A study was conducted under the careful eye of Dr. Kristen Wickens of Wellington Asthma Research Group, based in New Zealand. The study followed 1,321 children between the ages of 10 and 12 years old. Diet was recorded, along with the prevalence of asthma and it's symptoms. The children were also given skin prick tests for common environmental allergens.
The study found that children eating more than one fast food hamburger a week were 75% more likely to have asthma and 100% more likely to suffer from wheezing. Other fast food meals will increase chances of wheezing as well.

Dr. Wickens suggested the high salt content of these hamburgers may be the culprit, but this has yet to be studied. So if your child suffers from asthma, wheezing or allergies, consider a healthier alternative to fast food meals - particularly hamburgers.

Does your newborn seem to cry constantly? Has your pediatrician told you that your baby just has “colic” and will grow out of it? If so, it is time to pursue your baby’s tears further, possibly with a pediatric gastroenterologist. Your baby might be suffering from reflux.

Reflux occurs when the sphincter, or muscle that keeps food in the stomach, is weak. Stomach contents seep into the esophagus, causing what adults know as heartburn. Unfortunately, all too many reflux babies are diagnosed with colic. With many infants, refluxing corrects itself as the baby’s stomach muscles strengthen, so it appears they are just “growing out of colic.” But in the meantime, both Mom, Dad and baby have had far too many sleepless nights and needless pain.

Some symptoms of reflux include crying, screaming, choking, spitting up, kicking, straining and constipation. Doctors can diagnose reflux by giving your baby barium through a bottle and watching the stomach by x-ray to see if the contents leak into the esophagus. Treatment for mild reflux is usually one or two medications, giving your baby much needed relief.

For constant crying, you may also look into your baby being intolerant to dairy. For more information on reflux and dairy intolerance and allergies, go to http://www.babyandkidallergies.com.

It has been reported that pre-school aged children are beginning to develop more dental problems than ever seen in the past. It is important to make brushing and flossing a routine, even early in life. Our dentist gave me a flossing tip that is very simple and makes things incredibly easy. When you are ready to floss your child’s top teeth, stand behind your child and have him or her tilt the head back. This gives you a clear path to those top back molars, making flossing a breeze. This simple tip has saved me a lot of time and makes flossing more “productive.”

Did you know that 80% of a person's lifetime exposure to ultraviolet rays occurs in the first 18 years of life? That is why you should take great care protecting your children from the sun's harmful rays. When purchasing sunscreen, be sure it says "broad spectrum" and is at least 15 SPF or more. If your children will be in the water, use waterproof sunscreen and reapply every hour.

Remember the days when your mother slathered on a thick coat of pure white zinc on your nose? She actually knew what she was doing. Zinc oxide should be applied to nose, ears and cheeks if your child has fair skin. But lucky them - zinc comes in lots of fun colors. Remember big floppy hats, sunglasses and tightly woven clothing. And keep in mind, if it is a cloudy day, the sun will still reflect off of surface such as water or concrete - causing burns that are just as bad as those from sunny days.