You May Know This Story Already

My story is probably pretty similar to many of your stories. I never seriously struggled with my weight until after I went through a couple of pregnancies. With my first baby, the weight started coming off somewhat quickly after giving birth, but then when I turned around less than a year later and got pregnant again, I quickly found that my hunger skyrocketed as I continued to breastfeed until my fifth month of pregnancy. I’m sure my caloric needs were elevated, but I used my situation as an excuse to eat whatever I darn well pleased, whenever I wanted it.

Unfortunately, my trend of eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted kept on even after I had my second baby. It also kept on after I weaned him. Even when I had no viable excuse for eating like a crazy woman, I still kept eating like a crazy woman.

The Scale Doesn’t Move

A couple of years ago I started working out with a personal trainer. I got really strong and I did lose inches, but the scale hardly moved. I figured I was just destined to be larger and chalked up my weight to all the muscle I was schlepping around. What I realize now is that while I was indeed gaining muscle, I was also still eating every meal as though it was my last.

Then I talked to a nutritionist who told me to try tracking my calories and exercise. After I finished balking about the idea of tracking calories, I went ahead and signed up for MyFitnessPal, largely because it was free and because I was told it was easy to use.

Tracking What I Eat

It turns out that I was eating way too much. I already kind of knew this, but I didn’t realize the extent. I’m now in my third month of using MyFitnessPal, and I’m down 15 pounds. If you’re like me and you always figured that the scale just didn’t move for you because you’re a scientific anomaly, I suggest trying out this free website/phone app  and see if the scale starts to move for you too. Input what you eat and what exercise you get, and just don’t eat beyond your allowed calories. It’s pretty simple.

Just to clarify, MyFitnessPal didn’t ask me to write this blog. I finally found something that works for me, and so I’m glad to pass it along to you.

Name of Product: Push ‘N Snap Cabinet Locks

Units: About 900,000

Importer: Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) Inc., of Columbus, Ind.

Hazard

Young children can disengage the cabinet locks, allowing access to cabinet contents and posing the risk of injury, due to dangerous or unsafe items.

Incidents/Injuries: DJG has received 200 reports of locks that did not adequately secure the cabinet, including reports of damaged locks. Of the reported incidents, the firm is aware of 140 children between the ages of 9 months and 5 years who were able to disengage the locks and gain access to the cabinet’s contents. In three of the reported incidents, the children who gained access swallowed or handled dishwashing detergent, window cleaner or oven cleaner, and were treated, observed and released from emergency treatment centers.

Description: This recall involves Safety 1st Push ‘N Snap cabinet locks with model numbers 48391 and 48442. The model numbers are printed on the back of the product and on packaging. The locks are used to secure cabinets with two straps that wrap around the knobs or handles on a cabinet door. When the product is in the “lock” position, a green triangle is shown through a window on the device. The Safety 1st logo is embossed on the front of the lock. Locks manufactured between January 2004 and November 2010 are included in the recall. The date of manufacture is embossed on the back. The arrow on the date wheel points to the month and the numbers of either side of arrow represent the year of manufacture.

Sold at: Bed Bath & Beyond, and other retail stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com from January 2004 through February 2012 for between $2 and $4.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy

Consumers should immediately remove the recalled locks from cabinets and contact DJG for a free replacement Push ‘N Snap lock with model numbers HS158 or HS159. When removing the recalled locks, consumers are urged to immediately store dangerous items out of reach of children.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact DJG toll-free at (866) 762-3212 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website

Why We Become Frustrated

Consult any online dictionary and it will tell you that frustration is felt when one is unable to accomplish a goal. For example, it happens when a child can’t piece train tracks together or close the lid on a plastic box. It’s different from anger. How? According to the American Psychological Association, anger is defined as a strong response that arises from feeling that someone or something has wronged you.

Now that we have that covered, let’s take a look at reasons your kids should be frustrated.

