Home > News

Circulating air with a fan may lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), according to a study in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Researchers interviewed the moms of 185 infants who died from SIDS, and also 312 moms of living infants around the same age. The moms answered questions about their child's sleeping environment. They found a 72 percent reduced risk of SIDS associated with fan use. Of the babies who died from SIDS, 3 percent had a fan on in their room compared to 12 percent of the well babies. Other ways to lower the risk include putting babies on their backs to sleep, a firm mattress, removing toys and pillows and keeping the room at a cool temperature.

(10-14-08)

Eating fish and breastfeeding longer may increase physical and cognitive development in infants, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Denmark researchers studied 25,446 children born between 1997 and 2002. They found that the children who had mothers who ate more fish while pregnant – an average of 2 ounces per day – where more likely to have better cognitive and motor skills. Children from moms who ate the least had the lowest scores at the age of 18 months. Children who were breastfed longer also scored higher.

(10-14-08)

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is doubling the amount of vitamin D it recommends for infants, children and adolescents. The new clinical report recommends all children receive 400 IU a day of vitamin D, beginning in the first few days of life. The previous recommendation, issued in 2003, called for 200 IU per day beginning in the first two months of life.

The change in recommendation comes after reviewing new clinical trials on vitamin D and the historical precedence of safely giving 400 IU per day to the pediatric population. Clinical data show that 400 units of vitamin D a day will not only prevent rickets, but treat it. This bone-softening disease is preventable with adequate vitamin D, but dietary sources of vitamin D are limited, and it is difficult to determine a safe amount of sunlight exposure to synthesize vitamin D in a given individual. Rickets continues to be reported in the United States in infants and adolescents. The greatest risk for rickets is in exclusively breastfed infants who are not supplemented with 400 IU of vitamin D a day.

Adequate vitamin D throughout childhood may reduce the risk of osteoporosis. In adults, new evidence suggests that vitamin D plays a role in the immune system and may help prevent infections, autoimmune diseases, cancer and diabetes.

"We are doubling the recommended amount of vitamin D children need each day because evidence has shown this could have life-long health benefits," says Dr. Frank Greer, chair of the AAP Committee on Nutrition and co-author of the report. "Supplementation is important because most children will not get enough vitamin D through diet alone."

"Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for infants. However, because of vitamin D deficiencies in the maternal diet, which affect the vitamin D in a mother's milk, it is important that breastfed infants receive supplements of vitamin D," says Dr. Carol Wagner, member of the AAP Section on Breastfeeding Executive Committee and co-author of the report. "Until it is determined what the vitamin D requirements of the lactating mother-infant dyad are, we must ensure that the breastfeeding infant receives an adequate supply of vitamin D through a supplement of 400 IU per day."

The new recommendations include the following:

• Breastfed and partially breastfed infants should be supplemented with 400 IU a day of vitamin D beginning in the first few days of life.
• All non-breastfed infants, as well as older children, who are consuming less than one quart per day of vitamin D-fortified formula or milk, should receive a vitamin D supplement of 400 IU a day.
• Adolescents who do not obtain 400 IU of vitamin D per day through foods should receive a supplement containing that amount.
• Children with increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, such as those taking certain medications, may need higher doses of vitamin D.

Given the growing evidence that adequate vitamin D status during pregnancy is important for fetal development, the AAP also recommends that providers who care for pregnant women consider measuring vitamin D levels in this population.

(10-14-08)

Breast milk, or liquid gold as many women often refer to it, is one of the most precious, lifelong gifts a mother can give to her newborn baby. However, many mothers are not aware of the health benefits for themselves.

"The extent to which breastfeeding affects a mother's health is rarely emphasized," says noted pediatrician Dr. James Sears, a member of the Lansinoh Breastfeeding Advisory Board and co-host of the new nationally syndicated talk show, The DOCTORS. While choosing to breastfeed or offering pumped breast milk gives babies a healthy start in life, it provides a variety of significant health benefits for mothers, as well:

• Lowering the Risk for Certain Cancers: It is well documented that breastfeeding decreases a woman's risk for developing pre- or post-menopausal breast cancer. "This benefit is strongly connected with the length of a woman's breastfeeding experience," Dr. Sears says. "Two weeks is good, four months is better and more than six months is best as far as protection against breast cancer is concerned." Some studies have also shown a decrease in ovarian and uterine cancers. "While breastfeeding full-time, most mothers do not ovulate and do not have menstrual periods, and fewer menstrual cycles means less estrogen exposure, which may explain the reduced cancer risk," Dr. Sears says.
• De-Stressing: Motherhood can be very stressful, especially in the early months when babies may not be sleeping for long stretches and mom is sleep-deprived. Breastfeeding or pumping breast milk triggers and releases oxytocin, which can help a woman relax and feel less stressed. Breastfeeding can also help the mother-baby bond, since physical contact helps newborns feel more secure, warm and comforted.
• Shedding Pregnancy Pounds and Other Post-pregnancy Physical Concerns: While breastfeeding mothers only need 300 to 500 extra calories a day in order to produce adequate milk, nursing mothers also burn 200 to 500 calories per day, making it easier to lose the pregnancy pounds. Breastfeeding also helps the uterus go back to its normal size and will lessen the bleeding a woman may have after giving birth, Dr. Sears says.
• Saves Money and Time: When breastfeeding, you don't have to purchase, measure and mix formula and there are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night! Since breastfed babies are generally healthier than formula-fed babies, mothers don't spend as much time and money on doctor visits and medicine. And speaking of money, breastfeeding is free!

