Why In-home Child Care?

A good family home child care can be a great alternative to center care. Home childcare often appeals to parents who want their child in a warm loving home environment. It is comforting and reassuring to kids and they usually have smaller numbers of children than most centers. Your child has all the comforts of a home, only with other children to play and socialize with. Kids have a consistent caregiver and other consistent people in their environment. Your children are exposed to fewer illnesses due to lower child numbers and more sanitized and consistent cleaning. A good home daycare is one you feel comfortable leaving your child in. One where you are encouraged to visit unannounced anytime and feel comfortable roaming around any part of the home that is common area to the children. All areas of the home should be safe and appropriately childproofed. In-home caregivers often become an extended part of your family and an important person in your child's life.

Welcome

Hello all! Welcome to Burps and Giggles Child Care. I have started this blog to supply all my families and potential families with all the information they need about my home care. I will be using this blog as a place to post information about sickness, vacations, payment reminders, personal days and any other pertinent information. I will also post articles on feeding, sleeping, development, behavior etc. as a resource to parents. You will see information about upcoming family activities in the area, sales for children, and links to business' that focus on the needs of your kids. Please feel free to comment on pictures and posts or to add your own exciting news or information as you would like. I welcome your interaction! Email me at t_hunt71@msn.com

References Available Upon Request

Friday, May 31, 2013

Kids and artificial sweetners!

Why Artificial Sweeteners are Not Recommended for Children

Posted in: Health, Moms

There has been much controversy over the use of artificial sweeteners. Saccharin, for example, was once nearly banned, but got by with a warning label on products that contained it. It has since been declared safe by the government. Aspartame has also undergone scrutiny, and is believed to be responsible for a number of troublesome side effects.

With all of the bad press and uncertainty surrounding artificial sweeteners, it is understandable that people might be hesitant to use them. Even if we do use them ourselves, it has been recommended that we do not allow our children to consume them.

Saccharin

Saccharin was the source of heated debate in the 1970s. Studies linked the substance to an increased incidence of bladder cancer in male rats, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration attempted to impose a ban. They were convinced by the food industry, however, to allow the use of saccharin in products as long as the product bore a label saying that it contained saccharin and that saccharin may cause cancer.

In 2001, the FDA lifted the warning requirement, and now claims that saccharin does not cause cancer in humans. The American Medical Association, however, recommends a limit on the intake of saccharin in pregnant women and children. Considering all of the controversy surrounding saccharin, it is likely safer to avoid it altogether.

Aspartame

Aspartame has been linked to headaches, psychiatric disorders, low blood sugar and many other ailments. As a matter of fact, there are at least ninety-two side affects that have been associated with the use of aspartame. Most regulated drugs do not have that many reported side effects.

Unlike some other artificial sweeteners, aspartame dissolves easily and can end up in any tissue in the body. That means that it can cause problems with any tissue or organ. This is a problem for adults, and an even bigger problem in growing children, who could experience more damage than a person who is fully grown and developed.

Other Artificial Sweeteners

While saccharin and aspartame are two of the most controversial artificial sweeteners, most others have been associated with similar side effects. There has also been little testing done on them, so it’s hard to know just what problems could be associated with long-term use, especially among children.

Children Do Not Need Artificial Sweeteners

There is no practical reason for giving children artificial sweeteners. Even overweight children can benefit more from eating naturally sweet foods such as fruits. Giving these kinds of foods to our children in place of sugary sweets or foods with artificial sweeteners will allow them to develop a taste for them, thereby developing healthy habits that they can benefit from for life.