Parenting Solved

Bisphenol-A - Who Should Parents Listen To?

Last month the Food and Drug Administration reported that small amounts of BPA are not dangerous.  But last week the National Toxicology Program, the federal agency for toxicological research, confirmed “some concern” about the effects of BPA in the brains of fetuses and small children.  Many media outlets favored the FDA’s verdict and declared,  “All clear – it’s safe to feed – sorry about any confusion.”  The New York Times, however, stood on its own this weekend and raised questions about the federal mixed message.

The evidence suggesting that BPA exposure may affect early neurodevelopment is compelling.  I have read the NTP’s findings and explored some of the original literature on the subject.  The question that remains unanswered is:  How much is safe?  The FDA has suggested that the level of exposure in the typical baby isn’t a concern.  The NTP isn’t so sure.  Irrespective of Uncle Sam’s indecisiveness, it would appear as though the American marketplace is sorting this issue out on its own.  Infant product lines in the States are evolving to meet the wishes of parents who are holding a referendum with their pocket books.

While there have been pockets of hysteria in the BPA dialogue, I am suggesting that parents minimize BPA exposure on a going forward basis.  Since the primary route of exposure is ingestion, I recommend BPA-free for anything that your child will bite, chew, eat or drink from on a regular basis.  If you must use a BPA containing product, avoid intense heat exposure through microwaving.

And as far as more practical guidance from the feds, I'll let you know if I hear anything...  

Alert the Media: Airline Travelers Don't Like Babies

Some interesting Labor Day stats: According to Airfarewatchdog, 85% of surveyed readers believe that airline carriers should dedicate sections for parents of babies and young children. And 100% suggested that they would pay a premium to fly without the patter of little feet in the aisle.

While I’m inclined to think that this reflects the worst of society, traveling with children is admittedly difficult for everyone involved. And the stress of close quarters is only compounded in the presence of a toddler with ears that won’t decompress.

As a dad traveling with children I have never traveled with a sense of entitlement. Yes, I paid as much as the man trying to sleep in the seat in front of us. But he has no obligation to embrace my daughter’s occasional outburst or need for a diaper change. As traveling parents all we can do is plan ahead, pray for sleep and count each minute to landing.

Parents Magazine Advocates for Children/Immunizations

I don’t see this every day: a major publication devoting significant space to tell parents precisely why children need vaccinations. Reference Parents Magazine and their July 2008 feature, Why Babies Need Shots. Their interview with Dr. Ari Brown also offers real answers to real questions. Refreshing really when you consider how often the main stream media supports the loud voice of a misinformed anti-vaccine minority peddling fear and conspiracy theories.

Hats off to Parents Magazine for using their valuable platform to help advocate for children.

Tickling - A Cure for Constipation?

Open your mind here. I had a mother report today that she is correcting her four-year-old daughter'€™s constipation with tickling (and a healthy dose of Miralax). It seems her child is one of millions of toddlers with stool withholding, the annoying behavioral pattern of desperate stiffening and avoidance after encountering a painful turd. It'€™s a silent epidemic that I confront head-on every day.

So here's what mom does: When it'€™s clear that junior miss is passionately engaged in her potty dance (eye brows to the sky, head back, torso arched and up on tippy toes) she places her square on the pot and begins to tickle her unmercifully. And each time her daughter eliminates.

It'€™s brilliant really. What'€™s happening is the child initiates avoidance when she recognizes stool in the rectal vault. She withholds to avoid pain. Mom recognizes the cue and stimulates to the point where the child loses the iron-clad control of her pelvic floor. The laughter creates intra-abdominal pressure which exceeds the pressure of her external sphincter. Voila.

No word on the long-term effects of tickling on the toilet. But for now it represents a simple solution for one toddler in crisis.

For the record, this is my first Parenting Solved Hack.

Autism and Mitochondria - Like Two Drunks

With the thimerosal argument in the weeds and the measles connection corrupt, the Great Vaccine Witch Hunt is courting its new darling: the elusive mitochondria. And this time they have the perfect culprit. Mitochondrial disorders are poorly understood, nearly impossible to predict, hard to identify and may become most apparent during the peak vaccine age. A lot like autism. It’s the perfect storm.

Dr. Thomas Insel of the National Institutes of Mental Health put it nicely in this morning’s New York Times, “We’re talking about two things we don’t understand very well, mitochondrial disorder and autism, and putting them together,” Dr. Insel said. “It’s like two drunks holding each other up.” Aptly put.

The recent interest stems from two cases of autism in children with mitochondrial disease that were apparently precipitated by the use of vaccines. This weekend a meeting of the minds involving the FDA, NIH, CDC, HHS and others will discuss the issue.

