Kathleen Alfano, Ph.D. Director of Child Research at Fisher-Price®
Playing together as a family helps build and strengthen family bonds and establishes memories in the making, in addition to providing opportunities for parents and children to do something enjoyable and fun with each other. One of the benefits for young children is knowing that their family is interested in spending time with them. What a confidence booster! Just about any time can be playtime, and for young children especially, routine and familiar activities are a great place to start.
One of the benefits of family play is the development of social and language skills. Young children usually begin imaginative play by imitating what they've seen and experienced. Their play themes often revolve around family happenings and events. Parents can initiate or extend family playtimes by encouraging conversations and discussions about shared experiences. Using toys and playsets based on familiar themes for preschoolers, such as a farm, a garage, or a kitchen, provide wonderful opportunities for family interactions and involvement. Playing together with such toys is one of the best ways to spend quality time as a family. It's fun for all involved!
Following are some tips for getting the most out of playing with your child:
Take advantage of the chance to play and have fun with your child—it's a golden opportunity you won't want to miss.
Sometimes, just sit back and observe your child at play—observation provides hints to the next stage of development.
Follow your child's cues—be creative and resourceful when playing together.
Choose toys that are fun for your child and fun for you, too!
Allow enough time for family play. Children develop best in an environment which allows them time to explore, discover and play.
Most of all, cherish this time together and really enjoy yourselves.
And, best of all, remember that the benefits of family play last a lifetime!
Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only. We recommend you also consult your healthcare provider, and urge you to contact them immediately if your question is urgent or about a medical condition
Bead Ball
Bead Ball is an activity toy that utilizes different rods with characterized beads which move back and forth across rods by a child. The toy is in a sphere format.
Did you know? David Beckham reportedly cried when wife Victoria told him she was pregnant with their fourth child.
The soccer star was stunned when the former Spice Girl and now fashion designer planned a romantic meal at home to break the news that they would be having a sibling for Brooklyn, 11, Romeo, eight, and five-year-old Cruz
"She started a conversation about their future as a family and whether it should be in the Britain or US," said a source.
"But when he said they have three children to think about, she smiled and said 'four'. David just beamed at her and hugged her. He told her he couldn't have wished for better news. He's so happy, he can't stop crying," he added.
How did you break the baby-on-the-way news to your hubby? How did he react?
Re-live your precious moments by sharing your stories with us at Fisher-Price and our community of mommies & daddies. We would all love to hear.
Kick & Crawl Aquarium Restage
A refresh of our successful Ocean Wonders Kick & Crawl Aquarium Gym. It has three modes of play: lay-at, tummy-time and crawl-through. In lay-at play mode, baby will enjoy batting at a seahorse with a rattle rollerball and an octopus mirror with 2 clacker beads. He'll also enjoy kicking a printed inflatable ball which has a trapped plastic ball inside. For tummy-time, mom can reposition the seahorse and the octopus to tethers on the mat. When baby's ready to crawl, mom can thread the mat through the two foam arches to create a fun tunnel for baby.
For a fun twist on storytime, have your child choose two favorite storybook characters and imagine them in a different setting such as your home or your family's favorite restaurant. Help your child make up an original story by thinking of the characters' adventures in this new place.
Here are some stories that your kids will love to listen & watch while you do the dishes.
Silk the Spider Meets Sam the Caterpillar
The Rainbow Fish
Alexander's Bad Day
If you give a mouse a cookie
If you take a mouse to school By: Laura Numeroff
The Worried Worm
Goldilocks & The Three Bears Story by Cullen's
Make videos of your kid's twist on his favorite story and send it to us. We will feature your video on our page.
Rock Roll & Ride Refresh from Fisher-Price
A sturdy trike with three fun ways to ride! Lock the base in place for ride-on, rocking fun.
As kids grow, the base converts to an extra long push handle so parents can comfortably stroll behind while their child learns to pedal. And when they’re ready to ride on their own, the handle removes, seat adjusts and foot pegs fold up for easy independent pedaling.
