safety Archives - Happy Healthy Kids

4 Kids’ Sports Gear Mistakes Parents Make

April 28, 2017 by Kelley 1 Comment

Anyone who has a child in youth sports knows that athletics are way more intense than they were when we were kids. Even second- and third-grade town teams meet 3, 4, even 5 times a week, and now just about every sport is “year-round” if you want it to be (we know club organizations do, of course). And as our kids’ athletic commitments have grown, our sports gear budget seems to have ballooned along with it.

After an early spring in which my middle son developed a limp from ill-fitting sneakers, and a recent, stressful hour trying to parse the difference between baseball and lacrosse cleats at a local sporting goods warehouse staffed by one employee per every 5,000 square feet, I decided I could use some global insight. Jessica Kane, outreach coordinator for Steel Locker Sports in Austin, Texas, shared her observations about three things we ’80s kids—who just maybe wore jellies to little league softball practice—seem to be doing wrong when shopping and caring for the seemingly endless gear needed by 21st century young athletes.

Buying Too Big
This is maybe the most common misconception among parents, says Kane. Kids grow up quickly, and you might want to buy bigger shoes and clothes thinking they’ll grow into them. For shoes, you should buy the size that fits them comfortably now—ideally, according to podiatry experts, at the end of the day, when the foot has been working hard and might be a bit swollen, just as it is after running. Just as you probably know that too-small shoes can create pain and problems, too-big ones can, too: because the foot will slide around the shoe, blisters and muscle and tendon pain can result. The same rule should apply to uniform and clothing: comfortable and safe movement depends on it. Buy a proper fitting size for them and when the time comes, you can buy them a bigger uniform.

Wrong Shoes
Brand new shoes are the staple of a new school year and sports season. But many parents make the mistake of buying flash over substance, says Kane. When it comes to court sports or running, don’t buy street shoes instead of proper sports shoes: this is associated with common foot abnormalities like athlete’s foot or flat feet. Not all field sports require cleats, but it is important to do a bit of research on the types of cleats for specific sports. From a safety standpoint, soccer cleats are fairly versatile for all sports, but your child shouldn’t wear a shoe with a prominent toe cleat (often on baseball and lacrosse shoes) for soccer, which can be dangerous when kicking (and some refs might forbid). As your child ages and performance matters, you might want to invest in specialized cleats: the design in football, lacrosse, baseball, and soccer cleats are slightly different and can enhance lateral movement and other skills.

Not Washing Enough
We all—especially those of us with hockey players—know there’s a special eau de kid that only gets worse when our young athletes hit puberty. But the offense letting gear languish in bags or cubbies after a game or practice (or three) goes beyond locker room nose assault. Parents often let their kids wear their sports gear a second or third time if there is no visible grime, says Kane, but bacteria proliferates from sweat and even a little dirt which can cause rashes, acne, and other skin troubles. Other grubby little athletes will most certainly come in close contact with yours during the sport, adding their sweat and germs too, increasing your child’s risk of rashes and infections. After a game, make sure your children change out of their sweaty clothes and into fresh ones; and get those jerseys and pads—basically anything that’s not plastic—into the washing machine.

Spending Too Much
Sort of a surprise coming from a representative from a sports gear company, right? Kane recommends that before you commit to buying really expensive shoes and gear for your kids, remember that it will face a lot of wear and tear, sometimes for just a six-month stretch. A high price tag doesn’t always translate to great product performance—it often corresponds more with what brand-name is hot at the moment—so don’t be afraid to buy gear at a lower cost if the quality seems comparable. A good sales manager should be able to point you in the direction of less expensive brands that perform just as well as the pricey ones.

Top photo: Our “sports closet” at home. And this is just the half of it.

E.R. Nurse’s Wish List

December 1, 2016 by Kelley Leave a Comment

This post is part of a “Wish List” series in which I ask experts in different pediatric fields—medicine, education, etc.—what they really want parents to know and do better. Interested in hearing from a certain type of expert? Please make a suggestion here.

If there’s one genuinely stressful experience common to pretty much any parent, it’s a trip to the emergency room. There are few circumstances when we feel less in control than headed into the E.R. with a sick child in arms, and yet, it ranks high among situations when we’d most like to have our wits about us. As we approach winter, when emergency department volume peaks, I asked Katie, a pediatric nurse who’s worked in a major children’s hospital E. R. and a neonatal intensive care unit, what she wishes every parent knew before heading to the hospital. Thanks for the tips, Katie!

