232 Toxic Chemicals Found in Newborns

Laboratory tests commissioned by the Environment Working Group found 9 of 10 randomly selected samples of cord blood tested positive for BPA, and as many as 232 chemicals in the 10 newborns. While the sample is too small to establish a trend, it shows that pregnant women should be concerned about exposure to BPA and other environmental pollutants that can disrupt the endocrine system.

For details on the report, logon to ewg.org.

Flu Chart

We saw this cool Flu Chart, released by Stroller Traffic, and thought our readers would find it useful! It is a very straight forward comparison symptoms of colds, seasonal flu and h1n1. Definitely worth checking.

Click here to access the chart.

Kids Watching Hours of TV at Home-Based Daycare

A recent study published today about home-based day care reported that about 70% of the programs use television daily. The study found that among preschool-aged children, those in home-based day cares watched TV for 2.4 hours per day on average, compared to 24 minutes in larger childcare centers. Toddlers watched an average of 1.6 hours in home care and about 6 minutes in centers. That is certainly not what many parents have signed up for!

The figures come from a telephone survey of licensed child care programs in Michigan, Washington, Florida and Massachusetts.

For more information about the study, logon to msnbc.com.

Lead Hazard

Exposure to lead is very dangerous to kids and adults, resulting in permanent brain damage, heart problems, behavioral and developmental problems.

Unfortunately millions of children are still experiencing lead poisoning from lead paint in older homes and low quality toys, and contaminated soil and drinking water. Kids tend to put objects and toys in their mouths, and not wash their hands as frequently.

Children should be tested for lead levels by pediatricians at ages 1 and 2. Protect your family by checking potential sources of lead at home and day care. Also, ensure they are receiving good nutrition with recommended levels of iron, vitamin C and calcium to help reduce lead absorption.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Get these Superfoods into Their Systems

Getting kids used to a diet with fruits, vegetables and whole grains is very important. It can prevent diseases, and provides all nutrients necessary for a healthy development.

Try adding these superfoods to their meals, as suggested by nutritionist Leanne Cooper, from Organic Bubs. It may take a few attempts before they get used to the taste, but it is definitely worth it!

1. Veggies with vivid colors such as sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot, broccoli and corn, provide loads of vitamins.
2. Berries and cherries are great anti-oxidants.
3. Other super-fruits are pomegranate, mango, banana, apple, apricot and white grapes.
4. Super-grains such as quinoa are loaded with proteins, carbs, vitamins, minerals and fiber.
5. Flaxseed meal mixed with fruits and yogurt is also a great snack. Make sure the flaxseed is crushed to a powder.
6. Avocado is very rich in oil and vitamins. The creamy consistency makes it easy and pleasant to eat.
7. Fish such as salmon is rich in omega-e oils.
8. Organic yogurt provides healthy bacteria for the little tummies.

First Bites: Tips for Getting Started

We stumbled across these great tips from Australian nutritionist Leanne Cooper about getting started on solids. We know it is a big transition for little ones, but we think these tips will make it a bit easier on you too!

1. All babies are different. They eat different amounts, and progress at different rates. Just to make parents' lives more exciting!

2. Stick to a routine, creating eating habits.

3. Initially, offer breastmilk or formula first to ensure they get all nutrients each day.

4. Don't push them to eat too much to avoid upset tummies.

5. Make and store the purees thicker than you need to so you can thin them down and warm them up with boiling water, breastmilk or formula.

6. Select quality organic ingredients with a variety of nutrients and colors. When buying baby food, read labels carefully. Stay away from additives, sweeteners, fillers and thickeners such as starches.

7. Use clean utensils.

8. Never place solids in your baby's bottle.

9. Most babies prefer food at room temperature. Be careful with microwaved food. Temperature may be uneven.

10. Expect a mess!

Check out our Homemade Baby Food Recipes page, developed by experienced moms! Delicious recipes with great nutritional values.

Diaper Changing Made Easy

Diaper bags can be bulky and cumbersome, and sometimes very impractical. How many times have you reached for a fresh diaper and changer pad with just one available hand, and got frustrated?
Well, we came across Patemm, a practical solution to the problem. A high-quality cotton pad with a round design that accommodates squirmy infants and toddlers, and also serves as a diaper bag. It comes with pockets for diapers, wipes and a change of clothes.
The version we tested was fabulous! Made of waterproof, laminated cotton, it is free of BPA, lead, PVC and latex. And very stylish. Clearly designed by an experienced mom.

