Tips for researching safe daycare options

There are plenty of issues to consider when it comes to daycare. You can skimp on some issues more than others. For example, a caring staff and first aid knowledge is more important than a large array of toys. However, there are some issues your chosen daycare should never skimp on. Pay the daycare you’re considering a visit and make sure of the following:

1. All babies are put to sleep on their back, each and every time. Staff should be trained on this important issue.

2. That the baby to staff ratio is at least 3 babies per 1 adult caregiver. If your baby is over the age of one year, but under three years the staff ratio should still be at least 4 babies per 1 adult. Ask about subs as well.

3. All staff who work with the children should be trained in infant CPR and first aid. No exceptions.

4. There’s a sick day policy you can live with. Some daycares won’t allow a baby in if he’s had a fever, until 24 hours have passed. I like this rule, because I knew my Cedar wouldn’t be exposed to other baby’s illnesses as often, but if 24 hours is too long, look for a center with more flexible rules, or even a sick room. Just be aware that if sick kids are allowed at the center, your child will also be exposed when he’s healthy.

5. There’s an open door policy. If parent’s aren’t welcomed happily at ANY time in the daycare area, then it’s a major red flag. Staff should seem fine with you being there, and not anxious or annoyed. If staff seem odd, or they have a more closed door policy, I’d look elsewhere.

Why baby cry?

After sometime, you’ll totally catch onto all your baby’s cries and their meanings. It may seem impossible when you’re a brand new mama, but you’ll get it - trust me. Until then, here are a few common crying variations and what they likely mean. I’ve been around countless babies, and while they all differ, some of these cries seem to be across the board.

Tired: Tired is the easiest cry to decipher in my opinion, because it’s often lack luster. Your baby can cry when he wants; loudly. However, tired crying is often more broken, and varied, almost as if your baby has to try super hard to cry.

Hungry: Hungry crying babes usually take rooting breaks from their tears. Your baby may cry and root around at the same time or cry and suck on his hand.

Pain: You’ll be able to tell a painful cry early on, but hopefully it’s not something you’ll hear too often. Gas is a likely pain culprit in a little baby and sometimes elastic from clothing can press on your baby’s skin - yes, some babies are little drama queens, they may feel pain from clothing, cold, or too tight of socks. The cry will be high pitched, sudden, and LOUD.

Bored: Bored crying is a tough call. This is crying that usually starts out sort of fussy and turns into a full-on crying scene. Catching a fussy bored baby is easier than stopping the crying once it starts. First check a fussy baby out - is their diaper clean, have they eaten, slept, and so on? If everything seems ok, they may just want some entertainment. Break out your best baby puppet or go on a walk.

Can you easily decipher your baby’s cries?

Unexpected Symptoms of Early Pregnancy

Early pregnancy can be a roller coaster ride for some expectant mothers. The usual early pregnancy symptoms, often discussed in pregnancy books and guides, often overlook the more unexpected symptoms and side effects of early pregnancy that many woman experience. Some of these unexpected symptoms of early pregnancy can come as a complete surprise to newly pregnant women. The earliest unexpected pregnancy symptoms may even begin well before the first pregnancy test is taken or confirmed.

Early pregnancy symptoms often have a way with taking over the normal mental, physical, and emotional states of pregnant women. The beginning weeks of pregnancy can be both confusing and exciting to newly pregnant women, who are new to the impact that pregnancy can have on their formerly normal, everyday lives. Even women who have had previous pregnancies may discover that each pregnancy is a different and unique experience. Unexpected pregnancy symptoms can strike at any time during early pregnancy, but there are some symptoms and side effects that seem to be common, though often glossed over in pregnancy books and doctors' early pregnancy informational talks.

Is that Water Retention or am I Pregnant?

One of the first unexpected signs of early pregnancy can often be the mysterious bloating, similar to the signs of water retention, that settles in the lower belly. The bloating can be similar to that which many women experience prior to having a period, and this can also be confused with PMS symptoms. Because the bloating is often slight, and mainly noticed by the expectant woman when trying to button a pair of pants, it can be overlooked.

What's that Smell?

The sense of smell is often heightened during pregnancy, and early pregnancy can be the most challenging for women who discover that normally tolerable smells and scents can bring on a wave of nausea in a split second. Many women develop strange and unique aversions to certain smells during early pregnancy. The smell of frying meat or cooking smells is a common smell aversion, but other scents and smells can be equally popular nauseating scents to women in early pregnancy. Many times, food related smells will discourage pregnant women from eating certain foods during early pregnancy. As long as a healthy diet is included in the early pregnancy diet, most women can avoid nausea-inducing foods for awhile.

I Don't Look Pregnant!

Women who are pregnant for the first time are often most surprised when, aside from the number of early pregnancy symptoms they are contending with, they do not actually look pregnant. The first three months of the pregnancy, known as the first trimester, is an important one developmentally for the fetus and the pregnant woman, but most women rarely show any outward physical signs of being pregnant until the second trimester. Women who have had previous babies may show sooner, but aside from typical bloating in the lower abdominal area, most pregnant woman may be surprised to find that their clothes still fit during early pregnancy. The maternity wardrobe can be set aside and stretchier waistbands often work best for women who are in-between early pregnancy and the second trimester.

The Wild, Raging Mood Swing

Early pregnancy signs should include a disclaimer that wild, and unforseen mood swings are often described by those who experience them in early pregnancy as, "PMS times ten." The range of moods that women can experience during early pregnancy often confuse those around them. One minute a feeling of universal joy is peaking, when you see a cute baby at the local mall, and next thing you know, a sudden fit of emotional chaos ensues. Part of the emotional rollercoaster can be attributed to the havoc that early pregnancy hormones can have on the emotional state of pregnant women.

It is common for tempers to flare out of the blue, and for women to have exaggerated reactions to minor situations during early pregnancy. Though you doctor will often mention that hormones may cause mood swings during early pregnancy, women are often surprised by the way that these mood swings can play out in their daily lives. Time outs and alone time can be very helpful for women who are battling raging mood swings during the first few months of pregnancy.

I Had to Pee Twenty Times Today

The tell tale sign of early pregnancy can often be correlated to the number of times a woman will have to run to the restroom during the day. Frequent urination is at its peak during the first few months of pregnancy, and later returns at the end. Women who notice that they are making more and more unexpected trips to the restroom, may want to look into taking a pregnancy test. Once a pregnancy has been confirmed, be ready to make more trips to the restroom during this period of early pregnancy.

What are those Gurgling Sounds?

During the first few weeks of early pregnancy, many women often hear strange noises coming from their digestive system and lower abdominal area. The digestive system is adjusting to the new demands on the body during early pregnancy, and it is common, though often surprising, for pregnant women to hear odd swooshing, gurgling, or digestive sounds coming from their bodies. These early sounds can begin well before a woman realizes she is pregnant.

Early pregnancy can be an interesting journey for expectant women. Unexpected and surprising symptoms can appear at anytime during early pregnancy, but women who are more aware of these potential symptoms will be better prepared to face them during the first few months of pregnancy.