For more information, visit www.lansinoh.com.

(9-30-08)

Lamaze International and the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) will hold a joint conference in 2010 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of both organizations. This marks the first time the two organizations will combine their forces to create an optimal, comprehensive conference experience for childbirth educators around the world.

The conference will be held September 30 – October 3, 2010, in Milwaukee. This united meeting will aid in promoting the shared vision of these two organizations: to educate women and their families about pregnancy, birth and early parenting. As maternal deaths and medical interventions in labor continue to rise, the conference comes at a pivotal time in maternal-child health care.

"Together, Lamaze International and ICEA will celebrate a half-century of educating women about birth and their options," says ICEA President Jeanette Schwartz, ICCE-CD, LCCE. "The joint conference will create a beautiful synergy whereby both organizations can draw upon each other's strengths to create an unparalleled conference experience for those who share our passion."

"We're thrilled this partnership will create a potent event, robust in both educational and networking events," says Lamaze International President Allison J. Walsh, IBCLC, LCCE, FACCE. "Childbirth educators, doulas, nurses, midwives and doctors who are interested in attending should save the date and plan on joining us for this one-of-a-kind event."

For more information, visit www.lamaze.org or www.icea.org.

(9-23-08)

September is Baby Safety Month, sponsored annually by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, this month-long education campaign exists to increase consumer awareness of safety issues surrounding the safe use and selection of juvenile products. This September, JPMA is helping educate parents and caregivers on the safe selection and use of child restraint seats by providing valuable information for keeping Baby safe in the car.

An important responsibility begins with selecting a child car seat and using it properly from the moment you bring the baby home to every car ride after that. All 50 states have laws that require the use of a car seat. All car seats manufactured today must be designed to meet stringent safety standards set by the Federal government. In fact, child restraints sold in the United States are required to satisfy the rigorous performance standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and are certified by their manufacturers as compliant before they can be offered for sale.

JPMA is proud to support National Seat Check Saturday (September 20, 2008) as the kick-off event to National Child Passenger Safety Week (September 21- 27, 2008). These NHTSA sponsored events remind parents and those who care for young children to use a child safety seat in the rear of their vehicles, and to restrain children properly in accordance with size, weight and age. To locate an inspection station near you, visit NHTSA's Child Safety Seat Inspection Station Locator at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm.

(9-16-08)

As parents prepare for a new baby with love and care, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges keeping safety in the mix. One area of great concern for the CPSC is pillow use in cribs.

The CPSC is urging all parents to forego putting any kind of pillows in the crib due to the high risk of suffocation and entrapment. The CPSC is aware of at least 47 infant deaths between January 2006 and May 2008 associated with pillow use in the sleeping environment. In the 16 years between January 1992 and May 2008, pillows and cushions have been associated with 531 infant deaths.

"Parents should be especially vigilant when preparing for a new baby," says Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "Babies represent our most precious and vulnerable population."

Nursery Safety

• To reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation, place Baby to sleep on his or her back in a crib that meets current safety standards.
• To prevent suffocation never use a pillow as a mattress for Baby to sleep on or to prop Baby's head or neck.
• Infants can strangle to death if their bodies pass through gaps between loose components, broken slats and other parts of the crib and their head and neck become entrapped in the space.
• Do not use old, broken or modified cribs. Regularly tighten hardware to keep sides firm.
• Infants can suffocate in spaces between the sides of the crib and an ill-fitting mattress; never allow a gap larger than two finger widths at any point between the sides of the crib and the mattress.
• Never place a crib near a window with blind or curtain cords; infants can strangle on the cords.

Safety Around the House

• Properly set up play yards according to manufacturers' directions. Only use the mattress provided with the play yard. Do not add extra mattresses, pillows or cushions to the play yard, which can cause a suffocation hazard for infants.
• Look for a toy chest that has a support that will hold the hinged lid open in any position in which it is placed or buy one with a detached lid or doors.
• Small Parts: For children younger than age 3, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.
• Magnets: For children younger than age 8, avoid building sets with small magnets. If magnets or pieces with magnets are swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur.
• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.
• For all children younger than age 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
• Verify that furniture is stable on its own. For added security, anchor to the floor or attach to a wall.
• Use outlet covers and outlet plates to help prevent electrocution.

(9-16-08)

The vast majority of the nation's parents are having their children get recommended vaccinations, according to 2007 vaccine coverage estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Childhood immunization rates remain at or near record levels, with at least 90 percent coverage for all but one of the individual vaccines in the recommended series for young children, says the CDC's 2007 National Immunization Survey (NIS). More than 77 percent of children were fully vaccinated with all vaccines in the series of recommended vaccines, and there were no differences in coverage among any racial or ethnic group for the complete series. Importantly, less than 1 percent of children had received no vaccines by age 19 months to 35 months.

