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I would like to start this commentary by assuring you that I really am a fun parent. I’m not a germaphobe despite the fact that I majored in cellular molecular biology, I don’t wrap my children in bubble wrap or tell them not to run for fear that they’ll get hurt and their bedroom walls are not padded despite my ongoing commitment to injury prevention.

Okay, so now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I’ll also tell you that my husband is convinced that all of you who read my column are going to start thinking of me as Debbie Downer if I keep writing about all of the dangers of childhood – a concern I fully understand. The problem is that I just can’t help it. Not when I know that unintentional injuries have long been and continue to be the leading cause of death for children under the age of fourteen, and that there’s a lot that we, as parents, can do to prevent these injuries from happening.

While I could take my pick of summertime safety topics to write about (and probably will over the upcoming weeks, since there’s no shortage of them), right now I think it’s well worth the time to focus on the fact that there’s going to be a whole lot of fireworks on the horizon in the not too distant future. In fact, in my west Omaha neighborhood, they’re already a nightly event.

Each year, without fail, I cringe at the thought of the potential dangers of fireworks. And just saying that makes me sound like my mother. As a kid, I admit I had a very hard time listening to my pediatrician mother explain the dangers of fireworks. And not just the “dangerous” kind, but essentially all of the fireworks that every other neighborhood child got to light and enjoy in peace without hearing about how many people lose eyes and limbs to fireworks. Back then, my siblings and I weren’t allowed to light anything but sparklers.

Knowing what I know now, even sparklers concern me. Of course, saying that alone makes me a bit of a social outcast, given that most families I know are out buying hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars worth of fireworks that they fully intend to fire off together in the front driveway. Now that non-profits are allowed to sell them right here in Nebraska, I can only imagine how many more amateur fireworks we stand to witness in the next few days and weeks. I only hope this increased availability doesn’t translate into an increase in fireworks related injuries.

For my part, I figured it might help if I shared a couple of commonly used expressions that I think are particularly relevant to the Fourth of July weekend celebrations. It is my sincere hope that they will give you pause, and then set you up to enjoy a fun-filled and safer family holiday weekend.

It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye…and people actually do. According to my mother, it was the experience of being on call on the Fourth of July in the pediatric emergency room in Boston and seeing a child brought in who had been blinded by an exploding firework that shaped her future opinions of them. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, somewhere on the order of seven to nine thousand people a year are treated in hospital emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries.

You’re playing with fire….literally. While you’d like to think that this would be obvious – akin to letting children stick their hands in the oven, for example – this particular burn risk seems to be lost on some otherwise safety-minded parents as soon as their children start begging to go out and join the fun of lighting explosives. And if you think I’m just talking about the more obviously dangerous explosive kinds of fireworks, consider the fact that even good old, presumably benign sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2000 degrees and are responsible for an estimated one third of fireworks-related injuries to children under age 5.

You’re throwing caution to the wind – definitely in a figurative sense, but also in a very literal sense. It makes absolutely no sense to me that one of the most well-accepted rituals involved in celebrating our country’s independence is the liberation of lit explosives into the wind in the hopes that they entertain rather than fall on a neighbors roof, tree, or other highly flammable objects.

And finally, knowing full well that there will still be lots of families lighting lots of fireworks in the upcoming days, I’ll leave you with some important fireworks safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

  • Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
  • Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
  • Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don’t realize that young children suffer injuries from from sparklers, [which are] hot enough to melt some metals.
  • Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
  • Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
  • Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
  • Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
  • Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
  • Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
  • After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.

Originally posted on Omaha World Herald’s Live Well Nebraska

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From Pyramid to Plate – What Parents Need to Know about Healthy Eating

If you didn’t catch last week’s long awaited reveal, you missed some big news….at least in the world of obesity prevention and healthy living. That’s because as of last week, it’s now out with the Food Pyramid and in with a fresh new USDA MyPlate. This fresh-faced picture of nutritional health comes in the form of a simplified icon illustrating what we all should be eating: fruits and vegetables filling half the plate, with the other half dedicated to grains (preferably whole) and protein. Ever since the plate’s big reveal, I’ve heard the question of whether this noble effort will make a difference in our big-picture fight against obesity.

