Food Intolerance versus Allergies - Part II

Continuing with our "Food Intolerance versus Allergies" report by Leanne Cooper, from Organic Bubs, here is part II:

Adverse Reactions:
Some physical signs & behaviors that may indicate an allergy or insensitivity to a particular food being ingested by your child are:

• Diarrhea or loose stools (it may be very smelly).
• Flatulence or gastric upset, colic.
• Vomiting.
• Hives, itching, runny nose.
• Wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing.
• Blotchy skin, mouth sores, red rash around mouth.
• Black circles under the eyes.
• Moodiness, irritability, excessive crying, lethargy.
• Aggressiveness

anaphylactic shock occurs, that the infant should be taken to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.

Sweet Cream of Avocado

Continuing on our campaign for a healthy end-of-year diet, we tested this Cream of Avocado recipe for a dessert or snack, and the result was outstanding. Yes, avocado for dessert! And kids love it.

Many countries in Latin America eat avocado with honey, or sugar, and it is absolutely delicious! Avocado is a powerful source of vitamins and essential oils.
Here is our yammy and incredibly healthy recipe of the day!

Cream of Avocado

- 1 ripe avocado
- 4 to 6 oz of milk (depending on size of avocado)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons of honey (depending on size of avocado)

Mix all ingredients using a hand mixer or a blender. The consistency should be creamy and velvety. Serve cold.

Cleaning Hazards

Some home cleaning products may contain airborne substances known to cause asthma to kids and adults. Unfortunately kids are very vulnerable!
The Environmental Working Group came up with a few easy tips to consider when cleaning the house (and schools!):

1. Dilute cleaning supplies. Less is usually more!
2. Clean with windows and doors open so air pollution is not trapped inside your home.
3. Wear gloves. Cleaning chemicals may harm or penetrate skin and eyes.
4. Keep kids away from cleaning products.
5. Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar and other acids. They can produce deadly gases.
6. Try to find certified Green products. They tend to be a lot less toxic.
7. Skip the biggest hazards. Avoid air fresheners, use a baking soda and water paste to clean the oven and tackle stains, and use a mechanical snake to unclog the drain.


For more tips, visit ewg.org

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

Tips for Safe Halloween Face Paint

The Food and Drug Administration is warning parents to be careful with Halloween face painting. Here are a few tips from the FDA to keep your kids safe:

1. Follow all directions carefully.
2. Don't use paint not intended for skin.
3. Bad smell is a sign of contamination. Throw it away!
4. Don't use paint around kids' eyes.
5. If you're decorating your skin with something never used before, test it in advance for allergic reactions. Test it on the kids arms for a couple of days before putting it on the face.

For detailed information, logon to the fda.gov

Kids Are Watching Way Too Much TV

According to the latest data released by the Nielsen Company, kids are watching TV at an 8-year high.
Kids aged 2-5 now spend an average of 32 hours a week in front of a TV screen. The older segment of that group (ages 6-11) spend a little less time, about 28 hours per week, due to school longer hours. About 97% view live TV, however, younger kids spend more time than the older group watching it via DVR, DVD and VCR.

That is a shame! Kids need plenty of time playing with toys. Being active, rather than passive in front of a TV, help them build their cognitive skills, and develop executive functions such as self-control, patience and problem-solving.

For more details on the data released, logon to nielsen.com

Baby Einstein Offering Refunds for Videos

We've always believed that videos are not good for children under 2 years of age, debilitating their cognitive development.

Disney, owner of Baby Einstein, has been threatened a class-action lawsuit for unfair and deceptive practices as a result of its false "educational" claim. Disney agreed to refund the full purchase price to all who bought the DVDs since 2004. We love that!

For more information on the refund, logon to babyeinstein.com.

Great Quality, Supreme Taste

Healthy and delicious snacks are a great source of nutrition for kids.
There are many choices of snacks available, such as cookies, chocolates, muffins, cakes, and a variety of items loaded with sugar and fat. However, kids develop their taste for good quality food based on what they are influenced to try at home.
It is so easy to buy or make healthy snacks, with delicious taste! Here are a few examples that couldn't be any easier to prepare, and the ingredients are already very popular with kids:

• Sliced apple with peanut butter
• Home made granola bar (click here for recipe)
• Fruit smoothies and shakes with yogurt or milk (click here for recipe)
• Peanut butter and honey on whole wheat bread
• Granola, dried fruits and milk - classic combination, delicious taste!
• Fruit salad with sprinkles of cereal and honey
• Oatmeal with raisins, cranberries
• Cheese chunks and grapes
  
• Cooked bananas with honey
• Cooked fruits with oats crisps (or granola) on top

The list is endless, all we need is a tiny bit of creativity. Invite the kids to create recipes, explaining the reasons why we focus on quality, without giving up great taste.

