Head Lice (ugh!) in Toddlers

I can remember being school aged, when there was a lice break out, we'd line up for the nurses office for her to prod through our scalps with wooden tongue depressorrs.  Rebecca had a lovely Mother's Day, encountering those small parasitic insects that love our hair.

Tonight, while bathing my 2.5 year old daughter, I discovered lice in her hair. We've battled this with my 9yo stepdaughter many times, but I never thought I'd discover them on my toddler at this age! She was actually incredibly patient about letting me comb through her hair to remove nits, but the idea of applying those horrible hair masks is pretty hard to stomach for such a little kid (chemical or organic - either way, it's rough going).

I washed and conditioned her hair with Fairy Tales organic Lice repellent products, then combed through to remove all the nits I could find. Naturally, my husband and I threw all the bedding in the wash. Short of repeating this process every day for a few weeks, I don't quite know what to do.  Any advice?

Recommend a smoking cessation program?

I am a mama who smoked both pre-mamahood and post-mamahood.  The only reason I stopped smoking as a mama is because I was pregnant with my second child, and I did not smoke during either pregnancy.  A good mama friend of mine smokes regularly still, and we talk about strategies on giving it up.  Associations, disassociations, breaking habits, finding alternative oral activites....  I know we are not the only mamas out there who have worked on making ourselves and our loved ones healthier by kicking the habit.  A mama recently emailed:

Does anyone have suggestions for a smoking cessation program? I am thinking of a naturopath that specializes in lifestyle changes like this.  A loved one secretly smokes (and chews) tobacco, doesn't exercise, doesn't eat right, doesn't sleep right, doesn't know how to deal with stress.  He's overweight and stressed out and less healthy each day.  He is the type of person that needs a lot of direction.  He is ready and he needs/wants a lot of help.  His priority is to quit the cigs and work on the rest as able. I have no idea where to send him for this help.  He would prefer natural approaches over medications.  Anybody want to share your experience of quitting smoking?  Any and all advice is appreciated.

A mama and her vertigo

Katie emailed explaining a situation that coincides with her period and that has her wondering.  Has any one experienced this?  Does anyone have any suggestions for therapy or treatment of vertigo?

For the last 7 months, once a month during the week before my period, I've been getting a horrible, debilitating case of vertigo.  It comes on instantly with no warning and lasts anywhere from several hours to a couple of days.  When it hits I have to lie down immediately, can't move without vomiting, can't see clearly and often have trouble breathing.  I've been to my regular doc, the ER and to my OB (just in case it's hormone related) and so far, no one can give me any answers.  I have two young kids and I can't be incapcitated like this every month.  Has anyone experienced anything similar relating to their monthly cycle?  Or do you know of any vertigo specialists that could help?  I've tried all the standard meds as well as several homephathic remedies and nothing is working. 

I'm really hoping I can get some help/info from all of you because I'm getting very frustrated and discouraged with this situation. Thank you!!

Getting Body Back After Baby

After I delivered our first baby, I just assumed that nature would take its course and the baby-weight would just drop off when it was supposed to.  I guess it did, but it wasn't too long after that I was pregnant with our second.  After I delivered our second baby, I was more anxious to get back into a fitness routine, starting on slow runs when I was 3 weeks post-partum.

So, mamas, we've all been through it.  Alicia is looking for your suggestions, thoughts, experiences:

I'd like to find out what others have done in the way of getting back your body after a baby. My little boy is now 3 months old, we've finally got nursing down and are sleeping a bit more. I'm feeling like I want to start an exercise and/or diet 'program' or perhaps even just a good a book or set of dvds? Before pregnancy, I tried some of the frozen meal weight loss plans and Weight Watchers, and randomly went to the gym. I've got about twenty five pounds to go to get back to pre-pregnancy weight--and I'm not really sure what to expect in terms of how my body will do. I've heard that the belly pooch won't go away until nursing is done--have others found that to be true? What did others do to get back to a comfortable, healthy weight and a stronger body after a baby?

And, for more ideas, check out our FITNESS index....

Penis & Vagina: How to learn discretion

When I was growing up, we never, ever talked about private parts.  It was a major NO-NO, so taboo, so "inappropriate."  That was my childhood household, and we are handling things very differently.  We want to be open and frank about our bodies with our girls, and not make it seem that our bodies are so forbidden.  Dana writes to us about questions she is grapping with, as she tries to model the balance between awareness of our bodies and personal privacy:

I believe that speaking with my son about or bodies as they are, penis, vagina, etc is the honest, most self esteem assuring way to deal with it.  My son is almost fifteen months and begining to talk but really doesn't have the words yet to talk about these things.  But of course he's a language sponge at this point.  Waiting to talk about penis and vagina until he can articulately talk about it I think would be a mistake.  The "comfortable with yourself" concept starts as early as he notices.

My husband often takes a bath with our son.  The first couple of times my son noticed that Papa has a penis, too, and my husband wasn't quite sure how to react.  I made the point that he is looking to us for clues about his body and self esteem and sexuality.  What a good oportunity to set a good example.   I can hear them in the bathtub exclaiming about how papa has a penis, and Jack has one too!  Wow.  He also really loves to see if everyone else has a bellybutton the same as he does.  OMG!  He has no sense of personal privacy and boundaries.  He would easily ask someone in the coffee shop if they have a bellybutton or a penis, too.  Of course, he LOVES to play with his own penis when he naked.  (He's a boy!)  And watches in amazement when he unexpectedly pees on the floor after a bath.  ("So, that's what that's for!")

