I think of myself as a bit of a safety-obsessive, so imagine my chagrin when I happened upon an article in a recent Good Housekeeping and learned that I didn’t know squat about how to safely use nonstick pans. I didn’t even know there was an unsafe way, outside of chipping off the coating with metal spoons.

If you’re as clueless as I was, here’s the dope: Nonstick cookware is safe, experts note, so long as they’re not overheated.

“There’s a whole chemistry set of compounds that will come off when Teflon is heated high enough to decompose,” says [chemistry professor and Teflon expert Robert L.] Wolke. “Many of these are fluorine-containing compounds, which as a class are generally toxic.” But fluoropolymers, the chemicals from which these toxic compounds come, are a big part of the coating formula — and the very reason that foods don’t stick to nonstick.

If the danger begins when pans overheat, then how hot is too hot? “At temperatures above 500ºF, the breakdown begins and smaller chemical fragments are released,” explains Kurunthachalam Kannan, Ph.D., an environmental toxicologist at the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center. DuPont, inventor and manufacturer of Teflon, agrees that 500 degrees is the recommended maximum for cooking.

The problem is, it’s very easy to get your pans to the “too hot” state. In Good Housekeeping tests, a lightweight pan hit 514 degrees after 2 and 1/2 minutes of preheating two tablespoons of oil on high. And at very high temperatures, above 660 degrees, nonstick cookware can even start to give off fumes that can induce a flu-like illness in people (and can kill pet birds).

So how do you keep the chemicals out of your food and air? Some tips:

• Never preheat an empty pan (and even preheating a pan with oil in it can be risky).
• Don’t cook on high heat when using nonstick pans. Go no higher than medium.
• Ventilate your kitchen when cooking to clear fumes.
• Don’t broil or sear meats in nonstick cookware.
• When buying nonstick pans, choose heavier models, which are less likely to overheat.
• Don’t use metal utensils that can chip the nonstick surface.

I’m sticking (so to speak) with my Teflon pans for pancakes and bakeware, but I’ve decided to save up for some good quality uncoated pans for when sticking is more or less a non-issue. In the meantime, it took me about a week to break the habit of turning the burner to high when cooking with nonstick, but now I’ve got it down pretty much. It takes longer to cook on medium, but sacrificing a little convenience to keep my family safe is a no-brainer.

Happy - and safe - cooking!

Posted by MommaSteph.

Is nothing sacred? The CPSC and Kahoot Products Inc. announced a recall of 1.6 million Cub Scout Totem badges, which were manufactured in China, because the surface paint contains lead. The badge in question in is pictured here. Parents should remove the badges from their children and contact Kahoot at (770) 552-2921, for a replacement badge.

Pregnancy and Thyroid: A new study out of Boston University School of Medicine finds that perchlorate, a naturally-occurring and man-made chemical increasingly found in humans, does not appear to disrupt the thyroid function of pregnant women. Thyroid hormone is crucial for the neurological development of the fetus, and there had been fears that perchlorate compromised the thyroid functioning in pregnant women with low-iodine diets. “In a large study of first-trimester pregnant women, which is a potentially vulnerable population, we found no effect of environmental perchlorate exposure on thyroid function, even though the amount of perchlorate in the urine was similar to that found in the U.S. population and about seventy percent of the women were mildly iodine deficient,” said Elizabeth N. Pearce, M.D., lead author of the study and assistant professor of medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine in Boston.

Awwww….Rescuers of a lost and lonely kitten feared the newborn would die when she refused to be bottle fed, but their family dog stepped up to the job.  Honey, a golden retriever, began comforting the kitten, and soon began lactating, even though she had last given birth a year and a half earlier.  The kitten took right to her surrogate mom and is apparently thriving.

…here is a great story. According to Yahoo News:

One year old Booker West was splashing his hands in a birdbath in his grandparents’ northern Colorado back yard when the snake slithered up to the toddler, rattled and struck. Five-pound Zoey (a Chihuahua) jumped in the way and took the bites.

The child was to be bitten by the snake, yet the dog felt the need to protect him. Do you think they really felt connected?

