Could A Diaper Be Dangerous?

Everyone hates a leaky diaper, but to what extremes will companies go to keep babies dry? Popular diaper brands such as Huggies Snug & Dry and Pampers Dry Max have come under scrutiny after multiple children developed severe diaper rashes that some parents and caregivers compared to chemical burns. The upgraded diapers are made of extra layers and material that claim to be more absorbent and reduce leakage accidents.

            According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 4,700 reported rash/chemical burn incidents in a four month span when the diaper was first introduced. While the CPSC has yet to find a distinct link between the Dry Max and diaper rash, they do suggest that certain diapers may react differently depending on the child. Children with sensitive skin may become irritated by a specific product. So is Dry Max a chemical in the diaper?        

            “Dry Max is not an ingredient. Dry Max was a name created to describe a diaper introduced in 2010. It wasn’t a change to the type of ingredients in the diaper.” That is the response Pampers provides to their customers on their website when questioned about the new product. When asked about the rumors linking Dry Max to rashes and chemical burns, Pampers denies the allegations. While Dry Max is not considered a chemical, according to Pampers, the company has yet to reveal what makes the diapers different from their other brands. What makes this diaper the driest?

            ABC2 News in Baltimore decided to launch an investigation after stumbling upon the multitude of parental and caregiver complaints. Under the Freedom of Information Act, a law that allows for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents, ABC2 requested to see the investigation conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. After waiting 11 months, the news station received 2,183 pages of emails, analysis, and medial opinions. When going through the information, they realized that almost 500 pages were missing from the investigation that could have held crucial information. The Consumer Product Safety Commission claims that the pages were missing or blacked out because of legal reasons. After a thorough investigation, Proctor & Gamble, the company who makes Pampers Dry Max, has maintained that their diapers are safe and have yet to recall the product even after 4,700 reported cases of severe diaper rash/chemical burns.

            Ironically, a medical doctor who decided to change career paths and become a stay at home mom of two kids published an online blog in 2012 called the Big Bad Diaper Test. On the blog, she put all of the big name diaper brands to the test. She tested absorbance, strength, flexibility, and durability. After conducting the experiment on both of her children, Dr. Mom, as she calls herself, found that Pampers Baby Dry, Luvs, and America’s Choice performed the lowest. She complained of rough and uncomfortable fits, snapping tabs, and leakage. After going through multiple brands, Dr. Mom found that Up & Up, a Target Brand, and Walgreens Premium passed the tests with flying colors. They were a great fit, thin and absorbent, perfect for naps, and no leakage.

            There is no definite way to know which diaper is best for a baby until various brands are tried. If a severe diaper rash or irritation occurs, the best thing to do is to switch diaper brands immediately. Upon switching, if the rash quickly clears up, the type of diaper may have been the issue. If irritation continues, it is always best to seek medical help.

The End to Bullying Starts At Home

TPNN recently held our regular Nanny Get Together and was honored to have Daniela Redpath, Vice President of Teach Anti-Bulling, Inc. speak to us about recognizing the signs of bullying and how to get involved to stop the vicious cycle. Redpath, along with President and Founder, Dr. Claudio Cerullo, formed the non-profit organization in late 2011. After watching her son, who suffers from Asperger’s, be a victim of bullying in his younger years, Redpath decided to change her career paths and help families in need. Their goal was help children and families who have been, or are currently, affected by bullying.

            Teach Anti-Bullying, Inc. goes into the community and local schools to raise awareness about bullying. They stress that if the lines of communication are not open at home, they will not be applied in the classroom. It is the parents’ and caregivers’ job to get involved. Redpath emphasized that children need two things, empowerment and conviction. During the younger years, children need to know that parents cannot solve all of their problems. They need to be able to express their emotions when they feel they are a victim of bullying, in a non-violent manner, and then have a conversation with an adult about how they handled the situation. For the kids doing the bullying, they have to be taught at a young age that their behavior is unacceptable.

            As children get older, parents and caregivers need to become more involved, clarify the lines of respect and disrespect, and notice for changes in behavior. Children usually do not tell an authority figure when they are being bullied because of fear of retribution. It is up to the adults in their lives to notice changes. This includes teachers because 33% of children in grades third through fifth admitted that bullying happens in the classroom with the teacher present. Some signs of bullying may include ripped clothes, odd attire, missing items, lack of interest in school, circle of friends changing, method of transportation changing, grades drastically suffering, nightmares, or sleep trouble.

