Air Conditioning Not Harmful to Babies; Fans Reduce Risk of SIDS

As I sit here in the humidity brought by the first heatwave of the summer, laptop burning a hole into my

thigh, I can’t help but wonder how my infant son is coping with the heat. He’s pulled his favourite toys together in front of the baby gate behind which I’ve placed a box fan in an attempt to circulate the air. If the heat bothers him, he’s not saying anything; he grins one of his toothy smiles at me when he notices I’m watching him, then goes back to playing.

Downstairs there is a central air unit missing one of the parts it needs to drain properly. The knowledge of its presence is almost taunting us. I look forward to the relief we will experience when we are finally able to cool the house down by only a few degrees.

Like everything else having to do with childcare, you will run into a lot of differing opinions about how best to help your children handle warm weather. The bottom of the pyramid here is hydration – like adults, children need more fluid to replace what they lose through sweat. Don’t feel shy about being generous with water and bottles especially if your child is going through a growth spurt.

Juices and pop should be avoided because they don’t give your child’s body any extra benefit – in the case of pops and sodas, the caffeine in the drink will actually act to dehydrate. Sport drinks like Gatorade may be helpful in small quantities during extreme heat because they will boost the electrolytes in your child’s body and help them feel more replenished.

There is a myth circulating around that air conditioning units are not safe for children because the cold can cause a chill or asthma later in life. This is hogwash. Air conditioning is safe for babies and can help them get a full night’s rest rather than tossing and turning because they are wet, sweaty and uncomfortable.

If you’re not fortunate enough to have an air conditioner, or if you don’t use one because you don’t feel your climate is oppressive enough, you may choose to use fans to help circulate the air. Good news! Research has shown that fans can greatly reduce the risk of SIDS. Sadly, fans do not cool the air, they only circulate the warm air already in the room.

Leave a comment with your tips for beating the heat in child-friendly ways!

When do I give my child Tempra?

It’s the big day: my son is getting circumcised. My mother calls and says “don’t forget your tempra, the baby will need it.” After we get to the doctors office and I ask the doctor how much tempra should I give to the baby before the procedure starts. His answer was, surprisingly, none. Ok, how much do I give him after the procedure? This is when the doctor explains to my husband and I that since our son is only 7 days old he doesn’t have any feelings in that region right now, therefore we don’t need to give him pain medication any unless he show signs of discomfort. We watched the baby very closely for days and he never seemed to be having any pain.

When I went to my pediatrician for baby’s first shots I asked if I should give him some tempra before the needles. The doctor explained that he doesn’t believe in giving children any medication before their shots because we would not be able to tell if he was having a reaction to the shots. If I saw that he was having any reaction (pain or otherwise) I was to come back to the office immediately anyway so there was no point in giving him the tempra. As I sat there watching the nurse getting the needles ready I started second guessing my decision to give him tempra but he was already sleeping and I didn’t want to wake him up.

I watched the nurse give the baby his shots and he didn’t even wake up! He was sleeping so peacefully, oblivious that he had just received 2 needles (one in each leg).

Whether or not you give your child tempra or Advil, Tylenol is something that must always be left to the discretion of the mother and the doctor. One baby at our playgroup receives a dose of tempra before and after his needle; his mother is comfortable with that and he is none the worse for it. My own opinion on the matter is unless the child is sick don’t give them medication. Giving medication to children for every little thing may sometimes provide more comfort to the parents than to the child.

Worth Every Minute

What makes everything worthwhile to me:

When I come home from work at the end of the day and my son gets his first glimpse of me. For a minute, that big old smile melts away all of the world’s problems for both of us.

Getting in the Mood… for Christmas

Every year we find ourselves in the same checkouts at the same stores listening to the same generic Christmas caroles while surrounded by the same disgruntled customers. Of course it will all be worth it on the big day when we finally get to exchange gifts and enjoy that much-deserved family time; but there must be a better way of getting there from here. Today I’m going to talk about some of the ways families can bring some down-to-earth joy to the holidays.

1. Be Happy
Studies show that when you are jovial, you have a 9% chance of spreading your good will to other people. Likewise, if you are angry or upset, the stress hormones have a 7% change of making those around you experience similar feelings. The moral of the story is that happiness is contagious – so make the effort to be extra nice and other people will ‘catch the bug’ and return the joy.

2. Make a Present
A close friend has an interesting Christmas tradition: every member of their family makes one present for everyone in addition to any shopping they do. The result: more personal gifts, less packaging waste on Christmas day, and less money spent.

3. Stay Home Once Per Week
In the lead-up to Christmas it is easy to find ourselves at the store almost every day picking up last-minute supplies. Instead of going to the nearest Wal-Mart, try to stay home at least one night every week. This will force the mind to relax and will actually focus your thoughts so your next trip is more productive.

4. Stay Safe
Along with the holidays come safety hazards that are not present at other times of the year. Always make sure candles are blown out and the proper lights are in use (do not put outside lights indoors). Make sure the Christmas tree is away from electrical outlets, radiators and high-traffic areas. Of all the times for tragedy to strike, this time of year always just sounds worse the normal.

5. Spread the Joy
If someone in your life has been giving you great service, now is a great time to show your appreciation with a small gift. MSN Money has an excelent article about who, and how much, to tip during the holidays. The key point here is – do not feel obligated to give or spend your money on anyone. However, if you do feel so inclined, your thoughtfulness will not go unnoticed – people remember when they are treated kindly, and you may find yourself on the receiving end of more good will (see tip #1).