A new executive at Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. has strong ties to the baby food business, but that doesn't necessarily mean the company will be keeping its Evansville-based Mead Johnson subsidiary.
Earlier this week, the drug company announced Marc-Jean Huet will become the chief financial officer on March 31. Huet had the same title at Royal Numico NV, a Dutch maker of baby food.
Pete Paradossi, a Mead Johnson spokesman, said the addition of Huet shouldn't be seen as a sign that Bristol-Myers is taking a different approach to Mead Johnson Nutritionals, which makes the Enfamil infant formula.
"His hiring does not indicate any change in strategy," Paradossi said. "BMS continues to review strategic options for Mead Johnson."
At an investors meeting last year, James Cornelius, chief executive officer, said Bristol-Myers can't make up its mind about Mead Johnson. The subsidiary remains profitable, but keeping it may not play into his ambition of making Bristol-Myers into a leading biopharmaceuticals companies, he said.
Bristol-Myers is weighing all of its "strategic alternatives," Cornelius said.
Paradossi said Cornelius had met Huet before either began to work for Bristol-Myers. The hiring of Huet may in part be a result of that earlier acquaintance, he said.
"Jim Cornelius had known Mr. Huet through his professional network and had met him on a number of occasions," Paradossi said.
Huet was an executive at Numico at a time when baby food companies were busy buying each other. Last year, Groupe Danone, a French maker of Danon yogurt, acquired Numico. Shortly before that, Nestle, a Swiss company, had bought Gerber for $5.5 billion, thus becoming the largest maker of baby food in the United States.
Huet will replace Andrew Bonfield at Bristol-Myers. Bonfield is leaving the company to pursue other career opportunities, according to a news release.
In other changes, Lamberto Andreotti, who oversees the Bristol-Myers' pharmaceuticals business, will take over the leadership of both Mead Johnson and another subsidiary, ConvaTec. ConvaTec is a maker of skin and wound treatments, and Bristol-Myers is also trying to decide if it will keep it.
Lamberto will "continue to help shape and drive the transformation of Bristol-Myers Squibb to a next-generation biopharma leader," Cornelius said in a news release.
Cornelius himself is a fairly new addition to the leadership of Bristol-Myers, having taken over the reins of the company as an interim CEO in September 2006.
Before that, he had been the chairman emeritus of Guidant, a producer of pacemakers and other heart devices that merged with Boston Scientific in April 2006.
In February, Cornelius was appointed to be the chairman of the Bristol-Myers Squibb board of directors. At the same time, the board terminated a contract that would have ended his tenure as CEO in May 2009.
http://www.courierpress.com/
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Common baby bottles contain 'significant' levels of bisphenol A: study
TORONTO - Tests on some of the most popular plastic baby bottles sold across Canada have all turned up "very significant" levels of bisphenol A - a controversial chemical studies on animals have linked to cancer and infertility, says a new report released Thursday.
In the tests, nine different polycarbonate bottles from three different major manufacturers were heated during testing and leached levels of the chemical that ranged between five to eight parts per billion.
Recent research suggests that even lower levels of exposure to bisphenol A, which acts like the hormone estrogen, can alter cell function, said Rick Smith, executive director of the Toronto-based environmental group Environmental Defence.
"The only argument the chemical industry has left is that those levels aren't high enough to warrant concern, and there is no parent on God's green earth that is going to buy that argument," Smith said.
"There's increasingly strong evidence that this chemical can be linked to thyroid problems (and) different kinds of cancer including breast cancer in women, so the fact that we're actually feeding it to our babies - the implications of this are mind-boggling."
There's little scientific evidence on what bisphenol A does to humans, although not everyone is convinced it poses a risk. Health Canada originally concluded it did not pose a risk, although the agency is reviewing its findings. Comprehensive tests in the U.S. that are frequently cited by manufacturers, including from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have also concluded there's no danger.
However, studies on mice and other animals have linked the chemical to cancer, reproductive problems, diabetes and learning development disorders.
The bottles - produced by Avent, Gerber and Playtex - were sent to the University of Missouri-Columbia for testing, filled with water, and heated in an oven at 80 C to simulate how the plastic would react to dozens of washings.
Similar levels of bisphenol A emerged from tests conducted on four brands of bottles commonly sold in the United States. Environmental Defence said the results of the study can be considered indicative of most baby bottles containing bisphenol A that are sold in North America.
Health Canada, which is expected to release findings from its review of bisphenol A in May, would not comment on the implications of the test results published in the report.
"The government is aware of a number of domestic and international studies about bisphenol A and will incorporate all the latest science in our assessment," a spokeswoman said in a release.
"Bisphenol A is being addressed under the Chemicals Management Plan. The plan will assess the risks associated with bisphenol A, including in consumer products, and use this information to take action, if necessary, to further protect the health of Canadians."
