ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gif ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/School Uniforms for the Day Care Set a Growing Trendhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/28/school-uniforms-preschool/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/28/school-uniforms-preschool/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/28/school-uniforms-preschool/#commentsFiled under: ,

school uniforms

At what age should kids start wearing school uniforms? Credit: Getty

Note to parents: Add khaki pull-ups, polo shirts and navy skorts to the boxes of tissues, paint smocks and juice boxes on your toddler's school supply checklist.

Apparently, uniforms bring a sense of "professionalism and orderliness" to the preschool learning process, "Today" reports, and day care centers like the structured look, too.

Borrowing a parochial and private school tradition, parents say preschool uniforms stave off clothing competition for these 3-year-old budding fashionistas.

Christie Rickert of Locust Grove, Ga., tells the Wall Street Journal her now 4-year-old daughter Donna developed an eye for fashion when she was just a toddler in day care.

"She would actually say, 'So-and-so has this skirt. Can I get it?' " her mother tells the newspaper.

But since Rickert enrolled Donna at ABC Montessori School in McDonough, Ga., where all the children wear uniforms, "we don't have those kinds of conversations anymore," she adds.

Rickert tells the Journal choosing a white or navy polo shirt and navy or khaki shorts or skirts, just like all the other kids, "took the pressure off, of trying to belong."

Several big school apparel makers have jumped on board this new preschool uniform trend, including French Toast and Classroom School Uniforms.

ABC Montessori Executive Director Kimberly Morey tells the Journal having the children wear uniforms "eliminates distractions."

"Children come in comfortable and prepared to focus," she tells the newspaper. "They're not worried about what their neighbor is wearing or what their mom didn't let them wear today."

Uniforms also reinforce the idea of feeling part of a group, Morey adds.

Even in preschool, she tells the Journal, "if you put a blue shirt on a child, he or she knows 'I'm getting ready for school.' "

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]]>day carekids fashionpreschoolschool uniformsschool uniforms preschoolMary Beth SammonsThu, 28 Apr 2011 14:30:00 ESTReading, Playing and Bonding With Children Staves Off Violence, Study Findshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/bonding-with-children-study/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/bonding-with-children-study/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/bonding-with-children-study/#commentsFiled under: ,

children and violence

Reading your child a book may stop them from being violent. Credit: Getty Images

Want to take extra measures to prevent your kid from growing up to be a bully? Try reading him a book or taking him to the playground for some parent-child bonding.

New evidence suggests kids who bond with their parents -- and are engaged in play, reading and other activities -- may be at less risk for violent behavior in adulthood and have higher IQs, Reuters reports.

Researchers in Kingston, Jamaica, studied 129 toddlers who were having growth-related issues for two years. One group of kids was given nutritional supplements; a second engaged in mother-child play and interaction; a third group received both; and a fourth group had no intervention. Turns out, the nutrition made no changes, but kids who played and bonded with their moms were less likely to engage in fights, according to the news service.

"The most exciting finding this time was the reduction in violent behavior, because that's something we haven't shown before," Dr. Susan Walker, lead researcher and a professor at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, tells Reuters. The study was published in Pediatrics.

The study included a weekly visit from a woman who taught the mothers how to play with their toddlers and engage them in everyday activities, and who also left toys and books each week.

As in previous follow-ups, Walker found that children who received the stimulation from their mother had higher IQs. In this study of the participants at age 22, there was a six-point difference between those who had received the interaction and those who did not.

"It's a substantial improvement for something that took place in early childhood," Walker tells Reuters.

Children who were stimulated were also 65 percent less likely to be involved in fights and violent crime as adults, and they performed better in math and reading tests.
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]]>bondingchildrenplayingreadingviolenceMary Beth SammonsWed, 27 Apr 2011 16:30:00 ESTNearly 25 Percent of Moms and Dads Say They Put 'Some Trust' in Celeb Parenting Advicehttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/celebrity-parent-advice-survey/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/celebrity-parent-advice-survey/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/celebrity-parent-advice-survey/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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Celeb parents

In a survey, 24 percent of parents say they place "some trust" in information provided by celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy. Credit: Getty Images

Looking for a little medical advice about your kid? Forget turning to Dr. Spock and T. Berry Brazelton -- a growing number of parents are looking to Hollywood stars.

There's no shortage of celebs spooning up parenting advice, and it turns out real-life parents are taking heed, according to the findings of University of Michigan researchers, Time reports.

Almost 25 percent of parents surveyed say they place "some trust" in information provided by celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy, a former Playboy bunny, mom and author, when it comes to the safety of vaccines, according to Time.

The researchers studied 1,552 parents of children younger than 18 in a study published in the journal Pediatrics.

Most parents -- 76 percent -- ranked their doctor's advice highest, but 67 percent placed "some" trust in family and friends and 65 percent said they trusted parents who thought vaccines had harmed their children. Just two percent of parents trusted celeb parents "a lot," but 24 percent trusted them to "some" extent, according to a University of Michigan release.