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

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

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.

Is My Baby Weird?

This morning msn.com published a great article about child development. So many parents, including me, are always analyzing their kids’ behavior, and are often concerned about what is normal and what is not.

Chances are, he or she is just unique….

I was pleasantly surprised that my kid’s obsession with electrical cords and electronic equipments is quite a standard. The link is posted below. Check it out!

Is my Baby Weird

Eco Party....Little Things We Can Do

There are many little things we can do to teach kids the art of “eco-friendliness”. We can also inspire other parents by encouraging them to be conscious about not wasting unnecessary resources.

Have you thought about making your next dinner or birthday party a bit more eco-friendly? There are several choices you can make, without being overboard! From reusable plates and cups to recycled-paper decoration and napkins. There are very classy options available in the market.

You don’t need to make the Ecology your party theme, but some hints here and there will set the tone and do great for mother Earth. It is nice to be conscious and responsible while we are having fun!

Registering for your bridal or baby shower at eco-friendly boutiques, sending recycled-paper invitations and thank you notes are also great touches! It is all about creativity, respect and fun!

Little Things, huge Impact

Little things can have a huge impact on growing kids, affecting their psychological, cognitive and social developments.

Kids tend to imitate their parents all the time, and this dynamic plays a big role in their development. What is familiar, weird, right, wrong, acceptable, impolite, etc, will be a reflection of their frame of references.

Even little things such as how our attitude fluctuates with our emotions, can affect a child’s behavior. If you are mad and tries to control your kid by raising your voice (yelling), it can be interpreted in their little minds as an effective way to intimidate and control others.

Cognitive development can also be hugely improved by parents and childcare providers with proper stimulation. The word “Cognitive” comes from the Latin root “cognoscere” meaning “to become acquainted with”, “to come to know”. Talking to them, explaining the reasoning behind actions, situations and problems can help them understand the world, and learn the “cause and effect” rule. Allowing kids to communicate their points of view brings confidence and develops their thought process.

This is our golden opportunity to maximize their development, taking it to the best possible direction!

Bouncy Love

If you have kids, chances are you are a huge fan of bouncer chairs. What a great invention!

It is one gear that will buy you at least one hour of peace and rest a day. I’m yet to see a baby or young toddler that doesn’t get completely entertained in one of those for at least an hour. It is a bit noisy, but you just can’t have everything!

Someone gave us as a baby shower present. I confess that we didn’t have the slightest idea that it even existed until that moment. Since the first minute we put Lukas on it, it was like magic, he loved it. We didn’t even put batteries in the chair. He bounced himself by kicking it with his heels.

The toys hanging are very amusing, and for some reason the bouncy movement makes him very drowsy. It is an hour of self-entertainment, and an extra-hour of nap. As a bonus, the dog also gets quite amused….

God bless its creator!

If You Are a Runner or a Walker

Walking or running are great ways to exercise. Being able to walk to the grocery store, a cafe, or to see my friends is a great opportunity to burn calories and save resources (gas and money!).

We got an “all-terrain” type of stroller that works really well. It is a bit heavy to take on trips, but a great gear to have in the city. The wheels are big and wide, so riding it on smooth or rough pavements is a breeze. And the suspension keeps the little one comfortable anywhere. Its large canopy protects my son against rain or sun. I also keep a net and an umbrella in the pocket, in case of mosquitoes, or rain to cover myself. A diaper changer, when I remember, is also useful to keep in the pocket!

There are several brands available in stores, most marketed as running strollers. The one we got is from BOB, but overall look for “all-terrain” features (large wheels and suspension) and a long canopy for protection.

Family Bike Ride

Woohoo! Summer is here, and if you haven’t cleaned your bikes yet, you are missing a lot of fun.

Family rides are a very good exercise, and an awesome bonding experience. Bike trailers are great for kids, and some of them can even be used as a strollers. There are versions for different ages, and for two kids as well.

