Australian mothers (and fathers) have to wait until after the next federal election before paid maternity leave is introduced here in Australia. I can sympathize with working parents. It must be a difficult decision where you have two incomes coming in and you live to the standard that those incomes provide. Leaving work and that income for six to twelve months can be a huge impost financially - but I have to wonder. Should Australian taxpayers fund a system that allows you to maintain that higher standard of living whilst staying at home to look after a child?

It sounds like I am putting a negative on it - and I am. We are rapidly approaching an era where both parents will work and these working families will insist on tax payers funding everything. Maternity leave, child care and after school care. How much can the tax system carry is my question?

I think there is a case for some type of maternity leave. I keep talking about 'tax payers' and these working parents are tax payers. I just don't know to what extent those tax dollars need to go into the cost of raising a family. I think we could have devised a much more equitable scheme that would have seen the burden spread around a little - including the shoulders of the parents (or parents to be).

We have a reasonably good superannuation scheme here in Australia (retirement scheme). Employers and employees contribute to a fund that is invested and steadily grows. I cannot see why a similar scheme couldn't be introduced for parenting. If we used a scheme where 10% of a person's wage was set aside each year - with that 10% divided between the employee, the employer and the government (with the employer paying the smallest component), within five years an individual would have accumulated the equivalent of six months wages (5 years x 10% = 50% of annual wages = 6 months wages).

This would spread the cost burden and include the parents to be - they would be investing in their own maternity leave as well. If we cap maternity leave at 80% of their average wage, their would be a residual for any later biths. If we include males in this scheme, they would also accumulate six months wages every five years. This could be used to either take paternity leave, or to top up the maternity leave if there were insufficient savings.

Down the track, these funds could be used to provide income in situations of extended illness, or simply transferred to superannuation funds. The bottom line, the cost of maternity leave is spread around. Mothers would receive 80% of their average wage rather than a predetermined amount set down by the government of the day and national savings would get a substantial boost. It would be win for all parties involved.

Should tax payers fund maternity leave - we have no say in the matter really. But surely young workers need to be responsible for setting aside something for when they want to start a family!

It's not something that I had really thought about before. Why is that some animals don't get skin cancer? It's quite the contrary actually. Some plants and animals are able to repair themselves. I know that some aquatic animals can regrow some parts of their body and scientist are researching that area.

Kangaroos apparently have a DNA repair enzyme that repairs the damage done to the skin by the sun. It is estimated that some 400,000 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer. The enzyme found in kangaroos can repair up 45% of damage caused by the sun. Whilst it's not 100%, it is certainly better than the zero percent we currently have.

They are now working on putting together a 'super cream' that people can slap on after being out in the sun. Unfortunately, it is another indication that we humans are refusing to acknowledge what nature can do to us. Rather than staying out of the sun, or at least covering ourselves when out in the sun, we would rather get burnt and hope that a cream will fix it all.

If the cream only repairs 45% of the damage receives, that means 55% remains and that 55% could be what causes a skin cancer to form. You can read the story here. I guess in the long run, having a cream is better than having no cream and over time, scientist will find a way of boosting that 45% closer to 100%. Human trials are still five years away - at least our kids may have some protection into the future.

If you're a regular blogger and have often wondered about including video posts, it is possible although the results are a little mixed. I signed up to text2video.com, it cost me a whole dollar and for my money I was able to convert three posts to video. Below is one of those videos that was converted from my post Cures for sore nipples from breastfeeding.

The quality of the text conversion is good. The background and music look good - you can play around a lot with both the backgrounds and the music. I am not thrilled with the text reading. It is a computer generated voice and sounds like one as well. The text doesn't read well - but that is my fault since I didn't rewrite it for the spoken word.

I don't know if it is worth the cost in the long run. You are looking at around $40 per month for 30 videos - about $1.30 per video. You can pay more and reduce the cost per video to around $0.50. If you have a lot of posts you want to convert then it may be worth taking the top package for a month, getting all your posts converted (the top package gives you credits for 200 videos), then canceling your subscription.

Here is my first attempt - I have uploaded it to YouTube. A search on Google will no doubt reveal other text to video services. Let us know if you have come across a good one.

Conjunctivitis or pink eye is one of those conditions that effect children where your damned if you and damned if you don't - treat it, that is. It is highly contagious and some children seem to get repeat bouts of it. Generally speaking it affects one eye but because it is highly contagious, it doesn't take long before the child has rubbed it into the other eye - and their friends and siblings as well. So how do you deal with conjunctivitis. Let's break it down first.

What is Conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is a name given to any condition that affects transparent membrane that lines the inside of the eyelid and part of the eyeball. The term "itis" signifies an inflammation. The inflammation effects the tiny blood vessels in the eyeball and this is what causes the 'pink eye' effect.