Baby's got the bug

In our household, it felt like a little kid infirmary over the weekend.  Both of our children fought fevers and pretty much stuck to sleeping all day long on the couch, sick ask can be.  Fevers have been running between 102 and 104, for which we have been giving chewable Tylenol (since we have no Motrin in the house).  I regretted not giving them some immunity boosters or even a flu shot earlier in the season.  Not too many other symptoms, other than the lethargy and fever.  One daughter has been fighting the fever for almost 6 days now, and the other is on her second day of fever.  On this Monday morning, I expect the trend to continue.

We received an email from Virginia last night, and we're all wondering, is it happening to you, too?

I'm checking in to see if any of your little ones have been really sick over the past couple of weeks.  My two year old woke up from his nap last Tuesday hot as a  lit match. I gave him Motrin.  The second it wore off, his fever went through the roof again and he had a febrile seizure and we ended up in the emergency room with nearly a 104 degree fever out of nowhere.  It was horrible.  He seems to be feeling much better but he's been complaining that his stomach hurts and today he seems to have a little nagging cough.  I've taken him to his doctor too.  On top of it, he's not congested at all.   What's going around???  I'm not one to worry over getting sick but this is a weird bug.  Have any of your kids had similar symptoms and how has
this one played out?  Thanks!

Tubes for a Happy Babe?

We're perplexed...Our Pediatrician and now a local ENT Specialist are recommending putting tubes into our nearly 7 month old Henrik's ears because of ongoing fluid that he evidently is having a hard time draining... He was diagnosed with his first ear infection at his 4 month check up back in November and we treated it with antibiotics, but his ears never fully cleared. Then just after the holidays while on vacation he had a night of the typical crying associated with ear infections so the hotel called the doctor for us and we started another round of antibiotics. That was nearly 8 weeks ago, and he still evidently has fluid and redness in his ears. Why are we not rushing to the operating room? Because Henrik might possibly be the happiest baby in Portland and he shows absolutely no signs of discomfort or pain at all, despite making 6 flights in the last 2 months and cutting his first tooth last week with hardly a fuss.

I've heard plenty of stories from parents who've gone through the nightmares of recurring ear infections and once they finally get the tubes they wish they'd done it sooner so I do believe they are helpful. My problem is that we're not exactly miserable here--Henrik wakes up with a smile on his face everyday--or does he just have an incredibly high pain threshold? The docs tell me there is virtually no way to clear the fluid without just putting the tubes in...with our situation it feels a little to me like killing a fly with a sledgehammer. I'm interested in a less invasive approach. Have any mamas out there experienced something similar? I've heard a lot about chiropractic solutions, especially craniosacral therapy, has anyone tried it for this reason with their infants? Any other ideas for clearing the fluid without having to do tubes? Or should we just back down and put the tubes in while we're "ahead"?

Could it be PMS?

This morning, I woke up on the wrong. side. of. the. bed.  Absolutely and completely.  It was all wrong from the moment the day started.  It continued to be wrong throughout the morning and into the the afternoon.  My husband took note of it, first by snapping back at me, then by asking if there was anything he could do.  The last time I felt this irrationally awful was ....  just about four weeks ago.

In the fall and in the depth of the winter, I would think, "could it be the weather?"  Now that blue skies and sunshine is on our horizon, I know better.  Could it be PMS?  Do other mamas out there experience the moodiness and discomfort that can accompany PMS?  How do you limit the ickiness?  How do you fare in limiting exposure of the negativity to the rest of the families?

Mama needs dipes too!

A mama recently emailed us about her situation, seeking your thoughts and experiences:

Ready for the whole diaper story in our house?  The babies and toddlers aren't the only ones wearing 'em.  There is also a stack of what the kids and I call "run dipes," which I must wear when I go running if I don't want urine soaking my pants, trickling down my legs and into my shoes.  And even when I dutifully wear my dipe, sometimes I need two!  And yes, I pee RIGHT before I leave the house.  I will NEVER know where it is hiding, why it waits until I've just left the driveway to come out.

I've always someone who wet my pants laughing, jumping rope, sneezing - aerobics was totally out.  But after two kids, my, my....  My sister-in-law (3 kids) just had surgery as it was so bad for her (and she's not the type to take that lightly), and another friend made the very fortunate, accidental discovery recently that those menstrual cups (diva?) seem to serve a double purpose and stop the urine, too.  Does anyone else share this predicament?  Whta do you do?  Mamas, I need ideas, tips, tricks, to keep the urine right where it belongs.  I'd rather it were just the kids in this house who wear the diapers.

When Mama ain't happy...

I don't think anyone here will disagree with me when I say that parenting is an incredible joy.  We love these little people so much and they do so many things that make us proud.  But there is another side to that coin.  A neighbor of mine once shared this wisdom about parenting:  "They will make you feel all of your emotions stronger than you ever knew you could."  Among those emotions?  Anger.

It's a very visceral emotion, and it arises without much warning or forethought.  And it's really, really difficult for me to process these emotions, especially in confrontation with my child.  Things can go many ways but the end is never very pretty.  And neither one of us feels good about it.  I know this is difficult to talk about, but I also know I am not alone.  Another mother wrote to us:

I feel like I am in kind of a dark place in terms of parenting. I have caught myself in behaviors where I am yelling, really yelling, at my child. This might include throwing things (coats/cereal bowls etc) this might be spurned on by me asking my child to clear the cereal bowl or to brush his teeth. And when it doesn't happen my hot point is right there. Although I have not hit my child I can imagine how parents do it. I don't think I would hit my child. But I am not ok with where I am finding myself in terms of my temper and lack of patience.