Bike extension versions work well, however you will need some practice before carrying your kid! If the child moves abruptly, or if the parent is not used to the additional weight, there is a potential to destabilize the bike.

Standard bike trailers seem a lot safer to me for younger kids, since they are lower on the ground, and the flexible hitches allow the trailer to stay upright in case the bike falls.

Whatever the version you choose for your family, get on the road while the sun is warm, and enjoy loads of family fun! Just remember to stay close, in case of diaper emergencies…

Daily Dose of Energy

Every day I raise my energy level with a great workout, a blend of fresh antioxidant fruits and positive thoughts. Well, at least I try! If time doesn’t allow for a great workout, I go for a shorter power walk.

Setting aside ten to fifteen minutes at night to relax my mind and meditate completes the cycle, and energizes my ability to maintain positive thoughts.

As role models for our kids, we have the duty to teach them self-motivation and the importance of taking good care of themselves.

Wikipedia defines self-motivation as the ability to “find a reason and the necessary strength to do something, without the need of being influenced to do so by another person. Working in a careful and consistent manner without giving up.” This precisely defines great personality traits that I want my kids to develop.

As busy parents, we often put ourselves at the bottom of our priority lists. Taking good care of ourselves is a great exercise but requires some discipline! Cultivating our health and mind can only bring positive results for the whole family. Definitely a win-win!

How Many Strollers can One Child Have?

It never seizes to amaze me how much money new parents spend unnecessarily on strollers (and on baby gear in general!). Have you ever thought about the number of strollers per child in this country? Even during recessions you still see parents buying one stroller for short and another for long walks, yet another for a run, and an additional, and portable one, to leave in the trunk.

When the second baby comes, the shopping spree restarts for double versions. In total, by the time the second child hits her fifth birthday, there are about eight to ten strollers parked in the garage. And the cars are parked outside, of course!

When we had our baby, my husband and I decided to adopt the buy- on-an-as-needed-basis rule. We were surprised by how much gear we actually didn’t need! Brands start overwhelming parents with massive marketing from the moment you go to your first obstetrician appointment. By the time I was five months pregnant, we had already received four containers of formula and several $5-$10 coupons through the mail. A massive marketing to doubt our decision to breastfeed! Any class or seminar your register becomes part of a quite desirable industry mailing list.

Anyway, back to strollers, we bought one for all situations, a real all-terrain type with large wheels and tires to handle both snowed and rainy pavements, and another one a few days before our first international trip. We knew we were going to spent long hours connecting, and the umbrella stroller came in very handy to navigate through airports.

Every time I go to stores like Babies R Us, I amuse myself analyzing what people are buying. Hard to believe that devices such as a baby wipes warmer can make it to the store, and be sold! Waste of resources….

Enough Packing for a Trip

Both my husband and I have traveled the world, for business and leisure. Having a baby required some adjustments into our schedules, but not enough to stop us from enjoying new international experiences! Our son Lukas went to Australia with us when he was 8 months old, and then to Brazil at 11 months. We have also taken him to several domestic trips. Soon we are heading to Europe, and Brazil again. Before his first birthday his passport had already been stamped in a few continents.

The trips definitely required some serious preparation, and a lot more equipment! Good times when we used to travel with carry on luggage only. No more….well, it is really not that difficult. Gotta be organized!

Having an umbrella stroller has been very helpful to navigate through airports and destinations. Also, bringing some comfort food items, such as cereal or Cheerios, can be a huge plus while the little one is getting acquainted with different food. Lukas eats a lot of fruits and vegetables, which generally can be found anywhere. The food preparation is really the main difference.

Another item that has been very valuable is a diaper changing mat. I bought a large piece of fabric that is water proof on one side, and cushioned on the other. It has allowed us to change his diapers pretty much anywhere (see picture at a park in Sydney). Many countries lack the convenience of public restrooms’ changing tables. Sometimes the stalls are so small that you can barely fit yourself in there.

Through our trips I have compiled a helpful check list of items to pack for carry on and checked luggage. Some of my world traveler friends help me add to this list with their personal experiences too. You can find the check list posted on the section “Useful Links” in this website.

I think that exposing your kids to other cultures is one of the best experiences you can provide. Even though they might not remember the actual trip in the future, some key learnings will stay with them forever.

Relax, be flexible, and enjoy the trip!