"It's great that parents trust physicians as their primary source for vaccine information, but it's terribly concerning that 24 percent of parents have some trust in information provided by celebrities," Gary Freed, study lead at the University of Michigan, tells Time.

Freed says in the release that trusting celebrities and other non-experts for medical information is not healthy for parents.

"Even if only a fraction of parents receive, believe and act on misinformation about vaccine safety provided by these different sources, individual children's health and the population's health may suffer because of vaccine preventable illnesses," he says in the release.

Freed blames the media for giving celebrities such as McCarthy -- the most vocal star to have denounced vaccinations, associating them with autism -- a platform. McCarthy has written a book, "Healing and Preventing Autism: a Complete Guide," and speaks regularly in favor of chelation therapy, or the removal of heavy metals from the body, which she says cured her son.

"I don't understand why when a celebrity says something about which they have no training, that is reported more than someone who has done rigorous scientific training," Freed tells Time.

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]]>celeb parentingceleb parentscelebsJenny McCarthyparentingparentsvaccinesMary Beth SammonsWed, 27 Apr 2011 15:30:00 ESTLullaby and Goodnight, Now 'Go the F@#! to Sleep'http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/lullaby-and-goodnight-now-go-the-f-to-sleep/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/lullaby-and-goodnight-now-go-the-f-to-sleep/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/lullaby-and-goodnight-now-go-the-f-to-sleep/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Go the F to sleep

For those nights when "hush, little baby" just doesn't cut it. Credit: Amazon

When "nighty-night" or "hush, little baby" just aren't helping to lull your screaming baby to sleep, you may be tempted to take some cues from a new bedtime story: "Go the F@#k to Sleep."

It's a thought that has probably crossed the minds of many an exhausted parent at 3 a.m., when the wee one refuses shut eye. Now, novelist Adam Mansbach has put the idea to pen in his children's book "Go the F.... to Sleep," which is not due out until next October, and is actually not for kids, he tells "Today."

An excerpt from the book:

"The cats nestle close to their kittens.
The lambs have laid down with the sheep.
You're cozy and warm in your bed, my dear.
Please go the f@#k to sleep."

"Hopefully, the book is very reflective of what we all feel putting our kids to bed," Mansbach tells the news show. "We all love our kids -- it's not like we stop loving our kids -- but as the minutes tick by, we'll do anything to get out of that room."

A visiting professor of fiction at Rutgers University, Mansbach is dad to a 2-year-old daughter, Vivien.

He says he hopes the book will be a fun moment of relief for sleep-deprived parents, telling "Today" that despite the "tremendous culture of parenting," there's a lot that doesn't get talked about.

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]]>book for parentsGo the F.... to SleepMary Beth SammonsWed, 27 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST4-H Club Members Less Likely to Do Drugs, Have Sex, Study Findshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/4-h-clubs/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/4-h-clubs/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/4-h-clubs/#commentsFiled under: ,

4-h club

More 4-H students are staying away from drugs and alcohol. Credit: Getty Images

It used to be that the mention of 4-H clubs conjured up images of teens headed away from city life to the farm to bale hay or milk cows.

But now, the nation's largest youth organization has spilled into suburban and urban locales, where kids learn public speaking, engineering, math and volunteerism. They also have less sex, do fewer drugs, don't drink alcohol and refrain from puffing on cigarettes, according to a study, U.S. News reports.

The organization still battles its agricultural and rural image, but researchers at Tufts University say the 7 million 4-H kids, now mostly from the city and suburbs, keeps kids away from the bad stuff, according to the magazine.

The report, "Waves of the Future," tracked fifth graders through their high school graduation, surveying them once a year. The findings suggest students who participate in 4-H are 20 percent less likely to have sex by the 10th grade, and two times less likely to smoke or drink alcohol. They are also 56 percent more likely to spend more hours exercising or being physically active, the report says.

Kids who join 4-H also report better grades, higher levels of academic competence, and an elevated level of engagement at school, the report notes. They are twice as likely to go to college and more likely to pursue future courses or a career in science, engineering or computer technology.

The study was launched in 2002, and continues today, surveying more than 6,400 adolescents from diverse backgrounds across 34 states, according to U.S. News.

4-H's structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring plays a vital role in helping students achieve future life successes mentoring, skill building and leadership opportunities, Richard Lerner, head of the Tufts study, says in the report.

"There is a positive and sustained relationship between an adult and young person," he says.

Whether a student is learning urban gardening or public speaking, being able to apply these skills to real-life situations can keep students away from making bad decisions, Lerner tells U.S. News.

"Giving young people a chance to use those skills validates what they've been learning," he adds.

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]]>4-H4-H clubs4Hdrugs and alcoholMary Beth SammonsTue, 26 Apr 2011 17:00:00 ESTAdd Diapers, Wipes and Kleenex to Spiking Gas Priceshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/diapers-price-increase/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/diapers-price-increase/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/diapers-price-increase/#commentsFiled under:

diapers

You can stop driving around so much, but you can't stop your baby from needing diapers. Credit: AP

Here's something to make parents cry: It's not just the gas prices that will hold you, the kids and your minivan hostage at home. Now, you can add diapers and tissues to the list of spiking prices at the cash register.

Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Huggies and Kleenex, has announced that it plans to raise prices on those popular brands, its third such price hike since the middle of March, according to Dow Jones.

That means baby and toddler necessities such as Huggies Little Snugglers for Preemies, which sell for $8.99 for 30 diapers at Target, and Huggies Nite-Time Pull-Ups, now on sale for $11.99 for 30 diapers at Walgreens, will soon cost more at the cash register.

The price spikes can be attributed to new highs in wood pulp and fuel costs which doubled the costs to produce these popular products, and those costs are expected to reach an all-time high in coming months, according to Dow Jones. Company leaders vowed to take aggressive actions, including raising prices on nearly all Kimberly-Clark products sold in North America.

Last week, competitor Procter & Gamble also told retailers it was raising list prices on Pampers diapers and baby wipes, Charmin toilet tissue and Bounty paper towels, according to the Cincinnati Star Tribune.

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]]>diaperskimberly-clarkprice increaseprocter and gambleMary Beth SammonsTue, 26 Apr 2011 16:00:00 ESTObese Teens Just as Likely to Have Sex, Drink, Smoke as Their Thinner Peers, Study Showshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/obese-teens-study/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/obese-teens-study/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/obese-teens-study/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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obese teens sex and boozing

A new study suggests obese teens engage in the same risky social behaviors as their svelte peers. Credit: Getty Images

Why should sex, smoking and boozing be the privilege of only one body type?

Plus-sized teens are proving they can party hard, too. While obese teens were thought to be social outcasts, the findings of a new study suggest they engage in the same risky social behaviors as their svelte peers, including smoking, hooking up and drinking, CNN reports.

Those behaviors, however, can signal more serious problems for obese teens, according to the network.

The 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, examined the behavior of 9,000 high school students, finding that, in some ways, obese teens drink as much as their normal-weight peers. But they also take greater risks.

In addition, both males and females in the extremely obese group were more likely to report having tried cigarettes, according to the study published in Pediatrics.

Though obese girls are less likely to have sex than their thinner peers, the girls that are sexually active are more likely also to be under the influence of substances, lead researcher Meg Zeller of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, tells CNN.

"So it really paints this picture of vulnerability for this sub-population of teen girls and it really makes us question what their social interactions are really like," she tells the network. "These kids are suffering medically and psychosocially, and now we know that they're also engaging in high-risk behaviors. That could be a lethal combination."

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]]>alcohol and drugsobese teenssex and boozingMary Beth SammonsTue, 26 Apr 2011 15:00:00 ESTPlace Your Bets: Countdown to Wills-Kate Royal Baby Is Onhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/royal-wedding-baby/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/royal-wedding-baby/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/royal-wedding-baby/#commentsFiled under: ,

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royal wedding

Bets are on for a royal baby in 2012. Credit: AP

Everyone's counting down the days until the much-anticipated royal wedding, but punters are already placing bets on when a baby monarch will be born.

While British bunting lines the streets of London, bookies have their eye on the future royal nursery, betting 5 to 4 that Wills-Kate Junior will make his or her debut in 2012, according to The Sun.

And, they've even got life planned out the future grandchild of Charles and the late Diana, betting 1,000 to 1 that a little prince will grow up to play Premier League football, and 33 to 1 that a little princess will grace the cover of Vogue as a model before she's 18.

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]]>babybaby predictionkate and williamKate MiddletonPrince Williamroyal babyroyal weddingthe royal weddingMary Beth SammonsTue, 26 Apr 2011 13:30:00 ESTFamily Turns Grief Into Action, Fundraising for March of Dimeshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/familys-grief-march-of-dimes/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/familys-grief-march-of-dimes/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/familys-grief-march-of-dimes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

march of dimes

The Spohr family. Credit: Heather Spohr

Two years ago, 17-month-old Maddie Spohr died suddenly after coming down with a respiratory infection.

Maddie's passing captured the emotions of thousands of parents who had followed the Spohr family adventures on their popular blog, "The Spohrs Are Multiplying," written by Heather Spohr and her husband, Mike.

Maddie and her parents had already won the hearts of many devoted readers more than 18 months prior to the toddler's death, when Heather detailed her experiences detailing her high-risk pregnancy with Maddie and the baby's subsequent premature birth.

Maddie had an extended stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and struggled with respiratory issues during most of her short life.

Devastated by the loss of their daughter, Heather and Mike continued to write, chronicling their family's story as they journeyed through grief. Her candid and emotional writing has given a voice to families who have suffered the devastation of losing a child.

Named "Best Mommy Blogger of 2009" by thebump.com, these days the writer and photographer shares the joys of raising her second dauhgter, 14-month-old Annabel, or "Annie," and her escapades as a toddler.

But she also wants Maddie's story to live on.

Strong believers that stories heal and inspire others, Heather, 31, and Mike, 35, also command one of the top fundraising family teams for the March of Dimes, a cause very close to their hearts.