The companies themselves point to a multitude of studies that suggest fears about bisphenol A are overblown.
On its website, Avent notes that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration "reconfirmed the safety of the use of polycarbonate for food contact, including baby feeding bottles" in November 2005, while other studies by the U.S. National Toxicology Program and independent scientists under the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis found bisphenol A in consumer products posed no risk to human health.
Playtex's website also cities studies by the U.S. National Academy of Science, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the European Commission Scientific Committee on Food and the Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences, all of which say there's no risk.
Playtex does, however, produce a line of products without bisphenol A for parents that don't want their kids exposed to the chemical at all.
Repeated calls to Gerber Canada for comment were not returned Thursday.
A statement issued Thursday by the New York-based American Council on Science and Health also defended the use of bisphenol A.
"The current, very low levels of exposure to bisphenol A from plastic bottles and other consumer products do not pose a hazard to human health," said Dr. Gilbert Ross, the council's executive and medical director.
But Smith said a previous Health Canada study found the chemical to be toxic and parents can't afford to wait a few months to find out if the new study has a different conclusion.
"Parents don't need to wait to take action, they can go to the stores tomorrow and replace their bottles for very little money and they now have all the evidence they need to do that."
Retailers like Lululemon, Mountain Equipment Co-op and Whole Foods have already taken plastic bottles containing bisphenol A off the shelves, and Smith said consumers don't have to look hard to find alternatives.
Glass bottles are safe and there are also a number of plastic bottles that are labelled non-toxic and bisphenol A-free, Smith said.
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hd9RN1-DCqoCMfRSySa0nRayVGtg
In the tests, nine different polycarbonate bottles from three different major manufacturers were heated during testing and leached levels of the chemical that ranged between five to eight parts per billion.
Recent research suggests that even lower levels of exposure to bisphenol A, which acts like the hormone estrogen, can alter cell function, said Rick Smith, executive director of the Toronto-based environmental group Environmental Defence.
"The only argument the chemical industry has left is that those levels aren't high enough to warrant concern, and there is no parent on God's green earth that is going to buy that argument," Smith said.
"There's increasingly strong evidence that this chemical can be linked to thyroid problems (and) different kinds of cancer including breast cancer in women, so the fact that we're actually feeding it to our babies - the implications of this are mind-boggling."
There's little scientific evidence on what bisphenol A does to humans, although not everyone is convinced it poses a risk. Health Canada originally concluded it did not pose a risk, although the agency is reviewing its findings. Comprehensive tests in the U.S. that are frequently cited by manufacturers, including from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have also concluded there's no danger.
However, studies on mice and other animals have linked the chemical to cancer, reproductive problems, diabetes and learning development disorders.
The bottles - produced by Avent, Gerber and Playtex - were sent to the University of Missouri-Columbia for testing, filled with water, and heated in an oven at 80 C to simulate how the plastic would react to dozens of washings.
Similar levels of bisphenol A emerged from tests conducted on four brands of bottles commonly sold in the United States. Environmental Defence said the results of the study can be considered indicative of most baby bottles containing bisphenol A that are sold in North America.
Health Canada, which is expected to release findings from its review of bisphenol A in May, would not comment on the implications of the test results published in the report.
"The government is aware of a number of domestic and international studies about bisphenol A and will incorporate all the latest science in our assessment," a spokeswoman said in a release.
"Bisphenol A is being addressed under the Chemicals Management Plan. The plan will assess the risks associated with bisphenol A, including in consumer products, and use this information to take action, if necessary, to further protect the health of Canadians."
The companies themselves point to a multitude of studies that suggest fears about bisphenol A are overblown.
On its website, Avent notes that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration "reconfirmed the safety of the use of polycarbonate for food contact, including baby feeding bottles" in November 2005, while other studies by the U.S. National Toxicology Program and independent scientists under the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis found bisphenol A in consumer products posed no risk to human health.
Playtex's website also cities studies by the U.S. National Academy of Science, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the European Commission Scientific Committee on Food and the Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences, all of which say there's no risk.
Playtex does, however, produce a line of products without bisphenol A for parents that don't want their kids exposed to the chemical at all.
Repeated calls to Gerber Canada for comment were not returned Thursday.
A statement issued Thursday by the New York-based American Council on Science and Health also defended the use of bisphenol A.
"The current, very low levels of exposure to bisphenol A from plastic bottles and other consumer products do not pose a hazard to human health," said Dr. Gilbert Ross, the council's executive and medical director.
But Smith said a previous Health Canada study found the chemical to be toxic and parents can't afford to wait a few months to find out if the new study has a different conclusion.
"Parents don't need to wait to take action, they can go to the stores tomorrow and replace their bottles for very little money and they now have all the evidence they need to do that."
