Consumer Reports recently conducted a study questioning the safety of some child car seats.  They later withdrew the study when it was revealed there were some problems in the methods they used to conduct the study.  Although manufacturers and government regulators are always trying to perfect the effectiveness of car seats, everyone agrees that a child is always safer in a car seat of some type.

Child safety restraints (car seats), when used correctly, have been shown to reduce injuries and deaths in car accidents.  Infants must ride in an infant car seat in the rear, facing backwards until the child is 1-year-old AND weighs 20 pounds.  Toddlers may ride in forward-facing seats until they are 4-years-old or 40 pounds.  Booster seats should then be used until a child can safely use an adult seat belt, usually not until they are 4-feet, 9-inches tall.  The safest place for a child is always in the back seat, but if you have a car that only has a front seat (i.e. a truck) remember it is extremely dangerous to have a child in a rear-facing car seat in a front seat with an airbag.

For more information, including where to find a certified inspector to make sure your car seat is safe and properly installed, you can visit http://www.boosterseat.gov/ or the American Academy of Pediatrics at http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm.

There are so many choices available to kids when they are thirsty.  Milk, juice, water, soda, sports beverages and energy drinks, to name a few.  What is the best for your child?

Energy drinks (Red Bull, Rockstar, Monster) are very popular, but very little study has been done on what effects these sugar and caffeine-laden drinks may have on children.  Energy drinks contain 200-300 calories, 50-60 grams of sugar and 150-250 mg of caffeine in a 16 ounce serving.  Compare this to 60 mg of caffeine in a soda or 190 mg caffeine in 16 ounces of coffee.

Sports drinks are also very high-calorie sugar-rich drinks, approximately 100 calories and 30 grams of sugar per 16 ounce serving.  Although these may be appropriate for very active children on occasion, you should not think they are "healthy" just because they have the word "sport" in their name.

Children need to keep hydrated, and water is the best way to do that.  Any beverages with caffeine will actually cause dehydration.  There is no simple answer as to how much water a child should drink, but when they are thirsty, water is best.  Children who are exercising or playing sports especially need water.  They should drink enough so that they do not feel thirsty; if they are getting thirsty while playing they are already dehydrated.  Encourage your kids to carry a water bottle with them, keep it filled with water and drink frequently.