After working in an adolescent clinic for 8 years as a registered nurse, I learned more about life and how it is so different from when I was a raging terror. I remember when my best friend came over and I asked her to double pierce one of my ears. It was the 80’s -no one wanted to be symmetrical.
This was as bad as any of us teenagers attempted at body marring during that time. No one had other piercings or tattoos. We just went crazy with a “sterile” needle (rubbing alcohol and a cigarette lighter) and either a cork or potato behind the ear. I’m wincing thinking of the infection I could have contracted.
But parents of today’s Teens, be forewarned! They are MUCH more creative and tolerant of pain than we were. Now I am not going to go into the different types of piercings that I have seen and heard of. What I want to address is tongue piercing.
Hear me out!!!!! Don’t let your kid do it. Anything else pierced is better medically than the tongue. If your child is under 18, most places won’t let them get pierced without parental consent. So you DO have a say in the matter.
Medical reasons for choosing another piercing site:
1) The stud or barbell will over time remove the enamel on the backs of their teeth. There is no getting this back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone and without the strong protection of enamel many dental problems can occur.
2) Tooth fractures or tooth loss can occur. Dentists truly hate tongue piercings!
3) Have you ever heard how many millions of bacteria live in the human mouth? Can you say flaming infections? Very difficult to keep it clean and avoid complications. Some cases of life threatening complications: from severe tongue swelling which can impede breathing to blood infections.
4) Many organizations won’t let you donate blood if you have had a piercing in the last year, due to a potential blood-borne disease your child could have contracted from poor hygiene or technique.
5) And finally “thpeeth impedimeths” (translation: speech impediments). Speech pathologists have discovered that having a tongue piercing for an extended period of time, can not only cause speech impediments while the tongue is pierced, but if there is nerve damage, it could be permanent. THUPER, I THAY!
If your teen is still determined to tongue pierce without your permission, just let them know you are keen to the fact, the only reason for having your tongue pierced is to improve stimulation during oral sex. Perhaps a very open parental/teen sex conversation could make them rethink their decision. After all, what teenager wants their parents to know what they are doing outside the home?!
What KC Moms Need to Know for Staying Safe in the Summer Sun
Do you miss the sun throughout the winter but in the summer months feel like you should live in a cave to protect your infant’s delicate skin from the sun? You are not alone in your frustration. A cave may not be necessary, but the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says that sun protection should begin in infancy and continue throughout life.
However, the AAD warns, “It may only take 15 minutes of midday summer sun to burn a fair-skinned (child).” Dr. Aundria Speropoulos, a pediatrician at Child Care Limited in Kansas City, MO, also warns parents, “Infant skin is more likely to burn in a short time. I have seen infants with second-degree burns (blisters) to their faces because the parent thought the baby would be safe on a cloudy day at a sibling’s soccer game.”
Consider these American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommendations:
Younger than 6 months Try to keep out of the sun. If complete shade is unavailable, use sunscreen on small areas of the body, such as the face and back the hands. (Light colored clothing that is tightly woven, covered strollers and sun umbrellas are also recommended.)
Older than 6 months Apply (sunscreen) to all areas of the body, but be careful around the eyes.
What is SPF?
Dr. Trisha Prossick, a Shawnee Mission dermatologist with American Dermatology Associates, says, “Sun protection factor (SPF) is a measure of protection against only UVB rays. It does not reflect protection against UVA; but both UVA and UVB are damaging to the skin.” The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that there is a new UVA “star” rating system, one being the lowest and four stars offering the highest UVA protection available.
How Much Protection Is Enough?
“Most baby products on the market have an SPF greater than 30: The higher the SPF, the higher the UVB ray protection,” Speropoulos says. “Parents need to buy a product with ‘broad spectrum’ coverage, which means UVA and UVB ray protection. Products with a physical barrier such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide offer even greater safety from the sun.”
Apply and Reapply Sunscreen
Prossick suggests, “Sunscreens should be applied 20 to 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and should be reapplied after 2 hours or after any swimming. Even water resistant sunscreens lose efficacy in the water after 40 minutes and should be reapplied.”
Treatment for Sunburn
“Once you get the sunburn, you have done the damage, and there is not much to do other than alleviate the symptoms,” Prossick says. “Therefore, prevention is the best medicine. Tylenol or ibuprofen can help with the pain or discomfort.”
NOTE: Make sure to check with your medical provider for correct dosing and use the appropriate measuring device (i.e. manufacturer’s provided measuring cup or a medication syringe from the pharmacy).
Prossick also says, “Cool water or whole milk compresses can be applied for 20 minutes at a time to provide a cooling and soothing effect. If you choose to do the milk compresses, please wash it off afterwards. Moisturizers with or without aloe and over the counter hydrocortisone can also provide some relief.”
