ParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gifParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/New Rules to Cut Confusion on Sunscreen Claimshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/15/new-rules-to-cut-confusion-on-sunscreen-claims/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/15/new-rules-to-cut-confusion-on-sunscreen-claims/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/06/15/new-rules-to-cut-confusion-on-sunscreen-claims/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

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sunscreen

Devon Garrison plays in the pool at the clubhouse of his sub-division in Montgomery, Ala., Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Garrison wears sunscreen with an SPF factor of 100. Credit: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) - Help is on the way to consumers confused by the jumble of sun protection numbers, symbols and other claims on sunscreens. Starting next summer, consumers can start looking for SPF 15 bottles with the label "broad spectrum" and feel confident they're being protected from an increased risk of cancer.


Currently, standards of protection apply only to one part of the sun's spectrum, ultraviolet B rays, which cause sunburn. Under new rules published Tuesday, they will also have to protect against the more penetrating ultraviolet A rays associated with skin cancer.

The guidelines, which spent more than 30 years in bureaucratic limbo, are designed to enhance the effectiveness of sunscreens and make them easier to use.

The key takeaway for consumers: Look for a sun protection factor, or SPF, of 15 and above that also says "broad spectrum." That's the new buzzword from the Food and Drug Administration to describe a product that does an acceptable job blocking both types of damaging rays.

Starting next summer, sunscreens with less than an SPF of 15 or that aren't "broad spectrum" will have to carry a warning label: "This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging."

That will help people like Paul Woodburn, 55, who says he mainly buys brands he trusts and judges sun screen by one factor

"The SPF number is what counts for me," the Indianapolis resident said as he sat next to a public pool. "Beyond the SPF, I don't think anybody really watches." Woodburn said he wasn't familiar with the difference between UVA and UVB rays or the broad spectrum label.

"These changes to sunscreen labels are an important part of helping consumers have the information they need so they can choose the right sun protection for themselves and their families," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA's drug division.

The new regulations require testing for the more dangerous ultraviolet A rays, which can penetrate glass and pose the greatest risk of skin cancer and premature aging. Now, the FDA only requires testing for ultraviolet B rays that cause sunburn. That's what the familiar SPF measure is based on.

"For the first time, the FDA has clearly defined the testing required to make a broad-spectrum protection claim in a sunscreen and indicate which type of sunscreen can reduce skin cancer risk," said Dr. Ronald L. Moy, president of The American Academy of Dermatology Association.

Under the new rules:

- The FDA will prohibit sunscreen marketing claims like "waterproof" and "sweatproof," which the agency said "are exaggerations of performance."

- The FDA also proposes capping the highest SPF value at 50, unless companies can provide results of further testing that support a higher number.

- FDA says manufacturers must phase out a four-star system currently used by some companies to rate UVA protection.

In reviewing more than 3,000 comments submitted to the agency, the FDA decided the star system was too confusing. Instead, protection against UVA should be proportional to protection against UVB, which is already measured using SPF.

The SPF figure indicates the amount of sun exposure needed to cause sunburn on sunscreen-protected skin compared with unprotected skin. For example, an SPF rating of 30 means it would take the person 30 times longer to burn wearing sunscreen than with exposed skin.

The rules were decades in the making.

FDA announced its intent to draft sunscreen rules in 1978 and published them in 1999. The agency delayed finalizing its guidelines for years until it could address issues concerning both UVA and UVB protection.

Some consumer advocates complained that the agency's final guidelines were less strict than draft proposals circulated over the years.

"About 20 percent of products that meet the new FDA standards could not be sold in Europe, where UVA standards are strict," said David Andrews, senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group.

Many companies have already adopted the some of the labeling outlined by the government. For example, all Coppertone products from Merck & Co.'s Schering-Plough unit and Neutrogena sunscreens from Johnson & Johnson already boast "broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection."

Most dermatologists recommend a broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every two hours while outside.

Last year an estimated 68,130 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with melanoma - the most dangerous form of skin cancer - and an estimated 8,700 died, according to the National Cancer Institute. Nearly $2 billion is spent treating the disease each year.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. This article was written by MATTHEW PERRONE, Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

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How to Understand Sunscreen UVA Ratings

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]]>sunscreenAssociated PressWed, 15 Jun 2011 10:30:00 ESTFrequency of Crib-Related Injuries Cause for Concern, Study Findshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/17/crib-injuries/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/17/crib-injuries/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/02/17/crib-injuries/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

crib injuries

Although safety standards continue to improve, crib injuries occur at alarming rates. Credit: Getty

Cribs, playpens and bassinets are supposed to function as secure locations where parents can place their baby or toddler and be confident that their child is safe and protected even when unattended.

Yet, between 1990 and 2008, an estimated 181,654 children younger than 2 years were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to cribs, playpens and bassinets -- an average of 26 injuries per day in the United States, according to a study published online today in the journal Pediatrics.


Although the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) began releasing safety standards for cribs as early as 1973, poor design, product defects, faulty setup and improper use have led to scores of deaths, entrapments and other injuries to young children. In fact, more than 9 million cribs have been recalled by the CPSC since Sept. 2007 because of safety issues, the researchers note.

Despite efforts by the CPSC to tighten and refine safety standards, crib-related injuries accounted for more than 14,500 injuries to children younger than 5 years of age in 2009, and they were associated with the majority of nursery product deaths, according to the study.

Previous studies have looked at infant deaths resulting from suffocation and strangulation in cribs and adult beds; injuries attributed to bumper pads; deaths attributed to hanging, wedging and suffocation from positional asphyxia; and other causes.