Last year, Heather spoke before more than 10,000 people at the March for Babies event in Los Angeles after her family team raised more than $100,000. The Los Angeles couple also founded "Friends of Maddie," a non-profit that supports the families of critically ill babies in NICUs.

ParentDish caught up with Heather recently as the Spohrs prepare again this year to join more than 7 million people across the country in the March of Dimes, March for Babies "Walking together for stronger, healthier babies," events.

The events will take place in more than 900 communities, with most held the weekend of April 30 to May 1, says Peggy Kelly, media relations coordinator for March of Dimes. The goal this year is to raise over $106 million to help fund research and community-based programs to help moms have stronger, healthier babies.

On Saturday, April 30, Annie will lead the Spohr team of more than 50 walkers from her stroller in the Los Angeles event. The family has set a goal of raising $10,000 this year, weeks after the April 7 second anniversary of Maddie's passing, says Spohr.

march of dimes maddie spohr

Maddie Spohr. Credit: Heather Spohr


ParentDish: Why did you create "Friends of Maddie" and get so active in supporting March of Dimes?
Heather Spohr: When Maddie passed away, our world was turned upside down. But because of the blog and the Internet, people rallied to support us in our grief. Every time Maddie got sick or was in the hospital, moms of other premature babies just like me would reach out to offer inspiration and help. One of my best friends I met on the Internet. She has twin daughters who were born 10 weeks prematurely.

I wanted to help bring this powerful word-of-mouth community to help other families who are going through what we did. Once when we were in the hospital, we got a little picture frame from the March of Dimes and I realized that I could harness the Internet community to be an advocate not just for my daughter but for all kids, and the March of Dimes and our charitable organization seemed like the best ways to do that.

PD: You've shared your high-risk pregnancies and extended neonatal intensive-care experiences, then losing a child and birthing a new baby in a very public way on the Internet. How has that transformed you?
HS: When Maddie passed, people on the Internet went out of their way to support us in our grief, with words and sharing very personal stories of how they had lost a child, too. It is very healing and continues to be. We knew we were never alone. I just kept blogging. In some ways it was selfish of me because I got more from these people then I felt I was giving. But I would have gone crazy and felt so isolated without them. You don't know what to do, but this got me through some of the really rough patches. Writing about your life and sharing can be very comforting.

PD: Lots of moms are writing blogs, what's the key to growing such an engaged following?
HS: I think I was blogging before I even knew what blogging was. In 2002, I was young and stupid and just kind of started chronicling my life and our long-distance dating relationship. It kind of lapsed after we got married, but then the whole mom blog thing started exploding on the Internet.

I started this blog when I was pregnant with Maddie because it was a rough and rocky pregnancy and I wanted to keep our friends informed. Also, I was on hospital bed rest so I blogged to fight the boredom. Maddie was born premature, so I started posting updates and also comments on the blogs I was reading to try to learn more about caring for her. It just happened and I was getting 60,000 page views a month every month writing about having a premature child. There were a lot of other moms who were going through this and the Internet gave us a way to support each other and to help each other learn more about what to do and expect.

March of dimes Heather and Maddie

Heather and Maddie. Credit: Heather Spohr

PD. What do you want the world to know about Maddie?
HS: Maddie was seriously the happiest little girl you could ever meet. Our life together was full of adventure. She completed us. I blogged about Maddie's triumphs. I hope now that I can share the joy she brought and continues to bring in a way that will validate and give back something, but also inspire other families and let them know they are not alone.

PD: What do you want your writing to say to other parents?
HS: Really it is simple. Enjoy every minute. Annabel is a lot like me, she can be very stubborn and I could get all frustrated. But I focus instead on her sweet smile because I know life can be unpredictable. There are lots of hugs and kisses in our home and telling each other how much we love each other and appreciate each other. Maddie knew we loved her and we got so much love from her.

For more information and to register for a March of Dimes walk near you go to MarchofBabies.org.

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]]>Heather SpohrMaddie Spohrmarch of dimesmarch of dimes fundraisingMary Beth SammonsTue, 26 Apr 2011 10:00:00 ESTBullying and Being Bullied Start at Home, Study Findshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/25/bullying-study/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/25/bullying-study/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/25/bullying-study/#commentsFiled under: ,

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bullying at home

Bullies -- and the victims of bullying on the schoolyard -- often experience the same violence at home. Credit: Getty Images

What happens behind a family's closed doors doesn't always stay there, especially when it comes to repeating bad behavior.

Bullies -- and the victims of schoolyard bullying -- often experience the same violence at home, a new study suggests.

Reuters reports researchers at the Centers for Disease Control found that middle school- and high school-aged bullies and victims reported being physically hurt by a family member or witnessing violence at home significantly more than those who had not been bullied.

According to the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the researchers studied data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, where state officials have been in the forefront of the bullying debate after the reported suicides of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince last year and 11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover in 2009.

The state passed anti-bullying legislation in May 2010, which prohibits bullying in school and online, and mandates school-developed bullying prevention and intervention plans.