Recommended Products for Sensitive Skin
Speropoulos tells parents to look for “hypo-allergenic, fragrance and dye-free sunscreen. There are so many good choices these days, but I like Neutrogena baby, California baby or Aveeno baby.”
Are Darker Skin Tones Safe?
According to Mayo Clinic, “You need to use sunscreen even if you have darker skin pigment, tan easily and can tolerate longer periods of sun exposure without burning. The sun’s energy damages DNA of skin cells.”
The hardest part of protecting your child is remembering to get the sunscreen on the child and then reapplying at the correct time. A sunburn can take up to 24 hours to fully develop, so don’t think if you don’t see a pink tinge on your child, she is safe.
Finally, before you leave for your sun outing, don’t forget to check expiration dates on your sunscreens. They lose potency after expiration and will be ineffective for proper sun protection.
Stacey Hatton is a pediatric RN, freelance writer and mom of two unsuccessful sunscreen protestors.
If you have a child from the age of 1-4, welcome to the summer and the season of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease! This virus affects mostly toddlers, but is not limited to the age group. You ask, “How many body parts? And how are these connected? And isn’t that a livestock infestation?” Well, the answers are: “three, don’t know, and no that is “Hoof” and Mouth disease which is totally unrelated.” So despite what your Great Aunt tells you, you cannot catch HFM from the petting zoo!
This disease is not bacterial and highly contagious, which means no medications will cure it, so you have to wait it out and treat the painful individual symptoms, to ensure your child will continue to eat and drink and sleep. From presentation of the first symptoms to the end, this condition normally will last 3 days to a week.
Signs & Symptoms:
Small, painful blisters found in the mouth – inside the cheeks, on the tongue, on the gums, in the throat and on the roof of the mouth are typical locations. However, some kids get them on the bottom of their feet and on the palms of their hands. You don’t have to have all three to be diagnosed.
The blisters (depending on the location) typically are red spots on the skin which have a fluid-filled bubble on top; but not all kids get the blisters. Sometimes children just have a rash on their bottom and legs and a sore throat. Other symptoms may be:
Fever
Drooling (because it hurts to swallow their saliva)
Irritability
Refusal of food and drink
Treatment:
If your child won’t eat or drink, it is time to make a trip to the pediatrician. Dehydration is dangerous and you want to get medical attention if you are concerned! Since there are no antibiotics that can fix this, over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications and cold foods (like popsicles and ice cream) can relieve or numb the pain. However, check with your doctor if the pain is not resolving and it is interfering with your child drinking, swallowing, or sleeping. If it interferes with breathing, an emergency trip is in order.
There are other pain medications, such as a concoction called “Magic Mouthwash” that can be prescribed by a medical provider if necessary. This is an antiseptic, numbing agent and anti-acid that really can relieve mouth pain.
Keep all blisters clean but uncovered, unless one pops and then you can dab on an over-the-counter topical antibiotic cream and cover it with a bandage to prevent an infection. (Not the one’s in the mouth, but the hands or feet)
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), if your child has been diagnosed with HFM, he or she “should be kept out of school, swimming pools, and child care settings for the first few days of her illness.” This is the time when the child is highly contagious.
Don’t forget to be super-vigilant during this time with proper hand washing after changing diapers, toileting and prior to food preparation. Make sure to use warm soapy water and rub briskly for 15 seconds each wash. If there is an outbreak at daycare, toys should be cleansed with disinfectants often, for this virus can live on objects for several days, being transmitted by fecal matter or saliva.The AAP recommends calling your pediatrician if “your child complains of neck pain, chest pain, difficulty breathing, listlessness, or lethargy. Also consult your pediatrician if your child’s mouth sores are causing difficulty swallowing, which may lead to dehydration.”
Dr. James Lee from California asked me to try out his invention, The UGLee Pen, and write a review of it on my blog. He sent me some of his pens, which I must add are well named because they truly are not a fashion statement (even though they come in numerous fun colors), but they are ergonomically splendid! Oh, so comfortable and a good conversation starter to boot!
I spent several hours in a waiting room trying to keep my mind off the current situation, so I decided to play some Sudoku and brought along the Uglee pen to see how well it would hold up. After 2 hours of using it, my hand was not affected negatively at all and I realized the longer you used it, the smoother it seemed to write. Your grip adjusts to the ease of the flow of ink and you hardly have to apply any pressure.
If you are a student, or a nurse, or someone who writes by hand all day long this could be the pen for you. I would also think from my limited experience with this pen that if you have carpal tunnel or rheumatism or have a child that developmentally is struggling with fine motor skills, this would be helpful. This is just my opinion and if you order one and your carpal tunnel doesn’t disappear, please don’t curse me. But as a nurse who spent many years charting on paper, I like this pen. It will not put that little divot on your second digit like every pen usually does for me.