However, nonfatal injuries associated with cribs have largely been overlooked in research, even though they occur far more frequently than actual fatalities, and they can result in serious injury. This new research is the first nationally representative study to examine the incidence of injuries. The data was culled from the CPSC's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System over a 19-year period, from 1990 to 2008.

While researchers note that there was a decrease in injury rates from 1990 to 2008, there were still a number of key findings:

  • Most of the injuries involved cribs (83.2 percent), followed by playpens (12.6 percent) and bassinets (4.2 percent).
  • Falling from a crib, playpen or bassinet was the most common method of injury (66.2 percent), followed by being struck by or against a crib (14.7 percent).
  • The head or neck was the most frequently-injured body region (40.3 percent), followed by the face (27.5 percent).
  • Soft-tissue injury was the most common diagnosis (34.1 percent), followed by concussion or closed head injury (21.1 percent). Concussions were more likely to occur with falls from a crib, playpen or bassinet, while lacerations were more likely to occur when children hit, cut or fell inside a crib.
  • The injury involved a sibling or another child in 3.4 percent of cases and a parent or adult caretaker in 2.1 percent of cases.
  • Infants, ages 6 to 11 months, comprised the largest group of injured children (34.6 percent of cases), followed by children 12 to 17 months (33.4 percent).
  • Boys accounted for 56.1 percent of reported cases of injury.

    • Given the volume of crib, playpen and bassinet injuries over the study period, the authors note that current prevention strategies are clearly insufficient and call for greater efforts to minimize hazards associated with these nursery products.

    "Crib, playpen, and bassinet safety standards must continue to be strengthened and rigorously enforced to protect young children from harm. Health care professionals, child care providers, parents and other child caregivers also should be cognizant of the recommendations for proper use of these products," the authors conclude.

    Want to get the latest ParentDish news and advice? Sign up for our newsletter!

    Click here for more on crib safety from our partner site.

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    ]]>    american academy of pediatricsAmericanAcademyOfPediatricsbassinetscribsPediatricsplaypensrecallRecallsstudyHoney BerkThu, 17 Feb 2011 00:01:00 EST    Product Recalls: How to Get the Latest Infohttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/05/product-recalls-how-to-get-the-latest-info/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/05/product-recalls-how-to-get-the-latest-info/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/05/product-recalls-how-to-get-the-latest-info/#commentsFiled under: ,

    product recalls

    Sign up for e-mail alerts to find out about the latest recalls. Credit: Corbis

    When there's a massive recall, everyone hears about it, but many recalls don't make the news. However, since small children are famous for finding ways to make toys and even seemingly-harmless household objects dangerous, parents need to know about recalls.

    So, how do you stay informed? You can always check out the latest recalls at ParentDish, or visit recalls.gov, where you'll find the most recent recalls ordered by major federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. You also can sign up with each agency to receive an e-mail whenever there's a recall.

    The CPSC is the group that issues the most recalls for children's products. On its site, you can search by recall date, product type (crib, stroller, sippy cup) and company or country in which it was made. Click on a recall and you'll be directed to more information, such as a press release that includes company contact information.

    The CPSC also has a recall hotline. Call 800-638-2772 to get more information about a recall, to find out how to get a product that's been recalled, fixed or how to return it.

    Want to report a product that you think is especially dangerous? You can use the CPSC hotline or go online to report an injury or unsafe product.

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    ]]>    alertcpscevergreenLeadPaintRecallssafetyPatty BontekoeWed, 05 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST    After Dozens of Deaths, Drop-Side Cribs Outlawedhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/16/drop-side-cribs/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/16/drop-side-cribs/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/16/drop-side-cribs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

    Drop-side Cribs

    Michele Witte of Merrick, N.Y. holds a picture of her son, Tyler, who died when he was ten months old in a drop-side crib in 1997. Drop-side cribs have now been outlawed. Credit: AP

    WASHINGTON (AP) - It's the end of the traditional crib that has cradled millions of babies for generations.

    The government outlawed drop-side cribs on Wednesday after the deaths of more than 30 infants and toddlers in the past decade and millions of recalls.

    It was a unanimous vote by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban the manufacture, sale and resale of the cribs, which have a side rail that moves up and down, allowing parents to more easily lift their child from the crib.

    The new standard requiring cribs to have fixed sides would take effect in June. The move by CPSC would also prohibit hotels and childcare centers from using drop-sides, though those facilities would have two years to purchase new cribs.

    CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum hailed the new standard for cribs as one of the strongest in the world.

    "I believe these new standards will markedly reduce crib-related hazards and help to ensure that young children sleep more safely in their cribs," Tenenbaum said after the vote.

    Around for decades, drop-side cribs have come under scrutiny in recent years because of malfunctioning hardware, sometimes cheaper plastics, or assembly problems that can lead to the drop-side rail partially detaching from the crib. When that happens, it can create a dangerous "V''-like gap between the mattress and side rail where a baby can get caught and suffocate or strangle.

    In all, drop-side cribs have been blamed in the deaths of at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000 and are suspected in another 14 infant fatalities. In the past five years, more than 9 million drop-side cribs have been recalled, including cribs from big-name companies such as Evenflo, Delta Enterprise Corp., and Pottery Barn Kids.

    Michele Witte of Merrick, N.Y., lost her 10-month-old son, Tyler, in 1997 when the drop-side rail on his crib came loose, partially detached and then trapped his neck between the rail and the headboard.

