3 things you should NEVER say to your child!

TOP OF MIND

I DON'T WANNA GO TO BED!!!! 😡
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine conducted a survey recently, asking over 2,000 adults about sleep habits and melatonin use for their families. The researchers discovered that nearly 50% of parents had given melatonin to a child under the age of 13 at some point to help them catch some zzz's.

They also determined that parents between the ages of 25 and 34 were the most likely age group to give melatonin to their child.

But is all this melatonin safe?

The important bits
Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body that works to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. When it gets dark outside, your body naturally starts producing melatonin, which helps you fall asleep. But thanks to our homes becoming one big screen factory, more and more people have started taking melatonin supplements to help them sleep.

And while it's generally considered to be a safe supplement, most of the research conducted has been on adults. Most research has shown that giving children melatonin for a short period (three months or less) is relatively safe. But when it comes to data tracking long-term use? Well, that's much harder to find.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that melatonin is classified as a dietary supplement in the United States. It's not regulated by the FDA, which means dosing guidelines can be wildly misleading. This has led to a sharp increase in reports of melatonin poisoning in recent years. US poison control centers reported a 530% increase between 2012 and 2021.

Thankfully, 84% of those reports ended up being asymptomatic, but some children had serious side effects like trouble breathing or gastrointestinal symptoms.

Experts are also concerned about all the unknowns when it comes to long-term use of the supplement, with some speculating it could impact a child's growth and development.

What's it all mean?
Look. We know there are those nights where you have a pen in your hand, ready to sign over your soul to the devil in order to make your kid fall asleep. You'd rather burn in perpetuity than hear your kid say, "But I'm not tired!!!" one more time.

But sometimes the easiest solution isn't always the best. It might be tempting to just get into the habit of giving your kids melatonin gummies before bed, but there are safer and more sustainable ways to develop healthy sleeping habits.

Experts suggest reducing screen time in the hours leading up to bedtime, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, and developing a relaxing nighttime routine. For a long list of tips, click here.

DID YOU HEAR

3 phrases you should NEVER say to your children
Want to raise a kid with high emotional intelligence? Well, according to Harvard neuroscience experts, you should avoid using these phrases:

• Why can't you be more motivated?

• Why don't you listen to me?

• You are being so disrespectful!

Find out why here.

CANYOUSEE_THIS?
Dr. Maxwell Cheng, the Chief of Optometry at Kaiser Permanente, claims the pandemic has impacted children's eyes and vision. According to Cheng, there's been a large increase in myopia and nearsightedness in children who live in the United States. He believes this is directly linked to spending less time outdoors and more time staring at digital screens.

He has some suggestions on how to negate the impacts.

Should you be friends with your kid?
How many times have you heard some curmudgeonly old man grumble, "Your kids should never see you as their friend!"?

Is the old man right? The answer is complicated, but this article breaks it down rather succinctly.

Tooth fairy propaganda to make your kids brush their teeth
Finding it difficult to get your kids to care about their dental health? Maybe you should adopt this mom's strategy, which involves telling her kids that the Tooth Fairy pays more based on the condition of the tooth that has fallen out.

It's a pretty genius idea.

Hasta la vista, baby!
Arnold Schwarzenegger recently revealed some questionable parenting techniques, which include throwing his son's mattress (sheets and all) out the window and tossing his daughter's shoes in a fire.

A DOSE OF GOOD

Good news, our special babylist.com giveaway has been extended one more week!

There are three great prizes up for grabs:
💰 Grand Prize: $100 Baby List Gift Card
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To enter, share The Weekly Parent with your friends and family using the "Click to Share" button below or copy and paste the link. Every referral who signs up counts as an entry, and the entries are unlimited!

We'll announce the winners in next week's newsletter. Good luck!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out at [email protected].

JUST FOR YOU

Bites: What’s October for if not having a little fun with your kids’ snacks? We double dare you to make these jello worms - equally creepy and fruity! These mummy meatballs and mummy hand pies will also put smiles on your kids' faces. Rice Krispie treats make a great canvas for creating Halloween creatures, like this Frankenstein or these "monsters".

Brownie monsters, ghost popcorn balls and spider apples are fun additions to any lunchbox, while these creepy and incredible strawberry chocolate rats will delight everyone who sees them!

Gizmos: Want to make parenting a little easier? These helpers just might do the trick. Life Hacker has put together an extensive list, including bug-shaped fever indicators, portable breast pumps, and wooden knives.

Betterments: This section is named "Just For You" and nothing says those three words like showering yourself with presents! You work hard, and you deserve a little something-something to make your life a little more relaxed. The team over at self.com has put together a list of 44 self-care items you need in your life. You're welcome.

PARENTING WIN/FAIL

Another week, another win! Loyal reader Tim B. has found a way to manage his 11-year-old's screen time, and he was nice enough to give us credit for an assist!

We think some adults should adopt this method as well. We're just saying.

Thanks for sharing, Tim! If you have a parenting win/fail you'd like to share, email us at [email protected] and your story might be featured in a future edition!

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week we asked you how you felt about a potential four-day school week, and believe it or not, there was a three-way tie between "I'm all for it", "Absolutely not!" and "Down to try it, but skeptical of its benefits".

RECALLS

5in1 Rocker Bassinet.

Federal safety regulators are urging people to stop using the rocker bassinets put out by the 5in1 brand. The bassinets were sold online at major retailers including Walmart.

According to the CPSC, the product fails to meet the agency's Infant Sleep Products Rule and poses many hazards to babies, including suffocation and strangulation.

To make this situation more complicated, the Missouri-based importer of the bassinets, Rev Grace Import, is not cooperating with the CPSC and is not offering consumers a refund.

As mentioned above, this product was sold online at Walmart.com and other websites. It was sold in green and gray colors and has "5in1 Rocker Bassinet" displayed on the packaging. The markings “Ya.Ya.Ya, 5IN1UPC Code 09331849600139, 01 Rock Sleeper, 02 Dream Centre, 03 Cozy Seat, 04 Travel Bassinet, 05 Rock & Play, and Made in China," also appear on the packaging.

If you happen to have this bassinet, you're strongly encouraged to stop using it. In fact, the CPSC says to dismantle it and throw it in the garbage.