In the "listen-up" category, everything we know about "sell-by" and "use-by" dates for foods adults consume you can basically toss out the window when it comes to infant formula and baby food. Infant formula and baby food fall in a completely different category. The Food and Drug Administration website, www.FoodSafety.gov provides further details. Here is some basic information:
Dates on Formula and Baby Food
"Federal regulations require a "use-by" date on the product label of infant formula and the varieties of baby food under FDA inspection. If consumed by that date, the formula or food must contain not less than the quantity of each nutrient as described on the label. Formula must maintain an acceptable quality to pass through an ordinary bottle nipple. If stored too long, formula can separate and clog the nipple."
"Dating of baby food is for quality as well as for nutrient retention. Just as you might not want to eat stale potato chips, you wouldn't want to feed your baby meat or other foods that have an off flavor or texture."
"The "use-by" date is selected by the manufacturer, packer, or distributor of the product on the basis of product analysis throughout its shelf life; tests; or other information. It is also based on the conditions of handling, storage, preparation, and use printed on the label. Do not buy or use baby formula or baby food after its 'use-by' date."
Preventing Foodborne Illness
Another food preparation rule we always need to keep in mind when preparing formula or baby foods for consumption by infants and toddlers is that cleanliness in the kitchen and safe food handling can prevent foodborne illness. Just as washing our hands is important in preventing the spread of colds and flu--it's also extremely important in preparing and handling food for our family, especially for our children.
Mishandled food can lead to foodborne illness, it's just that simple. The Partnership for Food Safety Education developed the "FightBac"® campaign which advised 4 simple ways to help eliminate the possibility of bacteria getting into food. In the kitchen, make sure you:
· Clean:
· Separate: Don't cross-contaminate! Keep meat, fish, and poultry away from other food. Utensils that have touched them should be washed immediately.
· Cook: Heat food to proper safe, minimum, internal temperatures.
· Chill: Refrigerate food promptly.
Making sure hands are clean before we handle our children's foods sounds like a fairly simple matter, until we list all the ways we can contaminate food. Always wash hands before handling food; after handling food; after using the bathroom; after changing a diaper; after tending to a sick child; after blowing nose, coughing or sneezing; and after handling pets. In addition to making sure that when we handle food, our hands are clean, everything that touches food must be clean. If you use a thermometer to test the temperature of baby's food or milk, it must be washed and dried after using, each and every time. Using a dishwasher helps to sterilize dishes, bottles, containers, and utensils. ##
It's the height of the vacation season. If you haven't traveled with your child on an airplane lately, there are definitely some safety tips and recommendations for flying with infants and young children you may want to review!
Naturally, traveling with infants and toddlers places a heightened burden of responsibility on parents, both in preparing for and taking the planned trip. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has recently updated recommendations of things you as a parent can do to make the trip safer, easier and less stressful. The TSA website http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm has several short videos for parents and caregivers of infants, toddlers and school-aged children to view to help simplify the process of proceeding through the checkpoint.
First and foremost, planning ahead for the trip never hurts. To ease stress when traveling with infants and toddlers and provide for a safer trip, TSA recommends learning before the trip what you can and cannot bring with you as both carry-on and checked baggage. Check TSA's website for prohibited items: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm Mothers, TSA makes special provisions for bringing breast milk and baby formula and other medically necessary items on board the airplane in larger than 3.4 ounce specified quantities provided they are declared at the checkpoint and presented to a Transportation Security Officer (TSO).
If your child is still a lap child, you may want to learn about in-flight child restraints before traveling. As we continue to hear in the news, seatbelts save lives, and the FAA strongly recommends child restraint systems (appropriate for children's weight) be used for children under 40 pounds (18.1 kilos). There are other options: buying a ticket for a seat for the child (if under 2 and over 40 pounds) and using the appropriate restraint system for that seat. For safety, you will want to seat your child away from an aisle where little arms, hands and feet, could get pinched or bumped; ideally, the child could be seated between two responsible adults.
