NEWS ANCHOR MOM: child health, child safety, toxic toys, autism, etc. for busy moms

Delivering a baby by yourself

2010-01-04T11:43:00.009-06:00

I understand the concept of having a home birth and why some women prefer it to the hospital. I do not understand why someone would have a home birth without a medical professional there. I was born at home. The doctor came to my parent's house. Everything went smoothly. I probably would have considered doing the same thing if I knew a doctor who delivered babies at home and if I could have talked my husband into it!

However, I had my kids at a hospital. I had an internal hematoma with the first child and almost bled to death. I had preterm labor and had to be put on magnesium sulfate to stop the second baby from coming early with the second. The third birth was an emergency c-section and the baby needed oxygen right after he was born. I am healthy, average weight, with no known health concerns-like diabetes. Maybe I am just unlucky, but I needed medical help with all of my births.

FROM NBC: Jennifer Margulis thinks birth should be a private party — no doctors or midwives invited. So when her daughter Leone Francesca was born at home last month, only Margulis and her husband, James, were in attendance.

“My husband and I were the only ones there when she was conceived,” says the 40-year-old writer from Ashland, Ore. “I thought we should be the only ones there when she was born.”

Margulis is part of a very small but growing number of women who are choosing to deliver their babies at home without the presence of health professionals. Some choose to have a husband or another family member help, while others opt to deliver their babies completely on their own.

The number of home births unattended by either a doctor or a midwife jumped by nearly 10 percent between 2004 and 2006, climbing from 7,607 unassisted births to 8,347 births, according to most recent figures from the National Center for Health Statistics. About 60 percent of the nearly 25,000 home births logged in 2006 were attended by midwives, a figure that experts expect will also rise.

While do-it-yourself deliveries are still uncommon, many doctors and midwives consider them dangerous. Risks can range from hemorrhage in the mother to problems with the baby’s oxygen supply during delivery.

“Most births are not complicated but when something goes wrong, everything happens very quickly and things can go downhill very fast,” says Donna Strobino, a professor and deputy chair in the department of maternal and child health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.

“If you look at data from developing countries where unattended births are more common, you see a higher rate of infant and maternal mortality with unattended births than with hospital births.”

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Gender Issues with Kids

2010-01-03T15:38:00.006-06:00

I know this is a strange topic. It is hard enough being a parent. I can't imagine if the doctor had said, "You choose. Is this child a girl or a boy?" Then every time the child did something that was stereotypically like a boy or like a girl you would be questioning your decision. How awful! That would be very challenging. I had no idea these surgeries and hormonal therapy were taking place. It is amazing what goes on as we live in our own little worlds.

FROM ABC: A procedure that some are mistakenly calling a sex change treatment for children has been drawn into the spotlight in recent days -- although it has been going on for many years.

In an interview with National Public Radio broadcast earlier this month, Dr. Norman Spack, a pediatric endocrinologist at Children's Hospital in Boston, revealed that he has at least 10 pediatric transgendered patients to whom he has been giving a hormone-blocking treatment to delay puberty.

Citing recent unwanted media attention, Spack declined, through a spokesman, to be interviewed for this article. But other doctors say that while Spack may be the first to go public about what he is doing, he is not the first to help children delay their puberty so they can reach maturity before deciding if they would like to transition to the opposite sex..

Milton Diamond, a sexual development researcher and the director of the Pacific Center for Sex and Society at the University of Hawaii, says he knows of doctors who have done this before, "but people don't generally advertise it," he says. He pointed to the Netherlands, where hormone-blocking therapy has been administered to transgendered youths for more than 20 years.

But Diamond says that the hormone-blocking therapy itself is not sex reassignment."It's a delaying tactic to allow the individual to come to terms with the direction he or she wants to go," he says. "What you're doing is allowing the individual more time to make a decision."

Is It Safe?

Jamie Newton, a spokesman for Children's Hospital, confirmed that the treatments are done in accordance with the Harry Benjamin guidelines (generally accepted clinical guidelines for treating transsexual patients), which call for fully reversible treatments for prepubescent children.

The therapy entails an injection of either luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) or medroxyprogesterone, which block estrogen or testosterone to delay the onset of puberty. The regimen is typically given to children (mostly girls) who reach puberty very early, when the parents and physician opt to delay the process a few years to aid with normal development.

Medroxyprogesterone is known commercially as Provera, a drug injected once every three months as a birth control medication. "LHRH has been used for 20 years, medroxyprogesterone probably that long, if not longer, so we know they're safe and effective," says Alan Rogol, a clinical professor of pediatrics at Riley Hospital of the Indiana University School of Medicine and the University of Virginia.

Also, he says, a child will undergo normal puberty following the hormone-blocking treatment, and it is fully reversible should a transgendered child choose not to undergo sex reassignment or transition once they reach adulthood. "There is no question that it's reversible, and I'm unequivocal about that," says Rogol.

In addition to delaying the onset of puberty, the hormone-blocking process does help patients avoid unwanted bodily features if they do decide to undergo a sex change upon reaching adulthood. It is the changes of puberty that often cause the most distress for transgendered children.

"We're talking about things that have a profound, significant influence on the child's life," says Diamond. Male transsexuals can avoid going through menstruation, while female patients can avoid growing body hair or developing a deep voice if they begin sex reassignment once their childhood hormone-blocking regimen ends.

Transitions and Follow-Ups

Although the treatment is reversible, Diamond says that most who reach that point will go on to transition."Almost all those who have gender identity disorder continue on to surgery, or at least continue on to transitions," says Diamond.