Now Dr. Lee is not paying me any money for this review, just sent me 3 pens, and asked me to spread the word of his ergonomic creation. If you are interested, please go to his website at: www.ugleepen.com
This morning Munchkin #2 asked me to hurry back to “kill a bug” for her. I grabbed a flip-flop off the floor and a dish towel to be prepared for whatever was to be approached.
“Is it making a noise?” I ask.
Affirmative noise from child.
“Does it fly around?”
“Yes, Mama. It’s in the window.”
I spotted the intruder with the help of my three year old. It was a fly! Ah, my bug of choice. Dropping the flip-flop, I wrapped my dish towel around my hands like dental floss and took my warrior position. Then…THWAPP!!
“I nailed it!” Woo Hoo!
The fly was respectfully and carefully retrieved for his summer canoe trip down the river “Porcelain Grande.” But then much to my surprise, Munchkin #2 starts jumping up and down like a cheerleader, chanting wildly “Go, KU! Go, KU! Go, KU!” For those of you from outside the Midwest and not interested in basketball, interpretation…Kansas University, her parents’ Alma mater!
It’s truly splendid she’s retaining the important stuff! We’ll work out the details later…
I don’t know if it is because I am the mother of two young, passionate girls who have a flair for the drama, or if all parents experience this; but when does the whining STOP?! It is the #1 childhood characteristic which makes me want to go running for the hills with my husband’s noise canceling headphones suctioned to my ears, join a group of mute meditators who live in tree houses and sleep in hammocks while reading Walt Whitman. Not that I’ve ever thought this through before…
As a mom, I do let my emotions get me sometimes and inform the girls they need to stop whining at that exact moment. It unfortunately is a little louder request than I intend. Actually, the last time I lost it and pleaded for the whining to cease, they both stopped and started laughing. So I guess my loss of control worked in a backwards way. We all laughed and went on with our day.
As a nurse, however, I know better than that. I realize yelling at your child to stop whining does not work. The child is looking for a reaction from the adult and the yelling definitely counts as a reaction – a poor one, but a reaction.
There is a pretty successful way to cut out the majority of whining, but all caretakers need to be consistent with this method. When the child starts whining, calmly look at the child confused and say, “I just can’t understand you when you talk like that.” Treat the whining like they are speaking in Tongues or another language, and ask them to try it again so you can understand them. The only way this works is if you do this EVERY time a teensy whine comes through their lips. When the child changes her/his tone of voice to a more tolerable one, you can answer their question or help them out showing them praise with a smile, pat or hug.
This isn’t easy because it takes MUCH repetition and will-power from the parent, but you can do it. May the “whining poltergeists” in your home be exorcised with these few steps; and the darling, little sweeties return to your dinner table, their car-seats while traveling across town, and when passing the toy section at ANY store. It will make life much more pleasant – I promise!
I was going to paraphrase the warning of children swallowing Lithium cell batteries after reading this article, but felt Ms. Parker-Pope wrote such a thorough article for the New York Times, I decided to pass on her full story to you all. Terribly sad and dangerous…
The New York Times
May 31, 2010, 5:42 pm
For Very Young, Peril Lurks in Lithium Cell Batteries
Last fall, 13-month-old Aidan Truett of Hamilton, Ohio, developed what seemed like an upper respiratory infection. He lost interest in food and vomited a few times, but doctors attributed it to a virus. After nine days of severe symptoms and more doctor visits, the hospital finally ordered an X-ray to look for pneumonia.
What they found instead was totally unexpected. The child had ingested a “button” battery, one of those flat silver discs used to power remote controls, toys, musical greeting cards, bathroom scales and other home electronics.
The battery was surgically removed the next day, and Aidan was sent home. But what neither the doctors nor his parents realized was that the damage had been done. The battery’s current had set off a chemical reaction in the child’s esophagus, burning through both the esophageal wall and attacking the aorta. Two days after the battery was removed, Aidan began coughing blood, and soon died from his injuries.
To this day, Aidan’s parents don’t know where the battery came from. “This is something I would never want another parent to live with,” said Michelle Truett, Aidan’s mother. “I was oblivious as to how dangerous they were, and I want more people to know the danger.”
Such deaths are extremely rare. There were fewer than 10 documented during the last six years. But ingestion of lithium cell batteries, which children may mistake for candy and elderly adults for medication, is a surprisingly common problem, documented this week in two reports in the medical journal Pediatrics.
About 3,500 cases of button cell battery ingestion are reported annually to poison control centers. But while swallowing batteries has occurred for years, the development of larger, stronger lithium cell batteries has increased the risk of severe complications.
Data from the National Capital Poison Center in Washington found a sevenfold increase in severe complications from button cell ingestions in recent years. Moderate to severe cases have risen from less than a half percent (about a dozen cases per year) to about 3 percent (nearly 100 cases per year), based on a review of 56,000 cases since 1985.
