Doctor asks Santa not to load up his sleigh with e-scooters or scramblers this Christmas
Louise Walsh
A lifestyle medical physician has written her 'letter to Santa' asking all parents to remember that childhood is the absolute priceless gift this Christmas.
Dr Kate McCann, who lives in Co Meath, asked Santa not to load up his sleigh with e-scooters, scramblers, or magnetic and water beads and to get the elves to test all toys with a toilet roll tube.
"If toy or any detachable piece of the toy fits inside, a young child can choke on it and this includes teething beads which has caused a number of accidents," she said.
The doctor, who has a practice in Dublin, also told Santa to bring a helmet with every new bike, scooter, or pair of rollerblades because he "forgets so many each year".
"E-scooters are not toys for children. They are now a leading cause of injury in children and young teens and are responsible for 25 per cent of brain injuries admitted to paediatric neurosurgery in the last year."
She also urged parents not to buy retinol or other unsuitable products for young skin, just because they have been advertised on social media.
"Retinol, high strength AHA/BHA, acidic products, and other anti-aging skin care regime products for young skin are not needed," she said.
"They can cause redness, irritation and breakouts. There are also serious concerns about the role of complex skin care routines in childhood on things such as body image.
Don't let the skinfluencers who are making money with sponsored online content peddle body image worries to an eight year old.
Dr McCann, who has the blog EmDoc, also welcomed Australia's new ban on social media for under 16s, saying: "I don't know a doctor or medical health professional who is not excited about this initiative.
"Childhood is an absolutely priceless gift for their mental and physical health."
"Children don't need adult things yet that come with so many adult problems and harms and worries.
"Give your child the gift of their childhood back this Christmas. They are only children for such a short time - make it last as long as you can."
