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May 24, 7:48 AMChild Safety ExaminerSusan Carney

Because researchers in the US and Canada have recently found a link between pesticides and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, its now more important than ever to make sure that your children are eating foods that are pesticide free.

The study, published recently in the Journal of Pediatrics, found that children with high levels of pesticide residue in their urine, especially often-used pesticides such as malathion, were more likely to have ADHD. How much more likely?  Kids with high levels of pesticide residue were diagnosed with ADHD at almost twice the rate of children with no such residues.

This study is somewhat unique because it looks at average children, wherease other studies on pesticide effects on children have primarily focused on the children of farm workers.   Additionally, since pesticides usually leave the system within a few days, the study suggests that the exposure is most likely constant.   Kids bodies do not metabolize pesticides the way adults’ do, so their risk  of harm is greater.

What can parents do?  The best prevention is to buy organic produce that has not been treated with pesticides.  This applies especially to fruits and vegetables that grow in the ground or that have skin, as these are most likely to be contaminated.  Wash all produce thoroughly with cold runner water (not with soap!), and even rinse frozen fruits and vegetables.  You might even want to scrub firm-skinned produce with a brush.

Here you will find local services & products related to birth through parenthood. In addition I will be teaching you some of my tips and tricks that I have learned over the past 18+ years!

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These Homemade baby diaper rash ointments recipes and tips are great for those of us who like to keep it natural. You do not have to use zinc oxide on your baby’s bum to prevent diaper rash. There are other more natural substances that will do the trick. Petroleum jelly is not a bad alternative, but it also tends to clog the pores. I want to give you a few natural and homemade alternatives as well.

The key to diaper rash, I think, really is prevention. Keep that baby’s bottom dry! Cloth diapering is one great way to keep baby’s bottom soft and dry, not to mention frequent diaper changes. I like to make sure and always get in some diaper free time too. Air things out, you know.

I’m including here a couple recipes for diaper rash ointments that are a great preventive measure and a couple ways to soothe your baby’s bottom should he happen to get a little red or develop a rash.

Recipes for Diaper Rash Ointments

• 1/2 cup sweet almond oil (you can also use olive oil
• 2-3 drops lavender oil
• 2-3 drops tea tree oil
• 4 Tablespoons water

Mix all the ingredients together well. Transfer to a jar or bottle to use for applying to baby to ease a red bottom or diaper rash. Be very careful not to double dip!

Calendula Ointment Recipes

Calendula has wonderful healing properties. calendula ointment is great for healing dry skin and is also amazing for healing wounds, therefore great for making diaper rash ointments! Ointments, oils and creams made with calendula are great for not only your baby’s skin but also great for your skin too! I have heard that calendula cream or oil can be great for reducing stretch marks as well so these recipes will be great for those baby bellies too!

Easy Calendula Oil Recipe

This easy to make calendula ointment is great for making homemade baby wipes solution
too. Add a few drops of oil to your baby wipes solution for a nice soothing and healing baby wipe. It is also good for smoothing onto a red baby’s bottom or for other uses such as a little dry patch of skin or cradle cap.

To make this oil you will need, of course, some dried caledula. You can usually get this at a local health food store or you could even buy some online. Herbtrader sells dried calendula in little one pound bags.
Put about one cup of the dried calendula into a jar and pour in some olive oil. Just let the two sit in the jar together and meld for a week or two and viola! Make sure and keep the jar closed tightly. Each day go in and flip it over a few times to stir things up. When a week or two has passed by strain the leaves out with some cheese cloth and transfer the calendula oil to smaller jars. I like to use my empty baby food jars for just this sort of thing. Make sure they are clean! And do not double dip! You will be introducing bacterias to your oil if you do.

Calendula Ointment Recipe

This recipe is a little more involved than the recipe above. It may take a little more effort to make but it will make a fantastic diaper rash ointments. The ingredients are 1/2 cup dried calendula, 8 oz. vegetable shortening, 1 tablespoon beeswax.
Melt the shortening and beeswax in a small pan and then add the calendula petals to the hot mixture. Let them steep in the mixture while it cools down. Transfer the ointment into a small jar.

Other Natural Diaper Rash Remedies and Prevention

One great healing property that I really like to keep around the house is an aloe plant. I keep one in my kitchen and also near the baby’s changing table! bottom looks a little red? Just break off a bit of a leaf, open it up and apply the aloe. A super natural way to heal a baby’s diaper rash.

I also hear a great way to sooth diaper rash is with a nice oatmeal bath. I’ve never actually had to try this one out, as I’ve not had much trouble with diaper rash (a little redness was about the most I ever saw) but I’ve heard it is very soothing and works wonders.
You can simply add some regular oatmeal to your baby bath (you might want to send it through the food processor first to chop it up to a finer consistency). A great way to add the oatmeal to the bath without a mess is to pour it into a cloth baggy and add it to the bath water. Just let it steep just like a tea bag.

* I am not a pediatrician or health care professional. If you have any doubts, questions or concerns about the above recipes talk to your pediatrician before use.

SnoozeShade, the UK’s first universal blackout buggy blind, can help.

SnoozeShade^TM is a unique blackout blind for prams, carrycots, pushchairs and buggies (in flat-lying or upright modes). This innovative baby sleep product was created by a British mother specifically to help babies and toddlers sleep for as long as needed in a pram or pushchair.