In his interview with NPR, Spack confirmed that assessment. "My confidence comes partly because I've yet to see one change their mind and partly because we're using the psychological testing methods the Dutch have perfected, and they've yet to see one person change their mind," he says.

While the procedure allows children to more easily undergo sex reassignment upon reaching adulthood, sex reassignment surgery is controversial. First performed in the first half of the 20th century, sex reassignment surgery gained prominence when former soldier George Jorgenson underwent the operations in Europe and became a media sensation as Christine Jorgenson.

In 1966, the Johns Hopkins Hospital announced that it was performing sex reassignment surgery through its Gender Identity Clinic. Those procedures were halted in 1979, when a study by Dr. Jon Meyer, a follow-up on patients who had undergone the operations, did not show any improvement in their wellbeing.

Dr. Paul McHugh, then the head of the psychiatry department at Hopkins, made the decision to halt the procedures, saying they destroyed healthy organs and that physicians needed to focus on healing transgendered persons' minds, rather than altering their bodies.

Many transgendered persons continue to undergo sex reassignment surgery, although a great number of them do so abroad. Because of a lack of reporting, exact numbers are hard or impossible to come by.

Since Johns Hopkins closed its clinic, no other hospital of that stature has made a public announcement of resuming the surgeries.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Get Your Kids Dirty

2009-12-31T15:19:00.000-06:00

I have always heard you shouldn't be excessive about avoiding germs with kids. They need to build up their immune systems. It makes sense considering younger kids seem to always have a runny nose. As they get older and build up their immunity to some viruses, they have fewer runny noses. I certainly don't expose my kids to anything "dangerous" on purpose. However, once in awhile we do go to what I call"germ fests" like McDonald's playland and Chuck E. Cheeses. How about you?

FROM CNN: Antibacterial gels and disinfectant wipes can help curb the spread of germs. But in today's Health Minute, Susan Hendricks has the details on a study that finds children who grow up in super-clean, sanitized environments may be at higher risk for heart disease as adults.

Kids getting dirty on the playground -- it's a time-honored tradition, but do you ever worry what kind of germs your child might pick up or put in their mouth? A new study suggests you shouldn't necessarily be concerned. What we're finding has to do with the everyday pathogens you come in contact to-- germs in the environment, germs that you might encounter in dirt and in your household that might actually have some beneficial effects long-term.

Researcher Chris Kuzawa and his colleagues started following a group of Filipino children 26 years ago, and found that exposure to dirty environments early in life lowered production of c-reactive protein -- a substance that is known to increase heart attack risk later in life.

Why? There is a need for the immune system to have some kind of challenge and to experience low-level pathogens within the environment. This is actually an important part of how the immune system develops. Encouraging findings, but Kuzawa says, we're a long way from encouraging people to go out and pick up germs. I think it would be very preliminary to ask parents to do anything differently with their kids based on what we found.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Thomas and Friends Lawsuit

2009-12-30T15:05:00.001-06:00

I remember vividly the day James got recalled. My oldest son was so upset. For the next two weeks, he kept bringing me choo choos and asking if they were recalled too. Personally, I think it's great the company was prosecuted for this. The problem is that we as parents still can't be sure the toys we are giving our kids don't contain lead. A lot of the companies who sell kid's toys do their own testing. It is up to them to spend the money to make sure the toys are safe. They may get recalled later if they do contain lead, but they will always be on store shelved for a time period until they get caught.

FROM ABC: The maker of the popular Thomas & Friends children's toys has agreed to pay AT LEAST $1.25 million settlement for importing and selling toys that contained lead levels above legal limits. The Consumer Product Safety Commission had charged RC2 Corp. of Illinois and subsidiary Learning Curb Brands Inc., knowingly imported and sold Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway toys that had "paints or other surface coatings" containing lead levels above .06 percent by weight from China. The company denies it intentionally violated federal law.

UPDATED: FROM USA TODAY: The maker of Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway toys has agreed to a $30 million class-action settlement stemming from last year’s recalls, the first in what’s expected to be a wave of settlements related to millions of toys recalled because of lead paint.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Dax Locke passes away

2009-12-30T09:06:00.009-06:00

The two-year-old little boy that started Christmas early in Central Illinois has passed away. According to his mom's blog, Dax Locke of Washington, IL died at 2:15 this morning. Hundreds of people from around the world put on their Christmas lights early this year in honor of the child who was suffering from leukemia. His mom wrote:

"He has had two bone marrow transplants, but his leukemia remains. We are cherishing every moment we have with him, and celebrate every day with him like it is Christmas."

Once people starting hearing about this little guy, they started turning on their Christmas lights and sending Dax the pictures. Doctors weren't sure if Dax would make it to Christmas. We ran a story last night on the news saying he was barely moving. That was hard to report. I don't know how I am going to be able to read this story on the news tonight. Our story last night also said more than $35,000 has been raised in Dax's name for St. Jude. The Peoria Journal Star is reporting $44,000 as of this morning. You can donate here. Friends say "his mom is trying to raise $1.6 million for St. Jude--the amount that it takes to run St. Jude for one day." I think that's amazing! So many people will remember his story and so many lives will be saved. What a cute little guy he was. God Bless his family!

Here's Dax's website.

-NewsAnchorMomJen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Holiday Illnesses

2009-12-29T14:49:00.005-06:00

My husband's grandma has been in the hospital and is still recovering from a serious infection she got a couple weeks before Christmas. She had just gotten back from a wedding 8 hours away. I am sure she was exposed to a lot of germs, but we have no way of knowing exactly how it happened.