But in using the Massachusetts data, the CDC also found bullies and their victims reported being physically hurt by a family member or witnessing violence at home significantly more often than people who said they had not been bullied.

Twenty-six percent of middle school students and 15 percent of high school students reported being victims of bullying, according to the report. Fifty-six percent of middle school students and 69.5 percent of high school kids reported never being bullied. And 9.9 percent of middle school males and 12.1 of high school males reported being the bullies. Only 5 percent of middle school girls and 4.8 percent of high school girls were categorized as bullies.

"A comprehensive approach that encompasses school officials, students and their families is needed to prevent bullying among middle school and high school students," the CDC researchers say in the report.

The report, the CDC tells Reuters, was the first state-specific analysis of risk factors and bullying, and also notes that significant numbers of bullies and bully-victims said they had recently used alcohol or drugs.

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]]>bullyingbullying at homeMary Beth SammonsMon, 25 Apr 2011 13:30:00 ESTCrying as a Baby May Lead to Lifetime of Behavioral Problemshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/25/crying-baby-behavioral-problems/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/25/crying-baby-behavioral-problems/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/25/crying-baby-behavioral-problems/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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crying babies

Parents should help babies learn to soothe themselves. Credit: Getty Images

Singing "hush little baby, don't you cry" isn't just a sweet way to soothe a cranky newborn. It's a skill you better get down pat, or you may be in for a lifetime of behavioral woes.

New findings suggest that while crying and waking in the middle of the night may be a normal part of a newborn's life, regular wailing episodes that last beyond the first year could signal chronic depression, anxiety and other conduct disorders by the time they're ready for kindergarten, Time magazine reports.

Researchers in England looked at nearly two dozen studies on what developmental experts call regulatory problems, including sleeping, continuous crying and difficulty feeding, reporting their findings in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. They found that infants who consistently cry and wake up past the third month are nearly twice as likely to develop problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, aggressive behavior or conduct disorders by the time they begin school.

What happens, the experts report, is that the babies never develop the ability to calm themselves down or act appropriately in different social situations, according to Time.

"We found a particularly strong relationship between regulatory problems in infancy and conduct disorders or ADHD, which are problems of under-control, in which children can't regulate their attention, or fly off the handle and can't control their behavior," Dieter Wolke, one of the study co-authors and a professor of developmental psychology at the University of Warwick in England tells Time.

It's not exactly certain what the link is to crying jags and a lifetime of fussy behavior, but there are several possible reasons, Wolke tells Time. What might happen, the experts tell the magazine, is that the babies never develop the ability to calm themselves down or act appropriately in different social situations.

Wolke tells Time the data doesn't support an obvious link between extended crying jags and picky eating during infancy and later behavioral problems, but there are several possibilities. One may be that crying and waking up at night are simply the first signs of behavioral problems involving a lack of self-control.

In addition, Wolke tells Time, some infants may be genetically susceptible to problems regulating their behavior; specifically, scientists have recently identified a version of a gene involved in dopamine function, which governs mood and emotions as well as motor function, that may make some infants more vulnerable to behavioral problems.

The findings suggest that parents should do what they can to help their babies learn to sooth themselves. Parents should learn to establish schedules and not run to pick up babies every time they cry, Wolke tells Time.

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]]>adhdbehaviorbehavorial problemscrying babiescrying babyMary Beth SammonsMon, 25 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST'Mommy' Wants Her Wine, Vinters Battle Over Trademarkhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/22/mommy-wine-trademark-battle/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/22/mommy-wine-trademark-battle/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/22/mommy-wine-trademark-battle/#commentsFiled under: ,

mom wine

Mommy's Time Out is now trademarked. Credit: Getty Images

Can't anyone give moms a break? Do we really need to make a federal case out of the fact that more than one mother enjoys gulping a little Chardonnay to wind down at the end of a day?

Rival vintners, who have caught onto this lucrative vino demographic have headed to court for the exclusive rights to the word "mommy" on their wine labels, Reuters reports.

The California-based Clos Lachance is asking the court to declare "Mommyjuice" does not violate the trademark of Selective Wine Estates' "Mommy's Time Out."

"Mommy is a generic word that they don't have a monopoly on," KC Branch, an attorney who represents Clos Lachance, tells Reuters.


The owner of Mommy's Time Out declined to comment on the lawsuit, according to the news service.

The key to winning a trademark violation case is for a brand owner to convince the courts that the rival's branding will cause confusion in the minds of the consumer, Reuters reports.

Decide for yourselves: The front label of Mommyjuice features a drawing of a woman juggling a house, teddy bear and computer. The back label advises moms to "tuck your kids into bed, sit down and have a glass of Mommyjuice. Because you deserve it."

The front label of Mommy's Time Out shows an empty chair facing a corner. A wine bottle and glass sit on a table next to the chair.

