Trends in Work/Life Balance: A new study out of the University of Cincinnati finds that working mothers are more likely than working dads to take the day off when a child is ill. However, the likelihood of dad calling in to take care of a sick child increases with the length of his employment and, not surprisingly, when he works flextime hours. Women become less likely to be sole providers of care for sick children as their salaries increase.

Kids’ Health Insurance and Politics: The expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which is funded through state and federal money, is set to be a political football. The Senate wants to expand funding for the program by $35 billion over five years; the Congress proposes $50 billion; and the President advocates $5 billion and has threatened to veto legislation that outstrips this amount. At issue is the plan to offer families of four who make over $100,000 per year the option of buying into the program if they can show that they are unable to get or to afford private health insurance. Opponents say the expansion of the program is a step towards socialized medicine and fattens already inefficient government programs; supporters say that in addition to giving health care to the nation’s poor, the plan offers coverage for children who have been failed by the private health insurance industry. Expect to hear more.

Legal Pushback on Baby Video Study: Walt Disney, parent company to Baby Einstein, has issued a demand for a retraction of the press release issued by the University of Washington on its study on the effect “baby videos and DVDs” have on language development. The letter raises doubts about the methodology used in the study. One objection: “The study combines very different content into a single category of ‘Baby Video’, even though the types of videos lumped into this category vary widely. In effect, the study assumes that neither the specific content nor the manner in which it is consumed can influence the nature of the experience. The study does nothing to prove this proposition which is contradicted by other published studies of infant viewing (not even mentioned in the report) which find that the specific nature of content and the way it is consumed are vitally important.”

In light of the recent lead in toys news, I checked in with the Sierra Club to get their take on how government agencies are performing in terms of getting a handle on the problem. You may recall that last year the Sierra Club sued the Environmental Protection Agency in federal court as a way of pressuring the agency to take action in protecting kids from lead toy jewelry. The EPA and the Sierra Club reached a settlement. Under the agreement, the EPA agreed to contact 120 companies with a letter addressing the hazards of lead exposure. The EPA also agreed to alert the Consumer Product Safely Commission to the problem of inadequate quality control measures that have allowed hazardous lead jewelry into the country.

In response to my inquiry for an update, I received an email from Tom Neltner, Co-chair of the National Toxics Committee for the Sierra Club. Regarding the settlement, he notes:

We were not excited about the resolution. CPSC had begun rulemaking to only address children’s metal toy jewelry. We thought quality control was a problem that went well beyond that type of product. But legally, we were not certain that we could force EPA to take action. So we deferred to the judgment of the agencies. Given the recent events, we see an even more urgent need for action by either or both of the agencies.

In answer to my question about why the CPSC doesn’t fine companies who repeatedly import and sell toys made with lead:

As I understand it, CPSC can fine for violations of its rules. It has rules on lead in candle wicks and the use of lead-based paint as a product or on furniture or children’s toys. But CPSC is loathe to use that authority. The recent recalls by RC2 and Mattel violated these rules. My impression is that the reluctance has three roots:

1. From staff limitations. Enforcement takes resources they don’t have. They only have 400 people in the entire agency.
2. An agency philosophy of working with companies.
3. A lack of a quorum on the Commission that makes it impossible for the Commission to take official action. The Commission vacancies have left the action crippled in a situation like this.

I can certainly understand the CPSC’s staff issues (they’ve been without a director for over a year now, and the President’s recent nominee, you may recall, withdrew his name when it was revealed that he accepted a large severance package from his longtime employer, a powerful manufacturer’s lobby).  And the philosophy of working with businesses on voluntary standards and enforcements is certainly more attractive than the constant crackdown.

But the lead toys from China problem is too unwieldy for a “gentlemen’s agreement” approach. Just in terms of lead in children’s jewelry, a recent federal inspection found that roughly 20% of the products out there pose a lead hazard. That equals hundreds of thousands of items on store shelves and in vending machines today. And of the 17.9 million pieces of jewelry recalled since 2005, 95% were manufactured in China. (I guess not too surprising, since these days it seems everything on the shelf at Toys R Us was made in China.)