I have several stress points in my life that are not negotiable; I am raising my son alone and don't have lots of support. My son has recently been on/off medication that amps him up- and in turn really stresses me out with his behavior. So I need to find some solutions within those constraints. To me this is not a conversation about being single. I am looking to other moms who also find themselves short-fused, short-tempered, and parenting in a way that that they are not happy with.

What do you do- how do you manage the anger & stress and get to a better place with your kids?

I think that, for me, it was very important for me to step back and realize that I had these feelings and frustrations, not only with the situation but with myself.  I wasn't happy with my own behavior... so I had to ask how I could change it.

Now, I'm not a single mother, but I am currently the single caregiver to my two kids (with much support from two grannies until daddy comes home).  I can't imagine how much more difficult it would be without their support.  Add to that some behavioral issues my 4.5 year old is having at school, and life is not getting any easier day to day.  After some looking around and reading up, I have turned to the Love and Logic approach.  Today is day 5 and I'm trying not to let myself relax back into my old ways (and this morning - it was really, really tough!).  But reading the philosophies helped me realize that there was a power struggle going on, and that my son needed to have control over SOME things in his life, or he'd be constantly trying to control everything.  That cycle had to stop.  That's where Love and Logic came in for us.

Have any of you Mamas or Papas had some wild success breaking the power struggle?  I, for one, felt very freed, and much happier with my child when we weren't angry at each other all the time.  How is a mama to get past the anger and become a happy Mama again.  What other techniques have worked besides just a parenting philosophy?  Sleep, diet, exercise?  I'd love to hear what other parents are doing to manage stress and anger.

With a Cold and Pregnant

It is still cold season, can't you tell?  So what to do when your pregnant with a cold.  Emily needs some of your suggestions for curing or at least helping to get some relief.  She writes:

I am wondering if anyone has any cold remedies for a pregnant mama. I've got the vaporizer going and am getting as much rest as I can, but I'd love to hear what people suggest for a sore/itchy throat, sneezy/congested nose, and body aches. Thanks!

Dermatologist Recommendation

I was lamenting to a friend recently about how that now in my early thirties, I should no longer have acne or skin problems.  But reality is harsh, ain't it?  Joann is wondering about any recommendations for professional help to obtain her glowing skin she experienced during preganancy.  Got any?  She writes:

When I was pregnant my skin was in the best condition it’s ever been.  Glowing, perfect and no breakouts.  Unfortunately it’s been a year since my son’s birth and my skin has gone back to it’s oversensitive self.  I’m hoping some of the mamas out there know of a good dermatologist to help me get back to that great skin I enjoyed for 9 months.

A Spoonful of Sugar Will Help the Medicine Go Down?

Or won't it?  My nearly 5 year old son is a dream kid when it comes to taking meds in all shapes and forms.  And then there's my 2.5 year old.  Over-the-counter fever-reducers are fine, but when it comes to the prescription antibiotics, that's another story.  Two doses down (will sort of down) and 28 to go, and we are not sure how it'll go over when he returns to "school" on Tuesday.  When faced with the situation only once prior, some friends suggested chocolate syrup (who knew that he didn't like chocolate?), and then trying to figure out how to hide the taste with some other form of sugary sweetness.  In the end, we used a syringe, tipped him back, and down it went.  This time, it just ain't that easy. He tells us it "tastes yucky".  He is in a fit of tears and holds his hands in front of his mouth.  Wait, there's also the kicking and flailing body. We tried rationalizing and bribing him to encourage him to take his medicine to get better, but in the end, we had to succumb to holding him down and using the syringe method. There has to be a better way of administering bad tasting medicine to your kids.  Have you figured it out?  Will numbing his mouth with a popsicle beforehand really do the trick?  Do you have some good tips for giving medicine to unwilling children? Where is Mary Poppins when I need her.  She would know...

How do you purge the plastic?

Is plastic one of those necessary evils?  That exists in every family's home?  How do we minimize plastic dependence?  How do you pack lunches or store leftovers without it?  Gina recently emailed, wanting to hear more from the urbanMamas community:

Every time my toddler grabs her "sippy cup" (which I still have her use to avoid nasty spills on the couch, in her room, etc.) I am wondering... is it safe?!  I've just spent the last two hours surfing the web, reading about different symbols and grades of plastics and trying to really understand the environmental and health risks associated with plastic.  All of this business of chemicals leaching from plastics into foods and drinks has made me paranoid.  Now I'm also questioning the bottle my breastfed 4 m.o occasionally receives from her father.  Here I am pumping through plastic, into a plastic bottle, and then again storing my breast milk into a plastic bag.  And the soup I managed to make last night, the leftovers are sitting in my refrigerator (yet again!) in plastic Tupperware.  Don't even get me started on the toys and all of the rubber duckies in my shower.  I know I've read about this on urbanMamas before and I'm wondering... is anyone else out there concerned?  And what about stainless steel?  Has anyone tried out the foogo sippy cup or the Kleen Kanteen?  Are they really worth the $15.00 plus a piece?  Has anyone found someplace that carries these locally?  Most of the websites I have found are out of stock.  What, if anything, are you doing to minimize on plastic exposure?  Any suggestions?  Is there an affordable alternative... I want to raid my cabinets and discard all of the plastic before me but I need some good advice before I go overboard. 

