A Valentine’s Day Quiz from The Child Safety Task Force

Feb 10 — There’s so much information out there on raising kids. The Child Safety Task Force wants to help you figure out what’s fact, and what’s fiction. Can you pick the myth from these three seasonal statements?

Truth or Myth: Taking a cup or bottle to bed can contribute to tooth decay.
Truth or Myth: Sugar in the diet makes children hyperactive and fussy.
Truth or Myth: Children’s sugar intake can contribute to childhood diabetes.

Truth or Myth: Taking a cup or bottle to bed can contribute to tooth decay.
Truth. As soon as the first tooth appears (about 6 months) children are susceptible to tooth decay. Allowing your child to take a bottle or a cup to bed dramatically increases this risk, since allowing sugar, even the sugar in milk and natural juice, to rest against the teeth can eat away enamel. This condition, known as ‘bottle mouth’, can be prevented by wiping or softly brushing your baby’s teeth and gums between the last drink and bedtime.

Truth or Myth: Sugar in the diet makes children hyperactive and fussy.
Myth. Numerous studies have confirmed that sugar does not cause hyperactivity or mood swings. In fact, sugar helps produce soothing chemicals in the brain (half a tsp in a few ounces of water can calm a fussing baby). But when blood-sugar levels rise too high, too fast, the body produces hormones to carry it to cells. As blood-sugar falls, children may be cranky, shaky, or sleepy. Then the body craves more sweets to replace the sugar. These conditions are temporary and not harmful, but you should still moderate your child’s portions and sugar intake, even at special occasions.

Truth or Myth: Children’s sugar intake can contribute to childhood diabetes.
Truth. Sugar by itself isn’t to blame. But a high-sugar diet can increase a child’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes or the pre-diabetic condition known as insulin resistance syndrome. The threat of diabetes, a serious disease with life-long effects, is higher among children who are overweight, and children with certain genetic risk factors. Help your child maintain a healthy weight to reduce these risks. Encourage healthy eating habits and provide nutritious, low-sugar, low-fat snacks. Fruit juices (even natural ones) and sweetened drinks can raise a child’s risk of obesity and diabetes.

Now that you know, choose sweet treats which will keep kids healthy!
Check back with us soon for more on the science of safe kids.