The Stages of Labor

Labor is divided into three stages. The first stage begins with the onset of contractions and ends when the cervix is fully dilated (to 10 centimeters). The second stage involves delivery of the baby, and the third stage entails delivery of the placenta and membranes, or “afterbirth.” Although the length of labor varies considerably, women experiencing their first full-term childbirth usually have the longest labors. About half will exceed 12 hours, and 2 in 10 will last longer than 24 hours. After the first baby, labor is usually shorter. Three-quarters of women deliver within 12 hours, and only one in 50 labor for more than 24 hours.

  The first and longest stage of labor has three distinct phases: the early, or latent, phase; the active phase; and the transition. During the early phase of labor, contractions are often widely spaced—perhaps 10 minutes or more apart—and feel like a tightening or pulling in your back or groin. They can vary considerably in frequency and intensity. At this point you may feel excited, sociable and talkative, or you may be a bit nervous. Most women remain at home during this phase, during which the cervix dilates from 0 to 4 centimeters, and later arrive at the birth center in active labor.
The Active Phase

As you progress from the early to the active phase, your attention focuses completely on labor. Your contractions occur about 3 minutes apart, last about 45 to 60 seconds, and become more centered in your abdomen. They also become stronger and more rhythmic, peaking and receding like waves.

Your determination may waver during this phase of labor. Extra reassurance from your partner and birth attendant can help you stay focused. Breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques also become more important as your cervix dilates to 8 centimeters—nearly wide enough to allow for your baby's birth.

During the active phase, you may begin to long for relief from the pain and tension of labor. Though medication is an obvious solution for your discomfort, you must consider the safety of the baby. Many drugs cross the placenta and affect the baby, making its heartbeat and breathing more sluggish throughout the remainder of labor and after delivery. For this reason, many doctors recommend concentrating on one contraction at a time and relying on your partner, rather than medication, to help maintain your focus.

If your pain is so intense that it actually impedes your progress, however, medication may help you to relax so that contractions can remain steady and vigorous. Two basic kinds of pain medication—analgesics and anesthetics—are used during childbirth.

Analgesics will relieve most of the pain. Drugs used include Demerol, Sublimaze, Nubain, Stadol, morphine, and fentanyl injected into a muscle or vein. These medications are not designed to provide a pain-free labor, but, in appropriate dosages, they can make you more comfortable.

Potential side effects of these drugs include nausea, vomiting and an abnormally fast heartbeat. They present some additional risk to the baby, but if handled properly pose no significant threat. Large doses, however, can interrupt your labor pattern, and if this happens, additional medications such as oxytocin (Pitocin, Syntocinon) may be needed to reestablish strong contractions.

Regional anesthetics completely eliminate the pain. The most common types used during labor include:

Paracervical block. Medication is injected into your cervix, usually during the first stage of labor, to provide you with pain relief from contractions and dilation without interfering with the urge or ability to push. This drug may not work properly in up to one-third of women, and it must be repeated every hour to maintain numbness. It is no longer used frequently.

Pudendal block. The anesthetic is injected through the vaginal wall during the second stage of labor to relieve pain in the perineum (the area between the vagina and the rectum). It may be used in an otherwise unmedicated childbirth. The medication does not interfere with the urge or ability to push and generally masks the effects and repair of an episiotomy—the incision made to enlarge the vaginal opening.

Spinal or saddle block. A single injection of regional anesthetic is made into your spinal canal, numbing the complete lower abdominal and perineal area. This type of anesthetic is rarely used during labor but may be suggested if a forceps or cesarean delivery is required. Administration of a spinal block completely removes the urge to push and may lower your blood pressure. In rare cases, it causes a severe headache when it wears off.

Epidural or caudal block. A needle holding a thin, flexible tube is threaded into the space between your spinal cord and your vertebrae. When the needle is removed, the anesthetic can flow continuously through the tube. Like a spinal block, this procedure provides full pain relief in the perineal area. Dosages can easily be changed or discontinued. Most physicians consider the epidural block to be the optimal method of pain relief for uncomplicated labor or non-emergency cesarean births because it allows a woman to remain fully alert. Nevertheless, the anesthetic requires up to 20 minutes to take full effect and may leave a painful “hot spot”. In addition, it may diminish uterine contractions, bringing on the need for oxytocin. The risk of a forceps delivery is also increased.

DECIDING WHERE TO DELIVER

Today, women have more options about how and where to deliver their babies than ever before. A hospital remains the choice of many, since it provides the security of extensive medical technology in the event of a complication for the mother or child. Many hospitals offer single rooms that allow you and your partner the privacy to participate more fully in childbirth and care of the newborn. Be sure the staff understands and respects the role your partner wants to play in the birth of your baby well before you check in.

Some medical centers now have separate birthing centers in place of their old labor and delivery wards. These centers are more homelike than the maternity section of the hospital, though a woman still has access to medical help, should it become necessary. Home delivery is another alternative advocated by some women who want childbirth to be as natural as possible, but because emergencies, though rare, can be catastrophic when they do occur, most physicians advise against this. Many obstetrical practices now include one or more midwives. Midwifery is one of the world's oldest and most respected professions. Some midwives only work in medical centers, while others also offer assistance with home deliveries. In one study, women who were assisted by midwives in hospital birth centers reported significantly higher satisfaction than those under the care of physicians in traditional hospital settings. There were no differences in Apgar scores in either group, despite the fact that the midwife-assisted mothers were not monitored electronically, and the rate of cesarean deliveries in both groups was similar. The study concluded that women should be offered choices in obstetrical care, including the selection of a birth attendant.

Women who receive competent and compassionate care throughout labor and delivery are much more likely to remain calm and self-controlled during childbirth and experience the greatest satisfaction. Because of the complications that can arise, a hospital birthing center, combining a warm environment for routine deliveries with access to intensive medical care if necessary, appears to offer women, their babies, and their partners with the best of both worlds.

When Labor Begins?

Your uterus is a powerful muscle that tightens and relaxes rhythmically during labor, allowing the cervix to stretch open and help to push your baby through the birth canal. Although every woman's labor is different, at the outset, you may begin to feel a pattern of dull cramps similar to menstrual cramps in your lower back or pelvis. If these remain regular for an hour or more, last at least 30 seconds, and gradually increase in intensity—even if you change position or move around—your labor has begun.

Your physician will probably have given you some guidelines about when to contact him or her once labor begins. If this is your first pregnancy, stay home awhile, so you can relax and remain unencumbered by the hospital routine and environment. Take a walk, catch a nap, enjoy a long shower, sip liquids (clear liquids only), read a book, or engage in any activity that will entertain and distract you and allow you to preserve your energy. Most physicians recommend that during a first labor, a woman wait until contractions are five minutes apart for an hour before coming to the hospital or birth center. In subsequent pregnancies, you may be advised to come sooner, since your labor can progress much more quickly.

You should contact your physician immediately if you notice any vaginal bleeding other than the pinkish “show,” if the baby doesn't move for an unusually long time, or if you have constant, severe pain rather than intermittent contractions. These signs can indicate such potentially serious conditions as placenta previa, in which the placenta may be blocking the exit from the uterus, or placental abruption, in which the placenta begins to prematurely separate from the uterus and limit the baby's oxygen supply. If your physician suspects any complications, you'll be asked to come to the birth center as quickly as possible so your condition can be checked and your baby can be monitored throughout the remainder of your labor.

