Parenting & Pregnancy

Children who attend daycare or playgroups cut their risk of the most common type of childhood leukaemia by around 30%, a study estimates.

Researchers reviewed 14 studies involving nearly 20,000 children, of which 6,000 developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
 

It is thought early infections may help the body fight off the disease.
 

The University of California, Berkeley study will be presented to a leukaemia conference in London.
 

This is the kind of research that brings us a step closer to understanding the causes of this complex disease and how we can prevent it Edward Copisarow Children with Leukaemia

Leukaemia is the most common cancer found in children in the industrialised world, affecting about one in 2,000 youngsters.
 

ALL accounts for more than 80% of leukaemia cases among children, and most often occurs in those aged between two and five.
 

Scientists believe that for most types of childhood leukaemia to develop, there must first be a genetic mutation in the womb, followed by a second trigger - such as an infection - during childhood.
 

However, it is also thought that contracting some childhood infections - which are often readily spread in environments such as playgroups where children are in close contact with each other - may prime the immune system against leukaemia.
 

Conversely, if the immune system is not challenged in early life, this is thought to raise the risk of an inappropriate response to subsequent infections, making the development of leukaemia more likely.
 

Source BBC NEWS
 

Pregnancy cravings
 

Pregnancy cravings are much more common among modern women than previous generations, a survey suggests.

Three-quarters of those surveyed experienced a craving, compared to just 30% five decades ago.
 

It found a third of cravings were not for food, but items such as coal, soap, toothpaste and sponges. Ice and chocolate were also popular.
 

The poll of 2,231 pregnant women was carried out by the social network website gurgle.com.
 

UNUSUAL CRAVINGS Ice: 22% Coal: 17% Toothpaste: 9% Sponges: 8% Mud 7% Chalk: 6% Laundry soap: 5% Matches: 3% Rubber: 1% Percentages of women reporting unusual cravings, around 31% of total

Chocolate was the most common food craving, followed by ice cream, sweets, spicy food, pickled onions, tropical fruit, curry, doughnuts, marmite, peanut butter, potatoes and nuts.
 

Mothers-to-be reported cravings for odd combinations of food, the most common being pickles and peanut butter, followed by marmite and ice cream.
 

Other combinations mentioned included tuna and banana, and fried eggs with mint sauce.
 
 

Women reported that cravings mostly struck in the afternoon (40%) or in the evening (38%), with only 8% sneaking off for midnight snacks.
 

Tags: pregnant craving, pregnant cravings, pregnancy cravings, cravings, craving, pregnant women

A 73-year-old Austrian man has confessed to imprisoning his daughter in a cellar for 24 years and fathering her seven children, police have said.

Police said Josef Fritzl also confessed to burning the body of a baby that died after birth at the house in Amstetten, in the province of Lower Austria.
 

Authorities are caring for the woman, now 42, and her six surviving children. Police have released photos of the man’s basement which show a concealed network of tiny windowless chambers.
 

The woman, Elisabeth, disappeared aged 18 on 28 August 1984 when, according to her testimony, her father lured her into the cellar, drugging and handcuffing her before locking her up.
 

She is reported to have been made to write a letter which made it look as if she had run away.
 

The head of the criminal affairs bureau in Lower Austria, Franz Polzer, said Mr Fritzl had admitted sexually abusing his daughter repeatedly during the time he imprisoned her.

Mr Polzer said Mr Fritzl had told investigators Elisabeth had given birth to seven children, including twins in 1996, but one died shortly after being born and that he had thrown the body into an incinerator in the building.
 

The surviving children are now aged between five and 19 years
 

The cellar rooms, covering an area of approximately 60 sq m (650 sq ft), were equipped for sleeping and cooking, and with sanitary facilities.
 

A reinforced concrete door was built into the wall that separated the “dungeon” from the house and electronically locked - the code known only to the suspect, who provided his captives with food and necessities, police said.
 

Elisabeth had not been seen in public since August 1984

Three of the children were kept in the cellar with their mother and had never seen daylight, police told a news conference.
 

The other three children were adopted or fostered by the suspect, after he forced Elisabeth to write a letter saying she could not look after the baby, according to police.
 

