not clear at this point when the bill will reach the house floor for an approval vote.

That means there is still no guarantee the toys our kids are playing with are safe. The station where I work, HOI 19, held a toys testing event last week. Oxford Instruments came down from Chicago with one of its XRF machines, the same machines the Consumer Product Safety Commission uses to screen its toys. I was shocked by what we found at the toy test.

First of all, the toys I brought from home that had been recalled for having lead based paint all came back clean-no lead. (The CPSC recalls all of one kind of toy if it finds a bad batch because there's no way of tracking which batch contained the lead paint.)

Secondly, one stacking block failed, but the other four from the same package passed.

Lastly, just because one toy tests negative for toxins doesn't mean another one that looks exactly the same and is the same brand will test negative.

The main things to keep in mind:

1. Kid's jewelry often contains levels of lead that exceed the federal limit, which is 600 parts per million. One necklace we tested had 10,000 parts per million of lead.

2. Toys bought in other countries are likely to contain high amounts of heavy metals because there are little or no lead laws in other countries. We tested two wooded flutes from Guatemala that had around 46,000 parts per million of lead. Yikes!

3. There is no color that is more likely to test positive than another.

The best thing for parents to do is to go to a toy test and make sure their child's toys don't contain lead or other heavy metals. That isn't an option for most parents, so the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommend signing up on its website to receive the recall list directly to your inbox. I know as a mom, getting warned about a toy after you bought it isn't optimal, but we don't really have a choice at this point.

Kids under three-years-old are the ones we need to be concerned about the most when it comes to lead poisoning. They tend to put toys in their mouths, making them more susceptible. There is no magic pill to get lead out of a child's system overnight. There are some vitamin therapies and chelation that some parents think help, but a lot of the time, the lead never fully leaves a child's system. It gets embedded in the bone.

The number one cause of lead poisoning is not lead found in toys, it's lead found in homes built before 1978(the year lead paint was banned in the U.S.) Cracked and peeling paint is the biggest concern, but even well maintained homes can contain lead dust. Lead paint can also be found in furniture, especially antiques.

The Peoria City/County Health Department recommends all kids get a lead test at one year old. The screening is a simple finger prick. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, hyperactivity and a host of behavioral issues. It is not detectable without a blood test.

You can watch the series of stories I did leading up to the HOI Toy test.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Waiting in line at Disney

I have three friends planning trips to Disney World in the next few weeks and they need your help! They all have young children and are worried about standing in long lines with them.

My pediatrician suggested bringing flash cards because they're small and can fit into a purse or bag easier. She suggested getting new ones your kids haven't seen before. Something new is definitely a good idea in my opinion. I know my 4-year-old loves anything he hasn't seen before.

Here's a question from a NewsAnchorMom.com reader:

"The only thing I have found so far for keeping a toddler occupied in line is snacks and bubbles... But there's gotta be some other ideas."

I also did a post a while back on Disney Vacation Tips that has more information on cost saving strategies during a Disney trip.

What are your suggestions for keeping little ones occupied in line? What are your tips for having a great Disney vacation?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Car Seat Recall

From ABC:

Combi USA is voluntarily recalling 67,000 child car seats because federal tests show the seats might separate from their bases in front-end collisions.

Though Combi has received no reports of injuries, a recent test done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that the seat could potentially fail to adequately protect children in a frontal collision.

Models being recalled include Centre, Centre ARB and Shuttle rear-facing infant seat models 8065, 8074, 8086, 8087, 8520 and the travel systems that contain these seat models 4400, 4515 and 4520. The recall includes the entire production of these models from October 2005 through December 2007.

Consumers are being asked to contact the company to obtain a free retrofit kit on its Web site or by calling 1-800-543-7734.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Importance of Breakfast

I have the toughest time getting my four-year-old to eat breakfast. He will say he wants pancakes or cereal or whatever and an hour later it is still sitting on the table. He usually won't eat much of anything until around 10:30a.m. His dad also likes to skip breakfast. I think it's in the genes. I do try to push him to eat something in the morning, but it can be challenging. We've all heard breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Here's the latest from ABC News on the topic:

Studies show that between 12 and 34 per cent of children don't eat breakfast every day - with teenagers being the most likely to skip the morning meal. But new research from the University of Minnesota reveals that breakfast is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Doctors followed more than 2200 adolescents for 5 years, asking them about their eating habits at the beginning and end of the study.