After you are admitted to the hospital, your physician, nurse or birth attendant will want to discuss the events leading to labor. Your vital signs will be checked and recorded, and special attention will be paid to your baby's fetal heart tones and fetal heart rate (FHR), both important indicators of the baby's response to the stress of childbirth. You will be asked when you last ate and how much you consumed. Be sure to tell your physician if you want your partner or older children to be present at the delivery, or if you have made any other special arrangements.

Unless there's concern about complications such as placenta previa or the risk of infection, your doctor will perform a vaginal examination to check the baby's position, the dimensions of your pelvis, and the effacement and dilation of your cervix. A blood sample may be taken and a urine specimen may be tested for protein. You should challenge any hospital procedures that seem medically unnecessary, such as extensive shaving of your pubic area or administration of an enema. There is rarely any need for these outdated rituals, but though they have been eliminated in many birth centers, they persist in some institutions.

Depending on the status of your labor, your baby's position and heart rate, and additional factors such as a previous cesarean delivery or a post-term pregnancy, your physician may recommend electronic fetal monitoring now or at some point during your labor. Many hospitals routinely use external electronic FHR monitoring for 20 to 30 minutes after admission to establish the baby's baseline heart rate and check variations, such as beating slower during uterine contractions. If you need fetal monitoring, the doctor or birth attendant will place two belts around your abdomen to hold two small monitoring instruments in place.

Once your membranes have ruptured, the baby can be monitored internally with a small electrode threaded through your vagina. At the same time, if there's any question about the force of labor, your doctor may place a small plastic tube, or catheter, in your uterus to measure the strength of your contractions.

Numerous studies comparing continuous FHR monitoring and listening to the baby's heart rate with a stethoscope or other device have shown little difference in detecting fetal distress during labor in an otherwise uneventful pregnancy. If your baby's heart rate is normal and your labor is progressing steadily, continuous monitoring is probably unnecessary—and unduly restrictive. Instead, your birth attendant should encourage you to walk around, lean against your partner, urinate when necessary or simply change positions to stay as comfortable as possible.

Occasional intervals of FHR monitoring may still be recommended throughout labor. You will need continuous monitoring only if there are any signs of fetal distress, such as the presence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid, vaginal bleeding, a drop in your blood pressure, or an interruption in your cervical dilation despite regular contractions.

Birth of a Child

Childbirth is one of the most memorable and rewarding events of a couple's life. No matter how often a woman gives birth, each experience is an intimate and unique celebration of life. Though labor and delivery are not without pain and some degree of anxiety, if you remain confident, well-informed and fully supported by your partner and your doctor, you're likely to have no problem handling the awesome task of bringing a child into the world

Because the unexpected can happen at any time, you may not always be able to control every aspect of your labor and delivery, but don't let this bother you. You can maintain a sense of emotional control by asking questions, challenging assumptions about routine procedures, and openly sharing your hopes and fears with your partner and your physician. Whether you deliver vaginally or by cesarean section, receive anesthesia or experience “natural” childbirth, use a hospital delivery room or birthing center, the experience is yours alone, and every decision will be made in your best interest and that of your child.

Toward the end of your pregnancy, you eagerly await the arrival of your child as the culmination of nine months of careful planning and preparation. If this is your first child, you may feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness when you think about the delivery. And to be perfectly honest, you may also feel restless and irritable as the growing baby exerts greater demands on your body.

This jumble of emotions is completely normal and natural. As your due date draws near, you'll want to know exactly when labor will start and when your baby will be born. But although the process of labor is well understood, no one knows exactly why it starts, and your doctor won't be able to predict either the start of labor or how long it will last. Your due date is a best estimate, but only about 5 percent of women who carry their babies to term actually deliver on that day. The rest deliver from several days to several weeks before or after their due dates.

Nevertheless, you may begin to notice changes in your body that are commonly recognized as signs of impending labor. During a first pregnancy, the baby may “drop,” or engage in the birth canal 2 to 3 weeks before labor begins. You may suddenly feel as though you can breathe more easily, though the increased pressure on your bladder may also cause you to urinate more frequently. In subsequent pregnancies, this “lightening” may occur only a few hours before labor.

The irregular contractions you may have experienced throughout your pregnancy or the third trimester may increase in frequency and intensity. You may have a sudden burst of energy, often referred to as the “nesting instinct,” and feel compelled to take on a major domestic project, such as waxing a floor, baking bread, or reorganizing a closet. Hours to days before labor, the small mucus “plug” that has sealed your cervix throughout pregnancy may begin to stretch, then break apart as the cervix shortens and thins out in a process called “effacing.” Once this occurs, pink-tinged mucus, or “bloody show,” may be discharged from your vagina.

When you notice these signals, you should begin to finalize plans for the care of other children, arrange your transportation to the hospital, and call your doctor for last-minute instructions. Pack a small suitcase, placing any items you will need during labor in a separate bag. Continue to practice any breathing techniques you may have learned during childbirth preparation or Lamaze classes. They can help to distract you from pain and relax you during labor. (See the box “Breathing Techniques Help Bring Relief.”)

One additional sign often indicates that labor is imminent. The downward pressure of the baby's head against the amniotic sac may cause these membranes to rupture. The breaking of your “water” can occur as a trickle or a gush of odorless, colorless amniotic fluid. Alert your medical attendants as soon as this happens. Once the sac has broken, labor is imminent, often beginning spontaneously within 12 to 24 hours. In fact, in many women, the membranes don't rupture until labor is already underway.

Once your water breaks, keep your vagina clean to minimize the risk of infection. Don't take a bath, douche, or engage in sexual intercourse. Be prepared to describe when and how the membranes ruptured, and also be alert to any discoloration of the fluid—from yellow or tan to brown or green. This indicates the presence of meconium, a waste product discharged by your baby's bowels, which can be an indicator of fetal distress.

Weight gain in children is not related with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption

An analysis of 12 recent studies indicate that there is virtually no link between the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain in children and teens. The meta-analysis is published in the June issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

"My co-authors and I carefully analyzed 12 studies using scientifically validated methods and found that there is virtually no association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and weight gain in children and teens," Dr. Maureen Storey said. "In fact, the evidence strongly suggests that reducing or eliminating sugar-sweetened beverages would have almost no impact on children and teens weight. While other investigators have reached other conclusions, our findings are consistent with three recently published review articles that concluded that the evidence that adolescent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages leads to weight gain is 'weak or equivocal.'"

Weight gain occurs when an individual consumes more calories than he or she burns – the source of the calories is irrelevant. The beverage industry is already working to educate children about the importance of calorie intake and voluntarily implemented National School Beverage Guidelines which remove full-calorie soft drinks and provide more low- and no-calorie beverage options in schools. In addition, the beverage industry supports daily physical activity and recess for students across the country.

"Sugar-sweetened beverages are a source of energy and energy consumption in excess of energy expended will lead to weight gain. Sugar-sweetened beverages should be consumed in moderation and as part of a balanced diet and active lifestyle," Dr. Storey said.-Strategic Communications

Toddler Constipation: Should You Worry?