In order to answer this question, we should first address the fact that just about everyone – parents and professionals alike – found the Food Pyramid (and it’s many pyramid permutations) more than a bit perplexing. Sure, in all of our heart of hearts we already know that we should be eating lots more fruits and vegetables interspersed with some whole grains and lean protein. But there’s no denying that a picture speaks a thousand words. Given that the recently retired pyramid icon typically required nearly that many words of explanation, the overall lack of understanding posed a pretty big problem. In other words, I hope the fact that we now have something far more visually appealing in MyPlate will make the nutritional message it serves much easier to digest.

That said, there’s a very big difference between knowing what we should be doing (or in this case, eating) and what we actually do or eat. When it comes to MyPlate, we therefore need to make sure to look beyond the colorful picture and commit to taking a closer look at other plate-related problems that are negatively contributing to our nutritional state of well-being.

This includes acknowledging the fact that far too many meals are eaten without even using a plate! Recent studies support the disturbing statistic that children get more than a quarter of their daily calories from snacking. And what they snack on is typically high-density, unhealthy foods. For anyone not up-to-speed on the terminology of poor nutrition, this translates into Cheetos and Big Gulps. Now before you shake your head in dietary disgust and then decide this doesn’t apply to you, I’m willing to bet that the eating and snacking habits of most adults aren’t much better. That applies not only to snacking, but to the huge number of Americans who consume fast food meals so often that they get by without plates altogether.

Although there are a few scattered efforts in the fast food industry to offer an healthier item or two on the menu, when we’re talking fast food, we’re almost always talking about the likes of French fries and bacon double cheeseburgers. When it comes to the problem of snacking and fast food alike, I think that even just requiring the use of a plate, and making it a rule that your children (and you) have to sit down to eat off of it could improve the situation. Combine that with a sincere effort to meet the new MyPlate recommendations and you’ll find that there’s absolutely no place on the plate for most fast food fare (or Cheetos).

Moving on to another super-sized plate problem, it’s worth pointing out that our eyes are not the only things that tend to be bigger than our stomachs. For those who do a good job of making a point to use a plate, you’ll want to be aware that there have been some pretty big changes made to plates over recent years….as in they’ve gotten bigger and bigger (right along with everything from soda bottles and bagels to mugs and bowls). And whether you believe it or not, studies show that the bigger the serving dish, the bigger the serving is likely to be. And the more we heap on our plates, the more likely we are to overeat. My suggestion? Try eating off a smaller plate, or at least resist the urge to fill it.

And finally, lets get to the substance at hand. What I really like about the new plate illustration is that it makes it much easier to compare it to one’s own plate full of food and in most cases, recognize the distinct lack of fruits and vegetables. It also has the added benefit of opening up new dietary possibilities. In my experience, most people seem to have quite a few preconceived notions about what’s appropriate to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I’m willing to bet that even those who eat the recommended proportions of fruits, vegetables, grains and protein at dinner (and maybe even lunch) may not have previously consider serving up this balanced approach at breakfast.

So there you have it – a more detailed look at the implications of a plate than I ever thought I’d write, but one that I am convinced is well worth it. Both for your sake, and for your children’s, I hope all of you will give MyPlate the consideration it deserves. Whether you choose to plant a garden, take a trip to one of Omaha’s many farmer’s markets or spend more time in your local grocery store’s produce department, please don’t forget to consider that not everyone is fortunate to have access to affordable and readily available fresh fruits and vegetables (or whole grains or lean protein, for that matter).

If you’re interested in looking beyond your own family’s plate, consider checking out the Omaha Food Bank’s program that makes use of a produce truck (that looks convincingly like an ice cream truck) to deliver fresh produce to parts of Omaha with the greatest need. I’m sure they won’t mind me suggesting you call them up if you have produce to share or financial support to help further their worthwhile work.

