Night Terrors linked to infant’s temperament? Researchers have found that some preschoolers may be more vulnerable to having nightmares, and it could be linked to their temperament as infants showing even as young as 5 months old. More anxious or difficult children appear to be more prone to these nightmares.

In this study, “bad dreams” as early as the age of 2 1/2 were predicted by signs of anxiety at the ages of 5 months and 17 months, explained Nielsen, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Montreal. It goes on to explain that as a child grows older, some “minor traumas”, such as the first days of school, can subsequently trigger these nightmares again.

You are what you eat. Even children who are overweight, yet not technically obese, are at increased risk for serious heart problems as they get older. To me, what it comes down to is not only the child’s weight, but WHAT they eat that is important. We have seen as adults that there are adults who are not overweight that have serious heart issues as well. It is tempting to feed children empty, fat-filled calories. Especially with all the packaged and pre-prepared junk food out there - and it is impossible not to notice with all of the advertising campaigns these days. But getting down to food basics and feeding children fresh foods filled with vitamins and all the “good” things they need to grow healthy is an essential building block for a child’s future.

FTC cautions movie marketing to young children. The FTC is asking the Motion Picture Association of America to reconsider their advertising recommendations for some PG13 movies. This was brought to their attention after merchandise for the somewhat violent Transformers movie was marketed to children even as young as 2 years old. This includes restaurant advertising (children’s meals toys). I tend to agree with their recommendation - parents can do their best to protect their children from more mature themed toys and such, but it sure can be difficult when these days advertisers are very clever in their abilities to keep their products right in front of our faces everywhere we turn. I am seeing a constant theme in today’s post…