"The ongoing success of our nation's immunization program is largely dependent on the trust that parents put in the safety of vaccines and in those caregivers who administer them," says Dr. Julie Gerberding, CDC director. "I want to encourage parents to continue to be informed and to ask their pediatricians about the safety of vaccines or any other concerns they may have about their child's health."

The recommended vaccine series measured by NIS consists of four doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTaP); three doses of polio vaccine; one or more doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR); three doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib); three doses of hepatitis B vaccine; and one or more doses of varicella or chickenpox vaccine. This set of immunizations begins shortly after a child is born and continues through age 2. The fourth dose of DTaP vaccine is the only vaccine of the recommended series that has not reached 90 percent coverage (84.5 percent).

The NIS coverage data includes children born between January 2004 and July 2006. There were no statistically significant decreases in nationwide individual vaccine coverage from 2006 to 2007.

In 2007, for the first time, there was 90 percent coverage for varicella vaccine and for the third dose of PCV. One dose of varicella vaccine increased in 2007 to 90 percent, compared to 89.2 percent in 2006. There were also significant increases for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Coverage of three or more doses increased from 86.9 percent in 2006 to 90.0 percent in 2007, and coverage with four or more doses rose from 68.4 percent in 2006 to 75.3 percent in 2007.

Varicella vaccine and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine coverage among American Indian and Alaska Native children increased significantly. Varicella coverage increased from 85.4 percent in 2006 to 94.9 percent in 2007, and coverage with the fourth dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine increased from 62.7 percent to 80.4 percent.

For more information on vaccination, visit CDC's vaccine Web site at www.cdc.gov/vaccine.

(9-16-08)

Recently released government studies show that more than 75 percent of mothers initiate breastfeeding in the early weeks after birth. However, in the early days, moms may experience engorgement or swollen breasts, a temporary condition that can make breastfeeding difficult or uncomfortable.

"Breastfeeding while engorged can be difficult since the baby can have a hard time properly latching on due to flattened nipples, but don't let this discourage you," says Rubina Mason, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and member of the Lansinoh Laboratories breastfeeding advisory board. If your breasts do become engorged, nursing frequently is a great way to alleviate this condition. If you find that your baby cannot latch on because of your swollen breasts, taking warm to hot showers can also help soften your breasts, allowing you to breastfeed more comfortably.

"You can also use the new Lansinoh LatchAssist," Mason says. "The LatchAssist gently draws temporarily flattened nipples out so baby can more easily latch on during the early days of breastfeeding." After nursing, use an ice pack to help keep the swelling down and relieve the pain.

It's also important to know that in the early weeks of breastfeeding, along with swelling and engorgement, your nipples can also be tender and sore. However, Mason adds, "Sore nipples are not inevitable during the early days of breastfeeding. Painful feedings are a signal that something is not right and you may need to make a change in your positioning or your baby's latch-on technique."

For more information, visit www.lansinoh.com.

(9-16-08)

A first-of-its-kind study to measure the level of nutrient loss during simulated baby bottle feedings has found that some bottle types result in significant loss of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) during a typical 20-minute feeding. In some cases in the stuydy, there were minimal amounts of detectable vitamin C remaining in the milk after 20 minutes. The results suggest that the amount of air within a bottle, bottle design and the impact on vitamin C levels warrant closer examination.

The study, led by Dr. Jimi Francis, an international board certified lactation consultant and researcher, was published in the International Breastfeeding Journal and was also presented at the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) Annual Conference.

The study was designed to investigate changes in vitamin C levels that might occur during a typical feeding time of 20 minutes, using both expressed human milk and infant formula, in both vented and unvented bottles. The study looked at the amount of vitamin C in the milk when delivered through seven commonly used baby bottles. The purpose was to determine if exposure to air within a bottle during a simulated feeding affected the level of vitamin C, which is known to oxidize when exposed to air. Vitamin C is critical for health and growth in infancy. Medical research shows that children with low intakes of vitamin C are more vulnerable to develop frequent and more severe common day-to-day illness.

As milk is removed from the bottle by the infant, the milk is replaced by ambient air. Nutrient loss is likely caused by the oxidation of nutrients that takes place as air is introduced into the liquid. The amount of air moving through the milk and into the bottle depends on the bottle type, shape and size. Vitamin C was examined because it is an essential nutrient and is easily degraded by heat, light and air. Dr. Francis says that previous studies have been conducted to evaluate the loss of vitamin C during the handling and freezing of human milk, but not to find out what happens during the feeding process itself.

"Handling and storage of breast milk and formula can impact the levels of vitamin C," Dr. Francis says. "The ability to maintain vitamin C in bottle feeding appears to be influenced by bottle design."

She adds that the degradation of the nutrient during a 20-minute feeding does not mean that the infant is getting insufficient vitamin C over the course of a day, but rather that the vitamin level is declining – in some cases quickly – during the duration of the feeding. Mature human milk was donated by anonymous volunteers for the study. The milk was standardized for vitamin C.

Learn more at www.nutrientstudy.com.

(9-09-08)