How often do you bathe them?

The other day, I stayed home with one of our daughters, who was so sad and sick with a fever.  I was too busy playing nursemaid to even shower.  And, because she wasn't feeling well, I also gave her a free-pass for no-bath for the weekend.  It occurred to me that, by Sunday, she hadn't taken a shower since Wednesday.

I'm curious: how often do you bathe your little ones?  Is it a different schedule when they were infants versus toddlers versus older children?  Is it daily, every other day, or a different routine entirely?

Let's talk about sex... with the kids???

Do you remember the very first time you learned about sex?  Do you remember learning about the body and its sexual parts?  How old were you?  How do you think you'll approach it with your kids?  Will you approach it differently depending on their age?  Holly emailed the other day:

I recently read your post “Let’s talk about sex” and loved all the information and honesty.  I then realized I had a great opportunity to ask other parents about how and at what age they spoke to their children about sex.  We have a 5.5 year old daughter and a 2.5 year old son.  I have been given mixed information about when and what to tell them.  Does anyone have any advice?

Blood Draws: Less Trauma for Kids and Parents

Medical procedures on infants are probably more traumatic on us parents than they are on kids themselves, but that's not to say we shouldn't search for the best (aka painfree) care.  Vaish is looking for your advice on clinics that could provide a better experience (is that possible?) for blood draws.

My 6 month old has had two doctor visits for blood draws, and both times, they have failed to find his veins, and he has been poked in his arms, and legs 6 times. He is obviously very tortured by these visits, and I almost end up crying. Do you know of a clinic in Portland that is particularly good at blood draws?

The Throes of Teething

For a few weeks now my nearly-15 month old has been battling the good fight... getting his molars.  When his pediatrician told me about what to expect when getting his molars:
    "The gums will get red and swollen and then when the tooth breaks through they will look infected and possibly bloody at times"
I was all sorts of terrified!  I know this isn't the first time I've been through this but I have to admit, this memory from son#1 has been apparently blocked.  So now we're going through it, and the pediatrician was right on all accounts.  Add to that in-the-mouth fun the runny diapers leading to diaper rash and I have on my hands one generally unhappy fella!

Tana is facing the same situation: 

After much consideration and a few calls to the advice nurse it seems my 13 month old is getting his one year molars. All of his symptoms suggest a cold; fever as high as 102 degrees, a little throw up, runny poopy diapers, lethargic, little appetite. Then I noticed that he kept fussing with his teeth and sure enough he has 3 molars coming in all at once. Poor guy!!!  The advice nurse said, this could go on until the teeth break through the gums. Really??   Is there other mamas who can share in my experience and offer there advice and encouragement???

Tana, you are not alone!  Yes it is tough, and it's not pretty, but as one of my favorite mama mantras states "This too shall pass".  And yes, it will take a while.  Sadly, I don't have any recommendations on how to ease his pain other than in the feverish cases, a little ibuprofen (I use this sparingly, only usually when he's losing sleep because he's in pain).  Any other mamas out there have advice to offer?

Thimerosol-Free Flu Shots: Where to Get Them?

It's not really of whether or not to get a flu shot, but who provides the thimerosol-free option.  Lauralye in an older post mentioned that the option is available at The Children's Clinic.  Or perhaps FluMist is another low-mercury option?  Sarah asks:

I am looking for places to get mercury-free flu shots in PDX. My understanding is that there's a version that comes in single-dose portions (as opposed to one big bottle that they draw many shots out of) that lacks any mercury preservative. I am looking into getting this for my 2-year-old and for myself. I'm five months pregnant, but my midwives' office only had the mercury-laced kind. I know the question of whether to get the flu shot at all is another debate, but I'm just wondering if and where this alternative is available.

Do you vitamin? Which ones?

My daughter, running a fever for the second day today, started screaming at one point this morning: "Mammmmaa!  Mammmaaa!"  There was an urgency in her voice, and I knew it was bound to be bad.  I swooped her up and ran with her in my arms.  She was crying.  Before we made it to the bathroom, she vomited all over me.  Not a drop hit the floor.  It was all on me.

I ask myself, "Could I have prevented this?"  Another mama and I were talking about this recently: Do you give your infants vitamins?  Do you give you toddlers vitamins?  I remember being prescribed some TriViSol vitamin stuff for the girls when they were babies.  (I now recall that the pediatrician recommended TriViSol as a Vitamin D supplement because breastmilk doesn't contain Vitamin D.)  I never did give them the stuff.  I figured that nursing (strictly for the first 6 months then supplementally until 24 months) would provide the best source of immunity.  I also figured that most essential vitamins (here's a reference on vitamin guidelines *pdf) are best obtained from naturally occuring foods (5-a-day!).  So, I habitually offer well-balanced food choices.  Of course, pickiness can make a diet very carb-heavy and low on fresh fruits and vegetables.  (Please tell me I don't have the only child who lives on carbs alone alone and who thinks a Fruit Leather is a vegetable.)

We're also not big juice consumers.  Once, our pediatrician asked us, "Do you offer lots of juice?"  And, we said, "Sometimes."  She said some sort of strange "Oh" and was beginning to launch into this long schpeil on sugary juices when we assured her that we try to be good about 100% juices.  She said, "you'd be surprised how many juices aren't 100% juice."

