Baby & child news roundup

 
7 things dirtier than money. Plenty of things are just as germy as the bills in our wallets and might also spread the swine flu virus. They include library books, bathroom door handles (cover the door handle with a paper towel before turning it), and public phone receivers. Also on the list? Grandkids. Parents tend to become immune to their children’s bugs through daily exposure, but not so for grandparents who take care of the darlings only sporadically. Learn the rest in the full Money blog post.

Is it ADHD, or something else? Most people think of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as screaming and climbing the walls. It can be difficult to untangle learning and attention problems from the emotional consequences of experiencing these issues. It’s important for parents and professionals alike not to jump to conclusions about what’s causing a child’s behavior. Learn more in the full Health blog post.

Put the brakes on uncontrolled vehicle acceleration. Our Cars blog reported recently that a floor mat recall came in response to a fatal accident in which a family of four was killed in California. A suspected cause of that crash was a floor mat that became lodged under the accelerator of the loaner Lexus the family was driving while its own car was being serviced. What can you do if this happens to you? See the full Safety blog post.

Minority children at higher risk of accidental death. Minority children are more likely to die from drowning, suffocation, and poisoning than white children. Blacks, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Asian/Pacific Islanders are all affected. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued a report, which said that gaps in information collected in hospitals and listed on death certificates make it harder for the government to track how and why kids are being killed. Learn more in the full Safety blog post.

More headlines and recalls (see the full Safety blog post)
Preventing childhood burn injuries (Time)
Between 1990 and 2006, overall numbers of burn injuries among children dropped by 31 percent, but burn injuries are still disproportionately high among younger children.
430 Daiso wooden toys (choking hazard)
130 Daiso children’s toys, purses and pen cases (lead paint)