From the day children are born, animals are part of their lives. It can be a simple puppy decoration or a motif on a high chair. Children do need animals in their lives, and animals can have a magical effect on children. They can provide comfort, companionship, life lessons, opportunities to learn how to care for something outside of oneself, and, in many cases, a healing touch.

However, bringing an animal into a family should be a privilege and done in a way that is safe for both child and animal. There are many great guides to help create a healthy relationship between a pet and a child. If you are looking for a pet, get informed and always consult a professional about safety precautions when having a kid and a pet in a household.

Although I do agree that pets can have a great effect on a child’s live, currently, we don’t have one. We used to have a fish (his name was Champion James) and he died. I remember my son telling me that he wanted to pray for his soul (he always says things like that). We cried a lot and I’m pretty sure they developed some sort of understanding of the death process. After that, they said they did not want another pet for a while. They love to see other peoples’ dogs, yet they don’t want any right now.

I never had a pet in my house when I was growing up but I was taught to never abuse any animal. I have great respect for animals and I admire those that provide a home to them. Eventually my kids will ask for a pet and we’ll probably talk about the responsibility associated to it.

Meanwhile I shared this news with them and I let them know that in the case of Baby Brooker, the truth of an old motto was proven: ” A dog is a man’s best friend.”

Posted by Momcrazyforkids.

NICU Deaths and Race: A University of Alberta study finds a correlation between race and mortality rates in NICUs, with infants of East Asian origin dying at three times the rate of Caucasian babies. Aboriginal males and East Asian females were found to have much greater odds of survival. Data out of the US shows that sepsis (infection) is the strongest predictor of neonatal deaths among African American infants. Reducing infection could be means of improving outcomes for these preemies.

Sad News: Of the sextuplets born to a Minneapolis couple last month, only one still survives. Children’s Hospitals and Clinics announced that a fifth baby of the six died on Sunday. The babies were born 4 and 1/2 months early. Three of the babies died within the first week, and a fourth died shortly thereafter. The remaining son, named Sylas, is still in critical condition. The 24-year-old parents tried to get pregnant naturally for a year before trying fertility drugs conceiving the sextuplets. They released a statement thanking family and friends for their support.

And now, for something completely different: Perhaps you are largely pregnant and feeling a bit awkward. Perhaps you are sleep deprived from new motherhood and walking into walls. Or perhaps, like some of us, you are two years postpartum and still tripping over your feet. Whatever is causing your clumsiness, perhaps this will make you feel better. (Hat tip, Mitchell.)

Does a turtle sound like a good pet for your kids? If so, you may want to consider this before buying one.

Even though the sale of small turtles has been banned in the United States since 1975, American children are still contracting sometimes deadly Salmonella from these pets, experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn.

An infant died from salmonella after being exposed to a small turtle bought for the family by a friend. Several other people - mostly kids - became ill after handling pet turtles purchased at pet shops or flea markets.

Despite the law [prohibiting their sale], small turtles — defined as shells under 4 inches long — still find their way into homes and “can be handled like toys by small children.”

After the law went into effect, cases of turtle-related Salmonella fell by 100,000 annually…but serious incidents still occur.

Children can be infected with salmonella after touching turtles or the turtle’s environment (contaminated water or other surfaces that may have traces of feces on them) and not thoroughly washing their hands before touching their mouths or food, etc. It’s best to simply not have turtles as pets, particularly around very small children. Yes, they’re neat, but the risk outweighs the cool factor - at least in this household.

Posted by Sunshining.

Breaking News: Beyonce is really hot.

Plastics and Fertility: Researchers out of Yale report that bisphenol-A (BPA), an estrogen-like contaminant found in plastics used to make food storage containers, among other products, may disrupt the development of the uterus in female fetuses if the mother is exposed to it, causing future fertility problems. BPA is also commonly found in baby bottles. An earlier study linked BPA with learning impairment and onset of Alzheimer’s.

Fertility and Cancer: A San Francisco woman, who was rendered infertile by chemotherapy, has received one of her sister’s ovaries through transplant. She and her doctor are waiting to see if the transplanted ovary allows her to ovulate normally, and possibly achieve pregnancy.