So, during cold season, I offer vitamins more frequently.  I choose the gummi vitamins from Trader Joe's.  We've also tried gummis with just Vitamin C or Echinecea to boost immunity and antioxidants, and there are also some Winnie-the-Pooh multivitamins that they like.  They think it's more of a treat than anything.  How else can I ramp up immunity for the girls?  Make them rest well, well-balanced diets, nurse them through toddlerhood....  What else?

It's only inevitable that they'll get sick at least once during the winter.  One pediatrician friend once told me to even expect wee ones to be sick every month.  But, gosh, once they're sick, how can I make it better?

Mary recently emailed and is wondering if anyone has suggestions for natural vitamins for infants:

At our 4mo appointment, our pediatrician (from Metropolitan Pediatrics) advised us to begin a vitamin called Tri Vi Sol.  After the visit, we went home and I did some research and discovered it is made by a formula company.  I am exclusively breast-feeding my son, and I do everything I can NOT to support or put money into the pockets of formula companies.  Needless to say, I didn't buy the vitamin.  I should also mention that I believe that breast milk has everything in it that my child needs, so I'm a bit perplexed about giving him a vitamin at such a young  age. Anyone else have this experience? Do any mamas here have any recommendations for a  natural/organic infant vitamin that is NOT manufactured by a formula company? Thanks for your feedback!

Not In My Cart!

All this lead paint and phthalates and what-not has me pretty wound up. A mama can't even walk across her own family room without tripping over - or eating - something toxic.  And then Nancy Nord, director of the now infamous CPSC, goes and declines the additional funds Congress appropriated to beef up the agency's (pathetically inadequate) work. Arggghh. No thank you, Nancy - as I tell my kids (and they now tell me...).  Check out the Not In My Cart campaign over on Activistas - because that's exactly how we feel about all this untested, toxic junk:  NOT IN OUR CARTS. 

Treating eczema in a 5mo?

Do any mamas have suggestions on how to treat a baby's eczema, especially as we head into the autumn and winter months of dry, cracked skin?  Jacquelyn emails:

My son is five months old and has eczema.  His back is so extremely dry and his legs and neck. His doctor told me to use eurcerin on him, but I don't feel comfortable with some of the ingredients.  So, I am trying to find a natural lotion or cream that I could use.  Does anyone have an idea that worked for them?  Thanks so much!

Support for an upcoming uterine biopsy

An urbanMama emailed us recently, seeking support and perspective from other mamas who may have gone through a uterine biopsy:

In a few weeks, I will have a Uterine Biopsy.  I am a pretty tense person by nature and my nerves tend to get the best of me. Going to the dentist for a routine check-up gets me worked up and feels invasive so you can imagine how comfortable I am with this procedure.

The reason I am writing is that I hope other UrbanMamas have some feedback about the procedure itself.  Has anyone had the experience of your cervix not opening easily or being lined up perfectly?  I have two children born vaginally so my understanding is that I should not have any of these unfortunate situations.  But, like I said, it looks like I’m going to freak myself out from now until the time of the procedure so I’m looking for some support. 

Phthalates: What's the Story in Oregon?

So what's the story with this tongue twister?  Avoid it like the plague or keep on chewin'??  I'd like to think that if it's for sale, it's safe (ha!!), but we know all too well how that goes.  Not surprisingly, California has recently banned its use in toys for kids under 3, and nine other states are fast on its heels (Texas, mamas, but not Oregon).  Kathleen is rarin' to take this on here in Oregon and wonders if others are already working on it.  If you're interested in seeing some action on this, too, or know who's involved that Kathleen might connect with, head on over to Activistas and let us know!  This is Activistas at its finest, connecting people who are ready to roll their sleeves up, dive in & create change.

And be sure to let us know who's gonna get your Mom Vote in '08.  The Presidential election might seem a long, long way off in pre-school years, but in national politics, mamas, it's just aroud the corner.

Adhesion Removal for 2-year old girl?

Lisa has a specific question and wonders if anyone has gone through a similar experience:

I just came from my daughter's 2-year check-up and the doctor recommended getting an 'adhesion' removed from my daughter's genital area. The doctor examined my daughter and we were told that this thin lining may open up by itself but it can cause leaking of urine as she grows older because the opening is not completely open. I was astounded. I've googled and asked friends and no one has heard of this before. Fellow urbanMamas, help! I'm reluctant to do anything about this and let nature take it's course, but don't know anything about this subject.

Put the thermometer where?

Fall is a lovely season, with the cooler weather and the falling leaves.  But as we roll through the change of seasons and back to school, no matter how much hand washing we do, there's bound to be a little sick going around.  Right now, my one year old has an ear infection.  In addition, I'm fairly certain that he's teething, too.  Add to that sleepless nights and I had one fussy bub on my hands this morning.  Halfway through the morning I thought he felt warm, so I headed upstairs to my "getbetter" arsenal to see if I could actually locate a thermometer.  I'll be frank and say that I've never owned a rectal thermometer for the babes.  I feel like it might be dangerous to try to wrestle them to stay still while somehow involving glass (and mercury?, surely not...).  Instead I stock three different type of thermometers for the little ones.  First, the ear scan thermometer, which is useless if you don't have the little covers, or if the battery runs out, or if the child is less than 2 (or3)?  Chuck that one out.  On to the next one, the flimsy digital read out kind that also needs a cover, but I don't use the covers when I put them under the arm.  I push the button and then try to wrangle my moody fussy baby to stay still while I pin his arm down long enough to register some kind of reading.  Result?  95.4°F.  Nope, don't think so...  even when I add a degree it's not even reasonable.  Last, and most desperate, attempt was made with the "binky" thermometer.  Apparently my child doesn't use a binky right because it decided his temp was 95°F.