Results showed teenagers who regularly ate breakfast actually consumed fewer daily calories and ate less fat than those who skipped breakfast. They also tended to practice other healthy behaviors, such as getting more exercise and not smoking or drinking alcohol.

As a result of all these healthy choices, breakfast-eating teens gained weight over the course of the study. Researchers say that skipping breakfast is never a good weight-loss strategy - instead, teenagers who want to look fit should eat regular, balanced meals and get at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

This article was published in Pediatrics by researchers from the University of Minnesota.

Do your kids eat breakfast? What can you get them to eat when you're in a hurry to get to school?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Can Pacifiers Save Lives?

Pacifiers, or the Binky as it's called in our house, may help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports pacifiers have a protective effect, especially when used at the time of last sleep.

The mechanism for this apparent strong protective effect is still unclear, but several mechanisms such as lowered arousal thresholds have been proposed.

However, the AAP does NOT recommend the use of pacifiers as a risk reducing method because their are downsides to its use.

Personally, my four-year-old son used a Binky until he was three-years-old. I know, we should have gotten rid of it earlier, but that is the only way he would sleep through the night. He is 4 1/2 now and still wakes up repeatedly. He started having night terrors shortly after we got rid of the pacifier.

Speech pathologists point to the pacifier as a reason for delayed speech and problems forming certain words.

And I think we have all heard about the dental problems a pacifier may cause.

Some dental malocclusions(teeth are not lined up properly) have been found more commonly among pacifier users than nonusers, but the differences generally disappeared after cessation. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry policy statement on oral habits states that “non nutritive sucking behaviors (ie, finger or pacifier) are considered normal in infants and young children … and in general, sucking habits in children to the age of five are unlikely to cause any long-term problems.”

The AAP is concerned about the pacifier's impact on breastfeeding.

Although several studies have shown a correlation between pacifiers and reduced breastfeeding duration, the results of well-designed randomized clinical trials indicate that pacifiers do not seem to cause shortened breastfeeding duration for term and pre-term infants. One study reported a small deleterious effect of pacifier introduction in the first week of life on breastfeeding at 1 month of age, but this effect did not persist beyond 1 month.

There is an approximate 1.2- to 2-fold increased risk of otitis media (ear infection) associated with pacifier use, but the incidence of otitis media is generally lower in the first year of life, especially the first 6 months, when the risk of SIDS is the highest. However, pacifier use, once established, may persist beyond 6 months, thus increasing the risk of otitis media. Gastrointestinal infections and oral colonization with Candida species(yeast infection) were found to be more common among pacifier users.

My second son wanted nothing to do with a pacifier and I am grateful. Losing the Binky and searching the house for the one that he likes the best what a major pain the first time around. I am glad I only had to go through that once.

How about you? Did your kids use or are they using a pacifier? Was getting rid of it a big deal at your house?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Where is the safest place for a baby to sleep?

Does cosleeping have benefits? Definitely. It is a good idea? The American Academy of Pediatrics says no. After several comments last week from parents who support cosleeping, I thought it would be a good idea to find out why cosleeping is not recommended. Is it based on good research?

Dr. John Kattwinkel from the AAP SIDS Task Force said,"There certainly is a contingent that feels that bedsharing can be done safely, but the AAP SIDS Task Force that I chair felt that there was insufficient evidence of that to endorse it."

Here's why:

Bed sharing between an infant and adult(s) is a highly controversial topic. Although electrophysiologic and behavioral studies offer a strong case for its effect in facilitating breastfeeding and the enhancement of maternal-infant bonding,epidemiologic studies of bed sharing have shown that it can be hazardous under certain conditions.

Several case series of accidental suffocation or death from undetermined cause suggest that bed sharing is hazardous. Some of these studies have found the correlation between death and bedsharing to reach statistical significance only among mothers who smoked. However, the European Concerted Action on SIDS study, which was a large multisite study, found that bed sharing with mothers who did not smoke was a significant risk factor among infants up to 8 weeks of age.

