The  AAP now advises parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat. It also advises that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age.

The previous standard was 12 months/20 pounds as a minimum for facing backward. 

To read the full report, go to www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/carseat2011.htm.

A reference guide for all age groups can be found at www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Workshops include:

Enhancing Language and Literacy Skills in Young Children
(for parents, caregivers of children from birth to age 5)
All three workshops are 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 16 – Midwest City Library
Nov. 23 – Village Library
Nov. 30 – Choctaw Library

Temper, Temper! Handling Tantrums
Both workshops are 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 9 – Midwest City Library
Nov. 16 – Village Library

Mealtime Hassles
Both workshops are 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Nov. 9 – Warr Acres Library
Nov. 17 – Edmond Library

Lullaby & Goodnight
10:30 a.m. to noon on Dec. 3 – Warr Acres Library
3 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 15 – Edmond Library

Boosting Your Child’s Brain Power
3:30 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 21 – Ralph Ellison Library

Child Guidance Services also offers screenings in speech, language, development and health.  Call 425-4412 to schedule a screening.  For more information go to www.occhd.org.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Registration starts today (July 15) for volunteers and consignors.  While volunteering may not sound like as much fun as actually shopping at the sale, let me tell you why it’s completely worth it. 

70% on items AND an opportunity to shop BEFORE the public!

For those reasons alone, I signed up.  For just a 3-hour shift, you get both those perks.  For 6- or 9-hour shifts, you get in to the presale even earlier.

And if you consign, you can get 65% on all items sold and still get a presale pass. I know I’ll be bringing in a ton of baby/toddler items.

The fall/winter sale is open to the public Aug. 23-28 at State Fair Park.  Presales are Aug. 21-22.

To sign up to consign and/or volunteer, or for more information, go to www.jbfsale.com.  To access the Oklahoma City site, go to www.jbfsale.com/okc.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

For all workshops, pre-register by calling 425-4412.

Unless otherwise noted, all sessions are for parents and caregivers of young children.

Here’s what’s in store for this summer:

Terrific Two’s: Learn about your 2-year-old. Focus is on their developmental milestones.  All are 6 to 7:30 p.m.
June 1, Choctaw Library
June 16, Midwest City Library
June 22, Southern Oaks Library
June 19, The Village Library

Sibling Struggles: Learn methods to prepare children for the arrival of a new sibling and how to deal with sibling squabbles. Find out about sibling rivalry and what normal behavior is.  Both are 6 to 7:30 p.m.
June 2, Midwest City
June 30, The Village

Just for Fun: Games People Play(for children ages 8-12): Includes active games, quiet games and brain teasers. Kids will play games from the past and games from other cultures. Both are 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
June 14, Southern Oaks
June 21, The Village

Toileting Triumph: Toileting doesn’t have to be a major challenge. Focus is on signs of readiness, why it can be frustrating and much more. All are from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
June 16, Edmond Library
June 29, Warr Acres Library
July 20, Ralph Ellison Library

Making Your Morning Manageable: Time to eliminate chaos and come up with a routine. Focus is what parents can do to make this part of the day more calm and enjoyable.
June 25, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Warr Acres

Lullaby & Goodnight: Find a routine that includes reading to your child, to ease bedtime and naptime challenges.  Sleep challenges will also be discussed. Both are 3:30 to 5 p.m.
June 30, Edmond
August 17, Ralph Ellison

Look Out, I’m Three!: Learn more about your 3-year-old. Focus is on developmental milestones. All are from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
July 7, Southern Oaks
July 8, Midwest City
July 13, The Village
July 20, Choctaw

Toddlers at the Table: Turn common concerns about toddler’s eating habits into opportunities to teach healthy habits. Both are 6 to 7:30 p.m.
July 12, Midwest City
July 21, The Village

Those Playful Preschoolers:Focus is behavioral characteristics and developmental milestones of 3- and 4-year-olds.  Activity ideas will be shared to keep little ones busy. Learn it’s OK for your preschooler to be “out of bounds.” Both are 3:30 to 5 p.m.
July 27, Warr Acres
Aug. 25, Edmond

Baby Basics: Main focus is typical concerns of parents. Colic/crying, separation anxiety, sleeping through the night and other issues will be discussed.
July 28, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Edmond

Reading Readiness: Workshop will explore the necessary reading readiness building blocks and parents’ roles in helping children become readers. Both are 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 4, Midwest City
Aug. 9, The Village

Fun to be Four: Learn about your fascinating 4-year-old. Workshop focuses on developmental milestones.  All are 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 3, Southern Oaks
Aug. 4, Midwest City
Aug. 10, The Village
Aug. 12, Choctaw

