ParentDish

Baby Room Ideas: Stick to the Basics

Melissa Rayworth — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST

You can keep things simple when buying for your baby's room. Credit: Getty Images

New parents-to-be are often bombarded with advice about the myriad things their baby absolutely has to have. But a nursery doesn't need to be crowded with furniture and gear -- babies need only the basics. Here's a guide:

Sleeping: The central element is a safe, comfortable place to sleep, assuming the child won't sleep entirely in a family bed. Good cribs are available in an incredibly wide range of prices. For super-stylish cribs, interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn loves ducduc and nurseryworks. Both companies offer gorgeous designs (clean lines, bursts of bold color), but they generally come with four-figure price tags.

At the other end of the spectrum, Ikea's Leksvik crib is a great choice for about $150 -- simple, sturdy and easily mixed with almost any decor. A used crib from a second-hand store or passed along by a relative is also an option. But be sure to check for wear-and-tear, and get all the manufacturing information to confirm that the crib hasn't been recalled. Some cribs convert into junior beds, easing the transition for toddlers.

Cleaning and dressing: Babies need a safe, comfortable place for diaper and clothing changes, with storage space underneath or within easy reach. Make sure the height of the changing area is comfortable for you -- you'll spend hours standing in front of it. Some parents prefer buying a piece of furniture designed to be a changing table, while others use a dresser or sideboard with a padded surface added on top.

Stowing gear: You'll need space for clothing, toys and books, diapering gear and whatever other items become essential to your parenting. Before buying any furniture for storage, consider your habits and the items you'll be storing. Open bins can be convenient, allowing you to toss things in easily for quick clean-up and to keep everything clearly sorted. Closed storage, such as a basic three-drawer dresser, can be great for stashing things out of sight. Many parents opt for a mix of both.

Other details to consider: On the floor, you may want to place a soft rug or a padded area to provide a clean, comfortable space for tummy time, playing and early crawling. And you may want a rocker or overstuffed chair for bedtime or late-night feedings.

Lighting also can be important. An overhead light with a dimmer allows you to easily control the room's brightness, segueing smoothly from full light to a soft glow as bedtime approaches.

One last consideration: Some parents opt for furniture that will look appropriate in an older child's bedroom, so they won't have to buy new pieces once the child reaches school age. Others prefer nursery furniture that is clearly meant for a baby's room.

Related: Nursery decorating tips on a budget

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Convertible Car Seat Makes Practical Investment

Melissa Rayworth — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Health & Safety: Babies

Is a convertible right for you? Credit: Getty Images

The convertible car seat is a unique option within the car seat market -- a single seat your child uses from birth through school-age. What begins a rear-facing infant seat eventually morphs into a forward-facing seat for a growing child.

There is practical value to these seats, because you're investing in a car seat only once.

"It's one seat all the way," says Jennifer Stockburger, program manager for vehicle and child safety at Consumer Reports. "They can take a child anywhere from infancy almost up to elementary school, with higher weight harness versions going all the way to 65 pounds."

And there is an appealing safety element, as well: Convertible car seats can hold larger babies in the rear-facing position, extending the number of months the child will ride facing backwards.

"We see a whole trend of keeping babies rear-facing longer," Stockburger says. "It's safer, and a convertible seat lets you do that."

But, she points out, "over the years, there's the wear and tear. The expiration is about six years from date of manufacture, if you buy it new." And convertible car seats don't offer the option of a removable carrier, she adds.

"It's a one-piece deal," Stockburger says.

If the baby falls asleep in the car, you have to take the child out of the car seat -- perhaps waking him or her -- and transfer the child to a stroller or carry the child.

"That's the least appealing thing," Stockburger says, and "that's why most parents still opt for carrier version" when buying a car seat for a newborn.

Another point to consider: Although convertible car seats have adjustable straps and offer padded inserts to hold infants securely, Stockburger says carrier seats made specifically for infants do fit young babies better. That's especially crucial, she says, for lower birth weight babies who may leave the hospital weighing just five or six pounds.

For more info on the pros and cons of convertible car seats, check out this Consumer Reports video. And, because car seat regulations vary widely from state to state, check out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's comprehensive listing for details.