Among the serious complications, the chemical reaction triggered by the batteries can damage vocal cords, leaving children with a lifelong whisper. Damage to the gastrointestinal tract means some children require feeding tubes and multiple surgeries. “The injuries are so much more serious,” said Dr. Toby Litovitz, director and lead author of both articles in Pediatrics. “It’s like drain opener or lye. It’s not something you want in the esophagus of your child.”
The batteries that pose the greatest risk are those that begin with the number 20, which stands for 20 millimeters. They are newer and stronger than older models. Batteries numbered 2032, 2025 and 2016 are responsible for more than 90 percent of serious injuries.
“Industry has shifted to this battery, and it has very popular appeal,” Dr. Litovitz said. “There are a lot of reasons why we want to use this battery, but the problem is we’ve got to use it in a safer way.” Federal safety rules require toys that use the batteries to have battery compartments that are locked with screws. But devices intended for adults — like bathroom scales and remote controls — often hold the batteries in with a simple plastic cover that can fall off or be removed easily.
That’s what happened when 13-month-old Kaiden Vasquez of Bristow, Va., picked up the remote control to his parent’s iPod docking station. Somehow, he dislodged the battery and swallowed it. But his parents did not notice the missing battery when he began crying hysterically and could not be calmed. Emergency room doctors diagnosed a stomach flu, but a week later the child’s pediatrician took an X-ray and saw what he thought was a quarter. When the round item was removed, doctors discovered the battery and kept Kaiden for observation. The battery had burned a hole in his esophagus and trachea and he required a feeding tube and two months of home nursing care.
Kaiden, who will be 3 in July, has recovered, although severe reflux after the incident damaged his teeth. “I don’t allow any of those disc batteries into my home,” said Kaiden’s mother, Amy Vasquez, who has three other young children. “I never thought a remote would do so much damage to my child.”
Battery ingestion is also a problem among the elderly, who often mistake hearing aid batteries for medication. But in those cases, the battery typically doesn’t get stuck because the digestive tract is larger and the battery used in hearing aids is smaller.
When children ingest batteries, it’s usually not because they found one loose in the home. In 60 percent of the cases involving children under age 6, the child has removed the battery from the electronic device. The problem is that most parents are not even aware when it happens, yet studies show the battery begins to cause severe damage within just two hours of ingestion. “It’s really a tight timeline, because a lot of these cases aren’t witnessed,” Dr. Litovitz said. “Children present with symptoms that are nonspecific, the parent doesn’t know the battery was ingested — that makes it difficult for the doctor to diagnose.”
Dr. Litovitz said the problem needed to be addressed by manufacturers of electronic products, who should secure the battery compartments in all devices, not just toys.
“Children have ready access to remote controls, watches, garage door openers,” she said. “Our major pitch is to get the industry to do something about the battery compartment, but parents also need to know that they need to be dealing with these batteries with a lot more vigilance and keeping them out of reach of the child.”
Cara George of Littleton, Colo., has been working to raise awareness about lithium batteries ever since her 18-month-old daughter, Brenna, died after ingesting one nearly two years ago. “I want to raise awareness for parents, for doctors, for the community,” she said. “I think there should be warnings on every item the batteries are in. They are in greeting cards and children’s books that talk. They’re everywhere.”
McDonald’s Recalls Movie Themed Drinking Glasses Due to Potential Cadmium Risk
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: “Shrek Forever After 3D” Collectable Drinking Glasses
Units: About 12 million
Manufacturer: ARC International, of Millville, NJ.
Distributor: McDonald’s Corp., Oakbrook, Ill.
Hazard: The designs on the glasses contain cadmium. Long term exposure to cadmium can cause adverse health effects.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The “Shrek Forever After 3D” collectable drinking glass are 16 ounce glasses that came in four designs, Shrek, Fiona, Puss n’ Boots, and Donkey.
Sold exclusively at: McDonald’s restaurants nationwide from May 2010 into June 2010 for about $2.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: McDonald’s is asking consumers to immediately stop using the glass out of an abundance of caution. Visit www.mcdonalds.com for additional instructions on how to obtain a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact McDonald’s toll-free at (800) 244-6227 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.mcdonalds.com
Note: CPSC was made aware of issues with this product through the Office of Congresswoman Jackie Speier from California.
A FaceBook friend shared this link and I thought it was something to laugh at a little; but then we need to make sure our daughters are getting the right message. I would hate for girls of this generation to develop a negative self-worth by princesses in such great dresses and shoes!
After working in an adolescent clinic for 8 years as a registered nurse, I learned more about life and how it is so different from when I was a raging terror. I remember when my best friend came over and I asked her to double pierce one of my ears. It was the 80’s -no one wanted to be symmetrical.