3 Reasons Your Kids Should Feel Frustration

1. Frustration is a natural feeling. The sooner you help your kids (a) label it and (b) help them deal with it, the better. Why? Because in life, emotions come and go the way the sun rises and sets. It’s unavoidable, inevitable, and unstoppable. By allowing children to acknowledge this fact of life and use frustration in a constructive manner, you give them an invaluable life tool that will make them better adults.

2. Frustration is a great motivator. Jim Taylor, Ph.D. who writes for Psychology Today says that frustration helps us get over hurdles. You notice that when something blocks our goals we become more determined to plow through? That’s frustration at work.

3. Frustration highlights silver linings. Every obstacle, no matter how miniscule, has a valuable lesson to teach. Let’s say your child is helping you crack eggs for the first time. Despite providing her with instructions, she uses too much force thus breaking not only the shell but the yolk as well. Visibly upset, you help her through a few more until she finally succeeds. Now, if she hadn’t been frustrated she probably wouldn’t have tried to get it right. Also, had she not gone through the entire exercise along with failure, she wouldn’t have learned how to apply the correct pressure.

The best feeling in the world is seeing your kids in the purest state of joy. Unfortunately, life isn’t all smiles and laughter. Frustration will come and go so the best thing you can do is let them feel it. Besides, aside from temporary emotional turmoil, it teaches them valuable life lessons.

Do you agree?

Author Bio: Anne Mercado is the quirky author behind Green Eggs & Moms, which offers clever parenting tips and news to keep moms with young kids sane. When she’s not hunched over the computer working, you can find her either counting down to ten to get her kiddo to move faster, or reading a horror book.

A Clever Product

The Doodle Rolls are pretty basic, but awfully clever. The plastic container holds a roll of paper in one compartment and crayons in another. It’s all inclusive – you hand your kid the package and there is everything he or she needs in order to get creative right away. I like how the package is set up, because the roll of paper can be perforated easily. This allows kids (or parents) to easily decide how much paper they want to use.

If you’re wondering how my kids reacted to these Doodle Rolls, I want you to picture a crowded casual dining restaurant. We had just gotten to the point to where the kids were getting restless but the adults were still trying to enjoy the meal when I pulled the two Doodle Rolls out of my purse. My daughter (who is a huge fan of anything crafty) squealed in delight and immediately went to work drawing with her friend. My son was skeptical at first until I showed him how the paper comes out in a long roll, and then he was sold. My son and his friend pulled out generous lengths of paper and together colored a story that had something to do with Star Wars, zombies, and horses.

The Doodle Roll Was a Big Hit

All the kids in attendance enjoyed these Doodle Rolls immensely. The parents were impressed too, but when it comes right down to it, I think the opinion of the kids is what really matters here. The age range of the kids with us at lunch were from around 4 years old up to 9 years old, and all of them had a great time with these kits (the suggested age range is 3+). I do wish I would have had access to Doodle Rolls back when my kids were younger; it would have been great to have one of these in my purse to whip out while sitting in waiting rooms or while grocery shopping.

If your young child enjoys doodling, there is an excellent chance that these Doodle Rolls will be a big hit.

This marks the second massive recall for J&J’s Liquid Tylenol in the last few months. They have not yet reported when the product will return to the shelves.

Again, this recall is only for Liquid Tylenol ages 2 years and under.

For more information click here.

Name of Product: ANTILOP High Chairs

Units: About 169,000 (133,000 in the U.S. and 36,000 in Canada)

Importer: IKEA North America Services LLC, of Conshohocken, Pa.

Fall Hazard

The high chair’s restraint buckle can open unexpectedly, posing a fall hazard to the child.

Incidents/Injuries: IKEA has received eight reports worldwide of restraint buckles that opened unexpectedly, including three reports of children who received minor injuries after falling from the high chair.