1. Buy a thermometer—and use it. One of the most frequent statements parents make is, “he/she has a fever.” The nurse will always ask, “how high was the fever?” and the most frequent response is “well, I don’t know. He/she just felt warm.” You can save time and money by simply taking your child’s temperature before heading to the hospital. A fever below 101 typically does not merit a visit to your local E.R. on its own.

2. Before coming to the ER, call your pediatrician and give your child a proper dosage of Motrin or Tylenol.
Your pediatrician knows your child (hopefully) better than we do. Calling them and giving them a heads up, and explaining symptoms or injuries, will determine if you truly need to go to your local E.R. To be safe, they’ll often tell you to go to your E.R., but they will also give us a heads up that you are coming. This may expedite your process, and we’ll have a better idea of who you are when you come into the E.R. Also, give a dose of Tylenol or Motrin before coming in, if your child has a headache, fever, pain, or is uncomfortable. This will also expedite your visit and you’ll be one step ahead of the game once you arrive to the E.R.

3. If you have a child with a complicated medical history, write down their allergies, history and medications and bring it with you. Life is hectic. We get it. But, if your child has multiple conditions, medications, allergies, or any other specific medical concerns, write them down in a lucid moment and put it in a slip of paper in your wallet or save it on your phone. Parents who come to the E.R. even slightly organized will help nurses and doctors do their job better. There have been countless occasions where parents have failed to mention an important medication or symptoms that can be very key in the diagnostic or treatment process. We truly need all the information. You know your child best, so be prepared to share your knowledge.

4. Do not be afraid to ask questions, ask for help, or inquire about resources. One of the best parts of being in an E.R. is that we get a chance to educate patients about almost anything health-related. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor or nurse questions even if it seems silly or you think it might be common sense. We have access to multiple resources, from child life specialists who can stop by during your visit to outside specialists we can refer you to. We’d rather take extra time with you than have you walk out confused.

5. Be prepared to wait. The busiest time to go to any E.R. is between 4pm-midnight. The reason: School and sports practices end, kids will admit around dinner time that they do not feel well, or they have been sick all day and it seems to get worse around bedtime. We wish this wasn’t the case, but it is. Patients receive treatment based on how sick they are, not in the order they arrive. Bring a book, iPad, games, coloring books or anything else that can help keep kids occupied for about an hour or more. We’ll do everything we can for your child, and if they seem to be doing worse as you’re waiting, tell us. We definitely do not want you waiting longer than you have to, and if your child needs more Tylenol, Motrin, an Ice Pack, Band-Aid, blanket or anything else, we are always happy to help.

Read more expert wish lists here.

How to Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike

September 28, 2016 by Kelley 3 Comments

Is it just me, or does parenting a child from ages 4 to 6 seems seem like a disproportionately packed stretch of “teaching?” It’s in this tiny window when we’re told many of our children are “ready” (read: expected) to master the basics of an extraordinary number of life skills. Swimming. Swinging. Skating. Tooth-brushing. Buttoning. Writing. Reading. The list goes on. No wonder kids this age seem tired all the time.

For our Pre-K’er, the skill du jour is riding a bike. He’s clearly outgrowing his 12-inch training-wheeled number, and his penchant for endless loops around our driveway makes me think he might be ready to ditch the training wheels. But I don’t know if I’m ready—at least if this move will precipitate the tears and panic that characterized his older brothers’ graduation from four to two wheels. So I turned to Curt Hinson, Ph.D, a physical education expert and a Happy Healthy Kids adviser, for guidance. Dr. Hinson, who consults school P.E. departments around the country with his Dr. Recess program, has taught hundreds of kids to ride a bike, and usually after just several minutes of instruction. Here are his expert tips.

Skip training wheels. I had a feeling this was a miss on my part, and Dr. Hinson confirmed it. “They actually keep the kid from learning because they balance the bike for the rider,” he says. The key is to get their core engaged from the get-go, to make it easier to shift to a big-kid bike. For 3- and 4-year-olds learning to ride, he recommends a pedal-less bike (a.k.a. “balance bike”). “The rider sits on the seat and propels himself forward with his feet

Cleary Bikes’ Starfish Balance Bike

on the ground. This enables the child to balance the bike on his own and steer it, which are the two keys to learning to ride,” Dr. Hinson says. A really good one recently on the market: the 12-inch Starfish Balance Bike by Cleary Bikes. It’s pricey—starting at $199—but with a leather seat, special sealants to protect the paint, and (almost unheard of in balance bikes) a hand break, it’s one special piece of engineering. Find it at clearybikes.com or here at amazon.com. Another good, more affordable option is Tauki Kids 12-inch Balance Bike, available for $80 at amazon.com.

