NEWS ANCHOR MOM: child health, child safety, toxic toys, autism, etc. for busy moms

Do you purposely forget the booster seat?

2012-01-30T19:56:00.003-06:00

Imagine your child being a little smaller than his friends. He still needs a booster seat, but he is tall enough to go without one. What happens when your son's friends want to carpool? Do you make him carry around a booster seat? A new study says most parents don't. I would guess it's out of convenience. If you are taking a bunch of kids to a sporting event, it's a little cumbersome to carry around a booster seat, but it is safer for your child. Is this a big deal? What do you think?

FROM CNN:

Even though some parents put their little ones in booster seats while in the car, they don't always require them to use one when they are carpooling with other kids– that's according to a new survey published in this week's journal Pediatrics.

The research, conducted by the University of Michigan, found more than 30% of parents do not enforce the rule of booster seats when their kids are with another driver. Investigators also found 45% of parents do not require their little ones to use a booster when they're driving other children who don't have booster seats.

"The majority of parents reported that their children between the ages of four and eight use a safety seat when riding in the family car," says Dr. Michelle Macy, a clinical lecturer of emergency medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and a pediatrician at U-M C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. "However, it's alarming to know that close to 70% of parents carpool, and when they do, they're often failing to use life-saving booster seats."

Researchers believe car overcrowding and lack of time to coordinate booster seat switch offs are to blame for the lack of safety for kids in carpooling situations. Some parents seem to look the other way. But it's against the law, and many don’t understand that.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Yet another study that says SCREEN TIME BAD

2012-01-29T21:00:00.007-06:00

Is it just me? I understand that too much screen time is bad-especially if the child is suffering from obesity. However, kids need to know how to use technology. Why isn't that ever mentioned in these studies? A kid who grows up without learning how to use ipads, computers, smart phones, etc. will be at a disadvantage. I am not condoning kids using technology constantly. It should be in moderation. But I am sick of seeing all these studies like "TV BAD, COMPUTERS BAD, SCREEN TIME BAD." So again I ask, "Is it just me who is getting annoyed by all these studies that don't take the future into account?"

Here's the latest from THE NEW YORK TIMES:

Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics’ longstanding recommendations to the contrary, children under 8 are spending more time than ever in front of screens, according to a study scheduled for release Tuesday.

The report also documents for the first time an emerging “app gap” in which affluent children are likely to use mobile educational games while those in low-income families are the most likely to have televisions in their bedrooms.

The study, by Common Sense Media, a San Francisco nonprofit group, is the first of its kind since apps became widespread, and the first to look at screen time from birth. It found that almost half the families with incomes above $75,000 had downloaded apps specifically for their young children, compared with one in eight of the families earning less than $30,000. More than a third of those low-income parents said they did not know what an “app” — short for application — was.

“The app gap is a big deal and a harbinger of the future,” said James Steyer, chief executive of Common Sense Media, which had 1,384 parents surveyed this spring for the study. “It’s the beginning of an important shift, as parents increasingly are handing their iPhones to their 1 ½-year-old kid as a shut-up toy. And parents who check their e-mail three times on the way to the bus stop are constantly modeling that behavior, so it’s only natural the kids want to use mobile devices too.”

Mysterious Illness at high school

2012-01-26T21:32:00.003-06:00

A mysterious illness in a small community in New York is scaring some parents. Symptoms of Conversion Disorder have been reported in 15 kids. They have started twitching, having convulsions and joint pain. According to THIS STORY from a local television station, doctors say the symptoms may go away within days or weeks. As a parent, this would really freak me out! I would not want my kid in that high school. It seems ridiculous that no one has determined the cause and set a course for prevention.

FROM WIVB:

Environmental activist Erin Brockovich is now reportedly sending a team in for testing. Residents say they hope she can get to the bottom of it - because somebody has to.

And though previous media reports say otherwise, aside from doing research on Conversion Disorder, the National Institute of Health reports they have absolutely no involvement in LeRoy. Representatives tell News 4 they have not asked for increased testing and say, for now, there are no future testing events planned.

Katherine Heigl on Adoption

2012-01-24T19:55:00.006-06:00

Check out this clip from The View:
This clip is so cute. I didn't realize Katherine Heigl quit Grey's Anatomy because she adopted a little girl from Korea. Her little girl ran up and hugged her while she was on The View.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

When do you stop bathing kids?

2012-01-23T20:51:00.004-06:00

Obviously, your kids should always have good hygiene, but when are they too old for you or your babysitter to help them out? Think of an age. Do you have it in your head? Was it 13 years old? I kinda doubt it. But a boy that age was being bathed by his sitter. I don't think there was anything inappropriate happening, but it seems a little old to me.

Here's the question posted ON TOPIX:

My husband and I have this very nice lady stay with our two boys when go out of town. We've been using her for most of my older son's life, and we all love her to death. But I just recently realized that she has still been giving both our sons (age 5 and 13) baths together. She'd tell me on the phone that she had given them both baths, but I didn't realize that she was still shampooing the older boys hair and drying him off etc. along with the younger one. Sure I knew she was bathing them together years ago (back then I did it that way too), but I just assumed that this had stopped at some point (in regards to the older boy) years ago.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Kids who always choose electronics first

2012-01-22T08:37:00.003-06:00

There's a good chance you battle with the same electronic issues we do at our house. I am constantly trying to get the kids to play with something other than a DS, television, computer, iPad, etc. And I just want them to do it without getting into some big argument and without screaming and fighting and whining. Sometimes I think a blackout would be nice. However, I am sure that day the DS would actually be fully charged!

Last night the kids turned off all the electronics by themselves. They got out the old fruit in the fridge (oranges, pears) and found dad's drill on the counter. They spent two hours drilling into the fruit (safely) and making up some game that went along with the fun. Surprisingly, they didn't even make much of a mess. I thought it was great. I think parents tend to try and avoid messes too often. Sometimes kids just need to make a big mess and have fun. They can always help to clean it up later. That's my two cents for the day.

The topic of electronic books came up in this article FROM THE THE NEW YORK TIMES:

According to Lisa Guernsey of the New America Foundation’s Early Education Initiative, is that when we read with a child on an e-reader, we may actually impede our child’s ability to learn. Ms. Guernsey interpreted recent research on childhood literacy for Time magazine, and found that parents interact differently with children over an e-reader than over a physical book. That difference may make children slower to read and comprehend a story.

Children sitting with a parent while an e-reader reads to them understand significantly less of what’s read than those hearing a parent read. Researchers at Temple University, where the study was done, noted that parents reading books aloud regularly asked children questions about the book: “What do you think will happen next?” Parents sitting with the child while a device read to them (like a LeapPad or some iPad apps) didn’t ask these questions, or relate images or incidents in the book to the child’s real life. Instead, their conversation was focused on how to use the device: “Careful! Push here. Hold it this way.”

10 Reasons Kids go to School Sick

2012-01-19T19:34:00.003-06:00

NANNY BACKGROUND CHECK looks at the top reasons kids end up at school sick. I want to know the number one reason you think kids are sent to school sick. This list doesn't seem to have any basis. There is no study or survey mentioned. It's just someone's opinion. So I want to know what you think. Are kids sent to school sick because parents don't pay attention? Because parents think it's okay if they get other kids sick? Kids get a sudden on-set of illness? Post a comment and let me know.
-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Preventing infertility in young girls

2012-01-17T20:49:00.003-06:00

If you know someone who has struggled with infertility, I am sure you don't want your daughter to go through it. It has such a big impact on a couple's life. A new study looks at whether a common diabetes drug will prevent infertility later in life when given to girls as young as eight-years-old.
FROM MSNBC: Most girls at age 8 aren't worried about having children of their own. But that may be the perfect time to protect them against future infertility problems, a new study concludes. Girls that age who had a high risk of developing a condition that leads to infertility were treated for four years with metformin, a commonly used diabetes drug, and were found to be less likely to develop the condition later.

While 8-year-olds don’t show any outward signs of polycystic ovary syndrome, which is the top cause of infertility in women in the U.S., physiological precursors to PCOS are already present in their bodies, the researchers said. Metformin is already used to treat PCOS in older women, but hadn't previously been tested as a means of preventing the condition in patients at such a young age.

"What we have done is chosen an at-risk group and treated them before they have clinical signs of the syndrome," said study researcher Dr. Lourdes Ibáñez, an endocrinologist at the University of Barcelona. "It's using the drug in a preventive way instead of a therapeutic way."

Preventing gender-based abortions

2012-01-16T20:39:00.005-06:00

I do think it's wrong to abort a baby based on gender. I would think a majority of people would agree with that. However, making all parents wait to find out the gender of their baby until 30 weeks is a terrible idea. Why do that to the majority of people because a select few may abort their child if it's the wrong sex. Good grief! There are a lot of bad things people "might" do.

FROM NBC: Doctors should not tell pregnant women the sex of their baby until 30 weeks into a pregnancy, one physician is arguing, taking a stance that is sure to be controversial.

By not revealing a fetus' sex, doctors could prevent abortions related to the sex of the baby, according to Dr. Rajendra Kale, interim editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The practice of "sex selection," or the aborting of female fetuses because of a preference for sons, is an issue in several Asian countries, and may also be done by some immigrants in Canada and the United States, Kale said.

Michelle Obama on iCarly

2012-01-15T21:30:00.003-06:00

My eight-year-old informed me today Michelle Obama is on iCarly this week and can he "please, please watch it, just this once?" I think the show is too old for an eight-year-old, but for some reason, he knows all the characters and has seen the promo for the episode this week. Hmmm... Anyway, it airs tomorrow night. She is promoting her support of the military. I guess the main character's dad is a colonel. My kids are getting so old! I can't believe it!

The Examiner posted a story today about the upcoming episode.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Preventing post-partum blues

2012-01-11T21:05:00.003-06:00

It's simple. All you have to do is reach out to other news and other people in general who are on-line. It's a way you can keep your sanity when you are home by yourself all day with a newborn. Don't get me wrong, it's a great, wonderful thing, but it can also be isolating. So start your own blog, join Pinterest, Facebook, whatever. Just make sure you are talking to adults on a daily basis. Here's the research study showing new moms who blog are happier.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Do cheap thermometers work?