What are the Symptoms of Conjunctivitis?

The pink eye effect is one of the first signs of conjunctivitis. The child may complain of dry or itchy eyes and will tend to rub them a lot - thus adding to the inflammation and pink eye effect. There will normally be a discharge which is quite noticeable in the mornings - the child's eyes will often be glued shut.

What are the Causes of Conjunctivitis?

There are three main causes of conjunctivitis - Viral, Bacterial and allergic. Viral is often associated with colds and flu's with symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose and perhaps a cough. Bacterial infections generally have that 'infection' discharge - a creamy to green discharge from the eyes. Allergic conjunctivitis is found together with very itchy eyes and other allergy related issues such as sneezing.

In newborns, conjunctivitis is common is caused by a blockage in the tear ducts. It will soon clear. Most newborns receive special drops at birth to provide some protection from conjunctivitis.

How to Treat Conjunctivitis

One of the problems with allergic and viral conjunctivitis is that children cannot help but rub their eyes. This runs the risk of adding bacteria to the equation. Keeping the hands and face clean is important. You can also help by changing pillow slips daily and by not reusing items such as face cloths (especially on other children).

For newborns, gently cleaning the eyes with sterile water and cotton balls often helps. Only wipe the eye once with each cotton ball and never dip a used ball into the sterile water. Your doctor may prescribe an eye drop or eye cream if it is a bacterial infection.

For older children, keeping the eyes clean using cotton balls and sterile water helps. There are over the counter solutions that also help to ease the itchyness of conjunctivitis. If there is a discharge from the eye that lasts longer than 24 hours then consult your doctor. If it is a bacterial infection or allergic reaction then eye drops or creams may be prescribed.

There is no 'cure' for viral conjunctivitis. Like all viruses, it just needs to run its course. Normally 7-14 days. If the discharge darkens then you should seek medical advice as bacteria may have entered the eye.

For glued eyes in the morning, resist the temptation to force the eyelids apart. Use a damp warm face cloth to gently dissolve some of the 'glue'. The eyes should come apart with little effort.

Your own personal hygiene is important when conjunctivitis is suspected. Keep your hands clean especially after dealing with infected persons eyes. Resist the temptation to touch the area around the eyes with your fingers. Don't try to pull any 'glue' from the eye lashes - use a damp face cloth to gently dissolve then wipe away and glue.

Conjunctivitis rarely leads to any serious conditions and often heals itself within 10-14 of onset. However, in rare cases the retina can become damages which leads then to eyesight problems. With that in mind, always see a doctor if the problem persists and shows no signs of clearing.

This is a story that is ever so close to my heart. I have been harping on for years (just ask my wife) about the fact we are living in a society that is too clean. We are sterilizing our homes to the point we are actually making our children sick. Yes sick!

Why? Every time we grab those cleaning agents and sterilize our homes, the floors, walls and bench tops, we are killing the good bacteria as well as the bad. Our bodies need those good bacteria's. In fact some are an essential part of our digestive processes. Not only that, we don't really know what effect these chemicals are having on our children. Are they cancer causing? Who knows!

An organization called the Seventh Generation is organizing a protest march with a difference - a million babies crawling on Washington in support of legislation that seeks to reform toxic chemical legislation. To quote from an email I received -

"Seventh Generation and millions of babies are crawling to Washington to demand a law that will regulate toxic chemicals found in household products."

It sounds like a good call to me. If your interested in supporting this cause you can check out their web site at http://www.seventhgeneration.com/million-baby-crawl/. On the site you can create your own little crawler together with a message to congress.

Here is a fun video that addresses some of what they are trying to achieve.

If you are a woman looking to start a family, or perhaps add to a your family, you may be becoming confused with all the advice that is now coming out. We wrote a few days ago about the types of food to eat to prevent allergies. Researchers are now finding that folic acid may be a leading cause of asthma in young children.

There is a bright side to this story however. Folic acid is an essential additive that helps to prevent neural tube defects (like spina bifida) in new borns. A diet that is poor in folic acid has been linked to increased incidents of these problems.

However, and here is the good news, extra folic acid is only needed prior to conception and in the first few months of pregnancy. Certainly by the end of the first trimester the need for extra folic acid is gone. The advice for women who are trying to get pregnant is to take folic acid supplements before conception and not more than several weeks into their pregnancy.

What research is showing is that for those women who continue to take increased doses of folic acid (over and above normal daily requirements for a non pregnant woman), there is a corresponding rise in the incidence of asthma in their young children. What is interesting however is the following statement:

"Dr Davies said having a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, certain nuts and fruits known to be sources of folate (the natural form of folic acid) did not carry an asthma risk."