For product details, logon to patemm.com

Healthy Home Tips for Parents. Can't Get Any Easier than That...

Can it? Here we go:

1. Choose better body care products for kids: read the ingredients and avoid triclosan, BHA, fragrance and oxybenzone.

2. Eat fresh organic foods: choose organic when possible, and limit canned food and infant formula, as can linings contain BPA.

3. Pick plastics carefully: some plastics contain BPA, which is linked to cancer. Avoid clear, hard plastic bottles market with a "7" or "PC". Don't microwave plastic containers. Stay away from toys marked with a "3" or "PVC."

4. Filter your tap water: this will reduce your family's exposure to impurities in water, like chlorine and lead. Mix infant formula with fluoride-free water.

5. Wash your hands often: do we need to elaborate on that?

6. Skip non-stick cookware: when overheated, they can emit toxic fumes. Use cast iron or stainless steel instead.

7. Use a HEPA-filter vacuum: it captures the widest range of particles and get rid of allergens.

8. Get iodine: it buffers against chemicals like perchlorate, which can disrupt the thyroid system and affect brain development during pregnancy and infancy.

9. Use greener cleaners and avoid pesticides: household cleaners, bug killers, pet treatments, and air fresheners can irritate kids' lungs, especially if your kids have asthma. Investigate less toxic alternatives. Use vinegar in place of bleach, baking soda to scrub your tiles, and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains.

10. Eat good fats: omega-3 fatty acids can offset toxic effects of lead and mercury. They're in fish, eggs, nuts, oils, and produce. Choose low-mercury fish, especially if you're pregnant. Breast milk is the best source of good fats (and other benefits) for babies, and protects them from toxic chemicals.

For detailed information, logon to ewg.org

Are you Clear About H1N1 Vaccination Yet?

Well, we are not! Vaccinating children for H1N1 is still a dilemma for many parents. Every day we are bombarded with articles about its safety. While official reports are very convincing about the benefits, there are still a few questions unanswered.

We found this article on the New York Times providing very detailed information, and answering key questions from parents and pregnant women. Check it out!

Transition from Solid to Finger Foods

Did you know that finger foods should be cut into pieces as small as the size of the end of baby's pinky? This is the size of his/her airway, and that would avoid chocking events.

Check out this very educational video from Dr. David Hill, a pediatrician from North Carolina, about the transition from solid to finger foods.

For your Next Trip to a Toy Store

Christmas is coming and a common concern for parents of young kids is toy safety. Babies and toddlers tend to put toys in their mouths, making it a lot more dangerous. See below a few points, from the National Geographic "Green Guide", to be considered before your next trip to a toy store.

The worst plastic used in children's toys, including teethers, is polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. Considered "hormone disruptors" and linked with asthma and respiratory problems, phthalates can migrate out of toys and onto the hands (and into the mouths) of children. Fortunately, many companies are removing phthalates, and several states, including California and Maine, are initiating legislation that would ban the sale of any children's products containing problem chemicals.

Lead has also been found frequently in toys, including Barbie dolls, Fisher-Price locomotives and Thomas the Tank Engines, and have been recalled due to violations of lead paint standards. Lead is also found in the paint of some old wood and metal toys, especially in imports. Lead is associated with a host of learning disabilities and behavior disorders, and even low exposures can carry lifelong effects.

Look for plastics made without PVC. It's usually identifiable by the number 3, often with the letters "PVC" or the word "vinyl" next to the recycling symbol. You can also use the "smell test"; plastics made with vinyl usually have a plasticky smell, similar to that of a new shower curtain. If you aren't sure whether a product contains PVC or PVC parts, call the manufacturer.

Smart Food Ingredients

Check out this interesting video about medical benefits of feeding kids with at least a few organic ingredients.

Preverbal Communication

Dedicating time to communicate with our children is one of the wisest moves we can make. Studies have shown that dialogues help babies understand the world, and develop their communication process with other people.

A recent study published by the New York Times reinforces the benefits of communicating with young babies and toddlers by using gestures, vocalization imitation, laughter and facial expressions. At this early age, kids understand far more that they can say.

Speech experts recommend to "Talk while doing things and going places. When taking a walk in the stroller, for example, point to familiar objects and say their names. Use simple but grammatical speech. Expand on words. For example, if your child says 'car', you respond by saying: 'You're right! That is a big red car.'"

