Posted on Thursday, September 1, 2016

5 Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe in the Car

When it comes to the safety of your children, nothing is more important than safety in the car and car seat. Accidents happen every day, and without proper restraints and precautions, the impact from a motor vehicle crash can cause serious harm to your child. This doesn’t only apply to infants but teens, too. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death in teenagers in the United States. September is Baby Safety Month so we will be devoting a lot of time to this and other topics. Today, we will be discussing what you can do to protect yourself and your kids when you get behind the wheel.

So, what’s the deal with car seats?

We all know that properly restraining your child while in the car can keep them out of harm’s way, but there is so much to know.

First, your car seat should grow with your baby. There are four types of car seats needed; rear facing infant, front facing toddler, high back, and a booster seat for older kids. Overwhelmed already? You don’t necessarily need to get one car seat that converts to all four but it is likely you will need all of these types of seats as your child grows. As their height and weight change the way they sit in the car changes too. This is why there is a need for different car seat types.

Second, a lot of people don’t know to do this, but you can register your car seat to get recall notices. You don’t want to have to hear about a dangerous recall on your infant’s car seat through the news or word of mouth. Get recalls right to your inbox. This way you can correct the problem immediately and prevent any possible danger to your child.

Third, believe it or not, your child should use a booster seat until around age 12, or until they are big enough that the seat belt fits them properly. Most child safety organizations say that if they’re taller than 4-feet-9-inches they no longer need a booster seat. Make sure your child meets specific height and weight requirements before forgoing the car seat.

Fourth, it might not be a bad idea to have an extra car seat for a backup in case of emergency. Things break at the worst time. Running late to a family event? If the buckle on the car seat breaks you’re in big trouble. Having an extra one laying around, even if it’s one you bought for cheap at a local resale store, will save you a lot of headaches.

Fifth, if you are unsure how to get the car seat in the car properly, visit to your local police or fire department; they will help you. Safety personnel are trained to do this and they may even be able to give you additional valuable safety information. Also, you should have the car seat installed a few weeks before baby arrives. You never know when you will go in to labor, so it’s always good to be prepared.

A few car safety rules…

No young children in the front seat. They’re too small, and if there’s an accident and the air bags deploy, they can be severely injured. The back seat is the safest place for kids.

Seat belts are a must – even in the back seat. A lot of states, such as Michigan, don’t require seat belts to be worn while riding in the back seat if you’re over 16. Frankly, this law is stupid and dangerous. Safety belts should be worn at all times. Safety belts save lives.

…and rules for your teenage driver

Turning the right age to drive — 16 years in many, but not all, states — is a big deal. They are getting their license, maybe getting a car, but teenage drivers can be very dangerous. It is important that you set some rules to ensure your teen driver is safe and responsible behind the wheel before handing over the keys.

No loud music. A lot of kids wants to blast the music as they cruise down the street in their first car, but blaring music prevents them from hearing important things, such as an ambulance or another car. Sometimes another driver may need to let out a honk to alert a car that they are there. If the music is too loud that warning may not be heard causing an accident to occur.
No cell phones while driving, even hands-free. Chatting on the phone can cause a distraction. If there’s an emergency and they need to make a call, they should pull over until they are off the phone.
Only one friend in the car at first. The more people in the car, the more potential for distraction. Set a rule that until you feel they are ready there can only be one person in the car with them at a time. Some states already have provisional licenses that restrict the number of people in the car. Check your state’s laws.

Hopefully you found these car seat and car safety tips and tricks to be helpful.

For more healthcare news and tips daily follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.

Posted on Monday, August 29, 2016

Breastfeeding Your Active Toddler

We all know that breast feeding your child is beneficial to their health, but most moms stop breastfeeding around six months for several reasons. Whether it be convenience or because they don’t think it’s necessary anymore. However, breastfeeding even past one year is extremely beneficial to your child’s health. As your toddler grows and changes, so does breastfeeding. Today, we will discuss how breastfeeding changes with your active toddler as well as the benefits of breastfeeding past one year.

First, they don’t need as much. Since they are also eating solids they won’t need as much breast milk as they did when they were infants. Let them choose, offer them a variety of solid food, but if they seem to take better to breast milk there’s nothing to worry about.

Second, be forewarned: you may get bitten a lot. Sometimes it’s an accident, and other times it’s not. Some it is due to teething. Usually, their gums are sore so they feel they need to bite on something, not realizing that it hurts you to do that. If your toddler bites you while feeding pull away and stop immediately, let out a loud ouch to let them that behavior isn’t acceptable.

Third, you may transition in other milks. Keep in mind that this isn’t always necessary, mother’s milk is always going to be the best. But, if you wish, you can add in cow’s milk, goats milk or a dairy-free alternative, such as almond milk.

Fourth, your bond grows stronger. Not only is breastfeeding good for your baby’s health and wellness, but it’s good bonding time too.

What are the benefits of breastfeeding your toddler?

Breastfed toddlers are less likely to be picky eaters.
They have increased immunity and are more resistant to allergens. Breast milk is the best thing to ward off illness and allergies.
Toddlers who are breastfed are less likely to be obese as adults. It allows for better weight management and children who are better able to determine when they are full.
Studies have shown that breastfed toddlers have higher brain function and cognition in comparison to their bottle-fed peers.

Breastfeeding past your child’s first birthday can have fantastic benefits for their health and well-being. I hope you have found these tips helpful for how breastfeeding changes with an active toddler.

Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2016

How To Choose The Right Extracurricular Activities For Your Children

The start of the school year is fast approaching, and now is the time to start thinking about activities that will keep your kids busy after the school bells ring. Whether it’s art, sports or dance, there is an extracurricular activity, or activities, for everyone. However, sometimes it’s not as simple as signing on the dotted line at registration. A lot of thought and planning goes in to choosing the right extracurricular activities for your child. Here are four things to consider when choosing extracurricular activities for children.

First, it’s important to consider the cost of the activity and what you can afford. Most parents realize certain sports require a lot of equipment. But it’s important to recognize that the amount of equipment necessary and the cost of it can vary depending on the position your child plays. For instance, hockey goalie equipment comes with a hefty price tag. Also, growth spurts can add extra costs, like when those cleats your son needs for baseball fit at the start of the season, but a few months in they’ve already grown out of them. Remember to consider the cost of uniforms, and that in some sports you may need more than one. But sports aren’t the only costly activities. Art classes also require a lot of supplies. Consider all of the paints, pens, and brushes a child needs. Before you go any further in choosing an after school activity for your child, consider if it falls within your budget.

Second, be sure it’s feasible to get them there on time after school. If it’s a school organized sport, it’s usually on school grounds. If there’s an away game, the students often go by bus, which makes it very easy on mom and dad since there isn’t any extra driving involved. But if dance starts at 5:00 p.m., and it’s not on campus you have to be able to get them there. If you don’t get off work until 5:00, they don’t make it to rehearsal unless you prearrange a ride.

Third, consider the additional commitment some extracurricular activities require. A travel sports team requires a lot of weekends away for travel time, and may add travel costs to your budget. Or if your child is in theater, most of their performances will be on weekends in addition to their regular commitment. So if it’s not good for you to be gone on weekends, consider this before choosing an activity for your child.

Fourth, and most importantly, let your child choose what they want to do. Once you’ve considered all of the factors above give them a couple of options to choose from. When selecting these activities, consider your child’s strengths and weaknesses. If your kid tends to be clumsy and constantly tripping over their feet, soccer may not be the best choice. But if they enjoy singing and can carry a tune, consider getting them in choir or theater. Letting them have a choice in the extracurricular activities will empower them to choose something they think will be fun. Also, stress to them how important it is that they try stick with their commitment through the end. They may be nervous the first few weeks or feel out of place, but they will get the hang of it.

I hope you have found these tips helpful to getting your child set up for a great school year.