    "It's been a long 13 years," said Witte. "I feel like it's a celebratory time because things are finally being done about the issue."

    Witte appeared at a news conference on Capitol Hill with Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., all of whom have pushed for stronger crib safety rules.

    The new standard mandates tougher safety testing for cribs, tests that more closely mimic a child in a crib. As children get older, they can apply more force to the crib - shaking on it, running around in it, jumping up and down. The new tests aim to make sure the cribs can take that kind of pressure.

    Better labeling on crib pieces will also be required - a measure that aims to cut down on the misassembly problems that some parents have encountered, problems that can lead to the death of a child.

    Parents who lost their children in drop-side cribs say Wednesday's ban couldn't come soon enough.

    Chad Johns, whose 9-month-old son, Liam, died in a drop-side crib in 2005, said he was a little relieved.

    "Yes, it's a long time coming," said Johns from Roseville, Calif. "But the fact that it is happening - that's what is important."

    Crib makers were already phasing out drop-side cribs over the last couple years, amid increasing problems with them. And last year, the organization that sets voluntary industry standards - ASTM International - approved a drop-side ban.

    Many parents, however, still have drop-sides in their homes. They can also be found at secondhand stores.

    Parents who are using drop-side cribs are advised to check the hardware on the cribs to be certain it's working properly and to make sure their crib has not been recalled. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 percent of the crib industry, says properly assembled drop-sides that haven't been recalled can be safely used.

    Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

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    ]]>    drop-side cribsDrop-sideCribsAssociated PressThu, 16 Dec 2010 10:32:00 EST    Children's Tylenol Gets a Time Out: The Perils Infecting Pediatric Medicineshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/15/childrens-tylenol-gets-a-time-out-the-perils-infecting-pediatr/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/15/childrens-tylenol-gets-a-time-out-the-perils-infecting-pediatr/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/15/childrens-tylenol-gets-a-time-out-the-perils-infecting-pediatr/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

    An illness is lingering in the kiddie medicine aisle this flu season, but it's not feverish school kids. Blame it on Big Pharma.

    There isn't any Children's Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl or Zyrtec on the shelves and won't be until spring, according to Johnson & Johnson, the uber drugmaker that over the past year has recalled a laundry list of pediatric pills and liquids. The first recall came last January, the most recent last month.

    Oh, there's nothing too toxic. Some products were stronger than usual. Some harbored an extra something-something like a musty odor traced to 2,4,6-tribromoanisole, a chemical in wooden pallets around the drug warehouse. Sounds frightening but the recalls are voluntary. No one's reported any "adverse medical events" save minor stomach upset. Hmmm. Could I be vomiting because I'm sick? No, must be that pill.

    Last spring, I returned several bottles and packages of the recalled medicines to my local drugstore. Most of the items I'd already opened and used. Only a smattering of generics remained in stock and not a single dose of cetirizine hydrochloride (a.k.a. Zyrtec), not ideal with tree pollen peaking. Worried about relinquishing the Zyrtec with my kids weezing and sneezing through spring allergies I didn't return all of it. Nor did I gather up the rest of the suspect meds in my house. I didn't want to go without an emergency stash of pain relievers either. You never know when someone's going to fall from the monkey bars or wake up with a 104.5 fever. Anyhow, I'd already given the meds to my children before the recalls so I wasn't completely worried. In fact, I'd given them a lot of the antihistamines. I've used them since and maybe the others meds too. The kids seemed fine, no ill effects.

    I cannot say the same for myself. No one might have been seriously sickened, but I'm sick of this mess.

    Pediatric medicines are a public health nuisance, but not because they stink or cause diarrhea. Dosing remains treacherous. The microscopic dosing instructions and markings are ridiculous. Now there's official evidence that dosing materials suck. A recent study of pediatric products published by the Journal of the American Medical Association chronicled widespread problems including items sold without measuring "devices," missing or inconsistent markings on the devices, unusual units (e.g., drams) and confusing abbreviations.

    Then there's the not so child-proof packaging. Remember two years ago when the FDA banned cough and cold meds for children under 2 due to safety concerns such as fatal side effects? Manufacturers agreed to a label that kids under 4 shouldn't use them. Shortly thereafter a study in the journal Pediatrics concluded that indeed the drugs were dangerous ... due to insufficient child-proofing. Most ER visits attributable to the meds involved "self-administered" overdoses mainly by preschoolers who helped themselves to the candy-colored, fruity concoctions. Most other ER visits resulted from accidental overdoses administered by adults. I can't imagine it's any different with other children's products.

    So let's be honest about kiddie medicines: Their peril stems from deficiencies in dosing materials and packaging. Protracted recalls that promote a sense of alarm without any real evidence of harm don't help, either. Neither do bans that fail to stress the actual hazards (packaging, dosing).

    As a psychologist who's parented through a decade of warnings and risks -- including the vaccines-autism scare -- I think about the consequences of repeated threats of danger, especially exaggerated threats.

    When harm lurks everywhere, it's not only stressful, but potentially precarious. After too many false alarms, people stop paying attention to nuances or downplay risks so it's harder to distinguish serious threats from moderate or remote ones. The worst case scenario? The next thalidomide doesn't look much worse than Children's Tylenol. Then we'll all need to take two aspirin and lay down.

    Correction, Dec. 15, 2010: The original version of this column erroneously reported that Johnson & Johnson is the producer of Advil. We've corrected the error.

