LilSugar

The Scary Mail-Order Chicken Pox Craze That's Sweeping the Country

LilSugar — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:16:15 PST

Letting your child lick a complete stranger's lollypop is a repulsive idea to most parents, but that's exactly what parents around the country are doing in an attempt to infect their tots with the chicken pox virus, thus avoiding the chicken pox vaccination. Since the vaccine's approval in 1995, every state now requires children to be vaccinated before entering daycare or preschool with relatively few exceptions, including: children can skip the varicella prick (the chicken pox vaccine) if the parents abstain from vaccinations for religious reasons, or if a child has contracted the virus on their own.

For parents opposed to the vaccines for any number of reasons, that last exemption clause has led to the creation of Facebook groups like "Find a Pox Party in Your Area" where parents connect with other like-minded adults to pass around infected pops, a modern day pox party - except with complete strangers.

What do you think? Would you ever order an infected lollipop to avoid vaccinating your child?

The Duggar Kids Got the Chickenpox; Has Your Child?

LilSugar — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:30:45 PDT

When one child has chickenpox, chances are his siblings will get them, too! The illness can spread easily when the infected kiddo does everyday things like cough, sneeze, or share a sip of a drink or a bite of a sandwich. Imagine what it's like when chickenpox enters the Duggar home! In tonight's episode of 19 Kids and Counting, Jim Bob and Michelle find their family covered in spots and have to keep the youngsters away from baby Josie. Have your tots had chickenpox?

Kiddie Wellness: Chicken Pox Parties?

LilSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:00:36 PST

Would you welcome strangers into your home when your wee one was sick? How about encouraging your tot to share licks of a lollipop or a sippy cup with another who was under the weather? Or shipping your child's pajamas across the country in the wild hope that the kid who wears them gets your lil one's ailment? This is what New York mamas are doing to try and get their youngsters to contract the chicken pox. A recent New York Post piece focused on chicken pox parties, soirees parents are throwing to spread the illness so their children do not have to get the chicken pox vaccine required to get into the New York school system. It said:

Since 1999, kindergartners entering school in New York state must have had either the virus or the varicella vaccine, which protects against both chicken pox and shingles. But with recent public controversy concerning a possible link between vaccines and autism, some parents are turning to pox parties to protect their kids-by making them sick.

Aside from making your child uncomfortable, pediatricians also warn that, "Most of the time chicken pox is a mild disease, but you can die from the complications." What's your take - are you down with the craze or think chicken pox parties are plain crazy?
Source

Lil Links: Christina Applegate Has One Necessity on Set

LilSugar — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:32:18 PST

Christina Applegate says having Sadie on set was a priority - Celebrity Baby Blog
Asking a mom if she's done having kids is rude - The Stir
How to set up parental controls on your TV or cable box - Tecca.com
Gear guide: A great pedometer for kids - Health
Heidi Klum had two adorable lunch dates in LA - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Having a baby after losing a parent - Momformation
Yummy soup recipes for cold days - FitPregnancy
Thanksgiving crafts to keep lil hands busy on Turkey Day - Parenting
Are chicken pox parties the latest trend? - The Bump

OnSugar Blog: A Call Out For Working Moms

OnSugar Blog — Thu, 12 May 2011 03:31:13 PDT

Lots of moms like to think out loud and Loctitious Goldilocks is one of them. Here is an excerpt from her first post on her new The Mumventures of Bionic Woman blog.

So it all kicked off with my work you see, being an assistant headteacher in a secondary school has its challenges, but not the school kids. . . no, more like that work-life balance thing, so if you've cracked it please, let me know! How can I want to spend time with my sick child, who has chicken pox and in spite of this be asked to still come into work 'as it is the worst time I could be off'! Hello! Which part of sick child did you not read?

Let me see, sick child. . . work. . . sick child . . . work. . . sick child. . . yes, that's the one that resonates with me.

Nevertheless, the bit about being one of the most able and reliable members of the team did have a bit of an influence on me if I'm honest. So off I went the very next day to work, in spite of a night of broken sleep and about three hours in total of any sleep, not to mention menstrually challenged.

It was also time for our team to have residential and of course, good ole hubby had already taken time off to be with our kids so I can pursue my work, yet again. In spite of this, I was again given emails making it clear that my wanting to be at home with my sick child was not good enough, in favor of spending quality time and 'bonding' time with my colleagues (whom, by the way, I see in total of 40 hours at least per week, while I see my sons possibly . . . wait for it . . . 40 hours a week, on a good week (not counting sleeping – eyes are closed so not seeing them! Just in case you wanted to be pedantic).

It just made me mad! But being the good soldier I am, I did everything in good stead – result, work carries on... implication, hubby's life is not important enough or even considered never mind the kids. But then again, why should anyone else care but me? So I need to make a stand.

Want to see more? Start following The Mumventures of Bionic Woman! Or start your own OnSugar blog. It's easy, it's free, and we just might feature your content on our site!

More Parents Are Choosing Alternative Vaccination Schedules For Their Kids

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:03:56 PDT

The times, they are a-changin' when it comes to vaccinating your tot. Following recent news that an overwhelming majority of parents are not comfortable with the vaccinations their children receive, a new study finds that more moms and dads are using alternative vaccine schedules for their kids than ever before. According to the latest issue of Pediatrics, 13 percent of families are not following the calendar created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, choosing to use alternative schedules that delay or skip various vaccines. Among the most missed vaccines are those for the flu and chicken pox, while the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) is the most frequently delayed, despite findings denying the link between the vaccine and autism.

DrSugar Answers: Best Medicine to Take For a Headache?

DrSugar — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:31:52 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she gives us the skinny on OTC pain medications.

Dear DrSugar,
Do the different types of over-the-counter pain relievers work better for different problems? What should I take for a headache - is aspirin better than ibuprofen? What should I take if I have a fever or the flu? Is there one that's best for dealing with swelling for twists and sprains? What about a pulled muscle? I look in my medicine cabinet and don't know what to take for what ails me. Thanks!
- Pained and Confused

This is a great question since there are so many options for over-the-counter pain relief available, making it quite difficult to keep straight which one is good for different problems! To learn more about the different OTC pain medications and which one to use for different medical problems, keep reading!

Are You Up to Date on All Your Shots? What You Need to Know

Leta Shy — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:20:01 PST

While February is the month when most people get the flu, hopefully you've already gotten your annual flu shot. But what about the rest of the lesser-known recommended vaccines for adults?

Recently I was surprised when during a routine appointment my doctor told me that because of a recent whooping cough outbreak I should get a Tdap shot, which also contains the booster doses for tetanus and diphtheria. I never think about nonflu vaccines very much, so I probably wouldn't have known that people my age needed one if she hadn't said anything.

I'm sure many of you are the same. In fact, adult vaccinations are so much lower than they should be that a recent CDC study found that most clinics don't even stock all the required vaccines for adults. But, actually, the CDC recommends that we get certain vaccinations long after we turn 18.

Want to know which vaccines you may need to get? Read on to see if you're up to date on your shots.