I gave up.  I have many unreliable ways to guess whether he has a fever or not.  No good ones.  How do you check if your babe has a fever?  I usually end up going with my gut (and feeling their hands -- if their hands are warm it's unusual and means there is a fever).

Mamas with hypothyroidism

Oona has a specific question about her health and hypothyroidism:

I recently was told I was hypothyroid and started taking Synthroid. Two months later, I am having life-altering complications due to being switched to a generic (and after returning to the original medicine). I am finding my doctor most unhelpful and am trying to locate either a naturopathic doctor or someone who prescribes Armour natural thyroid. 

My doctor will not refer me to an endocrinologist, so it's time for a new doctor. The one naturopath I hoped to see isn't seeing new patients until January.  Has anyone had a similar experience and have a doctor to share?

Cold Meds: The Withdrawal

A week ago, NPR did a piece on FDA and labels on cough medicine.  Thanks to Courtney for pointing us out to it!  The premise behind it is that cough and cold medicines should not be given to children since, according to the report, "there is a lack of evidence demonstrating their safety and effectiveness."  Anita, another informed urbanMama, has just alerted us to the fact that Tylenol is voluntarily withdrawing all infants' and childrens' cough and cold medicines.  Should you by chance have any of the following products, you may want to considering not using for kids under the age of two during this cold and flu season.  Tylenol products include:

• Concentrated TYLENOL® Infants' Drops Plus Cold
• Concentrated TYLENOL® Infants' Drops Plus Cold & Cough
• PediaCare® Infant Dropper Decongestant
• PediaCare® Infant Dropper Long-Acting Cough
• PediaCare® Infant Drops Decongestant (containing pseudoephedrine)
• PediaCare® Infant Dropper Decongestant & Cough
• PediaCare® Infant Drops Decongestant & Cough (containing pseudoephedrine)

Do the remedies that were suggested in the "How Do You Make Them Feel Better" do the trick for coughs as well?  Or, ahem, are there better ways to make kids comfortable in between fits of coughing?

Interested in Starting a Kids Yoga Class Downtown?

Nancy has a wonderful idea of trying to organize a group for a kids yoga class. 

My  4 year old son is, like many, really interested in movement right now. I've been looking for yoga classes for his age group in downtown Portland and am striking out.

So, my first question is, have urbanMAMAS already scouted this out and could you point me in the right direction?  (Note from the urbanMamas: there was a previous thread on Yoga for Kids with a few suggestions).

If such classes do not exist, I'd like to go to Yoga Pearl and ask them if they'd be interested in starting a regular class for kids. Before I do that, however, I'd like to be able to tell them how much demand is out there. And maybe even have a group of kids ready to sign up.

Is there interest out there?  Should Nancy inquire about setting this up?

Mamas: How do you really feel about your bodies?

It happens to the best of us.  It happens to me at yoga class.  Sometimes.  I look over to the fit yogi next to me, and I sigh.  "I want to be as taut as she is.  So young, so toned."  It happens to me on the rare occassion that I get to go out on the town.  At a bar or lounge, I will spy with my little eyes ...  I skinny little thing with the hip and happenin' clothes, the fashionista with the slim hips and the perky boobs to go with the snug outfit.

I feel good, I feel strong.  I hold my chaturanga for like 20 counts.  More maybe.  That's super core strength.  And yet, I feel sheepish about my body.  Sometimes.  My body has birthed two lovely babies. BUT, my hips are wider than before, my tummy flesh is nice and flappy and stretchy, and my boobs are smaller and saggier than ever after all those years of nursing.

In a NYTimes article today, they ask: "Is the 'Mom Job' Really Necessary?"  How do you feel about your body, post-babes?  Confident?  Wishing it could be a bit tighter and harder?  Have you considered a nip, tuck, suck, lift, trim?

And, in case this whole conversation has inspired you to get out and get active, check out the urbanMamas fitness index.

Where to walk indoors with baby?

In addition to rainy day outings (take 1, take 2, and Monday suggestions), some mamas need to get out there and enjoy some long walks with their babes.  But, with the weather bound to turn more and more as the days wear on, we need some suggestions on where to get our walk-wiggles out!

Hi! My name is Mary. I have a four month old son, Alejandro.  Since I was pregnant, and after his birth, we have gone for long daily walks at Laurelhurst Park.  I wrap him up in the moby wrap or in the ergo, and I get my exercise, and he gets to look at his new world & take a nap.  Sadly, on very rainy days we won't be able to do our walk outside.  My question to the urbanMamas is: where are their indoor tracks to walk with a baby?  We are a very low income family, and we can't afford a gym membership.  Any suggestions?  Thanks!