When going through the checkpoint, it's a good idea to leave the items you will have to take out of your carry-on bag at the checkpoint on top in your carry-on things. Large items, such as diaper bags, blankets, toys, strollers, car and booster seats, baby carriers, infant seats, backpacks and baby slings, all must go through the metal detector at the checkpoint and can be checked in on the jet way before you get on the plane. Frequently, TSA has an extra lane called the Family & Medical Liquid Lane for passengers who need assistance or who need a little more time may use. If you have questions, ask the TSO--or their supervisor if necessary.
Preparing for emergencies is always advised. Pay attention to the preflight emergency briefing. Ask if there are flotation devices on board for children. Make the counter agent, flight and gate attendant(s) aware if your child has any medical condition that could become an issue during the flight. Bring along safe, softer toys if possible.
And enjoy your family airplane trip!
Recently, the FDA warned parents and caregivers about how an infant or child could be accidentally given an overdose of vitamins, particularly Vitamin D, using Accurate Vitamin D Supplmentation™ due to a faulty medicine dropper, which would allow more than a 400-International Unit drop to pass through it to the infant's mouth.
The FDA also advises manufacturers of liquid Vitamin D supplements that droppers accompanying liquid Vitamin products should be clearly and accurately marked for 400 international units (IU). "In addition, for products intended for infants, FDA recommends that the dropper hold no more than 400 IU." (FDA, June 15, 2010)
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says the easiest way for parents and caregivers to avoid giving too much liquid vitamin is to use a medicine dropper that only allows 400 IU/dose to pass through to the infant. The AAP also "recommended a dose of 400 IU of Vitamin D Supplement per day to breast-fed and partially breast-fed infants." (AAP Pediatric Nutrition Handbook, 6th edition, p.466). The concern is that too much Vitamin D given at a time during infancy can ultimately cause kidney damage. "Excessive amounts of Vitamin D can be harmful to infants, and may be characterized by nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, excessive thirst, frequent urination, constipation, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, muscle and joint aches, confusion, and fatigue, as well as more serious consequences such as kidney damage." (AAP, June 15, 2010)
Healthcare professionals, parents and caregivers are urged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicine to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program and this can be done by going to the website:
www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm or calling: 1-800-332-1088.
Toy/Jewelry Recalls To Note:
Rhino Toys Inc. recalls Beado Hand-held Bead Playtoys. About 5,500 of the Beado Hand-held Bead Playtoys have been sold between March and May 2010 for about $12 each. The toy is a colorful playtoy for young children with model number 1501 and date code 02910 04323A. It was manufactured in
Approximately 66,000+ pieces of Cadmium Coated Beaded Jewelry made by "SmileMakers" has been recalled by the CPSC. Manufactured in
Perhaps the most significant thing that happened this week in
Childsafetyblog.org is smiling.
It's summer time and the heat is on. A lot of children are going to the local pool with their parents. Some are swimming in lakes, wading in ponds, or playing in the sand. There's lots of pollen from grass, trees, summer weeds, and flowers in the air, whether your children are at the lake, beach, pond, camping in the woods or backyard, or visiting down on the farm. If children have been playing outside a good bit of the day and they have difficulty breathing through their nose at night, should we be concerned? Although we know it's not winter and they may not have caught cold, why all the congestion, watery eyes, stuffy noses, and sneezing?
The answer is yes, we should be concerned; and to be more informed we need to know the symptoms of nasal allergies in kids. The symptoms are very similar to those of the common cold--and may or may not be accompanied by a sore or itchy throat:
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- Runny or itchy nose, often accompanied by watery eyes.
According to scientists, nasal allergies affect an estimated 40 million Americans, and 40 percent of the American child population. Nasal allergies are believed to be the most prevalent cause of nasal congestion in children.
When a child experiences the symptoms of a nasal allergy, their immune system reacts often quickly by manufacturing an antibody in the child's system to fight the allergen's challenge. The antibody sends a message to the brain causing a histamine to be released into the bloodstream--which causes nasal inflammation and its symptoms, such as nasal congestion, sneezing, and that itchy or runny nose, watery eyes, and possibly a scratchy throat.
Nasal allergic reactions in children frequently occur when a child is exposed to things in the air--allergic challenges--such as pollens (from grass, weeds, trees, flowers), mold, mildew, house dust, and even, sadly, good old Spot or Kitty and their pet dander.