One of my grandmothers has emphysema. When the kids see her, we do make sure they wash their hands frequently and they don't have runny noses. I would hate to be the reason she ends up in the hospital again. We went to see her in St. Louis about a month ago so she could meet the baby. She ended up getting a cold and couldn't be around the kids. She was so disappointed! Does anyone else have this dilemma with their kids and grandparents?

FROM NBC: Grandparents have a new vaccine to thank for their health this holiday season! Experts at the CDC say bacterial infections among the elderly typically spike around Christmas and New Year's -- possibly because of the germs they're exposed to at family gatherings with young children. However, since the vaccine Prevnar was introduced in 2000, infections among the elderly have dropped significantly. Prevnar fights against seven of the most common strains of strep. There was a spike in bacterial infections in 2004-2005, researchers don't know why. Women are more likely to experience infections over the holidays.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Swine Flu Parties

2009-12-28T20:21:00.006-06:00

I thought this was interesting. I have heard of chicken pox parties. Although, according the the CDC the swine flu is more deadly than the chicken pox. So I guess I shouldn't compare. What do you think about swine flu parties?

FROM NBC: IMAGINE TAKING YOUR FAMILY TO A PARTY WHERE THE SOLE REASON FOR THE GET TOGETHER IS TO SPREAD THE SWINE FLU VIRUS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT HEALTH EXPERTS SAY IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING, BUT DOCTORS HAVE A WARNING.

AS PARENTS ACROSS AMERICA SCRAMBLE FOR THE H1N1 VACCINE, OTHERS ARE TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

GATHERING WITHOUT MASKS AND NOT WASHING THEIR HANDS - THEY'RE COMING TOGETHER TO SPREAD THE GERMS.

(SOT: Dr. Mark Sawyer, Infectious Disease Specialist)
"We first heard about parties like this back in the chicken pox era."

DR. MARK SAWYER, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL SAYS THERE IS SIMPLY NO LOGIC BEHIND THE GATHERINGS NOW KNOWN AS SWINE FLU PARTIES.

(Dr. Mark Sawyer, Infectious Disease Specialist)
"To me it's one of the craziest things I've ever heard of actually."

THE REASON FOR THESE PARTIES, DESCRIBED PLAINLY ON THE CDC WEBSITE - IS TO BECOME INFECTED WITH WHAT FOR MANY PEOPLE HAS BEEN A MILD DISEASE, IN THE HOPE OF HAVING NATURAL IMMUNITY TO A VIRUS THAT MIGHT CIRCULATE LATER AND CAUSE MORE SEVERE DISEASE.

(Dr. Mark Sawyer, Infectious Disease Specialist)
"The trouble with influenza is your natural immunity really isn't that good, that's why we continue to immunize people every year because the influenza virus changes over time."

MEANING SOME PEOPLE WHO GETS SWINE FLU THIS YEAR, COULD ALSO GET A RELATED VIRUS NEXT YEAR. SAWYER ALSO SAYS JUST BECAUSE YOUR NEIGHBOR HAS A MILD CASE - DOESN'T MEAN YOU WILL.
(Dr. Mark Sawyer, Infectious Disease Specialist)
The reason one person gets very sick and another doesn't isn't a function of the virus, that's a function of the person's immune system and any underlying conditions they may have."

SAWYER SAYS GOOD HANDWASHING, GETTING THE VACCINE, AND STAYING AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK IS STILL HIS BEST RECOMMENDATION FOR BATTLING SWINE FLU.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Divorce= Health Insurance

2009-12-27T08:18:00.000-06:00

This is really sad. This isn't the first time I have heard a story like this-unfortunately. I don't have the answer, but I think hard working people like this family should have another option. I wish health care wasn't such a big stress in so many people's lives.

FROM CNN: As the debate over healthcare continues, imagine this - being told you should divorce your spouse so that your ill child can have adequate health insurance. Sounds unrealistic? Apparently not, according to a Nevada mother, who found herself in that exact situation.

TERRI KING'S SON MATTHEW WAS BORN WITH A HEART DEFECT, THAT STRETCHED THE FAMILY'S HEALTH INSURANCE TO THE LIMIT."I would never have thought in a million years that in this country that families that do all the right things can be completely ruined."

MATTHEW WILL NEED SPECIAL CARE FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE."There needs to be something available for the middle class people because health care is so unaffordable. There needs to be something for those of us that fall thru the cracks. because we fell through every single crack."

WHEN KING AND HER HUSBAND MICHAEL SOUGHT HELP TO COVER MATTHEW'S CARE, THE ADVICE THEY GOT WAS SHOCKING."That we should get a divorce. That I should turn over all my joint assets to Mike, get a divorce so that i could be a poor single mother then I could be on medicaid along with Matthew and then Matthew would get full medical coverage on medicaid."

THE KINGS SAY ANOTHER COUNSELOR SUGGESTED THEY GIVE UP MATTHEW FOR ADOPTION TO A RELATIVE, WHO COULD THEN COLLECT FULL BENEFITS FOR HIM THROUGH MEDICAID. EVENTUALLY, THEY CONVINCED THE LAS VEGAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE MICHAEL IS A DETECTIVE, TO INCREASE THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE.

LAST SPRING, THEY ASKED THE NEVADA STATE LEGISLATURE TO HELP OTHERS IN THE SAME BOAT. A BILL TO LET THESE FAMILIES BUY MEDICAID COVERAGE WAS INTRODUCED. BUT THEN VOTED DOWN, LEAVING TERRI FURIOUS. "I would like to know how they'd feel if they were told to divorce their wife or give their child up for adoption. I just think that if they were in our shoes they would be doing something about it. But right now they never have to worry about it so it's easy to sit back and pass it back and forth and just do nothing."

