Your Toddler

Make a Proper Brushing a Habit that last a lifetime

When to brush:

• Brush after every meal and snack, whenever possible
• Brush before bed, the most important brush of the day

Your role as a parent is:

• Brush your child's teeth until he or she is able to handle the toothbrush (usually between ages 3 and 5)
• Help your child brush until he or she is able to do a good job (usually about age 8 or 9)
• Check your child's brushing occasionally after that to make sure the or she is doing a thorough job.

* Based on about Tots and Tooth Care. 1988 Channing Bete Co. 2000 Edition

Potty Training?

There is no right age to start potty training. Somewhere between 18 and 30 months, your child should start to let you know she is ready. What are the signs? Developmentally, he should be able to sit on the potty by herself and easily pull her pants up and down. Regular, predictable bowel movements are another signal. Your child may begin to say that she feels uncomfortable in wet pants; she tells you when she is going or needs to go; and she shows interest in using the toilet or starts following you to the bathroom. And if your child demonstrates independence in other areas of her life-buy putting toys away, for instance, or dressing herself-that also suggests a wish to imitate "grown up" behavior.

Potty training can be exciting for your child, but it is also challenging. Try to remain patient and calm with your child. Obstacles are more common than you think, and all children learn at their own pace. And you might face some unexpected separation issues. Of course, potty training means your child is growing up. Know in advance that it is normal to have mixed feelings-nostalgia for your baby coupled with delight that she is moving toward independence.

American Baby. August 2005.P. 56

There are some organizations and/or agencies int the Capital Region that offer classes and/or workshops on how to interact with your toddler. A good place to start is the Alpha Pregnancy Care Center. Phone 518-462-2188 or visit their website www.alphacare.org.

New Report on Educational Media for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers December 14, 2005 In recent years, there has been a big increase in new electronic media products for very young children, including those as young as one month old.  A driving force behind this new market is the advertising and package labeling that makes claims about the educational benefits of specific products.  A Teacher in the Living Room? Educational Media for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers examines the educational claims about commercially available educational media products (videos and DVDs, computer software, and video games) for very young children and what kind of research has been conducted to substantiate the educational claims. The issue brief was released at a briefing in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 that included a panel discussion featuring: Gary Knell, president and CEO, Sesame Workshop; Marcia Grimsley, senior producer, Brainy Baby videos; Julia Fitzgerald, vice president of marketing, VTech; Suzanne Barchers, Ed.D., editor-in-chief and vice president, LeapFrog; Sandra Calvert, director, Children's Digital Media Center, and professor, Georgetown University;  Warren Buckleitner, editor, Children's Technology Review; and Dimitri Christakis, M.D., pediatrician at Children’s Hospital in Seattle and professor, University of Washington.  Issue Brief -- A Teacher in the Living Room? Educational Media for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

Information provided by the Program for the Study of Entertainment Media and Health Publish Date: 2005-12-14 http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia121405pkg.cfm

REPORT REVIEWS RESEARCH ON HEALTH EFFECTS OF FLUORIDE

Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standards focuses on what constitutes a safe level of naturally occurring fluoride. The report in brief, produced by the National Research Council, does not address the practice of intentionally adding fluoride to public drinking-water supplies for the prevention of tooth decay.
Topics include exposure to fluoride, dental effects of fluoride, skeletal effects of fluoride, studies of fluoride and cancer, implications for the Environmental Protection Agency's drinking water standards, and recommended research. The news release, full report, opening statement, briefing, and report in brief are available at http://www.nationalacademies.org/morenews/20060322.html.

*From: mchalert-bounces@list.ncemch.org-Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 11:41 AM

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