Saturday, February 28, 2009

How safe are baby products?

Past years, there was a boom of Baby Products in USA and parents often assume that because a product is designed for use by babies, it is safe. Old photographs show smiling babies in a crib, carriage, or stroller. Most people do not remember ever getting hurt by these products, nor do they expect their babies to get hurt. Those memories, however, do not reflect reality. As a result of it I now know that an alarmingly high number of injuries are associated with the use of baby products each year.

Nationally, the U.S. government addresses product safety for child car seats through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Baby food and skin care products are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is my opinion that the products administered by these two agencies are well regulated and relatively safe. Cribs and toys, though, are regulated nationally by the CPSC, and applicable standards are not as complete for these products as we think they should be. In fact, cribs and toys are protected by few requirements, although voluntary standards have been created to give children added protection. To be legally sold in the United States, however, cribs and toys must comply with CPSC limited standards. Products that are not in compliance are sometimes recalled by the manufacturer as part of the remedial action asked for by the government and sometimes manufacturers recall products voluntarily.

Some consumer protection also results from voluntary standards set by industry associations, but those standards are only as stringent as the association decides. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), for example, sponsors and administers a voluntary certification program for certain juvenile products. Voluntary certification programs are currently in effect for full-sized cribs, high chairs, portable hook-on chairs, playpens, strollers, gates and enclosures, and walkers. The JPMA retains an independent testing laboratory (Detroit Testing Laboratory, Inc.) to perform the tests or witness tests of sample units on a periodic basis. Products are certified if they meet minimum safety performance standards developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Although voluntary industry safety standards exist for many baby products, mandatory federal standards, as noted above, cover only child car restraints and cribs.

Yeah! I know, USA is safe about the baby and newborns but what about Indians? Are they???

संबंधित पुष्प :

01. Child's Global Fleshiness : (मुलांमधिल लट्ठपणाचा जागतिक रोग) - १
02. Child's Global Fleshiness : Child's Global Fleshiness : (मुलांमधिल लट्ठपणाचा जागतिक रोग) - २
03. Child's Global Fleshiness : How to measure weight? (वजन कसे मोजावे?) - ३
04. Kid's Breakfast (मुलांचा खाऊ )
05. Be aware about kid's fever (मुलांचे तापेपासून स्वंरक्षण)
06. ICU : Ice Cream Unit
07. A Solution on Bed Weting : Homeopathy (मुलांच्या बेड वेटिंगवर उपाय)
08. How to measure weight? (वजन कसे मोजावे?) - ३
09. Sweet Medicine on Maleriya (मलेरियावर गोड औषध)
10. Kids and Rules of Massage (मुले आणि मालिश करण्याचे नियम)
11. What is the importance of beauty sleep in your kid's life? (मुलांसाठी झोप किती महत्वाची?)
12. Anti Oxidents : Keep Disease Away (एंटी आँक्सिडेंटस : दूर ठेवा आजारपणाच्या तक्रारी)
13. Milk : The Best Food Forever! (दूध एक उत्तम आहार)
14. If someone afflicted at home (घरात जर कुणी आजारी असेल तर )
15. Kids, please do not habitual with Fast Food..!!!
16. How toxins enter our body?
17. Useful Websites for Kids (मुलांसाठी उपयुक्त वेबसाइट्स)
18. While Conversation With Kids (मुलांशी संवाद साधताना)
19. Cryos : The First International Sperm Bank In India (भारतातील पहिली आंतरराष्ट्रीय वीर्य बैंक)
20. Stressful Period Before Delivery May Affect the Growth of Your Baby (प्रसूतिपूर्व काळात ताणाचा संतातिवर परिणाम शक्य)
21. Mom and Dad,Please change your attitude (मम्मी आणि पप्पा आता तरी बदला ना!)
22. Calcium Bank for your child
23. Kindergarchy : The Rules by Children

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Kindergarchy : The Rules by Children

Children have gone from background to foreground figures in domestic life, with more and more attention centered on them, their upbringing, their small accomplishments, and their right relationship with parents and grandparents. We are current living in Kindergarchy, under rule by children!

Recently I was driving down a popular street and, as I sat at a red light, I noticed a little scene playing out on the sidewalk in front of a coffee shop. This tableau included a woman, a man and their son, who looked to be about 4 years old. I could not hear the dialogue, but the body language said it all.

The parents stood on either side of the child, tilting toward him in supplication. Arms were extended as pleas were made, but to no avail. They stroked the child’s silky hair, made exaggerated smiley-faces and hopped around with excitement as if to show the child just how wonderful it would be if only, he would consent to doing whatever it was they wanted him to do. The child, on the other hand, was unmoved in the extreme. So much so, in fact, that he vehemently crossed his arms stamped his feet and shook his head NO. The parents’ shoulders sagged in defeat as they exchanged expressions of resigned acceptance across the top of the child’s head.

Request denied. Better luck next time.

As the light changed and I drove away, it occurred to me that what I had just witnessed was less of a family outing and more of a hostage situation.

Just last week, while grocery shopping in our local market, I saw a mom engaged in desperate negotiations with her 5-year-old daughter who could be heard several aisles away lodging loud complaints that she was [gasp!] not having fun.

“Please”, the mom said, “I know you don’t want to be here but Mommy really needs to do the shopping, okay? Is that all right with you? It would be so nice if you would let Mommy finish getting the groceries, OK? Please?”

On second thought, that’s not negotiating. That’s just plain begging.

When did the children take over? Did they sneak into my purse while I was watching “All My Children” and lift the car keys? Did I unknowingly sign over my power of attorney thinking I was ordering a school T-Shirt?

I don’t think I am the only one who’s troubled by the mounting evidence that there’s been a power shift in our society from the grown-ups to the children. In fact, enough people have registered this shift that it now has its own pop-culture handle, as defined by WrodSpy:
Rule or domination by children; the belief that children’s needs and preferences take precedence over those of their parents or other adults.
As much comedic material as this trend generates, though, it also gives one pause.

In my opinion, two of the most important tasks of parenting are to keep one’s children safe and to prepare them to function (and, ideally, flourish) in society once they are ready to transition out of parental care. I think allowing children to adopt the tyrannical viewpoint that their wishes and preferences should dictate the reality of those around them (including parents and other adults) and then handling them the power to enforce that viewpoint by giving up parental boundaries and authority works directly against the successful completion of these two important tasks.

I did some research, hoping to come across a pithy quote that would illustrate this point. This is what I found:

“Don’t handicap your children by making their lives easy.”

I interpret this to mean it is a mistake as well as a disservice to try to smooth out or eliminate every single bump and discomfort life rather than help them learn the skills to navigate the bumps and overcome the discomforts they inevitably will encounter along the way.

Sometimes we don’t get to do what we want. Sometimes we have to be patient. Sometimes we are not the boss. Sometimes it’s not all about us. Sometimes we need to improve ourselves. Sometimes we don’t win. Sometimes we have to suck it up.

These are realities in the world of grown-ups.

If the goal is to raise children who will someday turn into grown-ups who are well-adjusted, resilient and with whom other people actually want to spend time, then we do children no favor when we allow them to slip through childhood without learning these invaluable skills.

संबंधित पुष्प:

01. Child's Global Fleshiness : (मुलांमधिल लट्ठपणाचा जागतिक रोग) - १
02. Child's Global Fleshiness : Child's Global Fleshiness : (मुलांमधिल लट्ठपणाचा जागतिक रोग) - २
03. Child's Global Fleshiness : How to measure weight? (वजन कसे मोजावे?) - ३
04. Kid's Breakfast (मुलांचा खाऊ )
05. Be aware about kid's fever (मुलांचे तापेपासून स्वंरक्षण)
06. ICU : Ice Cream Unit
07. A Solution on Bed Weting : Homeopathy (मुलांच्या बेड वेटिंगवर उपाय)
08. How to measure weight? (वजन कसे मोजावे?) - ३
09. Sweet Medicine on Maleriya (मलेरियावर गोड औषध)
10. Kids and Rules of Massage (मुले आणि मालिश करण्याचे नियम)
11. What is the importance of beauty sleep in your kid's life? (मुलांसाठी झोप किती महत्वाची?)
12. Anti Oxidents : Keep Disease Away (एंटी आँक्सिडेंटस : दूर ठेवा आजारपणाच्या तक्रारी)
13. Milk : The Best Food Forever! (दूध एक उत्तम आहार)
14. If someone afflicted at home (घरात जर कुणी आजारी असेल तर )
15. Kids, please do not habitual with Fast Food..!!!
16. How toxins enter our body?
17. Useful Websites for Kids (मुलांसाठी उपयुक्त वेबसाइट्स)
18. While Conversation With Kids (मुलांशी संवाद साधताना)
19. Cryos : The First International Sperm Bank In India (भारतातील पहिली आंतरराष्ट्रीय वीर्य बैंक)
20. Stressful Period Before Delivery May Affect the Growth of Your Baby (प्रसूतिपूर्व काळात ताणाचा संतातिवर परिणाम शक्य)
21. Mom and Dad,Please change your attitude (मम्मी आणि पप्पा आता तरी बदला ना!)
22. Calcium Bank for your child

Zenni's Prescription Eyeglasses for only $8

Friends, is it possible that one can get Seeing Straight Without Breaking Bank? Yeah! It is my question to all you because I come across one good feature article in the New York Times that it distinguishes the wonder thing to the world. Yeah! It is only possible with the help of Zenni Optical because they strive to deliver the not only the quality but also the affordable price with trust. That is the reason, the company, Zenni Optical brings up their Prescription eyeglasses for only $8!. I have never seen such type of greate offer here before. One more point I would like to add here is, it is the direct deal from Zenni Optical to their customers. It means no any sort of agent in between Zenni Optical and you people. In short, profit goes to your wallet. I think this is one more reason, the news, Zenni Optical in the New York Times?! come forward. So, I suggest you, to buy quality eyeglasses only from Zenni Optical.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Calcium Bank for your child

Whether you work at your desk or dance the night away, it is calcium that gives your body its basic shape and structure. About 99% of the calcium in your body is found in your bones and teeth. The rest is found in the blood where it performs important tasks such as controlling heart rhythm, muscle contractions, making hormones that contribute to energy production, making enzymes that control digestion, etc. If your daily diet is low in calcium then the bones give up their calcium to keep your blood levels normal. If this happens day after day, bones can become brittle and weak a can be broken easily. Excessive intake of non-vegetarian food, lack of exercise, smoking acidity, excessive coffee intake, and menopause are some of other reasons where the bones lose their calcium stores.

It is important to know that the bones are alive and are constantly changing in their composition. They can be compared to a wall made of calcium bricks. Every day some calcium leaves the bones and is replaced by new supplies arriving from fresh green vegetables or from a glass of milk.

Throughout childhood bones get longer and stronger and right up to the age of 25 the calcium arriving is greater than the calcium leaving and hence the bones get stronger and denser. They reach maximum density and stabilize during early adulthood that is between the age of 25 to 35 the bones are holding on to their strength and density whereby the calcium arriving and leaving the body is equal. After 35 years of age, they begin to lose their strength and the aging process begins.

At this stage the calcium leaving is greater than the calcium arriving. If you don’t watch your diet and the calcium depletes then the bones get weaker and progressively degenerate, which gives rise to osteoporosis the ‘old bones’ disease and spontaneously fracture even under mild stress.

With this changing calcium scenario your need for calcium also changes. Increasing during time of growth, then stabilizing during adulthood and increasing again during old age.

Building maximum bone density during childhood is particularly important because dense bones create a calcium bank from which withdrawals can be made after the age of 35 and strong bones built during childhood can be your best defense against osteoporosis later.

Get more calcium into your child’s diet:

• Give your child a strawberry milk shake or a chocolate milk shake if he/she is fusing over drinking plain milk.

• Get him/her into the habit of eating curd every day. Apart from providing easily digestible calcium curd has immunity boosting properties. But what it is you are not a milk drinker!

• Cheese slices on whole grain bread or whole-wheat khakra serves as a tasty snack / Breakfast food.

• Green mung sprouts mixed with chopped green salad and dressed with grated cheese and curd can be eaten as a snack when the children come back from school.

Soya bean is a rich source of protein and calcium. Soya biscuits (available in most leading stores) can be carried in Tiffin boxes for their mid-morning break. They can be topped with grated cheese or they could be taken along with yogurt and cheese dip made at home.

• To make yogurt and cheese dip-blend 25 gms of grated cheese in 1-cup low fat yogurt and 2 cloves, garlic, season with salt, pepper and mustard powder.

• Most whole pulses are rich in calcium, rajma, Kabuli Channa; Black Channa, Green Channa, chowli etc. can be cooked with onions and Tomatoes and taken along with rice or Chappati.

• Most green vegetables like Methi, broccoli, spinach, radish leaves are extremely rich in calcium. Children would probably enjoy spinach soup made in milk along with a grilled cheese sandwich made from whole wheat bread.

• Almonds and Sesame seeds are exceptionally rich in calcium. Children could enjoy a rice kheer made with milk, almonds, sesame seeds and jaggery. Jaggery is also very rich in calcium.

• Mint and coriander chutney is highly accepted by children and is also rich in calcium. You could spread this green chutney liberally on their whole wheat sandwiches or they could eat it as an accompaniment with Khakra or with their regular meals.

Walnuts, figs, dates and apricots also make health snack foods for Children. They are rich in calcium.

Choose the options your child is most likely to enjoy, because variety improves everyone’s appetite.

संबंधित पुष्प:

01. Child's Global Fleshiness : (मुलांमधिल लट्ठपणाचा जागतिक रोग) - १
02. Child's Global Fleshiness : Child's Global Fleshiness : (मुलांमधिल लट्ठपणाचा जागतिक रोग) - २
03. Child's Global Fleshiness : How to measure weight? (वजन कसे मोजावे?) - ३
04. Kid's Breakfast (मुलांचा खाऊ )
05. Be aware about kid's fever (मुलांचे तापेपासून स्वंरक्षण)
06. ICU : Ice Cream Unit
07. A Solution on Bed Weting : Homeopathy (मुलांच्या बेड वेटिंगवर उपाय)
08. How to measure weight? (वजन कसे मोजावे?) - ३
09. Sweet Medicine on Maleriya (मलेरियावर गोड औषध)
10. Kids and Rules of Massage (मुले आणि मालिश करण्याचे नियम)
11. What is the importance of beauty sleep in your kid's life? (मुलांसाठी झोप किती महत्वाची?)
12. Anti Oxidents : Keep Disease Away (एंटी आँक्सिडेंटस : दूर ठेवा आजारपणाच्या तक्रारी)
13. Milk : The Best Food Forever! (दूध एक उत्तम आहार)
14. If someone afflicted at home (घरात जर कुणी आजारी असेल तर )
15. Kids, please do not habitual with Fast Food..!!!
16. How toxins enter our body?
17. Useful Websites for Kids (मुलांसाठी उपयुक्त वेबसाइट्स)
18. While Conversation With Kids (मुलांशी संवाद साधताना)
19. Cryos : The First International Sperm Bank In India (भारतातील पहिली आंतरराष्ट्रीय वीर्य बैंक)
20. Stressful Period Before Delivery May Affect the Growth of Your Baby (प्रसूतिपूर्व काळात ताणाचा संतातिवर परिणाम शक्य)
21. Mom and Dad,Please change your attitude (मम्मी आणि पप्पा आता तरी बदला ना!)

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Mom and Dad,Please change your attitude (मम्मी आणि पप्पा आता तरी बदला ना!)

बाळाच्या जन्माचा सर्वात जास्त आनंद त्याच्या मम्मी-पप्पांना होतो. मुलांसोबत मम्मी-पप्पा मूल होउनच खेळत असतात. मुलांनाही ते आवडते; पण जेव्हा मुले मोठी होऊ लागतात, तेव्हा त्यांना प्रत्येक बाबतीत मम्मी-पप्पांची लुडबुड खटकु लागते, मुले मोठी झाल्यानंतरही आई-वडिल त्यांना लहान समजून त्यांच्या प्रत्येक कामात टोकाटोकी करू लागतात ते मुलांना आवडत नाही, इथुनच वाद सुरू होतात.

आई-वडिल टोकतात तेव्हा:

नव्या पिढितिल मुले आपले जीवन स्वतंत्रपणे जगू इच्छित असतात. त्यांची एक वेगळी lifestyle असते. याचा अर्थ त्यांना आपल्या जबाबदारीची जाणीव नसते असा नव्हे; पण मम्मी-पप्पा मुलांवर एवढी बंधने लादतात की, मुले त्यांचा विरोध करू लागतात वा निमुटपणे सारे सहन करीत राहतात.

प्रत्येक छोट्या मोठ्या कामातील आपले टोकणे मुलातिल व आपल्यातील दुरावा वाढवत नेतो.

आमचेही ऐका:

मुलांना कोणत्याही गोष्टीसाठी टोकणे वा स्पष्ट नकार देण्यापुर्वि आई-वडिलांनी त्यांचे म्हणनेहि ऐकायला हवे. नंतर विचारपूर्वक कोणत्याही गोष्टीला तर्कसुसंगत उत्तर द्यायला हवे, यामुळे मुलांनाही चांगले-वाईट कळु लागते. प्रत्येक बाबतीत आई-वडिलांचा नकार ऐकून मुले त्यांना काहीच विचारीनाशी होतात. नेहमी नकारात्मक धोरण ठेवण्यापेक्षा कधीकधी मुलांसोबत सकारात्मक्तेनेही वागा. त्यामुळे मुले आपल्या मनातील विचार स्पष्टपणे बोलून दाखवतील.

ज़माना बदलला आहे:

काही पालक आपल्या मुलांना नेहमी स्वत:च्या काळातिल उदाहरणे देत असतात; परंतु आजच्या बदलत्या काळात त्यातील प्रत्येक उदाहरण चपलख बसु शकत नाही. आता ज़माना बदलला आहे त्यानुसार लोकांचे विचारही बदलले आहेत. हल्ली शाळा कॉलेजात मुले-मुली एकत्र शिकत असतात. त्यामुळे जर आई-वडिलांना वाटत असेल की त्यांच्या मुलाने मुलींशी वा मुलीने मुलांशी बोलू नये तर हे शक्य नसते. आई-वडिलांनी बदलत्या काळानुसार विचारही बदलायला हवेत.

तेव्हा बदलणार ना तुमचे विचार?

संबंधित पुष्प:

01. Child's Global Fleshiness : (मुलांमधिल लट्ठपणाचा जागतिक रोग) - १
02. Child's Global Fleshiness : Child's Global Fleshiness : (मुलांमधिल लट्ठपणाचा जागतिक रोग) - २
03. Child's Global Fleshiness : How to measure weight? (वजन कसे मोजावे?) - ३
04. Kid's Breakfast (मुलांचा खाऊ )
05. Be aware about kid's fever (मुलांचे तापेपासून स्वंरक्षण)
06. ICU : Ice Cream Unit
07. A Solution on Bed Weting : Homeopathy (मुलांच्या बेड वेटिंगवर उपाय)
08. How to measure weight? (वजन कसे मोजावे?) - ३
09. Sweet Medicine on Maleriya (मलेरियावर गोड औषध)
10. Kids and Rules of Massage (मुले आणि मालिश करण्याचे नियम)
11. What is the importance of beauty sleep in your kid's life? (मुलांसाठी झोप किती महत्वाची?)
12. Anti Oxidents : Keep Disease Away (एंटी आँक्सिडेंटस : दूर ठेवा आजारपणाच्या तक्रारी)
13. Milk : The Best Food Forever! (दूध एक उत्तम आहार)
14. If someone afflicted at home (घरात जर कुणी आजारी असेल तर )
15. Kids, please do not habitual with Fast Food..!!!
16. How toxins enter our body?
17. Useful Websites for Kids (मुलांसाठी उपयुक्त वेबसाइट्स)
18. While Conversation With Kids (मुलांशी संवाद साधताना)
19. Cryos : The First International Sperm Bank In India (भारतातील पहिली आंतरराष्ट्रीय वीर्य बैंक)
20. Stressful Period Before Delivery May Affect the Growth of Your Baby (प्रसूतिपूर्व काळात ताणाचा संततिवर परिणाम शक्य)