    More on recalled children's tylenol:


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    ]]>    childrens tylenolChildrensTylenolPolly PalumboWed, 15 Dec 2010 14:30:00 EST    Government to Vote on New Cribs Standards Amid Deathshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/14/government-to-vote-on-new-cribs-standards-amid-deaths/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/14/government-to-vote-on-new-cribs-standards-amid-deaths/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/14/government-to-vote-on-new-cribs-standards-amid-deaths/#commentsFiled under: , ,

    Liam Johns picture

    This handout photo provided by the Johns family, taken in March of 2005, shows then-eight-month-old Liam Johns at his home in Citrus Heights, Calif. The next month, Liam died when his drop-side crib malfunctioned. Credit: AP

    WASHINGTON (AP) - Liam Johns was born 10 weeks early, weighing only 4 pounds, to adoring parents in Citrus Heights, Calif. He was a "happy little guy," says his mom, Nicola, reflecting on the baby boy who grew quickly to a solid 24 pounds before his death at 9 months in a faulty drop-side crib.

    Now, more than five years after Liam's death, the government plans to vote Wednesday to ban the manufacture, sale and resale of drop-side cribs, which have a side rail that can be raised and lowered to allow parents to more easily lift a baby from the crib. The new standard, likely to take effect in June, would also outlaw drop-sides at hotels and eventually childcare facilities.

    Liam's mom says she's pleased something is finally being done.

    "It gives us a sense of peace," said 29-year-old Nicola Johns in an Associated Press interview. "I'll be able to sleep a little easier now, knowing a chapter has been closed."

    Around for decades, drop-side cribs have come under scrutiny in recent years because of malfunctioning hardware, sometimes cheaper plastics, or misassembly problems that can lead to the drop-side rail partially detaching from the crib. When that happens, it can create a dangerous "V''-like gap between the mattress and side rail where a baby can get caught and suffocate or strangle.

    That is how Nicola Johns found Liam one morning in April 2005 - hanging, with his head trapped between the side rail and the mattress. Somehow, she says, the side rail detached overnight and his little body slipped feet-first through the gap that formed.

    In all, drop-side cribs have been blamed in the deaths of at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000 and are suspected in another 14 infant fatalities. In the past five years, more than 9 million drop-side cribs have been recalled, including cribs from Evenflo, Delta Enterprise Corp., and Pottery Barn Kids.

    Liam Johns was in a Simplicity crib. His mom says it took a fight to get the manufacturer and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall cribs like his. Two years after Liam's death and the deaths of two other children, Simplicity agreed to a recall.

    Another significant part of the new standard that CPSC plans to vote on this week is more rigorous safety testing for cribs. The tougher testing would require moving the crib and applying forces that would more accurately mimic a child in a crib.

    "They are not just lying down sleeping," says safety advocate Nancy Cowles, executive director of Kids In Danger in Chicago. "They are roaming around it, running from end to end, shaking the sides. Even one loose screw can lead to a death."

    Federal standards for cribs haven't been updated since 1982. CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum says the proposed changes "should help usher in a new generation of safer cribs to the marketplace."

    Legislation from New York Democratic lawmakers Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Joe Crowley also backed a drop-side ban.

    Most cribs being sold today already have four fixed sides. Amid increasing problems with drop-sides, crib makers started phasing out the cribs in the last couple of years. And late last year, the organization that sets voluntary industry standards, ASTM International, approved a drop-side ban.

    Many parents, however, still have drop-sides in their homes. They can also be found at secondhand stores and on Amazon.com.

    Parents who are using drop-side cribs are advised to check the hardware on the cribs to be certain it's working properly and to make sure their crib has not been recalled. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 percent of the crib industry, says properly assembled drop-sides that haven't been recalled can be safely used.

    For adults who are shorter in stature and prefer the drop-side, some manufacturers are considering a small 4-inch gate on one side of the crib that could fold down, allowing parents a little help plucking a child from the crib.

    Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. This article was written by JENNIFER C. KERR, Associated Press.

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    ]]>    crib safetyCribSafetyAssociated PressTue, 14 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST    Graco Stroller Recall Prompted by Four Deathshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/20/graco-stroller-recall/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/20/graco-stroller-recall/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/20/graco-stroller-recall/#commentsFiled under: ,


    WASHINGTON (AP) - Baby gear maker Graco is recalling about 2 million strollers after receiving reports that four infants died in the strollers.

    The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which announced the recall Wednesday, said the four infants became trapped inside the strollers and were strangled. The deaths occurred between 2003 and 2005.

    The strollers being recalled are older versions of the Graco Quattro Tour and MetroLite strollers and travel systems, all made before 2007 and distributed by Graco Children's Products Inc. of Atlanta.

    CPSC says if babies aren't strapped into the strollers properly, they can slide through the opening between the stroller tray and bottom of the seat - where they can get stuck and be strangled. The commission also said it was aware of five reports of infants becoming trapped, resulting in cuts and bruises, and one report of an infant having difficulty breathing.

    The recalled strollers were made before the development in 2008 of a voluntary standard that requires a larger stroller opening between the stroller's tray and seat bottom in order to prevent entrapment and strangulation.

    The recalled strollers were sold at retailers nationwide between November 2000 and December 2007.

    More information on the model numbers involved in the recall can be found at the company's website, www.gracobaby.com.

    Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

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    ]]>    graco strollersGracoStrollersAssociated PressWed, 20 Oct 2010 08:37:00 EST    Chilean Miners and Their Families Need Time to Grieve, Regrouphttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/15/chilean-miners-and-their-families-need-time-to-grieve-regroup/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/15/chilean-miners-and-their-families-need-time-to-grieve-regroup/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/15/chilean-miners-and-their-families-need-time-to-grieve-regroup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

    chilean miners picture

    Miner Franklin Lobo, right, embraces his daughter Carolina after he was rescued on Oct. 13.Credit: Gabriel Ortega/Chilean government/AP

    The families of 33 Chilean miners dramatically rescued yesterday from an underground bunker as the world watched are, of course, filled with jubilation at the return of their husbands, fathers, sons, brothers and uncles.

    But, says our expert, they will also need time to grieve.

    Susan Stiffelman, ParentDish's Advice Mama, author and family therapist, compares the men to soldiers returning from war. Ever since the 125-year-old San Jose Mine collapsed on Aug. 5, they and their loved ones have been caught somewhere between extreme hope and extreme fear, as the miners waited for 69 days to be rescued from an underground refuge with limited food and water.

    On Oct. 13, each of the 33 men was carried out of the mine in an escape capsule as the world -- and their loved ones -- watched, transfixed, for nearly 23 hours.

    "People have been holding their breath," Stiffelman tells ParentDish. "The initial joy and elation will eventually have to give way to the outpouring of grief and anger that has been pent up and held in for all this time."

    The whole range of emotions these 33 men and their families have experienced since the mine collapsed can be likened to a "really long holding of the breath," she adds.

    "Even right up until the point of being fairly confident that the rescue would be successful, there has been this intense mix of tremendous hope and absolute uncertainty, and at some point there will have to be an outpouring (of emotion) or a letting loose," Stiffelman says.

    It will be especially important for the children of the miners to express their emotions, because, as Stiffelman says, it's a given that they have suffered some emotional trauma. Children of soldiers can have a similar reaction to a parent returning home from an overseas tour of duty, or kids of those coping with a life-threatening illness.

    While the outcome is positive, the experience of dealing with it still leaves them with residual grief, fear and anger that needs to come out, one way or another, Stiffelman says. She adds that there is the additional adjustment of dealing with more than one parent again after an extended amount of time.

    "When a father or mother comes back, and the other parent has been the primary caregiver, there is an element of having to reassert authority, getting that balance between two parents again," she says.

    But, perhaps most pressing, is the fact that these men are now suddenly in the world spotlight. Honors, all-expenses-paid luxury vacations and even jobs offers have been pouring in following the rescue. While the fame and fortune may be enticing, it's imperative that these families have the chance to reunite in peace and quiet right now.

    "These people are going to be bombarded with gifts, courted and seduced by access to money, fame and fortune," Stiffelman points out. "It will be interesting to see how that plays out. It's one thing to be part of the mainstream world and (to have something like this happen), but it's another thing to be a miner in a small Chilean village and, suddenly, Oprah wants you to be on her show."

    Being plunged into fame could be tremendously stressful for these families.

    "It can have an adverse effect on the person himself, but also on siblings, spouses and children, who feel they have to compete for that person's time," Stiffelman says. "Children, in particular, don't want to be competing for their fathers' time, especially with someone like Larry King."

    However, there is certainly cause for celebration, she adds, and reminds us that most people who survive a crisis carry few negative after-effects, and often experience a rebirth of sorts.

    "Most people don't succumb to violent post-traumatic stress," Stiffelman says. "Most survivors do quite well. They have a period of time when they have to adjust and emote, but most people find a new lease on life."

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    ]]>    chilean minerschilean miners familieschilean miners foundchilean miners rescuechilean miners trappedChileanMinersChileanMinersFamiliesChileanMinersFoundChileanMinersRescueChileanMinersTrappedPTSDtraumaAmy HatchFri, 15 Oct 2010 09:44:00 EST    Group: Tests Show Lead in Walmart, Target Children's Productshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/14/group-tests-show-lead-in-walmart-target-childrens-products/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/14/group-tests-show-lead-in-walmart-target-childrens-products/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/14/group-tests-show-lead-in-walmart-target-childrens-products/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


    LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Tests have revealed high levels of lead in children's products sold at Walmart and Target, a consumer group working with the California attorney general's office said Wednesday.

    The Oakland, Calif.-based Center for Environmental Health, which commissioned the tests, said lead exceeding allowable levels was found in Walmart products such as toy boxing gloves, toy foam jewelry beads and green and yellow beanbag chairs for toddlers. At Target, the center said it found two chairs with high lead levels, one of which had 70 times the legal limit for lead.

    Minneapolis-based Target Corp. didn't immediately respond to a request for comment by The Associated Press, but the center said Target agreed to remove the chairs from its stores.

    Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokeswoman Melissa Hill said the company is stopping sales of the products in California and from Walmart.com. Hill said the Bentonville-based company would "investigate this matter further."

    The California attorney general's office confirmed it contacted the retailers about the test results.

    The Walmart items contained between three times and 45 times the legal limit for lead, the center said. The group said Walmart was wrong to not pull the products companywide.

    "We cannot understand how Walmart can continue to sell these lead-tainted products to children in any state, or any country," said Caroline Cox, research director at the center. Cox noted that federal limits on lead content in children's products have been in place for more than two years.

    "Clearly Walmart needs to do better for our families," Cox said.

    The Center for Environmental Health is funded by a grant from the California attorney general's office to test children's products to see whether they comply with U.S. and California regulations.

    The center said it also found high levels of lead in three adult jewelry items - two plastic necklace cords and a plastic choker - and called for a halt to sales.

    Hill said Walmart works with its suppliers on compliance with regulations.