The hardest part of dealing with a disorder in toddlers is recognizing it, as they cannot speak in order to let us know what hurts them. Toddlers express everything through actions and usually pain and discomfort through crying due to which reason the parents need to pay close attention to their baby, as every time he or she cries does not mean it is time for feeding or changing of the diapers.

Here are a few ways in which you can recognize toddler constipation and how to treat it for fast relief for your baby.

Diagnosing Toddler Constipation
Until your child learns how to talk you will need to learn how to understand his or her body language and signs. Toddler constipation can be easily diagnosed by parents, as an infant usually will pass at least two soft stools a day and any decrease in the amount for more then couple of days should be the first sign of constipation in your baby.

Another sign of toddler constipation is when the stool is hard and/or painful for your baby when it is being passed and the parents can observe that if the child is crying or cringing when passing the stool. If your baby does not have any bowel movement for the entire day, you should consider it as a sign of constipation and closely monitor your infant stool count.

Treating Toddler Constipation

An easy way to help with toddler constipation is massaging the stomach however, if the condition persists you may want to take a close look at the formula you are feeding your baby and probably change it to something that is digested easier. Depending on the age of your infant you can help with the constipation by administering fruits and vegetables that contain fiber such as spinach, apricots or prunes.

A natural effect that usually works well with toddlers suffering from constipation is warm baths, which relaxes the muscles and creates the natural reflexes to take their course.

If you are not sure what type of treatment is best for your toddler a visit to the doctor would help greatly, as he or she will be able to take into consideration all the facts involved such as, the formula you use, additional supplements administered to the baby, water and also its age.

Do not use drugs such as laxatives to treat a toddler's constipation without a prior examination from the baby's pediatrician, as they are usually too strong and you may cause more harm then benefit. Usually a slight change in the diet will help rectify your baby constipation problem and if medication may be required the doctor is the only qualified person to prescribe them.

Child Safety advice

The weather is getting warmer, pools are opening for the season, and schools are letting out. All this combines to increased outdoor time for children and their families. Keep these outdoor safety tips in mind to ensure your summer is a safe and pleasant one.

For Older Children

* The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99 percent to 100 percent of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
* Stay in the shade whenever possible, and avoid sun exposure during the peak intensity hours — between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The risk of tanning and burning also increases at higher altitude.
* Sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 should be effective for most people.
* Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
* Some self-tanning products contain sunscreen, but others don't, so read the labels carefully. In addition, tanning oils or baby oil may make skin look shiny and soft, but they provide no protection from the sun.

For Young Children

* Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of the direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade or under a tree, umbrella or the stroller canopy.
* Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs, and use brimmed hats.
* If you cannot keep your child covered and in the shade, sunscreen can be applied. However, before covering your baby with sunscreen, be sure to apply a small amount to a limited area and watch for any reaction.

Heat Stress in Exercising Children

* The intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more should be reduced whenever relative humidity, solar radiation and air temperature are high. One way of increasing rest periods on a hot day is to substitute players frequently.
* At the beginning of a strenuous exercise program or after traveling to a warmer climate, the intensity and duration of exercise should be limited initially and then gradually increased during a period of 10 to 14 days to accomplish acclimatization to the heat. When such a period is not available, the length of time for participants during practice and competition should be curtailed.
* Before prolonged physical activity, the child should be well-hydrated. During the activity, periodic drinking should be enforced, eg, each 20 minutes, 5 oz of cold tap water or a flavored salted beverage for a child weighing 88 lbs, and 9 oz for an adolescent weighing 132 lbs, even if the child does not feel thirsty. Weighing before and after a training session can verify hydration status if the child is weighed wearing little or no clothing.
* Clothing should be light-colored and lightweight and limited to one layer of absorbent material to facilitate evaporation of sweat. Sweat-saturated garments should be replaced by dry garments.

Pool Safety

* Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.
* Make sure adults are trained in life-saving techniques and CPR so they can rescue a child if necessary.
* Surround your pool on all four sides with a sturdy five-foot fence.
* Make sure the gates self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach.'
* Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd's hook — a long pole with a hook on the end — and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool.
* Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as "floaties." They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security.
* Children are not developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday.
* Swim programs for children under 4 should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning
* Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm's length, providing "touch supervision."

Lawn Mower Safety

* Try to use a mower with a control that stops the mower from moving forward if the handle is let go.
* Children younger than 16 years should not be allowed to use ride-on mowers. Children younger than 12 years should not use walk-behind mowers.
* Make sure that sturdy shoes (not sandals or sneakers) are worn while mowing.
* Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. Use a collection bag for grass clippings or a plate that covers the opening where cut grass is released. Have anyone who uses a mower wear hearing and eye protection.
* Make sure that children are indoors or at a safe distance well away from the area that you plan to mow.
* Start and refuel mowers outdoors, not in a garage or shed. Mowers should be refueled with the motor turned off and cool.
* Make sure that blade settings (to set the wheel height or dislodge debris) are changed by an adult, with the mower off and the spark plug removed or disconnected.
* Do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse.
* Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.
* Do not allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on mowers.The weather is getting warmer, pools are opening for the season, and schools are letting out. All this combines to increased outdoor time for children and their families. Keep these outdoor safety tips in mind to ensure your summer is a safe and pleasant one.

For Older Children

* The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99 percent to 100 percent of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
* Stay in the shade whenever possible, and avoid sun exposure during the peak intensity hours — between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The risk of tanning and burning also increases at higher altitude.
* Sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 should be effective for most people.
* Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
* Some self-tanning products contain sunscreen, but others don't, so read the labels carefully. In addition, tanning oils or baby oil may make skin look shiny and soft, but they provide no protection from the sun.

For Young Children

* Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of the direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade or under a tree, umbrella or the stroller canopy.
* Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs, and use brimmed hats.
* If you cannot keep your child covered and in the shade, sunscreen can be applied. However, before covering your baby with sunscreen, be sure to apply a small amount to a limited area and watch for any reaction.

Heat Stress in Exercising Children

* The intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more should be reduced whenever relative humidity, solar radiation and air temperature are high. One way of increasing rest periods on a hot day is to substitute players frequently.
* At the beginning of a strenuous exercise program or after traveling to a warmer climate, the intensity and duration of exercise should be limited initially and then gradually increased during a period of 10 to 14 days to accomplish acclimatization to the heat. When such a period is not available, the length of time for participants during practice and competition should be curtailed.
* Before prolonged physical activity, the child should be well-hydrated. During the activity, periodic drinking should be enforced, eg, each 20 minutes, 5 oz of cold tap water or a flavored salted beverage for a child weighing 88 lbs, and 9 oz for an adolescent weighing 132 lbs, even if the child does not feel thirsty. Weighing before and after a training session can verify hydration status if the child is weighed wearing little or no clothing.
* Clothing should be light-colored and lightweight and limited to one layer of absorbent material to facilitate evaporation of sweat. Sweat-saturated garments should be replaced by dry garments.

Pool Safety

* Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.
* Make sure adults are trained in life-saving techniques and CPR so they can rescue a child if necessary.
* Surround your pool on all four sides with a sturdy five-foot fence.
* Make sure the gates self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach.'
* Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd's hook — a long pole with a hook on the end — and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool.
* Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as "floaties." They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security.
* Children are not developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday.
* Swim programs for children under 4 should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning
* Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm's length, providing "touch supervision."