Related: Is it safe for babies to sleep in their car seats?

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Teaching Kids Good Manners: 5 Tips for Parents

Melissa Rayworth — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Toddlers Preschoolers, Preschoolers, Big Kids, Tweens

Teaching kids proper manners starts at home. Credit: Philip Lim, AFP/Getty Images

We all want our kids to be polite people who treat others well, but young children are a fairly self-focused bunch, more interested in what they want than in saying thanks. How do we teach young kids the tangible skills and intangible instincts that make up good manners in our culture?

Child development experts Nurit Sheinberg and Lorraine Breffni, from the Early Childhood Studies Institute at Nova Southeastern University, say it begins with "realistic expectations and patience." Things such as good behavior in restaurants will come with practice and time, as kids gain self-control.

Preschoolers won't remember to say "please" or "thank you" after just a few reminders, Breffni says.

"From an operational standpoint, they're just not ready," she says.

But remind them enough, and eventually the lessons will stick. It helps to reward kids with positive words when they do the right thing. If a child shares a toy with a friend, point out how happy the friend looks.

"Make those connections between actions and reactions," Sheinberg says.

If a child is in daycare or preschool, find out how manners are approached there. Do teachers sit and talk with children at mealtime?

"Children should have multiple opportunities and contexts in which to see these skills demonstrated," Breffni says. Interaction with adults outside the family helps kids see and practice polite social behavior.

In addition, young kids watch and internalize, copying a parent's moves. Ramp up the politeness in your own behavior, and, over time, your kids will do the same.

Top five examples parents should set:

1. Share. Let another driver merge into your lane, hold the door for a stranger.

2. Don't interrupt. In the hustle of daily life, we may cut our kids off mid-sentence. Try not to sacrifice politeness for efficiency.

3. Pick up after yourself. Overbooked as parents are, making the bed is a luxury we don't always have time for. But children will learn from your examples.

4. Offer random acts of kindness. Watch a neighbor's kids or bake an unexpected treat for your coworkers. Your kids will notice.

5. Don't allow toys at the dinner table. This may be the toughest of all. Leave the BlackBerry and iPhone elsewhere, putting your focus on the food and the mealtime conversation.

Want more resources? Check out TV shows such as "Arthur" and "Cyberchase," which offer frequent lessons on patience, sharing and teamwork. Both Emily Post and Miss Manners have weighed in with books on good manners for kids, and a slew of children's storybooks explore politeness and courtesy.

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Tips for Trimming Your Baby's Nails

Melissa Rayworth — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Newborns, Babies, Health & Safety: Babies, Health & Safety: Toddlers & Preschoolers

Baby's nails grow fast and need trimming often. Credit: Getty Images

Wielding a nail clipper near the tiny, wiggling fingers of your new bundle of joy isn't easy. But don't worry -- it quickly becomes routine.

During a baby's first week or two, some pediatricians recommend gently peeling off any excess nail and using tiny cotton mittens to keep nails covered. But by week 2, most parents add nail trimming to their basic baby care agenda. Babies' nails grow fast and may need trimming more than once each week to keep children from scratching themselves.

How best to approach this stressful-yet-unavoidable task? Here are some nail trimming tips:

Timing: Try trimming nails while the baby is sleeping (some moms keep safety scissors in the car for impromptu trims during car seat naps). If you'd rather not risk waking the baby, have another grownup distract the baby (perhaps by feeding) while you do the trimming. Another option: Make nail filing part of a daily pre-bath ritual, so nails never need more than a quick rub with an emery board.
Techniques: If there are two adults sharing the job, one can hold baby while the other does the trimming. If you're flying solo, put the baby in a bouncy seat or car seat. Then, hold the baby's hand firmly and ease the pad of the finger back slightly from the nail. Your goal is to create soft, rounded edges that follow the shape of the finger, rather than cutting straight across. That way, nails grow back without sharp edges. If you happen to nick the baby's finger and draw blood, put pressure on the spot with gauze or a tissue. Avoid bandages for small babies, since they can be a choking hazard.
Tools: Nail files and emery boards pose no risk, even if the baby is wiggling, but they do require patience. Nail clippers are effective, but it can be hard to see exactly where you're cutting. Safety scissors give you a clear view of the nail as you work. Some parents try biting their baby's nails, assuming it's safer than using a sharp implement. Experts discourage this. You may unwittingly bite off more than you intend and expose the baby to germs from your mouth.
Polish: Because babies put their fingers in their mouths, standard nail polish isn't a good idea. If you really want to paint baby's nails, choose an all-natural polish (Piggy Paint has gotten some buzz). Many moms opt to polish only toes, figuring they're less likely to go into mouths once early infancy is done.

