When my son was 18 months old, he decided it would be fun to jump out of his crib head first one night at around 3 am. He was totally fine, but I wasn’t. I was freaked out and needed advice. I immediately reached for my phone and instead of calling my mom like I would have done 5 years ago, I tweeted “Ugh. 18mo just fell out of crib. Not ready for big boy bed. Help!”  Within minutes I received about 20 suggestions, one of which worked like a charm. Crisis averted.

To many of you, solving personal problems using something as public as Twitter sounds ridiculous. For others, crowdsourcing answers from strangers is on par with calling a friend. Although there has been a massive increase in the number of moms using social media since 2006 (591%), it would be wrong to assume all moms use social media in the same way or that they all wield the same amount of influence.

Last week, we released our “BabyCenter 2010 Mom Social Influencer Report” based on a recent study we did of moms in the BabyCenter Community. The report reveals that there are two different categories of moms who use social media – the influencers and the influenced. Although the influencers make up a much smaller group at only 18%, they wield 78% of the overall influence.

So, who are these mom social influencers? We identified three types:

• Field Experts – Young but experienced stay-at-home moms who use social media to share parenting advice, usually focused on a specific topic such as raising twins, breastfeeding, or caring for a special needs child. Because of their specialized knowledge, large networks of moms depend on them for expertise and support.
• LifeCasters – Millennial moms who are always connected and communicating. They share anything and everything via social media, mixing posts about the “yummy donut” they ate for breakfast with useful tips about where to find the “perfect pair of black pants on sale.” Although they produce tons of seemingly lighter content, their extensive networks of friends depend on them for relevant advice and product recommendations on a wide variety of topics, not just parenting. 
• Pros – Mom bloggers who have turned their passion for social into a career. They consistently push out entertaining and informational content to their enormous networks of fans, posting opinions and advice on a wide variety of topics including parenting tips, and product reviews and giveaways. Because they operate like mini-publishers, they are often compensated when writing about or integrating brands into their blogs.

This is just a tiny glimpse of the insights we gained from our study. To find out more, email us at socmedia at babycenter dot com. We’d be happy to tell you more!

So, I ask you — are you a Lifecaster or a Field expert? Maybe part of the audience? Tell us what rings true.

An estimated 90 million people in the US have presbyopia, which is a common vision condition that makes it difficult to focus on close objects. Presbyopia is disruptive because it can affect a person’s ability to read clearly, work on a computer, or use a cell phone or PDA.

To gain some insight into all of this, I asked Dr. Colleen Riley, Vice President of Professional Development for Vistakon, to share her perspective as an optometrist and a working mother who is also affected by presbyopia. Here’s what she had to say about her experiences and what you can do if you think you might be developing presbyopia:

What are some of the signs of presbyopia?

As many moms know, when your children want to show you something, like a picture they painted at school, they hold it about two inches from your face. If you have presbyopia, you might not be able to see the picture clearly and would have to back up or hold it out further away from you. Or, for example, you are out to dinner on a Friday night at a restaurant and the light is dim. You can’t see the menu and might need to adjust the light in order to read. As the condition progresses, you can’t work through it anymore and have to wear glasses or contact lenses in order to focus properly.

What is the most difficult part of living with presbyopia?

For me, the most difficult part was dealing with the headaches and fatigue caused by not being able to see clearly. I was frustrated, because like many working moms I was used to doing anything and everything from early in the morning until I went to bed at night. At home, I had a difficult time focusing my eyes at the dinner table while interacting within a close proximity to my family. Being an optometrist, I knew the diagnosis was presbyopia and that it was time for vision correction.

What advice would you give working moms who think they might have presbyopia?

My advice for working moms dealing with similar symptoms or others who think they might have presbyopia is to see an eye care professional early on. Many people tend to use readers, like the type that you can buy at the drugstore. Don’t do that. Instead, make an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam. The optometrist will look for other health issues, such as diabetes, in addition to helping you choose the best option for vision correction. Many people don’t realize that multifocal contact lenses are available and can be a good option for active people, like working moms, because you don’t have to worry about glasses sliding off of your face or getting lost.

Many working moms take care of themselves last and wait until something is completely broken before seeking help. Make it easier on yourself. As one of my colleagues expressed in a recent post about eye health, you should treat eye exams like you do dental exams or physicals and have your eyes checked every year.