In his email, Mr. Neltner of the Sierra Club noted that he’d “love to see CPSC publicly report on the effectiveness of the recalls. Kids don’t want to lose their valued toy. And only a portion of parents will act.” That’s been my issue as well. First off you need for the parent to hear about the recall, then to recognize that the hazardous item is in her house, then to find it. If all this occurs, she’ll likely throw the item out rather than approach the company for a refund, so the financial hit on the company that put the lead kids’ jewelry or toy onto the store shelves is going to be pretty minuscule.

For example: Twentieth Century Fox distributed over 700,000 bonus charms in a Shirley Temple movie package. The charms were then found to contain dangerous levels of lead. As part of their recall effort, Fox offered a free DVD to consumers who returned the charms. Only 6.7% were sent back. A Fox spokesman noted, “We wanted them all back, we did everything we could do to get them back.”

They key has got to be keeping lead out of children’s jewelry and other kids’ gear in the first place.

The CPSC is now considering issuing a formal ban on children’s jewelry containing lead, instead of merely setting an enforcement standard. 195 pages of letters and comments have been submitted to the agency on the proposal. Of all the input, only one letter opposes the ban. It’s from…the government of China!

In the letter, a deputy director general at China’s General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine argues that lead in children’s jewelry is not hazardous if it’s covered by a protective coating, and that the proposed regulations would “increase the cost of producing and inspection of the manufacturers of children’s metal jewelry, and bring unnecessary obstacles to trade.”

My first reaction to reading that was, frankly, boo-fricking-hoo. Of course, I’m no economist, so I’d be open to hearing why we have to turn a blind eye to lead in kids’ jewelry so as not to put an undue burden on the Chinese economy.

But more to the point, can’t we all agree, as consumers, that we’ll gladly spend 50 cents more for a kids’ bracelet if we can be sure that it’s not a lead poisoning hazard? Where’s the controversy?

Posted by MommaSteph.

Ohio Maternity Leave Proposal: The Ohio Civil Rights Commission is proposing legislation that would change that state’s anti-pregnancy discrimination laws to enable all working moms to take twelve weeks’ post-childbirth leave without fear of losing their jobs. While the federal Family and Medical Leave Act requires businesses with at least 50 employees to give leave to new moms if they have worked for the company for at least1,250 hours in the previous twelve months, the Ohio proposal would guarantee leave for women working for companies with at least four employees, regardless of how long they have been employed. The proposal is facing criticism from some who feel the law would hit small businesses too hard.

West Nile Spreading? California ’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in three California counties that have been hit hardest with West Nile Virus. Kern, Colusa and San Joaquin counties will receive extra funding to combat the mosquito-borne disease.

Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

(Thanks, Alison, for the picture!)

Dangerous Blinds: The CPSC announced a recall of window blinds sold exclusively at Lowe’s stores. Basic Blindz have pull chords that are looped. This type of chord is a strangulation hazard for young children. Consumers should stop using the blinds and contact contact Springs Window Fashions toll-free at (866) 305-8652 for a retrofit kit.

Big Bang Explained: A University of Iowa researcher believes he has created a mathematical analysis for the vocabulary explosion toddlers tend to experience at around 18 months. The explosion occurs, he reports in the current journal Science, because toddlers are learning more than one word at a time, and more moderately complex to complex words than simple ones. The professor notes, “Using computer simulations and mathematical analysis, I found that if these two conditions are true, you always get a vocabulary explosion.”

Dangerous Baby Bottles? A group of scientists has published a statement in the journal Reproductive Toxicology in which they warn that bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like chemical compound found in many everyday plastic items, including baby bottles, can be found at much higher levels in humans in the US than was previously thought. They report that the compound can pose adverse health risks, particularly to a developing fetus.

Lunch On the Go: New York City moms and babies celebrated World Breastfeeding Week by staging a mobile nurse-in on the city’s subway trains. They were joined by state Sen. Liz Krueger. “It is totally legal and appropriate to breast-feed your baby anytime, anyplace that baby needs to be fed,” said Krueger, who is pushing the Breastfeeding Mother’s Bill of Rights in Albany.