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Dealing With Separation Issues at Daycare Drop-Off

Melissa Rayworth — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:03:00 EST

Filed under: Toddlers Preschoolers, Preschoolers, Childcare

Be strong when your child starts crying. Credit: Getty Images

You're out of the house on time, with the whole family fed and dressed for the day. Now comes the hard part: Saying goodbye at daycare as a tearful toddler begs you not to go.

"It's pretty typical for children under the age of 2 to have separation issues during drop-off," says Erin Boyd-Soisson, associate professor of family science at Pennsylvania's Messiah College. But that actually can be "a good sign that they have a good attachment with their parents," she says.

Kids are usually fine within minutes of a parent's departure, but the experience can still be horribly guilt-inducing. Here's advice on minimizing the pain from Boyd-Soisson and Diane Strangis, child development specialist and assistant professor at Meredith College in North Carolina:

Create a routine. Kids are comforted by ritual, so plan a routine for your goodbye and stick to it. Maybe you'll read one short book, then hug goodbye. Or hug goodbye, then have the child wave from a window as you leave the building. "In some cases, a child walks the parent to the door and pushes them out, not shoving them, but patting them on the back, and gives them a little wave," Boyd-Soisson says. "It gives them control."

Don't rush, but don't linger. Some days, you're running late and drop-off is unavoidably rushed. When possible, take five minutes to let your ritual play out calmly. But there's a tipping point: Leave within 10 minutes.

Don't go back. It's tempting. But once you've said goodbye, returning reinforces the idea that crying brings you back. And don't sneak out: Strangis says the child may believe you're hiding and spend the morning anxiously searching for you.

Use familiar objects. Strangis suggests bringing something from home (family photos, a recording of a parent's voice). If the child is moving to a new room, try having an item on hand from her previous room at the daycare center. Bringing a favorite toy from home can work, but be sure to bring it home each night to avoid tears at bedtime.

Ease into transitions. If your child is starting at a new school or moving to a new room within his old school, visit the new space with him more than once. If he can spend time in the new room with you, he may feel more comfortable.

Separation issues may subside, then surface again periodically through age 4 or even 5, especially when stress pops up (sick grandparents, a parent out of town, etc.). With time, they'll subside permanently.

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What to Ask When Choosing a Daycare Center

Melissa Rayworth — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Work Life, Childcare

Does your daycare center offer unstructured use of art supplies? Credit: Getty Images

Choosing the right daycare center can be almost as difficult as leaving your little one. But a mix of common sense and savvy detective work can help you navigate this challenge of modern parenting.

First, ask friends, neighbors and coworkers which centers are popular and why. Schedule appointments with the best candidates, and also drop in unannounced during the morning (8 a.m. to 9 a.m. is usually prime time for drop-offs) and evening rush (you'll probably find heavy pickup traffic around 5:30 p.m.). Don't be shy. While there, ask other parents if they're pleased with the center and why.

Arrive for scheduled appointments armed with questions. Some are dealbreakers: Are they licensed by the state? Can parents drop by whenever they wish? What's the ratio of caregivers to kids in each age group? Are the rooms clean and child-proofed?

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What to Do When Friendships Become an Issue for Your Child

Melissa Rayworth — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Preschoolers, Big Kids, Tweens, Teens, Bullying

Friends today, frenemies tomorrow? Credit: Corbis

For some kids, making friends is easy and natural, and for other kids it's ... not.

It isn't uncommon for kids to have occasional trouble making or keeping friends, so here's some advice on how to handle the situation.

