Chronicles of a “Mr. Mom”

The rate of accidental suffocation deaths among babies increased fourfold over the past two decades, according to a new study, despite a national campaign to encourage safe infant sleeping.

Authors of the study, which appears today in the journal Pediatrics, say the nationwide increase probably is the result of more thorough investigations and changes in how deaths are classified. Nevertheless, the researchers and local medical experts said the figures reflect a continuing problem and highlight concerns about whether babies should sleep in the same beds as their parents or siblings.

“These deaths are likely preventable,” said Carrie K. Shapiro-Mendoza, an epidemiologist at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and lead author of the study. “So this problem is ongoing, and we should not divert our attention. … We need an infusion of more efforts to make them reduce further.”

Researchers have long studied Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, a term that refers to infant deaths that cannot be explained after a medical investigation. Shapiro-Mendoza’s study sought to find out if a newer, more specific category of infant death - by strangulation or suffocation - was increasing.

Full story: Don’t share bed with infant, parents told

Eighth grader Charlie Sobcov wants to stop birds from dying in collisions with windows, but he doesn’t want to ruin anybody’s view.

For his latest school science fair project he has invented painted, plastic decals that can be placed — discreetly — right in the middle of a window pane.

“This paint is a colour that birds can see but humans can’t,” he said Wednesday on CBC Radio’s All in a Day. “It’s like putting a big stop sign in the middle of the window.”

The colour is ultraviolet, beyond the range of colours visible to humans. That means the “stop sign” lets birds know the window is solid, but is nearly invisible to humans.

Full story: Ottawa boy’s invisible invention warns birds about deadly window

How many times have you heard, “It’s a tie!”, “Everyone wins!”, and “You’re all winners!”? We have good intentions of not wanting to hurt children’s feelings, but are we really helping them in the long run?

This is the second in a series, “C’mon Parents!”, which tackles tough issues that parents are griping about. Some of my ‘mom friends’ and I were recently talking about this issue and wondering how it will impact our kids in the future. We basically have 5 major gripes with telling all kids they are winners.

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Guess what? If you are rich, you could probably afford to hire more household help. But at the end of the day, unless you are a terrible parent who will let your nannies raise your kids, you still have to deal with them.

“The marriage is experiencing frustrations because of the added stress of the twins (11-month-old Max and Emme),” a close source revealed. “But they will work things out. They love each other, and that will dictate what happens. I don’t think divorce is in the picture.”

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Is It Cheesy to Name Your Baby After a Holiday If Your Due Date is December 25?

New York, NY (PRWEB) December 24, 2008 — As long as the name you choose for your baby feels like a celebration for his or her arrival, it’s fine to go ahead and tap your favorite holiday, according to an article posted today online at BabyZone.com, a website that serves the needs of expectant and new moms.

“Holidays like Christmas offer copious options to new parents who haven’t yet decided what to name their baby,” says Suelain Moy, baby name expert and author of the book, Names to Grow On, in the Q&A, “Is It Cheesy to Name Your Baby After a Holiday?“.

Holidays like Christmas offer copious options to new parents who haven’t yet decided what to name their baby

According to the feature posted on BabyZone, Natalie, Natalia, and Natasha all mean “born on Christmas Day.” Noel, Noelle, and Navidad simply mean “Christmas.” Many December babies have been named Nicholas (after St. Nick), Claus (after Santa), or Kris (after Mr. Kringle). Other festive names include Joy, Holly, and Yule.

However, be aware when making first and last name combinations.

Consider the case of the 90 or so women in the U.S. whose legal name is Mary Christmas. While Utah-based, stay-at-home mom, Mary Christmas (nee Young) admits that her name is a big hit during the holidays, she does encounter her share of doubting Thomases.

“I’ve had to show people my license a couple of times,” she said to BabyZone. And when her name shows up on the caller ID or on a package, some folks think it’s a prank.

Still, it’s hard to find fault with a name that brings people so much joy and happiness. “People think it’s fun,” Mrs. Christmas said (good-naturedly) to BabyZone. “It’s positive. It’s a conversation piece.” And, as her husband likes to point out, he gets to celebrate with Mary Christmas, not just on December 25, but all year long.

Parents are usually considered to be a child’s first teachers and role models. But, a study has some dampening news for today’s generation of
Parents

Researchers at the Children’s Society in Britain have carried out the extensive study and found that children aren’t acquiring basic moral values nowadays because today’s parents are actually poor role models.

For their study, the researchers questioned 1,176 people — they found that two thirds of adults believe that the moral values of young people have declined considerably since the time when they were young, ‘The Times’ reported. According to the society, the rise of the celebrity culture and weakening family bonds are undermining traditional moral values among young people.

Full story: Parents, poor role models for kids

..reviving an economy is more like parenting. There’s no manual. If there were a parenting manual, every hospital would hand one out with every newborn. But there isn’t a manual because each kid is different. And parents come to learn that they aren’t really in charge. There’s too much of the process they can’t control. So great parenting isn’t about doing whatever it takes. It’s an art. It’s about a set of principles and knowing which principle to apply in which situation. When to be tough. When to be soft. When to give a kid a do-over.

Even the most skilled parents make mistakes. Not because they don’t understand what it takes to be a good parent. Not because they aren’t committed to doing the job as well as it can humanly be done. But simply because there’s no way of knowing what to do next.

Full story: How To Move The Economy Forward

- Ravi Jayagopal

Whether you’re a parent jumping enthusiastically for joy, or a kid moaning and groaning, there’s no getting around the fact that school is just around the corner. And as schools across the country kick into full swing, children will be filling the streets, sidewalks and parking lots as they get themselves to and from school.

When I was a kid, I had to walk … uphill … both ways, for most of my youth. And it snowed most days, too! Whether your student will be traveling by bus, car, bike or under foot power, there are numerous things to keep in mind to make sure each trip is a safe one.

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In many ways, pediatricians do know more than parents. When your doctor says your newborn needs to ride in a rear-facing car seat, don’t argue. When he says your 2-month-old with a 105-degree fever needs to get to the doctor’s office — and fast — you’d better listen.

But there are far more areas that are gray and have no science, or not very good science, to back them up, says our panel of pediatric experts. They say that sometimes, this means your pediatrician is giving you his or her opinion, not medical fact.

Full story: When it’s OK to question your pediatrician’s advice

For a few decades, it’s been noted that a large percentage of all gifted students (those who score in the top 10 percent on aptitude tests) severely underestimate their own abilities. Those afflicted with this lack of perceived competence adopt lower standards for success and expect less of themselves. They underrate the importance of effort, and they overrate how much help they need from a parent.

When parents praise their children’s intelligence, they believe they are providing the solution to this problem. According to a survey conducted by Columbia University, 85 percent of American parents think it’s important to tell their kids that they’re smart. In and around the New York area, according to my own (admittedly nonscientific) poll, the number is more like 100 percent. Everyone does it, habitually. The constant praise is meant to be an angel on the shoulder, ensuring that children do not sell their talents short.

Full story: How Not to Talk to Your Kids