Pox Protection
A long-term study of the chickenpox vaccine found a single dose provided excellent protection against the virus. What’s more, not a single child in the study developed chickenpox following a second dose of the vaccine. Experts believe the safe, effective vaccine could turn chickenpox into an infection of the past.
Hot Water Worries
A survey by the Consumer Product Safety Commission found water temperatures in 41 percent of homes were higher than the recommended 120°F. High tap water temperatures can lead to serious burns in young children.
Swim Scare
Swimming injuries in kids have become more common, according to a study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. The number of children ages 7+ treated in the ER for swimming-related injuries is nearly 30 percent higher than 20 years ago. Researchers pointed to parents not paying close-enough attention to their kids as the cause. The bulk of injuries happened in swimming pools.
Block Those Rays
The Skin Cancer Foundation reports melanoma rates in US children from newborn to age 19 have risen 2 percent per year in recent decades. The deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, is very rare in kids, but those with fair skin and light hair are at higher risk. Protect your child with full-spectrum sunscreen year-round.
Skim ≠ Slim
Preschoolers who drink skim milk may actually be heavier, say researchers at the University of Virginia. A recent study found that when children between ages 2–4 are served 2 percent or whole milk, they have lower body-mass index (BMI) scores than those drinking skim or 1 percent milk. (BMI uses height and weight to calculate body fat.) Experts suggest milk in its natural state may be more filling, reducing the desire to snack.
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