• Created on 5/2/10 by Mothering Editorial

May 02, 2010 McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, has recalled certain over-the-counter liquid medications for infants and children including Children's and Infants' Tylenol and Motrin, and Children's Benadryl and Zyrtec. According to the McNeil website these products "may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles." 1 Parents who have these products shoud stop using them and should report any... read more

• Created on 5/2/10 by Mothering Editorial

How do I live with the deep regret of having our son circumcised? He is almost 10-months-old now, and I am still struggling with this. Sadly, I did not find out the facts until it was too late.Of all the questions I'm asked, this one is the most difficult for me to answer because I have three circumcised sons. I believed the doctor who told me circumcision didn't hurt, only took a minute, and would protect my babies from terrible things that would befall them if they weren't circumcised. Many years later, as a nursing student, I witnessed a circumcision, which literally... read more

• Created on 5/1/10 by Mothering Editorial

About two years ago our infant son passed away. My two older children were clearly affected. My son has autism and found his brother in the crib already gone. My daughter has since been paranoid about not having me around. At first, that meant coming downstairs every five minutes to make sure we were still there. It then spilled over to checking on us even from another room. Lately though, I was wondering why she is still doing this. We had another baby who is now four-months-old. Our son, Daniel, died at six-months-old. Things are clearly stressful in the house right... read more

• Created on 4/30/10 by Mothering Editorial

Hello Dr Rubin, As far as you know, are there any non-invasive tests that can show a pre-disposition to autism that would be brought out by vaccinations? Anything in the area of BioFeedack devices? Thank you, anne marie annemarie.dani@gmail.comI cannot answer this question because (1) I am not a medical professional but instead am a computer scientist who manages VAERS data for the Medalerts.org website and (2) There is nothing in the VAERS data that would suggest such a link because VAERS only reports adverse outcomes and rarely mentions any tests that may have been... read more

• Created on 4/29/10 by mamazee

by Jake Aryeh Marcus Find Sustainable Mothering on Facebook and Jake on Twitter. A recent episode of the PBS program Frontline was called “The War on Vaccines.” The title alone should have been the tip off that the producers’ goal was to inflame and incite – to assume this was an entirely adversarial discussion between diametrically opposed viewpoints. But I knew that my colleague Jennifer Margulis, Contributing Editor at Mothering where I am Politics Editor, was interviewed on the program so I felt obligated to watch. I knew also the show would feature... read more

• Created on 4/28/10 by mamazee

The day after I wrote my post “One Nap Every Day?” I  woke up and immediately said to myself: what the *!*? was I thinking? I can’t take a nap every day for one year starting on Mothers Day. I’m too busy. My mind began to spill out the list of why it is absolutely-impossible for me to nap every day starting with reason number one: my husband leaves on a three week trip to Thailand, Bangladesh and Senegal one week after Mothers Day. Not only won’t he be around to do the dishes, which I’ve calculated adds an hour to my evening mommy routine, I won’t... read more

• Created on 4/28/10 by mamazee

My kids and I like to role play. Sometimes I pretend to be a bad guy and I drive by them in my “car,” slowing down and crying out, “Hey kids! Come with me! My dog had puppies and they’re really cute. I’ll take you to go see them. Get in…” Etani, who’s six, shouts “NO WAY! GET AWAY FROM ME!” and runs in the other direction. Saying no is a lot harder for Athena, who’s nine. She stops walking and politely declines, “No thank you, sir. I do not want to see a puppy right now, but thank you anyway for asking…” We teach our children to follow... read more

• Created on 4/27/10 by mamazee

Hannah called just a few minutes after the PBS Frontline “Vaccine War” ended. “I can’t get the baby to stop crying,” she said. “I’ll be right home,” I cried, saying a hasty goodbye to my friends and jumping on my bicycle. Although I think the producers of “Vaccine War” did their best to present both sides, I was a little disappointed with the show. Here’s why: 1. Although you would not know it from the episode, I am pro vaccine and my children are selectively vaccinated. I think vaccines may be responsible for saving hundreds of... read more

• Created on 4/27/10 by Mothering Editorial

 By Michele Winkler Issue 106 May/June 2001 "What happened to Bambi's mother?" three-year-old Mira asks my husband. "Why can't she be with him anymore?" I have always explained that Bambi's mother was taking a nap, but Mira's dad tells her the truth. "Mom," she wails, running over to me. I glare at my husband and gather her in my arms. "Mom, please don't die. I'll miss you forever." I shift uncomfortably. "Look," I say, "everybody starts out as a baby, and then they grow up. After a long time, people grow to be very old, and then--well, it is just their time to die.... read more

• Created on 4/27/10 by Mothering Editorial

By Sarah BridgesWeb Exclusive This is the lesson you don't get in the parenting books: Sometimes bad things happen from doing the right thing for your baby.   Porter's high-pitched scream woke us at midnight. When I ran to the nursery and picked him up, his sleeper was damp and his head flopped to the side. My husband grabbed the phone and punched in the number for the pediatrician.   "Hurry," I yelled, even though Brian was dialing as fast as he could. He reached for Porter, then handed me the phone. "It's the nurses' line," he said.   "What's the problem?" a... read more