Dropped your mobile phone into the sink, pet's water bowl, fish tank or worst of all the toilet ? If you are fast enough, you might be able to save the phone. Follow the steps to try and save your wet mobile phone.
Take the phone out of the water as soon as possible. The plastic covers on cell phones are fairly tight, but water can enter the phone in a short period of time, perhaps only 20 seconds or less. Grab your phone quickly! Don't switch the phone on, as this can cause it to short circuit – if it has been in water, assume it needs drying immediately whether or not it is working.
If you can't get to the phone in time, your best bet is to remove the battery while it is still under water. Water helps to dissipate heat from shorts that can damage the phone, so most damage occurs when the inside of the phone is wet and connected to a power source. This can go both ways, however. Being under water is more likely to short the battery to even more sensitive contacts, so be careful.
Probably how you are feeling, but act first and cry later.
Don't panic. Your phone will probably not be too damaged if you take it out of the water right away. A longer period of immersion, such as being in the washing machine cycle, will be cause for more alarm but it is still worth trying the following steps before giving up completely.
Remove the battery as soon as possible
Remove the battery. This is one of the most important steps. Don't take time to think about it; electricity and water do not mix. Cutting power to your phone is a crucial first step in saving it. Many circuits inside the phone will survive immersion in water provided they are not attached to a power source when wet.
To find out if the phone is truly water damaged, check the corner near where the battery is – there should be a white square or circle, with or without red lines. If this is pink or red, your phone has water damage.
Quickly read the manual to your phone if you're not sure how to remove the battery.
Remove sim card to atleast save contacts
Remove the SIM card if you have a GSM carrier. Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) could be stored on your SIM. For many people, this could be more worth saving than the phone itself. SIM cards survive water damage well, but some of the following steps might damage it, so getting it out immediately makes good sense. Just pat it dry and leave it aside until you need to connect your phone to your cellular network. (This step does not apply to CDMA carriers)
Remove any peripherals or cover
Remove all other peripherals and covers that can be removed. Remove any covers and external connectors to open up as many gaps, slots, and crevices in the phone as possible.
Use a towel to dry your phone
Dry your phone. If there is even one drop of water left inside, it can ruin your phone by corroding it and making the wrong contact. Obviously you need to remove as much of the water as soon as possible, to prevent it from easing its way into the phone:
Just to make you smile
Gently wipe off as much water as possible without dropping the phone. Avoid shaking or moving the phone excessively, so as to avoid moving water through it.
Wipe down using a towel or paper towel. Ideally, try not to clog the wet paper in the gaps and grooves of the phone. Keep wiping, to gently remove as much of the remaining water as possible.
(Optional): If you pulled the battery out in time, cleaning the inside of your phone with cleaning alcohol (alcohol will displace the water) or contact spray might remedy the problem.
Dry any remaining excess moisture by moving your dry or mitten-clad hand across the surface.
Vaccum clean gently avoid touching the phone
Use a vacuum cleaner if possible. If you want to try and suck the liquid out of the inner parts of the phone, try using a vacuum cleaner. Remove all residual moisture by drawing it away with a vacuum cleaner held over the affected areas for up to 20 minutes, in each accessible area (take it in turns with a friend). This is the fastest method and can completely dry out your phone and get it working in thirty minutes. However, unless the exposure to water was extremely short, it's not recommended to attempt to turn your phone on this soon. Be careful not to hold the vacuum too close to the phone, as a vacuum can create static electricity, which is even worse for the phone.
Hair dyer bad idea
Contrary to common advice, it is not recommended that you use a hair dryer (not even on the "cold" mode) to dry out the phone. Using a hair dryer may force moisture further into the small components, deep inside the phone, as the air blows inward. And if it is too warm, it will likely melt them. If moisture is driven deeper inside, corrosion and oxidation may result when minerals from liquids are deposited on the circuitry. Using a hairdryer might be a temporary fix, but this will eventually cause component failure inside the phone.