Start by gathering the facts. If the problem is occurring away from home, get the lowdown from a teacher or caregiver. Does the child have at least one good friend? That can be enough, says Erin Boyd-Soisson, associate professor of human development and family science at Messiah College in Pennsylvania.

If the child doesn't have anyone to connect with during the school day, focus on helping to build at least one good friendship. Some strategies: Plan playdates for after-school or weekends, especially for kids who prefer one-on-one interaction. If weekends are hectic and hosting kids at your house is difficult, arrange to meet another parent and child at a playground for an hour. Bring a healthy snack for sharing.

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Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products Help You Go Green at Home

Melissa Rayworth — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Going Green

Clean planet = happy baby? We hope. Credit: Darija :), Flickr

You've probably noticed the growing presence of "green cleaning" products at your supermarket. Eco-friendly companies such as Seventh Generation are now sharing shelf space with new green product lines from established manufacturers like Clorox and Arm & Hammer.

So, is it worth making the switch from conventional cleaners to eco-friendly products? Yes, says Becky Richards, professor of environmental science at Texas Christian University.

"Most consumers don't realize that hazardous materials are available to be purchased by the general public," she says. "If you see the words 'danger,' 'warning' or 'caution' on a consumer product, then that product is defined as toxic by the EPA. The level of toxicity is reflected by the severity of the signal word: 'Caution' means the lowest toxicity, while 'danger' means the highest toxicity allowed for consumer products."

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Happiest Couples Share the Paid and Unpaid Work

Melissa Rayworth — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:44:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Weird But True

Does sharing the dish-washing and the money-earning lead to a happier family?
Credit: alaskaval, Flickr

A new study finds that couples who share the responsibility for paid and unpaid work report being happier than couples who divide the work in other ways.

Approximately one-quarter of the couples surveyed say they split the paid and unpaid work evenly (each doing about 40 to 60 percent), and report higher average levels of happiness and life satisfaction compared with couples who use other arrangements.

But this study of family structures, published last month by the University of Western Ontario, finds that couples with children are less likely to use this "shared roles" arrangement.

Couples with kids were more likely to have what the researchers call a "complimentary-traditional" model, where the woman does more unpaid work for the family and the man does more paid work. Or, they use a "women's double burden" model, where the woman does as much or more paid work as the man and also does more of the unpaid work.

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New CDC Data: As Many as 1 Percent of Kids May Be Autistic

Melissa Rayworth — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:37:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Research Reveals: Babies, Research Reveals: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Research Reveals: Big Kids

Is autism on the rise, or are American doctors better able to diagnose it? Credit: Beverly & Pack, Flickr

The Centers for Disease Control have updated their estimated number of American children with autism: The data now shows that between 1 in 80 and 1 in 240 children have an ASD (autism spectrum disorder). That averages out to one in 110 or about 1 percent.

The 10 communities that participated in a 2006 autism study also had been surveyed in 2002. In the later study, ASD diagnoses increased by 57 percent. It's unclear what might have caused that striking increase.

"No single factor explains the changes in identified ASD prevalence over the time period studied," says the CDC's announcement on the data. "Although some of the increases are due to better detection, a true increase in risk can not be ruled out."

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Pregnant Women Say They're Often Exposed to Workplace Hazards

Melissa Rayworth — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News

Credit: Getty Images

A new study of working women in Spain reports that 62 percent say they are frequently exposed to some physical risk in their place of work: noise, high temperatures or humidity, vibrations or radiation and electromagnetic fields from computer screens.

A total of 56 percent say they often work standing up or have to lift heavy objects, and 63 percent are exposed to workplace stress.

The study of workplace hazards for pregnant women, recently published in the journal Gaceta Sanitaria, also reports that almost one-quarter of the women (22 percent) say they were exposed to some chemical agent (in most cases cleaning products) and 6 percent say they are exposed to biological risk factors in jobs that involve caring for others.

The study concludes that it is the youngest, least-educated and non-Spanish women, who are self-employed or working on temporary contracts, who are most likely to report being frequently exposed to workplace risks.

