Web Sites Offer Parenting Tips

Mon., Nov. 29, 1999

Tina Carey Correspondent

I was thumbing through the November issue of Working Woman the other day and stumbled upon a list of Web sites developed especially with parents in mind.

One in particular caught my eye. The site contains all the information from child-proofing basics to product recalls to make your home safe for the little tykes.

It’s worth a look at www.esafety.com.

* Reptile warnings: Got a baby or a toddler in the house? Time to get rid of that iguana.

According to new guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pet reptiles including all types of lizards, snakes and turtles can be a source of life-threatening infections and do not belong in households with children under the age of 5.

Reptiles, which carry salmonella bacteria in their digestive tracts, shouldn’t be handled by small children or by anyone with a weakened immune system. In addition, the animals should not be kept as pets in preschools and day-care centers, the CDC reports.

People should always wash their hands with soap after handling reptiles or reptile cages.

* Bed-wetting troubles: Baseball star Mark McGwire is working with the National Kidney Foundation on a TV and radio campaign about bed-wetting. McGwire will alert families to the fact that bed-wetting is a medical condition for which children should never be punished.

According to the foundation, bed-wetting affects nearly 7 million American children. Visit the Web site at www.kidney.org/patients/bedwet.cfm for more information.

The Web site www.drynights.com also features information on bed-wetting. There are “Just for Kids” and a “Just for Parents” sections within the site to help each generation understand this condition.

* TV and health: According to a press release from the American Academy of Pediatrics, school-age children’s television viewing habits can contribute to sleep problems.

The habits most associated with sleep problems are increased daily viewing and increased viewing at bedtime, especially if there’s a TV in the child’s bedroom.

* Anger control: A new book by Michele Borba, “Parents Do Make a Difference: How to Raise Kids with Solid Character, Strong Minds, and Caring Heart” (Jossey-Bass Publishers) shares the following five ways to help kids control their anger:

* Model coolness when facing problems.

* Convey the importance of staying calm.

* Identify anger warning signs.

* Teach a calm-down formula.

* Use affirmation to stay calm.

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