Retailers like Lululemon, Mountain Equipment Co-op and Whole Foods have already taken plastic bottles containing bisphenol A off the shelves, and Smith said consumers don't have to look hard to find alternatives.
Glass bottles are safe and there are also a number of plastic bottles that are labelled non-toxic and bisphenol A-free, Smith said.
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hd9RN1-DCqoCMfRSySa0nRayVGtg
Pre-Chewed Baby Food Said to Transmit H.I.V.
BOSTON — Researchers have identified another way that babies can be infected with H.I.V. — through food pre-chewed by an infected parent or caretaker.
Although thousands of babies have been infected in the United States over the last 15 years, pre-chewed food has been documented as the cause of just three cases, federal epidemiologists said here Wednesday.
But such transmission may not be so rare, Dr. Kenneth L. Dominguez’s team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.
Pre-chewing food apparently occurs among many groups in this country and elsewhere. So transmission of H.I.V., the AIDS virus, to infants may be an unrecognized problem in developing countries where dental care is lacking, commercially prepared baby foods and blenders are not available and parents and caretakers may need to soften foods, Dr. Dominguez said in an interview.
His team said there were several reasons for reporting the three cases, dating from 1993, for the first time. One was to make health care providers and caregivers of infected children aware of the potential risk of pre-chewing. Another was to ask doctors and family members to report suspected cases to health officials to quantify the threat.
Human immunodeficiency virus is present in saliva, but usually in amounts too low to cause transmission. So, presumably, blood, which has larger amounts of the virus, is also needed for transmission.
Infected chewers with inflammations or open mouth sores can pass the virus to infants through cuts or other common teething conditions, Dr. Dominguez said.
Although the three cases were among African-Americans born in the United States, pre-chewing is prevalent among many ethnic and racial groups, according to a recent national survey of infant feeding by the C.D.C., Dr. Dominguez said.
Specific findings from the survey have not been released.
“It’s likely that some cultural influences are involved, and I am sure that people are doing what their grandmothers and aunties did in practices carried through generations,” Dr. Dominguez said.
Epidemiologists from the centers, working with researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and the University of Miami, intensively investigated all three cases, ruling out other causes of transmission like breast feeding, sexual abuse and needle sticks.
The first two cases involved boys from Miami infected in the mid-’90s. One boy’s infection was detected when he was 39 months old, shortly before his death, after previously testing negative for the virus twice. The mother, who was infected, reported pre-chewing food for the boy.
The second boy’s mother was uninfected but lived with an infected aunt who pre-chewed his food. He survives. In the third case, a girl from Memphis was found to be infected in 2004 at 9 months old after testing negative for the virus three times. Her mother was infected and pre-chewed food for her daughter.
Genetic studies showed that the viruses isolated from the first and third cases matched those of the mother. The second case’s caregiver died before blood samples could be obtained. H.I.V. isolated from the caregiver’s infected male sexual partner did not match that from the boy.
Researchers will try to determine whether other dangerous microbes like hepatitis B virus and Helicobacter pylori might be transmitted through pre-chewed food.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/us/07hiv.html?ref=us
Although thousands of babies have been infected in the United States over the last 15 years, pre-chewed food has been documented as the cause of just three cases, federal epidemiologists said here Wednesday.
But such transmission may not be so rare, Dr. Kenneth L. Dominguez’s team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.
Pre-chewing food apparently occurs among many groups in this country and elsewhere. So transmission of H.I.V., the AIDS virus, to infants may be an unrecognized problem in developing countries where dental care is lacking, commercially prepared baby foods and blenders are not available and parents and caretakers may need to soften foods, Dr. Dominguez said in an interview.
His team said there were several reasons for reporting the three cases, dating from 1993, for the first time. One was to make health care providers and caregivers of infected children aware of the potential risk of pre-chewing. Another was to ask doctors and family members to report suspected cases to health officials to quantify the threat.
Human immunodeficiency virus is present in saliva, but usually in amounts too low to cause transmission. So, presumably, blood, which has larger amounts of the virus, is also needed for transmission.
Infected chewers with inflammations or open mouth sores can pass the virus to infants through cuts or other common teething conditions, Dr. Dominguez said.
Although the three cases were among African-Americans born in the United States, pre-chewing is prevalent among many ethnic and racial groups, according to a recent national survey of infant feeding by the C.D.C., Dr. Dominguez said.
Specific findings from the survey have not been released.
“It’s likely that some cultural influences are involved, and I am sure that people are doing what their grandmothers and aunties did in practices carried through generations,” Dr. Dominguez said.
Epidemiologists from the centers, working with researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and the University of Miami, intensively investigated all three cases, ruling out other causes of transmission like breast feeding, sexual abuse and needle sticks.