            Signs of bullying are usually mirrored in home behaviors. Respectful children are less likely to be school bullies. Disrespectful, rude, violent, or out of control kids are usually the same at home and at school. When kids arrive home, parents and caregivers need to ask questions. Ask what happened at school, who did they eat lunch with, how was the school bus ride, and who did you sit next to? Willingness to share this type of information opens the lines of communications. Adults also should be aware that girls tend to use cyber bullying, the newest form of bullying, more frequently with 51% of girls cyber bullying as opposed to 37% of boys.

            Parents and caregivers are responsible for noticing the signs of a bullied child or a child doing the bullying. The age of suicide because of bullying or tormenting has gotten younger. Children with low self-esteem become adults with low self-esteem and child bullies become adult bullies. All children have to be taught empathy, compassion, and respect. Just as Redpath stressed, children have to be taught empowerment from a young age. A little courage can go a long way and Redpath said it best with the advice she gave her son to make him feel special and confident when he was a victim of bullying, “You’re not disabled, you’re differently abled.”

Visit: www.teachantibullying.com

Do You Know The Signs Of ADHD?

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a common childhood brain disorder. While the hyperactivity aspect may fade as children get older, there is always a chance that other aspects of the disorder continue into adolescence and adulthood. The National Institution of Mental Health reported that in youth with ADHD, the brain matures in a normal pattern, but is delayed by about three years. The delay is most evident in the thinking, attention, and planning sections of the brain.

            Some of the symptoms of ADHD may include varying degrees of difficulty focusing on one thing, struggling to follow directions, becoming easily confused, having trouble sitting still, trouble with quiet tasks or activities, fidgeting and squirming, blurting out inappropriate comments, or having difficulty waiting.

            Researchers have yet to find a cause for ADHD. While there is speculation that the cause could be one of five areas (genetics, environmental factors, brain injuries, sugar, or food additives), there is no scientific proof. If a caregiver suspects a child is demonstrating elements of ADHD, she should discuss her observations with the parents and recommend a meeting with the pediatrician. The behavior may look like ADHD and therefore can sometimes be mistaken as other problems. Some children may be inattentive but because they are not overly hyperactive, symptoms could be overlooked. Also, children who exhibit hyperactive or impulsive symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for having disciplinary problems.

            ADHD symptoms usually appear between the ages of three and six. Because symptoms vary from person to person, the disorder may sometimes take longer to diagnose. Teachers and caregivers are usually the first to notice signs, as they are with children a large portion of the day. After expressing concerns with the parents, proper help can be sought. Pediatricians can then decide whether or not the child should see a professional who specializes in testing and treating these disorders.

            There is no current cure for ADHD. Some of the common treatments used to control the disorder include medication, various types of psychotherapy, or education and training. Early intervention is best. If diagnosed early, treatments can allow for better adjusted educational, social, and emotional growth.

Information from: The National Institution of Mental Health

Do Video Games Belong In the Home?

In home video games have been in existence for the last 30 years. They allow the player to enter into a virtual world and become part of the game’s reality. Today, the quality of these games has greatly evolved. The realistic features in some of the characters and environmental settings mimic real life scenarios, making it sometimes hard for impressionable children to understand the difference. So, are all video games bad?

            Video games aren’t all bad. Playing games for a limited amount of time can improve dexterity, promote computer literacy, and help language development in younger gamers. Companies have now created learning games that promote the mental development of small children. They are able to recognize letters, shapes, numbers, and objects, which all help memory. With advancements in technology, some of the games talk back to the players, improving language and listening skills. Following instructions is also important when playing. The gamer must plan, think quickly, take risks, and concentrate. In order to advance to a higher level, all qualifications must be fulfilled, which includes problem solving and logic.

            Alternatively, some video games encourage violence and danger. The more interactive the game is, posing realistic violent situations, the more problematic they become. Ironically, Grand Theft Auto V, a violent virtual reality game recently hit store shelves and made almost one billion dollars internationally within first weekend sales. While the rating on the game is “Mature”, for consumers 17 years of age and older, many parents bought the game for younger children. What do violent video games impose on impressionable youth? They have the potential to promote violence outside of the game, confuse reality and fantasy, encourage social isolation, and could enable impulsive behavior.

            Choosing which video games to purchase for children can be challenging. While some seem to have positive learning features, those games are purchased in a lesser volume than violent games. Is the influence of peers causing children to ask for these games at home, or are parents and caregivers unaware of the intense negative nature of some of the more violent games? If children ask to play specific video games, do research, discuss, and make suggestions to decide whether those games actually belong in the home.

Trust: An Employee/Employer Building Block

Welcoming someone new into your home requires trust. Who is this person coming in, what will they bring to the table, and how can I feel completely secure when they are caring for my child alone? Those are all relevant, and important, questions that can run through a parent’s mind when hiring a nanny. Now ask, how can a caregiver ease the process?

Set common goals. Let parent’s feel secure by knowing that there is a nanny/parent team. Set an agenda and follow through.

Establish credibility. Following through on a consistent basis will help the parent trust that the nanny’s word is fact. If she says she is going to do something, it will get done.

Listen and follow directions. Parents know what they want done, when they are out of the home. When going over the day’s plans, take notes, ask questions, and reiterate important details to ensure accuracy.

Add input when needed. Being at home all day allows caregivers to be more aware of scheduling conflicts, amount of downtime, more hectic times of the day, and more. Observe, express concerns, and offer suggestions to employers.

Be a strong communicator. Nannies are the eyes and ears of the home when parents are away. Try keeping a notepad that recaps the day so parents are updated when they come home. The outcome is a smooth transition from day into evening for kids.

Earning an employer’s trust may be instantaneously or take time. Once a relationship is established, parents will feel more at ease. A strong foundation is built on trust.

Keep Social Media Professional or Private

Social media can be a professional liability. Prior to hiring, employers may search potential employees’ Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Without updated privacy settings, entering a name into Google will display all active social media accounts. While hiring decisions cannot be made solely on what is found, it certainly can influence opinions. Once hired, employers can check these sites to monitor behavior, comments, and status updates at any time. To keep social media professional, here are a few helpful tips:

Think before you post. Social media posts are meant to be active, engaging, and non-offensive. Stay clear of foul language, discrimination, and comments that demean personal character.

Who will read the post? Before posting, determine if anyone reading the post will be offended personally or professionally. Also, social media posts are time stamped. This makes it easy to place where you were at the time of the post. Were you at work?

A picture is worth a thousand words. Posting inappropriate pictures can cause educational consequences, professional dismissal, or public shame. A photo posted online can be seen by millions.

Who will remember this? The internet is forever. Once something is posted online, it remains forever. If deleted from a particular site, the image, or comment, is still in cyber space and detectable if searched for properly.

Aside from professional social media forums, educational institutions have now included social media guidelines within their ethics policies. Indecent commentary or negative portrayal of an institution can result in expulsion or criminal charges.  Before posting online, check privacy settings. They can usually be found under account settings [privacy]. Since social media sites update regularly, account settings should also be checked periodically. The best advice for social media use is to keep everything professional, and if using social media to express every opinion, keep it private.

Don’t Let Peanut Allergies Stop the Fun

According to FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), researchers estimate that 15 million Americans have food allergies and one in every 13 children is affected. Milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish are eight foods that account for 90 percent of allergic reactions.

Peanut allergies are on the rise, especially in children. They can result in difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or fatal reactions. Peanut butter and peanut oil aren’t the only foods to avoid. Many ethnic foods, such as Chinese, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese contain traces of peanuts. Candy, especially chocolate, some cereals, granola, some veggie burgers, and many health food bars also contain peanuts. Caregivers and parents should be cautious since there is no proven way to prevent the allergy, just blood and skin tests to detect it.

Peanut allergies are typically diagnosed within the first two years, though they can develop at any age. The symptoms may include, but are not limited to, tingling of the mouth, hives, swelling of the tongue or throat, abdominal cramps, or vomiting and diarrhea. Anaphylaxis is the most serious. When this occurs, blood pressure drops quickly and the individual loses consciousness.

To help avoid allergic reactions, caregivers and parents should monitor children’s food closely. Be sure to carefully read food labels and teach children not to eat other’s cooking if the ingredients are unknown. Packing snacks and lunches for school may also help reduce the chances of children coming in contact with peanut stricken foods. In severe allergic cases, parents, caregiver, and teachers should be fully educated on how to administer an EpiPen. An EpiPen is a shot of epinephrine which reverses anaphylactic shock and helps control serious reactions.

Parents and caregivers should develop, and keep, a written plan with recommendations from their child’s health care provider that helps others recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction, how to administer treatment, and who to contact in case of emergency. All allergies, including peanut, can be 100 percent controlled with monitored observation and attention.

Idea from: March of Dimes- Peanut Allergies