Best Parenting World

Dexedrine is not prescribed very often for the treatment of ADHD out here in California, but those patients that we’ve seen on it have done well. Typically it is prescribed to patients who have not responded to Ritalin very well. It has the advantage of having a very nice long-lasting product (one dose per day). Usually it will not be prescribed to teenagers, or to individuals with a history of substance abuse. It can have retail value in the high school parking lot, and can be misused and abused.

Cylert (Sodium Pemoline)

Cylert seems to be prescribed most by neurologists and by the few pediatricians who are afraid to prescribe Ritalin.

We don’t recommend Cylert at all, and wonder why anyone actually prescribes it at all any more. It only works about half the time with patients, and can have very serious side-effects. We have been told that it causes hepatitis in 1/1000 of patients. We cannot verify this, but it’s good enough for us to not recommend it to patients anyway. Even the manufacturer recommends against it as the first medication tried in treating Attention Deficit Disorder.

Ritalin is a good medication with a bad reputation. Its name causes more fear in the hearts of parents than any other medication. It is the topic of radio talk shows, protests by the Church of Scientology, and negative newspaper articles. And yet, I wonder, if it is so very bad, why is it so “over-prescribed” as the critics claim? Let’s explore the issue further, and give some information to parents who might want to know more about the medication.

Tips to remember about Ritalin:

We have seen hundreds of kids benefit greatly from Ritalin. But doctors and parents must be observant and conservative. We have also seen some horror stories with Ritalin. Start slowly and cautiously. It is not a toy.

The short-acting pill is better than the timed-release pill. Also, the brand name “Ritalin” is much superior to the generic “Methylphenidate.” Always begin your “trial” of medication with the real stuff. If that works, then feel free to see if the generic will work as well as the “real stuff.”

Ritalin begins to work in about 15 or 20 minutes. It peaks in effectiveness at 1.5 to 2.5 hours, and lasts for about 3.5 to 4.0 hours.

There are several treatment options available to help improve the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Since there is no prescription medicine that can “cure” for ADHD, the various medical interventions seek to improve symptoms. The most commonly used medicines are stimulants, such as Ritalin, Dexedrine, Cylert, and ADDerall. Stimulants have been around for about 50 years. Overall, they work very well. Ritalin and Dexedrine are moderately beneficial, or very beneficial, for about 70% to 75% of those who try them.

Stimulants work by increasing both blood flow and the levels of Dopamine in the brain, especially the frontal lobes where the brain’s Executive Functions take place. They also increase the inhibitory systems of the brain by enhancing Serotonin and Norepinepherine levels. They do not work by having some mystical “opposite effect” on children.
There is an unbelievable amount of research done on children and Ritalin, less with Dexedrine, ADDerall, and Cylert. We have heard that Ritalin is the most widely studied medication prescribed to children in the world, and we would not dispute that claim. It seems that every doctoral candidate writing his dissertation for psychology does something with Ritalin.

Whether you’re hosting a baby shower for the first time or not, chances are you’ve got some questions regarding the right baby shower etiquette. You want to create a truly special time for the guest of honor without any unintended faux pas. This guide was specially created to help you do exactly that.
The real basics

• Take the wishes of the mom-to-be into account at every stage. That includes the games, food, invitation list and all other aspects of the baby shower.
• You can have baby showers either before or after the baby is born. Generally, they’re held 1 or 2 months before due date. But they’re also held after baby arrives because of medical or other reasons.
• These days, it is perfectly ok for a close relative or even the couple themselves to host a shower. Those “rules” about only non-relatives hosting a baby shower are quite dated now.
• Before deciding on the kind of baby shower you plan to have — girls-only or coed, theme or no theme and so on — consult mom-to-be and find out what she prefers.

Ritalin has been shown through the years to be very effective in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms. Although it has potential side-effects which many families would like to avoid, we have seen it help a lot of people. More recently, other interventions such as EEG biofeedback training have shown themselves to be very useful in treatment as well. A great deal of energy and money has also been invested into the development of non-prescription treatments for ADD ADHD.

Consumers must be aware that there are several alleged remedies for Attention Deficit Disorder which have never even attempted to clinically verify claims or quantify results. There are also many remedies which may be helpful to a small percentage of children or adults with Attention Deficit Disorder, but perhaps only 10% to 30% of those who try it.