Bell’s Zipper Helmet

(And don’t forget a helmet, of course: The Bell Zipper has some great designs, and has been recommended in Consumer Reports’ safety ratings.)
Kids between 5 and 7 are a little too big for these little balance bikes. In their case, start with a regular two-wheeler that’s sized appropriately for them. This chart from the International Bicycle Fund is a good starting point to figure out what to buy.

What Size Bike is Right?

Age	Inseam size (from crotch to foot)	Wheel diameter (bike size)
4-6 years	16-20 inches	14 inches
5-8 years	18-22 inches	16 inches
6-9 years	20-24 inches	18 inches
7-10 years	22-25 inches	20 inches

Source: International Bicycle Fund

Lower the seat and have them practice “walking” the bike on grass. Having their feet flat on the ground at first is helpful. Encourage them to walk the bike while sitting on it. “The child should walk his feet on the ground, moving the bike, making turns and circles,” says Dr. Hinson. ” The goal is for him to get the feel of what it takes to steer the bike and balance it. Since their feet are on the ground, it’s fairly easy, and falls are eliminated.”
Do the same thing on the pavement. Once the child seems comfortable making turns and circles on foot while seated on the bike, progress to the driveway or a parking lot (preferably something flat, smooth, and with a lot of room to go off course). Have him try walking while making turns and circles on the pavement, until he’s comfortable.
Raise the seat back up to a proper height to try pedaling. “Many people want to keep the seat low and have the kid pedal with the seat low—they think this is safer because the kid will be able to put his feet on the ground if he begins to fall,” Dr. Hinson says. But once they are past the “walking” stage, this is a no-no: “Having the seat low makes it really difficult to pedal, as your legs are never fully extended, and when beginners sense they are falling they don’t always put their feet on the ground, but rather let go of the handle bars and basically try to jump off the bike—it’s just instinct, they all do it.” Move the seat up so there’s about a 10-degree bend in their knee when the pedal is at the bottom of the pedal stroke—their toes should just barely touch the ground.
Lightly support the rider as they start push off one foot and start pedaling. “People try to hold the seat, but that’s just balancing it for the rider—the same thing as training wheels,” says Dr. Hinson. “I typically will either grab the rider up under both armpits or grab a hold of his shirt in the center of his back and bunch it up in my hand. Then run along side of the rider—that’s the difficult part. It takes effort, stamina, strength and compassion (no yelling allowed!).”
Keep the mood light, too. Some kids will be riding capably in a few minutes, others will take more time. For slower learners—often the kids who are little more risk-averse—be sure to not put on too much pressure, which will just make them more anxious. Take a break and try again later.

When Risky Toys are the Rage

January 13, 2016 by Kelley Leave a Comment

About every three years, my orthopedic surgeon husband pulls on-call duty on Christmas Day at the children’s hospital where he works. Well, a few weeks ago, his turn came around again; and while the rest of us munched on cinnamon buns in our PJs and tinkered with new gifts, he was busier than ever, thanks to one small, sleek item that just about every big kid had to have this year: the hoverboard. Of the six fracture consults he did that day, four were for hoverboard injuries. In total, he treated two elbow fractures and one wrist fracture (from falls), and one hand fracture (from getting a finger stuck in a wheel). Two of these incidents—an elbow fracture and the lacerated hand—required surgery.

This probably isn’t the first time you’ve read about the dangers of hoverboards, which have also been reported to catch on fire while charging or in use. So I’ll be brief with the advice I learned from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website. Hoverboarders should: wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and wrist guards; avoid riding near traffic; charge and store their boards in an open, dry area away from flammable items; and let the device cool for an hour after riding and before charging. They should also be at least 16, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (California has a state law requiring it).

But all the hoverboard brouhaha has made me think of a larger conundrum about limit setting when it comes to child’s play. Recently, there’s been a backlash on being too vigilant in this regard, and bestselling books (Wendy Mogul’s excellent Blessing of a Skinned Knee) and many lauded articles (see “The Overprotected Kid” in The Atlantic) have argued that our obsession with safety (and more largely, well-being) could be spawning a too-timid generation. And yet, the high-tech toys of today tend to carry more risks—physical and emotional—than the simpler playthings of the 70s and 80s. Vehicles and ride-ons were powered exclusively by our leg muscles, not motors and hydraulics. Video games featured pixelated animals, not amazingly life-like violence. If you want to allow your kids to try out the “hot” new toy and yet want to protect them from winding up in the E.R. (or worse) on Christmas Day, where—and how—do you draw the line?