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T14:00:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

My six-year-old could not fall asleep last night. He usually goes to bed at 7:30p.m. By 10:00p.m. he was crying in his room because he was worried Santa would miss our house because he was still awake. It was actually really sweet. He was VERY excited and grateful this morning!

Our two-year-old wanted to choo choo tracks. He was pretty pumped when he got Mickey's Magical Choo Choo. However, it doesn't work. So we have to take it back to the store. Still, I luckily had the Flip out and got a great video of him opening the gift. It is a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas so far! How is your family?

-NewsAnchorMomJen

Best Booster Seats

2009-12-22T20:43:00.008-06:00

FROM CNN: Some highway safety experts are giving their take on the best child booster seats available on the market today. And several manufacturers ended up with seats on both the 'recommended' or 'not recommended' lists.

Studies show four to eight year old children are 45-percent less likely to suffer serious injury in accidents if they're in a booster seat. And if that booster is properly belted. Dr. Kristy Arbogast/Children's Hospital of Philadelphia :"Make sure those belts are in the right place so that the restraint can do its job if the child is in a crash." That's what the Insurance Institute for Highway safety focused on for its latest ratings on booster seats and came up with this list of the best:

Best bets for booster seats
-combi dakota backless/clip
-recaro young sport
-recaro vivo
-maxi-cosi rodi xr
-evenflo big kid amp backless/clip
-eddie bauer auto booster
-cosco juvenile pronto
-britax frontier
-clek oobr

But these eleven booster seats did not fare that well in the Institute's testing:

Booster seats not recommended:
-harmony secure comfort deluxe backless/clip
-combi kobuk
-evenflo express
-eddie bauer deluxe
-safety 1st alpha omega elite
-evenflo sightseer
-alpha omega elite
-eddie bauer deluxe 3-in-1 -safety 1st all-in-one
-alpha omega luxe echelon
-alpha omega

Anne Mccartt/ Insurance Institute for Highway Safety "Parents should avoid buying the 11 boosters on our "not recommended" list. These seats do not provide good belt fit." The Institute's Anne Mccartt was on the today show talking about these eleven and what constitutes improper belting. "...the shoulder belt you can see if falling off the shoulder. It should be fitting snuggly on the center of the shoulder."

Seven of the eleven come from one manufacturer Dorel Juvenile group-that offers the Eddie Bauer, Safety 1st and Alpha Omega brands. Dorel says the Institute's "Test simulates only one size child in one position" And says all of its seats meet or exceed government regulations.

Evenflo said the same thing when contacted. It, too, had seats that tested well, but two fell under "not recommended." Harmony strongly defended its secure comfort deluxe and questioned the Institute's testing procedures. While the makers of the Combi Kobuk are curious because they say its seat has passed previous institute testing. Most safety experts say poorer performing seats still protect children in crashes.

Of course, the booster seat we have isn't on either list. However, when I get a booster for my 3 year-old (when he's big enough) I will go back and check this list. What kind do you have? Are you surprised that some popular brands are on the not-recommended list?

-NewsAnchorMomJen

Toys that promote communication

2009-12-22T16:54:00.011-06:00

Here are some tips for buying gifts for kids with autism. I think they are good toys for kids who are not on the autism spectrum too!

FROM NBC: It's getting down to the wire -- is your shopping done? Perhaps you just don't know what to get -- especially if you have an autistic child on your list. Reporter Candace Lee has some great gift ideas to encourage communication and motor skills. Like most kids, children with autism know what they want for Christmas. "I've always wanted a Nintendo Wii."

"They're called warheads, very sour." But for many children on the autism spectrum verbalizing those wants and desires are difficult. So how do you chose and where do you go to buy that toy?

Here's what you need to know first. children with autism often have difficulty with fine motor, gross motor and sensory skills. (sot: Samantha Steffensmeier, autism expert) "We want to look at the interaction piece as well. so not only do we target fine motor skills, but also we target socialization."

Fine motor skill toys include puzzles with words to encourage communication and stackable blocks and rings. Gross motor skill toys such as this crawl tunnel or a yoga ball make a great gift. And something as simple as this koosh ball helps a child with autism develop their sensory skills. And at Toys R Us. com, there is a toy guide for differently abled kids. just click on the skill set you want to address to find the perfect toy.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Kids need one dose of H1N1

2009-12-21T20:07:00.004-06:00

This really annoys me. A study just came down last week saying kids definitely need two doses of the vaccine. So which is it? I don't think anyone wants to give their child an immunization he/she doesn't need-especially a controversial one like the swine flu vaccine. Here's the new contradicting story!

FROM NBC: A new study on the h1n1 vaccine suggests children may only need one dose instead of the recommended two. But experts say -- don't cancel that second appointment for your kids just yet. The research from Australia finds a single 15-microgram dose of the h1n1 vaccine gives strong protection to more than 92-percent of children between the ages of 6-months and 9-years old. Current U.S. recommendations call for two doses for kids 10 and younger. And the dosage given to kids under age 3 in this study was 15-micrograms. That's double the 7.5-microgram dosage licensed for children in that age group in this country. Experts say it's much too soon to change guidelines based on this one study.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Baby Carrier Recall

2009-12-21T09:41:00.007-06:00

My new little one is already 15 pounds! I do get nervous about carrying him around in the baby carrier. I feel like he could get really hurt if the handle broke. I basically have to swing him up in the minivan to get the thing inside because it is so heavy. So this story made me worry a little. I usually take my kids out of the baby carrier by six months. So I only have two more months of this. I don't like switching them to the other car seat either. Then you have to wake them up every time you go somewhere. I guess it's a trade off. Although, it seems a little ridiculous that we would have to worry about the handle of the car seat breaking off!

