Five Travel Tips for People with Toddlers

Over the past two years, we have travelled with Gabriel locally and overseas. So far, he has travelled on the following modes of transport:

• car
• bus
• boat
• train
• airplane
• bicycle (didn't go far!)

Here are some tips we've learnt from our experiences that may help you prepare your little one for those trips.

1. Bring along the parent or caretaker your toddler is most attached to. Don't think that they don't know or feel anything when their loved one is not around after a while. If you don't heed this advice, be prepared for some far-reaching negative effects after the trip. Children do remember such events and may change their behaviour towards their loved one after they re-unite.

2. Travel by air before your toddler turns two years old. Most airlines offer 25% to 75% off the adult fare for toddlers less than two years old. However, this also means they will get a seat. You can overcome that by choosing partially-full flights or requesting that the airline seat you at the exit or partition rows. This way, your toddler can get an available seat or have more space to move and rest, respectively.

3. Use a lightweight stroller. Get a stroller that weighs no more than your toddler and one that can recline so that he/she can nap on the go. It can be hand-carried into the airplane cabin. If you're heading to places with temperate climate, don't forget to bring a portable fan with soft blades!

4. Pack light snacks and lots of water. Young ones tend to get bored much quicker when they are confined to a seat. Calm your toddler by providing snacks like plain biscuits. Water is vital as they, like the rest of us, dehydrate more when travelling. It is also a good way to clear the ears during altitude changes, like in an airplane.

5. Pray for your toddler's safety and blessing and tell him/her that he/she is going on a trip. You've done all the preparation and precaution you can ever think of, now leave the rest to your Higher Being. Even though they are young and may not have started talking, it's good to tell them what is going on and they may recall the trip when they grow bigger.

Technorati Tags: tips, travel tip, toddler travel

What To Do When Your Child Is Choking

Over the weekend, there was a nine month old baby girl who choked to death when she was:

1. alone in the living room
2. attempted to eat a half inch sized fruit found on the floor

She did not survive by the time she was rushed to the hospital.

It is very important to be always on guard with newborns and babies as they can get into trouble very quickly, sometimes taking just less than a minute to die from some hazard. In Malaysia, there have been cases of young children drowning in rivers and buckets, choked on small objects and equipment such as foldable chairs and tables.

Caretakers and parents must assess whether the child can chew and if not, whether the food item is small enough to be swallowed without choking. Bones in fish and meat must be taken out beforehand, no matter how small or soft they are. In the above case, it shows that proper baby-proofing of the house needs to be done to ensure that there are no dangerous objects accessible.

Below are some links to procedures that you can perform when your baby is choking. I'll summarize it as follows.

1. Observe your child for specific symptoms and react accordingly. If your child is not able to cry or cough, you may need to help remove the object in his or her mouth. If your child is coughing, encourage him or her to cough the object out. If you are going to help your child by giving back blows, be prepared to call for help within two minutes.
2. Give back blows on the back area between your child's shoulder blades while you position him or her such that his or her throat is pointing downwards. If your child becomes unconscious, you may have to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.

I've created a procedure chart (PDF document) that you can download, print and paste it in the rooms your child usually plays and eats in. Remember to write down your local emergency numbers at the top.

Links:

BabyCenter.com - Infant First Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Babies Under 1 Year Old)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/9298.html>

BabyCenter.com - First-Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Toddlers)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/11241.html>

BabyCenter.com - First-Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Preschoolers)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/72329.html>

BabyCenter.com - First-Aid for Choking and CPR: An Illustrated Guide (Grade-schoolers)
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/general/72434.html>

Technorati Tags: safety, safety tips, child care, choke, cpr, choked to death, procedure, caridopulmonary resuscitation, first-aid

Most Child Car Seats Fail New Crash Tests

New tests done by ConsumerReports.org, the website of the Consumers Union of United States, show that nine out of twelve car seats for babies, toddlers, and young children performed very poorly. The crash tests were done at 35 mph frontal and 38 mph side crashes, in addition to the mandatory federal government 30 mph or 48.3 km/h frontal crash for cars. Only two were recommended in the end.

These two that passed all new tests are:

• Baby Trend Flex-Loc
  
• Graco SnugRide with EPS (expanded polystyrene)
  

The others tested resulted in the products being twisted violently or lifted completely off their bases. The tests also showed that car seats sold in Europe performed better than those sold in the U.S. Car seats with the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system, a mandatory feature, performed worse than those using just vehicle safety belts.

The seats were fitted with a 30 pound test dummy, which was covered with impact sensors to gauge the amount of injury caused to the children passengers. In the frontal crash test, seven seats separated from their bases or caused serious injuries. In the standard 30 mph test, all passed except Evenflo Discovery, which ConsumerReports.org urged a market recall of the model. This model was also involved in a NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) investigation 3 years ago but did not pursue the matter further.

Eight models failed the 38 mph side impact test.

These car seats failed all the new tests conducted by ConsumerReports.org in late 2006:

• Evenflo Discovery
  
• Graco SafeSeat
  
• Britax Companion
  

The Consumers Union found that car seats, with or without LATCH, fail in crash protection if they are not properly fitted into the car and secured snugly. LATCH seems to work better if their bases were attached to floorboard anchor points. The common and worrying trend of parents is that they are not well informed on how to install the seat using LATCH, or choose to use the safety belt instead.