Place the phone in something absorbent
If available, it is preferable to use desiccant instead. Desiccant will absorb moisture better than rice. If you use this method, slip the cell phone inside a plastic bag that can be sealed or a plastic container (airtight). Add the desiccant packet (often found with shoes, noodle packets, etc.) in with the cell phone. Leave as long as possible (overnight) to absorb the moisture.
Rotate the phone to a different position every hour until you go to sleep. This will allow any water left inside to run down and hopefully find an opening to escape.
Check your mobile
Test your phone. After you have waited at least 24 hours, or longer if possible, check to see that everything on and in your cell phone is clean and looks dry. Re-attach the battery to the phone. Try turning it on.
If your phone still does not work, try plugging it into its charger without the battery. If this works, you need a new battery.
If not, try taking your cell phone to an authorized dealer. Sometimes they can fix it. Don't try to hide the fact that it has been wet – there are internal indicators that prove moisture and they're more likely to be able to help you if you explain exactly what has happened.
If you are going to take apart your mobile be sure you know what you are doing
Take the phone apart if your phone doesn't turn on at all. If you feel comfortable doing this, try taking it apart. First, make sure that you have all of the right parts and know exactly where they go. Be sure to put everything back in its proper place once finished. As you're disassembling it, pat each individual part dry with a small towel and use the vacuum cleaner once more on the crevices (but be careful not to accidentally suck up any loose parts – keep them well to one side, or stretch a length of old pantyhose over the nozzle). If this doesn't work, or you're too unsure about undoing your phone, get help from cell phone professionals.
If your phone is powering up but still acting strange after you've dried it, then it's probable that you've missed some liquid, or that the corrosion has already occurred. Dis-assembly and cleaning with a toothbrush and appropriate solvent may fix it. For the fainthearted, a skilled technician or engineer can often fix such an issue easily and quickly.
Video : A quick demonstration of what to do
Tips:
Try an alcohol bath-remove all parts (battery, sim card, etc) and place your phone face down in a small container and cover it with rubbing alcohol. This will not harm your phone and should dry it out and remove any moisture. I manage the cell phones for a large company and this has worked for me on more than one occasion. You can repeat if necessary.
Being onand wet at the same time can short out the phone's circuitry. If you're able to turn your phone off before it fries, you may well be able to resuscitate your drowned phone!
Excessive heat can damage your phone even more! Most phones have warnings about leaving them in your car or exposing them to heat. The main point is to completely dry the phone before applying power. Be patient! Use a vacuum cleaner to rapidly draw all the residual moisture out, this usually takes about 20 minutes of care and patience turning the phone every few minutes to ensure all holes and outlets get accessed.
If your phone falls in the ocean or another form of salt water, rinse it with fresh water before salt crystals can form in the phone after the removal of the battery.
It is possible to purchase commercial "wet cell phone emergency" kits. It's probably best to buy one "just in case" as you can waste valuable time going to the store to buy one.
If your phone has been subjected to salt water crystallizing, gently tap the board and the chips with a plastic object (the back of a small screw driver for example). The vibration of the taps will set some of the foreign objects free and they will fall out. Be careful and don't smash the board or the chips. A sharp enough blow will break the chips. Tapping very gently multiple times in multiple locations, especially around the chips, is a preferred method. And follow up with appropriate solvent cleaning afterwards to clean away any oxidation residue.
Place the phone in a vacuum chamber (found at many high schools and universities) and activate the chamber. Typically universities and specific industries will have a vacuum chamber available if you happen to know the right person. Water "boils" at room temperature, given enough time, meaning that it evaporates through bubbles even though it isn't heated. This method should be successful when the vacuum is maintained at room temperature for about 30 minutes. That will dry out parts you can't access as will the tip above regarding a vacuum cleaner if you have no vacuum chamber available.
Try holding a compressed air can straight (upside down, sideways, or at an angle will shoot out a freezing liquid) and shoot into the crevices, speaker, mic, and keypad. Any excess water stuck should come out. If the can gets cold and you're not done, let the can sit a while before continuing, as cold air could make excess moisture condense onto parts deeper inside. This process should be followed by the other methods that use a vacuum chamber or vacuum cleaner to more thoroughly remove any deeper residual moisture and humidity as the phone must be totally dry inside to ensure no further failure later on. The contents of many "canned air" products can be poisonous. Follow all recommendations on the can label.