Here's the recall:

(this link has the model numbers) FROM CPSC: WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Dorel Infant Car Seat/Carriers

Units: About 447,000

Manufacturer: Dorel Juvenile Group Inc., of Columbus, Ind.

Hazard: When used as an infant carrier, the child restraint handle to the seat can loosen and come off, posing a fall hazard to infants.

Incidents/Injuries: Dorel has received 77 reports of the child restraint handle fully or partially coming off the car seat/carrier resulting in at least three injuries to infants including bumps, bruises and a head injury.

Description: This recall involves Safety 1st, Cosco, Eddie Bauer and Disney branded infant car seat/carriers with the following model numbers and that were manufactured from January 6, 2008 through April 6, 2009. The model number and manufacture date are located on a label on the side of the car seat/carrier. They were sold with Travel Systems. The stroller portion of the travel system is not affected by this recall.

Sold at: Department and juvenile product stores nationwide from January 2008 through December 2009 for between $120 and $220.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should not use the handle of the car seat/carrier until the repair kit has been installed. The product can continue to be used as a car seat when properly installed in the vehicle. Contact Dorel Juvenile Group to receive a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Dorel Juvenile Group at (866) 762-3316 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.djgusa.com/safety_notice

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Motherhood is good for you

2009-12-20T18:15:00.004-06:00

There are certainly days where I just wish I could take a hot bath and relax without a little one barging in and screaming about something. But overall, motherhood is a blessing. I wonder what impact this study will have on adoption. In a way, it confirms that you do not have to bare a child to be a good mom! I guess we already knew that, but still!

FROM FOX NEWS: The act of mothering may trigger the development of maternal neurons, at least in rats, according to a new study.

The mommy neurons could help a nurturer to recognize her little ones, though the scientists aren't sure of their function. And the rats didn't have to be pregnant or have ever nursed an infant to get the neuron boost. They just had to show motherly behaviors.

Rat brains are thought to be good analogues of the human brain for research like this.

In the study, virgin rats were exposed to foster pups each day until they began to exhibit maternal behavior, including crouching over the young, grouping them, or carrying them back to the nest. The researchers found that the virgin rats exposed to pups had increased numbers of new neurons.

Previous studies have suggested interacting with young can stimulate maternal behavior in many animals, including mice, hamsters, monkeys and even humans. Rodents that are pregnant or lactating have also been shown to have increased formation of neurons. But this study was the first to look at neuron growth in virgin animals exhibiting maternal behavior.

The study focused on a specific part of the brain, called the subventricular region, which is involved in the production of cells that affect odor recognition, and possibly recognition of young. Virgin adult rats that behaved maternally were found to have more neurons in this region compared with rats that had never interacted with pups. Also, the nurturing rats had more neurons in this region than rats that had been exposed to young but didn't act maternally, suggesting such neurons are linked with maternal behaviors.

The scientists still don't know what triggers the increased production of new neurons in the virgin rats. One possibility is that the hormone prolactin, which stimulates the onset of maternal behavior and the formation of neurons during pregnancy, may play a role. Additionally, exposure to the pups themselves could promote the production of more neurons in the virgin rats.

The findings raise many questions that the scientists plan to investigate in future studies, said Robert Bridges, a researcher at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. For instance, "Where do these new cells migrate to within the brain and what do they do?" Bridges said; and "Do they affect how a female subsequently perceives her young through recognition of baby odors?"

The study was published in the Dec. 16 issue of the journal Brain Research Bulletin, and funded by a National Institutes of Health grant.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

New Autism Numbers

2009-12-18T16:18:00.010-06:00

The debate continues on whether more kids are getting autism or people are just becoming more aware of the symptoms and getting their kids diagnosed. For several years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said autism impacts 1 in every 150 kids. But the number of kids diagnosed is growing so fast.. that number is now 1 in 110. In a way this is good news. I think most people who are involved in the autism community knew the numbers were higher than reported and this confirmation will give them more of an edge when it comes to funding. Typically, the more people who have a disorder, the more people who fight for those kids to have equal rights and protection.

FROM NBC: This study is from the CDC, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and several other sites. It's being published today in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. - Dr. Catherine Rice of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (CDC) is the lead author. Government health officials are reporting an increase in the prevalence of autism.

The CDC now estimates an average of 1 in 110 children has some form of autism spectrum disorder. The CDC calls the new data a "significant public health concern." Researchers there reviewed medical and school records of 8-year-olds -- because most cases of autism are diagnosed by then. Between 2002 and 2006, the prevalence of autism increased from 1 in 150 children... to 1 in 110.

Lee Grossman - President, Autism Society "When you see such a dramatic increase -- 57% in a four year period -- that shows... I'm trying to conceive of how many kids we've missed during that four-year period."

There was a striking difference in rates between boys and girls. Experts estimate 1 in 315 girls has some form of autism. But for boys -- that number jumps to 1 in 70. Dr. Max Wiznitzer - UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital "This study does not tell us the why, it just tells us what's going on and it identifies a public health issue."

In many cases, someone -- usually a mom or dad -- raised concerns about a child's development by age 2. Some of the red flags: Dr. Max Wiznitzer - UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital "Any child who loses skills, loses language or social skills, a child who's not making good eye contact." But the majority of cases weren't diagnosed by a doctor until around age 4 -- meaning: Lee Grossman - President, Autism Society "They've missed the benefits of early intervention."

