Posted on April 26, 2024 by Sugar Bee Baby

Pesticide Exposure in Pregnancy Linked to Lower IQ in Kids

Three studies show a link between pre-birth exposure pesticides widely used on food crops and lower intelligence scores in children.

The effect is especially noticeable in kids from a California farming region. An area where they and their mothers were also potentially exposed to pesticides on local crops.

The pesticides, organophosphates, kill insects by disrupting their brains and nervous systems. First developed in a more potent form as nerve poisons during World War II, they can disrupt people’s nervous systems as well, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Growing Evidence of Pesticide’s Effects on Pregnancy

The research doesn’t prove that organophosphate exposure is bad for the developing brains of infants and children. That may be impossible to confirm. Ethical constraints prevent scientists from randomly assigning kids to be exposed to pesticides to see what happens.

Still, “there’s a body of evidence that’s beginning to build” in support of a link, said Brenda Eskenazi, co-author of one of the studies and director of the Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health at the University of California, Berkeley.

Although organophosphates are no longer used in bug-killing products designed for the home, they remain common in agriculture, the researchers noted.

Exposure to the pesticides in pregnant mothers showed lower IQ scores in their kids by age 7.

Two of the studies, conducted by researchers at Mt. Sinai Medical Center and Columbia University, examined kids in New York City, while Eskenazi’s study looked at 329 kids and their mothers in the Salinas Valley area of central California.

All of the studies found links between exposure to the pesticides in pregnant mothers and lower IQ scores in their kids by age 7.

In the Salinas Valley study, researchers looked at signs of pesticide exposure in urine taken from the mothers during pregnancy and later from their children.

The researchers found that every 10-fold increase in organophosphates detected during a mother’s pregnancy corresponded to a 5.5-point drop in overall IQ scores in her children by age 7.

In fact, the 20% of the children whose mothers appeared to have been exposed to the least pesticides had about a 7-point higher IQ level, on average, than those in the 20% born to mothers with the highest exposure, the researchers reported.

Equivalent to about six months of brain development

The difference is equivalent to about six months of brain development in a typical child, Eskenazi said. And the differences remained even when the researchers adjusted their statistics.

Eskenazi pointed out that the exposure might result in more children in need of special education and other services.

The studies show more of an effect in Salinas Valley than New York City,. Suggesting that the California kids were exposed to more pesticides because they live near farms where these chemicals are used.

How can parents lower their family’s exposure to pesticides?

Reducing exposure during pregnancy is important.
Take steps to prevent pests from getting into the home, rather than trying to manage them with pesticides.
Buy organic produce to avoid pesticides
Wash those fruits and vegetables well. Get a brush to scrub them, especially if they’re hard-skinned fruits and vegetables. If they have a peel, you still need to wash them

Communities should pursue integrated pest management strategies that use a combination of methods and aim to reduce use of chemical pesticides.

Hope for the Future

The pesticides in question may be on their way to becoming less of a risk: Eskenazi said they’re less popular today than in the past. “The industry has been responsive,” she said. “We are definitely seeing a drop, and we’re seeing an increase in organic cropland.”

SOURCES: Brenda Eskenazi, Ph.D., director, Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health, and professor of epidemiology and maternal and child health, University of California, Berkeley; and Mary A. Fox, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor, health policy and management department, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore; , Environmental Health Perspectives.

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Sugar Bee Baby

Strike Up The Band! Music Means More Than Fun!

by Christina Lorenzen

The Love of Music

We may not all love the ballet, opera or an afternoon at a museum, but you would be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t like music. With so many kinds to choose from, from classical to hip hop to classic rock, there’s something for every taste. It’s long been said that “music soothes the savage beast” and many of us find ourselves soothed by our car radios on the way home from a long day of work. Music not only has the power to relax or energize us, it also has been shown to make children smarter.

