“Nothing is worth more than this day” - Goethe
May we treasure each moment as we remember those who were lost.
Welcome to “Weekly Highlights”, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great reads we’ve come across in our internet travels.
In the News:
Hug Your Children While You Can - The most important lesson we can take away from 9/11.
Parenting While Grieving - About 3,000 children lost a loved one on 9/11. A look at grief support and how families cope. As a friend or family member supporting someone who has lost, the best thing we can do is be there and be understanding.
In Manhattan, Children Still Battle 9/11-Related Illnesses - 10 years after 9/11, children are battling respiratory illnesses as well as acid reflux disease and a variety of behavioral, learning and mental health issues. Families struggle to admit their children are sick and cope with the fact that 9/11 may still be with them.
Head Lice Treatments Worse Than the Pest Itself? - Questioning the safety of pesticide-based treatments for head lice in young children, particularly when misused.
FDA Creating New Nutrition Label - In an attempt to improve the way Americans eat, the FDA is working on a redesign the nutrition label on foods to provide more useful information, such as more accurate serving sizes and a greater emphasis on calories.
Council Bans Sale of Crib Bumper Pads in Chicago - Sending a message to federal regulators, Chicago becomes the first city in the nation to ban the sale of crib bumper pads due to concerns over suffocation risk to babies.
New Research:
Birth Control Pills Affect Memory
A study of women on birth control pills found that it changed the type of information that women were able to recall. Women on the pill were able to recall more clearly the gist of an emotional event while those not on the pill recalled more details. The idea is that contraceptives suppress hormones such as estrogen and progesterone which have been previously linked to a woman’s left brain strong memory.
Fatherhood Lowers Testosterone Levels
A new Northwestern University study provides compelling evidence that men are wired to respond biologically to fatherhood. The study followed a large group of Filipino men who were not fathers and observed whether their hormones changed after becoming fathers. The study found that the men who started with high testosterone were more likely to become fathers, and once they did, their testosterone levels decreased consistent with the level of involvement that they took on in child-rearing.
Phthalates Affect Child Development
A study of pregnant mothers and their children that began in 1998 finds a significant link between a pregnant woman’s exposure to phthalates and negative impacts on their child’s development. After controlling for a long list of factors, levels of phthalates in the mothers’ urine were compared to several development tests on their children. As the levels went up, the child’s motor development went down significantly.
Mother’s Diet Influences Baby’s Allergies
A possible link between what a mother eats during pregnancy and the risk of her child developing allergies has been identified. The research found that if a mother’s diet contains a certain group of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) — such as those found in fish, walnut oil or flaxseed — the baby’s gut develops differently. The PUFAs are thought to improve how gut immune cells respond to bacteria and foreign substances, making the baby less likely to suffer from allergies. The findings were performed using porcine intestine which is thought to be a good model for the human intestine, but research will continue to see if the results translate to humans.
Kids Who Live With Smokers Have More Ear Infections
A new research paper, which reviewed 61 prior studies, concludes that kids whose parents smoke are more likely to get ear infections and have hearing problems.
Roundup Chemical Found in Water & Air in Two U.S. Farm States
Significant levels of the world’s most-used herbicide have been detected in air and water samples in Mississippi and Iowa. “This is one of the first studies to document the consistent occurrence of the chemical in streams, rain, and air throughout the growing season,” according to one of the researchers on the study, from the U.S. Geological Survey. It was found in every stream sample examined in Mississippi in a two-year period and in most air samples taken. Recent studies have already raised concerns about toxicity to humans and animals, but further research is needed.
Good Reads:
Talking to Your Kids about Tough Topics from Mamapedia Voices - In light of 9/11, a mother who started a news website for children shares tips on discussing tough topics with them.
Mr Printables - Fun resource with free printables for kids crafts and activities
Recalls, September 5 – September 12:
CPSC Child Product Recalls
Child Safety Seat Recalls
No child safety seat recall announcements this week.
USDA/FDA Recalls
- Watkins Incorporated Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Milk In Soynilla
- BUI Natural Tofu Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Soy and Wheat in Their Shrimp Salad Roll and Vegetarian Salad Roll
- Best Food Cash & Carry Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Sulfite In Deer Brand Raisin Golden
- Arkansas Firm Recalls Ground Turkey Products Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
We’d love your feedback! If there is anything you’d like us to add or change, we’d love to hear it! If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it our way to purebebeblog@gmail.com. We hope your week is off to a great start!
XOXO,
Jasmine & Heather