Originally posted on Omaha World Herald’s Live Well Nebraska

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Kids & Cars: Keeping Your Child Safe In and Around Cars

I spent most of last week on the road – first in Orlando at the International Reading Association Conference and then in Chicago participating in a Twitter Party where I was graciously allotted 140 characters per answer to address the challenges of feeding babies. Given that I routinely scan the Omaha World Herald each morning in search of current, locally-relevant parenting topics to blog about, by mid-week I was feeling more than a bit removed and had all but decided to focus on the benefits of early literacy or feeding babies.

That is, until I picked up last Wednesday’s USAToday. What scant details I found condensed into a tiny little paragraph about a baby in Omaha recovering after being rescued from a hot car left me cringing at what might have happened right here in my home town. After returning to Omaha, I not only picked up additional details of this narrowly averted tragedy, but also learned of another child who was recently and inadvertently left in a car while family members went to church.

Even though this isn’t Child Passenger Safety Week (which, for future reference, is planned for the week of September 18th this year), and even though I just wrote about important safety considerations related to teen driving last week, this is as good a time as any to discuss additional risks associated with kids and cars. Because the fact of the matter is that although last week’s two incidents both occurred right here in Omaha, incidents like these can happen anywhere and to anyone. It is my hope that they (along with this blog) will serve as a powerful reminder to everyone of just how important it is to protect against these known dangers involving kids and cars.

Hot cars. Within a mere matter of minutes, the temperature inside a car can be twenty degrees higher than the outside temperature. Within an half an hour, that number can reach 30 degrees higher than outside. That means that even a 70 degree spring day can quickly become dangerous for children left in cars. It also explains why an average of 38 children die each year from heat stroke after being left unattended. That thought alone should be enough to make all parents break into a cold sweat. Now factor in that children can’t control their core body temperatures nearly as well as adults, and it puts them at risk three to five times faster.

Last week’s incident, however, did not tell the whole story. While it is my understanding that that infant was intentionally left in the vehicle, this is not always the case. In many instances, parents or caregivers simply forget that there is an infant in the back, especially when they are off routine, tired, and/or in a hurry. I have yet to meet a parent who isn’t off routine, tired, and/or in a hurry at least on occasion. To help safeguard yourself from ever having this happen to you, always check the back seat of your car. Consider putting a small reminder, such as a stuffed animal, on the front seat whenever you put a child in the back, or put your purse (or some other easily remembered object) safely secured in the back seat along with your child. I also recommend that you read the Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post article, Fatal Distraction.

Children left unattended in cars. Power windows, trunk entrapment, and accidentally shifted gears are but a few of the lurking dangers when children are left unattended in cars. Regardless of whether you’re talking about children playing in parked cars in the driveway or being left in a car while you run into a store – you’re talking trouble. While a child left alone in a car doesn’t guarantee a disastrous outcome, it certainly has all the makings of one – even when the temperature is not a factor.

With three children of my own, believe me when I say that I am well aware of just how tempting it can be to run in and out of a store without unbuckling, unloading, re-loading and re-buckling up young kids. Yet I never allowed myself to do so, and neither should you – especially if you happen to have children under the age of 7. While there are currently only 18 states with laws against leaving a child unattended, Nebraska happens to be one of them, with a penalty of up to three months of prison time or $500 or both.

Backovers. Young kids and big cars certainly seem to be commonplace these days, but this combination of convenience can quickly turn lethal when small children behind vehicles aren’t visible to those behind the wheel. The result is an estimated 50 children being backed over each week in the United States, with at least 2 of them dying from their injuries. While the death of any child is tragic, even more tragic is the fact that a vast majority of the time backovers occur when a parent or close family member is behind the wheel.

One of the most publicly heartbreaking examples occurred two years ago, when Grammy-winning Christian music singer Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest daughter was run over and killed by her brother as he backed the family SUV out of the driveway.

