Woohoo! I was asked to guest post for the "Word of Mom" blog at the What To Expect When You're Expecting website! At the request of a friend, my article was about what the science shows regarding exercise and pregnancy. Here's a very brief summary of my findings: Listen your body; it will help you find the right effort level for safe pregnancy exercise. Women who exercised hard before pregnancy can likely continue to do so during pregnancy without trouble, but competitive athletes s...
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Got another great question recently (keep them coming, readers; I love answering these!): I've heard that girls shouldn't take bubble baths because they can get urinary tract infections. I have some around the house, though, and in a moment of weakness, I let my toddler use it. Now she wants a bubble bath all the time! The package says it's "safe for girls" but I am not sure what chemical it is that gives them UTIs so I find the whole thing confusing. Is it safe to use bubble bath for a girl...
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I love getting questions about science-related issues from readers. I particularly love it when a question intersects with an issue I myself am curious about, as happened when a reader got in touch with me last week: I need some advice about sunscreen. I just read some articles on CNN about new FDA guidelines and the Environmental Working Group's 2012 sunscreen review. Of particular concern is oxybenzone. The FDA claims it's safe and very effective at protecting against UVA and UVB rays. How...
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My husband and I are both avid cyclists, recreationally and for commuting purposes. We both owe our lives, several times over, to helmets. Some of our crashes have been due to, shall we say, “operator error,” while others have been the result of collisions with vehicles. Aside from those crashes that were severe enough to have been potentially life-threatening, we’ve also both been in a number of crashes that would have likely caused traumatic brain injury (commonly called concussio...
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the week of April 21, 2012 to be World Immunization Week. The purpose of the initiative is to spread information about the importance and safety of vaccines. Immunizations protect children and save lives. However, the idea of a shot (or two, or three) can be intimidating to young people, and the shots themselves are generally uncomfortable. In a recent blog post, I discussed the analgesic properties of sugar and -- to a certain extent -- of...
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Woohoo! I was asked to guest post for the “Word of Mom” blog at the What To Expect When You’re Expecting website! At the request of a friend, my article was about what the science shows regarding exercise and pregnancy. Here’s a very brief summary of my findings: Listen your body; it will help you…
In a recent policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) extolled the virtues of recess as an invaluable part of the school day. With pressure on schools and teachers to produce children who excel scholastically (or who, at the very least, can pass standardized tests), the focus in the classroom is increasingly an academic…
The other day, while poking around on the Interwebs, I ran across a quote that I’ve seen more than once, never attributed, along the lines of: To the believer, no proof is required; to the skeptic, no proof is sufficient. Though this statement is partially accurate — a person who believes in God, for instance,…
I generally try to keep evidence-based information on one “side” of the SquintMom site, and bloggier things on the other side. A book review would typically go on the blog side, but in this particular case, the concept behind Baby Unplugged and Blue Manatee Press is so well supported by scientific evidence that it’s going…
I received the following research story via email, and found it fascinating. This was written by Marise Daigle of the Sainte-Justine Mother and Child University Hospital Centre in Montreal. I have added emphasis (bold type) to highlight particularly salient points. MONTREAL, Canada, August 1, 2012 – Children who exhibit oppositional behavior run the risk…
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is a relatively conservative organization, in the sense that they require a significant body of evidence before making a statement or changing a recommendation. For instance, they equivocate on infant circumcision, ignoring both the violent protestations of those who feel the practice is immoral as well as the body…
One of the most common questions I get from SquintMom readers is along the lines of is item/substance/compound XYZ toxic? I’d like to go ahead and answer this once and for all: YES, it is. Now let me explain what I mean, and how I can answer this very generic question in a catch-all way…
A reader recently asked whether exercise — specifically marathon training — affects lactation and breastfeeding. I did a little digging and came up with some information, but decided the article fit better at another site for which I write: Trail and Ultra Running. Here’s a brief summary of my findings, based upon the current research:…
Since 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has required that car manufacturers comply with Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH), a system that relies upon a universal anchor system to which car seat tethers can be attached. However, as of 2014, the NHTSA will be requiring child seat manufacturers to inform parents…
Got another great question recently (keep them coming, readers; I love answering these!): I’ve heard that girls shouldn’t take bubble baths because they can get urinary tract infections. I have some around the house, though, and in a moment of weakness, I let my toddler use it. Now she wants a bubble bath all the…