Nasal allergies are particularly prevalent in the summer because children are more exposed to allergic challenges in the air. They play out of doors more in the warm weather. They may go to other areas of the country to visit relatives or go on family trips to very different surroundings, where they experience the pollens of different plants, trees, flowers, the dander of different pets, and even different house dust. Swimming in a favorite lake that was surrounded by farm fields as a child, I frequently came out of the lake with a stuffed up nose and itchy eyes and spent the rest of the afternoon sniffing and sneezing, not playing! Not fun for anyone!
If your child begins to experience nasal allergy symptoms this summer, it's a good idea before you medicate to consult your pediatrician. You do want to make sure this is either an allergy or something else like a sinus infection. Medicines, such as antihistamines, are available, both over-the-counter and by prescription from your physician, but you need to find the right medicine for your child. You need to observe what causes the inflammation to occur and learn how your child reacts to allergy medicines. There are allergy tests your physician may want your child to have, to be more certain about what kind of allergic reaction your child may be experiencing. It's always a good idea to check with your doctor before you give your child any medicine! And don't forget that other safety tip, keep all medicines away from children when the medicines are not in use. Locking your medicine cabinet is being pro-active with regard to child safety.
In the meantime, childsafetyblog.org is wishing you a safe and happy summer!
Recently, autism and developmental disabilities in children have been in the forefront of the news. Parents of children afflicted with autism agonize over how best to care for an autistic child and wonder what may have caused autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in their children. Learning the signs of what your children should be doing at certain milestone ages is key to the knowledge that your baby is developing safely and healthfully. Making sure you check with your pediatrician regularly is important to getting the kind of help your child may need to assure safe and healthful development.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that "an average of 1 in every 110 children in certain parts of the United States has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)." There are data which indicate that the average age at which children are diagnosed with an ASD is 4-1/2 years, but CDC says an early diagnosis when possible is more helpful in managing the care of children with autism. So it is extremely important for parents to be aware of how their child is developing.
CDC says that there are common milestone indicators in a child's development which let you as a parent know your child's development is on track. To make sure you know the signs of healthy child development, you can check with your pediatrician, and at the same time, you may want to check the CDC website:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.htmlto learn the signs for healthy child development at 3 and 7 months and at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. There are check-lists you can print to help monitor your child's development noting the milestone activities your baby should be able to do by a certain age.
For example, according to CDC, at 3-months old, a baby should:
- Begin to develop a social smile;
- Enjoy playing with others;
- Become more expressive, communicating not only with facial expressions but with their body too;
- Imitate facial expressions and movements;
- Raise its head and chest while lying on its tummy;
- Support upper body with arms while lying on its tummy;
- Stretch legs outward and kick while lying on its tummy or back;
- Open and shut hands;
- Push down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface;
- Bring hand(s) to mouth;
- Try to touch or grasp dangling objects;
- Grasp and shake hand toys.
A 3-month old baby's vision and hearing also play significant roles in their development, so be sure to note whether your 3-month old focuses on and watch faces intently and whether their eyes follow moving objects and recognize familiar objects from a distance. Your 3-month old may also smile at the sound of your voice, have begun to babble and imitate some sounds, and will be turning their head in the direction of a sound.
In the very exciting world of experiencing the joy of a new baby, there is so much for a parent to learn and do. It's gratifying that CDC's child development milestones are available for new parents to learn and to make sure their baby is developing safely and healthfully!
In the warm -- no, let's just say it: HOT -- weather we've already been experiencing this summer, it's important we think again (or never stop thinking) about food safety for families with children. It's important that we think about food safety for our kids' sake all the time. Whether we're on a picnic, in the boat, at the pool, or while camping, we need to take all precautions to make sure we handle food in a safe manner, so that we and our children don't become sick. It's so easy to slip up in this way--and the experience can wreck a family vacation.