For example, we have seen some children make remarkable changes by avoiding sodas, or certain foods, or certain chemicals. However, these cases are the exception, not the rule. It works for some, but not for most. The diet that we recommend is helpful in about 25% of the cases of those who try it. Again, the exception, not the rule, but good enough to give it a try. Compare this with the significant improvements from ATTEND at 70%, or EEG Biofeedback at 70% to 75%, or Stimulant Medication at 70% to 75%, and you will see the difference.

As a pregnant woman, you may experience sex drives much like your moods. Up and Down! Some women claim that they have no sex drive at all during pregnancy, and others, say their sex drive is better during pregnancy. With changes to your body happening so quickly, your moods and dives may also change just as quick!

Here are some common questions often asked by pregnant women with helpful answers!

Is it safe to have sex during all trimesters of pregnancy?

If there is no pain during sex and your not a high risk pregnancy, then sex is perfectly safe! If you are experiencing pain, or have a history of miscarriages, or any complications, consult with your medical professional.

I do not have any desire for sex, is this normal?

Every woman’s pregnancy is different. While some women experience an increase in their sex drive, others may experience a decrease. Many women that are experiencing morning sickness, have no desire for sex at all. This is fine, and actually perfectly normal. Who wants to make love when they feel sick? As you enter your 2nd trimester, most of the time the morning sickness will start to vanish. Once this happens, you will feel better and your sex drive many appear. If you seem to just have no desire for sex at all, there are other ways to satisfy your needs and your partners needs for intimacy, such as kissing and holding each other.

In 1996-97 we were contracted by VAXA International of Tampa, FL to provide clinical, “real world” information on the effectiveness of their product called “Attend.” Their product was a homeopathic nutraceutical medicine, meaning that it contains homeopathic medicines, plus nutritional medicines. The product has over 70 selected ingredients including specific amino acid combinations, essential fatty acids, phospholipid complexes, vitamins, minerals, and more.

Our study involved subjects ranging in age from 8 to 22. In our clincial studies we found that 70% of the subject using “Attend” for 30 days made statistically significant improvements on the Test of Variables of Attention, or TOVA test. The TOVA is a widely used CPT test for the diagnosis of ADHD, and to track the effectiveness of various treatment interventions. An improvement of 1/2 standard deviation on the TOVA is considered signficant improvement, meaning that it didn’t happen by accident.

Subjects focus improved one standard deviation on the bell curve; which means that the subjects could pay attention to their boring testing task much better than before, and for a longer period of time than before. You could expect to see your child, or teenager, stay focused to his school work, or other tasks, longer and better. It will also help concentration in sports, and is sold under a different label for professional golfers.

Becoming a stepmother can undoubtedly be one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, experiences in a woman’s life.

Every family’s circumstances are certainly different in some ways. There are numerous uncontrollable factors, which will inevitably effect your relationship with your stepchildren, like: whether the children have a living biological mother; whether they have any contact with their biological mother; how long ago and why their biological parents are no longer together; etc…

Consider the following seven suggestions to help you be the best stepmom you can be…

1) Remember that they are not YOUR children. You do not automatically become equal to their father in any way - particularly when it comes to discipline, enforcing rules etc… Discuss your role in their lives with their father and then with them. Let him tell them how he expects them to interact with you. (For example: Your husband may say that his children must listen to you just the same as they listen to him… or He may decide that he is the still the primary care-giver, law-maker, rule-enforcer…) Make sure he is fair to you and them, so you do not become the instant “enemy.”

What parent hasn’t gone into a son’s or daughter’s room and wondered, "Where did I go wrong? How could I have created someone who creates such a mess?"

At this point it is essential to recognize that not everyone is born organized, just as not everyone is born with a talent for art or mechanics. But anyone can learn the basic principles of organization given sufficient motivation and instruction. These principles will serve as a sound basis for personal growth and development throughout life and will contribute greatly to a more peaceful living environment for the entire family.

You can help your child begin to use organizing skills at a very young age by creating an orderly living and playing space. As soon as a child can identify colors, you have a major building block for good organization.