That line will be different for everyone, and often depends on the age and maturity of your child. But here are four common-sense guidelines I’ll be trying to follow in 2016 and beyond, courtesy of the CPSC, the AAP, and Safe Kids Worldwide.

Don’t ignore recommended age and size ranges. On this note, I am hugely guilty. I’ve bought countless two-year-olds Melissa and Doug puzzles meant for ages 3 and up, and haven’t thought much about allowing my 70-pound second grader to bounce around on a pogo stick intended for children 60 pounds or lighter. The fact is, age and size recommendations aren’t determined on corporate whimsy; they are regulated by the CPSC, which is an independent federal agency tasked with protecting the public against injury and death associated with toys and other products. If there are no age requirements listed, do some research online and speak with a trustworthy local toy dealer about recommendations.

Buy from known and trusted retailers. All toys sold to kids ages 12 and under in the U.S. are subject to CPSC regulation—in theory. Kiosks, pop-up shops and some shady websites often sell illegally imported toys that aren’t subject to federal safety standards, and should be avoided.

Read—for real—the instructions. We have become—and our kids were born—a point-and-click generation, and we’ll often try things out before sitting down to read the fine print. But instructions are included in the box—or, hopefully, in an easily accessible online site—for a reason. We should all be taking a few minutes (or more) to sit down with our kids and go over safety and usage instructions for new playthings, and enforce non-negotiable rules (and consequences) about following them. When you catch a child without the requisite helmet, or charging a gadget incorrectly, or mouthing something potentially toxic, that might mean the toy goes away for a time period.

Download a toy recall app. It’s hard enough to check your kid’s school’s online calendar; odds are low that you’ll be surfing toward the CPSC website very often. But if you download the Recalls Pro app on your phone, you can create a watch list of toys you own or are thinking of purchasing.

Photo credit: Urban Wheel via Photo Pin, cc

Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for Kids

December 29, 2015 by Kelley 1 Comment

In late December, on one of the family walks we try to do around our local pond every weekend, my husband and I share our New Year’s resolutions with our kids—and prompt them to share theirs. But usually, little boys’ resolutions are either overly specific (“I won’t trip my little brother near that big rock again”) or overly broad (“I will be good”). But this year I will be able to provide some guidance, courtesy of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who recommends these ideas for preschoolers through high schoolers.

Preschoolers

I will clean up my toys by putting them where they belong.
I will let my parents help me brush my teeth twice a day. I will wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
I will help clear the table when I am done eating.
I will be friendly to all animals. I will remember to ask the owners if I can pet their animal first.
I will be nice to other kids who need a friend or look sad or lonely.
I will talk with my parent or a trusted adult when I need help or am scared.

Kids, 5 to 12 years old

I will drink reduced-fat milk and water every day, and drink soda and fruit drinks only at special times.
I will take care of my skin by putting on sunscreen before I go outdoors on bright, sunny days. I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I’m playing sports.
I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!
I will always wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter or skateboard.
I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.
I’ll be friendly to kids who may have a hard time making friends by asking them to join activities such as sports or games.
I will always tell an adult about any bullying I may see or hear about to help keep school safe for everyone.
I will keep my personal information safe and not share my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet. Also, I’ll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer without asking my parent if it is okay.
I will try to talk with my parent or a trusted adult when I have a problem or feel stressed.
I promise to follow our household rules for videogames and internet use.

Kids, 13 years old and older

I will try to eat two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables every day, and I will drink sodas only at special times.
I will take care of my body through physical activity and eating the right types and amounts of foods.
I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and I will spend only one to two hours each day – at the most – on these activities. I promise to follow our household rules for videogames and Internet use.
I will help out in my community – through giving some of my time to help others, working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.
When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find helpful ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or talking about my problem with a parent or friend.
When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult whom I can trust.
When I notice my friends are struggling, being bullied or making risky choices, I will talk with a trusted adult and attempt to find a way that I can help them.
I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat the other person with respect and without forcing them to do something or using violence. I will expect to be treated the same way in return.
I will resist peer pressure to try tobacco-cigarettes, drugs or alcohol. I will also avoid the use of e-cigarettes.
I agree not to use a cellphone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt.

See more at AAP.com. And best wishes to all of our phenomenal followers for a healthy and happy 2016! Thanks so much for your support.