Early Childhood

Early childhood specialists have conducted tests and concluded that preschoolers who received music lessons for several months showed specific advantages over their playmates who did not. Tests showed these children had improved dramatically in their abilities to color patterns of color, draw geometric figures and figure out mazes. These skills reflect spatial intelligence which is the foundation for complex types of reasoning needed in math and science.

BENEFITS of Music for very young children/preschoolers:

1. Promotes large and small motor skills development.
2. Cultivates concentration and focused listening.
3. Fosters early vocal development and enhanced social abilities.
4. Encourages parent/child bonding

It’s been proven that music stimulates all areas of a child’s developing brain.

Early musical exposure has been linked to superior motor abilities. It has even been shown to affect social abilities positively. Hands-on participation in music, especially during the brain’s crucial developing years of ages 3-10, is especially valuable. During the ages of 3-10, the areas of the brain responsible for higher thinking abilities are developing. What does all this really mean? Simply put, music is a healthy and natural opportunity for your child to express him/herself while promoting the positive development of the whole child – socially, physically and emotionally.

Dwindling School Programs

Unfortunately, with school funding dwindling each year, many schools have small music programs with limited room for children to participate. Many schools have cut their music programs altogether, taking away more than just the fun of playing from their students. If your child’s school does not offer a music program, check with a local music store/school and reap these rewards from your investment:

BENEFITS of Music for older, school-age children:

1. aids academic aptitudes in mathematics, science and the arts.
2. increases scholastic participation.
3. teaches the value of achieving goals
4. bolsters self-image and self-assurance.
5. inspires self-sufficiency and appreciation for teamwork.

Educational Toys Toddlers love

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Sugar Bee Baby

Healthy Toddler Treat: Creamy Cranberry Dipping Sauce

By Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers

Yummy Toddler Food

Toddler Meal Kit

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Toddlers love to play with their food. Dipping sauces make foods taste good and provide your child with an activity that makes meals and snacks more fun. These two recipes are for children one-yer old or older. Enjoy these yummy dipping sauces – one for fruits and another for veggies, tofu, and meats.

What age to introduce cranberries to baby?

Over 12 months (cooked/juice/sauce).

Over 18 months (dried).

Creamy Cranberry Dipping Sauce

Healthy Toddler Treat: Creamy Cranberry Dipping Sauce

Recipe by Sugar Bee BabyCourse: Ages and Stages

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking timeminutes

Calories

kcal

Ingredients

3/4 cup 100 percent cranberry raspberry (or grape) juice
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

Directions

Combine ingredients in a small mixing bowl, whisking until smooth.
Serve hot or at room temperature.
Perfect for dipping fruits and veggies

All about cranberries

The cranberry is a Native American fruit that grows on trailing vines like a strawberry, and thrives in wetland areas, called bogs. Cranberries are harvested in September and October.

The most common technique for harvesting is known as a “wet” harvest, which involves flooding the bogs with water to float the fruit for easy collection. In the winter the frozen water insulates and protects the vines.

The North American cranberry has a distinguished history. Native Americans used cranberries as food, in ceremonies, and medicinally.

Revolutionary War veteran Henry Hall planted the first commercial cranberry beds in Dennis, Massachusetts in 1816. Today they are farmed on approximately 40,000 acres across the northern United States and Canada.
Cranberries are available in a variety of product forms including fresh, juice, dried, and sauce.

Cranberries are a healthy fruit.

They contain no cholesterol and virtually no fat and are low in sodium and contain significant amounts of antioxidants and other phytonutrients. They may help protect against heart disease, cancer, aging, and other diseases. Cranberries contain bacteria-blocking compounds that are helpful in preventing urinary tract infections, and possibly ulcers and gum disease.

Cranberries for the family

Cranberry up your Thanksgiving meal by trying some of these tasty and simple ideas.

1. Football snack: Add dried cranberries to any nut mixture.

2. Salad: Sprinkle dried cranberries on mixed green or spinach salad. The sweetness of the cranberries is terrific with any vinaigrette dressing and is a great compliment to crumbled blue cheese or goat cheese.