Description: This recall involves ANTILOP high chairs sold in red, blue or white. The plastic high chair has detachable silver-colored metal legs. High chairs included in the recall have a manufacture date between 0607 and 0911 (YYMM format) from supplier number 17389. The production date and supplier number are molded into the underside of the seat. “ANTILOP,” “IKEA” and the model number are printed on a label affixed to the underside of the seat. Model numbers included in the recall are:

ANTILOP high chair blue Model # 701.467.92
ANTILOP high chair red Model # 501.467.93
ANTILOP high chair white Model # 300.697.24

Sold exclusively at: IKEA stores nationwide from August 2006 through January 2010 for about $20.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy

Consumers should immediately stop using the high chairs and contact IKEA to obtain a free replacement seat restraint.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact IKEA toll-free at (866) 966-4532 anytime, or visit the firm’s website.

Official Press Release

Sonograms that reveal early head growth can be disconcerting, but oftentimes a fetus’ head will grow in spurts, gaining a lot one week and hardly anything the next. The same is true of body size. Often a child will seem to be larger than normal early in the pregnancy but the growth evens out later on. Conversely, a small child can have a growth spurt just before birth.

Big Headed DNA?

Head size has a tendency to run in families, so if you are worried about your baby, ask around. Your family members are sure to reminisce fondly on the size of your spouse’s head when they were born. The terms ‘bobble-head’ or ‘glow worm’ might be mentioned.

Many children, especially boys, have a hard time finding children’s hats or helmets in their size. They may have to resort to adult sizes. This does not mean that they are abnormal. They will grow into their heads. Over 60 percent of all newborns have abnormally large heads, so don’t worry if your child falls into that category.

What the Research Says…

Having a baby with a big head is nothing to be ashamed of. According to researchers from the University of Southampton, “the brain volume a child achieves by the age of one year helps determine later intelligence… it was found that those with the biggest heads achieved the highest IQ scores.”

It is also important to note that it is natal and infant head growth that is the most important. “Our findings provide additional evidence that infancy is the most important period of postnatal brain growth for determining later intelligence.”

So the next time someone comments on the size of your baby’s noggin, just tell them it means he’ll be a genius when he’s older.

Small Heads
Small head sizes have actually been linked to cardiovascular problems later in life. A study from doctors in Sheffield, England found that, “reduced fetal growth is followed by increased mortality from cardiovascular disease. They suggest that reduction in growth begins early in gestation. They are further evidence that cardiovascular disease originates through programming of the body’s structure, physiology, and metabolism by the environment during fetal life. Maternal nutrition may have an important influence on programming.”

The doctors were specifically talking about children with small heads and low growth due to maternal malnutrition in third-world countries. Typically, a well-nourished mother and child do not need to worry about small head size, but consult your pediatrician if you have any concerns.

Author Bio
Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, Babysitting, nanny background check tips etc. You can reach her at nancy.parker015@gmail.com

Knowing When to Seek Professional Help

While there is no right or wrong way to deal with what may be a developmental delay, there are some telltale signs. Firstly, as a parent there are times when you need to go with your gut feeling. If you feel that something is wrong or you see things that cause you concern, err on the side of caution and talk with your pediatrician. It may be nothing, but some developmental delays are more easily corrected if caught early.

Signs of potential problems are based on set developmental milestones that children of a certain age generally achieve. These milestones are categorized into five broad groups, namely:

1. Fine motor skills: This is the ability to color, sort objects based on shape and color, and stack building blocks or similar tasks.
2. Gross motor skills: This refers to sitting up, crawling walking, standing on one leg and similar activities.
3. Language skills:  The ability to understand and speak
4. Social interaction: How the child relates to caregivers and peers.
5. Thinking

Some general signs that may indicate developmental delays are when the child:

• Does not stay as focused on activities as other children of the same age group
• Tends to stare into space more often than not
• Does not frequently make eye contact
• Unable to say short sentences by age three
• Do not react to sounds such as someone calling their name or a dropped object

While a child may be delayed in some areas this does not mean that this is the case for all areas. This is one reason why some delays are not readily identified. Also interesting is the fact that a developmentally delayed child may be gifted in another area. For example, a child who is slow to speak or who has speech problems can be adept with fine motor skills and be an excellent artist.