2012-01-10T20:48:00.003-06:00

We have a forehead thermometer and I think it works pretty well. I did pay a pretty penny for it though. I think it was about $50.00. It was worth it to me. My kids never sit still for very long. The rectal thermometers are still known to be the most accurate, but when your child is sick... um.. it's not the easiest thing to accomplish. I was happy to see this Consumer Reports story in the Washington Post that actually lists the brand names of the thermometers that showed accuracy and affordability. Let me know how you take your child's temperature.

The Washington Post: With an eye to cold and flu season, Consumer Reports assessed 10 thermometers that are probably speedier than those you used when growing up. It tested two types on four adults without fevers, comparing each device’s readout against the temperature measured by a medical thermometer. The results show that you can save a bundle if you skip a few features.

The top-rated digital stick thermometer, the CVS Flexible Tip Digital ($15), has a flexible tip, which most users preferred to the rigid type, and its readout took just eight seconds. The least expensive model, Wal-Mart’s Reli-On Rigid 60 Second ($3), a CR Best Buy, was accurate and best at repeating the correct temp, though it has a small display and a longer readout time. Adults said it was comfortable despite a rigid tip; kids preferred flexible tips.

The top infrared models, Vicks V977 (forehead) ($37), another CR Best Buy, and Exergen Temporal Scanner TAT-2000C (forehead) ($50), were accurate and comfortable. Vicks had more features, such as a large backlit display and colors that indicate a normal temperature, mild fever and high fever. (That feature wasn’t tested.)

Recipe Contest

2012-01-09T21:11:00.002-06:00

I thought you good cooks would appreciate this recipe contest. I know I would apply if I could cook! The prize is $25,000! Woo hoo!

This year, the 6^th Annual Manischewitz Cook-Off Contest is better than ever! Claire Robinson, celebrity chef and Food Network TV, is hosting the Cook-Off, which will take place with 5 finalists cooking live in New York City in front of a panel of judges. I have pasted the press release on the contest below in the hope that you will be able to post it shortly. For more information you can log on to www.manischewitz.com.

January 15, 2012 is the last day to submit original, easy recipes for a chance to win a $25,000 prize package including state of the art MayTag Kitchen Appliances.

Reader’s participation in the Cook-Off also supports rock CAN roll a non-profit, hunger relief organization. Manischewitz will be placing bins for can collection, and also match donations with their products.

How are dogs like babies?

2012-01-08T20:43:00.003-06:00

A new study shows dogs know more than what most scientists think. This new study shows their reaction to communication may be just as good as a baby who is has not learned to talk. I know there have got to be some dog owners out there who have great stories to tell me about their "smart" dogs. Leave a comment and let me know what you've seen!

FROM FOX NEWS:

A new report in Current Biology highlights that some dogs have the skills of a 6-month-old baby, USA Today reported.

The study’s results “support the notion that dogs are sensitive to the cues of signaling humans’ communicative intent in a way that is analogous to preverbal human infants,” said Jozsef Topel, the study’s author and an associate professor in the Comparative Behavior Research Group at the Institute for Psychological Researches, Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/06/dogs-have-same-understanding-as-babies-study-says/#ixzz1ivSAoQYS

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Bullying:How are victims reacting?

2012-01-05T21:05:00.003-06:00

So many parents have reached out to me throughout the years in search of an answer to stop their kids from being bullied. Either more people are reporting bullying or more kids are getting bullied. It is really hard for parents because when they step in at their child's school, there's a good chance their child will get bullied even more. I wish I had the solution.

FROM SCIENCE DAILY: Many wonder why bullies bully, but a new study looks at the other side of the equation: How do children respond to bullying and why? The answer, researchers say, may lead to more effective interventions to reduce the negative consequences -- and perhaps even the frequency -- of bullying.

Consciously or not, children tend to adopt one of three approaches, University of Illinois psychology professor Karen Rudolph said. "Some are focused on developing their relationships. They want to improve their social skills. They want to learn how to make friends," she said.

Others are most interested in "demonstrating their competence," she said. They may try to demonstrate their competence by enhancing their status or seeking approval from their peers. "These are kids who say: 'I want to be cool. I want lots of kids to like me. I want to hang out with the popular kids.' "

Or they may try to demonstrate their competence by avoiding negative judgments. "These are the kids who say, 'I'm not going to do anything that's going to draw negative attention, that's going to make me look like a loser, that's going to embarrass me,'" Rudolph said.

WOW! Have you seen the new childhood obesity ads?

2012-01-04T18:57:00.003-06:00

Have you seen the new ads targeting parents of children who are obese? They are very bold. I am not sure what I think about them. I know they must be offensive to some people. But I also know they will catch parents' attention. The ads are on-line and being shown on television stations in Georgia because they were created by the Georgia Children's Health Alliance.

Here is one of the pictures from the Strong4Life website--where you can also see the video HERE.
I am curious to see whether it's effective at curbing childhood obesity. It's certainly different.

According to CNN, The Obesity Action Committee wrote a strong statement against the bold campaign for fear of obese kids getting tormented even more.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Helping victims of child abuse

2012-01-03T21:10:00.003-06:00

The new year brings with it new year's resolutions. Many of you will vow to do something more with your life than the daily grind. I encourage you to consider supporting the Pediatric Resource Center in Peoria. The goal of the organization is get these kids the help victims of child abuse get the help they need and prevent more attacks.

PRC Proudly Presents
"A Night of Champions"
Join us January 10th, 2012
5pm-7pm
at John Graham & Associates
235 Everett Street East Peoria

You are cordially invited to join us for
light hors d'oeuvres and beverages.

Help us by accepting the privilege and responsibility of guaranteeing optimal child health and welfare.

The Pediatric Resource Center provides comprehensive prevention, education, research and evaluation for those that have endured Sexual Abuse ,Physical Abuse , and Neglect.

"The price of greatness is responsibility." - Sir Winston Churchill

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Child Abuse Hotline

1-800-25-ABUSE or 1-800-252-2873

Should this couple get kicked off the plane?

2012-01-02T20:37:00.005-06:00

I have got to hear what you think about this one. Here's the situation: A couple with an 8-month-old, 20-month-old twins and a 3-year-old bought three tickets for a flight. They say they thought they were following the rules because you technically only need plane tickets for kids under two-years-old. However, you need an adult to hold each child and according to ABC News, the U.S. Airways plane the couple was in only had four oxygen masks per row of seats. The couple said they understood and asked what they could do to comply. According to Yahoo News, someone offered to buy them another seat on the plane and an adult in a nearby seat offered to hold one of the children for the flight. Eventually, the family was kicked off the flight. The couple says they weren't given a clear cut reason. Do you think they should have been kicked off? I hate traveling. I cannot imaging trying to get four kids three and under on a plane. That is a challenge I would not attempt.

Here's more on the story from Yahoo News:

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

How to avoid pesticides during pregnancy

2011-12-29T23:15:00.000-06:00

A Yahoo News report shows pregnant women who have a pesticide called DDE or DDT in their body are more likely to have children with lung infections and wheezing. The chemicals were used years ago to kill malaria in mosquitoes, but they were soon banned in the U.S. The problem is the chemicals will still exist in the environment for years. So how do you keep your unborn baby safe from this pesticide? Read the suggestion below in red.

FROM YAHOO NEWS: A new report links remnants of a once-common pesticide to lung infections and wheezing in kids exposed to the chemical before birth.

Known as DDE, the compound is a broken-down form of the harmful pesticide DDT and is found in many places around the world. It is absorbed into a person's body when they eat contaminated food or breathe contaminated dust.

Martine Vrijheid, associate professor at the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Spain, told Reuters Health by email, it's hard to avoid chemicals like DDT and DDE, which are stored in fat and found in higher concentrations at the top of the food chain.

"One way of reducing exposure is by reducing the consumption of fatty foods and increasing the consumption of vegetables and fruits," she said. "This does not mean we should stop eating meat, yogurts or certain types of fish, but just that we should have (a balanced) diet.

Will abused kids suffer more?

2011-12-29T11:00:00.000-06:00

I am so sad about Catholic Charities in Illinois shutting down because they don't want to be forced to do something they don't believe. I hate the situation and I hate that kids could suffer because of it. I can see both sides. I just think there has to be a better solution than this.

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES: Catholic Charities in Illinois has served for more than 40 years as a major link in the state’s social service network for poor and neglected children. But now most of the Catholic Charities affiliates in Illinois are closing down rather than comply with a new requirement that says they can no longer receive state money if they turn away same-sex couples as potential foster care and adoptive parents.

For the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops, the outcome is a prime example of what they see as an escalating campaign by the government to trample on their religious freedom while expanding the rights of gay people. The idea that religious Americans are now the victims of government-backed persecution is now a frequent theme not just for Catholic bishops, but also for Republican presidential candidates and conservative evangelicals.

“In the name of tolerance, we’re not being tolerated,” said Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Ill., a civil and canon lawyer who helped drive the church’s losing battle to retain its state contracts for foster care and adoption services.

It's your fault Mom

2011-12-28T20:47:00.005-06:00

Moms, if you have a teenager who is obese, a new study shows it may be because of your poor relationship with your son or daughter. Yikes! That's hard to hear. Childhood obesity is growing at such a rapid rate, I would hate to think it was my fault my child is suffering. Obviously, this isn't the case with every obese child and mom, but it's certainly something to think about.

Here's a snippet of the story from Yahoo News: Toddlers who have poor relationships with their moms are more likely to pack on extra pounds as they grow up, a new U.S. study shows.

Tracking nearly 1,000 kids into their teens, researchers found more than a quarter of those who scored lowest on mother-child relationship tests as toddlers went on to become obese at age 15.

By contrast, only 13 percent of the children who had a good relationship with their mother became obese. While that doesn't prove cause and effect, researchers say other work has shown links between children's emotional and intellectual development and how they interact with their mother at a young age.

According to Sarah E. Anderson, who worked on the new study, it's possible that a stressful childhood could make a lasting impression on kids' brains.

