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Calcium, Vitamin D and fats all work together to help your toddler attain optimal brain growth, grow healthy bones and skin and more. Fats help process Vitamin D, which is a fat-soluble vitamin, and in turn, it helps the body use calcium. For parents who choose not to feed their families dairy products or who have children with a milk allergy, getting all the nutrients that milk provides won't be as easy as getting your toddler to drink a couple of cups of milk each day or serving up a grilled cheese and some pizza.

But it's not impossible either. Learn what non-dairy foods your toddler should be eating to get more of these nutrients and get some tips on choosing foods that pack more punch and sneaking in the green, leafy veggies.

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Photo: CPSC

There is absolutely no problem with the actual medication in this recall, but there may be a problem with the packaging for families with young children. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

"The cold and flu medicine contains acetaminophen and is not in child-resistant packaging and lacks the statement, 'This Package for Households Without Young Children,' as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. This medicine could cause serious health problems or death to a child if several of the capsules are swallowed."

The Product being recalled is only the DayQuil Cold and Flu 24-Count Bonus Pack LiquiCaps which have been sold since Sept. 2008, with a UPC code of 3 23900 01087 1. Since that time, there have been no reports of injuries. Please make sure you keep this medication (as with all medications, of course) out of the reach of your toddler. If you bought this thinking it would be safe around your toddler, the company is offering a replacement coupon or refund which you can get by calling 800-251-3374.

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Photo: CPSC

Dorel is recalling nearly 450,000 car seats under the Safety 1st, Cosco, Eddie Bauer and Disney brands because of a fall hazard. There have been 77 reports of child restraint handles coming off these car seats with several injuries including bruises and a head injury.

The company is offering a repair kit and is advising parents not to use the seat as a carrier or use the seat's handle until the repair kit has been installed. You can call the company to get your kit at 866-762-3316 or visit their Web site.

Affected models include the following: Read more...

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Sanofi Pasteur is recalling 800,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine after the company's routine testing revealed that the doses are slightly less effective as they were just before they were shipped. These doses were contained in pre-filled syringes intended for babies and toddlers (6 to 35 months of age) and most have already been given.

What's important to know here is that the effectiveness is only slightly lower than it was when the product reached doctors. Parents are not required to do anything in regard to this recall and should not be concerned. Children who got this vaccine do not need a replacement vaccine, but will still need to get the second recommended dose.

The Centers for Disease Control had this to say about the situation:

The vaccine potency is only slightly below the "specified" range. The vaccine in these lots is still expected to be effective in stimulating a protective response despite this slight reduction in the concentration of antigen. There is no need to re-administer a dose to those who received vaccine from these lots. However, as is recommended for all 2009 H1N1 vaccines, all children less than 10 years old should get the recommended two doses of H1N1 vaccine approximately a month apart for the optimal immune response. Therefore, children less than 10 years old who have only received one dose of vaccine thus far should still receive a second dose of 2009 H1N1 vaccine.

My son just got his regular flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine on Monday, so when I started hearing about this recall, I was worried. His wasn't in the recalled lot, but even if it had been, nothing here sounds like cause for alarm at all. In other good news, H1N1 cases are still declining. Last week just 14 states were reporting widespread flu activity instead of 25 from the week before. That's pretty good considering all the Thanksgiving travel that just occurred. Hopefully those numbers will continue to go down as we celebrate the upcoming holidays and a new year.

Learn more about H1N1:

• What are the symptoms of H1N1 infection?
• How can I help prevent the H1N1 infection or other flu?
• If my toddler gets H1N1 infection, what is the treatment?
• Should I take my toddler to a swine flu party instead of getting a flu shot?

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