The expectation that children bounce off the walls after eating sugar is not an uncommon. However, it’s actually based on a myth. Sugar alone does not cause hyperactivity. Nonetheless, after every meal, my toddlers wind up and shoot off into an at least half-hour hyper-fest, whether that meal includes sugar or not, making the first question that needs addressed: Why would eating cause my child to become hyper? The answer to said question should offer insight into how to reduce hyperactivity in children after eating.
Why do kids get hyper after eating?
Sugar itself may not make kids hyper, but blood sugar changes can affect energy levels. For example, if your toddler eats simple carbohydrates, which are found in foods such as fruit, white rice, and yes, candy, he or she will get a fast blood sugar boost which will in turn increase energy levels temporarily before allowing them to crash. Any food that contains carbohydrates can have this effect, though complex carbohydrates, such as those found in vegetables and whole grains, generally have a less hyper-inducing effect. Nearly all the meals you’re serving likely contain carbs. This may make it seem as if the eating is causing your child to become hyper, but really it’s the carbohydrates energizing your child’s body.
In addition, additives like food preservatives and food dyes may also cause hyperactivity in children. Several well-regarded studies have found this to be true, though it should be noted other studies have shown it to be false.
OK, then what can you do to reduce hyperactivity after meals?
Unfortunately, there isn’t that much you can do beyond offering well-balanced meals in regards to carbs. To balance carbs, you need to have ample protein in your meals. For instance, feeding your toddler toast with jam for breakfast should result in a fairly hyper reaction, while the same meal with some bacon or sausage added should result in a less-extreme energy spike.
You may also try reducing food additives and dyes in your child’s diet. Such things are found in unexpected places. Most boxed mac ‘n cheese, for example, contains both.
If you notice extreme highs followed by equally extreme lows, as well as other signs of blood-sugar imbalance, such as irritability, sluggishness, or depression in the morning or after long periods without food, your child may actually have a blood sugar issue. You should seek out a pediatrician for advice.
There’s a great deal of debate between cloth diaper and disposable diapers advocates. As a mother who has made the personal choice to use disposable diapers I was a bit insulted when cloth-using parents suggested I was harming my baby’s health. I set out to make this an unbiased look at the health issues associated with diapers, however when you look at the disposable-cloth diaper debate most the stones are thrown at one side. This article will still be an unbiased look. It will still present the actual studied, confirmed facts on each claim made, unfortunately since most the claims are made from the cloth diaper side it may seem as if this article is biased and defending disposable diapers. On the contrary this article is meant to remove propaganda and fear tactics and provide parents with the facts so they can decide which type of diapers to use on their own based on those facts alone without being convinced a decision based on personal preference could negatively affect their baby’s health, whichever diaper that decision leads them to.
Health risk claims for Cloth and Disposable Diapers:
Health risk claim: Disposable diapers contain dioxin.
This health risk claim does contain some truth. It is not untrue that disposable diapers contain trace amounts of dioxin. Dioxin is a toxin produced during the paper-bleaching process that can have negative effects on reproductive, developmental, and immune function as well as increases the risk of cancer. The usually unmentioned truth to this disposable diaper health risk is that dioxin is present in a great deal of sanitary items such as tampons and upwards of 95% of human exposure is through food not diapers, tampons, or other items containing trace amounts. Furthermore studies performed on cotton cloth diapers produced even higher trace levels of dioxin than disposables. In the end, levels in both cases were not significant enough to contribute to dioxin exposure or to create long-term health effects.
Health risk claim: Disposable diapers contain Tributyltin (TBT).
Tributyltin was found in the year 2000 in Pampers Baby Dry, Paul Hartmann Company’s Fixies Ultra Dry, and Ledysan Spa’s United Colours of Benetton Junior unisex disposable diapers. No other brands are known or mentioned to contain tributyln which is a hormonal pollutant that can cause health issues in humans. In 2001, the Institute of Textile Technology reported that there were no health risks to babies from levels of tributyltin present in these brands.
Health risk claim: Disposable diapers contain sodium polyacrylate. Sodium polyacrylate is a type of super-absorbent polymer (the gel like substance you may see in a disposable diaper when extremely wet) used to make disposable diapers hold more liquid without leaking. Sodium polyacrylate was previous removed from tampons due to causing a bacterial illness called toxic shock syndrome. However, toxic shock syndrome was caused by sodium polyacrylate being placed within the body for extended time periods. External exposure such as that in diapers is not known to cause any health issues. This is because toxic shock could be prevented even in tampon use with regular replacement. Sodium Polyacrylate simply creates a breeding ground for bacteria. As long as disposable diapers are changed soon after becoming dirty no more risk is present than with that of a cloth diaper.