Picking up toys can be a game for your toddler when you have colored boxes or shelves where similar toys can be stored. For example, all the Lego blocks can go in the green box and the rest of the blocks in the yellow one, while all books can go on the red shelf and the audiotapes in the blue one. Pictures can be used to help identify what belongs where. Although the child may be unaware of it, you are teaching one of the basic principles of organization: Put all like things together.

Great baby shower decorations are more about using your imagination than your pocketbook! You can create a wonderful party mood with simple, high-impact arrangements. This article details some of the best ideas for baby shower decorations.
Use balloons artfully
Balloons make it feel like a party! Always have balloons at your events. Here’s a money-saver tip — your local 99¢ store will usually have balloons at a much lower price than most party stores.
A basic use of balloons is to create color spots around the room or area where you’re holding the baby shower. Tie a bunch of helium balloons to an anchor. Use baby items like booties, soft toys or baby bottles filled with water as anchors. Always use an odd number of balloons in a bunch.
If you have multiple tables, get a few baby items like shampoo, lotions, bottles, diaper packs, wipes, refill packs, baby formula packs, soft toys, etc and place them in the center of each table. Tie a bunch of balloons to them. Each table now has a color spot.
If you have large gifts like strollers or cribs, tie balloons to them to create a special look. Choose balloon colors according to the sex of the baby. If that’s not known, use both pink and blue balloons.
Use balloons to decorate mommy’s chair. Tie balloons in bunches to her “throne” and treat her like royalty! Also add streamers, satin bows and ribbons to her chair to give it a special look.
If you’re using a specific table for gifts, make sure it has several balloon bunches floating over it. That helps to create a focal point for the gifts.
How to use tubs and umbrellas for baby showers decorations
Use baby tubs as a punch bowl. Get one of those tubs that look like a whale. Fill it with clear punch and put in a small rubber ducky. The tub makes a wonderful present for mom-to-be after the shower.
Here’s another way to use the tub — fill it with individually wrapped presents. That can include diapers, shampoos, lotions, washcloths, etc. For an added effect, put some balloons into the tub too — they will look like floating bubbles! And fix a rubber ducky atop one of the balloons using ribbons.
You know what’s a perfect fit for any baby shower? Umbrellas. After all, it’s a shower, right? Here’s how you can use them.
Collect several different umbrellas from your home. Open them up, fix streamers in various colors (not just pink and blue, though those are fine too) to the umbrellas. Next, fix the umbrellas so that they hang upside down from the ceiling, and the colored streamers flutter above your heads. This makes a great sight!
You can also fill up umbrellas with balloons or even yarn in pastel colors. Hang them upside down at strategic points.
More baby shower decorations that enchant
Here’s a centerpiece idea that’s perfect for these celebrations — baby shower cakes. Not sure what those are? Baby shower cakes (also called diaper cakes) are essentially diapers arranged in multiple tiers to look like a cake, with many small baby products tucked into them. They’re very eye-catching gifts, just right for baby showers. Place one on a table as a centerpiece.
Here’s how to make your tables more appealing. Place small boxes of different heights on them. Drape baby items like receiving blankets over them. Your tables will end up with a more interesting look and feel thanks to varying levels.
Spice up your tables by sprinkling confetti on them that says “It’s a boy” or “It’s a girl.” If the baby’s sex is not known, use both.
Instead of piling gifts onto tables, try using a large item like a stroller or a baby crib to display gifts. This is just right for a baby shower!
Another tried and tested idea is to string a clothesline across the room. Use wooden clothespins to hang cute baby items from the line. Use diapers, baby clothing, booties, socks, bibs, hats, toys and other such items. These products make excellent gifts to mom-to-be after the shower.
Alternatively, hang disposable diapers on the clothesline and using permanent marker, spell out the baby’s name. If the name is not known yet, just write ‘BABY SHOWER’. Clotheslines with names and baby items on them are quite common at showers, yet they invariably become a conversation piece — they look quite cute!
If you’re having a baby shower around Christmas, try this one. Buy an artificial Christmas tree and decorate it with little baby items. Like diapers, clothes, booties, socks, small bottles of lotions and so on. Use twinkle lights as well. This is a wonderful centerpiece for the room.
You can even do miniature trees on each table, similarly decorated. It creates a lovely effect.
There are no limits to the number of ways you can create dazzling baby shower decorations. Combine the above ideas, add your own twist and create an unforgettable shower!