Mums: Get daily pregnancy tips via Twitter

Do you know what Twitter is?

It’s an online service which allows anyone to share 140-character snippets of information about themselves, what they’re doing, and what’s important to them. It’s a bit like text messaging on the Internet.

March of Dimes has announced that it’s providing daily pregnancy tips — or “tweets” — for mums via the service.

It’s available in both English and Spanish.

“We’re using all the new technology that’s available to us to help women make sense of the latest medical and scientific research,” said Beverly Robertson, national director of the Pregnancy & Newborn Health Education Center at the March of Dimes. “This service is in whatever format you want it. You can get it on your cell phone via text message, through instant messaging and online. The March of Dimes already has almost 1,000 Twitter followers around the country.”

Talking of Twitter, you can get updates from the Family Relationships Magazine here

TV4Parents: online TV for parents goes live next week

I’ve just found out about a rather exciting new resource, due to launch next Thursday, 23rd October.

TV4Parents is an online forum, based in the UK, developed by Tomorrow’s Child, and aimed at parents, carers, and children aged 0-11.

This online TV styled web site will look at ways of parenting, offering hints, tips, advice, and a place for parents to share their experiences with others.

An ongoing nationwide survey — “Pressure Cooker Kids” — confirms that parents and children are under pressure to spend time together, deal with separation anxiety, and eat healthily and together.

A book and DVD will also be launched next week. “Creative Wellbeing” is written by education specialist Jacqueline Harding and medical advisor Dr Sanjay Chaudhuri, both who are heavily involved with Tomorrow’s Child and the new site.

Visit the site now to get a taste for what’s to come, and bookmark it, because it looks like it’s going to be a fantastic resource for anyone looking after children.

TV4Parents.com

Making Halloween safer for kids: ten tips for parents

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has outlined ten things that parents can do to ensure that their children have a fun, but above all safe, Halloween night this year.

1. CHOOSE bright, flame-retardant costumes or add reflective tape to costumes and candy bags so children are easily seen in the dark. In addition, carry a glow stick or flashlight.
2. PLAN a trick-or-treating route in familiar neighbourhoods with well-lit streets. Avoid unfamiliar neighbourhoods, streets that are isolated, or homes that are poorly lit inside or outside.
3. NEVER send young children out alone. They should always be accompanied by a parent or another trusted adult. Older children should always travel in groups.
4. ALWAYS walk younger children to the door to receive treats and don’t let children enter a home unless you are with them.
5. BE SURE children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless you are with them.
6. DISCUSS basic pedestrian safety rules that children should use when walking to and from houses.
7. CONSIDER organising a home or community party as an alternative to “trick-or-treating”.
8. MAKE SURE children know their home phone number and address in case you get separated. Teach children how to call 911 (or equivalent emergency number) in an emergency.
9. TEACH children to say “NO!” or “this is not my mother/father” in a loud voice if someone tries to get them to go somewhere, accept anything other than a treat, or leave with them. And teach them that they should make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming and resisting.
10. REMIND children to remain alert and report suspicious incidents to parents and/or law enforcement.

“Child safety is important year round, but Halloween is an especially important time for parents and children to pay extra attention to their surroundings and not let their guard down,” said Nancy McBride, National Safety Director of NCMEC. “It is important that parents exercise a few basic safety precautions to help ensure that Halloween is both fun and safe.”

NHS launches pregnancy advice web site

The UK’s National Health Service has just launched a new web site where expectant mothers can go to get authoritative advice and information on all aspects of pregnancy and childbirth.

“Whether you’re planning to have a baby, are already pregnant, or your new baby has just arrived, our new interactive pregnancy planner is for you,” the site opens.

It’s the perfect way to find out all you need to have a healthy and happy pregnancy and to make sure you get the care that’s right for you. It contains over 250 pages of NHS accredited information, including pictures, videos and planning tools. You’ll also find all the facts you need to choose the best maternity services in your area.

The NHS is no stranger to offering medical advice online, and already runs the NHS Direct health information web site.

The site offers help on pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and labour, parent and baby advice, and general pregnancy information.

Pregnancy can be a huge mystery, and with the Internet’s myriad of information — some accurate and some wholly misleading — on the subject, it’s good to know that a trusted medical organisation is providing comprehensive coverage.

NHS Pregnancy web site (via Web User)

WellChild Helpline launched: UK’s only national children’s health advice line

The children’s charity WellChild today announced the launch of the WellChild Helpline, designed to offer comprehensive help and advice to anyone concerned about the health and well-being of children.

Staffed by a team of trained healthcare professionals from a variety of disciplines, callers will either have questions answered, or efficiently passed to the most appropriate organisation.

BBC1’s Breakfast programme’s GP, Dr Rosemary Leonard, endorsed the WellChild Helpline, saying, “WellChild’s new service is extremely welcome as accessing the right information can seem daunting and not having access to concerns about health can cause a lot of anxiety. By having this multi-disciplinary team of experts at the end of a phone-line or email, WellChild will be putting people in touch with the right health information which could ultimately lead to saved lives as well as an enormous improvement in the quality of many more.”

Read more

Mums look to online advice to avoid the judgement of others

According to new research by child medicine manufacturer Tixylix, modern mums are jumping online to find advice and support on parenting issues because they feel less judged than in other, more traditional environments.

Just two percent of mums surveyed said they felt judged by online peers, compared to one-quarter who felt judged by their neighbours and other mums at the school gate.

Unsurprisingly, at least for its fair share of (possibly untrue) anecdotal evidence, 26% of those who responded said that their mother-in-law was the most judgemental about parenting issues.

It’s not all online meetings though, with events like coffee mornings regularly attended by 54% of mums. Then again, one in five mums regularly log on to parenting sites when they need advice in a hurry.

Parenting expert Dr Jenny Leonard said, “The findings reflect a growing trend for modern mums to seek advice and support from a wider range or sources than ever before. The internet in particular allows mums to feel connected to the outside world and to seek answers to parenting questions
quickly and also without feeling embarrassed or judged.”

Expert advice on preventing the common cold infecting your child

Kenneth Haller, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri, has given some advice for parents wanting to reduce the risk of their children catching the “common cold”.

“The common cold is practically impossible to cure because more than 200 viruses can cause it,” he said. “Since it’s equally impossible to avoid exposure to all those viruses, the best course of action is to limit your risk for becoming infected.”

His eight common-sense tips are:

1. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Good nutrition is the foundation for a strong immune system.
2. Drink lots of water, which helps to keep your body hydrated. Water also helps distribute nutrients throughout your body and flushes away toxins.
3. In the winter months, dry air can cause nasal membranes to become thinner and less effective at fighting off viruses. Use a saline nasal spray like OCEAN(R) Nasal Spray to keep membranes in the nose moist during cold, dry weather.
4. A cool mist humidifier in the bedroom during colder weather can also help keep nasal membranes well-hydrated.
5. Plenty of good sleep is vital, as is regular exercise, both of which help strengthen your immune system.
6. Be aware of your hands. Keep them away from eyes, nose and mouth — the most common portals for germs to enter into your body. Also, wash your hands throughout the day — before eating, after sneezing or coughing; after using the bathroom and touching high-use facilities such as cafeteria tables, doorknobs and playground equipment. Pack hand sanitizers in your children’s backpacks so they can use them at school.
7. Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze and cough to avoid spreading viruses through the air. Ideally, use a tissue. If a tissue isn’t available, sneeze into the elbow of your sleeve, not your hand, or turn your head away from people near you.
8. Stay home. The average child catches five to eight colds every year, largely because cold germs spread so easily through schools and day cares. Consider keeping a sick child home from school during the most contagious stage of the disease to avoid infecting others.

Of course that’s all easier said than done. September can be a nightmare month as children return to school and we move from summer to autumn.