Puppy Love: Charlie, a tiny Rottweiler puppy who was rejected by his mother, has been adopted by a new momma cat named Satin, report Humane Society volunteers in Meriden, CT. Charlie nurses alongside Satin’s kittens, and plays with his new brothers and sisters in their shelter home. They dynamics of play are expected to change rather dramatically, however, as Charlie grows.

Tori Spelling must be experiencing some kind of post-traumatic stress disorder due to the shock of not getting any of daddy’s inheritance.� First, she has a garage sale.� Not on Ebay, but a real yard sale at her house.��When that was done,�she took her hard earned cigar box full of assorted loose change and bought this ridiculous contraption.� A “doggy stroller.”�

I have no problems with�treating a beloved pet like your own child.� I did that myself - my terrier got dressed up in dolls clothes and got to eat doggy biscuits at my pretend tea-parties.� But I was seven years old�at the time.�

Looks like watching Tori become a mama could be even more entertaining than Britney… stay tuned!�

Posted by Meganlux

Having dogs keeps the wheezies at bay:� Researchers at the University of Cincinnati report that infants in homes with multiple dogs appear to be less susceptible to wheezing than other babies.�

Further evidence on a rare, but serious pregnancy condition:�Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center find that women who develop chorioamnionitis, an infection of the placenta or nearby membranes, in a first pregnancy are twice as likely as other women to develop the condition in a second pregnancy.� Chorioamnionitis can cause bleeding and infection, and can lead to cerebral palsy.� Infection can occur if there is a long period between a woman’s waters breaking and giving birth; however, infection can also occur before the waters break, which necessitates emergency delivery.

Abortion pill prevents breast cancer?� Mifepristone, the chemical compound in the abortion pill. appears to inhibit the growth of tumors in caused by the gene responsible for most breast and ovarian cancers.

Get Educated, Get Involved:� Today is World AIDS Day.� Find out the latest news on the fight against AIDS and see how you can help.

Posted by Dorian.

My almost 5-year-old son has been asking for a puppy for several months now.� After we lost both of our cats last summer (one got sick and died, the other went out and never came home), I sort of got used to the idea of having a pet-free home.� No litter box to clean, no dust kitties in the corners, no shredded carpets or furniture, no rolls of toilet paper strewn about the house…but alas, the idea of my�two young boys growing up with a family dog does warm my heart.

I’ve never owned a dog before.� They seem like a lot more work than a cat.� Would I really be able to handle taking the dog out to poo during a blizzard?� And how long can you leave a dog in the house alone before he throws a fit?� Can we take weekend day trips and not have to worry about a little present in the middle of the living room rug?� Well, probably not, but I think I have resigned myself to the fact that we will be adopting a dog at some point in the near future.

I’m also concerned about finding the right type of dog for our family.� Ideally I’d like a dog that doesn’t shed (does that exist?), one that isn’t too big but isn’t yippy or nervous either, one with fairly low energy but who easily learns commands, and one who just generally becomes a beloved member of the family.� I have visions of my boys dressing up the dog, taking him for walks, going camping, etc.

I love the look of beagles, but I just read on Petfinder that beagles are “stubborn, difficult to train, and can be noisy.”� Yikes.� Strike one.� But just look at that face.

My quest for the perfect dog is just beginning.� Any advice would be appreciated!

Posted by Pager12

A West Bengal police officer charged with guarding industrial plants has had his salary cut because he failed to keep his coworker - a trained�Labrador - from becoming pregnant.� The dog was not able to fulfill her duties during her pregnancy and at her time of delivery, when she gave birth to�ten puppies.

The officer is appealing the decision:

“When an animal experiences the urge to mate, it does not pay heed to its trainer,” he told reporters in his defense.

But his boss is sticking to his guns. “A biological phenomenon relating to a sexual urge is a different issue, but it had been established he was not serious about his duties.”

The officer’s salary has been cut from 3,540 rupees (about $77) a month to 3,295 rupees.

Posted by MommaSteph