European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 23, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tybur health pets and babies a healthy match by Peg Byron drilled press International Hen Young children Hara Pels id us dec in helps Ihm develop a sense of Security provides interesting mental and physical a Curcie and a Chance 1o develop uni Aliann Bonds development opens have lung said Bui How Early in Lilean babies Eltho  the family Pel Fonda snuggle toy when can i Hoy enjoy special attachments to Pels Ost Bishing Loving and beneficial Bonds Vilh two animals older studies have Sugg sled a baby inc isl in pets Belloc is Awa Iooss of an ability to Al fact the outside world and infants exposed to a variety of interesting stimuli die believed to adjust More easily to new situations later in their lives.  in a Smalt 1972 stud gave  on when these effects May begin and showed that & month old babies in families with pets suck their thumbs less frequently than infants without pets. In Trio seconds months of tile the study showed Pels serve As Budge Between the baby and the out Side world that report was based on a Small Sample however and most studies in children and Pels Havo focused on children of at least two years of Aga. Recently a study of 250 infants Between the Ages of i months and 30 months gave More Concrete evidence that the benefits of pets May Como earlier than was suspected. Armed with a mechanical dog hat could bark walk and wag its Tail and a in Illy stalled Kitten that purred when stroked researchers in California locked for preferences among babies in la mimics with pets. They watched for attachment Behaviours such As gazing smiting following or Altopp Tang to follow babbling or talking and reaching or grabbing. Not surprisingly none of the & month old infants in the study showed any preference Between live and toy pots but among babies an Young As 12 months the researchers found substantially More interest in the Liva Pel. This surprised us. We expected it would come Laler. We did not expect to see such significant differences before the age of 1wo," said or. Alin Kidd the principal investigator and a professor of psychology is wills College in Oakland Calif. In addition to finding that 1-year-Olds Are More attached to family pets than to Tho toys Kidd found interest in Pels increased steadily with ago she also found the infants could distinguish Between cats and dogs and showed a marked preference Loi live canines. Ii seems dogs will interact More. A cat will have enough and then take off for the close / Kidd said the Toti showed no preference Between toy cats and dogs. Boys Between 6 months and 12 months interacted More with their pets laughing talking to and about them and having More physical con Lack. But by about z years of age. The girls did Mere ear infect on few children escape them by Randolph. Schmid associated Pressi n this season of flu and colds pity the poor toddlers often also afflict cd with ear infections painful complications that can Lead to a damage if left untreated visit a. Paediatrician s waiting room and chances Are that one patient in three is suffering an ear infection according to estimates by the Federal food end drug administration indeed half of All children Sufler such an illness before their first birthday 90 percent by Arje six the Agency reports in the january edition of ils Magazine Fra consumer among youngster to the most common infections affect the Middle ear and medical experts theorize that they get their Start irom germs travelling irom the nose or Throat. This differs from the outer oar infections Mote common in adults which lend to originate irom the Oul Sido. Soy from gelling water in the car while swimming Tor example. The children s inner ear infections known As otitis Media cause fluid to build up behind the eardrum. Often the tube that should allow this area to Drain into the Throat the eustachian lube is swollen shut and the pressure can cause severe pain and even damage hearing. The Fra warns Pellen net Only cuddly but can help Babi at develop Tett esteem a demotions hands. Talking to the Pels than the boys. This is probably because boys ate More Active than girls Al Early Ages. Girls Are socialized Tor talking rather than slugging said Kidd. Overall these findings a Vicale infants end toddlers Benefit from Pel interactions far Miller than was predicted by conventional Wisdom.  erroneously recommended waiting until a Chw is Oge 5 before bringing a pet into Iho Home. Kidd said babies Benefit irom the unconditional nature of Pel after lion. And May Havo sell esteem enhanced by a sense of influence Over the environment. She cautions however that Pel less parents should choose animals carefully. You Don t want a pit Bull. You want a dog who is Mellow enough to interact and capable of getting  Kidd also urged considering the age of the animals puppies Kittens and childhood can be a bad mis because As one tired Mother said you feel like you have twins Middle ear infections Are most common in the Winter and Spring the Agency notes when Colda run rampant. The eustachian tubes Are relatively Flimsy in youngsters under age 7 or so allowing the lube to collapse easily and trap fluids and bacteria in the ear the Fra reports. Happily most children outgrow this problem by Aget orb the Fra adds. In the meantime however the recurrent infections can be painful for the tots and distressing or their parents. Ii a child becomes Lussy or has a fever an earache a curbed appetite or trouble hearing it s Lime to suspect an oar Inlet Lam. Babies cannot Tell you what s wrong but will become fussy and sometimes lug on their sore ears. They May have trouble sleeping because the ear pain is More severe when lying Down the Fra notes and some May have a discharge from the ear. Fortunately physicians can provide relatively Quick Relief irom these infections. The non prescription painkillers Sicela Minophee and ibuprofen can relieve the pain or starters. The Fra notes thai aspirin should no be Given to children who have a cold flu or other viral infection without consulting a doctor because of the danger of the rare but sometimes fatal condition called Reye o syndrome. In addition to relieving the pain it s eardrum where tube is inserted eustachian a1\ lube inserted tuba Between the external ear and the but Techlin tube Perlta drainage relieving the blockage necessary to stamp out the infection itself and antibiotics such As  and ampicillin can do this relatively quickly often in As Little a 12 hours. Some bacterial strains can hold out for Days however soil is necessary to take the Antibiotic for the full Lime prescribed usually 10 to 14 Days the Fra stresses. In some cases doctors recommend that children with chronic ear infections have a Small tube implanted in the eardrum to Drain out the fluid in the ear a procedure that is performed More than i million limes a year in the United slates the Fra says. However the Agency Points out that there isae Hance of this surgery scarring the eardrum and possibly impairing hearing in Iho Long run. Parents should consider this Osbon Only if Achimj had Middle ear fluid buildup for three months following Antibiotic treatment the Fra says. Ear Isle Lions should never tie ignored the Fra concludes since it left untreated they can Lead to permanent hearing loss and there is the Chance of the infection spreading to the brain. Page 16 the stars and stripes tuesday february 23,19s8