News of Interest to Moms October 28, 2009

News to know:

CDA Recommends Halloween Tips for Good Oral Health
With the yearly Halloween candy-fest looming, The California Dental Association has several recommendations to help children avoid cavities:
1. Offer healthier alternatives to candy, including candies containing 'xylitol,' a
natural sugar substitute, and sugar-free gum.
2. Monitor you child's candy consumption by setting up a "candy bank" and determining when and how much candy your child can eat.
3. Avoid sticky candies like taffy and gummy candies. Anything that
stays in the mouth or on the teeth for an extended period of time leaves
acid on teeth that causes tooth decay.
4. Remind your child to brush and floss at least twice a day.

Report: U.S. children watching more television than ever before
Children are watching 28 to 32 hours of TV a week, according to a new report.
Children aged 2-5 now spend an average of more than 32 hours a week watching TV.
Children aged 6-11 spend about 28 hours per week watching TV, the report said. The decreased hours are due in part because they are more likely to be attending school for longer hours.

Children Between the Ages of 1-11 Not Getting Enought Vitamin D
One in five U.S. children between the ages of 1 and 11 are vitamin D deficient, according to a new report.
Black children, and to a lesser extent Hispanics, are more susceptible to this problem because people with darker skin absorb less sunlight, researches said in the study published in Pediatrics.
Vitamin D plays many roles in childhood development including growth and development of strong bones.


Antipsychotic Drugs in Kids Linked to Weight Gain
Children and teens who took antipsychotic medicines gained weight and developed increased blood-fat levels, according to a new study.
Children gained from 9.7 to 18.7 pounds, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.