No one has been able to pinpoint any one reason for the increase. they say it could be due to better detection and screening, or that cases could truly be rising. These findings are in line with another study released in October that was based on telephone surveys of parents.

This study was based on a review of records. Researchers had a team of clinicians go through the symptoms to confirm a doctor's diagnosis. - The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages pediatricians to screen all children for autism between 18 and 24 months. Autism spectrum disorder includes a wide variety of symptoms - but mainly affects communication and social skills.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Fruit Juice: Good or Bad?

2009-12-17T16:51:00.009-06:00

FROM NBC: Fruit juice. Is it a health food or simply soda in disguise? Drop for drop, ounce for ounce -- on the drink aisle, which is healthier -- fruit juice or soda? Betty Powell "If it says fruit juice, that's good! We think, 'Oh, this is nutritional, they've taken care of everything that needs to be handled.'"

Betty Powell learned differently. She simply cut fruit juice out of her diet and so far has lost more than 10 pounds. Is this a good idea? Stephanie Dean, a registered dietician who treats Powell, says be careful what you consume. Stephanie Dean, Dietician "When we want to help people lose weight, we want them to watch their calories. Sometimes it comes from food, sometimes it comes from beverages."

This apple juice has 120 calories. A regular coke - 100, per serving. The juice also has more sugar: 29 grams. The coke 27. Our comparison stacked up with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's data which finds - a cup of fruit juice simply has more calories than a cup of regular Coke or Pepsi. An article in the L.A. Times sparked a nationwide discussion. In the fight against obesity, some experts claim it's time juice lost its wholesome image, but is that fair?"

We contacted the Juice Products Association for a comment. Sarah Wally, manager of Nutrition Communication said: "Fruit juice provides a key source of valuable nutrients, including folate, potassium and vitamin C. Simply discussing 'healthful choices' under the umbrella of caloric density is not scientifically accurate - or fair to consumers." Now -- Betty Powell only eats fruit and she only drinks water. She's learned every calorie -- even the nutritious ones, counts. Betty Powell "Every calorie counts, sugar is sugar."

When it comes to the kids, I still do watered down juice. I have had several older people tell me my my kids should drink more orange juice because it's good for them. I just tell them eating an orange is much healthier. My two-year-old is obsessed with apple juice. I water it down every time I give it to him. I am not sure if my husband/sitter/etc. do the same. I have mentioned to them to do that, but who knows what happens when I am not home. My two-year-old did say to me the other day, "No water mommy, just apple juice." How do you limit juice at your house?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Young People and Sex

2009-12-15T20:17:00.008-06:00

FROM GOOD MORNING AMERICA: A revealing new survey of young people talking about their sex lives. It's surprising how much 18-29 year olds *don't* know about sex... and how much of what they think they know is wrong. Dr. Richard Besser has more on the story.

DR. BESSER:"The first thing I want to talk about is the talk. How many of you had a sex talk with your parents at some point?" ( All hands raise)

Chelsea Biemiller, 21 "I remember I was about 13 or 14. And her version of the talk was basically, The first time you have sex, it will hurt. It will be painful. It will be scary. And I want you to promise to come and tell me before you do anything."

O'Niel Anderson, 21 "We've done-- we've had the talk. It's pretty awkward havin' a conversation with your mom, you know?" Agron Kovangji, 20 "I was about 14. And my mom said, "If you have sex, wear a condom." And that was basically--"

DR. BESSER:"That was the talk?" Agron: "Yeah."
DR. BESSER: Did she talk about where you could get condoms, or how you could-- protect yourself? Agron: "Yep. School, hospital, clinics, all that."

Agron's experience may not be the norm -- a recent study by UCLA / Rand Center for Adolescent Health found 70 percent of teen boys reported they had not discussed how to use a condom or other birth control methods. Another forty two percent of teen girls reported that they had not discussed the effectiveness of birth control with their parents.

DR. BESSER:"Why is it that some women who don't want to get pregnant-- have sex without using contraception?

Chelsea Biemiller, 21 "I think it's a lot about the short term. Thinking in the short term of this passionate moment, we can act in this way, without thinking about the long term. That this has very long term possible consequences."

DR. BESSER:"A new study out that shows that while most young adults believe that pregnancy should be planned, not all young adults are using contraception all the time. Does that surprise you?

Lia Glynia, 28 "It doesn't surprise me. I don't think people think about it that way."

Alexis Triado, 29 "sex is glorified. Like in TV, movie, and like music videos. Like you watch Gossip Girl, you know, they're not like, wait, let me put a condom on. And then they-- they just like have sex and it's so romantic and passionate. So, it's not really a message--"

DR. BESSER:"You're not seeing that behavior modeled."

Lia Glynia, 28 "I think so many of us want these movie moments of like, "You complete me or you say the right thing."

Shante Gordon, 32 "Before you even-- you're in that moment. You need to talk about it with your partner. Listen, if we're gonna do this--what are we-- are we gonna use the condom. Are we gonna just rely on the pill? I don't want a child. You don't want a child. Well, then what do we need to do to make sure that we don't have a kid."

Chelsea Biemiller, 21 "I think you would be hard-- hard pressed to find any person in their 20s that hasn't had some kind of sexuality scare. Be it a pregnancy or STDs or something like that. Because you are gonna make mistakes, you really are. You can't be 100 percent perfect every time. So, you really just have to-- just have to take care of yourself."