How to Deal With Developmental Delays

Early intervention is one of the best ways to get help for a child with certain developmental problems. Once a problem is spotted and after evaluation and diagnosis, the pediatrician or other medical expert will advise on the necessary action. It is important to follow-up with exercise programs or other therapeutic programs the child needs. Keep informed about research in the area of childhood development and discuss your concerns and wishes with a pediatrician. Most importantly, parents need to keep a positive outlook and help their child develop with the capacity to deal with their challenges.

B.O.B.® single and double strollers

Units: About 411,700 in the United States and 27,000 in Canada (357,000 units were recalled in February 2011 due to strangulation hazard posed by canopy drawstring)

Importer: B.O.B. Trailers Inc., of Boise, Idaho

Hazard

The stroller canopy’s embroidered logo’s backing patch can detach, posing a choking hazard to babies and young children.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received six reports of children mouthing the detached patch. Gagging and choking were reported in two incidents. The backing was removed from the children’s mouth without injury. In each of the reported incidents, the children were seated in an infant car seat attached to the stroller.

Description: This recall involves all B.O.B. strollers manufactured between November 1998 and November 2010. Strollers manufactured after October 2006 have a white label affixed to the back of the stroller’s leg with the manufacturing date. Strollers with no manufacturing date listed were produced prior to October 2006 and are included in this recall. The strollers were sold in single seat and double-seat models. The BOB®, Ironman® or Stroller Strides® brand name is embroidered on the canopy of the strollers.

Sold at

REI, Babies R’ Us and other children’s product and sporting goods stores nationwide and Amazon.com between November 1998 and October 2011 for between $280 and $600.

Manufactured in: Taiwan and China

Remedy

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers until they remove the embroidery backing patch from the interior of the canopy’s logo. Consumers should contact B.O.B. Trailers for instructions on removing the backing.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact B.O.B. Trailers toll-free at (855) 242-2245 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.bobnotices.com

Get more information on this recall.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Musical Wooden Table Toys

Units: About 14,000

Importer: Battat Inc., of Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Hazard

Small pegs on the xylophone toy can loosen and detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC and Battat have received nine reports of loose and detached pegs. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Battat’s Musical Wooden Table toys. The table has a green painted surface and colorful instruments affixed to the top. The table stands about 7 1/2-inches tall and has three supporting legs. Instruments on the table include a xylophone, cymbal, drum and two drumsticks.

Sold at: Music and toy stores nationwide and on the Internet from September 2006 to October 2010 for about $30.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy

Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Battat to receive a free replacement product.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Battat at (800) 247-6144 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.battatco.com

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Product: Little Tikes® Workshop and Tool Sets

Units: More than 1.7 million additional units (about 1.6 million toy workshop sets and trucks with the same toy nails were recalled in August 2009)

Manufacturer: Little Tikes, of Hudson, Ohio

Hazard

The recalled workshop and tool sets have oversized, plastic toy nails that can pose a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has reported two additional incidents, occurring prior to the August 2009 recall, of children who choked when the toy nail became lodged in their throat. Both children were treated in a hospital and made a full recovery.

Description: This recall involves the toy nails sold as part of 11 additional models of Little Tikes® Workshop and tool sets listed below. The toy nails are oversized, plastic, and about 3 1/4 inches long by 1 1/4 inch in diameter. The nails are either red or blue and have a large round head; below the nail head there is a plastic ridge, slightly smaller than the nail head and about 1 inch in diameter. The model number may be found on some of the products.

Sold by: Mass merchandise retailers nationwide from 1990 through 2004 for between $25 and $100.

Manufactured in: United States and China

Remedy

Consumers should immediately take the toy nails away from young children and contact the firm for free replacement toy nails.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Little Tikes at (800) 321-0183 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.littletikes.com

Most Commonly Requested Procedures

The most common procedures done during a mommy makeover are breast lifts, breast augmentation and tummy tucks. A quote from Dr. Matthew Schulman, assistant professor of plastic surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, suggests that these areas undergo a lot of changes during pregnancy. He was quoted in an article stating, “Weight gain associated with pregnancy, the loosening of the skin and stretch marks, are a major concern for them… Hormonal changes, especially after a second child, can take their toll on the body.”