    "The safety of customers and their children is a top priority of Walmart, and we have established testing standards with our suppliers to ensure the quality and safety of our products," Hill said. She noted that a recall was not issued on the items.

    The center said the tested items were bought in mid-September at San Francisco-area Target and Walmart stores, or were ordered from the retailers' online businesses.

    Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. This article was written by CHUCK BARTELS, Associated Press Writer.

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    ]]>    Associated PressThu, 14 Oct 2010 10:14:00 EST    Pregnant? Get Your Flu Shot!http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/12/pregnant-get-your-flu-shot/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/12/pregnant-get-your-flu-shot/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/12/pregnant-get-your-flu-shot/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


    Syringe flu shot picture

    Don't avoid the needle, moms-to-be. Credit: ZaldyImg, Flickr

    If you're expecting, be sure you're first in line to get a flu shot this year.

    The flu vaccine has been recommended for pregnant women for years, so why the added urgency this flu season?

    Last year's H1N1 outbreak brought to light how hard the flu can hit pregnant women, and new research indicates that immunity is passed down to your baby.

    In fact, 10 leading health organizations, including the March of Dimes, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have co-signed a letter urging health care providers to recommend the flu shot to pregnant women and those trying to conceive.

    Although the flu is generally considered a harmless bug that everyone gets, complications can arise, and when they do, they can be especially devastating to pregnant women and their babies. Also, pregnancy can compromise the immune system -- pregnant women are more likely to be hospitalized for flu complications than their non-pregnant counterparts -- so when the flu hits, they can get really sick.

    Read the rest of the story at Parenting.com.

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    ]]>    flu shotflu shot and pregnancyFluShotFluShotAndPregnancythe editors at Parenting.comTue, 12 Oct 2010 12:33:00 EST    Fisher-Price Recalls More Than 10 Million Itemshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/30/fisher-price-recalls-more-than-10-million-items/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/30/fisher-price-recalls-more-than-10-million-items/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/30/fisher-price-recalls-more-than-10-million-items/#commentsFiled under: , ,

    fisher price recall pictures

    Fisher-Price is recalling its Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles because a child can strike, sit or fall on the protruding plastic ignition key resulting in serious injury, including genital bleeding. Credit: Consumer Product Safety Commission/AP

    WASHINGTON (AP) - Fisher-Price is recalling more than 10 million tricycles, toys and high chairs over safety concerns.

    The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday that two of the products being recalled involved injuries.

    In the recall of about 7 million Fisher-Price Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles, the agency is aware of 10 reports of children being hurt. Six of them required medical attention.

    The trikes - some of which which feature popular characters like Dora the Explorer and Barbie - have a protruding plastic ignition key near the seat that children can strike, sit on or fall on, leading to injuries that the commission said can include genital bleeding.

    Fisher-Price is also recalling more than 1 million Healthy Care, Easy Clean and Close to Me High Chairs, after 14 reports of problems. Seven children required stitches, the commission said.

    The pegs on the back of the high chairs can be used to store the tray, but children can fall on them, resulting in cuts and other injuries.

    CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said manufacturers need to do more to build safety into their products before they reach store shelves. But she also offered praise for Fisher-Price for "taking the right steps by agreeing to these recalls and offering consumers free repairs or replacement."

    The two other Fisher-Price recalls were:

    -More than 2.8 million Baby Playzone Crawl & Cruise Playground toys, Baby Playzone Crawl & Slide Arcade toys, Baby Gymtastics Play Wall toys, Ocean Wonders Kick & Crawl Aquarium toys, 1-2-3 Tetherball toys and Bat & Score Goal toys. The valve of the inflatable ball on the toys can come off and pose a choking hazard to children, said CPSC. The agency said there were more than 50 reports of the valves coming off the balls.

    -About 100,000 Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Stand 'n Play Rampway toys. The wheels on the purple and green cars can come off, posing a choking hazard.

    Consumers can visit the company's website at www.service.mattel.com for more information on the dates of sale and model numbers for the recalled products.

    Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. This article was written by JENNIFER C. KERR, Associated Press Writer.

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    ]]>    consumer product safety commissionConsumerProductSafetyCommissionfischer-priceAssociated PressThu, 30 Sep 2010 09:21:00 EST    Warning: Stop Using Infant Sleep Positioners Immediately or Risk Suffocation Deathshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/29/warning-stop-using-infant-sleep-positioners-immediately-or-risk/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/29/warning-stop-using-infant-sleep-positioners-immediately-or-risk/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/29/warning-stop-using-infant-sleep-positioners-immediately-or-risk/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Parents are warned to stop using infant sleep positioners immediately. Credit: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission


    The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer alert today to warn parents to stop using infant sleep positioners, citing reports of 12 infants -- ages 1 month to 4 months -- who suffocated to death after being placed in the devices.

    Most of the infants suffocated after rolling from a side to a stomach position; some of the infants suffocated on the device itself, while others succumbed after being trapped between a sleep positioner and the side of a crib or bassinet, according to CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum.

    In addition to the reported deaths, the CPSC has also received dozens of reports of infants who were placed on their back or sides in sleep positioners, only to be found later in potentially hazardous positions within or next to the devices.

    "The deaths and dangerous situations resulting from the use of infant sleep positioners are a serious concern to CPSC," Tenenbaum said. "We urge parents and caregivers to take our warning seriously and stop using these sleep positioners, so that children can have a safer sleep."

    The two main types of infant sleep positioners are flat mats with side bolsters or inclined (wedge) mats with side bolsters (see above).

    Both types of sleep positioners typically claim to help keep infants on their backs, thereby reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). There is, however, no evidence to support this claim, according to Dr. Rachel Moon, Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Task Force.

