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  • Leading by example

    The other day I had lunch with a friend at one of our favorite mom-and-pop sandwich shops. Well, sort of. We did have lunch, but I only remember this lunch date in flashes of chaos and confusion created by two lively toddlers.

  • Medication poisoning has increased; are your kids safe?

    I consider myself a safety-conscious parent. I always buckle my daughter in her car seat. I make her wear a helmet when we go for a bike ride, and our house is fully child-proofed. But, there may be one very important safety issue that I overlook every day.

  • The right choice doesn't always come naturally

    I have a friend who makes natural medicine at home. She buys various herbs, soaks them in vodka for several weeks, and dispenses them to friends and family to treat and prevent illnesses like common colds and the flu. When I asked my friend why she chose this particular therapy, she replied: "It's natural. It's good for you."

  • Which type of milk is right for your kids?

    It sounds like a silly question. Is there a “right” and “wrong” type of milk? Not really. But, your child has different nutritional needs depending on their age. The type and amount of milk they consume plays a vital role in helping them meet those needs.

  • The true meaning of holiday traditions

    December has become a very special time for me. Yes, there’s Christmas, which is wonderful. But for me, it is also a special time because it is when my daughter was born.

  • Over-the-counter cough and cold medicine: what you don't know CAN hurt you

    Did you ever play tag when you were a kid? I remember running around the playground in a desperate panic to avoid whomever was “it”. I would run like my life was in jeopardy and strategize about how best to avoid the awful fate of being tagged.

  • Amber teething necklaces: what's all the hype about?

    There’s no question about it: teething is a hard time in the life of a little one. Teething is painful and frustrating for both parents and children. And as we watch our children suffer, we parents feel the responsibility to ease their suffering any way we can. Could amber teething necklaces be the answer?

    What are amber teething necklaces?

    Baltic amber teething necklaces are marketed as a ‘natural’ healing remedy for infants as young as 3 months old. Retailers claim that when the necklaces are worn, the amber beads are heated by the child’s body temperature prompting the release of healing oils that penetrate the skin. They claim that these oils then relieve the pain and discomfort associated with teething.

    Should I try them for my child?

    There are two very basic problems with amber teething necklaces:
      They don’t work They aren’t safe
    It’s as simple as that. If you aren’t convinced, I would challenge you to stop and think for a moment about the plausibility of a gemstone emitting invisible oils that seep into one’s skin and target tooth pain. It’s a magical, mystical idea that sounds nice, but just isn’t reality.

  • Reading aloud to your kids affects literacy and school readiness

    Did you know that by the time your child reaches the 3rd grade, experts can reliably predict whether he will graduate high school?

  • Spray sunscreen: is it safe for kids?

    Consumer Reports has recently updated their recommendations on sunscreen use in kids, saying that spray sunscreens should not be used in children.

  • 3 things you need to know about teaching honesty in your home

    Parenting would be a lot easier if it were limited to feeding, diapering and keeping your kids out of harm’s way. Those are the basics, but parenting involves a lot more, and often the “more” is the hardest part.