3. Side dish: Add dried cranberries to your favorite stuffing, wild rice, or couscous recipe.

4. Veggie: Sauté onions, diced zucchini, and dried cranberries in olive oil. Season with a dash of turmeric, cinnamon, and rep pepper flakes. Great taste and awesome color!

5. Most important cranberries are yummy toddler food!

5. All American apple pie: Add ½frac12; cups of fresh cranberries to your favorite apple recipe.

6. Treat the whole family to fresh cranberry sauce. Make this simple recipe that can be made ahead of time.

Cranberry Mustard Dipping Sauce

Details

Servings

Prep time

3 minutes

Cooking time

0 minutes

Calories

Ingredients

1/2 cup jellied cranberry sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons grainy Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon brown sugar

Directions

Combine ingredients in a small mixing bowl, whisking until smooth.
Serve hot or at room temperature.
Serve with raw/blanched veggies, baked tofu, chicken fingers or fish sticks.

Introducing Finger Foods to Your Baby

https://sugarbeebaby.com/homemade-baby-food/

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Sugar Bee Baby

Child Development: How Two-Year-Olds Learn Fine Motor Skills

How Two-Year-Olds Learn Fine Motor Skills?

Your two-year-old has just started enthusiastically running, jumping and — yes — saying “No!” Running and jumping is good for their development. It is important to recognize the need for fine motor skill development — especially young boys who tend to have difficulty sitting still to color.

What are fine motor skills?

Fine motor skills include precise thumb, finger, hand, and wrist movements that are practiced through tracing, scribbling, painting, cutting and pasting.

Scribbling:

Create art with crayons. Random scribbles come first, and then circular scribbles will emerge! Try flat and vertical surfaces. For a good sensory experience, use sticks to draw in sand on warm days or in the snow during the winter.

Puzzles:

Your child will begin to complete 2- 3 piece puzzles with guidance. If your child has a favorite picture, paste it onto heavy cardboard, and then cut it into a few simple pieces. Puzzles are a great way to help your child develop coordination of visual and motor skills.

Stacking Good Time:

Kids love to stack. Help your child learn to stack blocks, empty thread spools, raison boxes, sponges, or small containers. Tochallenge your child’s fine motor movements, stack items that are small enough to fit in your child’shands. This is great for hand-eye coordination, as well as grasp and release movements.

Page Turner:

If your child loves story time, make it as interactive as possible, whilerefining your child’s hand movements. Helpyour child learn to open a book, turn a few pages, and then turn only one page at a time.

Silly Putty:

Play dough or silly putty is a great way toincrease your child’s hand and finger strength. It is also agreat way to introduce a new sensory experience. Help your child pinch, squeeze, poke, and roll the dough. Easy recipes for play dough can be found on the internet.

Double Trouble:

At this age, your child is beginning to use both hands to play. Let your child carry empty plastic bowls, or two large apples or oranges so they use two hands at once. This helps increase bilateral hand use and strength.

Snack Time:

No doubt your child loves to pick up small objects. They might use their whole hand at first, and then will learn to use their thumb and fingers to pick up objects. Give your child cheerios, raisons, or marshmallows to help learn to use a pinch-like grasp. Make sure to supervise your child, to avoid choking.

Getting Ready for Scissors:

Practice with spray bottles, clothes pins, salad tongs, and tweezers to develop the ‘open-shut’ hand movements needed for scissors. For a good sensory experience, help your child use the tongs to puck up objects out of sand, snow, water, rice, etc.

Open Sesame:

Encourage your child to begin opening bottles and doorknobs, or to play with toys that require twisting. Put goodies or toys in a jar, and let your child undo the lids to get to the prize. These types of activities help develop wrist rotation.

Little Painter:

At this age, your child can imitate and create lines and circles. Tape paper to a vertical surface to create proper grasp and hand movements. For a good sensory experience, use hands and fingers in finger paint, pudding, or play dough. This will help your child learn the motor patterns used for drawing and writing.

