Baby Wearing

Baby wearing tips from www.safemama.com

Baby wearing tips:

It’s easy to get frustrated when learning how to wear your baby.   Follow some of these tips and you’ll be a pro in no time:

• Practice practice practice.  Practice with stuffed animals before your baby is born.  Practice around the house when your baby is born.   The more you do it, the easier it becomes.
• Read the instruction manual.  As with any baby gear, reading the manual is essential.  You not only want to get the most out of your baby wearing apparatus, but you want your baby to be safe.
• Check on your baby often.  If you’re wearing your baby in a cradle hold, make sure their they have sufficient air flow.  Also make sure their heads are tilted back enough to allow easy breathing.
• Invest in a good carrier.   You want something that is going to be comfortable to wear, otherwise, you’re going to end up ditching the idea, more often than not.   If your carrier is comfortable, you won’t notice that you’ve got a baby attached to the front of you.  Unless of course, they punch you in the nose, or grab your hair.
• Invest in a few carriers.   Depending on your activities, you might want to have a few different types of carriers on hand.   Also, if both parents like baby wearing, you’re bound to have different tastes in carriers.  Your husband/partner may not like wearing something pink and floral. Worst case: If you hate them, they retain value if they’re in good condition so you can get some of your money back on eBay.

Can Folate Correct the Effects of BPA Exposure?

from www.asoftlanding.com

Is there anyway to counteract the effects of BPA exposure?

Over the last few years we’ve been smacked by so much information about the damage done to our endocrine systems by hormone-mimicking chemicals like BPA.  We’ve removed as many obvious sources as we can, and yet so  many are simply out of our control.  Canned foods remain one of those BPA-laden giants and manufacturers are having a hard time finding safer alternatives, leaving busy folks with few pre-prepared choices.

So what can we do to protect ourselves against exposures we can’t control?  And beyond that, is there anyway to reverse damage that has already been done?

There is exciting news on this front!  Dr. Greene recently discussed the protective nature of folate intake based on a preliminary study done by Duke University researchers.  They found that the effects of BPA on the babies of pregnant mice were negated when folate was introduced.  This was true even with significant exposure to the endocrine disrupting chemical!

These nutrients switched the genes back the way they should be, and the BPA effect was completely nullified. The researchers describe this as compelling evidence that certain nutrients can counteract BPA when given during pregnancy.  Beyond this, the researchers propose that these nutrients could block the effects of chemical estrogen exposures, even if given later in childhood and possibly even in adulthood.

In The New American Diet, author Steve Perrine takes this theory even further.  He explains that research has linked the addition of huge amounts of corn and soy in our diets to a decrease in folate intake (we’re talking about soy-based products here, not whole organic soy foods).  Americans are more likely to choose highly processed, packaged foods over fresh fruits and vegetables than ever before.

Mr. Perrine gives us a clear picture of folate’s key role in our health when he describes how some scientists liken folate to a canary in a coal mine:

When folate levels drop, levels of obesity, hear disease, stroke cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s, depression – and even resistance to some antidepressant therapies – go up.

Now before you run out to buy a folic-acid supplement, you should know that studies show that getting your folate from fresh food offers twice the protection.  The best sources of folate are found in green leafy vegetables such as:

• Romaine lettuce
• Spinach
• Kale
• Endive
• Swiss Chard

Always be sure to choose organic, pesticide free fruits and vegetables so you don’t end up adding yet another endocrine disruptor to your diet.  If you’re not sure how to prioritize your organic buying choices to best fit your budget, be sure to check out the Environmental Working Group’s excellent work on the subject here.

>> You can find other good folate sources can be found here.

Hurray, It’s a Giveaway! Safe Starter Stainless Steel Bottles

 

The Safe Starter The Safe Sippy

With all the hype around bad plastics it sometimes just feels good to go with an alternative for your baby – like safe stainless steel.  Kid Basix is the maker of The Safe Sippy, The Safe Sporter, and The Safe Starter bottle.  Although they are stainless steel on the inside I was impressed by how light these bottles are.  They are covered with a silicone sleeve and the bottle and all of its parts are dishwasher safe!  Why go stainless?  Here’s a great answer from Kid Basix:

Kid Basix created The Safe Sippy™ drink cup in response to parents’ growing concerns about Bisphenol A and other harmful chemicals present in many plastic bottles. Now, we have expanded the “Safe” brand to include The Safe Starter™ stainless steel baby bottle and The Safe Sporter™ sports bottles to provide safe, reusable drink ware for the entire family.

