Safety

Secondhand Smoke May Be the Reason for Your Child’s Poor Grades

bjkid — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:00:00 +0800

A recent study by researchers of the University of Hong Kong suggests that the effects of secondhand smoke on children living in a household with smokers could affect their academic performance.

More Milk Woes: Babies developing breasts

Zhen — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:20:36 +0800

It seems we've just gotten over the melamine milk scandal that killed six infants and caused serious illness to 300,000 more, when we stumble upon another piece of disturbing news.

The Daily Mailreported that a number of female babies in Hubei have developed premature puberty. The babies, ages 4 to 15 months, have hormone levels comparable to an adult woman and have formed breasts. At present, the only thing linking each case is the use of infant formula produced by Chinese company Synutra. Synutra maintains their formula has nothing to do with the defects and thus far authorities have refused to run tests on the formula.

Have Teens? Read This

Zhen — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:00:52 +0800

Remember when you were a teenager? I do, and it wasn't pretty, both literally and metaphorically speaking. You look back on all the crazy things you did and marvel that you did them -- and that you occasionally got away with them!

In a blast from the past (and for those of you with teenage kids, a reminder of our present), I found these three interviews with UK teens on The Guardian online. I've included some choice quotes for you for you below, but if you'd like to read more click here.

There's Inulin in Our Ice Cream

Zhen — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:00:00 +0800

In light of yet another series of food scandals involving McDonald nuggets and melamine-tainted milk, China Daily reported over the weekend that inulin, a popular food additive and sweetener, has been found to induce stomach aches for some children if consumed excessively.

Inulin is a carbohydrate fiber that is found naturally in produce such as bananas, wheat, onions and garlic. When inulin is consumed from such unprocessed foods, it is hard to over-eat. However, inulin is often extracted and used as a food additive for processed products including chocolate bars, drinks and other snacks (and we know all too well how easy it is to over-eat chocolate!) If our intake of inulin is too high, we may experience symptoms such as bloating, stomach aches and diarrhea.

Trekking with Babies Made Easy

bjkid — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:00:29 +0800

Few busy travelers go more than a few days without problems interrupting their itinerary, including harrowing flight delays, upset stomachs, long lines and language barriers. Avoid adding temper tantrums and safety worries to this list by checking out BabyGro’s new items for little ones. From booster seats to blackout blinds, to ride-friendly luggage, BabyGro has the resources on-the-go parents need in familiar, trusted brand names, including Fisher Price. This month, BabyGro has newly stocked baby toys from US brand Sassy and Belgium company Motta.

A Caution to Women Planning Home Births

bjkid — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 08:20:57 +0800

New research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology shows that women who choose home births might put their babies at a higher mortality risk. The study compared women from the US and Europe who had planned home births to those who had planned hospital births and found that twice the amount of babies died in the four weeks after home delivery. They found triple the mortality rate for babies born at home when “they removed those with congenital defects from the calculation,” according to The Guardian. Many of these babies died from a lack of oxygen during or after labor.

A Look at the Drinking Debate

bjkid — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:23:01 +0800

With cheap, cold beer available on nearly every street corner in Beijing, no drinking age and a nightly fuss of World Cup celebrations, some parents, both in Beijing and abroad, might be wondering how to monitor their teens’ drinking habits. A recent New York Times forum shares the attitudes of some kids whose parents chose to not keep them corralled and instead exposed them to alcohol early.

Cover Up

beijingkids — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:00:59 +0800

Avoid making your first trip to the pool this summer a painful regret by checking out Environmental Working Group’s sunscreen guide here. Their information, tips and detailed lists of safe and effective sunscreens will help keep you and your kids healthy and burn-free during Beijing’s sunny summer. Check the products you’ve already purchased for ingredients that are safe on the skin using EWG’s sunscreen database. You might find a few surprises.

Some tricycles unfit for toddler treks

beijingkids — Mon, 31 May 2010 18:15:45 +0800

Beijing residents should think twice before purchasing a tricycle for their kids for Children’s Day. The Global Times reported that tests in Guangdong Province have shown that only 40 percent of the baby tricycles examined met all of the safety requirements.

In Shanghai, 30 percent of the tricycles tested were not safe for toddlers due to poor handlebar design and faulty positioning of the pedals and handbrakes.

Safety concerns with the Guandong tricycles included “excessive amounts of removable substances that toddlers can peel off and swallow, such as paint, which may cause chronic poisoning in young children.”

Dr. Mom: How Sweet the Sweet Potato

beijingkids — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:00:09 +0800

Winter is slowly but surely coming to an end. As the days get longer and the mercury creeps up there’s something that will disappear off the streets of Beijing. No, I’m not referring to the snow! I’m talking about sweet potato. But just because the temperature is getting warmer, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy this delectable treat. This root vegetable packs a nutritional punch, and kids love it too!