Lawn Mower Safety

* Try to use a mower with a control that stops the mower from moving forward if the handle is let go.
* Children younger than 16 years should not be allowed to use ride-on mowers. Children younger than 12 years should not use walk-behind mowers.
* Make sure that sturdy shoes (not sandals or sneakers) are worn while mowing.
* Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. Use a collection bag for grass clippings or a plate that covers the opening where cut grass is released. Have anyone who uses a mower wear hearing and eye protection.
* Make sure that children are indoors or at a safe distance well away from the area that you plan to mow.
* Start and refuel mowers outdoors, not in a garage or shed. Mowers should be refueled with the motor turned off and cool.
* Make sure that blade settings (to set the wheel height or dislodge debris) are changed by an adult, with the mower off and the spark plug removed or disconnected.
* Do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse.
* Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.
* Do not allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on mowers.

All About Nappy Rash

Almost all babies suffer from nappy rash at some point and it's a very common condition, affecting about one in three of all infants. But seeing your baby's bottom inflamed and red can be distressing and it's not nice for infants. So why does it occur, what can you do about it and how can you reduce the chance of it flaring up again?

As the name suggests, nappy rash is a form of rash that occurs on the skin around or under a baby's nappy. It can make your baby feel very uncomfortable, which is often reflected in crying and irritability, but the good news is that it's a common condition and generally nothing to be seriously concerned about. It's certainly not a disease of any kind.

Nappy rash can be caused for various reasons, but the main factors involved are a dirty nappy that's been left on for too long and is touching the skin, a chemical irritation due to the ammonia found in urine and bacteria in the stools. All of these issues cause the normal protective barrier on the skin to break down, causing inflamed and irritated skin.

The symptoms of nappy rash are relatively easy to identify. It causes redness in the nappy area, which can be spotty or blotchy. Sometimes it extends down over the legs or up onto the stomach.

Treating Nappy Rash

The main ways of treating nappy rash are:

• Changing your baby's nappy frequently, so a wet nappy doesn't come into contact with their skin too much.
  
• Wash and dry your baby's bottom carefully.
  
• Try using barrier creams, such as zinc, to help stop the nappy rash. The cream will protect the sore skin and is particularly good if your baby has sensitive skin. Some contain antiseptics too, which are good for healing and warding off any germs.
  
• Leave the nappy off for a while each day, so your baby's bottom can enjoy some warm dry air (if you're worried about accidents, put your baby on a big towel!).
  
• Avoid using plastic pants and instead opt for woolen underwear on top of the nappy.
  

Nappy Rash That Doesn't Clear Up

Sometimes what seems to be nappy rash might in fact be a Candida infection such as thrush, which would need to be treated with antifungal cream. Babies with sensitive skin or other skin problems are particularly prone to this and, when thrush is involved, the rash will have clusters of little red spots around the edge of the main rash.

It's also important to see a doctor immediately if your baby's skin becomes very red, swollen and warm and if he has a temperature, as this may mean he has a bacterial infection and it would need treatment. In either case, if you're unsure about the cause, if the nappy rash doesn't seem to be clearing up or gets worse, then seek advice from a doctor or health visitor.

Preventing Nappy Rash

Nappy rash can be successfully prevented, especially if you keep your baby's bottom as dry and clean as possible. Here are some tips for nappy rash prevention:

• Change nappies as soon as they are wet or soiled. With newborn babies, this may be as frequently as every hour.
  
• Remember to change nappies before you put your baby down to sleep, or after you've fed him.
  
• Wash your baby's bottom with warm water and a mild soap (look out for brands designed especially for babies).
  
• Use cotton wool or wet wipes to properly clean your baby's bottom.
  
• Air is really good, so try and let your baby lie in a warm room without a nappy before you put another one on.
  
• Sometimes babies with sensitive skin can be affected by washing powder and this can irritate if you're using washable toweling nappies.
  

No-one likes to see their baby suffering, but nappy rash is relatively harmless and can be successfully treated, so do your best to help clear it up and prevent it.

Top 10 Pregnancy Relaxation Tips

Pregnancy can be a stressful time. Your body is going through major changes you're supporting a tiny growing baby inside you and you're thwarted by all sorts of pregnancy side-effects, like morning sickness and aching legs. If you're trying to cope with working, looking after the rest of your family and keeping up with your usual routine, it can all get too much at times.

But it's important to take time out for yourself and relax and both you and your baby will benefit. Research shows that if you're regularly stressed, anxious and tense during your pregnancy, you've got a greater chance of having a baby that also suffers from stress and anxiety. So if you need some inspiration as to how to relax, here are some helpful tips!

1. Put your feet up. Aching legs and ankles are a common problem in pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, so give yourself regular breaks and take the pressure of your feet. Sit in a comfy chair with your feet on a footstool or propped up on cushions, lie on the sofa or lie on your bed – whatever is comfortable for you. If your ankles are swelling, stack several cushions together to raise your feet up higher, as this helps reduce swelling.
   
2. Listen to calming music. Take time out from the madness of life and whisk yourself away to a calmer place, with the help of some relaxing music. Choose one of your favorites or treat yourself to a special pregnancy relaxation CD. Sit back, close your eyes and let the music wash over and relax you.
   
3. Have a massage. Massage is great for easing tension and relaxing the muscles. Rope your partner in to give you a massage or book a treatment with a specialist (many places offer special treatments for pregnant women).
   
4. Try a reflexology treatment. Reflexology is a natural therapy that believes your feet are in a sense a 'map of your body.' A reflexologist will clear blockages and ease ailments by putting a small amount of pressure on your feet – it's a bit like a foot massage. It can be very relaxing, can relieve tension and help any pregnancy ailments you're suffering from.
   
5. Have a go at antenatal yoga. Yoga designed for pregnancy can help tone up your body, but most classes also teach special relaxation tips too. These can help relieve any stress you're experiencing during pregnancy, as well as ease worry about the birth itself. Ask you midwife for antenatal yoga class recommendations.
   
6. Try meditation or visualization. Relaxing your mind is just as important as relaxing your body, but it can be hard to do. Meditation or visualization could help and there are lots of CDs and classes available that teach it especially with pregnancy in mind.
   
7. Have a laugh. Laughter is a great form of natural – and free – therapy. Meet up with your friends, or watch your favorite comedy or film and have a good laugh. Your baby will pick up on the feel-good factor too.
   
8. Get some fresh air and sunshine. It's good to get fresh air and sunshine when you can and can be a good pick-me-up if you've been inside all day. Have a stroll around your neighborhood, walk to the park or even walk around the shops, breathe in the fresh air and relax.
   
9. Enjoy a night out with your partner. Spend some time unwinding and relaxing together – especially if it's your first baby, as life will change when it arrives. Have a lovely meal, go to the theatre or indulge in your favorite pastime.
   
10. Enjoy water. Water is another form of natural healer. Swimming is ideal during pregnancy, as the water is supportive, and it's not too exhausting. If you fancy a class, most places offer antenatal swimming sessions, but if a swimming pool isn't your cup of tea, enjoy a nice long soak in the bath instead.
    