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]]>mommom winemommymommy trademarkmommy winemoms who drink winetrademark suitwineMary Beth SammonsFri, 22 Apr 2011 15:00:00 ESTChastity Chic Underwear for Teens Asks, What Would Your Mother Do?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/22/teen-underwear/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/22/teen-underwear/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/22/teen-underwear/#commentsFiled under: , ,

teen underwear

Credit: wwymd.com

Here's one way to put the brakes on your relationship with your teen daughter: Buy her "What Would Your Mother Do?" conversation underwear and suggest she don them for on-campus hook-ups.

A new line of abstinence underwear, sold online at What Would Your Mother Do?, includes boy shorts, underwear, T-shirts and more feature sayings such as "Zip it up" and "Not tonight," London's Daily Mail reports.

'We created a line of underwear to use as conversation starters to help reinforce family morals as they relate to relationships and dating," the WWYMD website proclaims. "We just want to provide you with cute reminders to help you make an impression -- somewhat discreetly."

While unlikely to sway teens who drag their moms to the closest Victoria Secret's PINK store for undies, or tweens who insist on padded bikinis, the designs could tap into the growing abstinence movement in the United States, according to the newspaper.

Christian movements, such as True Love Waits, are popping up across the country, where 29 percent of females and 27 percent of males ages 15 to 24 say they have not had sex, according to National Survey of Family Growth, the Daily Mail reports. Those numbers are up 22 percent since 2002.

Experts say these findings show a "backlash" to the promiscuous culture of the 1990s.

The WWYMD site provides this tip for donning the panties: "Boy shorts are hot right now. Slide into the right pair (we swear you won't find any better!), and good goddess, you're good to go."

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]]>teen hook upsteen underwearWhat Would Your Mother DoMary Beth SammonsFri, 22 Apr 2011 13:30:00 ESTPlant a Garden, Pack a Picnic: An Earth Day Family To-Do Listhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/22/planting-a-garden/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/22/planting-a-garden/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/22/planting-a-garden/#commentsFiled under: ,

Watch a video to learn how to make earth day crafts with your kids!
planting a garden

Plant a garden or a tree as a family! Credit: Getty Images

Tired of trying to explain global warming and begging your kids to turn off the lights to conserve energy? Why not try celebrating Earth Day by having some family fun?

Whether you're looking to celebrate your family's eco-consciousness or seeking ideas to help keep the planet green and clean, our experts offer some ideas for reducing your family's carbon footprint, painlessly.

"Hug it Forward" To Build Schools
"Hug It Forward" has added environmental value to embracing your kid. In honor of Earth Day, the non-profit organization will donate $1 for every hug to build a school in Guatemala. Already, seven school projects have been completed since 2009 and three more are under construction. Just register your kid's hugs on the website and a Google map will follow the hugs as they are "hugged forward" from person to person across the globe.

Picnic for the Planet
Join families across the world who are packing up picnic baskets and heading outside to their favorite spots to enjoy good food and the company of other families celebrating Earth Day. Just log in to "Picnic for the Planet" and find families in your area to gather together and celebrate "the planet we live on, the food it provides and the people we share it with."

Show Your Green Moves
Grab your kids and head to the family recycling bin where you can teach them to do squats while holding the bin. Or, refill milk jugs with water as you and your kids do bicep curls, says Stephanie Mansour, CEO of Step It Up with Steph, who has turned fitness into a green routine. Pull out the yoga mat and do tree poses, or head with the kids to the mall and let them pick out a reusable stainless steel water bottle in their favorite color.

Make it a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Rally the troops -- your neighbors, friend's kids and the other little kids on the block and head out on an Earth Day cleanup mission, recommends VolunteerSpot.com. Lead the troops to the soccer and baseball fields to roundup cans and bottles for recycling. Or, plant a neighborhood garden with the idea of donating the produce to a local homeless shelter later in the summer. Then capture the neighborhood eco-campaign on camera, which will create a lasting imprint of the fact that one small group of kids (and their parents) can make a difference.

Dive Deep for Good
You don't have to rent wet suits, flippers and oxygen tanks for the whole family to participate in the Professional Association of Diving Instructors "Dive for Earth Day," to increase awareness of and raise funds for protecting the world's oceans and support underwater and shoreline cleanup efforts. Just submit a video showcasing your family's favorite do-good ocean life experience and a short essay about how you are making a positive impact on the aquatic environment. Winners receive a $5,000 grand prize, which is quickly handed over as a donation to diving association, who are promoting awareness of the environment.

Become Recycling Fashionistas
Teach your kids what it means to live sustainably, by "repurposing" their wardrobes, Lynda Fassa, founder of GreenBabies.com, tells ParentDish. Team up with neighborhood families with kids of varying ages and hold a community clothing swap. Wash and arrange clothes by size and gender and invite participants to do the same. Arm everyone with 10 tickets to choose whatever they like. Donate the rest to Goodwill.

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]]>conserve energyearth dayfamily timeplant a gardenplant a treeMary Beth SammonsFri, 22 Apr 2011 11:00:00 ESTFirst-Born Boys Demand More Mommy Timehttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/21/first-born-child/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/21/first-born-child/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/21/first-born-child/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

first born child

Baby boys demand more attention from moms than baby girls. Credit: Getty Images

Women have thought for years that men are really more high maintenance. A new study confirms that this royal highness syndrome starts at birth, as these little princes demand more of mom's time than baby girls. By requiring more of mom's presence, moms of first born sons are working less, the study claims.