His wife, Rosemarie, with whom he had seven of their own children, appears to have been unaware of the alleged crimes.
 

The case came to light when the eldest of the children in the cellar, 19-year-old Kerstin, was seriously ill and had to be taken to hospital.
 

A television appeal by medical staff for the patient’s mother was seen by Elisabeth on a TV set in the cellar and she urged her father to let her go to hospital.
 

Police arrested Mr Fritzl shortly afterwards and took all the children into care.
 

“If you look at him today, you would hardly believe he was capable of doing these things. This man led a double life for 24 years,” said Mr Polzer.
 

He said it was incredible that it had been kept secret for all that time.
 

Both the father and Elisabeth say no one else had access to the cellar, according to police, who are appealing to anyone with information about Mr Fritzl to contact them.
 

Source BBC News
 

What to do When Your are Having Financial Troubles:

Managing Your Credit Card Debt

If you are inclined to obtain credit cards, you are taking on some very specific responsibilities. Unfortunately, in this day and age many people really do not accept the responsibilities associated with credit cards.
 

The most important thing a person needs to do when he or she begins using credit cards is to take the time to manage the credit card debt responsibly. To this end, a person must take care to ensure that payments always are made in a timely manner. In addition, it is important to make certain that the balances on a credit card not grow to high. It is important to keep credit card balances at a reasonable level, no matter how high the top line balance permitted is at any given time. Additionally, it is important to pay more than the minimum due and owing on the card each billing period.
 

In regard to managing your credit card, you will also want to contact your lender immediately if you feel that you are facing financial problems that might effect your ability to make your card payments in a timely and appropriate manner. You need to understand that many credit card companies will work with you to try and help you better manage your account. However, you need to keep in mind that you really do need to make contact with the credit card company before you actually end up in default on the card.
 

Because you are a parent with a busy schedule, you may want to actually schedule appropriate time each month to sit down and pay your bills including your credit card. By planning in this manner, you will not end up finding yourself behind the eight ball when it comes to keeping you account current.
 

In addition, you should always try to pay off your balance each and every month. If you cannot pay your entire balance off each and every month, you certainly should strive to pay more than the minimum balance due on the account. By paying more than the minimum due, you will be improving your credit score and credit history to a larger degree.
 

By appropriately and responsibly managing your credit card debt, a person can experience a whole host of related benefits. But managing credit card debt responsibly, a person will establish a solid credit record and credit history that will serve him or her well on into the future.
 

Indeed, in theory, one of the most important benefits associated with a student credit card is the fact that, if used correctly, you will be able to begin to establish a solid credit history that will be most beneficial to you into the future. You will be building a solid foundation for your own financial future.
 

Tags: credit cards, credit card , credit card debt, financial problems, student credit card, student credit cards, credit score, credit history

Like most parents you undoubtedly want to be able to buy nice and entertaining gifts for your children, including for a baby. However, at the same time, you want to be able to maintain your budget when it comes to buying gifts for babies. There are some tips that you need to keep in mind when it comes to saving money on baby gift items.
 

Perhaps the most important thing that you need to keep in mind when it comes to saving money on your next baby gift purchase is the great benefits that you can obtain by using the Internet and World Wide Web. In this day and age there are many different Internet merchants that can provide for you absolutely perfect baby gift options at remarkably low cost. By spending only a short amount of time surfing around the Net, you will be able to find the most ideal baby gift at a price that is well within your budget.
 

You will even be able to find websites that specialize in gifts and products for babies that offer great deals on baby gift options. In short, by identifying and patronizing one of another of these sites, you will have discovered a resource that will serve you not only today but into the future as well.
 

When it comes to saving money on baby gifts in the brick and mortar world, one step that you will want to consider taking is planning and shopping ahead. The reality is that most people wait until the last minute to make the purchase of a baby gift. When a person waits until the last minute, there simply is not time to shop around. As a result, in most cases a person buying a baby gift in these circumstances ends up spending more than he or she wants of needs to spend. The old adage that those who fail to plan, plan to fail, comes in loud in clear in this type of situation.
 