CAT Scan: Share Your Experience

Stacy's child is undergoing a CAT scan, and she's wondering if anyone can share their experience:

At my son's 6 month well baby check-up, his head circumference jumped to the 90th percentile (up from the 50% at his 4 month check.)  Because of such a drastic increase, his Dr. had us wait a month and then come in again to have it measured (which was today.)  His head grew a centimeter in a month and now he's in the 95 percentile (the rest of his body is 50%).  She is recommending we get a CAT Scan just to make sure everything is normal.  I'm wondering if this is a bit extreme and premature. Have any of you had any experience with increasing head size disproportionate to the rest of the body?  What was the outcome? And have any of your kid's had to have a CAT Scan?  They have to give him anesthesia which I'm really apprehensive about.  Also, we're having the procedure done at Legacy Emmanuel so any advice about their care would be appreciated. Thank you!!

Top Ten: What Should You Buy Organic

The Environmental Working Group is a great urbanMama resource.  In their recent newsletter, they provide some great tips on packing healthy lunches.  Yes, this is a favorite conversation of ours.  But even better, is their produce list and scoring of fruits and vegetables that contain the most pesticide.  For those that use a combination approach of buying organic and conventional, this list is essential in determining which fruits and vegetables you may want to absolutely purchase organic.  The top ten worst?

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Lettuce
• Grapes - Imported
• Pears

Visit the Environmental Working Group site to get the full list and wallet guide of 43 fruits and veggies! Do you have a strategy when it comes to buying organics?  Are you all or nothing?  Or does cost consciousness come into play?

Varicose Veins: What's A Mama To Do?

Debbie's experience pains in her legs from varicose veins.  Have you experienced this?

My varicose veins around my inner knee have suddenly swollen up, become all bruised, black and blue - and hurt like C R A Z Y. Every time I stand up after lying down or even sit down for any length of time, I almost cry in pain - but after a few painful steps, it becomes ok. I am seeing my OB/GYN end of this week. I called the Vascular specialists at St Vincents, they dont have appointments for months. Any one has had this before? Particularly, a lot of pain and swelling? What did you do?

Is it the Season to Get Sick?

In the middle of the night the other night, my husband gave a start and gasped.  What was it?  Did we forget to close the front/garage door again?  Did he forget to finish something at work?  "What's wrong?" I asked him.  "Nothing.  My throat just really hurts," he said. 

The next day, I got a voice mail that said, "I think I'm coming down with something."  Over the past couple of days, I see my husband drinking glassfuls of water mixed with the Target-brand Airborne or EmergenC, trying to boost his immunity to ward off autumnal germs.  Over the past couple of days, the girls' noses have become drippier and their noses sound stuffier.  I hand them gummi vitamins (also the Target-brand) ever morning.  Not sure if it helps but .... Aw man!  Staying healthy is so important!

Have you and your families managed to stay in good health?  Or, has return of cold winds and school season brought runny noses, coughs, or maybe fevers?  Are there homeopathic remedies or naturopathic treatments you use?  Vitamins to prevent further sickness?  And, when they're sick, how do you make them feel better?

Bringing Healthy Food to the Classrooms

Meg poses an interesting question and seeks some wisdom from urbanMamas:

I am a high school teacher and I teach a course called environmental issues.  As part of the on-going guiding question of “How do you impact the environment and how can this be measured?” I wanted to do a weekly bit on healthy eating; healthy for the planet and healthy for the student.  My idea was to get a local farm or grocery store to donate organic fruit that was all locally grown.  I approached my administration with this idea and was told that I could only serve prepackaged food in class…. In other words, soda, chips, pizza, doughnuts, candy are all a-ok, but not organic fruit.  What are your experiences with what is acceptable to serve in the public school classroom?  Are there any loopholes I could squeeze through?  I know I can’t cook anything, but I thought raw foods were ok.  What would be the best way to go about changing this policy in a time efficient manner?  Lastly, does anyone have any connections with Washington County organic farms just in case I get this off the ground?

Paragard Woes: Joint Pain, Bloating, Stiffness

If you have been an avid reader since nearly our inception, you may have remembered the discussion on  "What to Do When Two Is Enough" - the search for the perfect birth control.   The Mirena didn't seem to fit the bill and the search continued.  Perhaps you caught the sequel "When Two is Enough, Part II: it ain't all that." - a brief discussion on the Paragard.  It seems we need further experiences of how well the Paraguard has worked for you.  Shannon writes:

I've been having issues with my IUD and came across your "two is enough" post from November '05.  I'm curious how the Paraguard worked out for you.  I've had mine nearly 6 months and I'm beginning to notice muscle and joint pain, bloating, stiffness....it's coming on gradually but I'm becoming suspicious.

Any thoughts?

 

Grown Up-Friendly Dentist

We agree with Sarah! Opinions are wanted here.  Sarah's looking for a dentist for herself.  She writes:

I've become so dependent on urbanmamas that I can't make a decision without consulting the crowd. This time it's about me though. I need a really, really great dentist and I'm counting on the urbanmamas out there for some suggestions. I'm not fully trusting my current dentist and I definately need a second opinion. I'm having anxiety about a dental procedure for the first time in my life. N or NE preferred but I'll go anywhere for the right one.

Survey: Safety of Children's Personal Care Products?

We recently linked to a survey on what's in a baby's bottle, how about what's in children's personal care products.  We ought to care, right?  Help them, help us.  Amanda writes:

This summer, EWG is digging in to the safety of children's personal care products (shampoo, diaper cream, bubble bath and the like) to give you our researchers' recommendations on the best children's products on the market -- and to help fill gaps in a system that doesn't require companies to test products before they're sold.

We're asking parents to help us by filling out a brief survey on the products they use on their children.  We're looking for at least 1,000 responses over the next two weeks that will let us take a detailed look at children's day-to-day exposures, from the chemicals in their baths to the products on their hair and skin and even their bottoms.