Here are some handy tips to keep food safe in hot weather:
1) If you are traveling and taking food along, take 2 coolers, one for beverages (which may be opened and shut intermittently as people withdraw bottled water or canned or bottled drinks) and at least one more cooler for foods that must remain cold until the food it contains is prepared to be cooked or is eaten. Make sure cooler # 2 contains ample ice packs and ice along with the food. A thin layer of aluminum foil on top of the frozen and/or cold food in the cooler placed beneath the cooler top is an added protection to keep food colder longer--or you can wrap each food separately, first in plastic or wax paper and then in aluminum foil.
2) If the ice melts in your food cooler or the cold food in it becomes warm for any reason or length of time, do not prepare or eat the food! We realize food is expensive, but so are doctor bills. Throwing out food that has gone bad--although regrettable for the family's budget--is much easier and safer than combating salmonella or E.coli or another stomach-unfriendly bacteria. Also do NOT re-freeze meat, poultry or fish that has thawed. Never leave thawed meat at room temperature for more than 15 minutes without cooking it--including hot dogs!
3) Bring wrapped, "dry" snacks along on a car trip. These are not as perishable as some fruits and vegetables. Puffed rice crackers, healthy veggie chips, apples, oranges, and "trail mix" (if you or your child are not allergic to nuts or seeds) are an alternative to some of the more perishable snacks. (Note: If you bring bananas along, make sure they are in a separate bag, don't put them in the cooler... if you do, everything will smell like banana. I learned the hard way.)
4) Make sure to wash your hands and your children's hands, especially before eating or handling food. Washing hands often helps to retard the transmission of bacteria.
5) There may be chemical residue on food--so make sure to wash all raw meat, poultry, fruits, or vegetables separately and thoroughly before preparing and eating them!
6) There's no other way to say this: "Cook food to the desired temperature and then some!" Invest in a food thermometer and use it! At http://www.FoodSafety.gov, you can
check the safe minimum temperature at which most meats, fish, poultry, and egg dishes are truly at the optimum temperature for consumption.
I hate to say this to parents, but, for the most part, WE are the "last location" before most food is consumed by our kids (especially when we are talking about babies and toddlers). We are the ones who make sure what they eat is safe and healthful. Either we have chosen their food in the food store, brought it home and prepared it for them ourselves, or our children have consumed it at someone else's home in their kitchen or while sitting at a table in a fast food, or other restaurant, with us, a babysitter, or family member.
As our kids grow older, they will consume more food at school and outside the home. But, whatever the case, their eating patterns are established usually by us, and early in life. And while we may not have to worry about what they eat at every single meal, perhaps we should seriously consider what they are eating in total, and how it is building their bodies so they can experience a healthier and safer tomorrow.
One question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we buying nutritious foods for our children to eat or are we giving in to food choices that are not as healthy but are easy to fix and are pre-prepared (food that might contain more preservatives and fat), things that save us time?
Looking at the new food pyramid can give us some safe guidelines how to feed our little ones. Is the new food pyramid even in our vocabulary? If not, there are several places we can find it, such as the USDA's website
www.MyPyramid.govMyPyramid.gov has food safety and preparation advice for moms-to-be as well as moms of babies and toddlers. There is an interactive page for parents of preschoolers where you can fill in the age of your child and it will give you a sample recommended food pyramid listing the amounts of grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat and beans recommended, plus some safe snacking ideas and smart beverage choices for them. (You can print and paste it on the refrigerator as a reminder.) Clicking on "Inside the Pyramid" will tell you more about why certain food groups for your child are so important!
As parents, we worry about whether our children are getting what they need nutritionally to build strong, healthy bodies, in the way of vitamins and minerals--especially with processed food--or if there is any nutritional value in the food they eat at all! If you are considering vitamin supplements for your child, begin by checking with your family doctor first to make sure you are giving your child the right vitamin in the correct amount or dosage. Vince Iannelli, MD, of About.com's Pediatrics says that it is "a much better practice to provide these nutrients to your child through the foods they eat" by choosing foods rich in:
-
fiber content
-
protein
-
iron
-
calcium
-
Vitamin C
-
potassium
Babies and toddlers require a variety of foods to achieve a balanced diet. It's important to make sure that their diets are as balanced as older children's diets. They may gravitate to certain foods they like, but a variety of foods breaks the monotony and encourages healthful eating in the long run.