In the end, by paying attention to these pointers, you will be able to find not only the most suitable baby gift but you will be able to purchase such a gift at a price that ends up being a gift in and of itself.
 

For Baby Gifts Visit Here >> Baby Gifts Online
 

Tags: baby gift, saving money, buying gifts for babies, buying gifts, perfect baby gift, ideal baby gift

When your baby was still in your tummy, you had all sorts of wonderful images in your thoughts. You imagined cradling him in your arms, hugging him warmly, and kissing his little cute nose. Little did you know that a part of all this wonderful things is the dreaded reality that babies cry and they do it with all their might. Of course, your baby’s crying was not able to diminish your love for him.
 

In fact, you love him even more. But you surely wish that there were some way that you can magically make him stop wailing. The good news is you do not have to own a magic wand to put a stop to your baby’s crying spells. All you need is proper knowledge about babies and crying, and these simple tips on how to calm your crying baby:
 

First of all, you want to know: why does your baby cry?
 

Babies cry for many different reasons, the primary reason being they cannot talk and that crying is their only way to communicate. So when they are hungry, tired, thirsty, uncomfortable, wet, sad, bored, scared, or in pain—they only know one thing to express all these different emotions, that is to open up their mouths wide and let out a loud cry.
 

One thing that could help you a lot in dealing with your baby’s crying is to know that his cries mean different things. Yes, there are some hints in his crying (plus in his facial and nonverbal cues) that will tell you what it is that he’s crying about. Recognizing these hints will help you respond immediately to his needs.
 

Here are some examples. When your baby is crying but his diaper is dry and it’s been three to four hours since his last feeding, it’s likely that he’s just hungry. If he’s tired, his crying will be like a whining sound accompanied by rubbing of eyes, decreased activity and yawning. Now, if he’s uncomfortable, it’s likely that your kid will be squirming or arching his back while he cries. Quickly search for the source of his discomfort and take it away from him. When your kid is in pain, his cry is sudden and shrill.
 

Tips on how to calm your baby:
 

•  Hold on to him. Whatever it is that your baby is crying about, one of the most effective ways to pacify him is to give him a warm and comforting touch.
 

•  Breastfeed your little one. Breastfeeding does not only satiate your kid’s hunger but it also has a soothing and calming effect on him.
 

•  Distract your baby. Offer your kid various baby toys preferably those that are new to his sight and has bright and visually stimulating prints and colors. like educational baby toys. This is a good way to provide diversion especially if your kid is just bored or lonely.
 

•  Rock your tot gently. What baby is not fond of repetitive rhythmic motion? Put him on his rocker or sway him gently and it will make him forget all about his fussiness.
 

•  Let your kid listen to some soothing music. Lullabies have existed since time immemorial for a good reason. It’s because they are able to do wonders in calming a fussy baby and make it easy for him to doze off to dreamland. So if your baby is crying because he’s tired and sleepy, let him listen to soft and peaceful lullabies.
 

There are many reasons why your baby cries but there also many ways on how to calm him. As a parent, it is your duty to be able to recognize hints in his cries and respond immediately to his needs.
 

Tags: crying baby, baby’s crying, calm your baby, calming your baby, crying

Women could increase their chances of conceiving a baby boy by upping their calorie intake when trying to get pregnant, research revealed yesterday.
 

Eating a daily bowl of cereal was also linked to having sons.
 

The study found that women with the highest calorie intake before conception were more likely to conceive a baby boy than women with a lighter diet.
 

The researchers, from Oxford and Exeter universities, said the results suggested that the dieting habits of women in the western world could help explain the falling male birthrate.
 

The latest research, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, looked at 740 first-time mothers in the UK.
 

The women were asked to keep records of their eating habits before and during the early stages of pregnancy.
 

The study revealed that 56 per cent of women who ate more than 2,200 calories a day before conception had a boy, compared with 45 per cent of women who ate less than 1,850 calories.
 

The researchers found that 59 per cent of women who had cereal every day had a son, compared with 43 per cent of those who had less than one bowl a week.
 

Women with sons also had higher levels of nutrients in their diets, such as potassium, calcium and vitamins C, E and B12.
 