So what is the right thing to say to your teenager about sex? I guess you almost have to go into detail about how/where to get birth control. I would assume most teens who are having sex or thinking about aren't admitting that to their parents. That will be a tough conversation in my future. And do both parents have the talk or just one? And if I have all boys, does my husband need to be the one who talks? I wonder if that makes a difference.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Strangulation Danger

2009-12-15T19:59:00.011-06:00

FROM CNN: The Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling up to 50-million Roman shades and roll-up window blinds that pose a danger to children.
Inez Tenenbaum, chairwoman of the C-P-S-C, says consumers that have the window treatments can get kits to fix the problem. "We've had 8 strangulations and 16 near strangulations because children have been entangled in the cords.
Roman shades have the cords behind them and we now have a kit that will make these Roman shades cordless." The roll up shades have a kit that will be offered that will have a break away so that child cannot strangle on the roll up shade.

The blinds are sold at high end retailers like Pottery Barn and discount stores like Walmart.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND MORE PICTURES, CLICK HERE.

We have the faux wood blinds. They do have cords, but they are separated. I would much rather have cordless because my almost 3 year old does try to play with them sometimes. We have the cordless solar shades in the baby's room and the 3-year-old's room just has a curtain. Those cordless shades are around $200! I have so many other things I could spend $200 on! So actually several of our rooms just have curtains. Oh well! What kind of window coverings do you have?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Kid's Swine Flu Vaccine Recalled

2009-12-15T19:57:00.004-06:00

FROM NBC: H1N1 vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pastuer has issued a recall for 800 thousand doses of pediatric vaccine, however they stress it is *not* a safety issue. Sanofi routinely tests its vaccine after it has been distributed to doctors. During one of these tests they found the potency of the vaccine for children six to thirty-five months had dropped below the recommended limit.

Further tests found four lots, or roughly 800 thousand doses, were affected. Most of the vaccine had not been administered. Children who did receive the vaccine do not face any increased health risks -- and are likely still protected from swine flu. A spokesman for Sanofi Pastuer say no action is needed other than returning unused doses. Experts say this should not impact vaccine supply.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Teen Pot Smoking

2009-12-14T16:23:00.007-06:00

It looks like more teenagers are smoking pot. The White House released a survey
of about 47,000 eighth, 10th and 12th graders that shows the debate over medical use of marijuana is making the drug's use safer in teens' minds.

Drug czar Gil Kerlikowske says fewer teens are viewing prescription drugs as dangerous and they said the same thing about Ecstasy. Kerlikowske says the survey did show teens are cutting down on smoking cigarettes, binge drinking and meth use. He says this should be a wake up call for parents.

I don't know if anyone had meth in my high school. If they did it was a big secret. I don't even think I heard of Ecstasy until college. It's scary to think we may have never even heard of the drug of choice when our kids are in high school. I hope I am not naive and I address this issue before it becomes a problem or a danger to my kids.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

When is a fever too high?

2009-12-13T21:23:00.005-06:00

A mom wrote in to Fox News asking when is a child's fever too high?

Dr. Manny said, "A fever is usually a sign that something out of the ordinary is going on with your body. For an adult, a fever is usually uncomfortable, but it isn't dangerous until it reaches 103 degrees or higher. But for young children, a slight fever may indicate an infection. Anything over 100.4 degrees is considered a fever, but when it's higher than 103 degrees beware. If the fever is rising fast, they could have a febrile seizure. They could lose consciousness and have convulsions. Though scary for parents, the vast amount of febrile seizures cause no long term effects. You can give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen, but always, always talk to you doctor first. Whatever you do,don't give them a cold bath or rub them down with alcohol. That can be shocking to the system. If at any time the fever isn't going down and your child is lethargic, has a rash or starts vomiting, see your doctor."
What is the highest temperature your children have had?
My oldest had a night of 104 degrees. We went to the emergency room and it eventually went down. It was scary.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Holiday Allergies

2009-12-10T20:41:00.005-06:00

We have been sneezing like crazy at our house. I saw this story today from Medstar and wondered if all the Christmas decorations are to blame. I think my 6-year-old got out every holiday decoration he could find. We have three Christmas trees and lights everywhere. It looks a little tacky, but it was so much fun watching him. Anyway, I am sure there are dust mites on some of this stuff. I bought one of the trees at Big Lots about 10 years ago!

FROM MEDSTAR: Holidays are supposed to be fun, but it’s possible the things you’ve decked the hall with are bringing you down - with allergy symptoms! You can put the “merry” back into the season by eliminating the allergens nipping at your nose! Rochelle Doctor looks forward to the holidays, but she also has to look ‘forward’ to avoid allergy triggers. Rochelle Doctor “I’ve really worked at eliminating triggers, because once you’ve been exposed to a trigger, all you can do is take medication to try to control it.” Rochelle’s strategy starts with keeping her decorations as dust-free as possible from season to season.

Rochelle Doctor “Just take like a little brush, and just brush it off lightly, and put it in a plastic bag or Ziploc bag and then store it away.” Her allergy doctor takes the decoration advice a step further. Her allergy doctor takes the decoration advice a step further. Dr. Clifford Bassett “I usually recommend to individuals who believe they have allergies to try something that’s plastic, metal or glass that’s easy to clean.” In fact, this time of year can take a toll on many unsuspecting patients’ merriment. Dr. Clifford Bassett “Many sufferers complain of a variety of nasal and sinus symptoms during the holidays, and they don’t realize that they indeed have allergies, and they have holiday allergies that are making them worse.”

So what’s on the naughty list? Molds blooming on fresh trees… dust lurking on artificial ones… and strong scents. Dr. Clifford Bassett “The smallest amount of airway irritant such as smoke, fragrance, potpourri, incense and particularly candles, could really wreak havoc during the holidays.” There is hope, though, if you make a list of possible triggers, and have an allergist check it twice before the season starts.

