Radiation Worries for Children in Dentists’ Chairs

from NY Times




Because children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to radiation, doctors three years ago mounted a national campaign to protect them by reducing diagnostic radiation to only those levels seen as absolutely necessary.

It is a message that has resonated in many clinics and hospitals. Yet there is one busy place where it has not: the dental office.

Not only do most dentists continue to use outmoded X-ray film requiring higher amounts of radiation, but orthodontists and other specialists are embracing a new scanning device that emits significantly more radiation than conventional methods, an examination by The New York Times has found.

Designed for dental offices, the device, called a cone-beam CT scanner, provides brilliant 3-D images of teeth, roots, jaw and even skull. This technology, its promoters say, is a safe way for orthodontists and oral surgeons to work with more precision and to identify problems that otherwise might go unnoticed.

But there is little independent research to validate these claims. Instead, the cone beam’s popularity has been fueled in part by misinformation about its safety and efficacy, some of it coming from dentists paid or sponsored by manufacturers to give speeches, seminars and continuing education classes, as well as by industry-sponsored magazines and conferences, according to records and dozens of interviews with dentists and researchers.

Last month, The Journal of the American Dental Association allowed one of the leading cone-beam manufacturers, Imaging Sciences International, to underwrite an issue devoted entirely to cone-beam technology. That magazine, which the association sent to 150,000 dentists, included a favorable article by an author who has equated a cone-beam CT with an airport scan. In fact, a cone beam can produce hundreds of times more radiation, experts say.

Cone-beam CT scans can help dentists deal with complex cases involving implants, impacted teeth and other serious problems. But many experts in dental radiation have raised alarms about what they see as their indiscriminate use. They worry that with few guidelines or regulations, well-meaning orthodontists and other specialists are turning to a new technology they do not fully understand, putting patients at risk, particularly younger ones.

Some orthodontists now use cone-beam CT scans to screen all patients, even though a number of dental groups in this country and in Europe have questioned whether the benefit of routine use justifies the added risk.

“All these different cone-beam CT scanners came out to a world that was unprepared,” said Keith Horner, a professor of oral radiology at the University of Manchester in Britain, who is coordinating a study of cone-beam scanners for the European Commission. “They are just pushed out there by manufacturers with the message that a 3-D image is always going to be better than a 2-D image, and that isn’t the case.”

One popular new brand of braces has helped cone-beam sales because it requires 3-D images, which doctors can obtain using either a cone-beam scanner with radiation, or a digital camera without it. Many orthodontists opt for radiation, because it is quicker.

Even those troubled by the widening use of cone-beam technology acknowledge that by itself, the risk from a single scan is relatively small. But patients often get more than one scan, and the lifetime risk increases with each exposure. Without a clear benefit, they say, there is only risk.

“So let me ask a question to the mother of a prospective orthodontic patient,” said Dr. Stuart C. White, former chairman of oral radiology at the UCLA School of Dentistry. “Would you like me to use a tool that is entirely safe — a camera — to record the position of your child’s teeth, or another method that may rarely cause cancer so that we can save time?”

The cone-beam business is lucrative for manufacturers and dentists. According to one industry estimate, more than 3,000 scanners and about 30 different models have been sold, at prices up to $250,000.

Dentists, some of whom charge several hundred dollars per scan, can profit by owning their own machines. “More profit per unit chair time,” promises Imaging Sciences, the cone-beam manufacturer.

Marketers increase interest in the technology by holding drawings for free cone-beam CT scanners and other gifts. A Washington State orthodontist, who gave an online lecture sponsored by Imaging Sciences, offers dentists coupons for free scans for their patients as a way to build referrals.

And then there is the “wow” factor, said Dr. Terry Sellke, an orthodontist in Illinois.

“Kids love to see that 3-D image,” Dr. Sellke said in a Webcast sponsored by Imaging Sciences. “They can go into our computer and look at their skull.” Another orthodontist talked about coloring 3-D skulls in green and purple. “Fun for the kids,” he said.

Dr. Allan G. Farman, president of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, cautions doctors not to become overly enamored of the new technology, citing the example of how shoe stores once took X-rays of customers’ feet to see if shoes fit.

Click HERE to read the rest of the article.

CPSC Educates New Parents on Safe Babywearing

from CPSC.gov

Infant suffocation deaths in slings prompt renewed effort to warn moms and dads

WASHINGTON, D. C. - Infant slings and wraps have been used for thousands of years in many different cultures. For many parents across the United States, “babywearing” promotes a positive bond between child and parent. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wants to make sure that parents and caregivers are aware of important safety information related to the proper use of slings.