Over 40 years there has been a consistent decline in the proportion of boys being born in western countries – a drop of about one per 1,000 births annually.
 

Dr Fiona Mathews, one of the researchers from Exeter University, said: “This research may help to explain why in developed countries, where many young women choose to have low- calorie diets, the proportion of boys born is falling.”
 

IVF research suggests that high levels of glucose encourage the growth of male embryos, while inhibiting female ones.
 

In humans, skipping breakfast depresses glucose levels and so may be interpreted by the body as indicating poor conditions and low food availability.
 

Dr Mathews said having a boy was also linked to higher levels of potassium – which could amount to as little as an extra banana a day before conception.
 

Higher levels of salt were also consumed by those having boys, though the researcher warned that eating large amounts of salty food could raise blood pressure.
 

“We could say that if you increase your calorie intake slightly while trying to conceive you may be flipping the odds of you having a boy slightly in your favour,” Dr Mathews said.
 

Bridget Aisbitt, of the British Nutrition Foundation, said there were no specific recommendations for diet prior to conceiving, apart from taking folic acid supplements to prevent spina bifida.
 

Professor Stuart West, from Edinburgh University, cautioned against using diet to try to influence the sex of a child.
 

“First, the effect appears to be relatively small, with the sex ratio varying from only 45 per cent sons with low-calorie diets, to 56 per cent sons with high quality diets,” he said.
 

“Second, similar data in animals such as non-human primates shows huge variation between studies, and so it would be key to determine the repeatability of these results.
 

“Third, diet will have other effects for both the parent and offspring.”
 

Resources to Aid in Understanding Early Pregnancy Symptoms

If you think that you may be pregnant, you may be interested in finding some resources pertaining to early pregnancy symptoms. Through this article, you are provided with some basic information about early pregnancy symptoms and the resources that are available to assist you in determining whether symptoms you are experiencing might be signs that you are, in fact, pregnant.
 The best resource to determine if you are pregnant, to determine if you really are experiencing early pregnancy symptoms, is your doctor. Indeed, while home pregnancy tests have become more reliable all of the time, your best resource to confirm a possible pregnancy is your doctor.
 

If you are experiencing some symptoms and want to determine if they might be early pregnancy symptoms, you will want to spend some time on the Internet and World Wide Web. In this regard, your first stop in your search for confirmation regarding what you believe might be early pregnancy symptoms is a medical websites such as WebMD. These types of websites offer all sorts of medical and health related information, including an in depth analysis of early pregnancy symptoms.
 

In addition to the generalized medical sites, there are specialized medical sites in operation on the Net that deal exclusively with pregnancy related issues, including the early pregnancy symptoms. By accessing one or another of these websites, you will be able to make some determinations in respect to what you think very well may be early pregnancy symptoms.
 

In the brick and mortar world, in addition to your doctor, there are some other helpful resources that you will want to consider and access when it comes to the matter of early pregnancy symptoms. There are some wonderful and well written books on the subject of human pregnancy that devote a great deal of time to discussing the early pregnancy symptoms. In addition, there are also on the market today many maternity magazines that normally devote at least some space in each issue to a discussion of matters such as early pregnancy symptoms.
 

In the end, by availing yourself of these various resources, you will be able to better determine if what you are experiencing are early pregnancy symptoms. You will be able to determine what steps you should take in regard to the symptoms you are experiencing — including a possible pregnancy test.
 

Parent-Child Bonding: Crucial Aspect in a Kid’s Development

By Wendi Garcia

Child experts reiterate how the right kinds of kids toys contribute to the developmental progress of your kid. This has been proved by countless studies and is accepted as a fact by almost every parent. The right kind of educational kids toys indeed play a significant role in the honing of a child’s potentials and skills which are necessary for him to grow up as a mentally and physically healthy individual.
 

But this is not to say that it is suffice that you bombard your kid with every educational toy there is and leave him to play with them. Do not expect that the toys will turn him into a prodigy overnight. Toys help improve your kid’s skills but they cannot do this on their own. They will not be able to do the job without your help as a parent, without your constant guidance and support.
 

