Category: Family Life

Get outside and walk with your baby. But exercise caution and good judgment, advises the American Chiropractic Association.

*  A backpack-style or front-side carrier decreases a parent’s stability when walking or hiking. It is critical that a parent get into shape before attempting to use one of these products.

*  If using a backpack-style or front-side baby carrier, make sure to select one with wide straps for your shoulders and waist. This will help distribute the carrier’s weight evenly. The shoulder straps should fit comfortably over the center of your collarbone.

*  Don’t forget about your own health and comfort. Bring yourself as close to the baby as possible before lifting. You don’t want to lift with your arms outstretched. Bend from the knees and hips and keep your back straight. Use a two-stage lift that consists of pulling the child up to your chest and then lifting straight up with your leg muscles.

*  Once you place the child in the carrier, check to make sure there is no bunching of material against the child’s body, particularly on the back, buttocks, and spine. Isolated, uneven pressure like this can produce pain.

If you wish to use a baby sling, keep in mind that it is intended only for infants, and be sure to follow these tips:

*  A baby can become very hot inside the sling, so be mindful of the temperature around you. Also, make certain the baby’s breathing is clear and unobstructed by the sling’s material.

*  Switch sides when wearing the sling to balance the positional stress on you and your baby.

*  Never run or jog while carrying a baby in any backpack-style carrier, front-side carrier, or baby sling. A baby’s body is not adjusted to the cyclic pattern that is a part of running and jogging. This motion can do damage to the baby’s neck, spine, and brain. It is better to use a jogging stroller.

How about that shocking headline? Although most parents do not consider furniture and TVs to be dangerous, children are often injured when these items tip over.

A study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that nearly 15,000 children younger than age 18 go to ERs annually for injuries received from furniture tip-overs.

According to the study, published in Clinical Pediatrics, most furniture tip-over-related injuries occurred among children younger than age 7 and resulted from TVs tipping over. More than one quarter of the injuries occurred when children pulled over or climbed on furniture.

Older children were more likely to suffer injuries from desks, cabinets, or bookshelves tipping over. Head and neck injuries were most common among younger children, while children older than age 9 were more likely to suffer injuries to the lower body.

Despite warnings from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the number of tip-over injuries has increased since the early 1990s.

Parents can reduce risks to children by placing TVs low to the ground and near the back of their stands and strapping televisions and furniture to the wall with safety straps or L-brackets. Purchase furniture with wide legs or with solid bases. Install drawer stops on chests of drawers, and place heavy items close to the floor on shelves.

Also, parents can reduce a child’s desire to climb furniture by not placing attractive items, such as toys or the remote control, high on top of furniture or the TV.

Today’s families are busier than ever. Sports, music, and other extracurricular activities may take up most – if not all – of your child’s free time outside of school. Is this helping or hurting our kids?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says free play time is an important aspect of a child’s development. All children need some time to be creative, interactive, and to problem-solve. This can be quiet time alone with toys, pretend play with friends, or even just daydreaming. The time should not be spent with electronics such as watching TV or playing video games.

Also consider sleep. If your schedule is so packed that you or your children are exhausted all the time, it’s time to take another look. Children need adequate sleep for mental and physical development. Adults need enough sleep for optimal health and stress relief.

If your household is running ragged with commitments, consider some “time out” for your whole family. It may be one of the best things you do for your child’s well-being – and your own sanity.

Today’s kids and teens are using the Internet, for better or worse. Although it can be a fun and useful tool, parents need to be aware of their kids’ online activities, especially social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat.

Potential threats like cyber bullying and Internet predators are realities for kids today. And, with smartphones and other portable devices, kids can be targeted anywhere, at anytime. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following tips to keep kids safe:

Be connected with them.

Talk with your kids about which social media outlets they use, and make sure you check these outlets too. Tell them the rule is that you will be “friends” with them on any sites they use. Talk with other parents about their kids’ social media sites and stay up to date on the latest ones.

Have regular checks.

If your child has a smartphone or tablet, check it once a week or more often to ensure they’re being safe and appropriate. Rather than keeping it a secret, be honest with them about these checks. It will be less like “spying” and more like regular, open monitoring. You want to keep good communication and trust with your child.

Tell them about consequences.

Any photo or message posted online can be shared with the world. If they wouldn’t announce it on national TV, they shouldn’t share it online either.

Set time limits.

Don’t let kids have their phones or devices in their rooms at night. Not only will it interfere with needed sleep, but it could be an opportunity for inappropriate social media usage. Consider capping their usage at two hours a day for total screen time.