The first two cases involved boys from Miami infected in the mid-’90s. One boy’s infection was detected when he was 39 months old, shortly before his death, after previously testing negative for the virus twice. The mother, who was infected, reported pre-chewing food for the boy.
The second boy’s mother was uninfected but lived with an infected aunt who pre-chewed his food. He survives. In the third case, a girl from Memphis was found to be infected in 2004 at 9 months old after testing negative for the virus three times. Her mother was infected and pre-chewed food for her daughter.
Genetic studies showed that the viruses isolated from the first and third cases matched those of the mother. The second case’s caregiver died before blood samples could be obtained. H.I.V. isolated from the caregiver’s infected male sexual partner did not match that from the boy.
Researchers will try to determine whether other dangerous microbes like hepatitis B virus and Helicobacter pylori might be transmitted through pre-chewed food.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/us/07hiv.html?ref=us
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Govt Expects 30% Rise in Food Prices
JEDDAH, 5 January 2008 — The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced yesterday that prices of food products could go up by a further 20 to 30 percent this year due to a worldwide shortage.
In its annual report on supply and prices, the ministry also blamed the declining exchange rate of the US dollar, fall in agricultural produce caused by drought and hike in export duties for the record increase in prices of essential foodstuffs.
The report comes a day before Commerce and Industry Minister Hashim Yamani, in a bid to contain milk prices , was due to hold a meeting with directors of milk-manufacturing companies in the Kingdom at his office in Riyadh.
“The meeting is aimed at discussing how to bring prices of milk and other dairy products back to their previous levels,” an official statement issued by the ministry said yesterday.
Some producers of dairy products increased their prices by 20 percent on Thursday, raising alarm among Saudis and expatriates.
The ministry emphasized its basic role of organizing the market and supervising supply of goods and their prices when necessary in the light of the Law of Competition decreed in 2004.
“Article Four of the law bans any practice or agreement or contract between competing institutions... if they are aimed at restricting trade and violating competition between institutions,” the ministry statement said.
The same article also bans any major institution from controlling competition between institutions in any way “especially by controlling prices of goods and services that are meant for sale, by either increasing or decreasing or stabilizing prices or through any other manner, harming fair competition,” it added.
The minister’s meeting with dairy producers comes after complaints that his ministry was doing nothing to control skyrocketing prices of essential commodities including rice, milk and chicken.
Last year too, Yamani held a series of meetings with importers and supermarket owners to create “a strong and fair competition environment and ensure adequate supply of commodities,” the ministry said.
However, Adel Al-Otaibi, a teacher, called for activating the consumer protection commission in order to protect the public from greedy traders who increase prices of commodities without any specific reason.
Abdul Rahman Al-Shahri, a bank employee, urged the ministry to monitor markets on a daily basis and take action against those who increase prices of commodities such as rice and baby milk that are subsidized by the government.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah last month gave orders to the Ministry of Finance to subsidize rice at the rate of SR1,000 per ton. He also increased the subsidy for baby milk from SR2 to SR12 per kg as part of efforts to reduce the financial burden on the public.
The announcement made both Saudis and expatriates happy and they expected the government to take further steps to reduce the growing burden caused by increasing prices of essential commodities.
Mohammed Shaker Al-Dahlawi, director of compensation at the Ministry of Transport, urged the government to increase salaries of employees as quickly as possible in order to alleviate public suffering caused by increasing prices.
“Subsidies given to a few commodities will not be enough to reduce the difficulties of the public caused by price hike,” Al-Dahlawi told Arab News. He also pointed out that traders were not ready to cut prices of rice and baby milk even after the subsidies. “In my opinion, all government departments as well as private companies must increase salaries to help their workers cope with the present situation,” Al-Dahlawi added. He hoped that milk producers would cut prices, taking minimum profit.
In its annual report, the ministry said prices of American rice increased by 23.6 percent last year as a result of worldwide demand and decline in production. Concomitantly, prices of Indian rice rose by 33 to 52 percent and Pakistani rice by 25 to 57 percent.
Price of Nido milk rose by 35 percent, Klim 16.2 percent and Coast 17.2 percent during 2007, while prices of cooking oil rose by 12 percent, chicken by 9.5 percent and barley by 89 percent, the report said.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=105335&d=5&m=1&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
In its annual report on supply and prices, the ministry also blamed the declining exchange rate of the US dollar, fall in agricultural produce caused by drought and hike in export duties for the record increase in prices of essential foodstuffs.
The report comes a day before Commerce and Industry Minister Hashim Yamani, in a bid to contain milk prices , was due to hold a meeting with directors of milk-manufacturing companies in the Kingdom at his office in Riyadh.
