For many of us, we’ve waited a long time for warm weather to come our way. Luckily for us, the wait is over.

With sunny skies outside, what’s a kid to do? According to Fitness magazine, kids can stay fit and active while having a whole lot of fun on not a whole lot of money. Fitness suggests that parents create a Fit-Kid Kit for their children.

The following list of playthings can be placed in the kit and will have your kids ready for summer fun:

• Rubbermaid’s utility tub
• First Fitness Obstacle Course
• Gertie rubber balls
• Little Tikes Big Swing & Ball Set
• Gertie hoop and basketball set
• Alex Toys’ Catch ‘n Stick Monster Mitts
• Wham-O’s Original Hula Hoop

For less than $80, all of the above items can be bought. Of course, parents can leave out or add in specific items since they know their children and their children’s interests best. The idea is to include playthings that get kids moving and having fun without paying a fortune.

Surgery for anyone is scary. Surgery for a child can be terrifying. Luckily, HealthDay News recently published tips provided by the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital for parents who are preparing their children for an upcoming surgery. According to the hospital, the following suggestions can ease the process and calm some fears-for both the child and parent-as they prepare for a procedure.

• Find out as much as you can about the surgery, so you can answer the child’s questions and reply with the right information.
• Be honest when answering questions, but make sure your responses are appropriate for the child’s age.
• Read books with your child about preparing for a trip to the hospital.
• Take a tour of the hospital, including areas where the child will be.
• If your child is old enough and mature enough to make a choice, let the child make it.

As the 11th Annual Food Allergy Awareness Week draws to a close, it’s a good time to take a look at some interesting facts regarding food allergies.  For the last several years, food allergies have become a growing public health concern across the country, especially since children are some of the most hard-hit victims.

Here are some recent numbers according to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN):

• More than 12 million Americans have food allergies which translates to 1 out of every 25 people in the country.
• In children under 3, there is a higher percentage of food allergies-1 out of every 17 young children.
• Total, approximately 3 million U.S. children have food allergies.
• 8 foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions in the nation: [1] milk [2] eggs [3] peanuts [4] tree nuts like almonds and cashews [5] wheat [6] soy [7] fish and [8] shellfish.

Since there is no cure for food allergies and even the smallest amount of a food allergen can cause a reaction in someone, parents need to take note of what their kids are eating and if their kids experience unusual reactions. Visit the FAAN website for even more information regarding food allergies and 5 steps forward the country is taking to combat this growing problem.

Ignore your teeth and they’ll go away. Harsh words, but oh, so true. So, how early and how often and how best should you take care of your children’s teeth? According to the AAP, dental and oral diseases continue to plague kids even with all the advances that have taken place with oral health.

Follow these tips to help your kids develop good dental habits and take a real bite out of dental diseases:

• Schedule regular check-ups with a dental professional (every 6  months)
• Get enough flouride (it can be found in or added to water and toothpaste)
• Brush and floss regularly( twice a day is ideal)
• Eat a well-balanced diet and drink lots of water

Dental cleaning should begin as soon as your baby gets his first tooth. Simply using a damp cloth or piece of gauze to wipe the first few teeth will do wonders as far as prevention of dental disease goes. The AAP recommends that all infants receive an oral health risk assessment by 6 months of age. And all kids should have a comprehensive dental exam by a dentist in their early toddler years. Hopefully, these guidelines will bring a smile to your child’s face for years to come.  And note to moms and dads: these tips for kids apply to you too!

Pregnant women who eat chocolate just might fight off the serious complication known as preclampsia.

Basically, chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is rich with a certain chemical that helps the heart. Preclampsia is a condition in which blood pressure spikes during pregnancy and has features similar to heart disease.

Researchers studied 2,291 who delivered a single baby and asked them about their chocolate consumption during pregnancy. Women who ate 5 or more servings of chocolate each week in their third trimester were 40% less likely to develop preclampsia than their peers who ate chocolate less than once a week.

Researchers believe their findings definitely raise the possibility of a link between chocolate consumption and a reduced risk of preclampsia. They have encouraged others to conduct further research. Looks like chocolate might just do the body-and the baby-good!

A new study has indicated that the number of pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes has doubled in seven years. Obviously, this poses a health risk for both mothers and newborns. If the diabetes isn’t controlled, chances of miscarriage and still birth increase as well as the risk of their babies being born with birth defects.

More than 175,000 women were included in the study between 1999 and 2005. The rate of pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes rose from 8 per 1,000 pregnancies to 18 per 1,000. The rate increased the most among 13- to 19-year old expectant mothers. According to the experts, the findings from this study reflect the overall U.S. population.

It’s important to remember that gestational diabetes-which is developed during pregnancy-is different than pre-pregnancy diabetes. And all women with pre-existing diabetes should plan their pregnancies since they’re considered high-risk pregnancies. Diabetes can be monitored and controlled and women with the condition can deliver happy and healthy babies. Seeking medical help and controlling the disease is of utmost importance.

Got allergies? Does your child? Maybe you’re not sure. Well, you’re not alone. Sometimes allergies are very obvious, especially when your children have an immediate reaction to something specific. Other times, it’s not as easy to tell. The American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child’s Allergies and Asthma has provided the following symptoms that may mean an allergy is on the loose:

• Recurrent red, itchy, dry, sometime scaly rashes in the creases of the skin, wrists, and ankles.
• Repeated or chronic cold-like symptoms - that last more than a week or two, or develop at about the same time every year. These could include a runny nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing and throat clearing.
• Nose rubbing, sniffling, snorting, sneezing and itchy, runny eyes.
• Itching or tingling sensations in the mouth and throat. Itchiness is not usually a complaint with a cold, but it is the hallmark of an allergy problem.
• Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and other respiratory symptoms. Coughing may be an isolated symptom; increases at night or with exercise are suspicious for asthma.

In the last post, I wrote about recommended vaccines for children between the ages of 0 and 6 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a schedule of recommended vaccines for people aged 7 - 18 years as well. Their recommendations are as follows:

7-10 years

• Meningococcal (MCV4)*
• Pneumococcal (PPV)*
• Influenza*
• Hepatitis A Series (HepA)*

11-12 years

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• MCV4
• PPV*
• Influenza*
• HepA Series*

13-18 years

• PPV*
• Influenza*
• HepA Series*

*These are applicable to certain high-risk groups only. Check with your doctor for more information.

While this schedule of recommended vaccines is approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, you may still have your own questions and concerns. You should always feel comfortable consulting your child’s doctor; there are no dumb questions when it comes to your child’s health.