HAPPY+HEALTHY Need to know
The waiting game Kids will be last in line to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s why—and some clues as to when they might get it. HYGIENE
Dove’s new Kids Care line of body washes and bubble baths include positive affirmations that kids can repeat during their hygiene routine. Gentle and hypoallergenic, they come in yummy scents like cotton candy and coconut cookie. $7,
TIP: FIND 8 WAYS TO MAKE NEEDLES LESS PAINFUL FOR YOUR KID AT TODAYSPARENT. COM/FEAROFNEEDLES
So when will kids get the shot? Nobody knows for sure, because, among other things, it depends on when the studies on kids are completed. Vaccine manufacturer Moderna, for one, has said its research on how safe and effective its vaccine is on younger children won’t be finished until 2022, and the timeline will probably be the same for the other companies as well. All the manufacturers are focusing on teens before moving on to kids under 12. That said, in February, Anthony Fauci, director of the
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US, said that American kids as young as grade one might be able to get the vaccine by this September—as long as the trials are successful in that age group. One thing’s for sure: Since kids are much less likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19, they will be at the back of the line in terms of receiving the vaccine, though children with medical conditions and who are high risk should get it earlier. Supply and rollout issues Even when vaccines are deemed safe for kids, other factors will come into play, like if we have enough supply and how efficiently each province handles distribution. —VANESSA MILNE
WALMART.CA
STUDY
Antibodies that fight off COVID-19 can transfer from moms to babies inside the womb, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This is great news for moms who had been ill with coronavirus and are now pregnant, but it also means that vaccinating moms-to-be may also have benefits for their newborns.
SLEEP
City slicker
Catching zzzs
Even more comfortable and compact than its earlier iteration, the Joolz Hub+ has all the capabilities of a full-size stroller (six-position recline, bassinet and car seat attachments) but in a slim frame. Easy to fold up and store, with integrated LED lights that turn on in low light, this stroller is ideal for city dwellers. FROM $879, WESTCOASTKIDS.CA
Happiest Baby, maker of the infamous Snoo, is back with a new sleep aid. The Snoobear is a cuddle-friendly white noise machine designed by Dr. Harvey Karp and features classic SNOO shushing sounds. Like the bassinet, the bear responds to new cries and can be set for 30 to 60 minutes of soothing. Note: Bear should not be left in the crib with a kid under a year old. $80, AMAZON.CA
todaysparent.com April+May 2021
STOCKSY
Does my kid even need it? Some parents are wondering whether kids truly need to be vaccinated, given that COVID-19 symptoms in children tend to be mild. Experts say yes. “In general, kids don’t get that sick from this coronavirus, especially when compared to adults, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get sick at all,” says Stephen Freedman, a professor of paediatrics at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. “Severe outcomes are uncommon, but they do occur,” he adds. Plus, while it hasn’t been proven yet, scientists believe that vaccinated kids will be less likely to spread the disease, helping our efforts to reach herd immunity.
