This week the American Academy of Pediatrics released updates to previous recommendations related to babies and TV time and SIDS. Also, they decreased the age for ADHD evaluation from 6 to 4 years old. Be sure to read up on these below in parent news. It's been a busy week for the AAP leading up to their national conference.

Also, there is a lot going on this weekend. Get out and enjoy one of the area pumpkin patches, Fantastic Mr. Fox, a run and story times.  If you have a preschooler that needs a fun activity, be sure to attend the School Skills Open House at Gymboree Play & Music. You'll learn about special classes designed with preschoolers in mind. These classes are a great prep tool for your pre-kindergartener!

Enjoy your weekend!
- Allison Cate @ SBfamilies.com 

AAP UPDATES SIDS PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS
This week the American Academy of Pediatrics boldly updated their recommendations to discourage co-sleeping and the use of all crib bumpers.  The AAP also suggests pacifiers be offered to infants, and women breastfeed their babies.
read updated recommendations>>>

AAP EXPANDS AGES FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ADHD IN CHILDREN
The American Association of Pediatrics has released new guidelines that drop the recommended starting age for evaluating children for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder from six to four years old, raising concerns about medicating children so young and that diagnoses will become even more widespread.
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MEDIA USE BY CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 2

The AAP first provided guidance on media use for children under age 2 in 1999. This consisted of a recommendation in the Academy's policy statement, "Media Education," which discouraged TV viewing for children in this age group.

At the time, there was limited data on the subject, but the AAP believed there were more potential negative effects than positive effects of media exposure for the younger set. New data bears this out, and the AAP stands by its recommendation to keep children under age 2 as "screen-free" as possible. More is known today about children's early brain development, the best ways to help them learn, and the effects that various types of stimulation and activities have on this process.

read the key findings of new data>>>

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