At the end of the ConsumerReports.org report, it recommends the following to keep your children safe when in the car:

• Choose your car seat carefully, preferably according to the models it recommends and avoid those it reported to have failed its tests.
• Use the car safety belt to secure the child car seat, even if the LATCH system is used.
• Register your car seat so that the manufacturer can contact you if your model has problems or is being recalled.

Here are some more tips that I've learnt from browsing through the web, especially from NHTSA's website:

• The statistically safest location of the child car seat is at the rear center seat.
• Ensure that the safety belts and harness of the car seat are not frayed and twisted and should be snug when your child is seated.
• Place the car seat in the rear-facing position if your child is less than 12 months old. If your child is more than 12 months old AND weighs more than 20 pounds or 9.1 kilograms.
• Child car seats must not be placed in a seat where there is an impact airbag from the front or side.
• Children who exceed the car seat manufacturers' weight limit or whose top of the head is higher than the top of the seat should use a booster seat instead. This is typically between the ages of four and six.
• When a child reaches six years of age, a backless booster seat should be used.

Gabriel is using the Safety1st Comfort Ride convertible car seat, released as one of the first LATCH-equipped models. Bought in early 2005, it is quite stable and easy to maintain. He sits well and can fall asleep in it. Hopefully, it can protect him in any situation, in addition to God's blessing on him.

Update: 19 January 2007

CR has withdrawn their recent safety report pending further side-impact collision tests of the involved seats. This comes after CR received concerns raised by the NHTSA on the methods the tests were conducted in. The speed of the side-impact collisions may be inaccurate.

ConsumerReports.org - Consumer Reports withdraws infant car seat report
<URL:http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cu-press-room/pressroom/2007/2/0702_eng0702ccs.htm>

Related links:

MSNBC - In crashes, infant car seats 'failed disastrously'
<URL:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16473196/>

ConsumerReports.org - Safety alert: What if this were your child?
<URL:http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/child-car-booster-seats/car-seats-2-07/overview/0207_seats_ov.htm>

ConsumerReports.org - A seat sold abroad outperforms U.S. models
<URL:http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/child-car-booster-seats/car-seats-2-07/european-models/0207_seats_euro.htm>

NHTSA - Child Passenger Safety Program
<URL:http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.9f8c7d6359e0e9bbbf30811060008a0c/>

Technorati Tags: car seat, child car seat, baby car seat, infant car seat, consumer reports, consumers union, crash test, latch, safety belt, child passenger, booster seat

Brushing Teeth for Babies and Toddlers

Babies and toddlers drink lots of milk during their first few years. Even without solid or "adult" food, milk serves as one of the primary food sources for them. The frequency and amount to give them varies between parents. Our method is "on demand" - when Gab asks for it.

Since most baby milk contains lactose, or milk sugar, these sugars may have an effect on babies' gums and teeth. Doctors have suggested good dental health in young children begin are the early age when they are just babies, before they even have teeth. The basic foundation of the gums must be in good shape for the teeth to grow. Thus, it is a very beneficial practice to allow babies and toddlers to brush their teeth.

In short, the benefits of early teeth/gum brushing for babies and toddlers:

• Puts in place a life-long habit and importance of brushing teeth
• Exercises the gums and promotes proper teeth development
• Removes sugars and food solids which cause teeth decay
• Encourages self-confidence and bonding by learning to brush own teeth

For babies who have yet to show any teeth, you can use either a wet soft cloth or fingertip brush to wipe and massage their gums.

Toddlers love to learn to perform physical tasks themselves, brushing teeth is one of the most suitable things they can learn to do. Make it a habit for them to brush when they wake up and before they sleep, especially after their night bottle. Give them a designated stool to sit on while they brush. Of course, it is best that you lead by example and show them how it is done by brushing together.

Please purchase proper toddler toothbrushes with small and soft bristles. Our boy loves to hold his own brush and imitate our brushing movements. Although toothpaste is generally unnecessary, you can use toothpaste specially for children below two years. These do not contain fluoride, which can cause fluorosis (more info) if too much is swallowed. Even if your toddler has not yet learnt how to spit, it is a good idea to start teaching them from young instead of always swallowing.

We use this brand of toothpaste, FirstTEETH, which is does not foam, has a pleasant taste and is safe to swallow. The downside with such toothpaste is that it is several times more expensive than regular brands.

Good dental health is very similar to overall development and health. The first few years are very crucial and possibly determine one's health for the rest of his or her life.

BabyCenter "How to care for your baby's gums and emerging teeth"
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyills/babytooth/126.html>

Technorati Tags: baby, toddler, brush, teeth, brush teeth, brushing teeth, toothpaste, toothbrush, gums, milk sugar, fluoride, dental health, firstteeth

More Medicine!

Since Monday, we are using the following medicine for two weeks:

• Terbutaline
  
• Ketotifen
• Iliadin

The first two are in syrup form, and the last one is metered nasal drops.