So what’s a parent to do? First, be aware of the risks. Every car has a blind spot that stands to make anything behind it – including a child – out of sight to the driver. The higher, bigger and/or longer the vehicle, the bigger it’s blind spot. Regardless of the size of your car, you should therefore always walk around it before backing up, and even then back up slowly. Although there are no current regulations requiring a baseline amount of rear view visibility, also be aware that there are cars (my minivan included) that now come equipped (or can be equipped) with a rear-view camera. My advice would be to rank this added feature at the top of your wish list.

Additional Resources:

Originally posted on Omaha World Herald’s Live Well Nebraska

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Kids and Cars: Teen Driver Safety

News of teen car crash victims invariably get me choked up, but I have recently found myself thinking even more than usual about teenage drivers. I’m sure this is in large part due to the fact that my oldest child has now started talking about what car she hopes to drive in the not-too-distant future. I’m pretty sure it’s also because of the recent news detailing the incredibly sad local story about teenage sisters involved in a fatal crash.

But to be honest, this time of year always makes me think about the risks involved in newly licensed teens getting behind the wheel. I’m not sure why the time of year should make a difference – since the premature death of a teenager is without exception an horribly sad occasion in any season. But there’s apparently something even more devastatingly newsworthy about covering the senseless loss of life when it happens on prom night or just after graduation when teens should be excitedly preparing to embark on their future, not being laid to rest.

Needless to say, my heart always goes out to the families and friends of the more than 3000 teens who die in motor vehicle crashes each year. At the same time, my thoughts also turn immediately towards helping make sure you and every other parent (myself included) know what parents can do to protect our own children from such a tragedy.

It’s important to start by being aware of just how common it is for teenagers to be involved in motor vehicle crashes. Not only do car crashes continue to rank as the number one cause of death for teens, but 16 to 19 year olds are four times more likely to be fatally injured than 25 to 69 year olds.

Having said that, I feel the need to assure you (and my own teenagers, if they happen to read this) that my goal here isn’t to convince you that you should take away the car keys until your child reaches the age of 25. Rather, it’s to tell you that there is good evidence to support the notion that what you do as a parent, including the limits you set when it comes to your teen’s introduction to driving, is exceedingly important.

So what can you do to limit your teen’s crash risk? The good news is there’s actually a lot you can do.

  • Practice, practice, practice. Be aware that a teen’s greatest lifetime risk of crashing is in the first 6 months after getting a driver’s license – a risk that is in large part attributed to inexperience. In fact, seventy-five percent of all serious crashes involving teens have been related to three main critical errors of inexperience – lack of scanning for (and responding to) hazards, going too fast for road conditions, and distractions. Based on what we now know, however, the number of supervised hours that teens get behind the wheel before getting their driver’s licenses makes a big difference.
  • Set limits. It should come as no surprise that parents who set appropriate boundaries –– both on and off the road – have been shown to have a big impact on their children’s health and well being. Teen drivers are no exception. According to a study published in Pediatrics, teen drivers whose parents set and enforced rules were more likely to wear seat belts and less likely to speed, get in crashes, drink and drive, or use cell phones.
  • Help your teen avoid distractions. While it’s a good idea to avoid any and all distractions that stand to interfere with your teen’s undivided attention, there are 2 driving distractions in particular that have been proven to kill teens: cell phones and other teen passengers. In fact, nearly two out of three teen crash deaths for 16-year-old new drivers involve additional teen passengers.
  • Know the rules. Every state is different when it comes to laws about teen driving and learner’s permits. A majority of states – Nebraska included – place restrictions on new drivers in the first 6 to 12 months of driving. Referred to as a Graduated Driver’s License (GDL), such limits as nighttime and passenger restrictions have been proven to reduce crash risk. Nebraska’s GDL restrictions include no driving between midnight and six a.m. until the age of 17, and no passengers other than family members for the first 6 months of driving.
  • Agree upon the rules of the road. This is easiest done by printing out a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement (such as the one from the CDC or Checkpoints) and making sure you and your teen both take it seriously
  • Drive by example. Just as with every other aspect of parenthood, your teen driver will be watching you. Logging lots of supervised practice hours is definitely important for your teen’s future driving safety, but so is serving as a role model by making sure you always wear your seatbelt and put down your cell phone while driving.

For more very valuable information on teen driver safety, I recommend the following sites:

Originally posted on Omaha World Herald’s Live Well Nebraska

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The Problem with Childhood Vaccines

To get right to the point, I find that the problem with vaccines (or at least writing about them) is that more people are likely to read what I’m about to write if I imply there’s a problem with them then if I were to simply state that vaccines happen to be one of the single most life-saving accomplishments of the twentieth century – appropriately credited with literally transforming the landscape of medicine. That’s not to say that a majority of the general public doesn’t take vaccines seriously. But in this day and age – when we all reap their benefits – we perhaps run the risk of taking vaccines a bit too much for granted. Continue reading “The Problem with Childhood Vaccines”

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Is Your Child Ready for Summer Camp…and is Summer Camp Ready for Your Child?

Every spring, I find myself joining countless other Omaha parents in the search for some sort of organized summer activity(ies) for my children that will be fun, interesting, and hopefully even…dare I say it (lest my children actually read my blog)….educational. Of course in my case, this wasn’t such a problem in years past – if only because my husband and I chose to overcome the “what full-time opportunities are there for kids in the summertime” dilemma by simply building ourselves a childcare center and making sure it offered a high-quality full-time summer camp. While I am well aware that this isn’t the most common solution, what is exceedingly common is for kids – on the order of 11 million of them – to attend summer camps catering to a huge range of ages and activities, and a vast array of interests.

Given that summer is rapidly approaching, I’m willing to bet that a majority of you are currently in search of a summer camp and understandably focusing your search on such criteria as the fun factor, logistical considerations such as hours of operation and transportation requirements, and cost. Based on my review of the recently released policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics entitled Creating Health Camp Environments, however, I am reminded that we should all, as responsible parents, be looking past the fun and games and asking some additional, very important health- and safety-related considerations before sending our kids off to camp this summer. They include:

Don’t get overly ambitious. Be sure to take into account your child’s interests and skill level, not to mention his/her emotional readiness. This means making sure your child is not only enthused about the camp you’ve chosen, but will realistically be able to meet the associated physical and emotional expectations. 

Schedule an annual checkup. This is the perfect time to schedule a complete annual physical exam and overall health review. While you’re there, remember to discuss with your child’s doctor any specific physical requirements of the camp that may require medical consideration and/or clearance, as well as any plans for prescriptions and/or medication administration that will be needed while your child is at camp. 

Make sure your children’s immunizations are up-to-date. Not only do vaccines help limit the spread of vaccine-preventable infections in the camp environment (not to mention in general), but it’s also worth noting that children attending camps in other states (or even other countries) may have additional immunization requirements. 

Recognize that separation anxiety is not just for the very young. I’ve seen plenty of otherwise calm, cool and collected kids experience significant pangs of homesickness – especially if they’re heading off to camp for the first time. Minimize the likelihood by first making plans that aren’t overly ambitious (no sleepaway camp for kids who’ve never spent a night away from home before, for example), and also making sure to discuss with, prepare, and involve your child.

In addition to considering whether your child is ready for camp, you’ll also want to make sure the camp is ready for your child. Make sure the camp you are considering:

  • Is adequately staffed with appropriately trained staff. Training should not only be tailored for the types of activities offered (horse back riding or tennis, for example), but also in more general skills such as basic first aid and CPR.
  • Has “what if?” policies in place in the form of written health and safety policies and protocols. This helps insure that the camp is adequately prepared to handle and treat common illnesses and injuries
  • Insures good basic hygiene – both in the form of routine hand-washing (something that proved to be exceedingly important during the recent H1N1 flu season), but also in food preparation and service, etc.
  • Is ready, willing and adequately prepared to correctly and reliably document and administer any medications your child may need while at camp.

