re: OT Parents: Best Advice/Things You Wish You Had Known

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sounds like the true problem in theory would be rice grown in arsenic contaminated water

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So what if I told you that arsenic was naturally occurring in most soil? That as rice sucked up the water around it, it accumulated higher concentrations of arsenic?

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Since arsenic is found naturally in the environment, you will be exposed to some arsenic by eating food, drinking water, or breathing air. Children may also be exposed to arsenic by eating soil. Analytical methods used by scientists to determine the levels of arsenic in the environment generally do not determine the specific form of arsenic present. Therefore, we do not always know the form of arsenic a person may be exposed to. Similarly, we often do not know what forms of arsenic are present at hazardous waste sites. Some forms of arsenic may be so tightly attached to particles or embedded in minerals that they are not taken up by plants and animals.

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CDC

above all, enjoy it:




its hard to believe our 3 year old is already as big as he is

it moves quick

Save every dime you can. You are going to need it. Also, limit electronics.

The things I said about my kid are truth. Would pride be my master if I posted his papers from school and a recent photo of him to support my claims? Probably so.

As for the article, again, and hopefully it sinks in this time.... I don't believe the study to be accurate. I think it was biased. For all I know they only tested kids in high risk regions. Maybe they had a sample that didn't reflect real life. I doubt the study done.

I know my kid ate a ton of it, among many other things, and from my personal experience there are no negative side effects. None. Zero.

The key to being a good father is not "quality time". It is "quantity time". Be the constant daily rock in their lives and your children will bloom. This includes being a really good husband.

Also, do not impose arbitrary rules. Explain your logical and thoughtful rules . Involve them in this. Let them know why. Ask them if it makes sense to them. Walk them through it patiently. This puts you on the same side for life.

Make sure your home is nurturing and peaceful. Let it be a respite from school. Sure let them do chores and whatever, but it should not be a judgemental work camp where they feel shame and self-loathing. I know so many people who hated their home as kids. That's profoundly sad to me.

If possible, isolate each child and spend time just with him or her. Make that routine and throughout their childhood. I "steal" each of my kids periodically. That stuff lasts a lifetime.

Also, consider the word "control". Most bad parenting comes from lack of control or the desire to control too much. Allow them their independence, don't hover,allow them the freedom to make and recover from mistakes, cut them some slack, give up the fantasy that you can "create" a child to some image in your head. Let them make decisions (that includes mistakes), be there with them, let them know the bond is unbreakable, and watch them make you proud.

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know my kid ate a ton of it, among many other things, and from my personal experience there are no negative side effects.

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I smoked for 10 years and also worked in asbestos abatement and demolition in the same timeframe.

If I told you that there's been no ill effects would you believe me? Maybe. What if I told you that I will never have any ill effects- would you believe me? Anecdotal evidence in a very small sample with a short amount of time is not a good indicator of future events.

To be clear I hope nothing happens to your child- I am just saying that eventually science catches up to everyone in one way or another.

Get the baby exposed to life outside the house. Go to noisy places as usual so he/she learns to sleep anywhere, anytime. We followed this advice with both kids and it was solid.

Conversely, we have friends with infants that they never take anywhere, and now the baby won't sleep unless it is completely quiet....and wakes up at the slightest noise.

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Why do you trust the research so much? It's one study. One dude that could have been paid 75k to publish anything.

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This isn't the first time it's been postulated that arsenic is in rice. The only reason adults can eat it is because of body size. Scale it down to a baby's size and you run into problems.

It's obvious you don't agree with the science published so far- and that is certainly your prerogative.

Eta- Rice industry news

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Published studies have shown that cooking rice in 6 to 10 parts of water to 1 part rice, then draining the excess water, can reduce the inorganic arsenic content by 40 to 60 percent, depending on the type of rice, according to the FDA. At the same time, this cooking method removes some key nutrients.

Exposing infants and pregnant women to inorganic arsenic can decrease a child’s performance in certain developmental tests, according to the FDA

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust and is present in water, air and soil. It occurs in two forms: organic and inorganic. Of the two, inorganic is considered more toxic when eaten.

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Drop them off on a neighboring state; if they find their way back to you, you know that baby's a keeper