CPSC is taking this opportunity to urge everyone to use slings and wraps safely, as CPSC has identified 14 infant suffocation deaths with sling-style carriers over the past 20 years. After reviewing numerous cases, child safety experts at CPSC have determined that parents with infants younger than four months of age, premature, low-birthweight babies, and babies with colds and respiratory problems should take extra care in using a sling, including consulting their pediatrician.

Suffocation/asphyxiation can occur when babies are contained entirely within the pouch of a sling with their face, including nose and mouth, pressed against the adult’s body, blocking their breathing. Suffocation can occur within minutes.

Because of the nature of the product and its use, some slings tend to keep an infant in a curled, chin-to-chest position, which can interfere with breathing. When an infant is in the chin-to-chest position, suffocation can occur. Both scenarios are serious concerns to CPSC. Many of the babies who died in slings were twins in separate slings and infants with breathing issues.
CPSC recommends that parents and caregivers:

• Make sure you can see your baby’s face or eyes in the sling and that your baby can see you. Also, you should place the baby’s face at or above the rim of a sling or wrap so that their face is visible.
• After nursing your baby, change the baby’s position in the sling, so that the baby’s face is at or above the rim of a sling or wrap and that their face is visible and clear of fabric and the mother’s body. You should be vigilant about frequently checking the baby in a sling.
• 
  

A new voluntary consensus standard for slings is being worked on by ASTM International. This is a positive step toward providing manufacturers with an effective safety standard.

This warning is not intended to characterize all slings as being dangerous to babies. CPSC has identified (1) specific situations that can pose a risk of serious harm to babies, and (2) simple safety tips that we hope the babywearing community can share with new parents.

Proper use of a sling. Baby’s face is at or above the rim of a sling or wrap and is clear of the fabric and obstructions.

Improper use of sling. Instead, keep the infant’s head above all fabric and away
from the mother’s body. Make sure the infant’s face is not covered by the sling.

Above and below: Improper use of a sling. Infant is in a curled position with chin touching chest. Suffocation can occur in this position.

No Benefit to Delaying Vaccines

from Pediatrics in Fit Pregnancy

Parents who mistakenly believe multiple vaccinations raise the risk for autism and are thus tempted to delay some of their infant’s shots should be reassured by a study of more than 1,000 children.  It found that babies who received all the recommended immunizations on time during their first year of life did as well, if not better, on cognitive tests at ages 7 to 10 compared with children who got their vaccines late or not at all.

Delaying or spacing out immunizations only prolongs a baby’s susceptibility to such potentially fatal diseases as measles and whooping cough.

Pictures with Santa!

If you’re local in Charlotte, Reflections by Rhiannon offers FABULOUS photos for maternity and baby (her studio is located in Dilworth).  Her studio is doing portraits with Santa on Saturday, December 11th, so if you’re looking for some keepsake photos with Santa be sure to check out this studio!

Portraits with Santa Saturday, December 11th only! 15 minute visit and portait session with Santa for $15. Appointments are available for children and pets. Have your $15 session fee waived with the donation of a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. Reserve your appointment today!

Chocolaty Pumpkin Bars

from Kids Eat Right

I’m a HUGE fan of all things pumpkin and it’s such a great source of vitamins A & C.  It is also high in potassium, manganese, copper and one of the B vitamins, riboflavin.  So I was really excited to find a healthy recipe that involved pumpkin and chocolate.

by Janice Bissex, MS RD and Elizabeth Weiss, MS RD
If you're looking for a nutritious, kid-pleasing snack for after school or the lunch box, this is the recipe for you. Thanks to the pumpkin (which, by the way, blends right in), each serving has almost half a day's worth of immune-boosting vitamin A. As for the nuts, they add heart-healthy fat and protein to each delicious bite.

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup pecans, very finely chopped
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, beaten
One 15-ounce can 100% pure pumpkin
½ cup canola oil
¼ cup 1% low-fat milk
½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil or coat a 15 x 10 x 1-inch rimmed baking or jelly roll pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, pecans, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, pumpkin, oil, and milk until well blended. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
4. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes before slicing into thirty, 2 x 2½-inch bars.

CookingTip

For maximum freshness, store leftovers in a plastic container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator.

Servings: 30 (1 Bar Per Serving)
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 Bar
Amount per serving
Calories 140
Calories from Fat 70
Total Fat 8g
Saturated Fat 1g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 25mg
Sodium 95mg
Total Carbohydrate 16g
Dietary Fiber 2g
Sugars 0g
Protein 2g
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Calcium
Iron

Even Reusable Bags Carry Environmental Risk

from NY Times

(This is not specifically baby related but I found the article extremely interesting and information we should all know about.  Plus, we buy food for our families with these bags!)

Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times

Shelley Kempner of Queens, who was shopping at Fairway on the Upper West Side on Sunday, said she liked “the idea of not putting more plastic into the environment.”




They dangle from the arms of many NewYorkers, a nearly ubiquitous emblem of empathy with the environment: synthetic, reusable grocery bags, another must-have accessory for the socially conscious.

But the bags, hot items at upscale markets, may be on the verge of a glacier-size public relations problem: similar bags outside the city have been found to contain lead.

“They say plastic bags are bad; now they say these are bad. What’s worse?” asked Jen Bluestein, who was walking out of Trader Joe’s on the Upper West Side with a reusable bag under her arm on Sunday.

“Green is a trend and people go with trends,” Ms. Bluestein said. “People get them as fashion statements and they have, like, 50 of them. I don’t think people know the real facts.”

There is no evidence that these bags pose an immediate threat to the public, and none of the bags sold by New York City’s best-known grocery stores have been implicated. But reports from around the country have trickled in recently about reusable bags, mostly made in China, that contained potentially unsafe levels of lead. The offending bags were identified at several stores, including some CVS pharmacies; the Rochester-based Wegman’s grocery chain recalled thousands of its bags, made of recycled plastic, in September.

Concerns have proliferated so much that Senator Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat, sent a letter on Sunday to the Food and Drug Administration, urging the agency to investigate the issue.

Reusable bags have maintained their popularity even amid charges that they become hothouses for bacteria. The recent studies, none of which were conducted by the government, found that the lead in some bags would pose a long-term risk of seeping into groundwater after disposal; over time, however, paint from the bag could flake off and come into contact with food.

Climate-change-conscious shoppers at one of Manhattan’s culinary meccas on Sunday said they were chagrined that yet another good intention had gone awry.

“Bummer! We’re still not doing the right thing,” said Shelley Kempner of Queens, who was looking over the produce at Fairway on Broadway at West 74th Street. She prefers a reusable bag, she said, because she “likes the idea of not putting more plastic into the environment.”

Told of the recent lead findings, Ms. Kempner sighed — “It’s still not good enough” — and wondered if she would have to switch to something else. “Are we going to have to start using string?” she asked.
“There’s always something wrong with everything,” said Barry Lebost, standing outside the Trader Joe’s on West 72nd Street with four reusable bags filled with groceries.

But Mr. Lebost, an alternative energy consultant, did not appear fazed by the revelations of lead. He said his home, in Gardiner, N.Y., had been outfitted with a hydroelectric plant that saved the energy equivalent of 200 plastic bags a day. “It may not be a total solution, but this is a step in the right direction,” he said of the suddenly suspect bags at his feet. “The fluorescent bulbs we have now, they’re no good because they have mercury in them. You look at it as a transition.”

But many shoppers said they would continue relying on the bags until more information came out. The bags are usable for years, they said, and any long-term effects of lead may be offset by the environmental benefits gained by not using regular plastic bags.

“I wasn’t planning on throwing it out, so that’s a positive thing,” said Catherine Paykin, standing by the meat counter at Fairway. “As long as I use it and don’t throw it away, that will be my plan.”

Mr. Schumer’s family also shops at Fairway. A spokesman for the senator said the family planned to bring the issue to the attention of the store to see if the bags there were affected.

Little Miracles Featured in Charlotte Magazine!

We are happy to announce that we were featured in the “Countdown to Baby” guide in Charlotte Magazine this month.  It’s a great feature on all the best for baby in Charlotte.  Little Miracles Baby Planning is honored to have been chosen!

Check in out online HERE.

Eating For Two Is A Myth

from Growing Your Baby



Britain’s Health Services has sobering news for expectant mothers. The belief that pregnant women are eating for two, is a myth.

According to the latest draft of Health Services guidelines, women can maintain their usual diets all the way through the first six months of pregnancy. Through the final three months they only need to increase their consumption by 200 calories. Health Services also highlighted that there is no need for women to switch to full fat milk while expecting.

According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, a woman should gain no more than 10-12 kg during pregnancy.

These advisements have come in response to the growing number of overweight and obese mothers. Obese women now make up 25% of the female British population and another 33% are overweight.