Similarly, a more recent study conducted in Scotland found that the risk of bed sharing was greatest for infants younger than 11 weeks, and this association remained among infants with nonsmoking mothers. The risk of SIDS seems to be particularly high when there are multiple bed sharers and also may be increased when the bed sharer has consumed alcohol or is overtired.

There is growing evidence that room sharing (infant sleeping in the parent’s room) without bed sharing is associated with a re-duced risk of SIDS. Data from the European Concerted Action on SIDS study led to the recommendation by its authors that the most protective sleep setting for an infant is in a crib in the parents’room. On the basis of their study results, investigators in Scotland endorsed the United Kingdom Department of Health’s advice that the safest place for an infant to sleep is in a crib in the parents’ room for the first 6 months of life.

Jen: Attachment Parenting International says there is no good research that shows cosleeping is dangerous. It says the research that had been done on this topic was done by the companies who make cribs. Do you know if there is any truth to this and can you respond?

Dr. Kattwinkel: "The studies cited in our report were done by very reputable epidemiologists that as far as I know were not supported by manufacturers. Certainly no one on our task force receives any such support.

Jen: Some moms believe cosleeping deaths occur when parents are drunk or on drugs. One mom said, "Very often when a co-sleeping death happens, it is related to drugs, alcohol, or obesity. But those things rarely make the news stories - either because of a fear of making the parents feel guilty or because it wouldn't make for the same kind of headline."Can you please respond.

Dr. Kattwinkel:"It is true that all of the factors you mention increase the risk of SIDS and of bed-sharing significantly. However, controlling for these variables in several of the studies still show the adjusted risk to be increased. The most controversial variable is smoking, where a few found that removal of smoking eliminated the risk of bedsharing, but several others did not, particularly during the first 6 weeks after birth."

Jen: Can you respond to this statement from a local mom, "Some studies have shown the risk of SIDS greatly decreases when babies sleep next to their mothers - not only are mothers more in tune and likely to notice breathing disruptions in their baby, but babies' little bodies tend to mimic the breathing pattern of their mother next to them."

Dr. Kattwinkel: "The physiological observations cited by this mother are correct and the investigator has SPECULATED that this may protect from SIDS. However, he has published or presented no evidence that it actually does so."

Jen: Another comment from a local mom, "I still struggle to understand why co-sleeping is considered dangerous when about 50 babies a year die in bed with their parents, but cribs are considered safe and 3,000 babies die in cribs alone every year. "

Dr. Kattwinkel: "The numbers quoted by this mother are not quite correct, or the facts are unknown. However, it is essential to define the denominator. The same argument can be made about sleep position. 997 of each 1000 babies who sleep on their stomachs will NOT die of SIDS. However, when you consider the number of births in the U.S., prevention of those 2-to-3/1000 deaths by babies sleeping on their backs has resulted in over 15,000 fewer deaths since introduction of the "Back to Sleep" recommendation."

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Benefits of the First Born

It is likely the first born in your family will get a better education and make more money as an adult, according to new research.

From News for parents.org:

A new study published in the Journal of Human Resources shows first-born children get about 3,000 more hours of quality time with their parents between ages 4 and 13 than the next sibling gets when they pass through the same age range.

The study provides a possible explanation for why older children tend to get more education, make more money and score higher on IQ tests. Brigham Young University economics professor Joseph Price conducted the analysis.

Price says his findings on birth order and quality time surprise most parents who try to split their attention evenly across all their children. This study shows parents do provide equal time on any particular day, but not when looking at each child's total time with parents between their fourth and fourteenth birthdays. That's because the amount of time parents spend with children on a daily basis declines as families get older. First-born children get more quality time simply because they pass through childhood when there is more overall family time to be shared.

I often hear parents kid about how the second child doesn't have a photo album and no one was really dedicated to them. I think most parents do make an effort to give the second child (or third or fourth) the same attention as the others. When I read this article, I started feeling bad for my second little one. I hope he gets the opportunity to get a good education and doesn't have a lower I.Q. than he could. I guess we'll just have to keep this study in mind and do what we can to prevent it from coming true.

What do you do to make sure your kids get equal treatment?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen