Archive for the ‘Children's Health’ Category

A recent study shows that kids are now seeing fewer advertisements for sweets, such as candy, soda, and cookies. This should be a good thing, right? That’s what I thought at first too. However, the amount of ads they are seeing for fast food has gone up by 4.7% for children ages 2-5.

So, what can you do to make sure your little one is not easily influenced by the fast food commercials? Have healthy eating habits at home; you are child’s biggest influence!

Tips for Healthy Eating Habits (For children 2-5 years old)

1. Set a good example: Kids learn from watching you. Eat fruits and veggies and they will too.
2. Offer a variety of foods: introduce your child to new foods often.
3. Start with Small Portions: teach them to take small amounts at first; tell them they can get more if they are still hungry.
4. Help them know when they’ve had enough: avoid pressure; provide them with healthy options, and let them decide how much.
5. Follow a meal and snack schedule: plan for 3 meals and 1-2 snacks for the day and stick to the schedule as close as possible.
6. Make mealtime a family time: turn off the TV; cook together, eat together, and talk together.
7. Help them try new foods: it may take many times of trying a new food before they will actually like it.

If you do decide to take your child out at a fast-food restaurant, encourage them to make lower-fat selections, to start their meal with a salad, to choose grilled rather than fried, and to choose low-fat milk or juice rather than soda or shakes.

For more tips on developing healthy eating habits, call or visit the website of your local Cornell Cooperative Extension:

Jefferson County: 315-788-8450

Lewis County: 315-376-5270

St. Lawrence County: 315-379-9192

You can also visit MyPyramid.gov

Sources: MyPyramid.gov; Healthy Children; Womenshealth.gov  

You may have read our last post and thought: “I would never leave my baby in the hot car”; “I know not to do that”; “only irresponsible people leave their baby in the car.” I know you would never purposely leave your child in a hot car, risking the chance of death. Unfortunately, many children have died by accidentally being left in the car.

Since 1998, there have been 463 child deaths involving heat exhaustion inside cars and trucks. Some of these deaths have involved children climbing into a car and becoming locked inside unbeknownst to their parents or guardian.

Are you wondering how this information applies to you? These deaths don’t just happen to neglectful parents. They happen to good, caring parents who are over-tired, over-worked, too stressed, out of routine, etc.

 Here are a few suggestions to help you keep your baby safe:

1. Check the back seat every time they exit the vehicle
2. Leave your cell phone or purse on the floor near your baby’s car seat. That way when you retrieve it, you’re reminded to retrieve them too.
3. Set your cell phone or Blackberry reminder to be sure you dropped your child off at day care.
4. Place a stuffed animal in your baby’s car seat when they are not in it. When they are in it, place the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat as a reminder for you.
5. Have a plan that if your child is late for daycare that you will be called within a few minutes. Be especially careful if you change your routine for dropping off little kids at day care.
6. Teach children not to play in any vehicle.
7. Lock all vehicle doors and trunk after everyone has exited the vehicle – especially at home. Keep keys out of children’s reach. Cars are not playgrounds or babysitters

Dial 911 immediately if you see an unattended child in a car.

Are there any tricks you use to make sure you never forget your baby?

Sources: CBS News; Safe Kids USA