British researchers who have keen insight into royal entitlement have released a new study that says "...women whose first child is a boy are less likely to work in a typical week and work fewer hours than women with first-born girls," according to the Wall Street Journal's Real Time Economics blog.

The results, though "statistically significant" and suggesting "quantitatively relevant" losses in lifetime labor income, are nonetheless "a puzzle," the authors write. They say future studies are required to answer the "whys."

But, one reason possibly contributing to the findings, they say, is the desire to have the baby boy.

"A first-born girl reduces substantially the stability of a marriage," thus women are working. It also finds that the divorce rate is four percent higher in families where the first-born is a girl. The first-born boys evidently positively affect the probability that the marriage will survive, so moms aren't racing back to work.

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]]>babiesfirst bornfirst-born childfirst-born sonMary Beth SammonsThu, 21 Apr 2011 17:00:00 ESTPlacenta Boosts Baby's Brain Developmenthttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/21/placenta-brain-development/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/21/placenta-brain-development/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/21/placenta-brain-development/#commentsFiled under: ,

placenta

The human placenta plays an active role in synthesizing serotonin. Credit: Getty Images

There's nothing really pretty about the placenta, but don't downplay it's role in your baby's intelligence.

A recent study finds the human placenta plays an active role in synthesizing serotonin, the chemical related to mood, and can have widespread implications for new treatment strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease and mental illness, according to a release from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern Californa.

Researchers found placenta plays a critical role in the baby's brain development, feeding serotonin directly to the fetus' brain, and not through the mother's blood supply as medical experts thought for the last 60 years, according to the release. The research will be published in the journal Nature.

The findings could help explain what leads to brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, NPR reports, and it shows that placenta does a lot more than simply transport nutrients from a mother to her unborn baby.

"The placenta is not just a passive bag of cells sitting there just allowing things to flow freely between the mom and the fetus," Pat Levitt, director of the Zilhka Neurogenetic Institute at the Keck School of Medicine, tells NPR. "We can think of it as a machine that can produce its own hormones, its own chemicals that can have an effect on the developing fetus itself."

The findings could play a significant role in preventing many chronic mental health problems including anxiety disorders, learning and emotional disabilities and depression, allowing physicians to perform targeted therapies to treat the mother without affecting the fetus or vice-versa, the release states.

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]]>baby brain developmentbrain developmenthealthplacentaMary Beth SammonsThu, 21 Apr 2011 15:30:00 ESTGender Reveal Parties Use Cake to Announce Baby's Sexhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/21/gender-reveal-parties/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/21/gender-reveal-parties/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/21/gender-reveal-parties/#commentsFiled under: ,



Finding out the sex of a baby? It's a piece of cake -- and an excuse for yet another party parents-to-be expect you to attend with gift in tow.

Gender reveal parties are popping up all over the Internet, according to all sorts of blogs, including TheAwl.

Basically, the expectant baby mama asks her ultrasound tech to jot down the baby's sex on a piece of paper and the note is tucked into a sealed envelope. Then, she scurries over to a bakery, where the baker reads the sex and uses either blue or pink-colored cake batter, frosting the cake in a gender-neutral color.

The parents-to-be then host the gender reveal party for family and friends, with the baby's sex announced when they cut into the cake and discover the color.

Josh and Anna Duggar, son and daughter-in-law of the parents with 19 kids, who star in "19 and Counting" on TLC, helped launch this new trend when they revealed they are having a girl earlier this year on "Today."

But although the gender cake trend is getting a lot of attention on the Internet, not everyone thinks it's such a sweet idea.

"What I do have a problem with, is how obnoxious and self-centered it is to expect a bunch of people to give up an entire afternoon or evening just for the purpose of finding out the sex of your unborn child," Same Old Shannon writes on the Chicago Moms blog. "Now, obviously we all attend baby showers to celebrate upcoming arrivals, but baby showers are enough."

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]]>baby gender reveal partiesbaby showerbabys sexgender revealgender reveal partypiece of cakeMary Beth SammonsThu, 21 Apr 2011 13:30:00 ESTWebsite to the Rescue for New Mama Baby Health Dramahttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/pregnancy-health-website/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/pregnancy-health-website/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/pregnancy-health-website/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

mom websites

HealthTap brings the physician back into the health care equation. Credit: Getty Images

It's a new-mom's dream come true: When you wake up in the middle of the night and can't calm your squalling newborn, or Junior breaks out in a nasty rash and the promise of your pediatrician's answering service that the doc will call you Monday sounds like a hedge, help is on its way.

Just head for your laptop, type in the cause for the mama drama, and a new health site just for pregnant moms and mothers of infants can find answers to their health woes 24/7.

The idea behind the new beta website HealthTap is to bring the physician back into the health care equation, as opposed to other health Internet sites where community members share information about their conditions, the site's creators say. On HealthTap, doctors are site members, too, according to a release from the site.