These extra pounds can put an unborn baby at risk, but women are not advised to lose weight during pregnancy. Instead, it is recommended that they seek help to lose weight before conceiving.

“Many overweight women have healthy babies, but the evidence suggests that there are more risks associated with pregnancies in women who have a BMI of over 30,” said Mike Kelly, Director of the Centre for Public Health Excellence at NICE.

Kelly says the new guidelines are meant, “to dispel any myths about what and how much to eat during pregnancy – there is no need to ‘eat for two’ or to drink full-fat milk”

According to Rosie Dodds of the National Childbirth Trust, this new advice provides an opportunity to reverse the trend, “Women are more likely to make changes to their diet when they are pregnant and this opportunity can improve the family eating pattern for the future.” – Jen R, Staff Writer

5 Eco-Friendly Nursery Tips

from The Stir





My son Rowan's nursery is my favorite room in the house. It's bright and sunny, it's colorful, and it makes me happy just to be in there.


We live in an old house so we are very conscious of things like the lead paint that must be lurking under the horrible 1960s bathroom wallpaper. That's why when we created the nursery, we did everything we could to seek out eco-friendly options.


I thought that going green might be challenging, but it was much easier than I thought. Even if you didn't start out that way, you'll find it's not hard or expensive to make small changes to your nursery one step at a time. Here are 5 simple ways to make your baby's nursery green:


1. Paint: Eco-friendly paints come in many different varieties these days. What you want to look for are Zero VOC Paints or Low-VOC Paints, which contain very low levels of heavy metals and formaldehyde, or none at all. Even mainstream paint stores are catching on and making non toxic paints easier to find.


2. The Crib:  A baby crib is a major purchase. If you find one second hand, be sure it doesn't have lead-based paint (and that it meets current safety requirements). If you buy new, look for hard wood furniture that is heirloom quality. Maybe your grandchildren can sleep in it one day! 


3. Bedding: Think about how much time your baby spends in the crib. It only makes sense to choose organic cotton bedding. Apart from being the most comfortable bedding ever, organic cotton is free of chemicals, bleaches, and dyes.


4. Detergents: Baby bedding needs lots of laundering. I find that green laundry detergents just keep getting better and more affordable. You'll find that baby-friendly soap products are widely available, even in local grocery stores.


5. Toys: Your baby will encounter enough plastic toys out in the world. At home, keep solid wood toys finished with a natural finish oil or cloth stuffed animals, rattles, and dolls made of organic cotton or wool.



Have you taken steps to make your nursery more eco-friendly? What's your favorite green baby product?

Boon Feeding Products

In my opinion Boon makes THE best feeding products for babies and children.  Their line is completely eco-friendly and non-toxic (BPA, Phthalate and PVC free), and super cute too!  Besides the fun bright colors, their plates and bowls all have useful non-slip rubber around the edges to help keep them on the table (and it actually works).



The Interlocking Plate in the middle here is my favorite.  It has two detachable “dipping” saucers (because we all know little ones love to dip) and the the sections in the plate are the perfect sizes for a protein, veggie, and whole grain.  The Squirt Baby Food Dispensing Spoons on the left are also a very cool product.  You load them up with your baby food before you leave the house, and then you just squeeze the food out directly onto the spoon when it’s time to eat!  No jars or containers to carry around -- fabulous.
Boon's signature colors are the white and orange, but all these new bright colors will be coming out soon early next year.  The Snack Ball (below) is another favorite of mine, perfect for holding cereal, puffs, or other baby snacks!



Lastly, the Grass Countertop Drying Rack is truly unique!  It doesn’t take up your whole counter and dries bottles and sippy cups perfectly (without that water residue inside).




Boon also makes fabulous non toxic bath products and other cool gadgets for your home.  This AWESOME nightlight coming out spring 2011  is sure to be a hit.  This multi-colored, interactive nightlight has removable, illuminated Glo balls that turn a night time game of catch into something extraordinary. And there's nothing electronic in them, so they don't get warm and they won't break. You can even tuck them into bed with your child. The glow fades to dark after 30 minutes, helping them fall asleep. Bonus: 95% effective at keeping monsters away all night long. What a fabulous idea!!!

Feature in Charlotte Style Magazine

Check out the latest issue of Charlotte Style Magazine for a feature on Little Miracles Baby Planning!