Health risk claim: Disposable diapers overheat the genitals of baby boys. Studies have confirmed that higher temperatures of the scrotum can decrease sperm count and may increase the risk of testicular cancer, however studies also show that cloth diapers used with the usual protective coating created the same temperatures as disposable diapers. In both cases, these temperatures did not exceed maximum scrotal temperatures and are no worse than an adult wearing underwear and pants. The exception was in boys that had soiled themselves and were not changed quickly.
Health risk claim: Disposable diapers cause an increased occurrence of diaper rash in infants.
This is actually a disposable diaper myth, studies done in 2006 actually showed that disposables decrease the risk of diaper rash. Claims that cloth and disposables cause diaper rash at an equal rate are also unsupported. Rates of diaper rash were found as follows with the different types of diapers: cloth with plastic outer cover 60%, cellulose disposables 39%, absorbent gel disposables 29%, absorbent gel disposables with breathable covers 13%. Diaper rash percentiles for uncovered cloth diapers were not presented. Rates of diaper rash, in any case, can be reduced with frequent and prompt changing.
Health risk claim: Cloth diapers are unsanitary and can cause infections.
I was unable to find any supported sources on either side of this issue which leaves me to believe there have been none. Anyone who knows of any (actual studies I do not want cloth diaper supporting pages with no citation, etc.) please leave them in the comment section. The closest “study” found that cloth diapers after being washed properly had no more bacteria than other clothing we place on our babies every day. I am inclined to agree, however this article is about fact not belief so this claim will be left in “unknown” status.
Health risk claim: Disposable diapers cause asthma.
There was indeed a study done in 1999 that confirmed that mice showed more extreme asthma like symptoms when exposed to disposable diapers. (It should be noted cloth diapers also presented “small changes.”) Russ Rader (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Spokesman) states that these results have yet to be seen in humans. It was said the study was being sent to a toxicologist but no newer information can be found. Previous tests on torn open disposables with the inner gel layers did not produce respiratory or skin issues. The diapers were found to be safe.
It’s important that those trying to use facts to support their choice in diaper remember that finding a website that “says so” does not prove something to be true. This article makes an attempt at finding actual scientific studies and facts presented by reliable unbiased sources to support health claims against diapers. In the end, no validated health claims can be found leaving a parent’s choice in diaper to be purely personal choice once again supporting my favorite motto, “The biggest myth in parenting is that there is a right or wrong way to do it.”
It seems a universal law that anytime my kids get hurt, it happens on a weekend or after hours–and that includes things like falling on their face and breaking a tooth. As a mom of four very rambunctious kids, I’ve sadly now dealt with more than one chipped or broken tooth. Here’s a quick overview of what to do if it happens to you:
Alright, so your kid has just slipped, fallen, or had something flung at his/her face and blood is everywhere, what do you do?
First, take at least a moment to breathe, try your best to stay calm and not freak out. Then, start cleaning away blood and identify the source, as this article is about tooth injuries in kids, let’s assume it’s in the mouth. Chances are you’ll find the actual wound is far less severe than the blood level suggests. Head and mouth wounds always bleed a lot.
Apply pressure:
Once you’ve found the source, apply pressure to help stop the bleeding. Luckily, mouth wounds typically stop bleeding fairly quickly (often within about 20 minutes), though blood may be present in drool for a few hours. While you’re applying pressure and offering hugs and cuddles, give the rest of your child’s head a quick look. Chipped and broken teeth are often the result of falls, and there may be other injuries as well.
Evaluate the situation:
Keep in mind that your child’s gums are going to be puffy and swollen which can make things appear worse than they are. For example, the broken tooth may look like it’s at the gum line even if it’s just broken in half. Many dentists recommend that you wait until the swelling resides before trying to assess the situation. Offering anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as Motrin or Ibuprofen can help your child feel more comfortable and bring the swelling down.
If there are no other injuries outside of the broken or chipped tooth, and the injury isn’t severe, don’t bother with the ER. They can’t do anything but offer pain relief until a dentist is available anyway. If the tooth was an adult tooth, and entirely knocked out, try to find it, place it in milk, and call an after-hours dentist. In some cases, a knocked-out tooth can be put back in. Offer fluids, but be careful of cold/hot options. If the nerve of the tooth is exposed, this may cause pain. Opt for soft foods until you can get a dental appointment. You may also want to watch for signs of a concussion, depending on how the tooth was chipped or broken.
What will the dentist do?
If your child has only chipped the tooth a bit, chances are it will be filed smooth and sealed. For larger chips or fractures, the tooth may be capped or a white filling attached. If it’s a baby tooth and could affect the growth of the permanent teeth under the surface, it may be pulled. A dentist evaluation is necessary in any case.