“The meeting is aimed at discussing how to bring prices of milk and other dairy products back to their previous levels,” an official statement issued by the ministry said yesterday.
Some producers of dairy products increased their prices by 20 percent on Thursday, raising alarm among Saudis and expatriates.
The ministry emphasized its basic role of organizing the market and supervising supply of goods and their prices when necessary in the light of the Law of Competition decreed in 2004.
“Article Four of the law bans any practice or agreement or contract between competing institutions... if they are aimed at restricting trade and violating competition between institutions,” the ministry statement said.
The same article also bans any major institution from controlling competition between institutions in any way “especially by controlling prices of goods and services that are meant for sale, by either increasing or decreasing or stabilizing prices or through any other manner, harming fair competition,” it added.
The minister’s meeting with dairy producers comes after complaints that his ministry was doing nothing to control skyrocketing prices of essential commodities including rice, milk and chicken.
Last year too, Yamani held a series of meetings with importers and supermarket owners to create “a strong and fair competition environment and ensure adequate supply of commodities,” the ministry said.
However, Adel Al-Otaibi, a teacher, called for activating the consumer protection commission in order to protect the public from greedy traders who increase prices of commodities without any specific reason.
Abdul Rahman Al-Shahri, a bank employee, urged the ministry to monitor markets on a daily basis and take action against those who increase prices of commodities such as rice and baby milk that are subsidized by the government.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah last month gave orders to the Ministry of Finance to subsidize rice at the rate of SR1,000 per ton. He also increased the subsidy for baby milk from SR2 to SR12 per kg as part of efforts to reduce the financial burden on the public.
The announcement made both Saudis and expatriates happy and they expected the government to take further steps to reduce the growing burden caused by increasing prices of essential commodities.
Mohammed Shaker Al-Dahlawi, director of compensation at the Ministry of Transport, urged the government to increase salaries of employees as quickly as possible in order to alleviate public suffering caused by increasing prices.
“Subsidies given to a few commodities will not be enough to reduce the difficulties of the public caused by price hike,” Al-Dahlawi told Arab News. He also pointed out that traders were not ready to cut prices of rice and baby milk even after the subsidies. “In my opinion, all government departments as well as private companies must increase salaries to help their workers cope with the present situation,” Al-Dahlawi added. He hoped that milk producers would cut prices, taking minimum profit.
In its annual report, the ministry said prices of American rice increased by 23.6 percent last year as a result of worldwide demand and decline in production. Concomitantly, prices of Indian rice rose by 33 to 52 percent and Pakistani rice by 25 to 57 percent.
Price of Nido milk rose by 35 percent, Klim 16.2 percent and Coast 17.2 percent during 2007, while prices of cooking oil rose by 12 percent, chicken by 9.5 percent and barley by 89 percent, the report said.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=105335&d=5&m=1&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
Winterproof your baby: a pediatrician's guide
Babies aren't as good at regulating their body temperature as older kids and adults are. But that doesn't mean your child should be bundled up like a mini-astronaut every time you're out for a short stroll. To keep her warm and comfortable when inside or out, dress her in one layer more than you're wearing yourself. (Some don't need the extra layer though, so see what works best for your child. More on how your baby should be dressed...
A hat is the Number One necessity. On very cold days, be sure to use a cap that totally covers the ears; one that fastens under the chin is cozy and won't fall off.
Skip the hard-to-handle snowsuit until your baby's walking. A warm jacket's enough for her top, and you can cover up her legs with a fleece or blanket.
Thick coats should come off before the car-seat straps go on -- the extra padding will make the harness too loose. Add a blanket or a bunting bag (a fitted blanket that goes over a car seat or stroller) over the straps instead.
Wear your baby against your body in a sling or carrier to keep her warmer than when she's riding in a stroller. You'll be able to dress her in lighter clothing (skip the coat). Keep a blanket on hand to throw over her if she gets cold.
In bed
The more comfortably babies are dressed for bed, the better they sleep. If you swaddle your baby, use a lightweight cloth. Cotton's the best bet for sleeping, since it's cozy, soft, and more "breathable" than other fabrics.
Skip the blankets in the crib until around 12 months -- they're a suffocation risk before then, and babies just kick them off. Instead, try a coverall (a one-piece outfit with feet, also called a sleeper or a stretchie) or a sleep sack (a wearable blanket with armholes). A fitted flannel crib sheet adds warmth, too.
If your baby sleeps in your bed, she'll get extra heat from you, so she can be dressed lighter; a swaddling cloth may be all she needs. (Keep in mind that your pillows, sheets, and blankets are a suffocation risk and should be kept away from her.)
Protect sensitive skin
Babies are prone to heat rash and eczema flare-ups in the winter. Blame all those layers of clothes -- and the dry, warm air circulating in your house. What to keep an eye out for:
Skincare
Heat rash looks like tiny red pimples and usually appears on moist, overheated areas, such as behind the ears, in the neck folds, in the groin, or any other spots where warm clothing creates friction.