Since your warranty is void anyway, if you have further problems with your phone's functions after trying the above methods to dry it out, then buy Torx screwdrivers to open the phone's case, since these are almost always specialized. (For example, the RAZR needs Torx #4, #5, and #6). Pick up a can of contact spray (electric contact cleaner)and douse the inside. It dries rapidly. Scrub any residue with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Spray with compressed air, and/or vacuum it out for several minutes to suck out further moisture and then carefully put it back together.
Take the phone with you on a long flight. The very dry air in the cabin is great for drying out the phone. One round trip from London to Singapore completely cured my blackberry after a dunking.
Another idea is to keep the phone at body temperature for a few hours. As in... next to your skin. The warmth and air flow around the phone may dry it out if it was not submerged to start with.
Warnings:
Do not leave your phone wet for an extended period of time. Dry it out as soon as possible.
Do not switch the phone on. This is important as it will prevent a charge from running from the battery to the phone which may subsequently cause the phone to short circuit.
Don't heat the battery or it could leak or explode. Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive. If you use a hairdryer, make sure to remove the battery first. Note that it is not recommended to apply heat to the phone.
If you use alcohol make sure to do so outside, and do not apply heat in any form, not even the gentle heat of a monitor. Do not hook up the battery until the alcohol smell dissipates.
Do not apply too much heat to your phone, as mentioned above. You don't want to melt or burn your phone.
Do not put your phone in an oven to dry it out.
Be warned that manufacturers of most modern cell phones place liquid damage indicator stickers that will change colors in the presence of a liquid inside their phones. This helps technicians know that you have dropped your phone in water, as most cell phone insurance coverage policies don't cover water damage. Chances are, if the sticker under the battery is triggered, then the internal stickers you can't access have probably been tripped as well. This will result in you paying a voided-warranty fee in the long run. You should be aware that warranties don't cover water damage, only insurance does, and even then, not all insurance companies or plans will honor water damaged phones. It is also worth noting that these liquid damage indicator stickers have been known to change colors in extreme humidity as well.
Even if all these steps are followed, minerals dissolved in the water can precipitate on solder and component pins, causing corrosion or shorting. Component pins are packed so closely together in modern cell phones that even a small encrustation can create a short, rendering the phone inoperable.
Do not put the phone (or any electronic or metal-containing object) into the microwave. You will destroy electronic components and potentially the microwave, and perhaps start a fire in your house. Not good.
For the semi-mechanically inclined: remove screws and, at a minimum, crack the case open to allow moisture to escape. Cell phones are normally somewhat waterproof, so they can be used in the light rain and in humid environments. This means that once moisture has entered the phone, it is very hard for it to dry out.
Removing your cell phone from the water quickly and immediately removing the battery gives you the best chance of saving your phone.
Things you will need:
Desiccant such as rice, or desiccant packet (found with new shoes, noodle packages, etc.)
He’s just like a real dog! Pretending to take Lil’ Snoopy for a walk—grasping the leash and pulling him along—will help develop fine and gross motor skills as well as the power of imaginative play.
Give your child ideas about other ways to take care of Lil’ Snoopy, like providing a pretend water or food dish. It’s good preparation for the day when you may be asked for a real puppy!
What makes Laugh & Learn apps so engaging for babies? It's all about the magic of cause and effect. Watch baby’s eyes light up as fun animations, music and audio responses reward actions!
Animal Sounds
Babies love seeing—and hearing—familiar animals from the zoo and farm.
Animal sounds to imitate, fun music to enjoy
Tap or bat at animals & learn new words. “Elephant!”
Shake it up to give animals a “tickle.”
Tilt screen to watch silly animals slide back & forth
Where’s Puppy’s Nose?™
Helps baby learn about body parts.
Discover nose, ear, eyes, mouth, foot, tummy, hand & head!