And finally, enjoy the course of your pregnancy. The nine months will fly by and a new baby will soon be part of your life.

Breast Feeding vs. Bottle Feeding- Nutrition Health Benefits

Breast Feeding Verses Bottle Formula Feeding Nutrition Benefits

Deciding whether or not to breastfeed your newborn usually has to do with your lifestyle, because breastfeeding is definitely more work. You have to deal with the schedule, pump your breasts when you aren't around your baby, find adequate storage for the milk and then see that your baby gets enough to feed on whether you and your breasts are there or not. Most of the time, women make decisions about breast feeding because of their work schedule: most jobs don't allow you the time or flexibility to bring your baby in for feedings every two to four hours! (But they should!)

Breast Feeding Health Benefits

Medical evidence is clear: breast milk results in healthier babies, stronger immune systems and better bonding between moms and infants. The ingredients in breast milk measurably increase babies' resistance to illness and infection, cause them to gain weight faster than bottle fed babies and longer term create children who suffer fewer childhood diseases. And those are just the things that medical science can measure! What medical science has difficulty in measuring is also important: there are so many things we still don't know about how the thoughts and feelings of the mother become important components of the actual milk, and how they work in the baby's body. What science has measured though, is the fact that breastfeeding as a process strongly influences the health and happiness of the infant and the mother. Babies who are breastfed go to sleep faster, and are more easily soothed than bottle babies. When research compares the health of babies who are breastfed to babies who are bottle fed, as long as the mothers of the breastfed babies provide enough milk and are healthy themselves, the breastfed baby comes out ahead. And the nursing mother experiences greater bonding with her baby as well as the benefit of easier post-delivery weight loss: breastfeeding burns up about an extra 500 calories a day, or 3,500 a week, which amounts to a one-pound per week weight loss just by breastfeeding.

Benefits of Formula Bottle Feeding

There are real and legitimate reasons to bottle feed your baby. If you don't have enough milk, your doctor will probably recommend that you combine breast and bottle feeding so your baby gets enough to eat. If you have an illness that either affects the quality of your breastmilk or makes it difficult to keep a reasonable weight when nursing, your Ob-gyn may recommend bottle feeding. But these are rare instances, and most of the time, women who decide to stop breastfeeding early in their child's development or right after leaving the hospital do so because their lives make breastfeeding too inconvenient. Many women can't afford to quit their jobs to stay home and nurse a baby, and most jobs still don't make allowances for nursing mothers to do what they need to do.

Lactation Research to Help You Breast Feed Your Infant

Some mothers give up on breast feeding because they have a difficult time learning to nurse their babies. This usually happens because they haven't had the proper training: with more hospitals shoving the mother out the door right with the sweat still on her brow, more new mothers don't get the help and advice they need about breastfeeding. This extremely natural act doesn't in fact come naturally: you may need training in teaching your newborn how to latch on, or in different holding techniques. You may feel it's silly that part of being a mother may include studies in the best breastfeeding methods, but keep it in mind; babies aren't born knowing just how to suckle, and new moms need some teaching too.

Lactation continues for a time whether or not you decide to bottle feed, so even moms who decide to use formula have to get rid of the excess milk in their bodies until it dries up on its own. Part of the regular equipment of motherhood, a breast pump, bottles for storage and serving bottles are useful to new mothers whether they are breastfeeding or not.

The War on Obesity

When Diane Matlack took her daughter to a routine check-up two years ago, the pediatrician delivered surprising news: Melody, who had just turned 3, was overweight.

Like many parents of toddlers and preschoolers, Mrs. Matlack thought her daughter was too young to have weight issues. Still, she agreed to enroll Melody in an experimental weight-management program for very young children near their home in suburban Cleveland.

Mrs. Matlack says she and her husband, who struggle with their own weight, didn't want their children to face a lifelong battle with obesity. "We wanted to get them started on the right foot," she says. At weekly meetings, Melody learned about "thumbs-up" and "thumbs-down" foods and worked on arts-and-crafts projects about fruits and vegetables.

The Cleveland program is one of a growing number cropping up across the country, as more pediatricians and obesity experts subscribe to the view that it is never too early to start managing children's weight. "We used to think that chubby babies were cute and we didn't have to worry about it," says Diane Butler, the pediatrician who diagnosed Melody as overweight. But, "this is the age at which lifestyle food choices need to be made to prevent the kid from being a chubby adult."

The jury is still out on whether obesity programs for toddlers work or are even desirable. Because such programs are so new, their effectiveness hasn't been well-documented and the limited research that exists is mixed. Experts also caution that children need a balanced diet and should be able to eat unlimited amounts of nutritious foods, like vegetables. Children up to about the age of 5 need a higher percentage of fat in their diet than do adults, so following professionals' nutrition advice is critical for parents who want to manage their children's weight.

The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center launched a weight-management group for 2- to 5-year-olds in February. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, which has been running FitKids, a program for 6- to 12-year-olds, recently began training health-care providers to counsel parents of newborns to 5-year-olds. Children's Healthcare says it started the new program after hearing from local physicians that they were seeing younger and younger overweight kids in their practices.

Preschool programs that increase physical activity for all kids, not just the overweight, are also on the rise, including Hip Hop to Health Junior in the Chicago area and the Spark program, which is used in hundreds of preschools across the U.S.

Not all families are receptive to the message that their young children are overweight. Some are offended or dismissive, often arguing that the weight is just "baby fat," pediatricians say. Many simply don't bring their child back for a follow-up visit.

When Jennifer West recently learned that her 3-year-old daughter was overweight, she had mixed feelings. "I don't want to make her feel like it's a big deal," says Mrs. West, who like the Matlacks lives in the Cleveland area. "I don't want to stress her to be anorexic."

Still, Mrs. West says her own childhood as an overweight girl had been difficult and she wanted to spare her two children the experience. For now, Mrs. West is reluctant to go to a nutritionist or join a program. She is trying to "police" what her kids eat and limit their consumption of "junk stuff" and time spent watching television.

There is no research to suggest that simply talking about health and weight to a preschooler can cause eating disorders, such as anorexia. But a parent who says to a daughter, "you're too chubby, you need to lose weight," can do damage, says Christine Wood, a pediatrician in Encinitas, Calif., and author of the book "How to Get Kids to Eat Great and Love It."

Still, Dr. Wood says: "You still have to address the issue. If people are just skirting it because, 'Oh I might create an eating disorder,' that's not going to work."

Indeed, obesity rates among 2- to 5-year-olds rose to 12.4% on average for the years 2003-2006, compared with 5% in 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many obesity experts say this is partly due to poor eating habits and greater availability of junk food. Obesity can have serious health consequences in young children, such as stunted hip and leg-bone growth, says David Ludwig, director of the Optimal Weight for Life Clinic at Children's Hospital Boston. Some children as young as 5 now suffer from Type II diabetes and high cholesterol, conditions that primarily used to affect adults. Overweight toddlers also have a higher risk of being heavy later in life, studies show.

Lisa DaSilva, of Fairhaven, Mass., tried to be sensitive and diplomatic when she raised the subject of a weight-management program with her youngest child, Mitchell, two years ago. She told Mitchell, who was 5 and weighed nearly 90 pounds at the time, that the doctor wanted him to enroll in the program "to make sure you're healthy." Mitchell liked the idea because he wanted to lose weight to look like his brother, Myles, and because other kids called him fat.

Mitchell attended sessions at the Optimal Weight for Life Clinic in late 2006. He was weighed and given prizes for his hard work. He now tries to "listen to his tummy" tell him whether it is full.

Since December 2006, Mitchell has slimmed down to 72 pounds. He can run around longer without getting tired and, sometimes, when finished with a bath, he will say, "Mom, I look good," his mother says.

A Healthy Pregnancy Nutrition For A Healthy Mother And Baby

Healthy pregnancy nutrition is very important. Safe and healthy eating habits maintain good health and provide nutrition for the growing fetus. Thus it is a must to maintain a balanced nutrition before and during pregnancy. A well nourished mother gives birth to a healthy baby and can nourish her child well after birth too.

Although, at times during the initial period of pregnancy, it is difficult to maintain any diet because of nausea and morning sickness, but after this phase passes, with the growth of baby in the fetus, the nutrition needs also increase. Thus, a nutritious diet, rich in fiber, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals is advisable for the healthy development of the growing baby.

Nutritional Supplements

Before you decide on taking pregnancy supplements, it is important to point out that such supplements must be taken under medical guidance of the doctor, as their incorrect dosage may affect the developing baby. For example some of the vitamins and minerals, e.g. folic acid and iron, if taken during the initial three months of conception, prove to be very effective during pregnancy. Such supplements are prescribed as a little higher dose, keeping in mind the pregnant woman requirements. A doctor should always be consulted in case of any doubt about the dose or its suitability during pregnancy. Further, it is also prudent to purchase the vitamins from a reputed retail chemist shop that can be trusted for quality.

Fish oil given for pregnancy nutrition helps form a healthy brain and body of the developing baby, since it is contains high levels of omega3 fatty acids. However, different types of fish oil are available in the market, some even with a high level of mercury content. Hence ask your doctor what to do; he knows what best for you.

Herbal supplements as pregnancy nutrition are also in demand. Some herbs are not nutritious at all. Instead they are toxic and may cause harm, if consumed during pregnancy. Some herbs and herbal supplements if taken in tea or as food flavors are safe, but their concentrated doses or pills should be avoided during pregnancy.

A Healthy Diet And Lifestyle

Always remember, healthy people have a healthy pregnancy. Thus, both the parents must eat the nutritious diet before planning to have a baby. Alcohol, tobacco, drugs etc. should be avoided and the medical tests, as recommended by the doctor, must be taken. Useful and healthy pregnancy nutrition guidelines explaining height, weight, diet, etc., during pregnancy should be clearly understood. It is also advisable to maintain the habit of drinking at least eight glasses of water every day during pregnancy week by week. Apart from this keep relaxed, cheerful, and have a happy spirit of mind with a smiling attitude. Avoid anger, bitterness, and pessimistic nature to keep your pregnancy healthy. Listening to music, going for a walk, reading healthy pregnancy books are some of the activities that relaxes the mind and body during pregnancy.

How to have a green pregnancy

To some women the thought of a "green" pregnancy conjures up images of nausea, vomiting and general discomfort. That's thankfully not what we're talking about here. As the green movement to save our environment continues to sweep the nation, check out these tips to see how you can make that bun, and your experience carrying it, as healthy and helpful to the environment your child will some day inherit.

In an article very humorously titled "What to inspect when you're expecting," writer Amy Linn Grist relays such ideas as using organic or all-natural shampoos and "prettying" products, and going organic whenever possible. True, organic can be more expensive, but I have to say from experience it's generally also a whole lot tastier. And when you're pregnant, taste counts for a lot! She also suggests shopping at second-hand and consignment stores for furnishings (and clothing). I've gotten a ton of cute, great baby clothes from such places for a fraction of the original cost. Kids outgrow clothes so quickly they hardly have time to mess them up!

The article also offers "five cent solutions" to the suggestions. Sure, it's easy to tell someone to only eat organic or to avoid Teflon, but how are regular folks supposed to be able to handle that--especially in this economy? Well, second-hand makes its appearance more than once. Reusing things, and taking care of what you have (so you can hopefully use it with the next baby, if there is one) is the easiest thing to do. Borrowing and swapping, as I do with a few pals, never hurts either. We're super-inclined to take care of the borrowed/swapped items since they belong to someone we know and love.

Maybe some of these tips are seemingly out of reach for your budget. Well, how about trying just one? Also consider the tip everyone can follow: Following the same rules we've all grown accustomed to hearing. Avoid cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and mega-caffeine (which, by the way, could save you enough money to get those organic products you've been eyeing!).

Mother's diet can help determine sex of child: study

Oysters may excite the libido, but there is nothing like a hearty breakfast laced with sugar to boost a woman's chances of conceiving a son, according to a study released Wednesday.

Likewise, a low-energy diet that skimps on calories, minerals and nutrients is more likely to yield a female of the human species, says the study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Britain's de facto academy of sciences.

Fiona Mathews of the University of Exeter in Britain and colleagues wanted to find out if a woman's diet has an impact on the sex of her offspring.

So they asked 740 first-time mothers who did not know if their unborn foetuses were male or female to provide detailed records of eating habits before and after they became pregnant. The women were split into three groups according to the number calories they consumed per day around the time of conception.

Fifty-six percent of the women in the group with the highest energy intake had sons, compared to 45 percent in the least-well fed cohort.

Beside racking up a higher calorie count, the group who produced more males were also more likely to have eaten a wider range of nutrients, including potassium, calcium and vitamins C, E and B12.

The odds of an XY, or male outcome to a pregnancy also went up sharply "for women who consumed at least one bowl of breakfast cereal daily compared with those who ate less than or equal to one bowl of week," the study reported.

These surprising findings are consistent with a very gradual shift in favor of girls over the last four decades in the sex ratio of newborns, according to the researchers.

Previous research has shown -- despite the rising epidemic in obesity -- a reduction in the average energy uptake in advanced economies. The number of adults who skip breakfast has also increased substantially.

"This research may help to explain why in developed countries, where many young women choose low calorie diets, the proportion of boys is falling," Mathews said.

The study's findings, she added, could point to a "natural mechanism" for gender selection.

The link between a rich diet and male children may have an evolutionary explanation.

For most species, the number of offspring a male can father exceeds the number a female can give birth to. But only if conditions are favorable -- poor quality male specimens may fail to breed at all, whereas females reproduce more consistently.

"If a mother has plentiful resources, then it can make sense to invest in producing a son because he is likely to produce more grandchildren than would a daughter," thus contributing to the survival of the species, explains Mathews.

"However, in leaner times having a daughter is a safer bet."

While the mechanism is not yet understood, it is known from in vitro fertilisation research that higher levels of glucose, or sugar, encourage the growth and development of male embryos while inhibiting female embryos.

Stress during pregnancy may raise baby's risks

Women who are stressed about money, relationships and other problems during pregnancy may give birth to babies who are predisposed to allergies and asthma, U.S. researchers said on Sunday.
The findings, presented at a meeting of the American Thoracic Society in Toronto, suggest a mother's stress during pregnancy may have lasting consequences for her child.
"This research adds to a growing body of evidence that links maternal stress such as that precipitated by financial problems or relationship issues to changes in children's developing immune systems, even during pregnancy," Dr. Rosalind Wright of Harvard Medical School in Boston said in a statement.
Wright and colleagues found mothers who were the most distressed during pregnancy were most likely to give birth to infants with higher levels of immunoglobulin E or IgE — an immune system compound — even though their mothers had only mild exposure to allergens during pregnancy.
Studies in animals have found that a mother's stress amplifies the effects of allergen exposure on the immune system of the developing offspring. The Harvard team set out to see if they could find the same in humans.
They measured levels of IgE from the umbilical cord blood of 387 newborns in Boston.
Babies whose mothers were the most stressed out — but who had low exposure to dust mites in the home — still had high levels of IgE in their cord blood, a finding that suggests that stress increased the immune response to dust exposure.
This was true irrespective of the mother's race, class, education or smoking history.
"This further supports the notion that stress can be thought of as a social pollutant that, when 'breathed' into the body, may influence the body's immune response," Wright said in a statement.
The study patterns recent findings in children who have undergone stress by Dr. Andrea Danese of the University of London. Researchers there followed 1,000 people in New Zealand from birth to the age of 32.
They found children who had undergone maltreatment — such as maternal rejection, harsh discipline and sexual abuse — had twice the levels of inflammation in their blood even 20 years later.
High levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and immune cells increase a person's risk of heart disease and diabetes.
"Stress in childhood may modify developmental trajectories and have a long-term effect on disease risk," said Danese, who presented his findings last week at a conference in Chicago on how early influences affect health and well-being.
Danese said maltreatment in childhood may impair the ability of glucocorticoids — hormones that inhibit inflammation — to respond to stress later in life, which could lead to depression and other psychiatric ills.
He said children who have survived maltreatment should get an early start on preventive care for common adult diseases.

Germs may play role in sudden baby deaths

A baffling phenomenon known as sudden infant death syndrome is one of the leading causes of death for children under 1. Now, researchers say they may have found a contributing factor: bacteria.
They found potentially dangerous bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli in nearly half of all babies who died suddenly and without explanation over a decade at a London hospital. Their findings are in Friday's Lancet medical journal.
"This may be another piece to the puzzle,'' said Marian Willinger, a SIDS expert at the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development who was not connected to the British study.
The researchers cautioned, however, that while the bacteria were found in the SIDS babies, that does not necessarily mean the bugs were responsible. Bacterial infections have long been suspected by some doctors to play a role in SIDS.
"We don't know whether it's a cause or if it's identifying another potential risk factor,'' said Dr. Nigel Klein, a professor at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, where the study was conducted, and one of the paper's authors.
He said that the higher level of bacteria might be evidence of another condition that killed the baby, such as a room that was too hot or had poor ventilation. Or it may have been coincidental.
A SIDS diagnosis means that no other cause of death can be found in an otherwise healthy infant who dies suddenly, usually in their sleep. In the United States, SIDS kills more than 2,000 infants every year.
The researchers used autopsy samples from 470 infants who died suddenly and unexpectedly between 1996 and 2005. They found dangerous bacteria in 181 babies, or nearly half of the 365 whose deaths were unexplained. There were similar bacteria in about a quarter (14 of 53) of the babies who died of known causes, excluding those who died of bacterial infections.
Most of the bacteria were detected in the babies' lungs and spleens.
At birth, mothers transfer some of their antibodies against infection to their babies. But when babies are from 8 to 10 weeks old, the maternal antibodies have nearly run out and the babies typically have not started producing enough of their own.
That could make them particularly vulnerable to bacterial infections, said James Morris, a pathologist at the Royal Infirmary in Lancaster, who co-authored an accompanying commentary in the journal.
SIDS typically strikes when babies are between 8 and 10 weeks old.
"The study is a good indicator that certain bacteria might be involved in causing sudden infant deaths,'' he said.
Willinger suggested that bacterial infections in infants might simply aggravate other risk factors for SIDS, such as smoke exposure or babies sleeping on their stomachs.
"The bacteria in combination with other co-factors might push these babies over the edge,'' she said.
Recommendations for preventing SIDS include putting babies to sleep on their backs and avoiding putting too many blankets on them.

Excessive weight during pregnancy more likely to have overweight children

Children of mothers who gain more than the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy are more likely to be overweight at age seven, say researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, in a study published today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Children of mothers who are obese prior to pregnancy and gain excessive weight are at the greatest risk for overweight.

"The earliest determinants of obesity may operate during intrauterine life, and gestational weight gain may influence the environment in the womb in ways that can have long-term consequences on the risk of obesity in children," said study leader Brian Wrotniak, P.T., Ph.D., of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. "Adherence to pregnancy weight gain recommendations may be a new and effective way to prevent childhood obesity, since currently almost half of U.S. women exceed these recommendations."

The researchers reviewed data from a cohort of 10,226 participants enrolled between 1959 and 1965 in the multicenter National Collaborative Perinatal Project. It was initiated to investigate risk factors for cerebral palsy at 12 U.S. sites. This study looked at the children born at full-term gestation, and researchers evaluated socioeconomic and growth data during gestation, at birth and at age 7. Maternal data were collected at enrollment by using a questionnaire that included maternal pre-pregnancy weight, age and race. Maternal weight and height were measured at the time of delivery to determine gestational weight gain - the difference between the measured weight at delivery and the reported pre-pregnancy weight.

According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which makes recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy, the amount of weight women should gain during pregnancy depends on the mother's weight status before pregnancy. Women at a healthy pre-pregnancy weight are encouraged to gain 25 to 35 pounds, while women who are overweight should stay between 15 to 25 pounds. Women who are underweight should gain more weight during pregnancy -- between 28 and 40 pounds.

Of the women studied by the researchers, 11 percent gained excessive weight, 24 percent gained adequate weight and 65 percent gained insufficient weight. Today, said the researchers, these proportions would be very different, with almost one in two women gaining more weight than recommended during pregnancy.

The authors say that encouraging pregnant women to adopt healthy eating practices and engage in aerobic physical activity could help them achieve appropriate weight gain and also help prevent obesity in their children. They add that benefits would likewise result from healthy eating and exercise before becoming pregnant, as well as reducing postpartum weight retention before a subsequent pregnancy.

Using the IOM guidelines, children whose mothers exceeded the recommended weight gain were 48 percent more likely to be overweight than children whose mothers stayed within the recommended weight gain. The risk of overweight was similar for children born of women who gained insufficient weight compared with mothers who gained appropriate weight during pregnancy.

The researchers add that more research is necessary to clarify whether the association between greater gestational weight gain and increased odds of overweight in offspring is causal, and whether it exists in today's environment of increasing obesity.

Dr. Wrotniak's coauthors were Justine Shults, Ph.D., of the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Samantha Butts, M.D., M.S.C.E., of the Division of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; and Nicolas Stettler, M.D., M.S.C.E., of Children's Hospital and the Penn CCEB.