5 Strategies for a Healthy Halloween

October 28, 2015 by Kelley Leave a Comment

Lest you assume from this post title that I’m going as Debbie Downer this Halloween, rest assured, I’m all for sweets and excitement on Saturday night. Some of my most cherished childhood memories involve running through the dark, gown or tail trailing perilously through the leaves, collecting enough Reese’s Peanut Butter cups to last me through Easter. But years of writing health columns and scouring E.R. data for various publications have taught me that the spookiest night of the year can pose some pretty real health challenges that can’t be fixed by just some extra tooth-brushing. Here, five quick tips to keep in mind as the sun goes down on Halloween 2016.

Teach kids to stick to lawns and sidewalks, not streets, when trick-or-treating. The scary truth: Halloween is ranked as the No. 1 day of the year for child-pedestrian accidents and fatalities. The majority of these fatalities occur during the peak trick-or-treating hours: 5 pm and 9 pm, with the deadliest hour of all being from 6 pm to 7 pm. The stimulus and crowds make it hard for drivers—think excited teenagers, or parents rushing home from work to join their kids—to navigate. So push these simple rules: Stick to lawns or sidewalks on one side of the street while trick-or-treating. Cross carefully, and only when necessary. Children under 12 should stick closely to parents, and older kids should travel with a large group of children.

Make sure trick-or-treaters know your cell phone number, or have it written on their hand or on a visible place on their costumes. My youngest son’s favorite book right now is Angelina’s Halloween, but for me, it’s terrifying: In it, little Polly mouse gets lost in the trick-or-treat shuffle, only to be found by her big sister on a doorstep hours later. Eek. Fact is, even experienced caregivers can lose sight of their ghosts and goblins. Make sure your child wears reflective tape or a glow stick necklace (grab 25 for just $10 on Amazon) in a color you’ve noted and identified, and teach or label them with your cell phone number before you set out for the night. If your older child is heading out with friends, pack a cell phone in their treat bag, and keep track of his or her whereabouts with a handy family-member locator app.

Keep sensitive kids shielded from too-scary imagery. While scary movies, haunted houses and the like may seem in the spirit of the season, be cognizant of how they might trigger your child’s fears. NYU researchers have that little kids who watch violent movies, including Halloween horror films, television shows or video games, may be more likely to develop anxiety, sleep disorders, and aggressive and self-endangering behaviors.

Monitor your child eating his or her candy. Of course, you’ll want to confiscate a few of your own faves as a price for your chaperoning efforts, but there are other reasons for hanging out while your child sorts through his plunder. Thankfully, razor blades and poisonous chemicals planted in candy are an overblown threat to kids, but allergens aren’t. Even if your child hasn’t been diagnosed with an allergy, he or she can develop one at anytime—especially young childhood—and many candy bars contain the most common and dangerous allergen: nuts. If there are any signs of rash, oral or throat itchiness, trouble breathing, or a bellyache that can’t be explained by a few too many Hershey’s miniatures, contact a healthcare provider immediately (or 911 for respiratory distress), and administer a dose of Benadryl while you monitor the situation. (If your child has a diagnosed food allergy, look for houses with teal-colored pumpkins—parents there have pledged to dole out only non-food treats.) Also, make sure children under 3 don’t get into treats like Gobstoppers, gumballs, or stiff taffy, all of which are choking hazards.

Make a dinner and bedtime plan. This year’s Halloween presents a perfect storm of routine-wrecking possibilities. Not only is the holiday on a Saturday night, theoretically giving kids more freedom to stay out late, the next morning we turn the clocks back, giving everyone (save for the millions of us with small children who wake up with the sun) an extra hour of sleep. But as tempting as it is to allow children to trick-or-treat well past their bedtime—the childhood equivalent of a late-night bender—experts advise against it. In his child sleep blog, Dr. Craig Canapari recommends allowing kids to stay up just a half-hour later than their usual bedtime in the three nights before DST ends (that includes Halloween), and then switching back to the “regular” schedule on November 1. As for dinner: set aside a time for kids to have a real, filling meal so they don’t load up later on candy: There is a real uptick in hospital visits for abdominal pain and diarrhea related to candy consumed on Halloween.

Be safe and enjoy!

Do Plastic Containers Harm Kids?

August 7, 2015 by Kelley Leave a Comment

For years, I’ve read reports that certain ingredients in household plastic containers and bottles may be linked to health problems in children. But formal government and medical guidelines are scant, and objective, expert-sourced information can be hard to find. Plus, it’s not really something that comes up with the pediatrician. So I’ve continued to reheat and reuse a vast array of containers, mostly name-brand products but also those handy vessels that prepared foods often come in. After all, when you have three perpetually peckish, on-the-move young kids, is anything more convenient in the kitchen than lightweight, transparent, microwaveable containers—that are available in just about any size and shape your organization-hungry heart can possibly want?

