Thursday, September 17th, 2009
Here’s an earful

Just as we’re heading into cold season, and as a result, ear infection season, the Canadian Paediatric Society has released new recommendations for the treatment of ear infections in kids over six-months-old: Doctors should wait 48 to 72 hours before prescribing antibiotics. The reasoning, in addition to the concern about over-prescribing antibiotics, is that many ear infections resolve on their own and many are viral, which do not respond to antibiotics.
The statement also included ways to prevent infections from developing in the first place:
    • breastfeeding,
    • avoiding bottle feeding a baby who is lying down,
    • refraining from using a pacifier too often,
    • avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke,
    •vaccinating children with the influenza and pneumococcal conjugate at the recommended age.

Posted by Laura Bickle
on Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 3:30:11 PM
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
Injection help

With the diagnosis of diabetes, growth issues, allergies and other conditions often comes the necessity of routine injections, which can, for some kids, be more difficult than the condition itself.
If your child must have routine injections, mark your calendar for Saturday, October 3 at noon. A free webinar promises to share tips and tools to help parents make injections easier for their kids. Among the speakers are a paediatric nurse, a child-life therapist and a parent whose child requires routine injections. Issues such as how to introduce your child to injections, how to make injections part of your routine and how the whole family can support your child will be discussed. The webinar will also be viewable after the event.

 

Posted by Laura Bickle
on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 at 10:48:09 AM
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Thursday, August 20th, 2009
"I'm missing my son"

How to understand two 10-year-olds sleeping on the street? (and, while the fact that this happened in Iqaluit is a big part of the story, let's not kids ourselves: Iqaluit is  not the only place where 10-year-olds sometimes sleep on the street). The mom of one of the boys  spoke with the Globe and Mail yesterday about what her son has been through and how she struggles to take care of him. It's an unusally honest interview, and the mother's willingness to give it shines a light on how complex these problems are in a family.

Then there's the whole issue of how complex the problems  are in the North.

Posted by Dafna Izenberg
on Thursday, August 20th, 2009 at 10:26:26 AM
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Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
Swearing in the maternity ward

When it comes to labour, you do what you have to do to reduce the pain. And if, for you, that happens to be cursing a bluestreak, you now have scientific evidence to excuse your profanity. Turns out swearing actually reduces the perception of pain. Of course, if you go this route, it might be yet another reason not to videotape your delivery!

Posted by Laura Bickle
on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 at 3:15:52 PM
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Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
Toronto parents

The good news? Summer is finally here! The bad news? Well, if you live in Toronto there's a good chance your little one's camp has been cancelled, public pools have been closed and your garbage has already begun piling up.

Camps
If your child’s camp plans have been interrupted by the Toronto strike, visit the Today's Parent Toronto camp directory for listings of private day, residential and special-need camps throughout the GTA.

What to do
If you're looking for activities to fill your campless days ahead, come see us at Today’s Parent KidSummer. The summer-long program hosts daily events across Southern Ontario. And if you're willing to take a drive, splash pads and pools remain open in the surrounding municipalities.

• Vaughan
• Richmond Hill
• Mississauga
• Oakville
• Ajax
• Pickering
• Whitby

Posted by Natalie, Todaysparent.com
on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 4:30:34 PM
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