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Dr. Spock 'Baby Basics' a reference tool for new parents Years after his passing, Dr. Benjamin Spock remains an icon in the world of baby and child care. Parents continue to seek his wisdom and practical guidance on virtually every aspect of child-rearing through his previously published best-selling books. "Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care," first published in 1946, has sold 50 million copies with sales second only to the Bible. Four generations of parents have looked to him for support, information and inspiration. Now, his words live on in a new book, "Dr. Spock's Baby Basics," by Dr. Robert Needlman. This pocket guide incorporates quotations by Spock himself and is inspired, according to its author, by Spock's groundbreaking philosophy of caring for the whole child, "...their heads and hearts, not just their muscles and bones." It is hoped that, through this book, the next generation of parents will still be able to look to Dr. Spock for answers. "Baby Basics," the first in a series crafted by the Dr. Spock Co., is a concise reference tool that parents can turn to on a day-to-day basis. Dr. Needlman writes, "The book isn't meant to be a comprehensive 'how-to' manual. The original 'Baby and Child Care' still offers the broadest coverage of every aspect of parenting." Instead, Needlman chose to delve deeper into four areas basic to parenting; sleeping, feeding, comforting and hygiene. Famous for saying, "Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do," Dr. Spock always encouraged parents to go with their own instincts, while offering reassuring advice. Needlman hopes to do the same. How We Rank California schools, by the numbers Teacher salaries, numbers of kids in classrooms and other nuggets of information have been packaged together by EdSource to give a broad picture of the state of California's public schools. Following are highlights from "Resource Cards on California Schools" by the nonprofit group (www.edsource.org) that compiles information on K-12 education in 2002-2003:
Getting Started...with Michele Piazzoni A new clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics is advising parents to begin supplementing breastfed babies with Vitamin D during the first two months of life and throughout childhood. A lack of the vitamin is hard to detect and can ultimately lead to the bone-softening disease rickets. The vitamin is available in drop and tablet form. Ask your pediatrician for more information. (Formula contains a sufficient amount of Vitamin D.) 4 Did you know that falls are the most common cause of injury to children under age 1? A new study reports that most falls occur during a caregiver's lapse in attention, and suggests that some of these accidents may be prevented by more thorough child-proofing efforts. For example, an infant might not roll off a bed if Mom has an alternate place to temporarily set her. So, if you haven't baby-proofed your home yet, get started. And since those little ones develop so quickly, review and update your safety measures every six months. 4 If you need an incentive to stop smoking, the thought of a colicky baby might just do the trick. A recent study found that babies of smokers were twice as likely to have colic than babies of non-smokers. In fact, pharmacists should advise parents to cease smoking around the baby before they dispense any over-the-counter remedies for colic. RECALL RECAP The Betesh "Busy Bug" plush toy has an antennae that can be chewed or pulled off and pose a choking hazard. The small plush bug has two springy, black antennae with orange, round fabric ends, and a blue face with a red musical nose that blinks when pressed. Return to place of purchase for a refund, or call Betesh toll free at 866.473.0118 anytime. Playskool's Magic Start Crawl 'n Stand toy can tip over during use and strike falling babies in the head, face or neck, resulting in injuries. The multicolored plastic toy has a round base and three arched legs that support an electronic activity center. Consumers should call 800.509.9554 to receive a replacement item. The Parents Bee Bop Band drum set includes drumsticks with handles that may break off and pose a choking hazard. The centipede-shaped drumsticks are 10 inches long and were sold in either lime green or blue with black stripes, with model numbers PM9137T2 or PM91372. Contact Battat for a replacement set of drumsticks at 866.617.9137. n Fit Rule Parents' role in child's fitness crucial If you haven't already seen the ads telling you to encourage your child to get moving, you surely will. "VERB. It's what you do" is the national campaign targeting our under-active preteens, ages 9-13, pushing them to "do" more physical activities. The program, in the second year of its five-year effort, also targets parents, reminding them that they play a critical role in shaping a healthy lifestyle for their child. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is responding to the unprecedented epidemic of overweight children by getting the word out that physical activity is good for them. The message is "get moving." While up to two hours of quality TV time is OK, the CDC reports that most children are spending more than six hours in front of a TV screen, video monitor, or computer each day. This sedentary routine puts them at greater risk for obesity and the many diseases related to it. How can you help your child develop a more active lifestyle? VERB suggests the following:
The CDC is committed to helping parents help their kids by launching VERBparents.com, a website with more information on ways to increase physical activity, decrease screen time and encourage pro-social involvement. n For parents: www.VERBparents.com For kids: www.VERBnow.com FAMILY NEWS BITES EMERGENCY WATER STORAGE In light of the recent increases in national terrorism alerts by the Department of Homeland Security, the Water Quality & Health Council offers some valuable tips for storing water to help Inland Empire families and individuals prepare for emergency situations. Home water storage also is an important measure in preparing for natural disasters such as earthquakes. While many individuals rush to purchase bottled or distilled water during times of crisis, the council advises that the storage of tap water for future use is another viable option for securing a supply of safe water in emergency situations. Since the average person requires two quarts of drinking water per day, the council recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person, per day in a cool dark place. The rule of thumb is to store enough water to last a minimum of three days - bearing in mind that water is needed for personal hygiene as well as for drinking and food preparation. Other sources of emergency water include melted ice cubes, water drained from the faucet of an undamaged water heater, water from flush tanks (not bowls) of home toilets, and liquids from canned goods such as fruit and vegetable juices. More of the council's advice on the storage and treatment of emergency water supplies may be found by visiting www.waterandhealth.org and clicking on the Homeland Security Issues icon. Director for Riverside County YWCA Marilyn Zimmerman has been appointed as executive director of the YWCA of Riverside County. Zimmerman has extensive experience in nonprofit management, with an emphasis on girls' and women's issues. She most recently served as executive director of the Claremont Chapter of the American Red Cross, a position she held from April 2002 through this past March. Zimmerman is a member of the American Association of University Women and holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Carthage College in Wisconsin. She holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Case Western University and Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., and is a certified Girl Scout executive director. Information: call the YWCA at 909.687.9922. RELAY FOR LIFE The American Cancer Society's annual 24-hour Relay for Life will be held at four different locations in Riverside and San Bernardino counties during June and July. "All of the volunteers and cancer survivors working on this event promise a wonderful, fun, and moving experience," reports Marvin Schurgin, Relay for Life project team chairman for the Desert Sierra Region of the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life is a family-oriented team event where participants can walk or run around the track, relay-style, for 24 hours. Events will be held on June 21 at Santiago High School in Corona and Barstow High School in Barstow. There also will be a July event at Lake Elsinore and July 26 at Big Bear High School in Big Bear. A team consists of 10 or more members and can be made up of neighbors, family members, co-workers, church friends, students and youth. Each team member is asked to collect $100 in donations to the American Cancer Society. "Relay for Life is as much an awareness raiser about progress against cancer as it is a fund-raiser to fight cancer," says Schurgin. "Many of the participants will be people who have been cured of cancer themselves." Registration forms and information about the Relay for Life are available from the American Cancer Society at 800.ACS.2345, or by calling the local Relay for Life office at 909.949.6115, Ext. 3. NEW CEO FOR PACIFIC LIFELINE The Board of Directors of Pacific Lifeline (LMWS, Inc.) has appointed Teri Hope Nelson as chief executive officer. Nelson, who holds a bachelor's degree in social services, comes to Pacific Lifeline from the city of Chino, where she most recently served as personnel/loss control manager. Her position is a new one within Pacific Lifeline as the organization seeks to expand its services to homeless women and children, as well as its funding base. LMWS, Inc. was founded in 1989 and has served women and children in the Inland Empire as Pacific Lifeline since 1995. Its mission is to prevent chronic homelessness by helping women in crisis to rebuild their lives and regain financial independence. - Reported and compiled by Inland Empire Family Magazine staff |
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