Bookshelf from Pinterest

2011-12-26T14:33:00.005-06:00

I am seriously in trouble because of Pinterest. I love creating things out of stuff we already have and finding a good deal. As soon as I see a good idea, I can't stop thinking about it until I try it. However, Pinterest sucks away my time. Ahh! It is way worse than Facebook for me. I could spend hours on there getting ideas. My husband's Aunt Karla showed me this super cute kid's bookshelf out of spice racks from Ikea. I keep thinking about when and how I can get up to Chicago to buy them. Of course, the gas would make the trip economically pointless, but the racks are only $4.00 and they are super cute. Here's the link. I didn't post the picture here because I am not sure if it's a public file.

My two-year-old loves books and these tiny shelves would be ideal in his room. We always have books all over the floor and they spill out of the book rack on the floor. Are you on Pinterest? What do you think?

Baby Formula Bacteria Debate

2011-12-26T14:32:00.004-06:00

I am fortunate that I don't have to worry about the safety of formula at this point. My youngest is two-years-old. This is a scary situation for a lot of parents. Is the death of a baby from bacteria that may have been in the formula reason enough to change your baby's formula? I have heard it's a big deal to change the formula and it takes awhile for the baby to get used to a new brand. So let me know, would you or have you change your formula brand due to the bacteria scare with Enfamil? Here's some background in case you haven't heard this story yet.

FROM CNN: The manufacturer of the widely used baby formula Enfamil said Sunday that its testing shows the product is free of the bacteria blamed for the death of a Missouri infant.
Mead Johnson Nutrition said two tests of samples of its Enfamil Premium Newborn formula found no sign of the bacteria, known as Cronobacter sakazakii.

The samples tested were taken from the same lot as the formula given to the baby boy who died, the company said.

The Missouri case prompted retail giant Walmart to pull all cans of the same size and lot number from its shelves last week. Another newborn baby was sickened in Illinois but is recovering from the infection, according to the state health department.

The agencies are reviewing information about each newborn, including what they ate and where they were, in an effort to trace the sources of the infections.

Cronobacter can cause life-threatening infections in newborns. It's fatal in nearly 40% of cases, according to the CDC, and some of those who survive can be left with severe neurological problems.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T22:05:00.002-06:00

Twas the night before Christmas and my four-year-old would not go to bed.

Mom:"Do you think Santa will still come tonight or will you be put on the naughty list?"
Son:" I think will bring me cwust."
Mom:"You mean the crust from a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?"
Son:"Yes, cwust cuz he knows I don't like it and I was bad today."

I hope you have Merry Christmas!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Houdini Kids

2011-12-22T17:20:00.003-06:00

I met a mom today with two-year-old twins and she needs your help! Her girls are strong enough to unlatch the big red button on the car seats and get out. She said she will be driving down the highway and all of the sudden they are walking around the van! Yikes! She even went out and bought very nice and expensive new car seats by Peg Perego! She asked me if I had any ideas. I tried unlatching the car seats. It wasn't easy. I can't believe those little girls are so clever! If anyone has a suggestion for her, please let me know!

I found this suggestion from Car Safety.org.

You can try calling the manufacturer of your carseat to see if they have a buckle that requires more force to release, or a 2-piece chest clip instead of a "paperclip-style" chest clip. Using a seatbelt yourself sets a good example. Refusing to put the car in motion unless the child stays in their restraint is another. Also, try to keep your child entertained or distracted if possible, and NEVER make an exception and allow them not to use their child restraint. For severe cases, you can try a safety vest by E-Z-On (800-323-6598) that may be more difficult to remove.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Are you avoiding apple juice?

2011-12-20T20:53:00.002-06:00

I don't know what to do about the arsenic in apple juice controversy. Are there certain brands that do not contain arsenic or is it in all of them? My kids love apple juice. I am sure the two younger boys would be dehydrated if I took it away. I would hate to do that unless there is a good reason. I guess arsenic is a good reason. It just seems like fear mongering to me. What do you think? Should I take away the apple juice?

According to ABC News, Consumer reports found ten percent of samples of apple juice had higher amounts of arsenic than what's allowed in drinking water. Dr. Richard Besser says the type of arsenic found in apple juice is dangerous. It is not the safe kind. Dr. Besser says children under 7-years-old should have no more than 4-6 ounces of apple juice a day. He says the FDA needs to do more testing and hold the industry accountable.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Our Christmas Tree is finally up!

2011-12-19T22:15:00.003-06:00

Christmas is less than a week away and I just put ornaments on the tree!

It was smashed on one side and I didn't want to put on the ornaments until I fixed the branches. It took forever! I think I will just keep it up all year long so I don't have to do it again!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Chunky babies: What to do?

2011-12-18T21:46:00.003-06:00

When is a baby actually eating too much and when is he/she just going through normal stages? With the huge increase in childhood obesity, some doctors are taking a closer look at an infant's weight. Will babies be put on diets? It sounds crazy to me. I know my kids all got a lot chunkier from about 6 months to one year old. I think it's because that's when they start eating table food, but they aren't running around the house yet. That's just my opinion. I hope no one ever has to put their baby on a diet.

FROM MSNBC:

My grandmother’s attitude — stuff food into the baby, be proud of a “good eater” — may not make sense in an environment of abundant food and rising obesity.
But it gets medically controversial, and emotionally sticky, when doctors start talking about obesity in babies. Is there an epidemic of infant obesity? Are fat babies at greater risk of turning into fat children at higher risk for medical consequences later on in life? And what can doctors advise parents about feeding a baby — which ought, after all, to be one of the basic joys of parenthood?
The answers to those questions aren’t always clear. Scientists do know that the number of obese children has been on the increase. But not the proportion of those under age 2 whose weight-for-length curve is at the 95th percentile or above — that has held pretty steady since 1999.
Perhaps more important, no one wants to see babies on diets, no one wants to see hungry babies not given food.
-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Teens making good decisions about sugar

2011-12-17T22:13:00.002-06:00

This is a great idea for a lot of us. I know I would make better food choices if there was a sign above the food saying "You have to run for 50 minutes to burn off the calories in this food." I think this is a great idea for curbing childhood/teenage obesity. What do you think?

FROM CNN:Previous research has shown that the average American teenager drinks approximately 300 calories a day in sugar-sweetened beverages including soda, which can lead to obesity and other related health problems.

"Most consumers underestimate the number of calories in a can of soda, and they often do not realize that such calories can add up quickly," lead researcher Sara Bleich said in a press release about the study.

The study's authors used three methods to try to discourage teens from purchasing sugary drinks in a convenience store. The first sign posted noted that a typical bottle contains 250 calories. The second sign said the bottle contains around 10% of the average teenager's daily recommended calories. The third sign told teens they would have to jog for 50 minutes to burn off the calories in the drink.

Researchers found that all three signs reduced the odds that teenagers would buy a sugar-sweetened drink by approximately 40%, but that the third option reduced the odds by 50%. Teens faced with this information instead chose to purchase water or diet soda.

Girls can do math too

2011-12-12T20:50:00.007-06:00

It may be just a stereotype that girls aren't as good at math as boys. Wisconsin researchers instead found cultural and social factors contribute to math ability more than gender.

FROM SCIENCE DAILY:

The new study, by Mertz and Jonathan Kane, a professor of mathematical and computer sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, was published on Dec. 12, 2011 in Notices of the American Mathematical Society. The study looked at data from 86 countries, which the authors used to test the "greater male variability hypothesis" famously expounded in 2005 by Lawrence Summers, then president of Harvard, as the primary reason for the scarcity of outstanding women mathematicians.

That hypothesis holds that males diverge more from the mean at both ends of the spectrum and, hence, are more represented in the highest-performing sector. But, using the international data, the Wisconsin authors observed that greater male variation in math achievement is not present in some countries, and is mostly due to boys with low scores in some other countries, indicating that it relates much more to culture than to biology.

Hospital babies on camera

2011-12-12T20:30:00.003-06:00

Lights, camera, action! At some hospitals across the country, parents can log on and see a webcam of their tiny infants. The NICVIEW webcam system in several Neonatal Intensive Care Units across the country may become the latest upgrade at hospitals. It allows parents to get on-line from anywhere and see their infant at any time. I think it's a great idea! I did not have to leave any of my kids at the hospital after giving birth, but I know people who did. It was so hard for them. I think the webcams would have made it a little bit easier to cope. What do you think?

FROM CNN: St. Jude Medical Center is one of the first hospitals in the country to implement a webcam system called NICVIEW, which gives parents a virtual window to their newborns. Most of the babies in St. Jude's neonatal intensive care unit, which has 14 incubators, are born prematurely and are released within four or five days. Some, however, stay for months.

The password-protected webcam system is also being used at a handful of hospitals across the country, including UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, and Deaconess Women's Hospital in Newburgh, Indiana. Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center in Riverside, California, expects to introduce the system in the next few weeks.

Numerous other facilities are exploring the idea or looking for funding. Cameras run about $1,000 each in addition to an annual service fee that covers technical support and other costs.

Abortion may not cause depression

2011-12-08T20:39:00.001-06:00

A new study shows abortion may not lead to depression. Here's an article on the study from MSNBC.

Maybe opt out of cereal

2011-12-07T20:15:00.005-06:00

My kids have somehow gotten into the habit of eating cereal for breakfast. It drives me crazy because most of the cereal is not nutritious. I let them eat Kashi cinnamon and Kix, but I just saw Frosted Flakes in the cabinet. What!?

FROM CNN:Only one in four children’s cereals meets government guidelines for limits on sugar, according to a new report by the Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocacy organization.

Proposed government guidelines recommend that cereals have no more than 26% added sugar by weight, according to the report, and the Environmental Working Group found that many popular cereals, including Froot Loops, Cap’n Crunch and Honey Smacks, had more than 40% added sugar.

“Our children deserve better,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, said in a press release issued by the Environmental Working Group.

The proposed recommendations are voluntary and not legally binding on food manufacturers. They were designed to help children slim down, because one out of three children in the United States is either overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

According to the report, a cup of some cereals has more sugar than a Twinkie or three Chips Ahoy! chocolate chip cookies.

The cereal maker's response is here

Apologies to those at Portrait Innovations

2011-12-06T21:38:00.002-06:00

We actually did get a family picture tonight and everyone was looking near the camera! However, it was a nightmare. It was like my two-year-old was playing a movie part about "terrible twos." Then, my four-year-old started in. I felt so bad for the photographer! I am grateful we went on a Tuesday and not a Saturday!