Launched specifically for pregnant women and moms of infants up to 1 year old, the site currently has more than 550 OB/GYN members and pediatricians, who say they are interested in supporting the site because it offers a means of connecting with potential new patients.

"Online health information is currently overwhelming and confusing," Ron Gutman, CEO and founder of HealthTap, says in the release. "It's hard to know what to trust. Information is never about you, it's often vague and can even be dangerously misleading."

He says the site personalizes consumer health by bringing physicians online to directly deliver their medical wisdom.

HealthTap, which launched earlier this week, is touted as a free online "expert health companion" that helps users get more accurate, personalized answers to health-related concerns.

The info is personalized for users who log in and create a health profile. A mom of an infant, for example, can communicate with doctors on the network, and connect with other community members with new babies, as well, the release says.

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]]>baby health sitemommy websitepregnancy healthwebsiteMary Beth SammonsWed, 20 Apr 2011 17:00:00 ESTHeart Defects in Minority Children Yield Greater Risk of Death, Study Showshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/heart-defects-minority-children/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/heart-defects-minority-children/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/heart-defects-minority-children/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

heart defects in minority children

Black children with heart conditions have a greater chance of dying before age 5 than their white peers. Credit: Getty Images

The results of the study are short and to the point: Black children with heart conditions have more than a 30 percent greater odd of dying before age 5 than their white peers, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Texas Researchers studied the medical records of almost 20,000 black, Hispanic and white infants born with congenital heart defects between 1996 and 2005. They found that black infants were 32 percent more likely to die before age 5 than white babies. Hispanic babies with heart defects also were more likely to die than their white peers.

Researchers from the study published in Pediatrics say the stats point to the need for preventive strategies to reduce radical and ethnic disparities among infants and young children, U.S. News reports.

"When you consider that the numbers of minority children continue to grow and are expected to account for more than half of all U.S. children by 2040, it's clear we need to reduce the racial and disparities that burden the health care system and adversely affect the lives of families," lead author Wendy Nembhard, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, says in a university release.

Congenital heart defects are malformations in one or more structures of the heart or major blood vessels that occur before birth. They are the most common of all birth defects and the leading cause of death among infants with birth defects, according to the release.

The new study adds to a growing body of evidence that minority infants with specific types of heart defects have lower survival rates in early childhood than those of non-Hispanic white infants.

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]]>healthheart defect in infantsheart defectsheart defects in childrenheart diseaseminoritiesMary Beth SammonsWed, 20 Apr 2011 16:00:00 ESTChronic Fatigue Syndrome Rare in Teens, but When it Hits, it Hits Hard, Study Showshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/20/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Watch a video related to chronic fatigue.
chronic fatigue syndrome

Only a small fraction of teens end up with chronic fatigue syndrome. Credit: Getty Images

With the late-night hours they keep, it's hard to believe more teens aren't chronically knocked off their feet with exhaustion.

But a new study confirms that only a small fraction of teens end up with chronic fatigue syndrome. But when it hits, it hits hard. It also uncovers what parents who struggle to stay awake in the wee hours of the morning to enforce curfews for this nocturnal breed have intuitively known: A lack of sleep wipes out the parents, Reuters Health reports.

A survey of Dutch adolescents suggests only one in 900 teens suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), defined by the Centers for Disease Control as "a debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that is not improved by bed rest and that may be worsened by physical or mental activity."

Sounds just like what they say strikes the parents of teens, especially those who have to miss work to care for their teen offspring afflicted with chronic fatigue, Reuters says the researchers suggest.

Among those teens diagnosed with CFS, more than 90 percent had at least missed "considerable" school in the last six months; with some saying they had not attended school at all during that time. The study was published recently in the journal Pediatrics.

The researchers say the findings are significant because CFS has "severe implications for school participation, etc., necessitating adequate diagnosis and treatment," Sanne Nijhof of the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands tells Reuters.

The impact is felt by many more people than the patient, Katharine Rimes of King's College in London, tells the news service.

"Missing substantial amounts of school can potentially have profound effects on their educational, social and emotional development," Rimes tells Reuters. "It also has potentially serious impact on the family. If the child is off school, one parent -- usually the mother -- usually has to stay at home to care for them, and often give up their job altogether. This can obviously have adverse financial and psychological effects."

There is no cure for CFS and scientists don't know what causes it, the researchers tell Reuters.

Of potential concern, the authors note, is that the condition appears to be "under-recognized" by primary care physicians. Only half of all general practitioners who agreed to participate in the study said they accepted CFS as a distinct diagnosis, versus 96 percent of the pediatricians consulted during the study.

And nearly 75 percent of teens with CFS were not diagnosed by their general practitioners. This lack of awareness probably stems from the condition's infrequency, Nijhof tells the news service.

"Adolescents with severe and long-lasting fatigue should be referred to a pediatrician," Rimes tells Reuters.

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]]>chronic fatiguechronic fatigue syndromesleepteensMary Beth SammonsWed, 20 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST