Mum-Mum Blog

As a health conscious parent you view the latest news on the internet, avidly read food labels, and are choosy about the restaurants you take your family to.  Food labels are not just for people who want to loose weight, but are also for those simply trying to make good food choices- especially when feeding young children. What if those labels we have come to trust were incorrect?  Unfortunately, as a new study found, that may be the case.

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The tendency to reach for disinfectants, stringent cleaners, and hand sanitizers is high this time of year for cold and flu prevention.  During pregnancy women tend to be extra careful to reduce exposure to bugs of any kind.  It appears, however, that a little exposure can go a long way as a new study found it may help prevent allergies in utero for kids later in life.

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With the chilly weather still around, this month’s gluten free recipe features a warming comfort food that happens to be naturally gluten free- mashed potatoes.   Not only will it warm up little ones on a chilly day, but this recipe is also super fun for kids to make.  Who says you can’t play with your food?

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Pregnancy cravings can range from healthy to down right strange but if you have a hankering for country-style breakfasts while expecting you’re in luck. A new study found that a nutrient found in these foods may actually help the fetus develop the memory regions of the brain.

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Aside from “when are you due?”, “is it a boy or a girl?” is the most common question an expecting mum hears. Regardless of whether or not parents choose to find out the sex of the baby ahead of time, the gender of the baby is determined months before science or technology can confirm for certain. Gender was thought to be determined by the simple combination of sex chromosomes, but a recent study found out that the ovaries may have to suppress their inner male.

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 If you are wondering how the holidays flew by so fast, you are not alone.  It seems months of anticipation build up for the few short weeks of the holiday season only to disappear so quickly.  When it comes to kids who’s calendars are marked by the days until the next holiday, parents quickly begin to hear the phrase “I’m bored” with those remaining moments of winter vacation.  Instead of feeling down, take advantage of this time of year with 5 ways to combat the post- holiday blues:

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Raising children is no easy task and is filled with constant surprises. Parents often need lots of advice, medical and otherwise, with the internet often being the primary ‘go to’ place for information.  Parenting advice varies greatly and despite dispensing health or medical related information, websites still encourage parents to consult their pediatricians.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)  found a solution for this quandry launching a new child health website that provides web based medical advice directly from pediatricians.

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 Toy safety has come a long way since last year, particularly the passing of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) which shifted safety standards from voluntary to mandatory.   In addition to the CPSIA, other laws and regulations cracked down on the harmful chemicals once rampant in children’s toys: lead and phthalates. Ingestion of either or both chemicals can be toxic, and since babies put everything in their mouth ingestion was pretty likely.

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The fun continues with this exciting stage of baby development.  As your baby is heading towards her first birthday, she is learning and accomplishing many new things.  By now, she may have uttered her first word or will any day now.  Now is the time to step up child safety and baby proof the house because this baby is sure to be on the move.

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 If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a bunch: breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits to both  baby and mother.  Breast milk provides the most optimal mix of nutrients along with immune boosting antibodies giving babies a healthy start and can be a predictor of health status when baby grows up.  When it comes to mothers, breastfeeding is equally impactful on mom’s future health status as a recent study found that it can protect women from metabolic syndrome. 

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