Expect mitochondrial disease to take center stage with Hollywood and the growing grassroots network of self-proclaimed infectious disease experts determined to resurrect a cluster of childhood illnesses long since forgotten. Mercury be damned … it’s on with the show!

The image is an electron micrograph of a mitochondria courtesy of Wikipedia.

It's Final - Autism Not Associated with Thimerosal

Alert the media (and Jenny McCarthy), here’s another study showing that mercury-based preservatives in vaccines aren’t responsible for autism. The study published in this month’s Archives of General Psychiatry found that despite removal of thimerosal the prevalence of autism was unchanged between 1995 and 2007. Hopefully this will close the door on the Big Pharma witch hunt of the 20th century that undermined both the healthy and the afflicted.

And on the subject of autism, a study recently published in the journal Pediatrics found that children with autism spectrum disorder tend to be less irritable when febrile. Interesting stuff. The study is unable to answer why this is the case although in their discussion the authors offer a number of potential mechanisms for the observed behavior. Temperature related changes in nerve conduction and the neurological effects of fever associated compounds in the body topped the list.

While not a deal breaker, it’s studies such as these that offer small, incremental additions to the puzzle that’s autism.

Are Doctors Missing Reflux in Children?

According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition last month, researchers from Loyola University Medical Center found that nearly one third of parents reported visiting three doctors before receiving a correct diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux for their child.

And among toddlers and preschoolers in the study, more than 50% experienced a 3 month delay from the time of symptom presentation to diagnosis. 22% of children in this age group experienced a delay in diagnosis of greater than 18 months.

While these stats are concerning, they should come as no surprise for some parents who have sought attention for reflux disease. As pediatric GERD awareness remains in its infancy, vigilance is what drove the caregivers in this study to seek care for their kids.

Look for this compelling study to reach peer reviewed publication soon.

Riding Vacuum Puts Toddlers to Work

Why not put your toddler to work while playing? It seems you can with this Bugaboo cum Hoover upright. Your child scoots around the house and the Zamboni-like vacuum on the front does the dirty work. It seems to be the brainchild of Swedish designer Kristina Andersson. Of course the first thing that came to mind: Why should toddlers have all the fun vacuuming? Why not build one for adults?

Not available for purchase it would seem. Tip and photo to Gizmodo.

Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day

If you’re tired of diapers, check out Teri Crane’s bestselling book, Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day. This easy-to-read book literally makes a party out of the process of potty training. Through a systematic approach that engages children in a fun, positive way the book provides an opportunity for tight-bottomed toddlers to relax and enjoy something which all too often is stressful. I think that the success of this book is due to the fact that it offers parents a manageable process that they can actually get their hands around.

And if you’re in northern Ohio or beyond, Teri Crane offers her Potty Boot Camp which introduces parents to the concepts outlined in her book. You can check out her website for appearances and seminars.

On a personal note, Teri pioneered the idea that parenting authors can successfully promote books under the fluorescent glare of a big box store like Babies R Us. After she was profiled in Publisher’s Weekly I contacted her to figure out her approach. Since then Teri has generously served as something of a book marketing mentor for me. This lead to my relationship with Babies R Us which has created some great opportunities for Colic Solved. Congratulations on your success as well as serving as a valuable resource for frustrated parents (and frustrated authors!)

Unfortunately Teri’s book is about to be trumped. I’m announcing the publication of Potty Train Your Child in Just Three Seconds which is due for release next spring. A 7,500,000 initial print run is expected. Sorry Teri.

How Common is Electronic Media Use Among Kids?

An interesting study published in this month’s Pediatrics offers some fresh data on media use among children aged 0-6 years. As a parent you may want to see how you measure up.

Percentage of young children who….
Watch T.V.: 75% (1 hour 20 minute average)
Use computer: 27% of 5-6 year olds (50 minute/day average)
Have a T.V. in their room: 20% of 0-2 year olds, 33% of 3-6 year olds

Most commonly cited reason for allowing a bedroom T.V.:
1. Occupies a child so that the parents can do other things – 38%
2. Helps a child fall asleep – 30%
3. Serves as a reward for good behavior – 25%

The study itself is an interesting read and probably doesn’t fall outside the realm of what most parents can understand. I didn’t find the stats too shocking although the growing numbers of young children with televisions in their bedrooms is surprising. Other studies involving older children put the bedroom television figures at aroung 66%. There also appears to be a worrisome trend of parents using television to settle fussy babies.

The impact of a growing media presence in the lives of our children is unknown and needs a lot more study.