LilSugar

Mourning Mother Kelly Preston Won't Speak About Jett Yet

LilSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:20:00 -0700

To be predeceased by a child is a parent's nightmare that became the sad reality for John Travolta and Kelly Preston when their son died last January. The Hollywood couple has remained out of the public eye as they lament the loss of their late 16-year-old, Jett. In July, it was announced that Kelly would break her silence and speak out about her devastation on a grief and resilience panel at the California Governor's Conference for Women in October. The mourning mother has since (and understandably) pulled out. She said:

"It is with my sincere apologies that I must pull out from speaking at [the] conference. I am sorry, but I truly believed that I could do it. Otherwise I never would have said that I could. But I am still deeply in the process of healing, and it's just too soon."

If you know parents who have lost a child, here are tips for offering your support.

How to Help Parents Grieving the Loss of a Child

LilSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:00:36 -0800

Actor John Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston suffered a devastating loss on Friday when their 16-year-old son, Jett, died. Being predeceased by a child is a parent's worst nightmare. The mere thought of losing one's offspring is enough to bring a mother or father to tears. The reality is difficult to fathom so finding the words to appropriately comfort someone who is grieving such a loss can be hard. Here are some tips to use in coping with the sensitive task of supporting a parent whose child has died.

Behave naturally
Show genuine concern
Offer love patiently and unconditionally

To see the rest of the suggestions, read more.

Offer hugs or an arm around the shoulder, as appropriate
Sit next to the person who wants closeness
Make it clear that you are there to listen
Express your care and concern
Say that you are sorry about the loss
Say “I love you” if you feel close enough
Talk openly and directly about the person who died
Cry if you feel like crying
Keep in mind that evenings, weekends, anniversaries and holidays can be extra challenging times.

Our hearts go out to the Travolta family.
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South Korean Baby Dies as Parents Tend to Virtual Daughter

LilSugar — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:05:43 -0800

Can you imagine neglecting your own child in favor of a virtual one? A South Korean couple did exactly that, and their 3-month-old daughter died of malnutrition. The dad, 41, and mom, 25, both unemployed and depressed, spent long periods of time at an Internet cafe preoccupied with their online child and only fed their human preemie once a day. A report said:

The couple had become obsessed with nurturing a virtual girl called Anima in the popular role-playing game Prius Online, police said on Friday. The game enables players to interact with Anima and as they do so, help her to recover her lost memory and develop emotions.

The parents have since been arrested. While this is an extreme and devastating example, it begs a question about technology. More than ever, parents have the power to stay connected on gaming and social networking sites. And, what starts out as a few minutes online can quickly turn into hours. Do you think today's kids will be adversely affected by all the time their moms and dads spend on the computer?

Cars-N-Kids Car Seat Monitor: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:00:02 -0700

Every year we hear horrifying stories of children who die after being left in cars by their parents, about half of the youngsters are left unintentionally by relatives who forgot to remove them from the vehicle.

The Cars-N-Kids Car Seat Monitor ($40) is designed to prevent such tragedies. Using a monitor placed under a car seat, the device turns on when a child is placed in his seat. When the car stops for more than four seconds, a lullaby plays to remind parents about the lil one in the back seat. The device also beeps if a creative kid climbs out of their chair while the car is in motion.

Would you invest in this product?

Graco Recalls 1.5 Million Strollers, Dorel Asia 635,000 Cribs

LilSugar — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:01:48 -0800

If you're beginning to feel like nothing's safe anymore, you may be right. Following the largest stroller and crib recalls in history last year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced two new baby equipment notifications overnight.

The largest of the two is Graco's recall of 1.5 million strollers due to faulty canopy hinges. Similar to Maclaren's recall of 1 million push chairs, Graco announced that children's fingers can be cut when the canopies of their Passage, Alano, and Spree strollers and travel systems are opened or closed. To date, two tots' fingers were cut and five lost their fingertips after getting caught up in the plastic hinges on the identified buggies. The company is offering repair kits to families who own the identified models.

The CPSC also announced the recall of 635,000 Dorel Asia cribs following the death of a 6-month-old child and injuries to 10 more. Similar to the Stork Craft issue last year, the drop sides of 20 affected models can detach, creating enough space for wee ones to become stuck and suffocate.

Have all of the recent recalls shaken you confidence in baby equipment?