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Childhood Brain Power Tied to Adult Heart Health

Melissa Rayworth — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Research Reveals: Babies

Could studying hard put your kids on a path to a healthier adulthood?
Credit: tobias.munich, Flickr

A study of nearly 10,000 British adults who have been monitored since their birth in 1958 shows a connection between childhood intellect and healthy hearts during adulthood. Previous studies have suggested that smarter kids become healthier adults. These researchers wanted to understand that connection.

"We sought to establish whether associations between childhood cognition and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adulthood are explained by common causes, or adult social position or health behavior," the study explains.

The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, finds that the connection is a matter of circumstance, rather than physiology. Study subjects who showed higher intellect as children were more likely to end up with a better education and better jobs, which often means access to good health care and information about healthy living.

Rather than suggesting any physical connection between brain power and heart health, the research indicates that childhood intellect tends to put people on a path toward a lifestyle that helps protect them from heart disease risk factors.

Related: Heart Disease: It's Partly in Your Head, Children's Health Insurance Program's Future Uncertain

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Mozart May Help Preemies Gain Weight

Melissa Rayworth — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:15:00 EST

Does Mozart hold the key to helping preemies grow? Credit: totalAldo, Flickr

Many parents have heard about the "Mozart effect" -- the supposedly positive impact of the prolific composer's music on everything from adult intelligence to baby development. A group of researchers in Israel had a theory about how this effect might work in premature babies, and its new study seems to have found proof.

Babies listening to Mozart expend less energy, which allows their bodies to gain weight more quickly, the researchers say.

In a clinical trial of 20 healthy preterm infants, one group listened to Mozart for 30 minutes on two consecutive days and the other group did not. For the first 10 minutes, there was little change. But, as the babies continued to listen, their resting energy expenditure (REE) dropped significantly -- 10 to 13 percent. By burning less energy, the thinking goes, babies will gain weight more easily.

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Study Shows Prevelance of Mental Disorders Among American Kids

Melissa Rayworth — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Expert Advice: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Expert Advice: Big Kids, Expert Advice: Tweens, Expert Advice: Teens

The numbers may seem surprising: A new study finds that about 13 percent of American kids have at least one mental disorder (including ADHD, anxiety, depression, eating disorders and conduct disorder), but only half of those kids are getting treatment.

The researchers found that 8.6 percent of children surveyed had ADHD, 3.7percent had mood disorders, 2.1percent had conduct disorder, 0.7 percent had panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder and 0.1percent had eating disorders. Boys showed a 2.1 times greater prevalence of ADHD than girls, while girls had twofold higher rates of mood disorders than boys. There were no gender differences in the rates of anxiety or conduct disorders.

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Scientists Discover Evidence of Brain Rewiring in Kids

Melissa Rayworth — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Research Reveals: Babies, Research Reveals: Tweens

Imaging shows compromised white matter (blue area) in poor readers, left; increase in structural integrity (red/yellow) among poor readers who received instruction, center; and after instruction, previously poor readers had the same structural integrity as good readers. Credit: Timothy Keller, Marcel Just

Fantastic news for parents who are trying to help their kids master the skill of reading: Two scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh have found evidence that a child's brain can actually rewire itself, creating new white matter that improves communication within the brain, after receiving instruction to improve their reading skills.

In a report published this week in the academic journal, Neuron, scientists Timothy Keller and Marcel Just explain that after being trained in reading skills, imaging showed the capability of children's brains to transmit signals efficiently had increased, and testing showed the children could read better.

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Study Confirms Link Between Tobacco and Behavioral Problems

Melissa Rayworth — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:50:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Research Reveals: Tweens

Are some cases of ADHD caused by exposure to cigarette smoke before birth?
Credit: Paraschiv Alexandru, Flickr.

German scientists have found evidence of a link between exposure to tobacco smoke during early development and abnormal behavioral symptoms (including conduct problems, hyperactivity and problems in peer relationships) that surface by age 10.

"Adverse effects of prenatal and postnatal tobacco exposure have been reported to be associated with behavioral problems" in the past, the study explains. But "the magnitude of the association with tobacco exposure at specific periods" was unclear before this new analysis.