Finger taps, swipes, tilts & shakes create responses
Two fun characters: Puppy & Kitty
Lively music & fun song
Let’s Count Animals!™
Babies love to learn about counting with “pop-up” zoo and farm animal friends.
Tap or bat at screen to hear numbers
Shake it up to tickle the animals
Tilt screen to make animals slide across
Celebrate with a counting song
Protect your iPhone® or iPod® touch devices with the new Laugh & Learn™ Baby iCan Play™ Case!
Make any day of the year huggable, kissable and good deedable with these kiddie coupons!
Type : Craft
Age : 5 and Above
Time : under half an hour
Who loves to redeem coupons? You do, especially when it's your kid handing out homemade coupons for free hugs, I-love-yous, and dish-washing sessions.
You Need:
Coupon creator: Your kid.
Redeemer: You, your partner, grandma—anyone your kid deems worthy of a little love.
Chart paper: You can use pink or red if you're going for a Valentine's Day vibe, but any colors will do.
A marker
Hole puncher
Ribbon: A small, thin piece to loop the booklet together.
Embellishments: Glitter, heart-shaped stickers, rhinestones, markers, etc.
Scissors
How to do it?
To begin, have your kid decide who it is that will be receiving her coupon booklet. Tell her to keep her list short or she may be embarking on months of contract servitude!
Encourage her to make a list of all of the selfless, fabulous things she is willing to do for each of her "redeemers." Washing the dishes? Give mommy and daddy lots of hugs? Cleaning her room? She may want to limit each booklet to four or five coupons to keep her from turning into Cinderella.
Next, help her cut the construction paper into Rs.10-sized rectangles.
Have her (or help her) write out what each coupon is redeemable for (e.g., feeding Fido for a week). Make sure she avoids the upper left-hand corner of the paper because …
… once she's done writing she'll need to punch a hole in the upper left-hand corner of each coupon.
Invite her to deck out her coupons with glitter, heart-shaped stickers, and whatever else will make her feel happy about tackling the job when the coupon is redeemed.
Then have her string each booklet on to a piece of ribbon, tie it in a bow and … voila! An awesome gift from a kid with a lot of time and a lot less money
This makes a great Valentine's Day gift!
SwitchBoard Barbie
Two grow-with-me stages help kids learn to skateboard! Raise the lift & lock handle for beginners; lower it to convert to a traditional, hands-free skateboard for pros. Quality all-wood board has non-skid surface on the top, totally cool Barbie™ graphics underneath! In 2 different styles.
Am I tuning my kids out because I'm too plugged in?
Submitted by emacphe
My name is Erin. And I'm addicted to CrackBerry.
It's bad. I hear that little "tweet-tweet" go off and I drop everything to see what's up. I text at the gym. I email while I scramble eggs for my kids' breakfasts. I'm on the darn thing all the time. Last week, we went on vacation and my husband threatened to throw my BlackBerry in the ocean after I called the office from my beach blanket to check in.
In my defense, I'm a work-from-home mom—so my kids are with me when I work, and my work comes with me on park outings and to play groups. It's often hard for me to separate work and family obligations when both are pressing and need my attention. Plus, confession #2 here: I'm a workaholic—(and a perfectionist); so putting aside a work question to deal with spilled apple juice is, well, hard.
Still, I don't want to be that mom—the one who can't hang up the phone and be a parent. I want to be the mom that's out there playing tag at the park, the mom that dresses up and puts on plays with her kids, the mom that bakes homemade snacks after school. I want to be that mom that always gives her kids her full attention when she's with them. But honestly, I'm just not.
I really want to get better though (that's got to count for something, right?) and after I read Maggie Jackson's book Distracted, I'm making it a point to be more unplugged. The book talks about how devices like BlackBerries and cell phones distract us from the things that really matter. And it's so true. But it's so HARD! My kids were making this big Lego tower the other day. Was I right there on the floor building it up with them? Nope! I was pecking away on my little keypad. BlackBerry is a helluva drug.
Are there any other recovering BlackBerry addicts out there? I feel like I need some sort of 12-step support group.