1) MobiHealthNews provides a snapshot of how mobile services are being used around the world to improve health literacy, highlighting a presentation made by Paul Meyer, co-founder, president and chairman of Voxiva, at a meeting last week in Nashville:

“Although there is a perception that everyone is on in Internet, only 31 percent of the population making less than $35,000 a year has broadband. Meyer pointed out that while only 51 percent of people with chronic illness have Internet access, 90 percent of Americans have mobile phones and 1 trillion text messages were sent last year.”

2) The Spohrs are Multiplying provides a personal perspective on the importance of quality care and information in ensuring healthy moms and babies:

“Information is power as they say, and this is rarely ever more true than when pregnant. An expecting mother who is informed about how to be healthy when pregnant greatly improves her chances of having a healthy baby.”

3) Ivy’s PPD blog highlights the kinds of messages distributed through Text4Baby, including support from Postpartum Support International:

“Yes, that’s right. PSI is an outreach partner of text4baby, which means that texts related to mom’s mental health will connect women to PSI resources. This ground-breaking inclusion of mental health messages in this program will help reduce stigma around, minimize risk for, and increase awareness about perinatal mood disorders.”

And of course, our own Margaret Gurowitz provided an historical perspective on Johnson & Johnson’s efforts to provide information for new and expectant moms on her KilmerHouse blog.

Anu Gupta, Director Corporate Contributions, Johnson & Johnson, spoke to Pat Farnack at WCBS 880 about what can be done to help prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in African countries. Anu says that more than 1,000 babies are born with HIV every day, and many of those babies unfortunately will not live very long. Of those born with HIV/AIDS who remain untreated, 1/2 die by the time they are one year old, and 1/3 of those remaining before their second birthday. The tragedy is that these deaths are completely preventable, because it is possible to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the disease in the first place. 

Moms around the world need to have access to the necessary treatments that can prevent them from spreading HIV to their babies. Anu explained that to help with this, Johnson & Johnson partners with different aid organizations and community groups such as mothers2mothers who know the best ways to reach these mothers. 

You can listen to the interview or download the podcast here – and if you’d like to read more about mothers2mothers, there’s actually an earlier post on JNJBTW about one of the co-founders of mothers2mothers, Robin Smalley, here.

1. Before shopping for toys, consider the child’s age, interest and skill level. A fun, but inappropriate toy for a particular child can be dangerous.
2. Make sure toys intended for older children are stored separately from those for younger children.
3. Keep toys with small parts away from children under age 3. They can choke on small toys and toy parts.
4. Check regularly for damage that could create small pieces that are choking hazards. Make any necessary repairs immediately, or discard damaged toys out of the reach of children.
5. Actively supervise children when they are playing with riding toys as well as any toy that has small balls and small parts, magnets, electrical or battery power, cords and strings, wheels or any other potential hazard. Simply being in the same room as your child is not necessarily supervising. Active supervision means keeping the child in sight and in reach while paying undivided attention.

According to Safe Kids, most toys are safe, especially if you buy from a reputable retailer. Parents can stay informed about harmful products by visiting http://www.recalls.gov/ and signing up for email alerts on recalled children’s products.

 If secondhand toys are purchased, or received from friends or relatives, parents should visit http://www.cpsc.gov/ and make sure the toy hasn’t been recalled for safety reasons.

Safe Kids New Jersey has more tips and resources on toy safety to help parents keep kids safe this holiday season-as well as important information about kitchen safety and holiday decorating safety.

Almost one in six drivers in a school zone behaves like a drunk driver. Multitasking while driving can have deadly consequences. Drivers need to shut off their phones and pay attention to the road, especially in areas that are filled with children.

Here are a few points from the study that I found interesting (and alarming):

• Unbelted drivers are 34 percent more likely to be distracted than belted drivers, meaning they are engaging in multiple unsafe driving behaviors.
• Afternoon drivers are 22 percent more likely to be distracted than morning drivers, which is also the time of day when one in three child pedestrian deaths occur (according to Safe Kids New Jersey).
• Women are 21 percent more likely to be distracted than men, mostly by cell phones and grooming while driving.