Heat Dangers: According to the Annual Survey of Football Injuries, heat-related deaths in middle and high school football players spiked in 2006, with five 11 to 17-year-olds dying of heat stroke, all of which the author of the survey notes could have been avoided. Seven other young players died of heart-related events that may or may not have been heat-related as well.

To prevent heat-related deaths, the following safety tips are offered:

• Require each athlete to have a physical and know if an athlete has a history of heat-related illness; these kids are more susceptible to heat stroke. Overweight players are also at higher risk.

• Acclimatize players to the heat slowly; North Carolina mandates that the first three days of practice be done without uniforms.

• Alter practice schedules to avoid long workouts in high-humidity.

• Provide cold water before, during and after practice in unlimited quantities.

• Provide shaded rest areas with circulating air; remove helmets and loosen or remove jerseys; some schools have plastic outdoor pools filled with ice for cool-downs after practice.

• Know the symptoms of heat illness: nausea, incoherence, fatigue, weakness, vomiting, muscle cramps, weak rapid pulse, visual disturbance. Contrary to popular belief, heat stroke victims may sweat profusely.

• Have an emergency plan in place; parents should inquire about emergency plans for their kids’ teams.

Costly Error: New South Wales’ Attorney-General announced a new provision attached to breastfeeding protection laws that warns that anyone who violates a woman’s right to nurse her child in public could face a fine of up to $40,000. The Attorney-General noted, “Unfortunately there are some unsympathetic attitudes to breastfeeding in public areas, yet we all know that breastfeeding is a very important thing for both the health of the child and also the health of a mother.”

The CMPC and Mattel, parent company for Fisher-Price, announced a recall of nearly 1 million toys, manufactured between April 19, 2007 and July 6, 2007 and sold between this past May and today, as stand-alone toys or in sets, because they may contain lead paint. Lead is extremely toxic if ingested by young children. The products were manufactured in China and include Sesame Street and Nickelodeon characters.

Mattel has a site up with descriptions and pictures of the affected toys and instructions for consumers (the first directive being to remove suspect toys from children’s hands immediately). If you have more questions, you can call Mattel’s hot line at 800-916-449.

Some are worried about the economic fallout for companies who have manufacturing deals with China:

Carter Keithley, president of the Toy Industries Association, praised Mattel’s quick response to the problem and suggested Mattel will use this setback as a lesson for not only the company but for the entire industry.

However, he expressed concern about how the recall and other toy recalls will play out in consumers’ minds in advance of the holiday season.

“We are worried about the public feeling,” said Keithley, adding he observed how toy companies are embracing strict controls during a recent toy safety seminar in China. “We have thought all along that (consumers) can be confident in the products,” he said. “But if companies like Mattel have this, then you have to ask how did this happen?”

Interestingly, only last week Mattel was featured in a big write-up in the New York Times for its dealings with China, and was touted as “the best role model for how to operate prudently in China.”

On the political front:

Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, introduced a bill last month that he contended would dramatically expand the product safety commission’s ability to protect consumers. In a statement Wednesday night, Durbin also called for better safety standards for products imported from China.

“Sadly, this is the most recent in a series of disturbing recalls of children’s toys. While the toys may be different, they have one thing in common — they were manufactured in China,” he said. “With the current tools and resources the Consumer Product Safety Commission has, it cannot adequately protect American consumers.”

Stay tuned…

Posted by MommaSteph.

Odd birds: A new study published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology finds that while the male penduline tit is looking for a SAHM to mind the brood while he goes philandering, it doesn’t always work out that way: “What is unusual about the penduline tit breeding system is that in one in three cases both males and females are willing to abandon the nest [to seek out new sexual partners], even though the clutch will perish as a result.” Dr. Székely added that the system “could be said to be reminiscent of Hollywood life-styles with plenty of mating opportunities that may lead to neglect for the family at home.”

