As you know, we developed KidKupz to not only help children “take the ick out of sick”® and chase away the harsh taste of liquid medications,  but also to help parents ensure their child is always getting the proper dosage.  That is why KidKupz are made using standardized dosage cups with clearly marked measurements – no room for error and the cups can be used with ANY liquid medications.

Clearly, The Journal of the American Medical Association supports our concerns.  Here is the JAMA study, released yesterday.  Important reading for all parents and caregivers.

“ Evaluation of Consistency in Dosing Directions and Measuring Devices for Pediatric Nonprescription Liquid Medications ”

Also, here is the video from WABC and the esteemed Dr. Jay Adlersberg.

Yikes, do I feel old! It was only 10 years ago that I was pushing my babies around in their strollers…running errands around my Manhattan neighborhood, or just taking them for a walk in the park.  Sure, there were times when I needed to be hands-free, and then I turned to my Baby Bjorn brand snuggy-thing. I remember being a nervous wreck when, as newborns, they lay up against my chest. I was constantly worried that they would be smothered. Then, as they got a bit bigger and were to face out in the snuggy thing, I worried that I couldn’t see their face and what if they were spitting up something. I can admit now that I never felt too secure with those things. I can also admit that 10 years ago, that was what hip young moms were doing so I gave it a try. The truth is, I was an old fashioned stroller kind of gal and I think I still am. It would have been quite rare back then to see a mom with one of those wrap- around, sling type of things. In fact, I would certainly have written that mother off as ultra-bohemian. But the times, they are a changin’!

Believe it or not, the movement away from strollers and towards these newer sling style carriers even has strollers being referred to as “isolation pods”…ouch! It seems the thinking is that “babywearing” leads to a happier, healthier baby than does using the traditional stroller. Whenever I see moms carrying their babies in the slings I wonder, “what if that knot comes loose?’ In case you haven’t picked up on it by now, I’m a bit of a worry wort. I just know that if I were to carry a baby in one of those, I would still have my hands cradling the baby from below just in case. The hands free thing wouldn’t be happening for me. And what about 10 years from now? I guarantee I will be blogging about articles by orthopedists, warning of the possible back injuries caused by these sling carriers. Read on and let me know what you think….

When my children were toddlers and preschoolers, I remember the constant reminders from teachers and playgroups to never send your child to school with grapes or carrots as they often get lodged in a child’s throat and cause choking.  Even as my children started elementary school, notes would come home when there was a class party reminding us not to bring grapes unless they were cut into small pieces. I always thought this was overkill but I am typically one to follow the rules and that I did.

Although less of an issue at school, I remember hot dogs being another area of major concern as mentioned in this article. I would always cut whatever food I gave to my children into what I thought were safe sized pieces.  I felt as though there was always an adult with them when they were eating but let’s face it, we all turn our backs, or leave the room, if only for a moment. Now that my children are older, it’s not often on my mind. I remind them to take normal size bites, chew carefully and hope for the best.

It was just this past Christmas that I was reminded how seriously these warnings need to be taken.  A man that works in our apartment building was, along with his wife, babysitting for his grandson. The 2 year old was given a hot dog for lunch and when his grandparents turned to check on him, he was choking, unable to make sounds. Although, they attempted to dislodge the hot dog and called for help, the baby did not survive. Whenever I hear horror stories such as this, I am, of course, devastated for the people involved, but I am also shaken by the realization that it could have just as easily been my own child.

None of this is intended to be a “downer” but rather a reminder that all those seemingly over the top warnings are out there for a reason.

With Halloween just a few days away, parents everywhere are gearing up for a night of tricks, treats and child safety. Keeping track of your kids can be a chore, especially in crowds or unfamiliar surroundings. While we always suggest that you try to trick-or-treat during daylight hours, some neighborhoods begin the festivities after dark. So, any extra precautions are helpful.

Sprint’s “Family Locator” enables parents to track the movement of children via their GPS enabled cellphones.

According to Sprint, “Family Locator” offers:

• Real-time locations on interactive satellite maps from any PC or web-enabled mobile phone.
• Safety Checks^SM which send you automatic location notifications and let you know that your children arrived to school on time or home by curfew.
• Ability to see where children have been by using maps featuring 7 days of historical locations.
• Ability to send text messages to the children you’re locating from your phone or the web.
• Password-protected access so only authorized parents and guardians can locate children.

The service is cheap ($5/month for up to four phones) and seems like it could give parents that extra peace of mind they need – especially during Halloween.

Does anyone use “Family Locator”? Do you like it?