Eczema is dry skin that looks like flaky, red patches. It's most common in the winter and often shows up -- just in time for holiday pictures -- on a baby's face. Parenting.com: The antibiotics lowdown
If either of these conditions appears, dressing your baby in lightweight, loose-fitting cotton clothing and avoiding overbundling should help. You might also want to try a humidifier. Look for one that automatically kills bacteria so you don't have to sanitize the unit every day. Keeping your baby's fingernails trimmed is also a good idea, as scratching already irritated skin can lead to secondary infections. And talk to your doctor to find out whether your baby needs a topical medication.
Dr. Sears' soothers
Heat rash: Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda in a cup of cool water, and blot the area with a fluffy washcloth or cotton ball.
Eczema: After a bath, blot the area gently with a towel, leaving the patches damp. Then apply a lotion, which will seal in the moisture and help hydrate your baby's skin.
Treating colds and fever
The truth about cough and cold meds: Your baby's probably better off without them. At press time, the Food and Drug Administration was reevaluating the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medications for kids under age 6. Both the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued warnings that these drugs may be especially dangerous for children under 2. Parenting.com: No cold meds? Now what?
They've never been tested for safety in kids this age, so there's no agreed-upon "safe" dose for your baby. And studies show that these drugs aren't very effective in young children. The most up-to-date advice:
• Don't use OTC cough or cold medicines for your baby unless your doctor says they're necessary. If he does, be sure to stick carefully to the dose he recommends.
• Never give your child more than one of these drugs at a time unless directed by your doctor. You could accidentally double up on the same active ingredient.
• Use the measuring device that comes with the medicine, or one from the pharmacy that's marked for dosing. A kitchen spoon isn't accurate and can put your baby at risk of an overdose.
• Be sure that sitters and other caregivers check with you before giving your baby these (and any other) medicines.
When babies get stuffy
Watching a baby suffer through a stuffy nose can be tough -- especially before 5 months, when he hasn't learned that he can breathe through the mouth. Being stuffed up can also make feedings harder, since babies will stop sucking to try to get air. Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to help. What to try:
• Saline (non-medicated) drops. They loosen nasal secretions and often stimulate babies to sneeze, so a big glob comes right out. Using a clean plastic dropper, gently squirt a few drops into each nostril. Soothe the loosened secretions out with a warm washcloth, starting from the bridge of the nose. Or use a bulb syringe.
Health Library
* MayoClinic.com: Combating effects of dry winter air
• Bulb syringe. Squeeze the bulb first, stick the tip into the nostril while gently pressing the other nostril closed, and then slowly release the bulb. Try not to use this tool more than three times a day, since it can irritate a baby's delicate nose. You may want to try a new nasal aspirator called Nosefrida. It's placed just at the nostril opening instead of inside the nose, so it irritates your baby less.
• Your bathroom. Turn on the shower and close the door to fill the room with steam, and then sit inside with your baby upright in your lap. The humidity will help get his nose running.
• Vaporizer. Also called a "warm-mist humidifier," this gadget emits steam to help keep mucus moving. Run it during naptime and overnight. The unit's hot water kills off bacteria and mold, but it can also burn kids; keep it out of reach of babies and older sibs.
Signs of breathing trouble
Winter ailments such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and croup can make breathing hard. Go to the emergency room if:
• Your child is breathing a lot faster than normal for more than a minute
• It's becoming harder for him to get air in and out, and he pauses for more than 10 seconds between breaths
• The dent just in front of his neck, or the area between or below his ribs, is caving in with each breath
• He turns gray or blue
• His nostrils are flaring
• His breathing becomes high-pitched.
If fever's a concern
An elevated temperature is a clue that your baby's battling an infection. So it's natural that fevers are common in the winter, when kids get sick more often.
Fevers in young babies can be especially serious. Most experts agree that a temperature of 100.4 degrees Farenheit or higher in an infant under 3 months warrants a call to the doc, who will tell you if you should give your baby medication or take her to the hospital. Parenting.com: Fever relievers
To bring down a baby's fever, try:
• A lukewarm bath or sponge bath
• Extra liquids to keep her hydrated. Nurse or bottle-feed more often, and give babies who drink water (around 6 months) a little more.
• A cool environment. Skip the swaddling for now.
• Medications (acetaminophen or, if your tot is over 6 months, ibuprofen) as recommended by your child's doctor. Never give a baby aspirin.
If your child doesn't improve after you've tried these remedies, call the doctor (if you haven't already!).