For more information, logon to The New York Times.

Latest BS from BA

British Airways has just announced a fee to assign seats in advance. So, if you want to be assured that your 3-year-old child will be sitting next to you during your flight, a fee ranging from £10 to £60 will apply.

Looking from another angle, this could be an opportunity to have free babysitting on board! Whoever is randomly selected to sit next to your child will take the burden! Note that the fee applies to international flights as well. I can't wait...

Here is BA's version: "Customers frequently request specific seats, but in the past we've only been able to confirm them 24 hours in advance or on the day. We know people want to secure them in advance and have real control over their flying experience. This will allow them to do that."

On BBC News today.

Useful Database for Concerned Mommas

HealthyStuff is an organization that researches toxic chemicals in everyday products. Check their website for test results for over 5,000 products, including children toys. They also rate car seats, kids' apparel, teethers, etc.
It is a great resource to consult before buying products for our kids.
Check it out! www.healthystuff.org

Organic Ingredients, Not Always Necessary

We all know that pesticides are not good for our bodies. The exposure to toxic chemicals can have an even more adverse effect in children. The metabolism of a fetus, infant and child is less able to metabolize and inactivate toxic chemicals, being more vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticides.

Consuming organic food minimizes the problem, but it is generally expensive, and not accessible to everybody. The Environmental Working Group developed a list of vegetables and fruits that contain the highest amount of pesticides, and the ones that are generally clear. So, be wise and don't spend the extra cash when not necessary. Here is a summary of the list:

Highest pesticide load, starting with the worst: peach, apple, bell pepper, celery, nectarine, strawberry, cherry, kale, lettuce, grapes, carrot, pear, collard greens, spinach and potatoes

Lowest pesticide load, starting with the cleanest: onion, avocado, sweet corn, pineapple, mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, papaya, watermelon and broccoli.

For a complete list, check the Baby Food Recipes section, or consult the Environmental Working Group.

Children's Personal Care Harm

Moms love buying products for their children. Who doesn't like the scent of baby products? Well, while they smell good, sometimes the products may be harmful for kids. Here are a few points to consider when shopping children's personal care products.
1. Use fewer products, and use them less frequently.
2. Don't trust claims. Check the ingredients.
3. Always opt for fragrance-free products.

Below are some product tips from the Environmental Working Group:
Shampoo and conditioner: Avoid DMDM hydantoin, fragrances, ceteareth, and PEG compounds
Body wash and liquid soap: Avoid triclosan, DMDM hydantoin, and fragrance.
Toothpaste: The American Dental Association recommends fluoride-free products for children under 2. Also, avoid triclosan and PEG compounds
Sunscreen: Children under 6 months of age should not be in the sun. Older children should have limited exposure, and always use products with UVA and UVB protection.
Baby wipes: Avoid 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol, DMDM hydantoin and fragrance.
Diaper cream: Avoid BHA, boric acid, sodium borate and fragrance.
Baby powder: Don't use them. Lung damage results when baby inhales the small particles released during application.

For more information, logon to ewg.org

Guide for Baby-Safe Bottles

We think that breast milk is the best feeding option for babies. However, if you need to use bottles, for breast milk or formula, the Environmental Working Group released a guide with interesting bottle best practices. Below are key points:
- Use clear silicone nipple: latex rubber nipples can cause allergies, and can contain impurities linked to cancer.
- Use glass bottles: plastic bottles can leach the toxic chemical BPA into formula or breast milk. Avoid clear, hard plastic bottles marked with a 7 or PC.
- Don't use plastic bottle liners: it can leach chemicals into formula when heated.
- Use filtered tap water: if you choose bottle water, make sure it is fluoride-free.
- Choose powered formula: toxic BPA leaches into liquid formula. Powdered formulas don't have BPA.

For more information, vist ewg.org

Fabulous Baby Rocker

Check out this fabulous baby rocker! One of the top ten computer programs ever developed .... by parents, of course.

SIGG Bottles Contained Bisphenol-A

Children's bottle maker SIGG has admitted that the epoxy lining used for years in SIGG bottles - which they secretly swapped out for a new liner last summer - contained the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A.
Parents all over the world, advocates of their supposed high quality bottles, are very annoyed with the news.
Bottles purchased before August 2008 contained the old BPA liner.
For more information click here.