Musical Pop up Bus
The Brilliant Basics Musical Pop-Up Bus is a ride full of surprises! Twist, push or pull the three different activations and surprise! --a friendly animal pops-up. Baby is also rewarded with the sung song, "The Wheels on the Bus," every time they activate a character.
The easy-to-push bus and variety of activations helps to develop baby's fine motor skills and encourages movement.
If mums want to experience a natural ‘high’ then all they need to do is take a look at their baby’s smile, say researchers.
According to boffins, the sight of their baby smiling works by triggering 'feel-good' part of the brain that deals with sensations of reward and pleasure.
As a part of the study, researchers from Texas Children's Hospital 28 first-time mums, with babies between the ages of five to ten months, to the test.
The mothers underwent a MRI brain scan while looking at pictures of their own babies and also other infants.
Researchers noted that when the mums looked at the infants’ faces, the scanner showed the flow of blood in their brains and revealed the regions that were the most active at any time.
What was interesting was that as soon as the mothers identified their own baby, the areas of the brain associated with 'reward' went on alert and the brain chemical dopamine, important for learning, motivating, sleeping and controlling movement, became active.
The strength of the reaction depended on the babies’ expression, with a smiling face triggering the biggest reaction, reports the Telegraph.
Lead author of the study Dr Lane Strathearn said: "These are the areas that have been activated in other experiments associated with the neurotransmitter dopamine.
"It may be that seeing your own baby's smiling face is like a natural high," he added.
The findings are published in the American medical journal Pediatrics. (ANI)
Mom and Child will love the Precious Planet High Chair with its entertaining tray toy and must have high chair features.Product includes a removable suction cup tray toy to entertain baby while mom is working in the kitchen.
The High chair features: 7 seat height adjustments, 3 position recline, 1 hand removable tray, translucent blue dishwasher safe insert tray, wipeable/washable pad made of spun polly with nano coating, 4 lockable casters and folding legs for storage.
Here's to the mom who has a never-failing ability to put her family's needs before her own ...
... who has been puked on, pooped on and peed on. To the mom whose had her toe run over by a pair of skates or a Razor scooter and managed not to cuss out, punch or even scream at the culprit. Who has woken countless times in the middle of the night for feedings, fevers, stuffy noses, upset stomachs and nightmares ...
The mom who makes and takes her child to ALL of the doctor appointments, holds her baby down for immunizations, does all of the grocery shopping, schedules all of the playdates, and attends all important school events ...
Who's not afraid to do it all with biscuit pieces in her pulled back hair wearing yesterdays stained T-shirts and kurtas (if necessary). To the mom who knows the difference between a boo-boo that needs to be kissed and one that needs to be "shaken off."
A mom who stays up late to help with "forgotten" homework and science fair projects. Who never asks for thinks twice to drop a child off at swimming lessons, dancing lessons, piano lessons, football, basketball, sleepovers, the movie theater, summer camp and heaven knows what else ...
And here's to the mom who never gives in to a teenager who says "I hate you!"
You're not only a mother, wife, daughter, granddaughter, daughter-in-law, sister, niece, cousin and friend ... you're sexy, smart, confident, funny, so un-cool, wise and gracious.
You're a ROCKSTAR!
Wild Tiger Animal Light
Preschoolers will delight in these animal flashlights that light the way with fun animal sounds. They're sized just right for even the youngest preschooler to hold. When you squeeze the tail, the animal's mouth opens to reveal a fun light and one of two sound effects play. Other Wild Lights in the assortment include a tiger, a toucan, a T-rex dinosaur, a unicorn & a monster.
We all know reading to our kids is important, but sometimes it's nice to let someone else read Goodnight Moon for the gazillionth time! Here are 6 sites that read to your kid when you can't!
Sparklestories.com
Each week, this adorable site features a new episode of three different original storylines that you can download to your desktop, MP3 player or burn to CD. It also has a weekly "Saturday Sparkles" edition featuring original stories, songs, games and more.
Storylineonline.net
This star-studded website features free videos of Screen Actors Guild members reading children's books. But be forewarned—you'll soon be competing with Elijah Wood as the favorite storyteller in the house!
