Are Foster Families Always Safer?

Are foster families always safer than the child's parent or guardian? I am not sure at this point. I am about to go on a rant again. This is the second story we have ran in the last few months about a child allegedly being neglected in a foster home and dying! The whole point of a foster home is to keep the kids safe! I cannot explain how much this infuriates me!

FROM CENTRALILLINOISNEWSCENTER.COM: The Peoria County Coroner says a little girl from Livingston County died as a result of head injuries.

Kianna Rudesill died Thursday at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. The 4-year-old girl was in a state-licensed foster care home in Cullom.

According to the Pantagraph, the child, originally from Bloomington, was placed in foster care with her siblings after the biological mother was sentenced for two counts of child endangerment.
No one has been charged in the child's death--- DCFS, and the Livingston County Sheriff's Office are investigating.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

What if you could look younger? Soderstrom Skin Institute was one of the first medical facilities to offer laser services in Central Illinois 20 years ago and today provides one of the most comprehensive laser treatment programs available. Call 674-7546 to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION today!

Watch out for Measles

Measles outbreaks in other countries are spreading to the U.S. Doctors at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say there have been 89 reported cases of measles in the U.S. already this year. In a typical year, the U.S. will only see about 50 cases total. Doctors say measles is one of the most contagious vaccine preventable diseases. So if you haven't taken the time to get your kids vaccinated because you're too busy.. this may the time to do it!

So what are the symptoms of the measles?

Fever
Runny nose
Dry cough
Skin rash of large blotches
White spots in the mouth

Here's more on this story from FROM YAHOO NEWS:

I broke out in some sort of hives or rash or something today. Now I think I am paranoid it's the measles. Yikes! I mean I doubt it, but it is certainly coincidental that I ran into this story today!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

What if you could look younger? Soderstrom Skin Institute was one of the first medical facilities to offer laser services in Central Illinois 20 years ago and today provides one of the most comprehensive laser treatment programs available. Call 674-7546 to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION today!

No more "Dry Max" Pampers

I just saw this article on MSNBC.com that says Pampers is revamping those diapers we talked about last year that some parents say caused nasty blisters on their child's bottom. The article says Proctor and Gamble is tweaking the diapers to no longer say "dry max" and making the diapers more comfortable and absorbent.

Here's a comment from a newsanchormom.com reader regarding the "dry max" diapers.

"I've been researching trying to figure out why my 1 yr old has such a bad diaper rash that won't go away. Usually Nystatin takes it right away, but this has been going on for 2 weeks now. The dr. said to put the cream on, but it's not helping. I thought it could be the switch to milk from formula or the MMR and/or chickenpox vacc., but now I'm wondering. I just checked on the diapers and they have the "Dry Max". I've always used Pampers and never had a problem like this. I'm going to try different diapers tomorrow and see if that clears up the rash."

According to MSNBC:
After months of investigations, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada found no specific cause linking the diapers to rashes.

Still, there was enough of an issue for Proctor & Gamble to change its diapers... just say'in.
And the MSNBC article also says Pampers and Huggies are down in sales. I would assume that's due to the economy. I know we are only using generic diapers at home.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

What if you could look younger? Soderstrom Skin Institute was one of the first medical facilities to offer laser services in Central Illinois 20 years ago and today provides one of the most comprehensive laser treatment programs available. Call 674-7546 to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION today!

Unbuckling the Car Seat

My four-year-old has been known to get his arms out of the five point harness car seat. I think it's my fault because the straps must not be tight enough. We have gone from winter coats to t-shirts to sweat jackets in the last few weeks. I always tighten the harnesses back up, but I guess they aren't as snug as they should be. Thankfully, he hasn't figured out how to unbuckle the car seat just yet. I remember when my oldest did. He still gets out of his seat more than he should and he'll be 8 this year! Have your kids ever maneuvered their way out of the car seat?

FROM NBC: Many young children have the motor skills to unbuckle their own car seats long before they have the thinking skills to know why it's dangerous. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine surveyed parents with kids under age 6.

They found the vast majority of kids who unbuckle themselves from the car seats -- 75-percent -- are under age 3! Some little Houdinis were able to free themselves as young as 12-months old.

It was more common among boys than girls. And nearly half of kids who unbuckled did so while their vehicle was in motion. when they were in 5-point harnesses, most managed only to undo the top buckle.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

What if you could look younger? Soderstrom Skin Institute was one of the first medical facilities to offer laser services in Central Illinois 20 years ago and today provides one of the most comprehensive laser treatment programs available. Call 674-7546 to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION today!

It is a Growth Spurt!

There are probably a lot of things your mom told you about babies that turned out to be old wifes' tales. Here's one that's true! When your baby sleeps a lot more than usual, it really is a growth spurt! I remember the days when I would all of the sudden get four to five hours of sleep at night and a three hour nap during the day! It was amazing! I LOVE growth spurts!

FROM NBC: Moms have said it for years... now science confirms that when babies sleep a lot for a few days.. they're going through a growth spurt! Emory University researchers had 23 parents keep daily sleep records for their babies -- from the newborn phase throughout the first year. They found measurable growth spurts right after intermittent periods when babies took more naps and slept longer. This may be reassuring to parents -- who can become frustrated by the unpredictability of infants' sleep schedules. Researchers say hormones released during sleep might account for the growing phases.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

What if you could look younger? Soderstrom Skin Institute was one of the first medical facilities to offer laser services in Central Illinois 20 years ago and today provides one of the most comprehensive laser treatment programs available. Call 674-7546 to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION today!