Older babies' immune systems are better at fighting infection, so a fever is just one symptom to consider alongside other clues, including lethargy, vomiting, and rapid breathing. Of course, you should always call your doctor if you're concerned, but for the most part, a child over 3 months who has a fever but doesn't seem all that sick probably doesn't need a visit to the doctor. Her fever is doing a good job of fighting off an infection.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/01/04/par.winterproof/
A hat is the Number One necessity. On very cold days, be sure to use a cap that totally covers the ears; one that fastens under the chin is cozy and won't fall off.
Skip the hard-to-handle snowsuit until your baby's walking. A warm jacket's enough for her top, and you can cover up her legs with a fleece or blanket.
Thick coats should come off before the car-seat straps go on -- the extra padding will make the harness too loose. Add a blanket or a bunting bag (a fitted blanket that goes over a car seat or stroller) over the straps instead.
Wear your baby against your body in a sling or carrier to keep her warmer than when she's riding in a stroller. You'll be able to dress her in lighter clothing (skip the coat). Keep a blanket on hand to throw over her if she gets cold.
In bed
The more comfortably babies are dressed for bed, the better they sleep. If you swaddle your baby, use a lightweight cloth. Cotton's the best bet for sleeping, since it's cozy, soft, and more "breathable" than other fabrics.
Skip the blankets in the crib until around 12 months -- they're a suffocation risk before then, and babies just kick them off. Instead, try a coverall (a one-piece outfit with feet, also called a sleeper or a stretchie) or a sleep sack (a wearable blanket with armholes). A fitted flannel crib sheet adds warmth, too.
If your baby sleeps in your bed, she'll get extra heat from you, so she can be dressed lighter; a swaddling cloth may be all she needs. (Keep in mind that your pillows, sheets, and blankets are a suffocation risk and should be kept away from her.)
Protect sensitive skin
Babies are prone to heat rash and eczema flare-ups in the winter. Blame all those layers of clothes -- and the dry, warm air circulating in your house. What to keep an eye out for:
Skincare
Heat rash looks like tiny red pimples and usually appears on moist, overheated areas, such as behind the ears, in the neck folds, in the groin, or any other spots where warm clothing creates friction.
Eczema is dry skin that looks like flaky, red patches. It's most common in the winter and often shows up -- just in time for holiday pictures -- on a baby's face. Parenting.com: The antibiotics lowdown
If either of these conditions appears, dressing your baby in lightweight, loose-fitting cotton clothing and avoiding overbundling should help. You might also want to try a humidifier. Look for one that automatically kills bacteria so you don't have to sanitize the unit every day. Keeping your baby's fingernails trimmed is also a good idea, as scratching already irritated skin can lead to secondary infections. And talk to your doctor to find out whether your baby needs a topical medication.
Dr. Sears' soothers
Heat rash: Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda in a cup of cool water, and blot the area with a fluffy washcloth or cotton ball.
Eczema: After a bath, blot the area gently with a towel, leaving the patches damp. Then apply a lotion, which will seal in the moisture and help hydrate your baby's skin.
Treating colds and fever
The truth about cough and cold meds: Your baby's probably better off without them. At press time, the Food and Drug Administration was reevaluating the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medications for kids under age 6. Both the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued warnings that these drugs may be especially dangerous for children under 2. Parenting.com: No cold meds? Now what?
They've never been tested for safety in kids this age, so there's no agreed-upon "safe" dose for your baby. And studies show that these drugs aren't very effective in young children. The most up-to-date advice:
• Don't use OTC cough or cold medicines for your baby unless your doctor says they're necessary. If he does, be sure to stick carefully to the dose he recommends.
• Never give your child more than one of these drugs at a time unless directed by your doctor. You could accidentally double up on the same active ingredient.
• Use the measuring device that comes with the medicine, or one from the pharmacy that's marked for dosing. A kitchen spoon isn't accurate and can put your baby at risk of an overdose.
• Be sure that sitters and other caregivers check with you before giving your baby these (and any other) medicines.
When babies get stuffy
Watching a baby suffer through a stuffy nose can be tough -- especially before 5 months, when he hasn't learned that he can breathe through the mouth. Being stuffed up can also make feedings harder, since babies will stop sucking to try to get air. Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to help. What to try:
• Saline (non-medicated) drops. They loosen nasal secretions and often stimulate babies to sneeze, so a big glob comes right out. Using a clean plastic dropper, gently squirt a few drops into each nostril. Soothe the loosened secretions out with a warm washcloth, starting from the bridge of the nose. Or use a bulb syringe.
Health Library
* MayoClinic.com: Combating effects of dry winter air
• Bulb syringe. Squeeze the bulb first, stick the tip into the nostril while gently pressing the other nostril closed, and then slowly release the bulb. Try not to use this tool more than three times a day, since it can irritate a baby's delicate nose. You may want to try a new nasal aspirator called Nosefrida. It's placed just at the nostril opening instead of inside the nose, so it irritates your baby less.