Terbutaline is a beta2 adrenergic receptor agonist drug from a group known as bronchodilators that stimulate nerves in parts of the body. In this case, the drug will open up the bronchial tubes and muscles of the lungs, thereby providing relief for cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It can treat cases of asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, among others. Possible side effects include: allergic reaction, chest pains, headache, and insomnia. Terbutaline was approved by the FDA in 1974.

<URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terbutaline>

Ketotifen is a type of antiasthma medicine and prophylactic agent which can reduce the frequency, severity and/or duration of asthma symptoms and attacks in children. It is not a bronchodilator and thus is not suitable for acute asthmatic cases. This medicine works best if taken on a regular basis, and improvement may be evident in the first few weeks, reaching significant benefits after ten. Withdrawal of medicine should be done in gradual reduction of doses. Possible side effects include: weight gain, increased appetite, chills, cough, headache and nausea. Ketotifen was approved by the FDA in 1999.

<URL:http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS-%20(General%20Monographs-%20Z)/ZADITEN.html>

Iliadin's active ingredient is oxymetazoline hydrochloride. As a topical decongestant, its sympathomimetic property constricts the blood vessels of the nose and sinuses via activation of alpha1 adrenergic receptors, causing reduced production of mucous. It can help moisturize nasal passages due to air conditioning, air pollutants, hay fever and colds. Overuse, usually more than three days, may cause rebound congestion or addiction, so observe for such symptoms.

<URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliadin>

When your child has certain health problems such as respiratory, try to eliminate possible causes of infection and isolate them so that the real cause can be determined. In our case, we are avoiding the babysitter's place with two other pretty sick (heheh) kids and turning off the air sterilizer / ionizer for at least a week. Hopefully, we'll see Gab recover fully and then we'll turn things back on one by one.

Has anyone heard of air ionizers causing negative effects such as respiratory problems? We are suspicious of their benefits even though we frequently clean the room.

To me, some of the most important things a child should have from their parents is nourishment of the body and avoidance of viruses and diseases. Choose your doctor carefully and stick to the doctor's advice. Every child is different, so try not to compare but be prudent in your judgement of your own child's conditions and needs.

Western medicine usually have instructions and advice for use. When doctors prescribe such medicine for our babies and toddlers, some of us go berserk. We see that the labels say "tested and recommended for use for children two years and older", but our children are younger! For some of these medicine, do not be alarmed. Doctors have been prescribing them in their common practice and health pharmacies are not able to test on younger children. Again, use discretion to decide.

Technorati Tags: medicine, drug, sick, virus, disease, infection, isolate, health problems, doctor, prescribe, young children, terbutaline, ketotifen, iliadin, adrenergic receptor, bronchodilator, asthma, bronchitis, antiasthma, prophylactic agent, oxymetazoline hydrochloride, nasal decongestant, symptoms, respiratory problems

Music For Children

Music is very beneficial for all kinds of people, especially babies and little kids. Children can learn to enjoy the magic of music wherever they are: playing at home, travelling in the car, or just before they sleep on the bed. It is a good alternative to watching the TV and raises the spirits of children.

My son has started to appreciate the joys of music and is learning to sing, hum, and dance to it. He can clap his hands, tap his feet, swing or jerk his body whenever he hears his favourite tunes. Gabriel's favourite songs are: "Simplicity Is The Key" from "Lovely Family CD Vol. 1" and "If You're Happy and You Know It".

We have a CD-RW full of his music, with genres such as Christian, nursery rhymes and instrumental. I have collected them from various sources such as audio CD presents from friends, Mothercare and Anakku stores, and now from the web!

There are a few good websites where you can download MP3 songs for kids, which I've listed below. The first one has a very clear and melodious couple singing and playing the guitar.

Anakku in Malaysia carries a good range of Raimond Lap CDs, which are very attractive to babies and toddlers as a start. The tunes and instruments are catchy but soothing. Very good for night-time listening.

Don't forget, another good idea of music for your children is: sing to them! Sing to your kids whenever possible, and record them as keepsakes and years of listening. When they get older, they can even sing and record together with you.

Give the gift of music to your children today.

Kids Music Web
<URL:http://tsc.kidsmusicweb.com/>
Free Kids Music
<URL:http://freekidsmusic.com/>
Chuck Brown & The Chuckleberries
<URL:http://thechuckleberries.com/>
Walking Oliver
<URL:http://www.walkingoliver.com/>
LDS Church Music
<URL:http://www.lds.org/cm/catalogalphamp3/1,18331,4768-1,00.html>
Download.com Children's Music
<URL:http://music.download.com/2001-7994_32-0.html?tag=MDL_nav_dir&>

Raimond Lap
<URL:http://www.raimondlap.com/>

BabyCenter "Music and your toddler or preschooler (ages 1 to 3)"
<URL:http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/toddler/toddlerdevelopment/6549.html>

Technorati Tags: music, song, sing, hum, dance, clap, swing, tunes, favourite songs, christian, nursery rhymes, instrumental, mothercare, anakku, download, mp3, guitar, keepsakes, gift of music, raimond lap