Support From the Start: Increasing Breastfeeding in El Paso, Texas

Look what El Paso, Texas is doing for babies! The Breastfeeding Cafe is a community effort to support breastfeeding moms and increase breastfeeding frequency and duration. I love to see the community getting behind this effort to promote better health among it's citizens - it pays now and far into the future. Texas knows breastmilk is the perfect food for optimizing infant growth and development and they are doing what it takes to increase and support breastfeeding.

Handwashing VS Germs

Washing your hands well and often is your best defense against disease.

Safe Sleep? Car Seat or Crib?

Oxygen saturation levels of infants taking long naps in the car seat fall below the oxygen saturation levels of infants sleeping on their backs in the crib. The recommendation now is that babies who are sleeping for an extended period of time sleep safest on their back in the crib - not in the car seat. See the video by clicking here.

H1N1 Swine Flu and Pregnancy

From The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "We know that pregnant women are more likely to get sick than others and have more serious problems with seasonal flu. These problems may include early labor or severe pneumonia. We don't know if this virus will do the same, but it should be taken very seriously." Follow this link to the CDC website for up to date, correct information on how to protect yourself and your family from the H1N1 Swine Flu.

CDC's Priority Groups for Vaccination Against H1N1

All people 6 months through 24 years of age

People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age

All pregnant women

Healthcare and emergency services sector personnel

People aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza

Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Cars

Two tragic hyperthermia deaths in Indian River County in two months. Two babies left in hot cars. One 16 months old, one 5 months old, both boys. The heartbreak and sadness of their families and this community is beyond words.

In 2009 22 children in the US have died as a result of being left in a hot car. Please follow the link to "Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Cars" by Jan Null, Adjunct Professor of Meteorology at SFSU. Ms. Null writes an excellent piece on the facts of this most preventable of occurrences as well as offers very helpful ways you can remind yourself the baby is in the car. It's a "must read" for everyone who has children.

Play Yard Recall

Oh my goodness! Another baby play yard recall. Please check this link. With 1 million play yards being recalled, the chances are quite high that you own one of them.

Recession Survival Guide

The United Way of Indian River County Florida has very kindly provided us with a Recession Survival Guide for use by community residents in these uncertain economic times. Take a moment to see the "helping agencies" of the United Way available to help in times of stress and need. And if you don't need the help right now, maybe you can volunteer to help one of these worthy agencies.

The first Recession Survival Workshop will be held Wednesday, June 3, 5:15 pm at the Gifford Youth Activity Center, 4875 43rd Avenue. The workshop is free and open to the public. Snacks and child care provided.

http://www.unitedwayirc.org/documents/workshop.pdf

When Breastfeeding is Accepted, It Won't Be Noticed

An interesting campaign in Marin County California.

Could we do it in Indian River County Florida?  Click here to learn more.

Breastfeeding and Swine Flu

Just one more of the many advantages of breastfeeding - protection from Swine Flu. Read the United States Breastfeeding Committee's stance in this May 1, 2009 release. You now know to click on the title of this post to go to the whole piece right? I love the internet!

Crib Recall

JARDINE has expanded its crib recall to include seven more models that pose entrapment and strangulation hazards. The cribs were sold between September 2005 and April 2009 at Toys R Us, Babies R Us, KidsWorld and Geoffrey Stores. Click on the title of this post to go to cpsc.gov for the complete details.

The cpsc.gov site also provides information on Bassinet, Crib and Play Yard recalls which have occurred over the last two years. Parents should always be vigilant about baby's safety. Get into the habit of looking at toys and baby equipment beyond how cute it looks and consider how it's going to hold up to daily use by your active, exploring, grabbing, reaching, mouthing, climbing, bouncing, jumping little one. Periodically inspect your baby gear to make sure nothing is loose, broken, frayed, coming apart or missing and regularly check the recalls - they seem to be happening with frightening frequency these days.

3 Indiana Safe Kids Public Service Announcements

These 3 videos are very short, very powerful PSA spots from the state of Indiana aimed at reminding all of us about the dangers to infants and young children of co-sleeping, swimming pools and bathtubs. We've watched them here several times and they still have not lost their horror factor.

Breastfeeding Has Health Benefits for Mom Too

Did you know breastfeeding has lifelong health benefits for moms too? See what the Women's Health Iniative trial based on the nearly 140,000 women who participated has to say.

Minimize SIDS Threat to Babies 1 and Under

Thursday is National SIDS Awareness Day. Read what Amy Royster of the Palm Beach Post has to say about how you can minimize the risk to your infant.

You know if you click on the title of this post it will take you to Amy's article right?

And for the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss site: http://www.sidscenter.org/multimedia.html

EEUWW!!! Your Child Swallowed What?

Once your baby gets to a certain age you all know that everything within grabbing range is eligible for the old taste test. So you are on a constant vigil to keep the yuckies beyond the reach of your beautiful, curious, determined little explorer.

But we all know that despite our very best efforts some stuff manages to slip through and we don't know if it's poisonous or not so we freak out! Not to worry - quite so much anyway.

Did you know you can call the Florida Poison Information Center for guidance? Their help is confidential, available 24 hours, staffed by health care professionals and FREE!

Call them about anything your child has accidentally swallowed at 1-800-222-1222. Commit this number to memory, put it on speed dial, post it by the phone. Keep it handy and hope you never need to use it.

Check this link from MSN Health & Fitness for some things your child just might try to sample.
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100236978&imageindex=1