Why go with stainless steel bottles from Kid Basix when so many BPA-free plastic bottles are available now? We can give you 300 billion reasons. That’s the approximate number of plastic water bottles discarded around the world every year. Enough to power 12 million cars for an entire year. And that’s just the water bottles! It doesn’t include all the plastic bottles used for sodas, sports drinks, fruit juices and the like. All told, the plastic bottles we throw away each year would reach to the moon and back – 1500 times. So using reusable stainless steel bottles makes sense on every level: personal, local and global.

I own The Safe Sippy as well and use it with my one and a half year old.  The hard spout was hard for him to use when he was a baby, but after about 15 months he decided he loved the “strawlikeness” of the hard spout.  Kid Basix has since made The Safe Sippy2 which I think is an even better version with a cap and travel plug.

You can buy any of these Kid Basix items on Amazon.  The silicon sleeves come in pretty pastels of green, blue, or pink, and the bottles come in both 5 and 9 oz options.  I have say it’s also a super cute bottle, nothing wrong with that!

Enter to Win!

Enter to win a Kid Basix stainless steel Safe Starter bottle (green sleeve) by simply sending an email to abby@littlemiraclesbabyplanning.com with the subject “Safe Starter.”  Winner will be chosen at random; contest ends March 11th at 12 noon est.

Product Review – Ah Goo Baby

Ah Goo Baby makes a multi-purpose Plush Pad for baby.  It’s a changing pad (and an oh-so-soft changing pad it is), mat for tummy time, resting place at the park, or just a great option for a pad to throw in your bag and travel with for all your changing needs.

I have to admit when I first saw the Ah Goo Baby Plush Pad in the store I thought it was a luxury item and not really a necessity for baby.  Now any mother knows that some sort of changing pad is a necessity when you go out with baby, but who knew that it didn’t have to be a piece of flimsy vinyl?  When I received this pad in the mail I instantly thought it was better than I expected.  This pad is PLUSH with a capital P.  It’s made with a thick memory foam, and if you’ve ever been on a mattress made of memory foam you know how luxurious they are.  If I was a baby and mom put me on this thing I would probably request she never go back to changing me on the hard ground again!  You’re certainly spoiling baby with the Plush Pad, but she’s sure to thank you for it.

The Plush Pad rolls up and can easily fit in a diaper bag --  from approximately 2 ft. square when open to approximately 3 inches x 10 inches when rolled.  And unlike the typical vinyl mat, this mat is machine washable!  That just might be my favorite feature because I would love to wash away the germs from where these mats lay!  Here’s what makes the pad so plush:

Its molecular structure also efficiently absorbs shock to help protect your baby’s head and neck when laying  them down for a changing. In short, the Plush Pad® conforms to the curves of your baby’s body, so that they can sit back, relax and enjoy the experience!

The Ah Goo Baby Plush Pad is available online at www.ahgoobaby.com and in retail stores like Buy Buy Baby.  You can check out their website to find other stores and more information.

Secret Filth in Bath Toys

A very informative segment from the Today show this week on the dangers found bath toys.  Toys tested had fecal matter (alarming levels), staph and e. coli bacteria in just about every single toy.  Check out the video for more info.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Britax Roundabout Stands Up to Train

Wow, what a story!!  When I read this I just had to post it because I thought it was an amazing story, and it proves how important it is to not only buy the right car seat but to have it installed correctly.  I’m a big fan of Britax as well.

from www.safemama.com

I had the pleasure of receiving a Britax Roundabout 50 to check out after a heart clutching story broke on the news. An Elm Grove, Wisconsin mother was trapped in front of an oncoming train with her child seated in the back, in a Britax Roundabout. The father, following behind in a separate car rushed to her aide and while they managed to free the mother, the boy was still in the car when struck by the oncoming train. That boy, and his Roundabout 50 were unharmed.

I’ve always been an advocate of car seat safety and the importance of having your seats checked to ensure they are installed properly. But I have to wonder how much of it was the installation, and how much of it was the seat? The Britax Roundabout 50 features Britax’s Side Impact Protection which distributes crash forces, contains the head and body, and shields the child from possible vehicle intrusions during a crash.

It also feature’s their 5 point harness system which secures the child at the strongest parts of the body… much like race car drivers! this is one of their smaller contoured convertible car seats which can accommodate an infant as small as 5 lbs up to 50lbs. Because of the smaller base this seat can fit in most vehicles wonderfully compared to others. I’ve had this problem with some of the other seats we’ve tested in our Honda Pilot, where the base is so big that it creates less leg room for the child and for the driver. The Roundabout 50 eliminates that problem. My son was very comfortable in this seat. And knowing that it helped save a boy from a train impact doesn’t hurt!

Britax has a great reputation and for good reason… they rate well in Consumer Reports and have been proactive with regard to recalls, while continuing to improve the safety of their seats with research. But with any car seat, it’s crucial to have it properly installed or else all those great safety features are useless. Look for your local Child Safety Seat Inspector on SeatCheck.org or at USA.SafeKids.org.