Wiredforbooks.org
This website has readings of classics like The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Grimms' Fairy Tales and more, all for free!
Mightybook.com
Developed by two educators, this website features fun animation during its readings to keep your kid entertained. It also highlights the words as the story is read to help beginning readers follow along!
Scholastic BooksFlix
This site pairs fictional books with non-fiction on the same topic to give your kid—heck, even you!—an in-depth understanding of a topic.
Storynory.com
This free website has everything from classic stories to fairy tales to original fiction for your kid! They feature a new story every week and allow you to download their iTunes feed for free so you can access awesome stories anytime, anywhere.
Doodle Pro Expressions Tie Dye
A dozen fun and funky Doodle Pro™ designs, some with color drawing screens! Magnetic screen saver pen and sliding eraser draw and erase like magic. It’s sized just right for mess-free take-along fun with a keyhole on the back to hang it almost anywhere!
Many parents wonder, “What’s the difference between a cold and the flu? How can I tell which illness my child has? Do I treat each illness differently?” Here’s an overview to help you understand the distinguishing characteristics of colds and the flu.
How colds and the flu are similar
Both colds and the flu are respiratory infections—contagious illnesses of the nose, sinuses, throat and breathing passages. For this reason, they share some similar symptoms, including a stuffy/running nose, sore throat and cough. You catch them the same way, too: breathing air with germs that someone has coughed into, kissing or sharing food or utensils with an infected individual, or touching your nose or mouth after touching someone’s hands or an object they’ve touched, such as a toy, doorknob or telephone.
In addition, colds and flu are both caused by viruses. Although colds can be caused by hundreds of different types of viruses, “the flu” is short for “influenza” which has three types (A, B and C) and slightly different strains every year. However, most people give the name “flu” to the general symptoms caused by influenza, which can also be caused by other viruses. Because colds and flu are caused by viruses, they usually get better on their own. Antibiotics, which treat bacterial infections, are not helpful.
How colds and the flu are different
The main difference between colds and flu are that colds are considered mild illnesses, and the flu can cause more severe symptoms. Colds are also known as head colds or upper respiratory infections since they tend to affect mostly the nose, sinuses and throat. They cause mild symptoms like stuffy and runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and a mild cough, and they usually get better within a week. The flu can be considered a lower respiratory infection since it is more likely to affect the lungs and total body. It causes symptoms like severe cough, fever, headache, shaking chills, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea and extreme fatigue. It can take two weeks to recover.
How to treat colds and flu
The basic treatment for both colds and flu is to help make your child feel comfortable and help his own body fight off the viral infection. The most important things you can do at home are:
Give your child tender loving care and plenty of rest. If your child’s energy level is high enough to participate in activities, it’s OK to let him go to childcare or school. If his energy level is down, it’s best to relax at home, cuddle in bed, stroke his forehead, read books, sing songs and play quiet games for a day or two until he feels better.
Keep up good nutrition and plenty of fluids. If your child has a good appetite, it’s fine to continue with her regular diet. But if her appetite is down, encourage her to eat light snacks and drink lots of fluids. Frequent breastfeeding or formula is good for infants. Older children can also drink juice, suck on frozen juice pops or sip warm chicken soup and no-caffeine tea with honey. Try light foods such as soup, noodles, rice, crackers, toast, applesauce and gelatin.
Stock up on tissues. When your child has a runny nose, you’ll need to wipe it frequently. Use soft tissues and wipe gently. Teach your child how to blow her nose gently, too. If the skin under her nose starts getting irritated and raw, dab on petroleum jelly or A&D ointment to help protect the skin.
If your child is uncomfortable with a congested nose, the following may help:
Run a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer in your child’s room. The water vapor can help loosen your child’s nasal mucus. Be sure to empty, clean and dry the vaporizer each day to prevent the growth of bacteria or mold. Don’t use a hot water vaporizer because it can cause burns.
Try saline solution nose drops or spray. These are available at the pharmacy without a prescription. Tilt your child’s head back gently and squeeze a couple of drops of saline into each nostril to loosen the mucus. For infants, use a soft rubber infant suction bulb to suck out nasal mucus. If your baby’s nose is too congested to feed comfortably, you can use the saline nose drops and suction bulb before feedings.
If your child is uncomfortable with a fever, headache, sore throat or body aches:
Give him medicine to reduce his pain and fever: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen (for children older than 6 months) can help reduce pain and fever. Be sure to check the appropriate dose for your child’s age. Do not give your child aspirin because this can cause a serious illness called Reye Syndrome.
Be cautious about giving your child other medications. Most medicines labeled “for coughs and colds”—such as antihistamines, decongestants and cough suppressants—have not generally been found to relieve children’s symptoms or help them recover quicker. They can also have harmful side effects such as increased drowsiness or difficulty sleeping, nervousness and irritability. Experts now recommend not to give these "cough and cold medications" to children under 2 years of age, and many discourage giving them to children up to 6 years of age.
Also, beware alternative medicine treatments used in adults such as zinc, echinacea, goldenseal and large doses of vitamin C. These have not been studied enough in children to know whether they’re safe or effective. It’s always best to consult your doctor before giving your child any medication.
When to call the doctor
Most children recover from a cold or flu within a week or two without any problems. But sometimes a child might have a more severe case of the flu, or the cold or flu might progress to another illness such as an ear infection, sinus infection, tonsillitis, croup, bronchiolitis, pneumonia or asthma attack. In these cases, additional medical treatment such as anti-viral medication, antibiotics and asthma medications may be necessary.
Children younger than 2 and children with chronic illnesses such as lung, heart or immune system problems are more likely to get sicker with the flu. If your child has any of these conditions and you think he might have influenza, call your doctor right away. The doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug that can treat influenza, but it must be taken within 48 hours of the first symptoms to be effective.
Be sure to call your child’s doctor for any of the following signs of concern:
Persistent cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, flaring nostrils, skin pulling in around her ribs when she breathes or lips turning blue
Severe vomiting and/or diarrhea, and signs of dehydration: sunken eyes, dry mouth, skin that doesn’t spring back when gently pinched and no urination
Severe ear pain or pulling at ears, severe sore throat or difficulty swallowing and severe headache or stiff neck
Excessive fussiness, difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping
Seizures or convulsions
Any fever greater than 101 degrees F. (38.3 degrees C.) rectally in an infant younger than 3 months. For older children, a persistent fever greater than 102 degrees F. (38.9 degrees C.) for more than three to five days, where the child is not feeling better or feeling better then getting worse after five days.
Preventing colds and flu in the future
Try to prevent both colds and the flu by making sure that you and your children eat well and get enough rest. Don’t share food, cups, utensils or tissues. Cough and sneeze into your elbow instead of into the air or your hands. Wash your hands and your children’s hands with soap and water, especially after wiping noses and using the bathroom. When a sink isn’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
In addition, protect yourself and your children from the flu by getting the annual flu vaccine every October or November. It’s now recommended for all children starting at 6 months of age and all adults to get the annual flu vaccine. It's especially important for children 6 months to 5 years of age, pregnant women, adults caring for young children, adults 50 years and older, and children and adults with chronic medical conditions, who are more susceptible to serious complications from the flu. Be sure to ask your doctor about the flu vaccine.
For more information about colds and flu, visit the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov .
Article updated: January 2011
Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only. We recommend you also consult your healthcare provider, and urge you to contact them immediately if your question is urgent or about a medical condition.
Roundhouse Playset
Now you can play with your Thomas Die-Cast trains in their Roundhouse - Tidmouth Sheds. Take the trains down the track and then put them in each of their sheds to sleep. The Rear of the roundhouse also folds down for interior play. When your done, it quickly folds up and extra pieces store inside for easy portablitily. Comes with Thomas, and 2 acessories (acoal bin and Crossing gate).
Bead Ball is an activity toy that utilizes different rods with characterized beads which move back and forth across rods by a child. The toy is in a sphere format.