So natural forms of folic acid are okay - it is only the supplements. It makes you wonder if it is the folic acid, the source of the folic acid when manufacturing these supplements, the carrier that is holding the folic acid, or whether fresh fruit and vegetables carry other vital compounds that help to neutralize any negative effects - or perhaps all of the above.

I have to say I have never been a big promoter of the 'fresh is best' kind - but I am starting to change my tune a little. Of course, fresh is best but it can also be the most expensive whereas frozen to me has always been the most convenient.

The message now for new mums to be - take folate (folic acid) before and for the first month of pregnancy, then stop taking extra folate. By all means keep on eating your fresh fruit and veg.

Sign language is often something that we as parents ignore. There is a stigma attached I think that says it's only for the hearing impaired. Sorry to burst your bubble on this - every parent and every child can benefit from learning to sign - and not because they can communicate with the hearing impaired.

In fact, by learning to sign with your baby, you will learn to communicate at much earlier age. Babies use sign language all the time - we just don't understand it. True, it is very basic and often involves pointing more than anything else - but it is a form of sign language.

I use it too. I noticed yesterday with my six year old. She was creating problems with her sisters - I just pointed to her room - she understood what and why! Again, it is very basic. The question then is whether or not you can build that into a fully fledged sign language routine. You can and it isn't that hard.

For those really interested in baby sign language - I suggest you visit Australia's leading proponent, Jackie Durnin at Australian Baby Hands. She has created resources (including a free wall chart) based on Auslan that can get you started in the use of baby sign language. There are also classes held around Australia that can help you to learn to sign effectively.

Visit the site and watch the video - you will be amazed at how well a youngster can communicate. One reason that two year olds throw tantrums is because of the frustrations caused by their inability to communicate what they want to us. Sign language breaks through that barrier and reduces that frustration. It also reduces the frequency of tantrums.

If you're in Australia and you're looking for a new career - consider taking on a Baby Hands Institute franchise. It is a challenging career move that may not make you millions. However, the rewards are in the results and there will be plenty of them.

See related articles on Australian Baby Hands:

Using Sign Language with Toddlers:
Why I signed with my baby

I wish I had the definitive answer to that question. However, I have written in the past and I will continue to promote several strategies that research scientist are now starting to advocate. Our children don't have to suffer from allergies particularly allergies that our parents have never heard about.

Some allergies seem to be inherited. However, even people with inherited allergies seem to survive better if raised along these lines.

It seems strange to me that in some cultures food allergies are unknown. It is these societies that science is now examining trying to determine what they do that is different to us. I can tell you in a nutshell.

Sterilize And Be Damned

People in societies that are allergy free don't sterilize everything - in fact, they don't really sterilize anything. Kids are allowed to play in dirt - eat it even. If they drop their food, guess what, they pick it up, dust it off and continuing eating. I can hear you all saying how gross that sounds - and it does, but only because we have been led to believe that cleanliness and hygiene are so important.

Let me tell you something - when we clean our homes use anti-bacterial products - we are killing both the good and the bad bugs. Our bodies need the good bugs. Those bugs help us digest food. They also help us to develop strong immune systems. We also need a smattering of bad bugs. Yes - we will get an upset tummy from them, but we are building immunities and making our immune system stronger. I like what one person had to say - by killing all bacteria, both good and bad, our immune systems are left with nothing to do so they go and find something to do - and that is fight against what we eat - in other words, an allergy

Baby Knows Best

Not regimenting babies feed time. Some people wish that babies were born with user manuals. I am glad they are not. We so regiment a babies life. At three months they should do this, at six months something else. Start solids at 8 months but only give them very weak rice cereal.

What a load of garbage. Babies are people - people are individuals and individuals are different. You cannot apply a set of rules to a baby unless you generalize it. For example, when it comes to food, rather than putting an age on when they start solids, the rule should be - let baby decide. And they will. They will try and take food out of your hand, off your plate, even out of your mouth if they can. When baby starts reaching for food, they are ready to start sampling.

Then second part of this rule is that there is no rule on what they can try. Of course, being able to actually eat something is important so don't try shoveling a chunk of rump steak down their throat. Give baby eggs, milk, wheat and nuts from an early age. Let them experiment with food.

Researchers are now finding that in societies that don't have allergies, the combination of breast feeding and the early introduction of solids is the common thread - and the thread that is so different in western cultures.

Fresh Has Always Been Best

The final piece of the puzzle is processed foods. Cultures that eat no processed food have no allergies. We in the west live off the stuff. Fresh food, picked straight from tree/bush or dug from the ground is always best. Their meat has not antibiotics, chemicals or additives of any kind.

Those that keep pigs feed them scraps - funny, that's what they did when I was growing up. The local pig farmer visited the school to collect all the scraps. Not today - oh no, we need to keep the pigs in concrete jails and feed them on the best in chemicals. I am sure it's an improvement!

