Look What the Stork Brought In
Need-to-Know News Briefs for Families with a New Addition on the Way

• Baby’s First Words

•“My Favorite Baby Product”

•OC MOM’s Clubs and Resources

Prenatal Vitamins Reduce Risk of Brain Tumors

Women who take multivitamins early in pregnancy may reduce the risk that their child will develop some types of brain tumors, according to a study published recently in the medical journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

Of course, doctors already urge pregnant women to take multivita-mins containing folic acid early in pregnancy to reduce their fetus’ risk of developing a neural-tube defect such as spina bifida. But “this cur-rent study suggests another possible protective effect for the vitamins,” says study leader Greta R. Bunin, Ph.D., of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“Children whose mothers took multivitamins close to the time of con-ception seemed less likely to suffer medulloblastoma and primitive neu-roectodermal tumors of the brain,” Bunin says. While childhood brain tumors are relatively rare, medulloblastoma is the second most common brain tumor in children. Occurring in 1 in 20,000 children under age six, it appears in the cerebellum, the lower portion of the brain and the area of the brain that coordinates movement. Primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the brain are similar to medulloblastoma but occur in other parts of the central nervous system.

Bunin’s study compared 315 children diagnosed with those tumors before age six to 315 randomly chosen healthy children. The researchers questioned the children’s mothers in a telephone survey. The protective effect of the multivitamins taken early in pregnancy was “weakly significant,” they noted, but because it was similar to more sta-tistically significant findings by Bunin’s team in 1993, the authors con-clude the apparent benefit is unlikely to have occurred by chance.

The researchers found that taking multivitamins later in pregnancy did not significantly reduce the child’s risk of developing these types of cancer. “Our findings suggest that the time close to conception may be a critical period in the development of these tumors,” says Bunin. “However, most women do not yet know they are pregnant at this very early stage. That is why women of reproductive age are advised to take multivitamins to prevent neural-tube defects even if they are not trying to get pregnant.” —Kathy Sena

The ABC’s of Back-Up Childcare

Being prepared for the unexpected is key to less stress. And childcare issues, can certainly go array. Here are some things all parents should keep in mind:

BEEF UP YOUR NETWORK
On the Monday after our preschool closed, my friend Judith (hereafter
known as “Saint Judith”), already juggling two preschoolers and a home-based business, volunteered to watch four additional kids so other parents could go to work. In return, those parents have come to her aid on other days. To minimize crisis-mode stress, work out such arrangementswith friends in advance of “those days.”

CONSIDER SHARING CHILDCARE
Occasionally sharing a babysitter or nanny with another family, which we did for a few weeks after our preschool went kaput, can benefit everyone. The kids have a play date, the caregiver appreciates the extra income and you don’t have to miss work. Just make sure all parties are satisfied with the agreement.

CHECK WITH REFERRAL AGENCIES
Child Care Aware, at www.childcareaware.org, is a nationwide referral service that can help you find a local preschool or childcare center. The National Child Care Information Center (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), at www.nccic.org, offers a wealth of information for parents regarding all aspects of selecting childcare.

PLAN AHEAD FOR SICK DAYS

While every parent would prefer to be home when a child is sick, it‰s good to know there are caring options available in a pinch. Check with your pediatrician or local hospital for a referral for sick-child day care. Many hospitals now have such facilities. The National Association of Sick Child Daycare, a professional organization for the industry, offers some great links to consumer information on this growing area of childcare. Just go to www.nascd.com and click on ‹related links.Š

KEEP SAFETY IN MIND

In the rush to find appropriate childcare when you‰re pressed for time, make sure don‰t give safety issues the brush-off. Always check references for care providers. And check your list of potential preschools, child-care centers or in-home care providers with your local licensing board.

Also, remember to check for safety hazards. In a recent national study, CPSC staff visited a number of child-care settings and found that twothirds of them had one or more potentially serious hazards. The CPSC suggests checking the following:

Ý Cribs Make sure cribs meet current national safety standards and are in good condition. Look for a certification safety seal. Older cribs may not meet current standards. Crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, and mattresses should fit snugly.

Ý Soft Bedding Be sure that no pillows, soft bedding or comforters are used where babies are sleeping. A baby should be put to sleep in a crib with a firm, flat mattress.

Ý Safety Gates Be sure that safety gates are used to keep children away from potentially dangerous areas, especially stairs.

Ý Window Blinds and Curtain Cords Be sure miniblinds and Venetian blinds do not have looped cords. Check that vertical blinds, continuous looped blinds and drapery cords have tension or tie-down devices to hold the cords tight.

Ý Recalled Products Check that no recalled products are being used and that a current list of recalled children's products is readily visible. Displaying a list of recalled products will remind caretakers and parents to remove or repair potentially dangerous children's toys and products. ÖKathy Sena

Language Development Milestones

• By Three Months: Baby smiles at the sound of your voice and begins to babble. Begins to imitate some sounds and turns her head toward the direction of sounds.

• By Seven Months: Your little guy responds to his own name. Begins to respond to “no” and starts to distinguish emotions by tone of voice. Responds to sound by making sounds. Uses his voice to express happiness and displeasure and babbles chains of consonants.

• By Age one: Baby pays increasing attention to speech and responds to simple verbal requests and to “no.” Babbles with inflection and says “dada” and “mama.” Uses exclamations such as “Oh-oh!” and tries to imitate words.

• By Age Two: He recognizes names of familiar people, objects and body parts. Points to objects or a picture when it is named for him. Says several single words (by 15 to 18 months). Uses phrases (by 18 to 24 months). Follows simple instructions and repeats words overheard in conversation. —Kathy Sena

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

<back to Baby Guide Home