The Parents Zone

CONWAY, Mass Two Massachusetts towns are moving to ban sales of a “relaxation” brownie named Lazy Cakes, laced with melatonin and sold in food markets, after children who ate them required hospitalization.

The mellowing chocolate treats, which sell for $3 to $5 at food stores and some night clubs, are legal but contain nearly 8 milligrams of the supplemental sleep aid, which is about 25 times the usual amount prescribed for adults.

Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally by the body and standard doses in the Unites States, where it is available over the counter, and in Europe, where a prescription is typically required, range from 0.3 mg to 3 mg.

Considered a dietary supplement rather than a drug, melatonin is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

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It was mid morning, April 14, 1989, in a maternity surgery suite at the University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona, where a tiny male child struggled for his first breaths of air. He entered the world early, after just twenty-six weeks gestation. Born premature, via a Cesarean section, this fragile baby weighed just two pounds and two ounces. Born to a birth mother who drank alcohol during his pregnancy, his prognosis was “iffy.” This tenacious, little fighter spent the next three months in the neonatal intensive care unit battling for his life.

By age three, this small African American boy had entered the Arizona foster care system along with his older brother and younger sister. Rem

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As I enter my sixth month of pregnancy, I’ve realized that there have been quite a few surprises. Some of them have come completely out of blue, others I had heard stories of or read about, but all of them have taken me by surprise in one way or another.

1. The Heartburn. Ah yes, we all know the old wives tale that lots of heartburn means a nice, hairy little baby. Well, if this is true, then I am fairly certain that I have a monkey developing inside of me. I get heartburn when I’m eating, sleeping, exercising, working, relaxing, and any time in between. I h

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SAN FRANCISCO A group seeking to ban the circumcision of male children in San Francisco has succeeded in getting their controversial measure on the November ballot, meaning voters will be asked to weigh in on what until now has been a private family matter.

City elections officials confirmed Wednesday that the initiative had received enough signatures to appear on the ballot, getting more than 7,700 valid signatures from city residents. Initiatives must receive at least 7,168 signatures to qualify.

If the measure passes, circumcision would be prohibited among males under the age of 18. The practice would become a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail.

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