How To Keep Our Kids Allergy Free

There are no guarantees - however, those three components together seem to reduce the incidence of asthma and allergies completely. I am not talking about a 50% reduction - this is a 100% reduction.

So to summarize: when ever possible, breast feed to give baby a good boost to their immune system. Feed baby solids when baby is ready, not when the guide books say. Feed them a range of foods including those on the allergy lists - don't be afraid to experiment with food, that's how they learn what. Let them eat dirt, let them play in the dirt and stop sterilizing your home. Sure, keep it clean but understand the difference between clean and sterilized - we don't need sterilizing. Finally, breast feed where possible and steer away from processed foods - rely instead on fresh.

There was a TV report today along these lines - you may be interested in reading the doctor/reporters blog on his findings after visiting a community that was 100% allergy free. It will make you think.

I guess the opposite of that question is can you give birth to a dumb kid? Of course, it all depends on what you classify as intelligent or dumb! In reality, barring any birth defects, all children art born with the ability to learn. They have to survive. They learn very early that crying leads to attention.

We now know that certain products cause certain problems. Alcohol and other drugs can have severe affects on the unborn baby including learning difficulties. The chemicals in cigarettes are also thought to have side affects. Mercury from deep sea fish can lead to miscarriages and certain bacteria's found in foods such as cream cheese can also lead to a miscarriage.

Is the opposite also true? One mother, Jeannette Bolvary, has taken things to a higher level. A recent report on Today Tonight looked at food and whether or not women could give birth to smarter kids. It's an interesting thought and one that she has turned into a fairly popular book (you can obtain it through Amazon if you're interested).

Can leafy green vegetables, fresh fish, fruit and whole grains help the infant while it is still in the womb. I think we can all agree on one point - it won't hurt the baby. Can it make the baby smarter? Why not. Many of these same foods are recommended to help us think a little clearer especially if we avoid all the junky and supposed toxic foods.

There is no research behind any of this but common sense would suggest that simply cutting out toxic foods will make us feel better. The question is - which foods are toxic. One group will say that coffee is toxic whilst another group will claim it is full of anti-oxidants.

Smarter kids? Is it the food, or is it more a case of a parent wanting a smarter kid; eating the right food; but then spending a lot more quality time with the child to ensure they do learn things early. I wonder, if they could spend the same amount of time with a child after eating a junk food diet during pregnancy, would the child also show signs of early development. I think they would.

Having said that, good food is always going to be better in the long run and I am not suggesting you eat junk food all the way through your pregnancy. What I am suggesting is that sometimes we need to look at a broader range of factors when it comes to how intelligent out children. I worry when someone says - just eat this and you will have much smarter children. They could be right, the problem is some parent say great, I will eat this, my child will be smarter, I DON'T NEED TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME WITH THEM NOW!

It is quality time with your children that ultimately sets them on the right course. The food is just the fuel that makes your job as a parent a little easier. They are more receptive with the right food whereas junk food tends to shorten concentration levels. That is also the case whilst still in the womb.

I would be interested in your thoughts on this issue - does food affect the intelligence of the unborn baby?

According to the experts, if you are ready to have a baby then you need to be watching what you eat. Yeah like that's new to everyone. We all know that certain foods are good and some others are bad. Deep sea fish may contain high levels of mercury, a heavy metal strongly associated with miscarriages.

However boffins (um scientists) have discovered that vegetarian men are more likely to have compromised sperm. Just don't go crazy - high protein diets also compromise sperm.

Believe it or not, it is not what you eat during pregnancy that counts. Women, who's diets prior to conception are low in the B vitamins B12, folic acid and the amino acid methionine tend to have fatter boys - not girls, boys.

What about stress. If you are in a stressful job and you are thinking of getting pregnant, quit six months before and de-stress. Stress before conception produces babies that are more prone to anxiety, hyper-activity and social problems.

Finally, researchers have concluded that men with higher intelligence produce better quality sperm. Well, all I can say is that judging from what I have seen, the not so intelligent men may not have better quality sperm, they certainly have lots of it - or at least, they produce lots of children. Intelligent men seem to have fewer children - oh yeah, they are more intelligent aren't they? But I have five - what does that make me?

So ladies - here is the bottom line. If you are looking to get pregnant, find an intelligent man, make sure he is not a vegetarian or a high protein freak. You need to quit your job and de-stress and eat a diet high in in the B vitamins B12, folic acid and the amino acid methionine - but low in deep sea fish.

There is one upside to all of this - scientist also recommend, if you want to get pregnant, to really put on a show and have the wildest sex possible. It seems wild, energetic and uninhibited sex increases your chances of getting pregnant. Sperm production goes through the roof and the sperms ability to get to and fertilize the egg increases. I told you there was an upside.

Source - Australian Women's Health

photo credit: Gustavo (lu7frb)