It’s what mums have been waiting for – a simpler, safer, lightweight and secure alternative to a draped coat or blankets – and, above all, it works.

It’s the UK’s first sleeping-on-the-go solution for babies and is great for holidays, in restaurants or anytime you have to go out during baby’s naptime.

When sleep time is over, just pop it away into its storage bag. SnoozeShade is small enough to hang off pram handles or leave in your change bag, handbag or buggy basket so you keep it with you to use when you need it.

With UPF50+ sun protection, SnoozeShade can be used all year round whatever the weather and it fits under most standard rain covers on a rainy day. Its patent-pending design shuts out the world to keep sleeping babies asleep in their prams or pushchairs, helping alert babies switch off enough to fall asleep.

It’s simple and easy to check on your sleeping baby using the ‘sneak-a-peek’ zip at the front.

• Made from a double layer of soft dark breathable fabric, SnoozeShade provides a shady and well-ventilated sleep environment.
• Elasticated top and sides with easy-to-attach Velcro straps ensure SnoozeShade fits easily to most popular prams and pushchairs
• Check quietly and easily on baby with SnoozeShade’s ‘sneak-a-peek’ front access.
• Compact enough to keep with you at all times; it folds into a small drawstring bag to pop ito n your change bag, handbag hang off buggy handles or store in your pushchair’s basket.
• Fits easily under most standard rain covers.
• Protects babies from the sun with the highest sun protection – UPF50+
• Tested to all current British and European safety standards
• High visibility seams and straps – useful if you’re out on darker days and at night

You’ll need:

• 1/2 paper towel roll (strong towels work best; cut with a serrated or electric knife)
• 1 Tbsp oil (blend almond oil, vitamin E oil, & a drop of lavender essential oil)
• 1 Tbsp gentle soap (castile soap, baby soap, or baby shampoo)
• 2 cups water
• Large saucepan
• Tongs
• Watertight container the roll can stand upright in*

*Large tupperware container, or buy one canister of store bought wipes and save the container. If your container is shorter, you can cut your paper towel roll in thirds, and decrease the liquids a bit.

• Boil the water in a large saucepan, then turn off and add oils and soap.
• Stir liquids together, then put the half paper towel roll in the pot and cover.
• After a minute or so, use the tongs to flip the roll over, and re-cover.
• When the towels are saturated, use the tongs to remove the cardboard core.
• Remove towels and let cool on a plate for about 10 minutes.
• Squeeze out excess liquid, and place upright in the watertight container.
• To use, pull towels from the center.
• Save the rest of your paper towel roll to make a fresh batch when this one is finished.

Sources: Sisterhood Midwifery Care, trintje.blogspot.com, tipnut.com

Written by: Megumi Burr @ http://megumiburr.wordpress.com/

WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is advising parents and caregivers to be cautious when using infant slings for babies younger than four months of age. In researching incident reports from the past 20 years, CPSC identified and is investigating at least 14 deaths associated with sling-style infant carriers, including three in 2009. Twelve of the deaths involved babies younger than four months of age.

Slings can pose two different types of suffocation hazards to babies. In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. The sling’s fabric can press against an infant’s nose and mouth, blocking the baby’s breathing and rapidly suffocating a baby within a minute or two. Additionally, where a sling keeps the infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest, the airways can be restricted, limiting the oxygen supply. The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate.

Many of the babies who died in slings were either a low birth weight twin, were born prematurely, or had breathing issues such as a cold. Therefore, CPSC urges parents of preemies, twins, babies in fragile health and those with low weight to use extra care and consult their pediatricians about using slings.

Two months ago, the Commission added slings to the list of durable infant products that require a mandatory standard. Additionally, CPSC staff is actively investigating these products to determine what additional action may be appropriate. Until a mandatory standard is developed, CPSC is working with ASTM International to quickly complete an effective voluntary standard for infant sling carriers.

CPSC recommends that parents and caregivers make sure the infant’s face is not covered and is visible at all times to the sling’s wearer. If nursing the baby in a sling, change the baby’s position after feeding so the baby’s head is facing up and is clear of the sling and the mother’s body. Parents and caregivers should be vigilant about frequently checking their baby in a sling.

CPSC is interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are directly related to infant slings. You can do this by visiting www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx or call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772.

• Dairy Products
• Caffeine – coffee, tea, soda
• Soy Products
• Peanuts
• Shellfish
• Chocolate (sorry!)
• Citrus Fruits
• Wheat
• Beef
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Corn
• Prenatal Vitamins (The iron may be irritating to baby. Ask your OB for an alternative if this is the culprit)
• Gassy Vegetables: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Onions, Green Peppers, Tomatoes
• Spicy Foods – hot sauce and garlic as well

NOMOTC – Fifty years of supporting families with multiple birth children Multiples in the news: January 2010 While parents of multiple birth children quickly learn how to multitask as a means of survival,…

To read the rest of this article, please click on the link below:

http://ww.examiner.com/x-34441-Parenting-Multiples-Examiner~y2010m2d10-Another-look-at-baby-planners?cid=email-this-article

Saturday, March 13th from 1:00-2:30pm

Fee: $35

Class covers:

• Importance of wearing your baby
• Relevant research in attachment parenting
• Hands-on experience with your sling, wrap, backpack or swaddle (be ready to USE your equipment!)

Class size limited to 10 families . Please bring: all your wraps, slings, backpacks and swaddles. Newborn babies welcome.

Register now: www.theparentscenter.com