But then I connected with Leonardo Trasande, M.D., an associate professor of pediatrics at New York University and one of the country’s foremost researchers on the effect of environmental chemicals on kids’ health. He led a 2012 study associating Bisphenol A (BPA), a common chemical used in household plastics, with obesity in children, and more recently, published a paper strongly linking two types of phthalates—another group of chemicals used in plastics manufacturing—with high blood pressure and diabetes in kids and teens. Ironically, phthalates have been added to some plastic products to replace other, seemingly more suspect chemicals in recent years.

What he told me has effectively changed the way I shop for, cook with, and even clean the plastic in my kitchen for good.

First, I asked Dr. Trasande what his big takeaway from his many years of plastic research. “Diet and a lack of physical activity are the main drivers of the epidemic of obesity and metabolic concerns we are seeing in children today,” he told me. “But this study adds further concern that chemicals in the environment are independent contributors.”

Then I asked him about his “rules” for using plastic food and drink containers. (He’s the dad of two boys, 7 and 5.) Here’s what he does; and advises others to do, too.

1. Look at the bottom of plastic containers before buying, and avoid ones with the recycling codes 3, 6, and 7.
A lot of companies now include “BPA-free” and “safe for microwave” on plastic container labels. But the real test, according to Dr. Trasande, is looking at the bottom of a bowl or bottle for its recycling code. Numbers from 1 to 7 indicate the chemicals used in the product, and some are more worrisome than others. “The number 3 means phthalates, which raises the possibility of contamination into liquid,” he says. He also advises families to avoid plastics with a 6 (polystyrene, often made in products meant to rigid) or 7 (a catch-all for miscellaneous “other” chemicals, including polycarbonate, which is produced using BPA).
I looked at the bottom of some of the containers in our house the other day. Most of our food storage containers had 5s and our beverage bottles were marked with 1s (relatively safer choices). But our Solo cups and lids were marked with 6s. And those styrofoam cups which hold endless cups of coffee and hot chocolate that are often reheated in the microwave? All marked with a 6. Our clamshell-shaped Chinese take-out containers, too.

2. Opt for wax paper or aluminum foil to wrap food whenever possible—and request that your deli and butcher counters do the same.
Most companies have eliminated BPA and phthalates from household wrap, but it’s harder to monitor what’s being used in products sold at the supermarket. Regardless, “using paper or foil reduces the amount of contact that (all) plastics have with food,” says Dr. Trasande. Plastic chemicals are especially likely to migrate into fatty foods like meats and cheeses.

3. Don’t microwave plastic.
This goes for any kind of plastic container or wrap, in Dr. Transande’s book, regardless of recycling code. “When you cook foods at these high heats, you’re inviting plastics to melt at a microscopic level and travel into your food,” he says. Stick with glass or ceramic instead.

4. Don’t wash plastic in dishwasher.
This is one I’d never thought of. “Use soap and water in the sink instead,” says Dr. Trasande. “Harsher detergents etch the plastic and increase absorption into liquids and foods.”

5. Pitch plastic that’s become scratched up.
Once plastic is “etched,” that increases the odds of chemical leaching, Dr. Trasande says.

6. Don’t reuse plastic drink bottles.
If plastic bottles were meant for single use, keep them that way, advises Dr. Transade. “Besides, reusing them raises the chance of bacterial contamination.”

Plastic may be ubiquitous these days, and keeping track of every odd container that comes from a store or restaurant may be futile. But making a few better choices at the kitchen and grocery store? That, I think I can do. For more information about Dr. Transande’s research, visit his page at NYU School of Medicine, here.

How to Choose Kids’ Sunscreen

July 1, 2015 by Kelley Leave a Comment

Step into just about any pharmacy in America right now, and you’ll see an aisle filled with neon-colored sunscreen bottles—and a bewildered-looking mom or two standing in front of it. I’ve been there—just last week, in fact, when I realized that my boys needed to pack their own sunscreen bottles for camp. But what was supposed to be a five-minute stop at CVS turned into a 30-minute morning-spoiler, in which I alternately studied labels and scanned scary website reports about how listed ingredients might throw my kids’ hormonal development out of whack.