That time of year is here. It's almost the 4th of July when families with children are considering how to spend a few days of much-anticipated vacation! July 4th not only represents the American Colonists' gaining independence from British rule, it also signals to many people the beginning of summer. And July 4th is often touted as the biggest family boating weekend of the entire summer season. There will be colorful boat regattas, races, sailing classes, pleasure boating, fishing, and water sports of all kinds frequently taking place in and on the same body of water at the same time. This means lots of boating traffic and boating safety rules and local laws will be enforced to keep everyone safe in and on the water.
Wherever you go boating with your children, whether it is on the ocean, in a lake, canal, river, or pond, boating with children means fun. Let's look at some important things for parents and guardians to consider and remember when taking children in a boat:
Make sure the boat you are getting in and placing your children in, is SAFE. Never place your children in or on a boat you think (just from observing it) may not be safe, whether it is your neighbor's speedboat, the tourist ferry boat or a simple canoe.
Never place or allow your children (under 12) to go out in a boat alone without an adult who can swim.
Never place your children in a boat with an inexperienced captain, i.e., someone who has never run a speed boat or paddled a canoe. Whether it's a fishing boat, a sail boat, ski boat, or canoe, it takes a certain amount of knowledge and experience to run a particular boat. Make sure the captain is knowledgeable, not a first-timer.
How can you, as a parent, tell that a boat may be safe and water-worthy? The boat should be in good physical condition--with no leaks and dry floorboards. It should be obvious that the boat has been well cared for. A boat should have a license in the state in which it is housed. A boat's registration should be up-to-date, with registration numbers and decal displayed on the outside hull or aft of the boat, and a current registration card must be carried by the person who owns and is running the boat at all times. While a license doesn't guarantee a boat is completely safe, boat owners who keep their boat registration current and carry their registration card are somewhat conscientious.
Conscientious boat owners also may have their boats inspected (often free) annually by the local Coast Guard Auxiliary Chapter or the local law enforcement agency specializing in boat safety. You can ask the boat's owner, "Has this boat been inspected recently?" Good captains will want you to know!
Every water-worthy craft (boat) should contain equipment that represents safe boating. If it's a boat with gas-powered engine(s), such as a speed boat, fishing boat, deck, or pontoon boat, look for a fire extinguisher visible on board the boat and a certain number of flotation devices in the boat. At the minimum, a boat should carry an extra paddle, a rope, an anchor, and a map of the body of water, especially if it is many miles around or long. If you are boating at night, the boat should have lights, red/green in the front and white in the aft and a horn to alert other boaters.
Every person in the boat, especially children, should wear a Coast Guard- approved flotation device, often called a life jacket or sometimes a "May West." The Coast Guard approved-flotation device may be bright orange in color--or it might be brightly colored, fashion designer wear. Whatever the case, in 90% of boating accidents, a life jacket will keep your child's head above the water in case of a boating emergency.
Just having life jackets on board is not enough, make sure your child wears a life jacket and make sure its straps are securely fastened. Don't just put it around you or your child and say, "Oh, (I or) he can swim." Unfortunately, a person can't swim if they've been knocked unconscious by a bad spill, crash, or explosion.
Make sure your children stay seated when the boat is in operation. It's not a good idea to be walking around causing a shift in the boat's weight distribution while it's in operation. Also, a boat in motion is just that--walking can be a tremulous thing on a boat--your child can fall. Pay attention to your captain, if he/she tells you to move or change seats or sides, do it!
Make sure the boat isn't overloaded with people. If it is, don't get in it! What's the boat's capacity--Ask--Don't be shy!
All of the tips we have previously mentioned about safety in the heat, safety around water--all of those cautions apply when you take children in a boat out on the water--make sure to stay hydrated in the heat, absolutely use sunscreen and cover-ups. Tee-shirts or beach towels help to cover exposed skin. It's easy to get sunburned and/or wind-burned while out on the water!
One final caution for boating safety with children applies more to parents and guardians and is a watchword of extreme caution to be taken to heart:
Boats, water, and alcoholic beverages do NOT mix.