Younger and Younger

Interestingly, information provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons also revealed that women seeking mommy makeovers are much younger than they were 10 years ago. The article noted that most patients seeking these procedures are in their 30s and 40s. In past years, the article stated, mommy makeovers were more common with women in their 50s and 60s.

Costs Associated With Mommy Makeovers

The main deterrent from more women getting work done seems to be finances. Some plastic surgeons have started to offer package deals so to speak to make it easier for women to afford mommy makeovers. The fact that plastic surgery has become more acceptable in recent years is not only driving the demand, but may also be contributing to younger women opting for procedures as well.

Exercise Is Not Always The Answer

While exercise can help restore the bodies of some mothers after childbirth, not everyone gets the same results. In fact, Dr. Schulman states that “Breasts deflate, weight settles on the hips, and thighs and stretched stomach muscles won’t snap back through exercise.”

With continued focus on the perfect body, and so many celebs revealing amazing pre-baby bodies a few weeks after giving birth, what is the average woman to do? For many, plastic surgery is the only way to start looking good again. On a personal note, I don’t think this desire to look good means that many women prefer to look good over being moms. It is just a response to society’s youth conscious ideals and a desire to be the best they can be.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Chloe, Sophie and Audrey soft dolls

Units: About 81,000 in the United States and 1,300 in Canada

Importer: Pottery Barn Kids, a division of Williams-Sonoma Inc., of San Francisco, Calif.

Hazard

The hair on the Chloe and Sophie dolls may contain loops that are large enough to fit around a child’s head and neck, and the headband on the Audrey doll, if loosened, can form a loop that fits around a child’s head and neck. These loops can pose a strangulation hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received five reports of dolls with looped hair, including one report in which a loop of the Chloe doll’s hair was found around the neck of a 21-month old child. The child was not injured.

Description: This recall involves soft dolls sold under the names Audrey, Chloe and Sophie. The dolls measure about 17 inches high and have hair made of yarn. Audrey’s hair is black, Chloe’s hair is dark brown and Sophie’s hair is blonde. The dolls are part of Pottery Barn Kids’ Girl Doll Collection. The doll’s name can be found on a tag sewn onto her bottom.

Sold exclusively at: Pottery Barn Kids stores nationwide, online at www.potterybarnkids.com and through Pottery Barn Kids catalogs from July 2006 to April 2011 for about $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy

Consumers should take the dolls away from children immediately and cut the looped hair of the Chloe and Sophie dolls and remove the headband of the Audrey doll to eliminate the hazard. Consumers may also call Pottery Barn Kids for instructions on how to return the affected dolls for a merchandise credit.

Consumer Contact

For additional information, contact Pottery Barn Kids toll-free at (855) 880-4504 between 4 a.m. and 9 p.m. PT seven days a week or visit the firm’s website at www.potterybarnkids.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available here

No doubt, you would like to celebrate this amazing first year with a special birthday celebration. He or she will not have any memories of the party, so in a way, this party is just as much for you as it is for your baby! The key elements to planning your baby’s first birthday party are selecting a theme, as well as an appropriate time frame and setting, organizing activities, and creating a menu. Also, where possible, delegate most chores to family members and friends, so you remember and enjoy the party, rather than only have memories of rushing around and stressing!

Selecting a Theme

Though not neccessary, of course, having a theme makes the rest of the party planning easier, because you have a unifying idea – for instance, a Sesame Street theme takes care of how to decorate the cake, the color of the streamers and balloons (primary reds, yellows, blues), and perhaps even partywear – for instance, I bought Elmo birthday party supplies for a birthday – one package included a cake pan of Elmo’s face, cups, dishes, table cloth, balloons, streamers and candles. So all that was taken care of. Make sure to select a theme that reflects your likes as well as your baby’s. You will then enjoy planning and carrying out the celebration just as much as your baby enjoys the party.