I wasn’t too surprised when I read that the use of devices like cell phones, PDAs and Smartphones was the leading cause of distraction. In New Jersey, like many other states across the U.S., it is illegal to use a handheld cell phone and text while driving. But, every day on my way to and from work I see my fellow motorists with one hand on the wheel and the other holding a cell phone. I wonder why so many drivers risk their safety, and the safety of other drivers and pedestrians.

Spread the word and ask your friends and family members to turn off the phone and focus on the road while driving.

It’s back to school time, and many kids may find they can no longer see the blackboard as clearly as they did last year. Children that need vision correction and are active, or even those who just want a new look, may be asking their parents if they can wear contact lenses instead of glasses. 

According to a recent survey parents may be the largest barrier to children making the switch to contact lenses. Parents are sometimes concerned that contact lenses may be too difficult for their kids to take care of. Mary Lou French O.D., F.A.A.O., M.Ed. is an eye doctor that specializes in children’s eye care and offered the following tips to parents of children who want to wear contact lenses:

I find that parents do not think that their child is mature enough to wear and care for contact lenses. With the current lens modalities available, such as daily lenses and 2 week lenses, the worry about hygiene is minimized. If they want lenses they will listen to the instruction on the care and cleaning of the lenses.

If your child has an active lifestyle and requires vision correction then contact lenses could be the best choice. Contact lenses improve depth perception and peripheral vision, which is important for sports of all types. Contact lenses do not break, fall off of the face, or need constant adjustment and repair. And they can be worn just for that sport if needed, leaving the glasses at home. 

Recent research supports the fact that kids are successful contact lens wearers, and that has also been my experience caring for children’s eyes for the last 32 years!

Additionally, contact lenses may offer kids benefits beyond vision correction. According to the ACHIEVE study, contact lenses offer both girls and boys greater freedom in sports and other physical activities and may boost confidence in academic performance as well. For girls in particular, the switch from glasses to contact lenses can have a significant impact on improving self-esteem. To see one girl’s view of all this, check out the video that was just uploaded to the corporate website.

Hearing from Dr. French got me to thinking about eye health and kids. Now as you may know, I’m a big fan of Safe Kids, and I found they offer more information about children’s eye health and safety that parents should check out.

Update: This is a great piece about how one mother determined whether her daughter was ready to wear contact lenses.  

Safe Kids USA issued an important hot weather safety alert: 

Never leave your child alone in a car! Did you know that when left in a hot vehicle, a young child’s core body temperature may increase three to five times faster than that of an adult’s and can reach dangerous levels within minutes?

Watch the video for more information and safety tips:

Safe Kids has been keeping children safe for more than 20 years. Find out more about Raising Safe Kids, One Stage at a Time

Most of the time, my pleas are met with blank stares or the occasional “why.” Well now, thanks to an article in today’s USAToday, I have yet another example of why they should keep their helmets on.

The article opens with the story of a mom who returned home to discover her 10-year-old son laid out in the street, his head in a neckbrace, his smashed bike beside him. Fortunately, her son remembered to wear his helmer. According to the article:

discover her son had that underscored the good work that Safe Kids has been doing to improve childhod safety. “The No. 1 killer of children is not cancer or diabetes or obesity,” Korn says. “It’s unintentional injuries, or accidents. And almost every single one of them is preventable.”

Having observed the efforts of Safe Kids for several years now, I know that by taking some basic steps you can greatly reduce the incidence of childhood injury. Yet as experts like Safe Kids have found, parents need to remain vigilant and to stay firm with their kids to ensure that they keep those helmets on. I know from experience that this isn’t always easy to do — but based on stories like the one related in the USToday, it is worth the effort.

I’ve invited Mommy Vlogers to submit videos on topics relevant to them, and which might be helpful to a larger audience.

So far, I’ve received videos on safety tips for toddlers, how to make homemade baby food, and teaching your kids to be ecologically friendly. They don’t have to be perfect — most have been made on a flip cam — and I do post most of the videos sent to me, as long as they don’t reference specific products. To compensate the vlogers I pay $100 for each video used.

One of my favorites was done by Colleen Padilla (Classy Mommy) on tips about how to keep from going stir crazy with your kids when stuck inside during bad weather.

I’m always looking for more content, so if you are interested, just let me know by clicking “send message” on the Johnson & Johnson health channel.