Orbit G2 Baby Travel System Coming in March!

We’ve all seen nearly every new celebrity mama pushing their baby around in an Orbit stroller.  This spring they have launched their second version of their travel system.  Here’s the details (from www.letsgostrolling.com):

Flexibility and time-saving measures are important to today’s parents. With active lifestyles sometimes making us feel like we are caught in a whirlwind, every little moment counts, and we are always thrilled to find a product to help us simplify! The Orbit G2 baby stroller system offers the best car seat and stroller solution for you and your new baby.

Get out there and go strolling with Orbit’s Smart, Simple, and Secure 3-piece starter kit: easily dock the Infant Car Seat into the Base and Stroller from almost any angle, confidently install the Orbit Infant System in your car in less than a minute, and sensibly keep using the Base and Stroller with future Orbit seats when your baby grows bigger. Not only do you get an easy-to-install/use car seat, you get a stroller that is wonderful to push, lightweight, and easy to secure the car seat onto, plus lots of style uncompromised for convenience.

The G2 stroller frame features a revolutionary QuadShock™ suspension and tires made of lightweight and responsive EVA which is also used in the midsoles of performance running shoes, giving your child one of the smoothest rides of any stroller. The custom aerospace grade aluminum frame optimizes strength while keeping it lightweight, and when folded, the Orbit G2 stroller frame can either stand alone or be towed. Unlike many other travel systems which are useless once the baby grows out of the car seat, the Orbit Baby System can grow with your family and is compatible with a toddler car seat and infant-to-todder stroller seat as well.

One of the biggest hassles for parents is moving your child from stroller to car and back again. To eliminate this time-consuming task, the Orbit G2 features a patented SmartHub™ ring allowing you to quickly, easily and ergonomically dock and rotate your infant car seat from any angle. Plus, the StrongArm™ knob on the car seat base allows you to securely attach the infant car seat in just 60 seconds. The Orbit G2 Infant Car seat is eco-friendly and certified healthy and clean by Oeko-Tex®, ensuring the safety of your child in every way. Flexibility, convenience and safety are the hallmark of Orbit products and the G2 should be on the must-have list of every new parent.

General Features and Specifications:

• Includes Infant G2 Car Seat, G2 Stroller Frame, G2 Car Seat Base, detachable sunshade, snack tray, footrest, support bar, and infant insert.
• Infant Car Seat G2 for children 4 lbs. to 22 lbs.
• Infant Car Seat G2: 10 lbs.
• Stroller Frame G2: 16 lbs.
• Stroller Frame handlebar heights: 40-46.5”
• Stroller Frame width (unfolded): 24”
• Stroller Frame folded: 32.5” x 15.5” x 13”
• Infant Car Seat interior width: 8.5” – 12”
• Infant Car Seat interior side depth: 12”
• Includes 2-year limited warranty.
• Available in Ruby / Slate, Black / Slate, and Mocha / Khaki

G2 Stroller Mode Features:

• 360 degree rotation allows your baby to be rear, forward, or even sideways facing so that you can face your baby towards you no matter where you are, or away from the sun.
• Custom aerospace grade aluminum frame optimizes strength and is lightweight.
• QuadShock™ is a patent-pending 4-wheel stroller suspension that gives a plush ride with hassle-free, non-air tires.
• Tires made of lightweight and responsive EVA, also used in the midsoles of performance running shoes: handles bumps and urban obstacles beautifully.
• Telescoping handles accommodate a wide range of parent/caregiver heights.
• Built-in cupholder and key tray.
• G2 stroller frame folds with true one-handed, twist-and-lift motion.
• Stroller frame folds compactly, stands alone when folded, and can be towed when folded.
• Compact car-trunk dimensions when folded.
• G2 stroller frame can be used with all Orbit Baby seats.
• Compatible with Orbit Baby's Stroller Panniers, OrganicFR™ Footmuffs, and Stroller Travel Bag (sold separately).

G2 Infant Car Seat Mode Features:

• Meets or exceeds all U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 213) and ASTM (F2050 and F833) safety standards; CPSIA compliant.
• Safe installation is as easy as the turn of a knob – no car seat has ever been simpler or quicker to install safely, uses patent-pending StrongArm technology.
• The only car seat that saves your back with easy docking at any angle into the car.
• Deep-cradle design is fully lined with EPP foam for maximum side-impact protection.
• Aerospace-grade aluminum backbone and chassis giving unparalleled strength.
• SmartHub™ safety ring provides 360-degree security in the car.
• Includes 5-point harness, plush microfiber upholstery, and infant insert.
• Unique ballistic nylon skin handles protects your seat and is padded for exceptionally comfortable carrying.