Are you sending out Christmas cards this year?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Kidnapping: from his own words

2011-12-05T21:04:00.005-06:00

There are so many things to worry about. I don't think it's a good idea to worry constantly about kidnapping, but the risk does exist and it's certainly wise to be careful. Here's an account from a kidnap survivor.
Trust Your Children
Kidnap Survivor Shares His Story & Tips for Protecting Kids

Each new generation of parents keeps its children closer to home, supervises them more carefully, and guards them from both neighbors and strangers alike. With the rise of the Internet, they’re even running background checks on babysitters and troop leaders.

And still, children go missing.

Every day in the United States, 2,000 youngsters are reported missing, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Each year, 58,000 are taken by people unrelated to them and 200,000 are snatched by members of their own families. Sadly, there’s no relief in knowing the child may be with family.

George Molho knows that only too well. As a 7-year-old in 1978, he was taken to Greece from his home in Houston by his father, a man with a brutal temper, an obsessive need for control and a sadistic desire to inflict pain. No one, not even his mother, believed him when he anticipated his father’s plan to spirit him away and tried to warn them, Molho writes in his new memoir, Scarred (www.georgemolho.com).

Now a passionate advocate for child kidnapping and abuse victims, Molho says awareness of the problem and efforts to develop solutions that protect children should be a top national priority.

“One thing every parent can do to protect their children comes right from my own experience – and I don’t think parents know how very important it is,” Molho says.

“My mother thought I was being paranoid when I shared my worries with her. She took me to a psychologist, who said I was making up the story because I was upset that my parents weren't living together anymore.”

When young children express fear or concern about even a close friend or family member, adults tend to chalk it up to shyness, a ploy for attention, or fantasy, Molho says.

“Trust your child's instincts,” he says. “If they act uncomfortable around someone because they can’t verbalize their feelings, or if they tell you they’re uncomfortable, trust them. No matter who it is, if they tell you a person scares them, protect them.”

Molho offers these other lesser-known tips for protecting children from kidnappers, whether they’re friends or family:

• Teach children how to fib on the phone. If they’re home alone, for instance, and someone calls asking to speak to their mother or father, they might say, “My mother’s busy in the kitchen right now and asked me to answer the phone and take a message.” Put them to the test by having someone they don’t know, one of your friends or co-workers, call.

• Make approved lists of people who will deliver any important news to them. If Mom or Dad is in trouble or hurt, only these people will know and will tell the child. Even if Uncle Bob tells them Mom is in the hospital and the child needs to go with Uncle Bob, if he’s not on the approved list, the child should not go. This is a common ploy.

• Teach them, train them and give them permission to defend themselves. This is very important and it saves lives. Most children are taught to be polite and respect adults; it’s far safer to risk offending an adult – even if it turns out the adult meant no harm. Screaming, kicking and running away are perfectly acceptable if a stranger grabs your arm – even if the stranger is smiling sweetly. -George Molho
-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Pregnant Men

2011-12-04T21:12:00.003-06:00

If you think your husband doesn't understand what it feels like to be pregnant, there may be a way to show him!
Take a look at this new invention from Japan!
Here's the link to the story FROM MSNBC

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Curbing Childhood Obesity

2011-12-02T04:54:00.000-06:00

My new job as a pharmaceutical sales specialist has really opened my eyes to the health care crisis and the obesity epidemic. I really wish there was a clear cut, effective way to prevent all kids from struggling with weight gain that will later lead to heart disease and diabetes. Teaching kids about nutrition and exercise at a young age seems to be the best option right now. I wish it were more effective. I feel like either 1. kids are not educated on how to be healthy or 2. kids aren't listening. It may be a combination of both. It's too bad. It is scary.

FROM CNN: Teaching middle school students about nutrition and exercise appears to reap healthy rewards.

The program designed at the university of Michigan instructed almost 600 kids on making healthy diet choices, getting 150 minutes of exercise a week and cutting T.V. and computer time.

Four years later, students had lowered their average cholesterol, reduced their resting heart rates and most continued to make health-conscious decisions.

Researchers say programs like this could have a huge impact on long-term obesity rates as well as reducing diabetes and heart disease as students age.

Babies prefer nice people

2011-11-30T18:50:00.006-06:00

Scientists have solved the dilemma of: "how have we survived as intensely social creatures if our sociability makes us vulnerable to being cheated and exploited?" These quirky studies never cease to amaze me. Babies really do understand a whole lot more than we think. I can attest to that with my little ones. I am sure you can to. Sometimes they do things that don't seem possible at their age!

FROM SCIENCE DAILY:

While previous research shows that babies uniformly prefer kind acts, the new study published Nov. 28 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that eight month-old infants support negative behavior if it is directed at those who act antisocially -- and dislike those who are nice to bad guys.

"We find that, by eight months, babies have developed nuanced views of reciprocity and can conduct these complex social evaluations much earlier than previously thought," says lead author Prof. Kiley Hamlin, UBC Dept of Psychology, who co-authored the study with colleagues from Yale University and Temple University.

"This study helps to answer questions that have puzzled evolutionary psychologists for decades," says Hamlin. "Namely, how have we survived as intensely social creatures if our sociability makes us vulnerable to being cheated and exploited? These findings suggest that, from as early as eight months, we are watching for people who might put us in danger and prefer to see antisocial behavior regulated."

Smart Toys for Christmas

2011-11-29T21:26:00.003-06:00

I thought you would appreciate these Smart Toy ideas for the holidays. I know I am trying to persuade my kids to ask for something that's educational and fun. I am going to show them these websites and see what they say. If you have any suggestions for education, fun toys please post a comment at the end of this story.

These suggestions are from Dr. Renee Clauselle

9 mos. to 2 years: “The reason I love Cloud B Twilight Turtle Constellation Night Light's full night sky projection for ceiling and walls is because it really plays at the sensory development that is happening in babies. Muscular development and eye tracking development are enhanced. I also love that as a stuffed toy, it can grow with kids as they get older as a cuddle friend for bed time.”

3 years to 5 years: “The Mini-Kick Scooter develops visual motor skills and developing eye moving coordination, skills which later effect math skills, geometry, building blocks, and other visual spatial types of games, plus scooting is just fun!”

6 years to 8 years: "I love, love, love Reptangles Winner of the 2010 Parent's Choice Award. What a way to teach analytic thinking, problem solving, creativity and development for fine motor skills. These clever and colorful turtles snap and slide together in over 100 incredible ways."

10 years to 12 years. “For middle schoolers and teen tweens it is all about reading skills and vocabulary because SAT’s are right around the corner. Konexi is a word-building game of skill and chance in 3D. Great for family game nights. It’s a game that keeps everyone stimulated and on the edge of their seats playing it, while reading and writing skills improve!” Dr. Renee Clauselle’s goal is to encourage people towards healthy mental lives by de-stigmatizing psychology and therapy and to bring issues out into the open. Dr. Clauselle shares information and resources with the public through her blogs, ebooks and newsletters, speaking engagements and appearances.

Offices site: www.psychologists4kids.com
A recent ABC segment
Dr. Renee's Youtube channel

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Obese 3rd Grader taken from Mom

2011-11-28T21:24:00.004-06:00

I want to know what you think. Should kids who are obese be taken away from their parents? It seems crazy, but some medical experts say in some cases, that is what need to be done.

FROM ABCNEWS: A Cleveland third grader who weighed more than 200 pounds was taken from his mother after officials reportedly said she did not do enough to help the boy, who suffered from a weight-related health issue, to lose weight.

Officials first became aware of the boy’s weight after his mother took him to the hospital last year while he was having breathing problems, the newspaper reported. The child was diagnosed with sleep apnea and began to be monitored by social workers while he was enrolled in a program called “Healthy Kids, Healthy Weight” at the Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

The boy lost a few pounds, but recently began to gain some back, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported. At that point, the Department of Children and Family Services asked a juvenile court for custody of the boy, citing his soaring weight as a form of medical neglect, according to the newspaper.

Taking obese children from their families has become a topic of intense debate over the past year after one high-profile pediatric obesity expert made controversial comments in the Journal of the American Medical Association advocating the practice in acute cases.

“In severe instances of childhood obesity, removal from the home may be justifiable, from a legal standpoint, because of imminent health risks and the parents’ chronic failure to address medical problems,” Dr. David Ludwig co-wrote with Lindsey Murtagh, a lawyer and researcher at Harvard’s School of Public Health.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Internet or ER?

2011-11-27T21:09:00.002-06:00

I have to admit, when there is something wrong with my kids, I usually ask Google first before taking them to the doctor. That sounds bad, but it's really to stay informed. I want to have an idea what to expect and to ask the right questions. I hate to waste the doctor's time and mine. Do you search on-line before heading to the doctor's office or the ER?

FROM MSNBC: One in eight parents goes online for medical information about their child's condition before taking the child to the emergency room, according to new research.

What's more, many parents would willingly visit sites recommended by their child's doctor -- which means pediatricians should be prepared to offer advice on this topic, according to Dr. Purvi Shroff from the University of Louisville in Kentucky.

She presented her findings on Friday at the 2011 national conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics in Boston.

The most common websites were WebMD and Wikipedia, but few parents used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, run by the government, or the American Academy of Pediatrics' Healthy Children website.

What's wrong with this picture

2011-11-26T20:32:00.003-06:00

I thought I was doing myself a big favor by not taking the tree apart last year. Instead, I crammed it down the stairs and put it in the corner of the basement. My husband loaded it on his side and carried it up the stairs today. My four year old says it looks like someone took a bite out of it. I think I better put it in the box this year!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

10 Most Dangerous Toys

2011-11-25T08:51:00.005-06:00

I haven't started shopping yet for the holidays. I am really feeling the pressure to get organized. I would love to cross some presents off my list. I always take a look at the most dangerous toys first. They always seem to be the ones my kids want. Go figure! So here is the 2011 list from W.A.T.C.H.