Dr. Clifford Bassett “It’s important to find out if you have them because treatment really does work, and it helps to prevent symptoms from getting worse.” A way to avoid re-gifting yourself with holiday allergies next year! Food allergies can also present a problem during the holidays. Hidden ingredients in party foods, like nuts, seafood or dairy products can cause reactions. Doctor Bassett recommends that food allergy patients alert hosts or restaurants to their sensitivities, and also plan ahead by bringing a safe snack.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Bed Wetting Questions Answered

2009-12-09T16:08:00.002-06:00

Earlier this week we talked about kids and bed wetting and you had some questions about a drug used to stop kids from wetting the bed at night.

"I also would like to know more about the med Desmopressin. Can you get it over the counter or is it a prescribed med? Is it safe?"

Pediatric Urologist Dr. Benjamin Rhee said, "I try it in kids who have already tried everything else. We use it on kids after checking daytime issues, constipation issues and other medical issues." Dr. Rhee said he usually prescribes Desmopressin to older kids because that is when wetting the bed becomes a social issue.

Rhee said, "It is safe to use on little kids, but I don't like to use it until they are older." He said when taking Desmopressin, you can't take in a lot of fluids. "If the child is too young, they may not understand that and it could cause problems. 8-9 years old is when they tend to understand. Desmopressin is an anti-diaretic hormone-so the person doesn't make as much urine. If you take the medication and take in too much water, you will have too much water in the body."

Desmopressin comes in a nasal spray or a pill and is taken before bedtime. There are no major side effects with it besides that they have to cut back on water intake.
Dr. Rhee said, "With Desmopressin, we give it for 6 months and then stop and see if they wet again. If they do, they go on it for 6 months more months. Some parents will only use it on weeks when there is something special going on like a camp or slumber party."

What about the bed wetting alarms? Do they work? Dr. Rhee said studies are showing if the alarm system works, it works for the longest amount of time. "But it doesn't work as well because it tends to wake everyone else in the house, but the child," said Rhee. He said kids who wet the bed are usually heavy sleepers.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Wanted: Interviews

2009-12-08T16:51:00.005-06:00

I am looking for new interviews for HOI 19. If you have a not-for-profit event coming up and would like to be considered for an interview, please email me at newsanchormom (at) gmail (dot) com. The interviews don't have to be about an event. They can also be on a topic that matters most to you.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.

Long Wait for Therapy Services

2009-12-08T12:05:00.001-06:00

If your child needs developmental therapy, good luck getting the services. The state is behind on its payments to speech therapists and developmental therapists by 2-3 months. Many of them are looking for new jobs because they can't pay their bills. This, on top of a national shortage for speech therapists.

Speech Pathologist Sarah Ziemba says she absolutely loves her job, but she can't continue like this. She has been getting paid at least two months late since last December. "For me it has been a different way of thinking about things. What can I pay? What do I have to pay? Now I am looking for a new job. Providers are dropping out of the program because of the delay. In the last week, three therapists gave notice or cut back their hours. Kids are waiting for 3-4 months right now for speech. If things continue they will have to wait longer,” said Ziemba.

If therapists don't start getting paid, Ziemba worries kids will really struggle to get the help they need in a timely manner. Often times, the younger a child starts therapy, the better they do in school. Ziemba said, "I am a single mom with three kids. How can I bee a responsible parent/adult and continue to do the job I love? I worked hard to get this far. Do I get a new career, a side job or just quit?"

Developmental therapist Karissa Schmitz is in the same boat. She says it's not easy to keep your credentials for these types of jobs. She worries if people start looking elsewhere for work, they will lose their certification and the state will be extremely short on therapists. "It would be costly and take a lot of time to get those credentials back. Historically we have always seen a lack of therapists in the state. This is making it much worse," said Schmitz.

What about families who have kids who desperately need these services? What are they supposed to do? Ziemba said, "It is very frustrating for families. Some families are really out of luck. It feels so out of our hands. I think it will take a lot of people rallying together to get something changed.All social service programs are having similar issues. We are in the top ten of the worst states financially."

Ziemba says they only way to get your child therapy services immediately would be to pay out of pocket and have an independent contractor come to your home. She says some families who can afford to are resorting to this. The state pays therapies around $130 an hour. Most kids who see a therapist go once or twice a week.

I called the comptroller's office and Communications Director Alan Henry says they are getting about 3000 calls a week from state employees who are not getting their paychecks. Henry says right now the comptroller's office has $4.3 billion in bills that need to be paid-over 168,000 bills in all! Some bills date back to July 1st. He says the government is spending a lot more than it's taking in and there isn't a whole lot he can do. He says it is up to state leaders to figure out. "Everybody deserves to get paid on time, but a lot of people aren't who deserve it," said Henry.

What can you do? Call your representative and ask them what they are doing to resolve this problem before it gets worse.

Ziemba and Schmitz say not to give up if you think your child needs developmental help because birth to three learning is extremely important. You can still get a FREE developmental screening in a timely manner by calling Child and Family Connections. In Peoria, it's (309) 672-6360. If you need the services, the wait will most likely be several months, but you can fight to get in sooner!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Not sure what to get your loved ones? Give a Skin Dimensions gift card! Surprise your loved ones with the choice of massages, facials, bareMinerals makeup, manicures, pedicures or let them choose products from a selection of over 25 national and international brands of skincare. Gift cards available in any denomination. Purchase at Skin Dimensions Day Spa, Skin Dimensions Boutique or online.