    "The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend any of the products that claim to protect against SIDS," Moon says, "Because, to our knowledge, none of these do actually protect against SIDS; there is no scientific evidence supporting these claims."

    In addition, the FDA has never cleared an infant sleep positioner to prevent or reduce the risk of SIDS. Over the years, the FDA has approved 18 sleep positioner devices -- all of which had made claims of helping to reduce gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and/or preventing plagiocephaly -- also known as "flat head syndrome."

    At this point, however, it has become clear that the risks of using infant sleep positioners outweigh the benefits, says Moon, so consumers are warned to immediately stop using the devices.

    The FDA, which has jurisdiction over consumer products making medical claims, has contacted the manufacturers of the 18 approved infant sleep positioners and asked them to stop making these devices; the agency will also be contacting retailers to ask them to stop selling the devices, according to Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner.

    Sharfstein advised that today's public health message is seen as the quickest way to get the warning out the consumers, so that they immediately stop buying the fatality-causing products. However, in the future, the FDA may issue for products that have not voluntarily been removed from the market; the agency will also be investigating reports of other, unapproved sleep positioning devices, as well as any other devices out there that claim to prevent or reduce the risk of SIDS.

    The CPSC, FDA and AAP warn parents to:
    • Stop using sleep positioners. Using a positioner to hold an infant on his or her back or side for sleep is dangerous and unnecessary.
    • Never put pillows, infant sleep positioners, comforters, or quilts under a baby or in a crib.
    • Always place an infant on his or her back at night and during nap time. To reduce the risk of SIDS, the AAP recommends placing infants to sleep on their backs and not their sides.
    Visit the CPSC's website for information about the agency's Safe Sleep initiative, which advises parents on how to help their kids sleep safely.

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    ]]>    aapalertcpscfdarecallsidsSudden Infant Death SyndromeSuddenInfantDeathSyndromeHoney BerkWed, 29 Sep 2010 15:46:00 EST    Sleep by the Numbershttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/27/sleep-by-the-numbers/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/27/sleep-by-the-numbers/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/27/sleep-by-the-numbers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


    To sleep, perchance to dream ...

    Eh, when you're a parent, it's more about just getting some snooze time (and praying that your little one won't give you a 5 a.m. wake-up call!)

    Did you know that 1 in 50 teens wets the bed? And that you will die of sleep deprivation before starvation? Check out these and more dreamy facts from Psychology Degree about getting your Zzzzs.


    Source: Psychology Degree

    Embed this Image on Your Site:

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    ]]>    the editors at onlineschools.orgMon, 27 Sep 2010 15:53:00 EST    Abbott Recalls Infant Formula on Bug Contaminationhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/22/abbott-recalls-infant-formula-on-bug-contamination/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/22/abbott-recalls-infant-formula-on-bug-contamination/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/22/abbott-recalls-infant-formula-on-bug-contamination/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

    infant formula

    Things got buggy at the Abbott plant. Credit: Getty Images

    NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. (AP) - Drugmaker Abbott Laboratories said Wednesday it is recalling millions of containers of powder-based infant formula that may be contaminated with insect parts.

    The voluntary action affects less than 5 million Similac-brand powder formulas sold in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and some Caribbean countries. The company said the products may contain a small beetle or larvae, which could cause stomach ache and digestion problems.

    A company spokeswoman said Abbott uncovered the insects last week in one section of a Michigan manufacturing plant.

    "We immediately shut down that one area and began an investigation," said Abbott's Melissa Brotz. "We're in the process of resolving it now."

    Brotz said the company has been consulting with the Food and Drug Administration, which determined there was no "immediate health risk" from the contamination.

    Continue reading Abbott Recalls Infant Formula on Bug Contamination

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    ]]>    abbottAssociated PressWed, 22 Sep 2010 17:04:00 EST    Toy Recall, Report Signal Small-Battery Dangershttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/20/toy-recall-report-signal-small-battery-dangers/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/20/toy-recall-report-signal-small-battery-dangers/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/20/toy-recall-report-signal-small-battery-dangers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



    CHICAGO (AP) - Swallowing button batteries can be fatal or cause serious harm, and research suggests that severe injuries in children, though relatively scarce, are on the rise.

    The dangers are highlighted in a new medical report about 10 cases at a Utah hospital, including seven that caused severe damage, and in last week's recall of more than 1 million Chuck E. Cheese battery-containing toys. There are no reports of children injured by the Chuck E. Cheese toys, but the toys were recalled because swallowing batteries can be so dangerous.

    Button batteries are widely used in dozens of household products including toys, games, remote controls, musical greeting cards, cell phones, watches and lighted shoes. Batteries pose a special swallowing risk; even if they don't completely block the throat, they can trigger a chemical process when they lodge there that can burn through tissue within just a few hours.

    Continue reading Toy Recall, Report Signal Small-Battery Dangers

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    ]]>    Associated PressMon, 20 Sep 2010 16:24:00 EST    More Girls Entering Puberty Early, Study Findshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/10/more-girls-entering-puberty-early-study-finds/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/10/more-girls-entering-puberty-early-study-finds/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/10/more-girls-entering-puberty-early-study-finds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Girls are maturing earlier than ever. Credit: Getty Images


    Girl, you'll be a woman soon. Sooner than you thought.

    A new study finds that U.S. girls are entering puberty at younger ages than in the past. Early maturity is a public health concern because studies have shown that these girls are more likely to eventually develop breast and uterine cancer, CNN reports.