Click  HERE on  pages 22-23 “Mommy Fabulous”

Liquid Assets

Feeding your baby breast milk does more good than you might think. Here are 18 (mostly) surprising benefits:

from Fit Pregnancy

You've likey heard that breastfeeding can confer some pretty impressive benefits to your baby—reduced ear infections and asthma, maybe even a bump in IQ among them. Turns out there are even more perks for your little one, not to mention for you, society and even Mother Earth.

1. Fewer infections “The incidence of pneumonia, colds and viruses is reduced among breastfed babies,” says infant- nutrition expert Ruth A. Lawrence, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and OB-GYN at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, N.Y., and the author of Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession (Elsevier-Mosby). Gastrointestinal infections like diarrhea—which can be devastating, especially in developing countries—are also less common.

2. Reduced risk of chronic illnesses Breastfeed your baby and you reduce his risk of developing chronic conditions, such as type I diabetes, celiac disease and Crohn’s disease (inflammation of the digestive tract).

3. Less chance of SIDS Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome by about half.

4. A leaner baby—and a leaner mom It’s more likely that neither of you will become obese if you breastfeed.

5. Faster recovery from pregnancy and childbirth The oxytocin secreted when your baby nurses helps your uterus contract, reducing post-delivery blood loss. Plus, breastfeeding will help your uterus return to its normal size more quickly—at about six weeks postpartum, compared with 10 weeks if you don’t breastfeed.

6. Lower risk of some cancers Breastfeeding can decrease your baby’s risk of some childhood cancers. And you’ll have a lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer, an often deadly disease that’s on the rise. You may also reduce your risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

7. Confidence boost “There’s nothing more empowering as a new mother than seeing your baby grow and thrive on your breast milk alone,” Lawrence says.

8. Bigger calorie burn You may have heard that breastfeeding burns an extra 400 to 500 calories a day. And that’s almost right. “Breastfeeding doesn’t burn calories, but it does use them,” Lawrence explains. “Breast milk contains 20 calories per ounce, so if you feed your baby 20 ounces a day, that’s 400 calories you’ve swept right out of your body.”

9. A green machine Dairy cows, which are raised in part to make infant formula, are a significant contributor to global warming: Their belching, manure and flatulence (really!) spew enormous amounts of methane, a harmful greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. “Plus, most formula companies don’t purchase milk from American farmers, so they’re not even helping our economy,” Lawrence says.

10.  A customized food supply Whereas formula isn’t able to change its constitution, your breast milk morphs to meet your baby’s changing needs. Colostrum—the “premilk” that comes in a day or two after you deliver—is chockfull of antibodies to protect your newborn baby. “It’s also higher in protein and lower in sugar [than ‘full’ milk], so even a small amount can hold off your baby’s hunger,” says Heather Kelly, an international board-certified lactation consultant in New York City and a member of the Bravado Breastfeeding Information Council’s advisory board. When your full milk comes in (usually three to four days after delivery), it is higher in both sugar and volume than colostrum—again, just what your baby requires. “He needs a lot of calories and needs to eat frequently to fuel his rapid growth,” Kelly explains. “Your mature milk is designed to be digested quickly so he’ll eat often.”

11. More vaccination protection Research shows that breastfed babies have a better antibody response to vaccines than formula-fed babies.

12. Fewer sick days Since your baby will be ill less often, that means less missed work for you.

13. A vacation from your period Breastfeeding your baby around the clock—no bottles or formula—will delay ovulation, which means delayed menstruation. “Breastfeeding causes the release of prolactin, which keeps estrogen and progesterone at bay so ovulation isn’t triggered,” Kelly explains. “When your prolactin levels drop, those two hormones can kick back in, which means ovulation—and, hence, menstruation—occurs.”

Even if you do breastfeed exclusively, your prolactin levels will eventually drop over the course of several months. Many moms who nurse exclusively get their first period somewhere between six and eight months after having a baby, Kelly adds; others don’t for a full year. Another benefit in the green category: Fewer periods mean fewer sanitary products in landfills.

14. Free birth control Breastfeeding can be 98 to 99 percent effective as birth control if a few general guidelines are followed: Your period must not have resumed; you must breastfeed at least every four hours around the clock; you must not give your baby any pacifiers, bottles or formula (doing so may cause him to nurse less); and you must be less than six months postpartum.

According to Kelly, nighttime feedings are the most important to the “lactation amenorrhea method,” so do not let your baby (or yourself) sleep through a feeding. “Going long stretches at night without nursing seems to be directly responsible for the return of ovulation,” she says. In the same way, prematurely sleep training your baby can hasten ovulation—which means, of course, that you can get pregnant.

