Parents Daily News Roundup

May 25, 2012 at 11:54 am , by April Rueb

More Kids Eating Detergent Packs, Docs Report
Miniature laundry detergent packets arrived on store shelves in recent months as an alternative to bulky bottles and messy spills. But doctors across the country say children are confusing the tiny, brightly colored packets with candy and swallowing them.

Childhood Cancer Effects May Linger in Adults
Survivors of childhood cancers have an increased risk of disfigurement and persistent hair loss later in life, and for some that may lead to long-term emotional distress, suggests a new study.

Study Links Obesity to C-Section Births
Elizabeth Cohen discusses a study linking babies born via C-section to obesity.

Supreme Court Rules Against Benefits for Posthumously Conceived Kids
Karen Capato used her deceased husband’s frozen sperm to conceive twins. The Supreme Court has ruled the kids aren’t eligible for federal benefits because of their posthumous conception.

9-Ounce Newborn May Leave the Hospital
Kenna Moore was born at a wee nine ounces, perhaps one of the smallest babies in the world to survive.

School Plans Condom Giveaway for Prom
Bedford-Stuyvesant Preparatory High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. will make 500 condoms available at the school’s June 7 prom.

Kid Got a Concussion? Download the Concussion Recognition and Reponse App

May 25, 2012 at 10:36 am , by Sherry Huang

Recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion with the new Concussion Recognition and Response app ($3.99) from Safe Kids USA.  Using information from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), two experts, Gerard A. Gioia, Ph.D., and Jason Mihalik, Ph.D., created the app to help parents and coaches in the event a child experiences a home- or sports-related injury.

In just a few minutes, complete a checklist to determine if symptoms are serious enough for immediate medical attention.  Parents can also record a child’s health information (name, age, gender, sport played), take photos of the injury, share all the information via email with health care professionals for proper treatment and follow-up.  Plus, the app offers tips on how a child can safely return to regular sports or exercise routine after an injury.

Download the app on iTunes (iPhone, iPad) | Download the app on Android Market

Watch Dr. Gerard A. Gioia talk about making the app below.

American Baby’s Baby Booty: Win $100 for BabySteals.com!

May 24, 2012 at 4:58 pm , by Jessica Hartshorn

Baby stuff is expensive. Maybe not each individual piece of gear, necessarily, but by the time you get a crib and car seat and diapers and clothes, you’re already kind of financially in over your head. I have a lot of people trying to convince me that parents will pay more for something if it’s really better for their baby, and that parents are paying more these days for stuff that’s got great design, but you know, we all only have so much cash to throw around. We can’t keep paying more and more and more when salaries are not going up and up.

I think that’s why flash-sale sites and all their various dot-com cousins are breeding like bunnies. We need discounts! I’m not a flash-sale addict myself, but I’ve scored a couple of good deals on those kinds of sites. I’ve recently revised one of the original sale sites, called BabySteals.com, that posts two sales a day, one in the morning (right when you get to work and can be “checking your email”) and one in the evening (after the kiddos are, hopefully, asleep). And good news! To help initiate more parents into the e-sale world, the folks at BabySteals will give $100 giftcards to four folks who post a comment right here!

Some rules: You can post up to once a day, from now until midnight on Wednesday, May 30th. You can leave any comment you’d like, but maybe tell me what you’d most like to find on sale for your baby! You can read the complete rules here. Goody luck!

 

Nancy O’Dell: Family First

May 24, 2012 at 3:01 pm , by Kourtney Eidam

Parents celeb correspondent Nancy O’Dell recently chatted with a number of A-list moms and dads about a variety of topics. But one thing was clear from all the conversations: Celebrity parents put their fam before glam–just like most of us. Find out what Brad and Angelina, Jennifer Lopez, and others had to say in our June issue (on newsstands now). Or click here to read the full story. Make sure to catch Nancy weeknights at her other gig…cohost of Entertainment Tonight. And follow her on Twitter @NancyOdell or friend her on Facebook.

 

Image courtesy of Ulrica Wihlborg

Google Street View: Take a Virtual Tour of Family Vacation Spots

May 24, 2012 at 12:57 pm , by Sherry Huang

Thinking about  a quick getaway for Memorial Day weekend? Before you finalize your plans, explore family-friendly places by using Google Maps Street View.  If you’re not familiar with this free tool, it gives you a 360-degree street level look at popular U.S. and world destinations (zoos, amusement parks, public parks, landmarks, museums, etc.).  From the comfort of your own home computer or smartphone, preview places to determine if you want to visit them in person.

Get a panoramic look at these following U.S. destinations:

• San Diego Zoo
• Legoland California
• Universal Studios Orlando
• Time Square New York
• More U.S. Summer Attractions

For bigger family vacations, you can take a road trip to different U.S. landmarks, discover historic Italy, or even set sail down the Amazon River.

Plus, if you or someone you know manages a unique destination, request a Street View team to visit the location through the Street View Partner Program.

Happy planning!

10 Pregnant Celebrities: Maternity Style Trends

May 24, 2012 at 12:40 pm , by Jessie Assimon

This post was written by our friends at Celebrity Baby Scoop.

It’s a Hollywood baby boom! And what better way to celebrate high-profile baby bumps than with funky fashions?!

From Reese Witherspoon‘s breezy summer dresses, to Alyson Hannigan’s casual chic statements, to Kristin Cavallari‘s effortless feminine fashions, let’s take a look at the latest maternity style trends from 10 pregnant celebrities.

Reese Witherspoon:

Expectant mom Reese Witherspoon has been simply radiant with breezy summer dresses throughout her third pregnancy. From polka dots, to stripes, to solid colors, the Oscar-winner has been opting for above-the-knee dresses, flat sandals, and layered necklaces as her maternity style of choice. Perfection!

Kristin Cavallari:

The Hills alum Kristin Cavallari is one of those lucky women who is ‘all belly’ during pregnancy. And she has been dressing that bump beautifully while expecting her first child! From feminine flowing maxi dresses, to mini maternity looks, to skinny jeans and form-fitting tops, we cannot get enough of Kristin’s maternity style! Has she ever looked better?!

Molly Sims:

Mom-to-be Molly Sims has got that glow! The expectant actress has been keeping a keen sense of style throughout her first pregnancy with a variety of maxi dresses and layers. “I love long skirts,” Molly told Celebrity Baby Scoop of her favorite maternity look. “People think you should dress bigger. But the tighter you dress, the thinner you look,” she shared with us. Keep it up Molly, you look amazing!

Kourtney Kardashian:

From casual chic to red carpet ready, Kourtney Kardashian sure knows how to make pregnancy look good! Currently expecting her second child, the reality TV starlet is the queen of polished looks, whether it’s at the latest Hollywood event or at the local farmer’s market! For her everyday maternity style, Kourt keeps things casual chic in fitted duds showcasing her burgeoning belly, paired with the latest trends such as oversized handbags, fedoras, and blazers.

Alyson Hannigan:

Throughout her second pregnancy, How I Met Your Mother star Alyson Hannigan has been opting for maxi dresses, jeans with fitted tops, and leggings with tunic tops. Keeping things casual chic with layered accessories, we’ve loved seeing the latest maternity duds from the down-to-earth expectant mama. Can’t wait to hear her exciting news soon!

Snooki:

From meatball to hot momma! It’s all about animal prints, sky-high heels and short hem lines for expectant Jersey Shore star Nicole ‘Snooki‘ Polizzi! The 24-year-old reality starlet shocked fans with her pregnancy news earlier this year, and the pint-sized TV star has been updating her Twitter fans ever since with plenty of mini baby bump shots, displaying her maternity fashions.

Continue Reading

Parents Daily News Roundup

May 24, 2012 at 10:42 am , by April Rueb

Long-Term Birth Control Works Better than Pill
Women who use long-acting methods of birth control are less likely to wind up pregnant than women who use shorter-term methods, which require daily or monthly remembering, a new analysis says.

NYPD Detains New Jersey Man in Etan Patz Case
A suspect is in custody after making statements to NYPD detectives implicating himself in the disappearance and death of Etan Patz, a 6-year-old boy who vanished 33 years ago from his Manhattan neighborhood.

CA Health Officials Testing 35 Babies for TB
Health officials are testing 35 babies for tuberculosis after a person with an active case of the life-threatening disease visited neonatal-intensive care units at two Northern California hospitals.

Parenting Group Bans Unvaccinated Adults
The recent whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic in Washington state has prompted the parent support group PEPS to issue a new policy regarding participation in their groups.

Washing Machine Child’s Mom: I’ll Press Charges
The single mother of a toddler who was locked in an active washing machine in a video that has gone viral said on TODAY Thursday that she plans on pressing charges against the babysitter who watched as the ordeal unfolded.

United Drops Early Boarding for Children
Just in time for summer vacation, families with small children traveling on United Airlines will no longer be able to board early.

Parents Daily News Roundup

May 23, 2012 at 11:09 am , by April Rueb

1 in 3 Developmentally Delayed Babies Untreated
About one out of every three infants who scores well below average on a test of developmental skills — and is therefore considered at a high risk of having delays — does not get referred to early intervention services, according to a new study.

More Relatives, Friends Caring for Kids: Report
The number of youth living with relatives or friends instead of their parents has risen nearly 18 percent in the past decade as a growing number of grandparents take on caring for their grandchildren, an analysis of government data shows.

Video Shows Dad Putting Toddler in Washing Machine
A game of peek-a-boo between a father and his toddler son turned into a frightening few minutes at a New Jersey laundromat when the boy became trapped in a spinning washing machine.

Are Vaccines Safe? A Major Media Outlet’s Specious Story Fans the Debate
Can vaccines cause the disease they’re supposed to prevent? Do they lead to autism? Every leading medical organization says no — and supports immunization — yet parents are growing increasingly skeptical.

Toxic Flame Retardants: Why Does Kids’ Exposure Vary by Race and Socioeconomics?
A new study finds that despite equal levels of chemicals in their homes, nonwhite toddlers had more exposure to flame retardant toxins than their white peers.