• Your bathroom. Turn on the shower and close the door to fill the room with steam, and then sit inside with your baby upright in your lap. The humidity will help get his nose running.
• Vaporizer. Also called a "warm-mist humidifier," this gadget emits steam to help keep mucus moving. Run it during naptime and overnight. The unit's hot water kills off bacteria and mold, but it can also burn kids; keep it out of reach of babies and older sibs.
Signs of breathing trouble
Winter ailments such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and croup can make breathing hard. Go to the emergency room if:
• Your child is breathing a lot faster than normal for more than a minute
• It's becoming harder for him to get air in and out, and he pauses for more than 10 seconds between breaths
• The dent just in front of his neck, or the area between or below his ribs, is caving in with each breath
• He turns gray or blue
• His nostrils are flaring
• His breathing becomes high-pitched.
If fever's a concern
An elevated temperature is a clue that your baby's battling an infection. So it's natural that fevers are common in the winter, when kids get sick more often.
Fevers in young babies can be especially serious. Most experts agree that a temperature of 100.4 degrees Farenheit or higher in an infant under 3 months warrants a call to the doc, who will tell you if you should give your baby medication or take her to the hospital. Parenting.com: Fever relievers
To bring down a baby's fever, try:
• A lukewarm bath or sponge bath
• Extra liquids to keep her hydrated. Nurse or bottle-feed more often, and give babies who drink water (around 6 months) a little more.
• A cool environment. Skip the swaddling for now.
• Medications (acetaminophen or, if your tot is over 6 months, ibuprofen) as recommended by your child's doctor. Never give a baby aspirin.
If your child doesn't improve after you've tried these remedies, call the doctor (if you haven't already!).
Older babies' immune systems are better at fighting infection, so a fever is just one symptom to consider alongside other clues, including lethargy, vomiting, and rapid breathing. Of course, you should always call your doctor if you're concerned, but for the most part, a child over 3 months who has a fever but doesn't seem all that sick probably doesn't need a visit to the doctor. Her fever is doing a good job of fighting off an infection.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/01/04/par.winterproof/
Baby food recalled
CALGARY -- A small company run by two Calgary mothers is voluntarily recalling some of its gourmet baby food after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency warned the product could harm children with severe peanut allergies.
Some Baby Gourmet products may contain peanut protein or sulphites not mentioned on the label, said the warning issued Monday.
The baby foods in question include organic Moroccan lamb with couscous, which might contain undeclared peanut protein, and seasonal fruit compote, which contains undeclared sulphites, said Garfield Balsom, a food safety and recall specialist with the food and inspection agency.
Peanuts are not used in any of the locally made foods, but the dried couscous could have come in contact with peanuts in the packing plant before being sent to Calgary, said Jennifer Broe, who launched the company with her sister two years ago.
So far, only one allergic reaction has been reported in connection to Baby Gourmet products. Calgary Health Region officials said Monday the patient suffered an allergic reaction caused by the peanut protein in the product. The patient was treated at a physician's office and did not require hospitalization.
The recall involves foods that were sold at the Calgary Farmer's Market and at Mise en Place in Lakeview Plaza.
The recipes included in the recall will be discontinued until Baby Gourmet can finish a thorough investigation of all ingredients, said Broe.
"We make this food like it's for our own children. We will definitely take every precaution to look into the recipes and research all the ingredients to make sure everything is listed," she said.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=31f2187e-da96-43c1-b761-7178ae3941c0&k=4703
Some Baby Gourmet products may contain peanut protein or sulphites not mentioned on the label, said the warning issued Monday.
The baby foods in question include organic Moroccan lamb with couscous, which might contain undeclared peanut protein, and seasonal fruit compote, which contains undeclared sulphites, said Garfield Balsom, a food safety and recall specialist with the food and inspection agency.
Peanuts are not used in any of the locally made foods, but the dried couscous could have come in contact with peanuts in the packing plant before being sent to Calgary, said Jennifer Broe, who launched the company with her sister two years ago.
So far, only one allergic reaction has been reported in connection to Baby Gourmet products. Calgary Health Region officials said Monday the patient suffered an allergic reaction caused by the peanut protein in the product. The patient was treated at a physician's office and did not require hospitalization.
The recall involves foods that were sold at the Calgary Farmer's Market and at Mise en Place in Lakeview Plaza.
The recipes included in the recall will be discontinued until Baby Gourmet can finish a thorough investigation of all ingredients, said Broe.
"We make this food like it's for our own children. We will definitely take every precaution to look into the recipes and research all the ingredients to make sure everything is listed," she said.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=31f2187e-da96-43c1-b761-7178ae3941c0&k=4703
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