    The study finds that nearly 25 percent of black girls and 15 percent of Hispanic girls had entered puberty by age 7. White girls mature more slowly, but the study finds that more than 10 percent of white 7-year-old girls had started puberty by age 7, up from 5 percent in a similar study conducted in the early 1990s, according to CNN.

    Dr. Frank Biro, the study's lead author and director of adolescent medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, says it's unclear why girls are entering puberty earlier, but researchers are looking at several potential factors, including genes and environment, Medical News Today reports.

    "Breast cancer is such a common problem, so if we can find some of the things that make it more likely, we could improve screening of those early developers," says Dr. Susan Nickel, M.D., an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, who was not part of the study.

    Continue reading More Girls Entering Puberty Early, Study Finds

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    ]]>    breast cancerBreastCancerpubertyColleen EganTue, 10 Aug 2010 11:19:00 EST    Fido's Food Could Be Making Kids Sick, Report Sayshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/09/fidos-food-could-be-making-kids-sick-report-says/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/09/fidos-food-could-be-making-kids-sick-report-says/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/09/fidos-food-could-be-making-kids-sick-report-says/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

    FDA says Fido's food may be making kids sick. Credit: Getty Images


    CHICAGO (AP) - Fido's food may be making kids sick, a government report warns, detailing the first known salmonella outbreak in humans, mostly young children, linked to pet food.

    The outbreak sickened 79 people in 21 mostly eastern states, between 2006 and 2008. Almost half of the victims were children aged 2 and younger.

    Dry pet foods are an under-recognized source of salmonella infections in humans, and it's likely other illnesses since then were unknowingly caused by tainted pet food, said Casey Barton Behravesh, the report's lead author and a researcher at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    At least six unrelated pet food recalls have been issued this year by manufacturers because of possible salmonella contamination, Food and Drug Administration data show. FDA spokesman Ira Allen said there have been no reported salmonella illnesses linked to pet food since the 2006-08 outbreak.

    Continue reading Fido's Food Could Be Making Kids Sick, Report Says

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    ]]>    pet foodPetFoodsalmonellaColleen EganMon, 09 Aug 2010 08:39:00 EST    New ID Theft Targets Kids' Social Security Numbershttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/02/new-id-theft-targets-kids-social-security-numbers/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/02/new-id-theft-targets-kids-social-security-numbers/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/02/new-id-theft-targets-kids-social-security-numbers/#commentsFiled under: , ,


    KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The latest form of identity theft doesn't depend on stealing your Social Security number. Now thieves are targeting your kid's number long before the little one even has a bank account.

    Hundreds of online businesses are using computers to find dormant Social Security numbers - usually those assigned to children who don't use them - then selling those numbers under another name to help people establish phony credit and run up huge debts they will never pay off.

    Authorities say the scheme could pose a new threat to the nation's credit system. Because the numbers exist in a legal gray area, federal investigators have not figured out a way to prosecute the people involved.

    "If people are obtaining enough credit by fraud, we're back to another financial collapse," said Linda Marshall, an assistant U.S. attorney in Kansas City. "We tend to talk about it as the next wave."

    Continue reading New ID Theft Targets Kids' Social Security Numbers

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    ]]>    fraudsocial securitySocial Security NumberSocialSecuritySocialSecurityNumberAssociated PressMon, 02 Aug 2010 13:26:00 EST    New Guidelines Aim to Reduce Repeated C-Sectionshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/22/new-guidelines-aim-to-reduce-repeated-c-sections/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/22/new-guidelines-aim-to-reduce-repeated-c-sections/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/22/new-guidelines-aim-to-reduce-repeated-c-sections/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Study finds new ways to avoid C-section Credit: Getty Images


    WASHINGTON (AP) - Most women who've had a C-section, and many who've had two, should be allowed to try labor with their next baby, say new guidelines - a step toward reversing the "once a cesarean, always a cesarean" policies taking root in many hospitals.

    Wednesday's announcement by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists eases restrictions on who might avoid a repeat C-section, rewriting an old policy that critics have said is partly to blame for many pregnant women being denied the chance.

    Fifteen years ago, nearly 3 in 10 women who'd had a prior C-section gave birth vaginally the next time. Today, fewer than 1 in 10 do.

    Continue reading New Guidelines Aim to Reduce Repeated C-Sections

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    ]]>    C sectioncaesareanCSectionVBACAssociated PressThu, 22 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST    In-Vitro Babies Show (Slightly) Higher Risk for Cancerhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/20/in-vitro-babies-show-slightly-higher-risk-for-cancer/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/20/in-vitro-babies-show-slightly-higher-risk-for-cancer/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/20/in-vitro-babies-show-slightly-higher-risk-for-cancer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Research shows invitro babies may be at higher risk of birth defects. Credit: Stefan Wermuth, AFP/Getty Images


    Many people feared "test tube babies" in the '70s and '80s.

    The whole in-vitro thing seemed so unnatural. Critics feared it would lead to mutant children at a higher risk of birth defects, cancer and a whole slew of genetic complications.

    Turns out their fears were justified. Just a little.

    Swedish researchers, in the latest issue of the journal Pediatrics, report a slightly higher risk of birth defects and some kinds of disease (including cancer) among children born through in-vitro fertilization.

    Continue reading In-Vitro Babies Show (Slightly) Higher Risk for Cancer

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    ]]>    birth defectsBirthDefectscancerIn-vitroFertilizationtest tube babiesTestTubeBabiesTom HendersonTue, 20 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST