As you may know, Maple Leaf foods has had an outbreak of Listeria in one of their plants.  This has lead to several deaths, currently we are at 15, although many of the newspapers have different statistics.  Most Maple Leaf foods have been recalled and if you are Canadian and haven’t heard about the recalls or you aren’t sure exactly what is recalled, visit this link for a detailed list. 

Listeria, if you aren’t sure, is a naturally occurring bacteria that can be found in many foods and in all kinds of environments.  It is one of the few bacterias that can continue to grow in the fridge and it is an environmental bacteria that can be found in soil and in water.  The biggest problem with Listeria, is that it can cause a disease called Listeriosis, which can lead to death.  It is particularly dangerous to women who are pregnant, the elderly and people with weak immune systems. 

Despite this outbreak, it can be easy for people to become infected by listeria and it is important to maintain a clean house, especially kitchens to avoid any infections.  Below are a few tips that can help in keeping your risk to a minimum:

• Avoid cross contamination: I used to follow this simply because I hated having lettuce that tasted like tomatoes and tomatoes that tasted like onions but using different knives and cutting boards between not only vegetables but meats is very important, especially between meats.  If you don’t have multiple cutting boards, simply wash the cutting board with soap and water, thoroughly.
• Keep your kitchen clean: Wash counters and surfaces with a disinfectant spray or wipe.  A wash cloth doesn’t cut it and can actually spread more germs.  Also, wash your fridge on a regular basis since listeria can form in a dirty fridge.
• Don’t leave food out too long:  If you are having a party, keep a two hour limit on your table spread.  If it isn’t eaten or wrapped up in the fridge by the time limit, just chuck it.  Bacteria builds on food that is left out.
• Don’t defrost food on the counter:  I’m sure you have done it before, taken a steak out of the freezer, plunked it on the counter and left it on the counter and went off to work.  This is the perfect way for bacteria to grow.  The best way to defrost something is in the microwave or in the refrigerator.

Sirena Van Schaik

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

If you can’t tell, I’m not a big fan of cell phones.  I’m not overly thrilled about walking through a grocery store and overhearing a sensitive conversation that a person is having.  I, kid you not, have heard some pretty obscene and scandalous conversations that made me turn out of aisles just so I didn’t have to overhear them.  (Can anyone say…don’t shout if you are talking on a cell phone.)  I have also been cut off by happy talkers in their cars and I have been interrupted by texts and people needing to check to see if that call was worth answering.

But that isn’t the big reason why I dislike cell phones.  The big reason is that I don’t want to be tracked down.  Sure cell phones come in handy and if there is an emergency they are a life saver but if I’m not at home, just leave a message.  I don’t need to have a conversation while I drive or as I’m pulling toilet paper off the store shelf.  I’m fine with being by myself and not having to answer questions while I’m out.  I’m perfectly happy with not being accessible 24/7.

So now that you are getting some idea just how peculiar I am, I should probably get down to the reason for my little ramble (or was that rant) about cell phones.

Just last week, the Toronto Public Health Advisory recommended that children under the age of 8 should not use cell phones, unless in cases of emergency.  They also went on to saying that teens should also limit their cell phone use to 10 minutes at a time.  – cbc news, July 12, 2008

This isn’t to say that cell phones are bad for them but since there is little known about the effects of long term cell phone use, teens and children should take extra precautions when using them.

So, I thought I would mention it on That Parent Place and open it up for discussion.  What do you think about cell phones?  Do you think children should have them, even as young as 8 or do you think they should be much older?

I see the benefit of security and knowing where your kids are with a cell phone but there are as many pro’s as there are con’s when it comes to children and cell phones.  And more importantly, do you feel cell phones will have long term health effects on our children.

Please let me know what you think.

Sirena Van Schaik

Photo Credit

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I know that for years, I was often confused by the best sunscreen and when I finally realized what I needed, I was often laughed at by a few family friends. (I want to add that on those occasions, my kids and I were the only ones without a blistering sunburn.)

When it comes to sunburns, babies are more likely to experience the effects of the sun since they have sensitive skin that does not have a natural protection built up. It is important to keep children under the age of one out of the sun for long periods of time. Keep them in shade, have them wear light clothing that covers, and use umbrellas to keep the glare of the sun off of them.

For other children there are a few tips for sunscreen that will keep them healthy and happy throughout the season.

• Use a cream sunscreen that has a minimum SPF of 15, although I would recommend SPF 45. SPF is a measure of how long you can stay in the sun before skin damage (a burn) occurs. For SPF 15, the amount of time would be 150 minutes before reapplying, although that is just an estimate and depends on what you are doing.
• Purchase sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection. Check those labels because some sunscreens do not offer full spectrum protection.
• Check best before dates and never use the sunscreen after the date since it could loose some or all of its effectiveness.
• Purchase waterproof sunscreen even if you don’t plan on going swimming. This will help with the loss of sunscreen from sweating.
• Apply sunscreen about 20 to 30 minutes before going outside or in the pool. Reapply every hour or so or immediately after swimming or if your child is sweating.
• Don’t forget to apply to the nose, ears, and back of the neck.

A few more UV Protection Tips:

• Have your child wear sunglasses that offer full spectrum protection.
• Wear hats when you are outside.
• The hours between 11am to 4pm is when the sun is at it’s strongest. Avoid going outside in the peak hours or use sunscreen for sure during those times.
• Wear clothing that covers most of the skin.
• Keep an eye on the daily UV ratings to know which days pose more of a threat for burning.

And the biggest tip that I will give is:

Have Fun!

Sirena Van Schaik

Photo Credit

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

If you breastfeed your baby, chances are there will come a time when you need to store breast milk. This can be when you return to work or even if you are only planning a few hours out.

Storing breastmilk can be one of the most confusing things for new mother’s and it is good to know how long it lasts, and how to properly store it. I have heard countless mother’s ask how to do this and at one time I was in this position, although for not very long obviously.

Even though my time breastfeeding was short, I can still offer some advice on storing breast milk. Most of my knowledge on breastfeeding and everything to do with it comes from organizations such as the La Leche League and the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Lactation Committee. The rest of my knowledge came from my experience as a mother and an Early Childhood Educator, especially the parts about using stored breast milk in centers and also the public health nurse and the lactation consultants who worked with me when I had my children.

So now that I have highlighted a little bibliography, I thought I would give you some tips on storing breast milk.

How to store breast milk:

After you pump, there are several things that you should do if you are planning on storing your breast milk and these are standard practices regardless of the type of breast pump that you are using.

• Containers: All containers should be sturdy, and clean. They should also be single used containers and are usually glass and plastic, although with the warnings regarding hard plastics, it may be safer to only use glass containers. Never store breast milk in plastic bags or bottle liners.
• Labelling: Make sure you label each container with the date and time that the milk was expressed. This will make it much easier when you are using it and will ensure that you do not use the breast milk after the expiration.
• Mixing: It is important to never mix breast milk. Each time you express, the milk should be placed in a new bottle or container. You should also never mixed any breast milk left in a bottle after feeding with a fresher bottle. Simply dispose of the breast milk since bacteria is pulled back into the bottle with each suck from the baby. Also, you should never mix breast milk and formula. Everything baby needs is in the breast milk and there should be no need to use formula. If you are concerned about supplementing, speak with your pediatrician first.
• Storage Length: Breast milk can usually last for 24 to 48 hours in a refrigerator. After that time, you should dispose of it. If you freeze the breast milk in a freezer that is attached to the fridge, it can last for about 2 weeks to about 3 months with a good freezer, although I would stick with the lower numbers for safety reasons. If you store the breast milk in a deep freezer that is not attached to any fridge, you will find that the breast milk can last for 6 months.
• Heating Stored Breast milk: When it comes to heating, the best method and really the only method you should use, is to heat it up in cup of warm (not hot) water. If the breast milk is frozen, place it in the fridge for about 24 hours before you use it. Never heat the breast milk in a microwave since it can create hot spots and nutrients will be lost in the heating process.

And there is a run down of storing and using stored breast milk. If you have any other questions, please email me at sirena_vanschaik@yahoo.ca or post a comment here.

One last thing before I sign off for today, when breast milk is left in a fridge, you will find that it separates with the thinner milk on the bottom and the thicker fatter milk on top. You may also find white flecks in the milk after you heat it but don’t worry, that is completely normal.

All the best,

Sirena Van Schaik

Lactation Photo Credit

Bottle Photo Credit

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

No, America’s Next Top Model is one of those guilty little pleasures but it doesn’t seem to have as many calories.  Still, as I watch these shows, I shudder at the messages that young girls are getting over body image.  These girls that are deemed “beautiful” are a size 1 (and that is probably pushing it.)  They are stick thin and although they are very pretty, they shouldn’t be what women aspire to become. 

I know that they have episodes where they stress eating and they try to show the girls eating at least 3 times in a show but you have judges making comments about being overweight.  One such inference was when a judge commented on Whitney, the plus sized model, being a ham. 

Now plus sized models get to me as well, for the simple fact that they are regular sized women that are called plus sized.  Whitney is a size 11 and since when is a size 11 a plus sized clothing line. 

So where am I going with this rant?  Very simply put, it is important to notice how media is influencing your children.  There is no way to really shield them since skinny women are every where in magazines and on commercials.  Girls aspire to be thin and beautiful and corporations bank on that. 

Since you can’t shield your child, even your teen.  It is important to discuss healthy weight and how to maintain it.  If your daughter is worried about becoming overweight, discuss a meal plan at home where everyone can eat healthy and stay fit.  You could also enrol in a exercise class so you can keep an eye on how she is managing her weight.  If she gets too skinny, you have the knowledge to intervene and get her back on track.

Above all else, tell your daughter that she is beautiful and that being too skinny isn’t beautiful at all. 

I will have more information on healthy weights, body images and other issues that concern media and how it affects children over the next few weeks. 

Until then, happy and healthy eating.

Sirena Van Schaik

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

These types of recalls are occurring more and more frequently and many people often complain about manufacturing standards in countries that manufacture the products but let’s face it, corporations are looking for the cheapest production costs and things are going to fall through the crack making a recall necessary. 

Since we are dealing with so many recalls, parents have to vigilant in keeping abreast of the latest product concerns and recalls.  This can be pretty hard if you don’t watch the news every night or read the paper every morning and if your radio listening time consists of the commute to work.  You could have several items in your house that has been recalled and not even know it. 

So, the Canadian and US governments have stepped up and has provided consumers with a site that lists recalls and concerns.  You can visit it here for Canadian recalls and here for US recalls.  I would recommend signing up for the newletter that the US Consumer Products Safety Commission offers. 

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The reason why I am opening with this article about JK Rowling is that many newspapers failed to mention the following statement  “Seeking to remove any stigma that might be attached to seeking counseling, Rowing now advises all those suffering from depression to “go and get help.”"(People)

This is basically the best advice that you can really give anyone that is suffering from depression, seek help, but what happens when the person who is suffering from depression is a teenager or a child.  How do they seek help and where do they get it from.

As surprising as it may seem, children as young as 6 can suffer from depression.  In fact, 1 in 10 children can have various levels of depression (Depression and Children, Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton Region, 2005).  Depression in children can be fairly difficult to determine and many people mistake it for disorders such as ADHD. 

A child that is depressed usually exhibit the following symptoms:

• Change in appetite
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Loss of Energy
• Loss of Interest in activities
• Change in sleep patterns

You may also notice that your child expresses a sense of hopelessness, guilt, low self esteem, worthlessness and may talk about death. 

Child depression is a stigma and many people do not want to admit to the fact that it does occur.  Like many unpleasant topics, it is easier to just brush off symptoms or to ignore the existence of problems since it is hard to fathom what any child between the ages of 6 and 12 could possibly be depressed about. 

It is very important for your child that you understand the symptoms of depression and to take the time to discuss his or her feelings with him.  It is also important to understand that how you react to depression and negative feelings will also affect how he or she reacts to their own depression.  It is an ugly word that really should be brought to light since so many children express unhappiness or even darker thoughts.

The key to a happy childhood isn’t in ignoring the fact that sadness does happen but is in fact when parents understand and take the time to show that they care about how their children feel, even when those feelings are not the happy, silver lined feelings that we like to pretend are a staple of childhood.  Remember that the very best parents are not the ones that shower presents on their kids and give them everything that they could ever want or need but they are the ones that take the time to simply stay quiet for a moment and listen. 

If you would like to learn more about childhood depression, please visit:

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Sirena Van Schaik

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Planting with kids is a wonderful activity and there is nothing more enjoyable than digging around in the dirt and unearthing worms and creepy crawlies.  I think my kids would prefer to leave the flowers out so they could have worm excavating holes but we eventually get the flowers planted.  Even with it being such an enjoyable activity, it is important to remember that many plants can be poisonous to people, especially young children. 

If you place poisonous plants in your garden, it is important to place them in areas where your children do not have access and to also be the person handling the plant.  I have listed below the plants that you should either avoid or handle with care and the part that is considered the most toxic.

Flowering Plants

• Oleander: the leaves and branches of this plant are extremely poisonous.
• Daffodil: bulbs are the most toxic and can be fatal
• Monkshood: the roots
• Narcissus: the bulbs and like the daffodil they can be fatal
• Lily of the Valley: leaves and flowers
• Star of Bethlehem: bulbs
• Hyacinth: Bulbs, which can be fatal
• Rhododendron: all the parts of the rhododendron is toxic
• Foxglove: leaves and it can be fatal
• Iris: Underground stems
• Rhubarb: leaf blade. Rhubarb leaves can be fatal in large quantities

There are many other plants that are toxic and for more information on those plants, please visit the toxic plant list produced by The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. It is important to teach children to never eat plants and to understand the qualities of the plants that you are placing in your garden. But after you have sorted out plants that are toxic, you can enjoy the bonding experience of growing a well thought out garden. 

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Health Canada has decided that there is cause for  concern regarding Bisphenol A, especially relating to infants and young children.  They will be putting up controls to limit bisphenol A in products and for the next 60 days there will be a public comment period where people can try to change the governments position in regards to the chemical. 

For the time being, Health Canada is urging parents to choose plastics that are bisphenol A free or to use glass bottles. 

For more on the news feature, click here.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Of course, I was completely wrong and lo and behold, I have not only one but two children that are extremely picky.  I can only shudder at what my mom had gone through as I recall meals where she would have to seat me beside her and force me to eat.  I also remember the bathroom restrictions she had to place at meal time since I would use any excuse to go to the bathroom and flush partially chewed food down the toilet.  I was extremely picky and although I have improved slightly I still have that trait to this day.

I never really knew how annoying it was until I was faced with trying to feed the two picky children that I call my own.  When they were first introduced to solids, I thought my luck would be good.  They loved food including many that I despised.  Unfortunately, that love didn’t continue past the age of two when they suddenly became the most picky creatures on the face of the planet.  They wouldn’t eat anything and I was constantly stressing over the amount of calories they were actually getting into their bodies.  All my ECE training rationalized my thoughts and I found myself thinking, “Ok, I can’t force them to eat so I’ll just wait it out.  They’ll eat when they’re hungry.”

Unfortunately, they didn’t eat before I broke down and fixed them something they would eat.  Chicken nuggets anyone? My oldest wasn’t half as difficult as my youngest who is currently in the middle of his whole food battles age.  He won’t eat anything and no matter what I do, he will not eat until a minute before dessert is about to come out.  Only at that point will he shove one or two bites into his mouth and say, “I’m full. Can I have dessert now?”

I would love to say no but of course, that darn ECE knowledge is there and I remember courses where I was told that it is illegal to deny food to a child, including desserts if they are being offered.  It is also considered illegal to force a child to eat.  This leaves many parents in a bind since most children will be difficult eaters at some point in their life.  Eating is, after all, one of the only things that children can truly control.  They can’t say when they go to bed, when they get up, or when they go to school but how much food goes into their stomach is one of the few things that they get a decision. 

For my youngest, the whole food battle isn’t really about what he likes and doesn’t like but is in fact a power struggle that he wins often. Even if I make something that he absolutely loves, if he is in the mood for a struggle, then by golly, we are going to have a battle.  I have come to ignore those battles and they are starting to decrease slightly but I can’t wait until he is 6 when hopefully this whole food battle will finally come to an end. (Six was the age my oldest son stopped fighting about most foods.)

In the meantime, here are a few things that I do to get him to eat.

• Set a time limit for meals.  If he doesn’t eat by the time that we have given for a meal than his plate is removed from the table and wrapped up.  Usually he will ask for it right away and will take a few bites but the time limit has helped slightly since he no longer sits there for over an hour whining and complaining about the horrible food that I made.
• Saving the meals for later.  It is a fact that most children will eat when they are hungry enough, and saving a meal to reheat later is a perfectly fine.
• Offer nutritious snacks.  When I don’t wrap the meal, I will try to offer him some other nutritious snack later in the day.  This way he gets something healthy and is not snacking on empty calories.
• Have healthy desserts.  I find that my youngest is all about the desserts so I try to offer fresh fruit for dessert, that way I won’t have to deny food and he won’t get pure sugar.
• Take a taste.  I used this when I worked in daycares and I use it at home.  I don’t ask for kids to eat everything but to simply take a taste of the food.  Sometimes it gets them eating, other times, I at least got them to try something.  Of course it doesn’t really give them their daily nutritional intake but it does give me a small victory in the battle of foods.
• Taking a deep breath. I think I do this nightly, dinner is his hardest meal, but after I have taken a deep relaxing breath, I can deal with the nightly battle a bit better.

Fighting over food isn’t the easiest battle to wage with your child but it is important for me to try to get some food down him.  I know that it is karma coming back and biting me and I’m sure that my sister is laughing her head off about this but I hope we get through it soon. 

Do you have any advice on getting a picky eater to eat?  Post or email to share.

Sirena Van Schaik

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.