The study used data from the GINI-plus Prospective Birth Cohort Study to assess the relative risk of behavioral problems in children who had been exposed to tobacco smoke in utero and after birth. The results indicated that exposure to tobacco smoke was especially detrimental in utero, but even those exposed to it only after birth had a higher risk of abnormal behavior than kids who weren't exposed.

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Military Kids Face Emotional Challenges as Deployments Grow, Study Shows

Melissa Rayworth — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:02:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Research Reveals: Tweens

Stress is an unavoidable part of life for military kids, especially while a parent is deployed in a war zone.

A study published this month in the journal "Pediatrics" is the first to comprehensively explore the emotional and academic impact of having a parent deployed long-term.

The researchers explored the health and well-being of more than 1,500 United States military kids, ages 11-17, talking with the children directly and with their non-deployed parents. Among other subjects, the researchers looked at the impact of repeated and prolonged deployments, which have become increasingly common as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continue.

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Pregnant Obese Women Shouldn't Gain Weight, Study Suggests

Melissa Rayworth — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: Nutrition: Health, Research Reveals: Babies

Experts disagree on weight gain guidelines. Credit: Tobyotter, Flickr

A four-year study, launched in October by Kaiser Permanente, has begun working with obese pregnant women to ensure that they gain little or no additional weight during pregnancy.

In May, the Institute of Medicine issued guidelines lowering the minimum weight gain for obese women to just 11 pounds. Previously, guidelines had suggested a weight gain of at least 15 pounds. But researchers conducting this new study, called "Healthy Moms," say zero weight gain may be the best thing for obese pregnant women and their babies.

"It may seem counterintuitive to suggest that women control their weight during pregnancy, but these women are already carrying between 50 and 100 extra pounds - and for them any more weight gain could be very dangerous," said Vic Stevens, PhD, principal investigator who has studied weight loss and weight maintenance for more than 30 years, in a statement about the study.

Although women often make positive health changes when becoming pregnant (quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol are common), obese women tend to gain more weight than is recommended.

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Beer And Cookies For Santa?

Melissa Rayworth — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:39:00 EST

Filed under: In The News

Should Santa knock back non-alcoholic brews while on the job? Credit: sodabug, Flickr

Pity the poor marketing executive who was sure this campaign wouldn't generate any backlash: Labatt Breweries of Canada launched a series of ads in early November that promote their non-alcoholic beer with the tagline "Leave one out for Santa. He's driving."

The Labatt ads are meant to imply that Santa shouldn't be downing any alcohol, lest he crash his sleigh into a passing jetliner. Some of the ads even direct customers to Labatt's makeaplan.ca, which advocates choosing a designated driver. But the very connection between drinking and driving -- even though we're talking about a fictional man driving a fictional sleigh after drinking a beer containing less than 0.5% alcohol -- has been enough to cause a bit of negative buzz among Canadian shoppers.

"I don't think that's quite appropriate," said Kathleen Clifford, 65, in an interview with the Toronto Sun. "Children see that and they think we'd better leave beer for Santa instead of cookies and milk. ... I have grandchildren and great-granchildren and I don't approve of it."

Tell us your opinion: Is there any negative impact on kids from ads that suggest buying hardworking Kris Kringle a (non-alcoholic) beer?

Related: The Best Beers of Christmas, Bad Holiday Outfits

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Study: Fewer Parents Putting Babies To Sleep On Their Backs

Melissa Rayworth — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Research Reveals: Babies

The nation's "Back to Sleep" campaign hasn't reached all American parents. Credit: Star5112, Flickr.

Since the national "Back to Sleep" campaign began 15 years ago, many parents have learned that placing babies to sleep on their backs can help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). But a new study on infant sleeping positions finds that the number of parents putting their babies to sleep on their backs has leveled off over the past five years.

"Between 2003 and 2007, there was no significant yearly increase in supine sleep," the study reports.

Several clues emerged from the study about why some parents are ignoring this advice: Some parents worry that their child will be uncomfortable on their back or could choke during the night in that position. Others weren't told by their pediatrician that that back sleeping is now believed to be the safest method.

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