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October, 2007 Archives | Homepage
Britney's Mother Writing Parenting Book
The Associated Press reports that Lynne Spears - the mother of Britney Spears - is writing a parenting book called Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World. The book will be published by Thomas Nelson, a major publisher of Christian books.
"Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World" is set for release May 11, which is Mother's Day, said Curt Harding, a spokesman for Thomas Nelson Inc., a Christian book publisher.
"That is all we're releasing at this time," Harding told The Associated Press on Friday. "I have not seen a manuscript so I cannot comment on the content."
Spears, 25, continued to make headlines Friday when she arrived in a white Mercedes convertible for a court hearing in Los Angeles to work out custody arrangements of her sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, with ex-husband Kevin Federline.
Lynne Spears doesn't sound like the ideal person to write a parenting book. Britney has had tons of problems. She's been in rehab. She shaved her head. She's a terrible pet owner and she has a foul mouth. Most people probably don't blame Britney's mother for Britney's antics but they also probably wouldn't seek her out for parenting advice. The book will probably sell well anyway out of curiousity.
Posted on October 29, 2007
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Drugmakers Pull Cold Medications for Infants Off Shelves
Drugmakers have pulled a number of cold and cough medications targeted at children under 2 years old off store shelves. The drugs were pulled after the FDA issued a public health warning about nonprescription cough and cold medicine use. The FDA statement included this warning.
Do not use cough and cold products in children under 2 years of age UNLESS given specific directions to do so by a healthcare provider.
An MSNBC article explains the drugs that were pulled off the shelves.
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association announced Thursday that manufacturers were voluntarily ending sales of over-the-counter oral cough and cold products aimed at infants. The list includes infant drops sold under the leading brand names Dimetapp, Pediacare, Robitussin, Triaminic, Little Colds, and versions of Tylenol that contain cough and cold ingredients.
CVS Caremark Corp. added that it would also end sales of CVS-brand equivalents.
"It's important to point out that these medicines are safe and effective when used as directed, and most parents are using them appropriately," said Linda Suydam, president of the industry trade group.
The article says pediatric and public health groups recommend the following actions for dealing with a child with a cold or cough.
Plenty of fluids and rest.
Suction bulbs to gently clear infants' clogged noses. Saline nose drops loosen thick secretions so noses drain more easily.
A cool-mist humidifier in the child's bedroom.
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as recommended by your doctor, to alleviate pain or discomfort - but check that they don't contain extra ingredients.
Some chest creams can ease stuffiness with menthol or other fragrances, but check labels for age restrictions.
The latest news is that an FDA Panel has advised against the use of OTC cold medications in kids aged 2 to 5. The FDA Panel also recommends drugs for this age group to be pulled as well.
Posted on October 19, 2007
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Childcare Professionals Criticize UK Baby Show
Childcare professionals are highly critical of a UK show called Bringing Up Baby. The controversial show, which airs on UK's Channel 4, compares child rearing tactics from the 50s, 60s and 70s. The Telegraph repoorts that some childcare professionals believe some of the tactics used on the show may be harmful.
Verity, 41, is shown recommending that infants be left to sleep in a separate room from their mother. She also recommends that parents feed babies at strict four-hour intervals and ignore the child no matter how much it cries.
Childcare professionals, including Mary MacLeod, the chief executive of the Family and Parenting Institute, say they are alarmed Channel 4 is broadcasting "such an exploitative parenting series as Bringing Up Baby".
They warn: "Many techniques in these programmes fly in the face of scientific knowledge about brain development in very young babies. That anyone should be billed as an expert and allowed to promote ideas such as not making eye contact with babies and not comforting them in distress is at best irresponsible and at worst dangerous."
MacLeod said that she would be writing to the watchdog Ofcom, urging it to force broadcasters and programme makers to be more responsible. She said: "Bringing Up Baby may masquerade as a very serious programme but it is not. It is using outmoded techniques on babies that after all cannot give their consent."
People are discussing the show here on a Yahoo UK Answers thread. Most are quite disturbed at one of the practices on the show where a baby was left alone in the garden. They are also describing an episode where parents sipped wine downstairs while ignoring the baby crying upstairs. The Telegraph says a Channel 4 spokesman told the Telegraph that they did consult professionals when making the show and they took the welfarre of the babies involved "extremely seriously."
Posted on October 16, 2007
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Baby Videos Are Extremely Popular
There are tons of baby videos on the Internet. This video of a baby laughing has been viewed nearly 25 million times on YouTube alone. It is far from the only baby video out there. A YouTube search for "baby" return 495,000 video entries. Current.tv explains the enormous popularity of baby videos in this video clip below. You can find links to some great baby video resources in our baby videos section.
Posted on October 11, 2007
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Hillary Clinton Suggests $5,000 Baby Bond
ABC News reports that Senator Hillary Clinton has introduced the idea of giving every new child born in the U.S. a $5,000 baby bond from the government. The $5,000 account could be used as a nest egg towards college tuition or home ownership.
"I like the idea of giving every baby born in America a $5,000 account that will grow over time," said Clinton, "so when that young person turns 18 if they have finished high school they will be able to access it to go to college or maybe they will be able to put that down payment on their first home, or go into business."
Clinton's Friday remarks to the Congressional Black Caucus were not the first time that she has voiced her support for the concept of using the power of compound interest to close the country's asset gap.
While speaking to the centrist Democratic Leadership Council in 2006, she discussed the idea of giving every child born in America $500.
Today was, however, the first time that she has floated the idea of giving every child born in America the larger sum of $5,000.
There is already a movement in the works - started by the New America Foundation -- to start Children's Savings Accounts, which would involve a smaller $500 sum. You can read more about the $5,000 baby bond in the Washington Post, Time and USA Today.
Posted on October 3, 2007
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