Do You Hope Your Child Inhales Instead of Drinks?

babysugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0700

If you had to pick between two vices for your child, would you rather he take a toke of marijuana or guzzle a beer or two? That is the question many moms are debating these days. As alcohol related deaths continue to make headline news, many pot proponents are advocating the legalization of the leafy drug to help curb the use of alcohol. In the book Marijuana is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?, the authors make the argument that the effects of the illegal substance are less harmful than those of alcohol.

To see what both sides argue, read more.

A forbidden drug, marijuana is often blamed for memory loss and the lack of motivation. Alcohol, which is legal on the other hand, can be faulted for a plethora of problems: cirrhosis, alcohol poisoning, reckless driving and domestic abuse. Cannabis supporters claim that the herbal treat mellows the user and has medical benefits as compared to the liquid toxins. And if legalized, the authors believe it will drive people to drink less and inevitably cause the related deaths and abuse to decline as well. The opposing camp believes when more substances are available for abuse, the more people will misuse them. They say adding pot to the mix is only going to encourage people to drink and smoke.

Since the grass (har har) is always greener, it begs the question: If pot becomes legal and everything else remains the same, would things change for the better? I can see it now... a wedding buffet with a hashish bar and hookahs at the table. The Temptations' "Shout" may not get quite the same excitement as a circle of people singing "Kumbaya."

Parents to Be Prosecuted For Accidental Co-Sleeping Deaths?

LilSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:32:32 -0700

Lawmakers discuss a wake-up call for co-sleeping parents. Prosecutors around the country are weighing the possibility of charging parents who accidentally "roll-over" their tots while drunk or high with child-neglect. According to the Wall Street Journal, an Oregon district attorney "has drawn a fairly hard line on bed-sharing death cases: He will prosecute them when they involve alcohol or drugs."

An Indiana father was charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death and faces up to 50 years in jail after smothering his son when the man fell sleep on a sofa after using methamphetamine and smoking marijuana. Fifty-four percent of lilsugar readers said that though studies showed a marked increase in infant suffocation tied to bed sharing, it didn't change their minds about the practice. Do you think there should be legal consequences for moms and dads who accidentally injure their children while co-sleeping under the influence?

Debbie Rowe's Comments on Children: Honest or Insensitive?

LilSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:28:42 -0700

Are there times when a mother should hold her tongue? Regardless of their true feelings, many birth and adoptive mamas consider their children's feelings and futures before they speak. This isn't necessarily the case with Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of Michael Jackson's two oldest children - Prince, 12, and Paris, 11 - who recently revealed facts about her marriage and child bearing years with the King of Pop. She said:

"I was no good. I don't want these children in my life. My children are my animals now."

The late musician's ex-wife also said that she was artificially inseminated with anonymous donor sperm to conceive. It is likely that the children and their younger brother, Prince Michael II, 7, who are currently in the temporary custody of their grandmother, Katherine, are mourning the death of their father. What do you think of Rowe's comments?

Donor Sticker on License to OK Reproduction After Death?

LilSugar — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:00:05 -0700

The will to donate one's organs is as simple as a sticker affixed to a driver's license in many states, but preserving the deceased person's sperm for relatives to reproduce after the death seems to be a bit more of a gray area. A grieving wife may ask for a loved one's sperm so she can fulfill her dreams of bearing her late husband's child. Should this privilege extend to other family members?

Recently, a mother in Texas asked for her 21-year-old's sperm because she plans to eventually find a surrogate to carry her late son's child. Do you think loved ones should have this power or should people be required to register for this much like organ donation in the event of death?

Baby Wellness: Preventing Flat Head

babysugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:01:00 -0700

For years now, the American Association of Pediatrics has promoted the "Back to Sleep Campaign" to help reduce the risk of SIDS. Since the campaign started nearly 13 years ago, SIDS-related deaths have decreased by more than 50 percent. While that stat is something to cheer about, there is one drawback to babies snoozing on their backs - they may develop flat areas on their heads if they stay in one position too long. Pediatricians generally check to ensure infants are not developing such an issue. If, however, a child appears to have areas of concern, there are steps that a parent can take to keep a nice round noggin and prevent positional plagiocephaly, also known as flat head. To see what they are, read more.

When putting baby down to rest, alternate the head's position every time to keep one side from getting too worn down.
Place baby on his tummy as often as possible so there is no head-to-bed contact. It will also encourage him to strengthen his core and neck muscles.
Don't let the child rest in stationary seats too long (i.e. car seats, swings and bouncy seats.)

If a baby's noggin remains flat, consult your doctor about possible head-shaping options.
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