Puzzles:

Your child can being completing 4- 5 piece puzzles. If your child has a favorite picture, paste it onto heavy cardboard, and then cut it into simple shapes. Puzzles are a great way to help your child develop coordination of visual and motor skills.

Sky Scrapers:

Your child may now be able to stack as many as 5 or 6 objects. You may also begin teaching your child how to line up object horizontally or in a row, to make a train or truck they can push around. Use blocks, raison boxes, sponges or small containers.

Kitchen Helper:

Your child may love to imitate your actions. When you are busy making dinner or baking, let your child pretend they are working too. Give them simple tools to play with, and that will increase their hand dexterity and strength at the same time. For example, let your child stir water in a bowl with a spatula, use a garlic press with play dough, wipe the tables with a washcloth, play and make drawings in salt on a cookie tray, or scrub vegetables with a cloth or brush. These activities will strength fine motor abilities, and give your child new sensory experiences.

Snack Time:

At this age, your child should be using his or her thumb and fingers to pick up foods. Give your child cheerios, raisons, or marshmallows to help learn these skills. Make sure to supervise your child to avoid choking. For other foods, encourage the use of a spoon and fork to increase coordination and control of the hands.

Child Development: Preschoolers Ages and Stages

Child Development: Baby 7-12 Months Old

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Sugar Bee Baby

How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need?

Sleep is essential no matter how old you are, however, to a growing mind and body a lack of sleep can be very detrimental.

Slowed speech and various behavioral problems can stem from not sleeping enough as can a decrease in cognitive abilities. Many children also experience heightened stress and anxiety without proper rest.

American Psychological Association estimates that sleep issues affect 69% of children on a number of nights each week. If your child is having difficulty, some things to try are:

- Reduce the amount of noise in the home. Have older siblings who are still awake play quietly and observe a quiet period that starts 15 to 30 minutes before bedtime. This time should be tranquil and there should be minimal stimulation this will allow the mind and body to calm and prepare to rest.

- Make sure that the bedroom is not too hot or too cold and dress the child appropriately. This will ensure that the child will not become restless due to being freezing cold or sweating.

- It is also important to have a set bedtime and routine. If everything happens at a standard time, the body will become adjusted to the schedule.

How much sleep does my child need?

Sleep Requirements by age are as follows:

Age	Required Sleep
One to four weeks old	15-16 hours each day
One to twelve months old	14-15 hours each day
One to three years old	12-14 hours each day
Three to six years old	10-12 hours each day
Seven to twelve years old	10-11 hours each day
Twelve to eighteen years old	8-9 hours each day

As parents, you are constantly under the watchful eye of a child. The deprivation of sleep can affect adults in much the same way as children through moodiness and slowing the rate at which your brain processes information. Set a good example for your children by getting enough sleep yourself.

How Much Sleep do Parents Need?

Sleep deprivation suppresses your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness.

Being sleep deprived makes us more likely to catch a cold. In a 2009 study, people sleeping less than 7 hours per night had a 3 times greater risk of catching a cold than those with 8 hours or more.
We all know that fatigue makes us crankier and easily inflamed, but it actually undermines a key part of the body’s inflammatory response—called cytokines— which are absolutely essential for fighting off infections.
As exhaustion rises so does the risk of serious infection. In a study of 57,000 women, those trying to get by on less than 5 hours of sleep a night had a 50% increase in risk of pneumonia.
Several studies have found that sleep promotes a stronger immune response to vaccines—which improves our body’s immunological memory.
Sleep may also help our T cells better glom onto their target to fight infection, according to a recent study out of Germany.

Bottom line? Sleep is one of the best things you can do to strengthen your immune system and protect your body from cold and flu,” “Get your zzzz’s!”

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Sugar Bee Baby

Newborn Baby Guide – Ages and Stages

Babies develop at their own pace, so it’s impossible to tell exactly when your child will learn a given skill. The developmental steps listed below will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect, but don’t be alarmed if your own baby’s development takes a slightly different course.