Obesity out of control? Out of the UK, a report was leaked that found that the government’s pledge to stop the soaring rate of childhood obesity within three years is not achievable, and that childhood obesity rates will continue to rise for the next few decades, with trends indicating that half of all boys and one in five girls in the UK will be dangerously overweight by 2050. National Obesity Forum spokesman warned, ‘Unless we take proper steps now to tackle it, we are facing disaster in the near future, with today’s generation of children dying younger than their parents.’

Story Time: Actress Jenna Elfman (Dharma and Greg) and her husband welcomed a baby boy, whom they named Story Elias. Reportedly, little Story is a fan of “classical music, a clean diaper, mom’s boobs and long naps.”

Hand Soap? This is just wrong…

Breastfeeding Ban on Base? A new mom who works in food services at Fort Bragg wants to make sure that all nursing mothers know their rights. This, after an anonymous person complained that she was breastfeeding her three-month-old in the food court area during her break. Tabitha Redding says she breastfed her other children in mini-mall and never faced a complaint before, noting, “I’ve always been modest about it. I’m trying to make myself as comfortable as the other people.” Nevertheless, the complaint sparked a notice from her boss, ordering her to stop nursing her baby at the mall because, he said, the Army and Air Force Exchange Services, which manages military malls, bans it. Her boss later said that he miscommunicated. Under federal law, women in the US may breastfeed their babies in public.
(Via DaddyTypes.)

Prenatal Testing and Politics: Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) have reintroduced the Pre-natally and Post-natally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act, which aims to “amend the Public Health Service Act to increase the provision of scientifically sound information and support services to patients receiving a positive test diagnosis for Down syndrome or other prenatally diagnosed conditions.” (Via Jaden’s Journal.)

Tired Tiger? Golf instructor Butch Harmon shared some thoughts about how new fatherhood is affecting Tiger Woods’ game (Mr. Woods and his wife, Elin, welcomed baby Sam earlier this month): “I saw him play a lot of holes up close. I saw him hit some brilliant shots and then saw some terrible ones. I don’t think he had the preparation that he would normally have for a major championship with the birth of his daughter. I think he’s in a different place in his life now…Talking to him on the practice areas, though, left me in no doubt that he’s still extremely happy. He’s really loving being a dad. The arrival of his baby is going to make him a better person. In the long term it will make him a better golfer, giving him a wonderful outlet away from the game.”

Cup Recall: CVS Stores and the CPSC announced a recall of Playskool toddler sippy cups because of reports of children chewing through the sippy spouts, with some incidents of choking (though no injuries) reported. Consumers should stop using the cups and visit a CVS for a refund.

Nice News: Anchorwoman Campbell Brown announced today that she’s leaving her long-time job at NBC for a spot at CNN. Noted Ms. Brown, “I’m making some decisions right now that I think make a lot of sense for me and my family.” Make that, expanding family. Ms. Brown also announced that she and her husband are expecting their first child.

Children’s Health Insurance Program Update: President Bush is threatening to veto the compromise bill hammered out in Congress to expand funding for State Children’s Health Insurance Program, a federal/state government partnership that offers health insurance to children from families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but who struggle to afford private insurance. The President’s spokesperson notes that he objects to how some states have used the program’s flexible guidelines to cover adults, and that the program constitutes “a gradual government takeover of healthcare”. The President favors a $5 billion increase in funding (the compromise bill adds $35 billion). Republicans in Congress predict that if the President vetoes the bill, the chance of a veto override are high, as the legislation has broad bipartisan support.

Push for More Newborn Screening: The American College of Medical Genetics recommends that every US state adopt screening standards for newborns that test for a ‘core panel’ of genetic and congenital conditions. They estimate that each year 500,000 babies are not screened for conditions that could be treated with early detection. The organization’s president states, “When newborn screening detects an abnormality, early diagnosis and treatment can make the difference between a healthy life and one that is shortened or requires long-term care. These tests can make a huge difference to a child and family.”

Insurance for Poor Kids Expanded: Lawmakers in the Senate have struck a deal and agreed to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to offer health coverage to an additional 3.3 million children. The coverage is for children of families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford insurance on their own.