You can find the survey at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/survey_kids/

Survey: What's in Baby's Bottle?

EWG, the Environmental Work Group, is a wonderful resource, a research and education nonprofit organization that focuses on issues about family and the environment.  From the website:

The mission of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. EWG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1993 by Ken Cook and Richard Wiles.

Anyway, one of the current projects EWG is undertaking is working to ensure that potentially harmful chemicals are kept out of the foods we eat.  The following information is direct from their website:

"Bisphenol A (BPA) is a hormone disruptor found plastic baby bottles and the lining of canned foods including liquid and powdered formulas in steel cans. While there has been a lot of attention to potential exposures from plastic bottles, our calculations suggest that BPA in formula could be a greater health risk.

EWG is preparing an independent analysis of infant exposures to BPA in formula to present to the National Institutes of Health. We need your help to gather food and weight information for real babies to understand the intensity of BPA exposure. Timing is critical! NIH is meeting in early August to make important decisions on BPA safety and use.

TAKE THE SURVEY."

If your baby was fed formula, please take a few minutes to complete the survey below by Tuesday, July 31, 2007.  Please find the survey here:  http://www.ewg.org/bpasurvey

In sickness at the daycare?

Every child will get some kinda sick in their childhood.  If your child is in daycare, what are the rules - the hard and fast rules, the "it'd be nice..." rules?  How about when your daycare provider is sick?  An urbanMama emails:

I was wondering if you could post a question concerning daycare etiquette.  What kinds of rules do people follow with regard to sending their kids to daycare when they have colds/flus/fevers/ear infections?  What do folks do when their daycare provider is sick?

Treating Enlarged Adenoids

Recurring ear infections, and now enlarged adenoids.  Stephanie's poor daughter is suffering dearly.  She writes:

My daughter, who is four and a half, has had ongoing issues with ear infections since she was about a year old. She had tubes put in her ears at 18 months and went through a year of speech therapy to catch up language-wise because her hearing had been impaired by all of the goo clogging her ears. The tubes did address the hearing issues, but not the ear infections. She has had ear infections pretty much every 8 -10 weeks for the past three and a half years.

Veggie Booty recalled in OR

If you have (or have had) a toddler, you've likely purchased your fair share of Roberts Veggie Booty, the kidlet green snack of choice. Be careful: Today's Oregonian says Oregon among 17 states for Veggie Booty contamination cases

6/28/2007, 4:13 p.m. PDT The Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Veggie Booty Snack Food, a popular snack product, is being recalled nationwide due to reports of salmonella poisoning cases in Oregon and 16 other states possibly linked to the product.

All Veggie Booty Snack Food products are being recalled, according to the manufacturer, Robert's American Gourmet in Sea Cliff, N.Y.

At least 51 cases of salmonella poisoning have been identified nationally that are believed to be linked to the product, almost all are among toddlers or infants, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Where to donate glasses?

Jane had a great question, and we know we have heard of some such organizations before:

I came across an old pair of eye glasses in a drawer the other day.  I can remember how expensive they were even with insurance and I can't imagine paying out of pocket.  I am wondering if any urbanmamas know of a place that I can donate my glasses for those who have no insurance or cannot afford to buy their own.

Mama Gyms

So, if you were a mama, wanting to get out to a gym with a full line of equipment like free weights, weigh machines, cardio stuff, strecting supplies, and maybe a couple of studios for classes, where would you go?  Where wouldn't you go?  Sadie Rose is in search of a gym to meet her needs:

I'm wondering about gyms... preferably on the Eastside, but I'd like to find out about other parts of town as well. Are there any amazing locally owned gyms? Women-centered gyms? Small, intimate, and nice gyms? And, what are the best gyms for saunas? Or are there good saunas that come sans gym? I'd love to get the low-down on Portland's gym scene, since I have NO idea where to start.

Seeking Nutritionist

As they say, you are what you eat!  The pregnancy and post-partum periods may be challenging for making sure you eat the right foods, MollyJ asks:

I would like to get connected with a nutritionist in SE/NE Portland or the downtown area. Does anyone have any recommendations? I would like to ensure that I am getting the proper nutrition during my last trimester ( I am 7 1/2 months pregnant) as well as have support and guidance for post pregnancy weight loss and nutrition while breastfeeding.

originally posted by urbanMamas on August 18, 2006.

Another urbanMama writes:

After having a baby, I'm struggling to lose the last 5 lbs.  I'm exercising 3-4 times a week but still need some help.  Since I'm still nursing my 11-month old, I need to find the healthy way to help shed those last few pounds.  Can anyone out there recommend a nutritionist in the NW portland area? 

Seeking Babyfood Cookbooks, Recipes, Websites

More on  getting kids to eat fruits & veggies, especially in the earlier years, an urbanMama asks:

I am wondering if any mama's out there have come across any baby food cook books or websites that do a good job of combining veggies, proteins, good fats, whole grains, fiber, etc to maximize vitamins, fiber and all that.  I know its so important when starting solid foods to remember that they are not a replacement to breast milk but a supplement.  Pound for pound nothing can come close to the nutrition of breast milk of course.  I would love to find some ideas for creative recipes that help develop their little taste buds (combining nutritious with yummy to appeal to that sweet tooth most babies have, etc) and still have well rounded meals.

Are there any go-to favorites for kid-friendly cookbooks or websites, especially for early eaters?