We all know by now that sunscreen is essential for protecting our kids from skin cancer and future sun damage (after a childhood spent comparing sun blisters with my cousins every July 4th, I count this as major progress). But it remains frustratingly difficult to find straightforward information about what formulations, among the sea of choices at the store, we should be using (or avoiding). In search of some trustworthy advice, I reached out to Albert Yan, M.D., the chief of dermatology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, with whom I’ve worked on articles about kids’ skin problems in the past. Thanks to insights from Dr. Yan and my friend Julie Karen, M.D., a mom as well as a dermatologist at CompleteSkinMD in New York City, I’ve come up with five facts every parent should know before stocking up on sunscreen for summer’s most scorching month.

1. Narrow your choices down to sunscreens with SPF 30 and “broad-spectrum” coverage.
Theoretically, the higher the SPF, the longer you’re protected against sunburn-causing UVB rays; but beyond SPF 30, especially, gains are negligible. “Broad-spectrum” sunscreens are essential for protecting skin not just from sunburn-causing UVB rays, but also dangerous UVA rays. Sunscreens that provide broad spectrum protection will say so on the label (the FDA monitors this), but you can also check for zinc oxide, titanium oxide, Mexoryl SX, or certain chemical combos (such as homosalate or octisalate with avobenzone) in the list of active ingredients. Don’t assume you have to buy ‘kids’ sunscreens: these formulas aren’t necessarily different than others.

2. Mineral-based sunscreen is ideal if your kids tolerate it, but chemical sunscreens are also safe for most.
Because titanium dioxide and zinc oxide work by providing a physical barrier on top of the skin rather than being absorbed into it, sunscreens made from them are great for those with sensitive skin (like babies and children with eczema). But many kids dislike titanium and zinc’s thick feel and the white-ish cast they leave on the skin—and as a result, they or their parents may apply formulations hastily, and resist reapplication. If this tends to be the case, and sensitivity isn’t an issue, Drs. Yan and Karen recommend chemical sunscreens instead. “Above all, I ask families to buy something that their kids will tolerate and be willing to use,” says Dr. Yan.
What about the chemical ingredient oxybenzone, which the recent Environmental Working Group (EWG) report on sunscreens was chiefly concerned about? “When administered at high doses to animals, it has shown to mimic the effects of estrogen, but the doses were extremely high and used over a long period of time,” says Dr. Yan. A recent editorial on the website of the Skin Cancer Foundation reported on a CDC study that found that oxybenzone is already prevalent in our bodies and “has not been associated with adverse health effects,” but did note that researchers called for more studies into the chemical’s effect on human bodies. For parents who are skeptical, Dr. Yan recommends sticking with zinc or titanium or choosing a chemical sunscreen that doesn’t contain oxybenzone. (Our current household favorite is Ocean Potion Protect & Nourish SPF 30, which spreads well, smells great—like lemon layer cake—and contains no oxybenzone.)

3. Sunscreen sprays can be used—with caution.
Sprays have gotten a bad rap lately, mostly over concerns that children might inhale aerosol particles when they’re being applied. The FDA is in the process of investigating the safety of aerosol sprays, but has yet to come out with definitive guidelines on their use. In the meantime, my doc sources say they like sprays for their ease of use and light feel, but with some caveats. Dr. Karen worries about how well they cover the entire body, so usually starts with a good lotion-based sunscreen on her kids, and relies on sprays for easy reapplication. When kids are in and out of water, Dr. Yan prefers the thicker coverage of a lotion or gel, but in other circumstances, gives parents the green light on sprays. To reduce the possibilities of inhalation when using on facial areas, he does suggest that people apply aerosol sprays to their own hands and then rub it on the face, or look into newer, non-aerosol sprays (they look like pump bottles).

4. Reapply more than you think.
When patients’ parents say their kids are burning even though they’re putting on sunscreen, Dr. Yan usually discovers they aren’t reapplying often enough. Diligent reapplication every 2 to 4 hours, especially during water-based activities, is key. And don’t skimp when it’s cloudy. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 70-80 percent of the sun’s rays—above all, UVA rays—go through clouds and fog.

5. Don’t rely on just sunscreen for sun safety.
Warwick Morison, M.D., chair of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s photobiology committee, calls sunscreen “just a part of a package of protection.” Hats, rash guards or tightly woven shirts, and frequent breaks from the sun can go a long way toward keeping kids safe and happy during a long day at the beach, park, or pool.

Preparing for the Worst

April 30, 2015 by Kelley 1 Comment

I was organizing my kids’ closets the other day when I got an alert on my phone that April 30—today—is America’s PrepareAthon Day. Spearheaded by FEMA, it encourages communities, families, and individuals to practice what needs to be done in the event of a disaster.