Here are some ways on how you can ensure that you are able to maximize bonding
and learning time with your little one:
 

•  Spend a part of your day with your child. Household chores and office work may take the top spot in your things to do. But you have to remember that among all these tasks, taking care of your kid should always be your number one priority.
 

It is highly recommended that before you do any tasks for the day, you should first spend quality time with your kid, teaching him while playing with him. This is very important because if you put quality time with your kid at the very end of the day, you may be too exhausted and too drained to even lift a finger, thus the purpose of quality time will be wasted.
 

•  Always make bonding time a fun time. As a parent, it is easy for you to get into that strict disciplinarian mode when you’re teaching your kid. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, if possible try to lighten things up by not forcing learning into your kid and making him feel that playtime is a chore. The educational value of playtime is a natural process that need not be forced.
 

•  Insert valuable lessons during playtime. As mentioned earlier, learning takes place naturally during play but of course, it would also help to make it a point to inculcate priceless lessons into your kid’s playtime especially moral values such as respect, courtesy, honesty, and many others.
 

•  Practice utmost patience. It’s easy for kids to get bored. One minute they want to play this game, the next thing you know they’re gearing towards another. Sometimes, you can’t help but get exasperated. But you must strive hard to be patient all the time because your kid needs you to play with him and make him learn about things.
 

Needless to say, parental attention and guidance are indeed a crucial aspect in a kid’s development. It is up to the parents to reinforce and nurture proper learning while playing with their toys. It is your duty to oversee that their kids are in the right path of developmental progress both in terms of the physical and mental aspects.
 

Supermarket staff were mystified when a cream for baby’s bottom began selling like hot cakes.
 

Then they discovered the reason - mums were putting it on their own faces.
 

At £2.49 a pot, Waitrose’s own-label Baby Bottom Butter is only a fraction of the cost of designer products.
 

And its new-found fans claim it is the answer to their prayers.
 

The buying frenzy began after it was given glowing endorsements on parenting websites.
 

One contributor to mumsnet.com wrote: “I can’t even remember what made me put it on my face one day but OMG - it is fab.
 

“I have been using it constantly for 2 weeks now and my skin now has the smoothest texture, which I don’t think it’s had since prepubescence.
 

“And it makes my foundation look super dewy and youthful too. It is SO much better than all the expensive face creams I have tried - including Creme de la Mer.”
 

While some complained that it left their skin spotty or greasy, another mum gushed: “I have taken to putting it on twice a day, I am eighteen again!”
 

And a third added: “Really really impressed with how plumped and smooth it makes my skin look, especially around the eyes”.
 

The butter is free from artificial chemicals and contains olive oil, camomile - for nappy rash - and lavender.
 

Waitrose says it has seen sales of “natural” baby toiletries rise by 38 per cent after it removed parabens, petrochemicals and colours from its own-label products.
 

Sales of Baby Bottom Butter doubled to around 30,000 tubs in the first part of this year, taking its Hampshire-based supplier by surprise and leading to shortages on the shelves.
 

However, women keen to try it have been assured that new stock should be on sale from Monday.
 

Waitrose’s baby care buyer Jo Maclaine said: “It seems that the botty butter gives softer cheeks wherever they are.
 

“The feedback we have had has been amazing and proof that looking good does not have to cost the Earth.”
 

Of course it is not the first time an unlikely item becoming the new musthave beauty product.
 

Haemorrhoid ointment has also been championed as face cream by the likes of actress Sandra Bullock.
 

However cosmetic surgery expert Dr Patrick Bowler, who appeared on the TV programme Ten Years Younger, said he was sceptical about the supposed benefits of Baby Bottom Butter.
 

“The women buying this may think it will make their faces as smooth as a baby’s bottom, but the truth is that while it’s likely to be quite a good moisturiser there’s really nothing extraordinary about it.
 

“And if they’re buying it because they have babies, they’re likely to be quite young themselves, which means they’ll have pretty good skin anyway.”
 

Source Daily Mail
 

Tags: baby, bottom, butter, baby bottom butter, bottom butter, baby bottom, butter cream, face cream