And finally – keep in mind that if you choose wisely, summer camp can provide your child with the perfect opportunity for building self-esteem and a sense of independence, making new friends, and spending lots of time being physically active and enjoying the great outdoors.

Originally posted on Omaha World Herald’s Live Well Nebraska

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Fighting fever phobia: The facts about fever for parents

This seems like an appropriate time to spend a few minutes focusing  on the subject of fever, in part because it’s one that effects (and therefore interests) just about every parent I know, and also because we happen to be right in the middle of cold and flu season – a time of year during which children inevitably experience far more than their fair share of fevers.  It’s also because fever phobia amongst parents is usually far more pervasive than it is warranted. That’s not to say that fever is inconsequential, but rather that we should all take the time to brush up on exactly what fever is, what it represents, when it does (or doesn’t) need to be treated, and how to do so appropriately. Fortunately,  the American Academy of Pediatrics just pulled together all of the latest expert thinking on the management of fever in children and released it in a clinical report entitled Fever and Antipyretic Use in Children.

Given the importance of the subject,  I figured it would be particularly helpful to review just what these latest fever recommendations tell us about fever.

A healthy respect for fever.  It’s important to understand that fever is not an illness, but rather a common and normal response to infection. While fevers can in some instances signify a more serious underlying infection, they are unlikely to endanger generally healthy children.

It’s a matter of degree – or is it?  According to the AAP’s report, the use of fever-reducing medications should be focused on making children more comfortable, rather than getting rid of fevers altogether. It’s certainly useful to own a thermometer and to know how to accurately measure your child’s temperature. But all too often, parents unnecessarily focus on using fever-reducing medications to fight their child’s temperature back down to normal and keep it there.

The benefits of fever. While I know it may be hard to recognize any benefits when you’re home caring for a sick child, the report reinforces that fever is actually thought to have a  beneficial effect when it comes to the body’s efforts to fight infection.

Fighting fever phobia. The most common fear that parents, caregivers and even health care providers often share is that high fevers, if left untreated, will result in seizures, brain damage, or worse. In fact there is no evidence to support this fever phobia, as there is no evidence that fever itself worsens the course of an illness or that it causes long-term neurologic complications.

Treat with care. Acetaminophen products (like Tylenol) and ibuprofen products (such as Motrin or Advil) are considered equally safe and effective for use in the treatment of fever for children 6 months of age and older. That said, it is especially important for these fever-reducing medications to be dosed accurately and given no more often than necessary or recommended (every 4-6 hours for acetaminophen and 6-8 hours for ibuprofen). As for giving them in combination or alternating them, as is often discussed, it may be effective but shouldn’t be done unless absolutely necessary since it increases the risk of making dosing errors.

Originally posted on Omaha World Herald’s Live Well Nebraska

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I have been convinced that fish would be a perfect blog topic ever since I returned from a recent trip to San Francisco. Let me assure you that my newfound determination to focus your attention on fish was not triggered by my proximity to Fisherman’s Wharf, but rather by what was discussed in the city by the bay at a meeting of pregnancy and newborn nutrition experts. The topic, which warranted a full day of discussion, was the fact that pregnant and breastfeeding women should be eating more fish.

That’s right – I didn’t say less fish. I said most pregnant and breastfeeding women should be eating more fish. And this recommendation not only comes from an esteemed group of experts in perinatal nutrition, but from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Now this recommendation in and of itself wouldn’t necessarily warrant a blog post, except for the fact that just about everyone seems to believe that pregnant women should avoid eating fish altogether because of the risk of mercury exposure. More than an isolated few also (mistakenly) believe that everyone should significantly limit their fish consumption. And therein lies the problem.

You see, back in 2004, the FDA released guidelines clearly stating that “fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. Fish and shellfish contain high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well balanced diet that includes a variety of fish can contribute to heart health and children’s proper growth and development. So, women and young children in particular should include fish or shellfish in their diets due to the many nutritional benefits.” At the same, however, the FDA also offered some cautionary advice about how to limit the risk of mercury exposure from eating fish by simply recommending that pregnant and breastfeeding women consume no more than 12 ounces of fish per week. While the American public seemed to have no problem digesting the information that fish may contain methylmercury, far too many completely missed the part about the benefits of eating fish –for pregnant and breastfeeding women, for their babies, and for all of us.

And that brings us to what has been referred to as “the fish paradox.” Once known as brain food because of its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients, fish has suffered an undeserved fall from grace. It is for this reason that I am committed to clarifying what we know about fish, its benefits, the issue of mercury, and what current dietary guidelines recommend when it comes to fish consumption. While you probably have heard of the mercury risk associated with eating seafood, I want to make sure to leave all of you – but especially those of you who are new or expectant moms – with a very healthy respect for the risks of not eating seafood and the following fish-food for thought.

Let them eat fish! Compelling evidence tells us that eating fish during pregnancy and while breastfeeding can improve brain development in babies, and even potentially decrease a woman’s risk of preterm labor and post-partum depression.

Simply avoid four types of fish. Instead of struggling to remember which fish contain less mercury, just make it a point to remember that there are only four higher-containing fish to avoid: Tilefish, Shark, Swordfish and King Mackerel.

Make fish a part of your weekly diet. The 2011 Dietary Guidelines reinforce the recommendation that pregnant and breastfeeding women should make an effort to eat 8 to 12 ounces of seafood a week – an amount currently being consumed by fewer than 20 percent of new and expectant mothers.

Fear not the fish. Unless you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or breastfeeding, then you should also know that the recommendation to limit seafood consumption doesn’t apply to you. What does apply to you is the fact that the 2011 Dietary Guidelines recommend we could all benefit nutritionally by increasing the amount of fish in our diets!

Originally posted on Omaha World Herald’s Live Well Nebraska

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The Benefits of Breastfeeding

There sure has been a lot of discussion about breastfeeding in Nebraska lately, and for that I’m glad. But I have to cringe every time it’s brought to my attention that Nebraska is one of only two states without legal protection for “the practice” of breast-feeding. To put it bluntly, as a pediatrician I find this quite embarrassing. Even more than embarrassing, I find it completely baffling. As much as I try to understand the opposition to LB 197 and the right to breast-feed in public, I simply can’t.

After all, you can’t convince me it’s based on concerns about over-exposed breasts. Not in this day in age. Not when Katy Perry flaunts her assets on Sesame Street, Lady Gaga’s outfits leave little to the imagination, and everything from billboards to Superbowl ads bombard us (and worse yet, our children) with nearly bare-all images of women’s breasts. Let me also point out that there’s a huge difference between the pervasive and highly sexualized imagery our society has discouragingly come to tolerate, and breast-feeding. Quite frankly, breast-feeding shouldn’t even be discussed in the same breath. Sure, it involves the breasts, but that’s as far as the connection goes.

I also think that anyone who opposes protecting the rights of women to breast-feed in public is missing the hugely important fact that promoting breast-feeding is one of the single best ways we know to improve the health and well-being of babies (and their mothers). It’s no coincidence that the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, recently  launched a nationwide campaign to encourage breastfeeding by removing barriers that discourage it. I applaud well-respected pediatricians Dr. Laura Wilwerding (the American Academy of Pediatrics’ breast feeding coordinator for Nebraska) and Dr. Tom Tonniges (former Associate Director at the American Academy of Pediatrics and now Medical Director at Boys Town) for their recent and ongoing efforts to insure that Nebraskans don’t lose sight of just how important breastfeeding is.

I join them in closely watching what’s happening with LB 197 and hoping Nebraska will soon catch up with the rest of the country in better supporting every new mom’s noble efforts to successfully breast-feed her baby –in the hospital, at home, and yes…even in public.

On that note, I figured it would be most compelling to leave you with a few simple but powerful reminders of just why breast-feeding and LB 197 are so important.