It occurred to me that while I painstakingly organize hand-me-down clothes in basement storage bins every season, I haven’t assembled much of a family emergency kit—or plan—since I (and every other New Yorker) put together a “go bag” in the days after 9/11. That was before having kids. Since then, I’ve had brief, one-off conversations with my older boys about what they should do if there was a fire in the house, and I’ve purchased a fireproof box for some important documents. But if we were suddenly housebound due to a natural disaster, or needed to skip town quickly, we’d be woefully ill-equipped.

If you’re anything like me, it would be worth an hour of your time today or some day soon to sit down with your partner and map out some simple preparedness strategies for your family. Sure, some of the measures recommended by the government may feel a little “fearful.” But think of it like locking your doors in a “safe” neighborhood, or holding your child’s hand near a road even if there are no cars coming. Part of good parenting is anticipating worst-case-scenarios. You may need a more detailed game-plan if you live in a region that’s at high-risk for a particular natural disaster, but these five tips from Ready.gov are a really helpful starting point for everyone.

1. Assemble an emergency supply kit to keep at home and make sure all family members know where it is. More info here…

2. Keep your car ready for an emergency. More info here…

3. Opt in to wireless emergency alerts (WEAs) messages on your phone (look in “settings”). Many people switch off Amber Alerts and inadvertently disable WEA’s, too. More info here…

4. Sit down with family members and make sure you have a plan of where to go and how to connect an emergency. Make sure kids have memorized your cell phone numbers, how to call 911 for help, and where to go if they are alone, can’t call or text anyone, and need help. More info here…

5. Tell family members to “text, not talk” in an emergency. Texts transmit faster and more easily than voice calls, and use less battery power.

For quick reference, print out the cheat sheet below. If you have any other great resources, or tips for talking to your children about how to prepare for the worst (without raising anxiety levels unnecessarily), please share here.

Keeping Kids Safe Around Cars

March 27, 2015 by Kelley 1 Comment

All three of my boys are wanderers and runners. They’re the kids in Target who would, if allowed, run clear across the parking lot, grab a cart, and locate Starbursts’ aisle in the span of sixty seconds. Holding my youngest’s hand feels like I’m walking a golden retriever puppy.

Keeping them close in and out of cars is exhausting, but inclinations on busy days to give the little guys a longer leash has been kept in check since an incident three-and-a-half years ago, when the elementary-school-aged son of a family friend was hit by an SUV pulling out of the parking lot of a sports practice. The boy had a hoodie on and darted out from between two cars when an oncoming car struck him and rolled over him, severely injuring his arm and face, and one eye in particular. He had to be medevac’d to the children’s hospital in the city. After several plastic surgeries and physical therapy, he’s doing great, but it was terribly traumatic—for both the child and the woman who struck him. And it remains, for everyone who knows the family, a sobering reminder of how dangerous a mix of cars and kids are.

As a parenting magazine editor and writer, I try to steer clear of scare-mongering journalism, but I was freshly reminded of this story and felt the need to share it, after coming across some brand-new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission yesterday. In 2012, 557 child and young adult pedestrians under age 20 were killed by motor vehicles in the U.S. and 22,000 were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The average age of the patients was 8, and these on-foot accidents were most likely to occur in the spring, near schools and bus stops.

If you’ve ever been around a school zone just after dismissal, especially toward the end of the scholastic year when the weather is turning warmer, this all makes perfect sense. Parents are extra-busy and distracted, and kids are extra-excited and distracted. It’s something to think about this spring and beyond, whether you live in the city or suburbs.

Safe Kids Worldwide has some great tips on their website for helping to keep kids safe in traffic zones:

Teach Your Kids to…

Walk on sidewalks or paths and cross at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Most injuries happen mid-block or someplace other than intersections. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
Put down their devices and then look left, right and left again when crossing the street.
Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street and to watch out for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach them to never run or dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Remind Yourself to…

Put devices down when you’re driving or walking around cars. If we put our devices down, our kids are more likely to do the same.
Accompanying kids under 10 across the street. Every child is different, but developmentally, it can be hard for kids to judge speed and distance of cars until age 10.
Be especially alert when driving in residential neighborhoods and school zones, and be on the lookout for bikers, walkers or runners who may be distracted or may step into the street unexpectedly.
Give pedestrians the right of way and look both ways when making a turn to help spot any bikers, walkers or runners who may not be immediately visible.
Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.

What Size Bike is Right?

Preschoolers

Kids, 5 to 1​2 years old

Kids, 13 ​y​ears old and older

Kids, 5 to 12 years old

Kids, 13 years old and older