Here's the W.A.T.C.H. list

2011 "10 Worst Toys" List
W.A.T.C.H.'s annual "10 Worst Toys" list nominates representative toys with the potential to cause childhood injuries, or even death. W.A.T.C.H.'s annual "Toy Conference" has generated extensive national press and media coverage. Because of these efforts, and the positive response from both the media and the public, there have been many toy and product design changes. Founder Edward M. Swartz (1934-2011) and W.A.T.C.H. fearlessly exposed potentially dangerous toys to the general public. As a result, children’s lives have been saved.
Please Click on Image to Learn More

TWIST 'n SORT
POWER RANGERS SAMURAI MEGA BLADE
FOLD & GO TRAMPOLINE
PULLING ANIMAL DUCK
SCHOOL BUS
Z-CURVE BOW
STEPPER "LOW RISE" STILTS
SWORD FIGHTING JACK SPARROW
THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKY DINKS MAKER
"GIGAN" GODZILLA FIGURE

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Exemplary School or Scandal?

2011-11-22T18:42:00.006-06:00

Wow! I cannot even imagine this happening at my child's school, but I am not surprised it's happening at some schools across the country. When kids don't perform well, schools lose money. They need the money to pay salaries and for necessites for the kids. It's not like the public schools have a ton of extra money. It just seems like a vicious cycle to me. It's too bad someone would decide to cheat in order to get the scores they need from the students.

FROM THE WASHINGTON POST:

A public elementary school in Texas that was given “exemplary” status for student achievement only taught reading and math to third graders last year and made up grades for each student in social studies, science, music and other subjects.

The Dallas Morning News reported that Roslyn Carter, principal of Field Elementary School, has been placed on paid administrative leave after investigators from the Dallas Independent School District investigators uncovered falsified grades for third-grade students during the 2010-11 school year.

A report by the investigators said that Carter was essentially obsessed with ensuring that students passed the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. For the past two years Field has earned the state’s highest school rating, “exemplary,” in part based on the results of the test. Third-graders take the math and reading portions of the assessment.

The incident is just the latest in a string of scandals around the country involving cheating by teachers and principals designed to lift standardized test scores.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Your Favorite Thanksgiving Recipe

2011-11-20T20:55:00.004-06:00

I want to know! Share your favorite Thanksgiving recipes with me so I can start to cook! I don't enjoy it, but my family needs to eat better! I will try your favorite Thanksgiving recipes and let you know how they turned out. I want to know everything from the Turkey to the stuffing to the potatoes! Thanks for your help!

Here are some Thanksgiving suggestions from ALLRecipes.com

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Does Dirt Prevent Allergies?

2011-11-16T13:23:00.007-06:00

This makes me feel a little better about adhering to the five second rule. I think it's okay to have little dirt and a few germs. I just think it's a tough balancing act. I don't want the kids to feel terrible all the time and I don't want them to build up zero immunities either. How do you balance those two things with your family? Are you a germ-a-phobe?

HERE'S AN EXERT FROM SCIENCE:
If infants encounter a wide range of bacteria they are less at risk of developing allergic disease later in life. This is the conclusion of research from the University of Copenhagen, which suggests completely new factors in many modern lifestyle diseases.

"In our study of over 400 children we observed a direct link between the number of different bacteria in their rectums and the risk of development of allergic disease later in life," says Professor Hans Bisgaard, consultant at Gentofte Hospital, head of the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, and professor of children's diseases at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

"We have studied staphylococci and coli bacteria thoroughly, and there is no relation. What matters is to encounter a large number of different bacteria early in life when the immune system is developing and 'learning'. The window during which the infant is immunologically immature and can be influenced by bacteria is brief, and closes a few months after birth."

"So it makes a difference if the baby is born vaginally, encountering the first bacteria from its mother's rectum, or by caesarean section, which exposes the new-born baby to a completely different, reduced variety of bacteria. This may be why far more children born by caesarean section develop allergies."

Why you may not want your kids to be smart

2011-11-15T16:31:00.003-06:00

Typically, you want your kids to be smart, right? Of course! I am not saying that's the most important factor, but if you could choose, "brains" would land on the positive side of the characteristics. But what if I told you a new study shows a strong I.Q. has been linked to drug usage later in life. Would you have your child's I.Q. tested so you would have a better idea whether they will test out dangerous drugs like heroine and cocaine later in life? Maybe "knowing" about an increased possibility for your child would help. What do you think?

FROM SCIENCE DAILY:

A high childhood IQ may be linked to subsequent illegal drug use, particularly among women, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The IQ scores of the participants were measured at the ages of 5 and 10 years.

Drug use included cannabis; cocaine; uppers (speed and wiz); downers (blues, tanks, barbiturates); LSD (acid); and heroin. By the age of 30, around one in three men (35.4%) and one in six women (15.9%) had used cannabis, while 8.6% of men and 3.6% of women had used cocaine, in the previous 12 months.

When intelligence was factored in, the analysis showed that men with high IQ scores at the age of 5 were around 50% more likely to have used amphetamines, ecstasy, and several illicit drugs than those with low scores, 25 years later. The link was even stronger among women, who were more than twice as likely to have used cannabis and cocaine as those with low IQ scores.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Kid Cholesterol Checks

2011-11-14T14:32:00.000-06:00

This is certainly a sad and scary reality we are facing when it comes to childhood obesity. There is now a recommendation that all children have their cholesterol tested. It is so sad that that experts in the field say this is necessary. I hope change is right around the corner.

FROM THE WASHINGTON POST:

All U.S. children should have their cholesterol tested between the ages of 9 and 11, according to new guidelines released Friday. The recommendation comes from by a 14-member expert panel convened by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which will publish the panel’s report on Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

The recommendation marks a significant expansion from the 1992 guidelines, which had recommended that children get their cholesterol checked only if there is a history of high cholesterol or early heart disease in their families. But the panel decided to push for expanded testing because accumulating evidence suggests that high cholesterol in childhood can lead to early signs of heart disease and that the current approach could leave some children at risk, said Stephen R. Daniels of the University of Colorado, who led the panel.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

The Santa Believers

2011-11-13T13:40:00.004-06:00

I started to get a little sentimental today when my 8-year-old asked me if Jesus and Santa are buddies. Last week he asked me if the "Sleep Fairy" is me or dad. I bet this will be our last year when all the kids believe in Santa. I am planning on really enjoying the holiday traditions this year and making sure I actually video tape more than just Christmas morning. Oh-and I will actually save the videos on my computer this year. I always plan on making a great Christmas video, but it never seems to happen.

My question to you: When do kids stop believing in Santa? How do I prevent my oldest from telling our 4-year old the truth within minutes? It's certainly not the end of the world when they stop believing, but that look on their faces on Christmas morning certainly won't be the same!

Here's that website where you can write and get an email back from SANTA

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Holiday Saving 101

2011-11-11T05:12:00.003-06:00

I don't know about you, but I get stressed out thinking about Christmas due to the high expense and temptation to spend more. It is so much fun to buy presents for everyone. I really love that part. I hate spending the money because I know it means trying to find the money from somewhere else. I get really frustrated about it. Here are some tips for survival the Holiday budget from consumer expert Andrea Woroch:

1. Make a budget!The National Retail Federation's (NRF) 2011 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey reported that holiday shoppers plan to spend an average of $704.18 on gifts this season, representing a slight decrease over last year. Making a budget is a no-brainer, but challenge yourself to go under budget this year. Track your spending using the Toshl app to keep tabs on what you're shelling out and how much you have left.

2. Cut down on dining expenses.'Tis the season for holiday dinners at expensive restaurants, but this expenditure is the last thing your budget needs. Replace the annual white-tablecloth celebration with an intimate gathering at home. Guests can bring a dish to share and everyone can comfortably converse without interruption from servers or obnoxious patrons.

3. Refrain from personal purchases.This one is tough during a time when bargains abound, but it's especially important to avoid making purchases for yourself when you still have people on your gift list. That same NRF study reported the average consumer will spend approximately $130 on gifts for themselves. Imagine the dent you could make in your recipient list using that cash.

4. Reduce everyday costs with resourcefulness.The toughest part of budgeting for holiday gifts is not letting it eat into the money required for everyday items, including food. Consider developing a menu for the week to reduce unnecessary food purchases, and use websites like Gojee.com to develop dishes around what you already have in your pantry. When you do head to the store to stock up on provisions, arm yourself with printable grocery coupons from such sites as CouponSherpa.

5. Trim your gift list.The spirit of the season often yields never-ending gift lists, especially when you're surprised by presents from people who didn't make the cut. Trim your gift list to essential recipients and come up with inexpensive tokens for everyone else. Homemade goodies, cards with heartfelt wishes and offers of service (babysitting, for example) are great options for neighbors and coworkers and can be produced last-minute.

6. Research gifts to find best bargain.Santa never misses the mark by making a list and checking it twice, so take a hint from the jolly man in red and do the same. Once you develop a list of essential recipients, bargain shop for gifts before making your final purchase. It's tempting to get all your shopping done over a weekend just to get it out of the way, but doing so means missing out on bargain-rich opportunities.

7. Know return policies.Retailers tighten return policies around the holidays, so be sure you read the fine print before making a purchase. Price matching is all the rage these days, too, so it pays (literally) to know a store's policy on compensating shoppers who find better deals elsewhere. Walmart recently announced it will provide gift cards in the amount of the price difference, and Bed Bath and Beyond will even price match items found on Amazon.com.

8. Shop early...and late.With all the advice circulating about when to land the best deal, it ultimately pays to shop throughout the holiday season. Make a game plan for Black Friday and Cyber Monday purchases with these do's and dont's, and don't forget about Free Shipping Day for last-minute items. The one-day online event is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 16 and features free shipping offers from over 2,000 merchants with delivery by Christmas Eve.

9. Pay with cash.It's not easy sticking to a budget and the holidays make the task even more challenging. Paying for purchases with credit cards is risky since the "I'll pay for it later" mentality breeds over-spending. Opt to pay with cash and experience your hard-earned money disappear from your finger tips. This sight alone will make you think twice about unnecessary or overpriced purchases, and help you stick to your budget.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Is gluten-free best for your kids?

2011-11-10T05:33:00.003-06:00

I want to go gluten-free at my house. I don't know if I can actually accomplish that right now, but I would like to try it in the future. Some people are claiming a link to great things like less bloating and fatigue-even weight loss. And some are claiming less ADHD symptoms with a gluten-free diet for kids.

This article from the Washington Post looks at the fact/fiction associated with gluten-free diets. I am all for trying it to see if I feel better. At the very least, it would lead to less processed foods. I want to do that anyway. I would love to have some other benefits as well. Have you gone gluten-free? Did it make you feel better?