  • Breast milk contains infection-fighting antibodies that provide babies with protection against everything from diarrhea and the common cold to ear infections and pneumonia
  • Breastfed babies are less likely to have asthma
  • Babies who are breastfed for at least six months are less likely to become obese
  • Breastfeeding reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
  • Moms who breastfeed not only return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster, but experience less postpartum bleeding and are at reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Obstacles such as lack of support, instruction, and accommodation to breastfeed at work and in public all contribute to the fact that while 75% of moms in the U.S. start breastfeeding, only 43% are still doing so at the end of six months (and only 13% exclusively, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics).

Originally posted on Omaha World Herald’s Live Well Nebraska

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An alternative to Valentine’s Day chocolate: reasons to dance your heart out!

Valentine’s Day is undeniably all about love and sweethearts. It’s also defined by the heartfelt gifts of chocolates, sweets and (candy) hearts so plentiful this time of year. Now it’s not that I think we need to do away with all of these sweet gifts in lieu of a more heart-healthy approach to Valentine’s Day. But it has occurred to me that this holiday could mean so much more when it comes to finding ways for our loved ones to have happy hearts.

To get you one step closer to achieving this goal, I’d like to suggest that you, your kids, and your sweetheart all get up and dance. That’s right…dance! There are several reasons why you and your family should put your best foot forward and get up and start dancing.

It’s Fun. Regardless of age, who doesn’t like putting on some music and just letting loose? The good news is that regular physical activity throughout the day (which could easily include dancing), improves sleep, reduces stress, and overall makes people feel better about themselves. So just break out those dancing shoes (and your toddler’s skid-free socks and tutus) and start dancing. For some added fun – grab your video camera and capture the moment(s). No rules, just fun.

It’s Exercise. I imagine you don’t need me to tell you that we’re in the middle of a nationwide childhood (and adult) obesity epidemic. The beauty of dancing is that it’s not work, it doesn’t require committing to regular trips to the gym, and it doesn’t cost a thing to break a sweat. Yet don’t let this lack of requirements deceive you into thinking it’s not exercise. In fact, First Lady Michelle Obama’s national Let’s Move! Campaign actively promotes the need for kids to get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous active play every day. After all, when they (and you) simply get moving (or dancing!), it all adds up to building and keeping healthy bones, muscles and joints and achieving a healthy body weight.

It’s Quality Family Time. Whether you opt for a daddy-daughter dance, a dance contest, or a more freestyle approach to your family’s dancing, it all adds up to the potential for quality family time. With the hectic pace of parenthood and often over-scheduled childhood that defines the times, I would argue that protected quality time with the family – at the dinner table, during conversations with your child in the car, and when sharing fun family activities like dancing together – is invaluable.

And now for my timely and heart-warming news. As many of you may already know, in addition to being a pediatrician, I also own an educational childcare center – Primrose School of Legacy – located in West Omaha. As one of over 200 franchised centers across the country, I am particularly proud to share with you that from February 1st through March 19th, all your heart-felt family dancing can be for a very worthy cause! That’s because Primrose Schools is hosting the 2nd Annual National Family Dance-off Contest. This fun family-oriented dance-contest is open to all families and benefits the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. By simply uploading a 30-second video of your family’s most creative, unique, or amusing dance moves at www.FamilyDanceoff.com and/or making sure that you and everyone you know votes each day for your favorite Omaha video, you could be one of 14 weekly contest winners who receive a flip video camera and up to $5000, while also winning Children’s Hospital and Medical Center a chance at receiving a $15,000, $20,000, or even $30,000 donation from Primrose Schools!

Simply put, I want to see Omaha families and children getting healthy by eating healthier, getting up and moving, and dancing. And through March 19th, I more specifically hope you all will be dancing to win, not only for yourselves, but for Omaha’s Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. I guarantee you it will do your body, your family, and your heart some good!

Originally posted on Omaha World Herald’s Live Well Nebraska