If the person running the watercraft you plan to ride in--whether it's a family member, a neighbor or an old friend-- is or has been drinking, please don't get on the boat--and don't place your children on that boat. If there would be an emergency or an accident--someone whose reaction time has been impaired by consumption of alcohol may not be able to save you or your children or even themselves. If they are or have been drinking--any amount--they are liable to cause a boating accident and even if there is no accident or emergency, you can be sure they are operating the boat in contravention of the local laws, placing you and your children in jeopardy.
The goal of boating safely with children is to ENJOY boating and your children. Safe boating makes for good memories and fun that will be repeated now and in years to come. So, come aboard for a safe summer!
We have recently witnessed a terrible scenario in Haiti, when disaster in the form of a massive earthquake struck. Many children, as well as adults, instantaneously became injured and/or homeless. Children lost parents, parents lost children of every age.
This was certainly a frightening time for many Haitian families, and a time when many Americans felt helpless just watching the crisis unfold on television. The level of volunteer participation and donations to charitable organizations focused on relief to Haiti during the aftermath of the disaster was amazing! Yet how well we know, there aren't enough volunteers, charitable organizations, or governmental/non-governmental organizations focused on Haiti presently to completely resolve Haiti's mounting child safety issues--and it comes down to the fact that donations alone don't keep kids safe in times of disaster--honest, conscientious and caring people do.
We hope we never need to use certain of these recommendations, but they are good to bear in mind to make sure there's a fallback position, in case parents are unavailable during a crisis for whatever reason.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children advocates that we each do the following for our children's sake vis-à-vis natural disasters. In recent weeks, several different states have experienced tornados and flooding.
Simple rules come in handy in a time of chaos and crisis as families can be separated in moments, especially when evacuation is required. Here are NCMEC's important tips for parents, family members, babysitters, and childcare providers:
Know where your kids are at all times.
Stay together, if at all possible.
Take photos of your children, have them with you when evacuated.
Give children identification information to carry with them, including the child's name, date of birth, address, phone numbers, etc. If a child is too young or otherwise unable to speak for him- or herself, consider writing his/her name, date of birth, parents' names, home address, and telephone/cell numbers somewhere on the child's body in indelible marker.
E-mail current digital photos of all family members to extended relatives and/or friends.
Photocopy important documents and mail to a friend/relative to be kept in a safe location.
Make a plan with your children, so they know what to do if your family becomes separated during an evacuation.
A shocking number of children drown each year--approximately 11,000 children in the U.S. die due to drowning. At least 1,000 of those deaths occur to little ones between infancy and 5.
Water safety practitioners encourage parents to:
This doesn't just mean when they are in a boat, by the lake, at the fish pond, by a brook or creek, at the beach or at poolside, it means any time. Any time there is standing water in a bathtub, in a wading pool, in a bucket or a 1" deep puddle, there is the danger of drowning. Little ones especially are attracted to water and are not able to judge its depth, nor do they always have the physical ability to extricate themselves, once in it.
In my youth, we spent time at a lake in the summer. I got in trouble more than once--thankfully, I survived. Once, however, I dove into the water from an unsteady canoe, came up and hit my head on the bottom of the canoe. Yes, I could swim, but because I was almost knocked out, I drank a lot of the lake! If my older sibling hadn't been along for the trip, I could have been a drowning statistic, which brings up another tip:
Administering CPR to an infant or a child is different than administering CPR to an adult, so it's important to know the difference. You can check with your local rescue squad, fire department or your local chapter of the American Red Cross to learn if they are offering a CPR course near you this summer. The courses are not expensive; some are free providing they have attendees.
If supervision of children were more thorough and parents, family members, caregivers and babysitters knew how to administer CPR, there would be more hopeful statistics to post here. There is nothing worse than watching a capable EMT administer CPR to a child who has fallen in the water and cannot respond.
All of us at ChildSafetyBlog.org are wishing you a safe and enjoyable summer!
CSB Home
CPSC
Recalls
Toys
Child
Safety In and Around Cars
Pool
and Water Safety
Internet
and Cyber Predators
Health
and Nutrition
Links