Here's the link from the Washington Post:
There’s still some gray area, but some studies indicate that a growing number of people do have a problem digesting gluten, says family medicine and chronic pain specialist Gary Kaplan, director of the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine in McLean. He notes that this number includes everyone from children with wheat allergies to the estimated 1 percent of Americans who have celiac disease — a serious autoimmune disorder that interferes with absorption of nutrients, causing wide-ranging health problems — and can’t tolerate even a picogram of gluten.

Some in the field remain skeptical. “Many people will feel better when they cut out processed, refined carbohydrates, including gluten-containing foods — they might have better regulation of blood sugar, fewer fluctuations, when they’re not eating starchy food, and they might lose weight or have less bloating — but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have a disease,” says Chevy Chase gastroenterologist Robynne Chutkan. She contends that the booming, $2.6 billion gluten-free foods industry has a lot more to do with the trend than true health issues do.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Soda Ban in Schools

2011-11-09T05:16:00.001-06:00

I am all for banning soda in schools. I understand the study is pointing to-that's not enough! However, I hope this study won't make people think it's okay to have soda in schools. What are your thoughts about soda in schools?

Here's the link fron CNN: Banning only soda in school is not effective in reducing consumption of sugary drinks, a new study has found. In the absence of soda, students turn to other sugar-sweetened beverages such as energy, sports or juices that are available at school.

When schools banned all sugar-sweetened beverages such as energy, sports drinks and sugary fruit juices, students bought fewer of these items.

Yet, about 85% of students, regardless of what kind of policy their schools had, drank sugary beverages weekly, according to the study published this week in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

The New Rage: Medical Emergency Drills

2011-11-08T15:24:00.005-06:00

The New Rage: Medical Emergency Drills?

Imagine what would happen if your child did not have fire drills at school and a fire broke out. Would teachers and students react appropriately or would they hesitate and be unsure what to do? Those practice drills helps tremendously. That’s why fire drills were created.

But what happens when the emergency is a medical condition like a heart attack or seizure? Do all the staff members at your child’s school know how to use an Automated External Defibrillator or AED? What about CPR? If they have been trained, how often do they practice how to react during an emergency? And would they remember to call and get help or would they just run over to the child and panic?

Dr. David Chan, the co-director of the Congenital Heart Center at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, says students and staff members at schools need to practice how they would react to a medical emergency. He would like to see all schools have Medical Emergency Drills. He said there have been cases recently of people hesitating about what to do and how to do it and that can lead to a decrease in oxygen for the patients and serious, permanent brain damage. Reacting a few minutes faster can have a huge impact on the person’s long term health. Dr. Chan said, “Most people will not act rationally unless they have practiced it. They get nervous and are unsure because there’s a lot of pressure during an emergency.” He said practice is what gives people the confidence they need to put their training to good use.

Identifying athletes with heart conditions

The reason Medical Emergency Drills came up in my conversation with Dr. Chan is because I asked him if society is becoming better or worse at identifying athletes with serious heart conditions who could suddenly die while playing a game or at a tough practice. This has become a hot “news” topic in recent years. Parents want their kids to be screened and they want reassurance their child won’t become a victim of sudden cardiac death. But that’s not an easy thing to accomplish. Dr. Chan said there are two big obstacles: there is no fool proof way to determine whether sudden cardiac death will happen to an athlete unless costly, evasive tests are performed; and the tests that may detect a heart problem in an athlete are not very accurate.

“Here’s the statistic. If you screen out 1000 teenagers with this abnormality, you may only be saving one teenager and restricting 999 others. Do we dash the dreams of 999 athletes in order to save that one? If you’re that one parent, your answer is yes. If you’re one of the 999 families, your answer is no. We don’t have a perfect way to screen athletes,” said Dr. Chan. He said, if the coaches all took part in Medical Emergency Drills, we would see fewer teenagers dying from these rare heart conditions. He wants parents and schools to put as much focus on how to react to a medical emergency as they do on prevention.

Don’t go to convenience shops for school physicals

But Dr. Chan says there is one obvious thing you can do as a parent before school starts to protect your child from sudden cardiac death. Dr. Chan said take your child to a qualified primary care physician or family doctor for the annual physical. He said too many parents are expecting expensive “rib-eye from a fast food chain.” He tells parents to go to a doctor who completed a residency program, not to a nurse or another allied health professional. He said he believes doctors are more likely to ask thorough questions and pick up on subtle signs of a heart problem. Dr. Chan said, “In all fairness, are there some good individuals who work there (convenience care centers)? Yes, but you have better odds of getting someone who has had more experience with these problems by going to a general practitioner.”

The bottom line

Dr. Chan said, “As much as people talk about screening, we need to talk about how to help these people if that were to occur. In my lectures, I really talk about yes, there are things we can do to screen, but it will be a long time coming before we can really identify these individuals. Are we able to handle emergencies when they do come up so we can have a good outcome?

So, when you’re in a hurry and you have to get that school physical form filled out, you might want to think twice about where you’re headed. And as you get involved in your child’s school, you might want to bring up the topic of Medical Emergency Drills. There’s a good chance no one has ever suggested the idea and it could save a child’s life.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Children in Pain

2011-11-06T20:25:00.003-06:00

This story makes sense to me. Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, whomever, has to be careful when prescribing pain medication to a child. I feel bad because if my child was sent home with only two days of pain meds, I would probably assume he didn't need or couldn't have any more. I guess that's not the right mind set to have. This one was an eye opener for me!

Here's the link to the story FROM CNN: It's happened so many times that Dr. Raymond Pitetti has lost count: A child comes into the emergency room with, say, a broken leg, and doctors give him strong narcotic painkillers in the ER, but then send the child home with no pain medication at all.

"The pain is just as severe as when they were in the hospital, but they're sent home with nothing and that broken bone is going to hurt like crap for a while," he says."Then we see the kid back in the ER the next day because they're in horrible pain."

Medical Marijuana and teens smoking pot

2011-11-03T21:27:00.004-05:00

Honestly, I am surprised anyone thought medical marijuana would lead to more teenagers smoking pot. Really? I guess enough people were worried about there being a connection, so a study was done.

Here's part of it from Times Healthland:

Despite warnings from opponents of medical marijuana, legalizing the drug for medical purposes does not encourage teens to smoke more pot, according to new research that compared rates of marijuana use in Massachusetts and Rhode Island after the latter state changed its laws.

Rhode Island legalized medical marijuana in 2006, but Massachusetts did not.

While marijuana use was common, there was no significant difference in rates of pot use between the years before and after legalization in Rhode Island. "We found no effect of the policy change," says Choo.

Obama Administration vs. Catholic Church

2011-11-02T20:29:00.003-05:00

The controversy has to do with abortion and contraception. Should victims of human trafficking be offered abortions by groups who rescue these girls? Share your thoughts!

FROM WASHINGTON POST:

A contentious battle between Catholic groups and the Obama administration has flared in recent days, fueled by the new health-care law and ongoing divisions over access to abortion and birth control.

The latest dispute centers on a decision by the Department of Health and Human Services in late September to end funding to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to help victims of human trafficking, or modern-day slavery. The church group had overseen nationwide services to victims since 2006 but was denied a new grant in favor of three other groups.

The bishops organization, in line with the church’s teachings, had refused to refer trafficking victims for contraceptives or abortion. The American Civil Liberties Union sued, and HHS officials said they made a policy decision to award the grants to agencies that would refer women for those services.

Full day Kindergarten

2011-11-01T19:50:00.003-05:00

What are your thoughts on full day kindergarten? Our school district is offering it for the first time next year and my 4-year-old will be in the class.

Advantages:
More education, better for working families

Disadvantages:
Long days for little kids, less time with mom

I need help adding to the advantages/disadvantages. Do you have any suggestions?

Here's an article from the Clearing House on Early Education and Parenting looking at the switch to full day kindergarten.

There has been a trend away from half-day or alternate-day kindergarten schedules and toward full-day kindergarten in many school districts. "In the fall of 1998, about 4 million children were attending kindergarten," says a National Center for Educational Statistics study. "[Fifty-five] percent [of kindergartners] were in full-day programs and 45 percent were in part-day programs" (West et al., 2000). Changes in American society and education over the last 20 years—such as the increase in single-parent and dual-employment households and the fact that most children now spend a significant part of the day away from home—have contributed to the popularity of all-day (every day) kindergarten programs in many communities (Gullo, 1990). Studies show that parents favor a full-day program that reduces the number of transitions kindergartners experience in a typical day (Housden & Kam, 1992; Johnson, 1993). Research also suggests that many children benefit more, academically and socially, during the primary years from participation in full-day programs than from participation in half-day kindergarten programs (Cryan et al., 1992; Karweit, 1992; Gullo, 2000; Rothenberg, 1995).

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Are glow stick dangerous for kids?

2011-10-31T11:16:00.002-05:00

Do your kids wear or carry glow sticks on Halloween? Mine do! I thought you might be interested in the safety of these glowing tubes. Here's the latest.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Win your Teacher $1500 bucks!

2011-10-30T09:12:00.004-05:00

I thought you guys might be interested in this email I got about a teacher contest. If you write a short essay about your favorite teacher before November 8th, they could win $1500! That sounds good to me!

I want to let you know about a contest we’ve launched on the Kumon Facebook page that we’d love to have you participate in.

The Kumon Thank a Teacher Contest honors schoolteachers that have gone above and beyond to help their students succeed in and out of the classroom. Three teachers will win $1,500 to spend on their classrooms. Parents are encouraged to nominate an exceptional schoolteacher by submitting an essay (200 words or less) explaining why that schoolteacher deserves to win the $1,500 prize.

We encourage you to share this wonderful opportunity with your readers and to nominate your favorite teacher. The contest is open to submissions until November 8. On November 10, we’ll announce ten finalists, and then the public can vote until November 18 to pick the three teachers who will win $1,500 each.

Increase in Measles

2011-10-29T22:06:00.003-05:00

The increase in Measles continues. This CNN article says it's mainly due to kids not being vaccinated. Measles are now at a 15 year high in the U.S. Take a look at the third paragraph in this story. It really freaked me out!

FROM CNN: There have been 220 cases of measles so far this year in the United States, more than triple the usual 60 to 70 cases per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Europe had more than 26,000 cases reported from January through July of this year, with nine deaths, according to the World Health Organization. So far, no deaths have been reported in the United States this year.

The CDC found of the 220 reported U.S. cases 87% of the people infected didn't get the vaccine, while the other 13% were too young to get it. Most of these cases were people who traveled overseas to Western Europe, Africa or Asia. Even though 91.5% of the U.S. population is immunized, those who are not, are putting themselves and others at risk, says Patsy Stinchfield Director of the Infection Disease Department at Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota.

What parents don't realize is that "measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children," says Stinchfield and she adds that measles can be misinterpreted as simply a bad case of the flu. Children can suffer the consequences of severe measles infection for years before they die from the disease. Brain inflammation and neurological problems are far more likely if a child gets measles disease. Encephalitis or inflammation of the brain can lead to permanent neurological problems.

Halloween Party!

2011-10-28T12:38:00.003-05:00

So I rushed to get to the school Halloween party this morning after being out of town for 5 days. Guess what? The camera batteries were dead! Oh no! Thank you to the wonderful moms who took pictures and emailed them to me! What a relief! Did you get to go to your child's Halloween party or is it on Monday?

Surviving Post-Partum Depression

2011-10-26T08:57:00.000-05:00

The sleepless nights, the hormone fluctuations, the stress... I am talking about the first few months with a new baby. It's not easy. For some women, it's too much to take. Some women may have bigger hormone shifts and their babies may be up more, cry more, etc. There's no shame for new moms who need extra help from a qualified professional. I am sure I could have used it with my first baby. I don't think I had clinical depression, but I do think I was borderline.

FROM NBC: Post-partum depression is one of the most common complications of childbirth, though very few women talk about it. In fact, there's only one in-patient facility in the country that caters specifically to the needs of moms suffering the most severe forms of the condition. But the program is gaining attention from mothers across the nation.

Amy Martin is the proud mother of three children: her youngest, Avery, is two. She had the baby blues with her first two kids-anxiety and sadness typically explained by exhaustion and hormonal changes-and common in new mothers. But the day she brought little Avery home from the hospital, "I felt like the world was coming to an end."

Amy was suffering from severe post-partum depression. She was admitted to a pilot in-patient program at the University of North Carolina -- that caters to moms like Martin. Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody - University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill: "They're not able to get through their activities of daily living. they are often having thoughts of wanting to die or having active thoughts of hurting themselves or thoughts of hurting the baby."

The UNC program is one of a kind in this country -- but was based on models used in Europe and Australia for decades. Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: "Our goal was to create a mother-baby unit that would provide state of the art most holistic care to moms during this vulnerable time." Treatments can include medication, behavioral therapy, art, yoga -- anything that can encourage mothers to bond with their babies and cope after they get home.

The program has grown since opening in 2008 -- and is now inundated with calls... some from across the country.. as more and more struggling mothers speak up. Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: "There is no stigma or embarrassment in getting something that happens to many, many women." "You can't build a good house without good construction workers. "

Martin says the program gave her the building blocks to get back on her feet as a mom. "I figured, you know, I can give up 2 weeks with them to get better to spend my life taking care of them." The doctors at UNC and many like them nationwide use the "Edinburgh postnatal depression scale" to help determine the severity of post-partum depression. It's a quiz women can take and score in the privacy of their home. you can find more information online.

Credible website where women can find the Edinburgh post natal depression scale: http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/quiz-are-you-suffering-from-postpartum-depression/

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Kids and Anesthesia

2011-10-25T08:41:00.000-05:00

This study is disappointing because I seriously doubt parents are putting their kids through surgery unless it's absolutely necessary. If that surgery leads to cognitive impairment, that's probably a chance parents will have to take.

FROM NBC: A new study looks at a potential side effect of general anesthesia in young children. Kids who must undergo general anesthesia for multiple surgeries before age 2 may be destined to suffer learning disabilities when they get to school.

Dr. Randall Flick/Mayo Clinic:"Speech and language appears to be much more affected than behavior." Researchers at the Mayo Clinic studied a group of about a thousand adults born in the late 70's or early 80's. Although some surgical techniques have changed since then, experts say the drugs used today for anesthesia are similar.

Learning disabilities were about twice as likely in people who'd had at least two surgeries in which general anesthesia was used before age 2. But researchers say their study results are too preliminary for parents to alter the course of necessary treatment for sick children. Dr. Randall Flick/Mayo Clinic: "A single exposure to anesthesia has not been show clearly to have any detrimental effects in children."

Until more studies can be done -- experts say the benefits of surgery often outweigh any potential link between anesthesia and learning problems. Time under anesthesia also seemed to make a difference.. The longer the surgeries lasted, the more likely learning difficulties occurred.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Preventing Baby Reflux

2011-10-24T09:01:00.000-05:00

How do you know when your baby has a normal tendency to spit up or when there's a real problem like reflux? One doctor says Pediatricians are over-diagnosing GERD or gastroesophegeal reflux disease in babies. I have to say, my first son had it (as far as I am concerned) and my pediatrician never even told me there were acid-suppressing drugs for babies. So I feel like aggravated by this story. My other two kids did take acid-suppressing medication and it worked great! It made a huge difference within the first week of treatment. I really wish I would have been able to give it to my first son. I don't know if GERD in infants is over-prescribed, but I know my kids benefited from the medication.

Here's more info on the allegations of over-prescribing from an article in Science Daily.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Kids I.Q.

2011-10-23T09:48:00.000-05:00

First of all, just wondering, does anyone ever get their child's I.Q. tested? I don't think I have ever taken an official I.Q. test. Is that normal or do most people do that at some point in their life?

Did you know your child's I.Q.can increase or fall significantly during the teenage years? A new on brain scans shows our Intelligence Quotient and that of our kids is not constant. What did I pull from this study? If your child isn't doing well in school, that doesn't mean he/she can't do a lot better! Your child isn't just bad at school. That has got to be a good feeling for parents struggling with kids' grades.

FROM SCIENCE DAILY: In a study published October 20 in the journal Nature, researchers at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging at UCL (University College London) and the Centre for Educational Neuroscience show for the first time that, in fact, our IQ is not constant.

According to Professor Price, a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow, it is not clear why IQ should have changed so much and why some people's performance improved while others' declined. It is possible that the differences are due to some of the subjects being early or late developers, but it is equally possible that education had a role in changing IQ, and this has implications for how schoolchildren are assessed.

"We have a tendency to assess children and determine their course of education relatively early in life, but here we have shown that their intelligence is likely to be still developing," says Professor Price. "We have to be careful not to write off poorer performers at an early stage when in fact their IQ may improve significantly given a few more years.

The title got me: Stupid Things Parents Do

2011-10-20T19:57:00.005-05:00

When I saw the title:"Stupid things parents do," I had to click. I was sure I had done at least one of them!
So here's the test from the CNN story: Let me know how man
FROM CNN:

1.Moving baby to a bigger car seat too early (Don't turn it around until 2 years old)
2. Letting baby sleep in swing. ( My husband used to work with someone whose child died while sleeping in a swing.)
3. Letting your baby watch "Educational" videos
4. Keeping babies off their tummies
5. Microwaving you baby's bottle.

I am relieved to say, I only messed up one. However, it's a serious one. None of my kids liked the swing, but one of them would only sleep in the bouncy chair. According to this article, he could have had a lack of oxygen and he was more likely to have a flat head(which he did!)

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Kids and Fruit

2011-10-18T15:45:00.000-05:00

Appearance is everything when it comes to fruit. If you make it look good, the kids are more likely to try it and realize it takes good too! This is so true at my house. If I cut up the fruit and put it on the table in a bright bowl, it's gone in seconds. If it's not cut up nicely, they don't touch it! Have you noticed this at your house?

FROM NBC: When it comes to getting your kids to eat more fruit -- color may be key. Researchers at Cornell University observed that most fruit in school lunchrooms are sold in metal trays or bowls in inconvenient locations. So for an entire semester they conducted an experiment at three new york schools -- where fruit was placed in colorful bowls at the front of the line. When they compared sales from the previous year, they noticed sales skyrocketed by 105-percent!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Inattentive in Class

2011-10-16T20:34:00.003-05:00

Have you ever heard from your child's teacher that he/she is inattentive in class? Have you heard about kids being over-diagnosed and over-medication for ADHD when behavioral therapy would have done the trick? A new study shows proof the developmental disorder can be diagnoses at a young age-just remember it's not ALWAYS possible. What do you think about this?

Here's the link from CNN and here's some of the verbatim:

The American Academy of Pediatrics has broadened its guidelines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, expanding the age range for diagnosis and treatment to ages 4 through 18.

While the previous guidelines, from 2000 and 2001, targeted children ages 6 to 12, the new report covers children from preschool to the end of high school. This is based on recent evidence that supports including preschool children and adolescents in ADHD diagnosis and treatment management.

"The primary care clinician should initiate an evaluation for ADHD for any child 4 though 18 years of age who presents with academic or behavioral problems and symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity," the report said.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Kids with High Blood Pressure

2011-10-14T11:00:00.000-05:00

It is scary to think about a child having high blood pressure. What does that mean for their future health? It's usually preventable in kids.

FROM NBC: Overweight children are more likely to have high blood pressure. Researchers at Indiana University studied more than a thousand children over 5 years.

Most were 10 years old at the beginning of the study. When body mass index surpassed the 85th percentile, the risk of high blood pressure nearly tripled. Body mass index is a measure of height and weight. Experts say hypertension in childhood greatly raises the risk for high blood pressure in adulthood.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Vaccine rates are dropping

2011-10-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

Do you have fewer fears about the side effects of immunizations now than you did five years ago? I know I do. I don't think it's an all or nothing. Some vaccinations you need, others you can get if you want to. Some may be safer than others. There is no blanket statement. I think that's how the problem started. I know I heard a lot more about people skipping their child's vaccinations five years ago than I do today. However, it seems the rates are still down today.

FROM NBC: Vaccine rates for kids are dropping amid parental concerns over vaccine safety. Many health experts attribute vaccine worries to misinformation and warn disregarding vaccines could adversely affect everyone's health. An NBC reporter talked a Florida couple who are still struggling with this issue.

Jennifer and Brian Cohen concede they're overly-involved parents. but when their twins survived a complex birth they were wary of any perceived risks, including vaccinations. Jennifer Cohen/Concerned About Vaccines: "I was more afraid of the potential consequences from some of the vaccine and all of what is in the vaccine than i am of the original disease." The Cohens are like so many other parents - despite mountains of scientific evidence - remain skeptical of vaccines."

For example, immunization of kindergartners in Miami-Dade is dropping from roughly 95% in 2006 to 79% last year. Broward only slightly better. And now public health officials are alarmed at what they believe is a spike in disease rates and death rates from preventable illnesses.

The Centers for Disease Control found that among distrustful parents, 27% say too many shots recommended, 26% are unsure vaccines work, 25% might cause autism and 24% have possible side effects.

The Cohens delayed some vaccines, rejected others outright. Brian Cohen/Concerned About Vaccines: "And again going back to the mountains of evidence, they've gone from inconclusive its conclusive. And they've reversed studies." Public health experts say a lower vaccination rate raises the infection rate for everyone and puts other kids at risk.

Measles, mumps, chicken pox, rubella, the flu. a distrust largely fueled, they say, by misinformation. In the end, the Cohens are doing their best.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Prescription drug deaths

2011-10-12T23:00:00.000-05:00

I was listening to NPR when a prescription drug abuse story caught my attention. The announcer was describing a "skittles" party where teenagers throw a bunch of prescription drugs in a bowl and take a handful of them. That is really scary! I kept thinking, I need to warn my oldest son about that at some point. It's no surprise, some of those kids take a bad combination or too much of a certain prescription and they die. The increase use of prescription drugs used to get high is an alarming new trend parents should not ignore.

Here's more on this topic from NPR.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Frozen Eggs

2011-10-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

(**PICTURE FROM GIRLSFROMENTOURAGE.COM**)

There are a lot of people you see on T.V. who put off having children in order to further work on their careers. It's not uncommon to hear about a movie start turning 40 who is going through in vitro fertilization. Now, women who are putting off childbirth are freezing their eggs for added protection that they will one day be able to have a family.

STORY FROM NBC: Women are waiting longer and longer to have children these days. But are they putting their fertility at risk? "Extra" co-host and "Dr. Drew's Lifechangers" contributor Maria Menounos says she doesn't want to take any chances.

The 33 year old is one of an increasing number of women who have decided to freeze their eggs to ensure fertility in the future. Maria Menounos is on the other side of the microphone, opening up about a revolutionary procedure--and a very personal decision-- in a video diary on Dr. Drew's "Life Changers." Maria video diary: "It is Friday, D day, it's the morning of my doctor's appointment. I don't know why I'm doing this. I'm terrified. I know why I'm doing this actually, I'm doing it for the right reasons. But I'm going to the doctors today to check on how many eggs I have available for freezing. 33 year old Maria is one of a growing number of women who have decided to postpone pregnancy by harvesting their eggs. Dr. Nicole Noyes: "Women lose two thirds of their fertility between the ages of 35 and 40 so if they're not ready to have children at 35 egg freezing is something they can do to keep their pregnancy chances up." More than 1000 babies around the globe have been born from using the procedure--including Hayden Henzel-the first baby in Colorado to be born from a frozen egg. His parents, Carolyn and Gregg, told GMA in 2009 that they couldn't be happier about their decision. "He's precious, he's peaceful, he's-- he's insightful, He's thoughtful. He gives us an entirely new way to look at life." As for Maria, she says made the decision so she could focus on her booming career-- but knows when the time is right for her future family, she'll be ready.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Teens and the Family Dinner

2011-10-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

There may be a fairly easy for you to prevent your kids from getting steered in the wrong direction: Eat dinner with them!

FROM NBC: Teens who eat most dinners with their families are less prone to smoke, drink or use drugs. That's according to a new report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. Researchers found teenagers who share fewer than three meals a week with their families are more than twice as likely to use alcohol and marijuana and nearly four times more likely to use tobacco than teens who frequently eat at home. Teens who rarely eat with their families also tend to have more access to alcohol, prescription drugs and marijuana.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Vaccination Changes

2011-10-09T15:35:00.000-05:00

My first son reacted horribly to the MMR shot. He was sick with a high fever. It was a nightmare. So I did wait a little longer than recommended to give it to my other two boys. I just couldn't find a good time to plan on them being sick, so I kept putting it off. Did you stick with the recommended schedule? Why or why not?

FROM NBC: A new study looks at how parents choose to vaccinate their young children. Researchers at the University of Michigan found about one in ten parents uses a different vaccine schedule than recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Most parents who do use an alternate schedule developed it themselves and only 8-percent said they use a well-known alternative schedule. The vaccines most often delayed are the measles-mumps-rubella and diphtheria tetanus. Two percent say they refuse all vaccines.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Miscarriage prevention drug causes infertility/cancer

2011-10-06T19:50:00.005-05:00

A drug some women took in the 60's to prevent miscarriage could be causing infertility an cancer in their kids. That's a scary thought. I think it's probably because of my age, but I feel like I hear more and more about infertility.

FROM NBC: A drug millions of pregnant women took decades ago may increase health risks among their daughters. An estimated four million Americans were exposed to DES -- a synthetic estrogen prescribed to prevent miscarriages and pregnancy complications -- until it was banned in 1971.

Now a new study suggests women whose mothers took DES are twice as likely to have fertility problems and are at almost double the risk of breast cancer. These women also face higher rates of miscarriage, pre-term delivery, stillbirths and early menopause. Problems among men exposed to DES are less common -- but they do have more testicular problems and cysts.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

My Last Day at HOI

2011-10-05T22:24:00.001-05:00

Thursday is my last day at HOI 19 News, but NewsAnchorMom.com will continue! I hope to remember to take my camera and get some pictures of my last day that I can post here on my blog!

What to feed kids for breakfast

2011-10-05T14:35:00.005-05:00

I am going to start making breakfast for my school aged child in the mornings. I heard on River Country this morning a segment on different ways to make oatmeal. My 2nd grader LOVES oatmeal so I am going to try some of the ideas! Of course, I can't seem to find them on the River Country website. Does anyone else see them? Send me the link if you find it! Thanks!

FROM NBC: Kids are eating everything from cereal to candy in the mornings if they eat breakfast at all! Researchers at Temple University in Philadelphia surveyed more than 350 students in the city about what they ate for breakfast that day. About 20-percent did not eat anything in the morning and about a quarter had two or more breakfasts! More than half had just one breakfast... and of those kids, most ate cereal with milk or yogurt and cheese. About 18-percent of kids said they bought food at a store on the way to school -- many of those kids grabbing candy, chips and soda.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Athletic girdle for kids

2011-10-04T20:42:00.002-05:00

I have thought about getting my 8-year-old football player some sort of athletic supporter. I don't know much about them, but I think it's important. He plays flag football so it's not that huge of a risk. However, I still think it would be a good idea. If your kids have tried the McDavid girdle, let me know what you think!

Written by:
Lee Gordon
WCTV in Tallahassee, Florida

McDavid: Supported by Athletes, Loved by Mom

CHICAGO – Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011 – You know the saying, when mom is happy, everyone is happy? That's never more important than when dealing with the protection of their children. McDavid USA has long been an industry leader in supporting athletes on the field---giving mom a sense of security that her son or daughter will continue to play injury free.

"We have always enlisted the advice of mothers when designing our products," said Rey Corpuz, director of marketing at McDavid. "We promote protection and if mom knows her child will be protected wearing McDavid, then she will feel comfortable with our brand."

It's more than just protection that is appealing to mom. Because the HEXPAD® technology is built into the shorts, mom doesn't have to worry about getting the kids ready with five different types of pads. All they do is slip on the HEXPAD® shorts and their little athletes are protected, and ready to play. Casey Elder, a football mom in Illinois, has two sons; both of whom play football, and wear McDavid products during every practice and game.

"I purchased McDavid padded girdles for my eight and nine year old sons for a few reasons. The built-in pads make it much easier for my boys to slip them on without having to reposition the pads or replace them in slots like standard pocket girdles. The fact that the pads stay in place, where they are supposed to set on the body, also gives me peace of mind that my boys are protected properly during practice and games. They are less bulky than the pads issued by their team, so my kids are able to much move more easily in the McDavid girdles. I recommend these girdles to every mom who asks me about them."

During a recent visit to McDavid headquarters, Pat Elder, head football coach and athletic director at Richmond-Burton Community High School talked about his trust in McDavid not only to his players, but his kids.

"I have two kids at home who both play football," said Elder, "I am always with my team when my boys are getting ready for their practice. That's why I buy McDavid for my kids. Not only do I trust their brand, but they make it so easy for my wife. All she does is slip on the HEXPAD® like she would a pair of shorts--and my boys are off to practice."

An added incentive is that the HEXPAD® is even machine washable allowing the development of a new generation of apparel that incorporates protection right into undershirts and pants, unlike anything seen before. Products using HEXPAD® technology have been designed and tested for extreme durability. They have been used in some of the most rugged sports like professional football and rugby. They may be machine washed and dried.

"We are in the business of making protective sporting goods," said Corpuz. "That's why it is so important to promote the value of what McDavid does, protects athletes on the field while promoting security for mom."

BPA Ban

2011-10-03T15:44:00.005-05:00

I think it's completely ridiculous that BPA has not been banned nationwide. You go Connecticut!

FROM NBC: Today, a Connecticut law goes into effect banning Bisphenol-A or BPA from baby food and formula containers as well as other items. BPA is a chemical used to harden plastics.. it has been linked to cancer, infertility and heart disease. The American Medical Association recognizes BPA as a hormone-disrupting agent. Two years ago, Connecticut became the first state in the nation to ban the chemical from infant formula and baby food cans and jars as well as other reusable food and beverage containers.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

The "Must Have" Halloween Costume

2011-10-02T20:44:00.004-05:00

If you have grade school aged kids, you will probably get a big chuckle out of this year's big Halloween costume! It's Angry Birds! I think it's hilarious. I think my kids want to be Mario and Luigi, but Angry Birds would be too funny! Do you have any good ideas for creative, unique Halloween costumes? Those are usually the best ones!

(picture from ISmashPhone.com)

Here's more on the story from YAHOO.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea than what you can usually purchase over the counter.