Links We Love, And One We Don't

by Julia Halewicz (Subscribe to Julia Halewicz's posts) Sep 6th 2009 11:00AM

School's in, but your kids still need playtime. Credit: Jupiterimages

Virtual Valium. The playground can be a very very scary place. Poor Maggie Simpson is having a terrible time socializing with the other tots but her oblivious dad, Homer, of course misinterprets the situation. This scene from last season's "The Simpsons" captures a moment we're all probably guilty of from the perspective of the little ones.

Crib Sheet. Nurse Practitioner Schools compiled the 100 Pediatric Health Blogs Every Mom Should Read. No more fruitless Google searches that turn up iffy sources. The recommendations include descriptions of each blog's content and links. Dr. Jim Sears, of TV's "The Doctors" appears on the list, along with not-so-famous doctors from around the country who offer their opinions on health care and raising kids. Our only note? Let's include "Dad" in the title.

Trends. Just because school is back in session and the freedom of summer is over, kids shouldn't be deprived of unstructured play, says Stuart Brown in a Happy Days blog for The New York Times. Brown is the founder and president of the National Institute for Play and wrote, "Play, How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul." He reminds parents that letting kids play outside for just one hour a day helps them build the emotional and physical skills they need to succeed in life.

Contest. Sonic has partnered with DonorsChoose.org to fund teachers' classroom projects. You can help by ordering any drink at Sonic through the end of the month and using the drink's special code to vote at DonorsChoose.org for your favorite teacher's project. Sonic will donate more than $500,000 to the winning projects. Voting ends Oct. 1.

Thumbs Down. You spot a pair of tiny feet bouncing along in a stroller and can't resist taking a peek. What cheeks! What big, brown eyes! What an adorable sign hanging precariously above the baby's head warding me off lest I whip out the hand sanitizer! We're not joking. The signs read, "Please wash your hands before touching mine" and come in red, blue and pink silicone rubber. They cost $7.95 and can hang almost anywhere. A well-intentioned mother who gave birth to a premature baby created the jarring baby accessory, so we understand why germs were an issue for the mom. But isn't it a parent's job to model good social skills for their children by graciously addressing strangers who like to innocently touch babies instead of relying on signs to get the message across?

Comments (10)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Clarissa 9-06-2009 @ 2:53PM

I see nothing wrong with the do not touch signs. I wish they had been around when my daughter was a baby. If I had a dime for everytime I said please do not touch her I'd be a rich woman.

Not touching babies is for the babies protection and health, not the other people.

If they don't like it and are offended by the signs...OH DARN WELL they will get over it.

ninainindia 9-07-2009 @ 11:51AM

Those signs are ridiculous. It is healthy to come into contact with bacteria. Signs like this is why so many more children have allergies nowadays compared to when children were not treated like they would die from some dirt.

Michelle 9-07-2009 @ 12:58PM

Preemie babies are especially vulnerable to germs. I put a sign on my front door when my 25 weeker finally came home, informing well-intentioned neighbors that we were hiding out through the cold and flu season and looked forward to meeting them in the late Spring. When we had to go out, for his numerous doctors' appointments, I kept him completely covered and simply apologized. People see a baby and they think it is completely appropriate to get in it's face and touch it.
Some children CAN die from dirt.

Clarissa 9-07-2009 @ 3:41PM

It's more than dirt when people touch your child.

You have no idea where their hands have been. You never know they could have just dug in their butt moments before touching your child's hand, then the baby put their hand into his or her mouth now you have someone's butt funk in your kids mouth. Disgusting thought isn't it! But it happens ALL THE TIME.

What about the person who just dug a snot booger out of their nose, or sneezed or coughed into their hand, or just used the bathroom but didn't wash. Hands are disgusting germ filled appendages.

If you want your kid to ingest some else's funk, by all means that's your prerogative, but don't judge those of us who don't.

meghanmarion 9-08-2009 @ 3:45AM

As a mother of twins I had people always trying to touch them. They were also preemies, but for the most part I tried to keep the really icky looking people away from them and if the person looked clean then they were allowed to touch their feet, never the face.

It is our job as parents to teach our children social skills, but sometimes adults forget their own social skills and cross boundaries, especially when they see two little babies.

A-Momma 9-08-2009 @ 1:59PM

As a mother of slightly premature twins, I cannot tell you HOW often I've asked people not to touch my kids. There actually was one mother who asked if she could touch them, and I thanked her for asking and said I preferred not. Most of the time, people completely forget themselves and start pawing at them. Just because you have cute kids doesn't mean absolute strangers have the right to touch them. And as for providing a role model for good social skills, I think that's a bit of a stretch. These signs are not meant to be used for a 3year old, these signs are for infants/babies. They won't be able to pick up on 'good social skills' at 7 months of age. Babies immune systems are still delicate and although I agree that they can't live in a bubble, it doesn't mean I'm going to throw them to the virus-ridden population to fend for themselves either.
I fought hard to have healthy kids. I'm not going to let some potentially disease-ridden stranger touch my kids, I don't care how well-intentioned they are. This is akin to me going up to adult people and touching their faces and hair "because I think they're pretty", and the receiver of said touching should accept it because they don't want to appear unsocial?? Ridiculous. How about some personal space, whether you're 4 months, or 40 years old?

Amy 9-08-2009 @ 3:50PM

I agree with the signs, who cares if you offend strangers, even well meaning strangers. They're not going to be there in the middle of the night when the only thing you have to comfort a miserable coughing infant is saline nose drops and a suction bulb.

Ditto for neighbors, friends and family. Do yourself a favor and error on the side of caution, there are plenty of years before kindergarten to build up that immune system. Infant colds are just plain unpleasant, do all you can to minimize them. Even if you have to offend the SIL by implying that your little ones 2 year old cousin is germy, sorry they are, love ya. Now don't touch the baby. Thanks!

Mommy of 1 9-08-2009 @ 9:30PM

I have to say your part about "thumbs down" is insensative. My 2 1/2 year old has cancer and is undergoing chemo. We already have to watch where we take her because she is immunocompromised. People are stupid and think they can touch other people's kids. My kiddo could actually die if someone sick with just a cold touched her and gave her germs. We have visited the hospital for a 2 week stay several times because of a mild fever that another child could kick off in a day or two. Honestly, I hope your kids never get cancer and you don't have to worry about EVERY little germ in the entire world. H1N1 is the scariest thing ever for me right now.

Stephanie 9-13-2009 @ 7:03PM

My 6 month old has cancer, and it's very scary knowing that he could die from a simple cold that a normal kid can shake off in a couple days. With almost no immune system, germs are very dangerous for these kids!

Carrie 10-27-2009 @ 11:18AM

www.handsoffbaby.com have signs, bibs and onesies that help keep touching the baby to a minimum. The signs attached to any stroller, car seat, baby carrier or any where parents think best. They sell for $4.99.....to keep my baby healthy....priceless!

How To Submit Photos:
If you'd like your children (any age will do!) featured on ParentDish, upload photos into the ParentDish Flickr Pool. Be sure to read our main Flickr page for more information.