Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Health Tips for June 27

Health Tip: Dangers of Sleeping With Baby

If parents allow an infant to sleep in their bed, that may seem like a natural and loving act.

But it's not a good idea, the American Academy of Family Physicians warns. The group lists these possible risks:

* Suffocation of the baby from a parent rolling onto or next to the baby.
* Suffocation of the baby from being trapped between a mattress and a headboard, or mattress and the wall.
* Suffocation of the baby from sleeping face-down on the mattress, pillow or blanket.
* Strangulation of the baby from the infant's head being trapped in part of the headboard.

Health Tip: Stop Your Child From Biting

Young children often bite out of frustration, anger and emotions that they don't otherwise know how to express.

Here are suggestions on how to break a child's biting habit, courtesy of the Center for Effective Parenting:

* Watch what prompts the child to bite -- such as large playgroups or playing with certain toys -- and try to change or avoid those situations.
* Place the child promptly in time out after he has bitten, and explain that he is not allowed to return to fun activities until he has calmed down.
* Explain to the child what she can do instead of biting -- asking an adult for help, for example.
* Direct your attention to the child who was bitten, and away from the biter. If the child bites for attention, he will learn that there are more effective ways to get it.

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