15. Faster familiarity “You have to read your baby’s ‘satiety cues’ a little better, because unlike with a bottle, you can’t see how much he’s eaten,” Kelly says. “You have to rely on your own instincts and your baby’s behavior to know when your baby is full.”

16. Budget boost According to La Leche League International, the cost of formula can range anywhere from $134 to $491 per month. That’s $1,608 to $5,892 in one year!

17. Just so easy Simply pull up your shirt and latch your baby on. No mixing or heating of formula necessary—breast milk is always available and always at the right temperature. And it’s in a pretty nice container to boot!

18. Perks for society According to a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics, the United States would save about $13 billion per year in medical costs if 90 percent of U.S. families breastfed their newborns for at least six months. Even more important, because of breastfeeding’s health benefits, as many as 911 infant deaths would be prevented.

Start smart For everything you need to know to make nursing work—from getting the right latch to where to turn if you need help—visit fitpregnancy.com/breastfeeding.

A Rude Reminder of Junk in Food

from Feed Our Families blog

I don't know where to start. I'm so upset. You know how you watch your child and you know something isn't right but you can't really know what it is?

That was us Friday afternoon. My son was a little out of sorts after school but nothing terribly unusual since he's usually ready for some rest and a snack when he gets home. School is tiring and he reminds us often.
As dinner time approached things weren't so usual. But unfortunately, familiar. I didn't recognize the behaviors at first but they quickly ramped up to the point where reality slapped my cheek. Oh yes, I remember this. Thus the questioning begins: what did you eat today that we didn't give you?

Artificial food coloring. High fructose corn syrup. And it was literally drops of each. Proof that the chemical reaction that occurs in his body doesn't take much quantity.

I won't share details because I believe it was an honest mistake that won't happen again.
What I will share with you is the terrible night we had where my son couldn't control his body. He couldn't make eye contact with me for more than three seconds. He mentally couldn't process simple things like he typically can. After about two hours of increasing frustrations and challenges for all of us, we put him to bed early and wished for the best in the morning.

I'll also share with you my emotions through this as I went from frustration with him for "not listening" (repeatedly) to feeling furious that this happened to begin with. We've worked so hard, we thought, to make sure that everyone around him knew what he couldn't have. But maybe it wasn't enough. Clearly, it wasn't enough.

Then, my heart broke.

My son finds it comforting to be rolled up tightly in a blanket, sort of like a burrito. Until we found his food sensitivities, we did this often because we faced similar situations often, but I don't think we've rolled him up in many months. He usually lays there, totally relaxed, while we talk, read or listen to music.

Not tonight. He couldn't lay still. Couldn't relax. Couldn't look at me. His little body just kept moving, not within his control, while he stared at his closet door. He told me it was more relaxing to look at the white closet door because my face was too busy. As I stroked his head, I prayed that he would fall asleep peacefully and wake feeling better.

I can't begin to imagine what he felt like but I know that I don't want to see him feel that way again. As long as the food manufacturers, candy makers and beverage providers continue to use artificial ingredients, children will be exposed and at risk. I wish they would do away with these ingredients, like they have in other countries. Our children, my child, deserves better food.

A friend who has a child with similar food issues helped me see the positive in this: the reminder that all of our hard work cooking real food, scrutinizing labels, and teaching our children about healthy foods, is worth it. They are totally worth it.


If you're new to Feed Our Families and want to learn more about high fructose corn syrup, here's the link to Our Experience with High Fructose Corn Syrup and an overview on Discovering Food Issues. I encourage you to share this with friends and family so that together, we can protect our children from the impact of artificial and potentially harmful ingredients.


My special guy that I'd do anything for

Recall! Britax Recalls Chaperone Infant Car Seat

Car-seat manufacturer Britax is recalling 17,251 Chaperone infant-safety seats because the chest clip was incorrectly produced, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recalled car seats were built between April 11, 2009, and May 31, 2010. The following model numbers are affected by this recall:

• E9L69N9 (Moonstone)
• E9L69P2 (Red Mill)
• E9L69P3 (Savannah)
• E9L69P5 (Cowmooflage)

The car seat’s chest clip, which positions the harness straps across the shoulders, could be too brittle and might break when used with the infant in the seat. The clip’s sharp edges could cut the child’s skin or be a choking hazard.

Britax will mail a remedy kit, which contains a new chest clip, to owners who have registered their car seats with the company. The kit will be mailed out around Nov. 11.

For more information or to contact the company if you haven’t registered this recalled car seat, call Britax at 888-427-4829 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.