School Readiness: Facilitators will talk about support, encouragement and opportunity all children need for school success.
Aug. 10, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Warr Acres

Tripping Through Toddlerhood: Topics include, tantrums, biting, sharing and other common toddler challenges. Parents will learn how to minimize frustrations.
Aug. 11, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Edmond

Teaching Children to be More Cooperative: Focus is on when to discipline or ignore unwanted behaviors. Learn guidance techniques used by experts.
Aug. 27, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Warr Acres

To see the Oklahoma City-County Health Departments newsletters, including schedules for upcoming play groups, workshops, and health  and child guidance screenings, click here .

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has for years discourage swim lessons for children age 4 and younger. But this morning, they have changed their stance.  According to their news release:

“New evidence shows that children ages 1 to 4 may be less likely to drown if they have had formal swimming instruction. … The new guidance recommends that parents should decide whether to enroll an individual child in swim lessons based on the child’s frequency of exposure to water, emotional development, physical abilities, and certain health concerns related to pool water infections and pool chemicals.”

You can read the entire news release by clicking here.

You can also watch a segment from the “Today” show that features different ways kids learn to swim and about the Infant Swimming Resource program that is available here in Oklahoma.  To watch the “Today” show May 24 clip, click  here.

As the Memorial Day long weekend approaches, now is the time to get your child familiar with the water and the ways to survive if he or she were to fall in.

And remember, nothing can replace a watchful and attentive parent or guardian. Don’t take your eyes off your children for a moment if there’s water nearby.  Be sure your pool has the proper fencing/barriers to prevent your child from getting to the water unattended.

For everything water safety, go the AAP website: http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/watersafety.cfm.

Have a fun, but SAFE summer.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

So for the safety of your children, and for peace of mind, take a few minutes and clean out your medicine cabinet.  Go to the website links below to get all the information you need on what to do with these medicines.  The FDA is recommending the use of generic brands for now.

For a full list of products recalled, click here.

For frequently asked questions about this massive recall, click here.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

These recalled slings have been sold in the U.S. and Canada from January 2003 to March of this year. Stores carrying the slings included Walmart, Target, Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory and on the Web at Amazon.com.

I had this exact sling when my son was born.  But I had to return it because he was too big to fit inside without it straining my neck.  If you have this sling, or know someone who does, don’t take any chances. Contact Infantino to get a free replacement product, like an activity gym or shopping cart cover (which I personally recommend and still use!).  Go to www.infantino.com to get replacement information.

For complete recall information, click here. 

-Erica Smith

esmith@opubco.com

Strollers:

Graco has issued a voluntary recall of their Passage, Alano and Spree strollers and travel systems.  The hinges on the canopy pose a fingertip amputation/laceration hazard when the canopy is being opened or closed.  These strollers/travel systems were sold at Babies R Us, Walmart, Target and other major national retailers.

There are 1.5 million strollers affected by this recall.

To see complete information about this recall, including model numbers, click here.

Cribs:

 More than 630,000 Dorel Asia cribs have been recalled.  The drop side hardware is faulty, causing it to detach and fall in some cases. There has been a report of one infant death by entrapment/strangulation and other infant injuries have been reported.   These cribs were sold in Sears and Walmart stores.

For more information regarding this recall, including pictures and model numbers, click here.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

For preschoolers, it includes:

• I will clean up my room.
• I will brush my teeth twice a day.
• I will wash my hands.

For those age 5 to 12:

• I will drink milk and water, and limit soda and fruit drinks.
• I will apply sunscreen when going outside.
• I will play a sport or do another physical activity 3 times a week.
• I will wear my seat belt.
• I will be nice to other kids.

For age 13 and older:

• I will eat at least one fruit and vegetable every day and limit soda.
• I will choose non-violent TV shows and video games.
• I will help out my community.
• I will resist peer pressure.
• I won’t text or use a cell phone when driving.

For the entire list of resolutions, click here.

I have my own list of resolutions in regards to my 3-year-old son. Here’s my top 5:

• I will find time, no matter what, to read to him 20 minutes a day, every day.
• I will find a way to get veggies in his diet. (I think I said this same thing last January, too.)
• I will get him to think that cleaning up his play room is actually fun.
• I will be sure he stays active year-round.  We’re starting off right with winter basketball.
• I will find some new and exciting places to bring him (taking suggestions!).

Do you have any resolutions you’d like to share?  Comment here or email me at esmith@opubco.com.

-Erica Smith