Some other themes you may wish to consider are:

Winnie the Pooh – Every baby loves this friendly, rumbley-in-my-tumbley character! Since he’s been around for generations, all of the adults present at the party will likely enjoy their own dose of nostalgia. Plus, if you pick a friendly character that your child recognizes, it will lead to smiles all around for your baby.

Bubbles – Children love bubbles, so experiment with creating them in different shapes and sizes. If your baby has a spring or summer birthday party, you can fill a baby pool with bubble solution, and use a hula hoop to create giant sized bubbles. You can make your own homemade bubble solution by mixing one cup water, 2 tablespoons light karo syrup or glycerin, and 4 tablespoons dishwashing liquid soap. This is safe to use indoors, too.

Animals – One year olds can recognize animals, such as dogs, cats, turtles, fish, horses, and many others. Create a theme around your baby’s favorites. This can take on a “How Much is that Doggy In the Window?” theme, “Teddy Bear’s Picnic”, “Barnyard 1st birthday” or even “Noah’s Ark.”

Choosing a Setting and Time Frame

When choosing a setting for your baby’s party, the season is one of the most obvious determining factors. You may wish to have a backyard party in the spring or summer. If you do so, make sure to advise your guests so that they can bring necessities such as hats and sunglasses. You’ll also want to set out some bottles of sunblock, (within parent reach.)

If you anticipate a large number of kids in attendance, make sure to make expectations of parent attendance clear as well. Parents may expect to drop kids off and leave if you not designate that you would like chaperones present as well. If you are hosting in your own home, make sure to thoroughly kid-proof the whole house. Don’t be afraid to appoint a trusted friend to help you with any tasks you find overwhelming, such as clean up afterwards.

Try to schedule your baby’s party for a time shortly after he or she will be awakening from a nap. Then your baby is most likely to be happy and full of energy for the party. An appropriate time frame for the party would be about 2 hours. Don’t feel like you need to overdo it.

Planning Activities

Are most of the attendees going to be your baby’s age? Then plan plenty of games that parents and babies can play together, such as crafts, bubbles, sing along songs, and simple games such as hot potato. If you will have older kids attending as well, plan separate activities for the older children. For example, if you have a rented Moon Bounce, make sure the babies and older children play in separate time frames.

Again, because one year olds will not remember the event, it is a good idea to document your party with lots of photos. Set up a designated photo spot, such as a chair with balloons tied to the back, where each child will be photographed. Try to do this as soon as each guest arrives, before children get dirty and/or tired. A copy of the photo can later be sent to each guest with a thank you note.

Creating A Menu

If you don’t want to serve a full meal, don’t feel obligated to. A mid-afternoon party lends itself well to light munchies. Chucks of fruit make great finger food for small children. Or create pretty sandwiches by cutting shapes out of bread with cookie cutters. The bread shapes can even match your theme!

If you plan to do a full meal, make sure to keep baby’s tastes in mind. Small children actually have much more sensitive taste buds than adults do. So while adults may love a barbecued chicken cookout, the children may prefer turkey dogs and applesauce.

Everyone knows that the highlight of a birthday is cake! But there’s plenty of room for creativity here, too. Cupcakes are great for kids. If you do an animal theme, perhaps try serving animal shaped sugar cookies rather than cake. You can make your own semi-homemade sugar cookie dough by buying a refrigerated tube, such as Pillsbury, and mixing in ¼ cup of flour. This makes it the right consistency for rolling and cutting.

Enjoy your child’s first birthday! It will likely be the most memorable one for you, so enjoy it.

About the Author: Chris Molnar is a father of two preschool girls. He edits a children’s website full of theme party ideas at Themeaparty.com. As a work-at-home Dad, he has to come up with some pretty creative ways to keep the kids entertained while balancing work life!

The only complaint I had about that guide was that it was large and sometimes difficult to navigate. Frankly, after I’d been thrown up on three or four times by my baby, I really didn’t enjoy the process of sifting through the index to find the right page number for the info I needed.

The Solution

That’s why I was so impressed with Baby MedBasics by Luke and Tara Hermann. Instead of a cumbersome book, it’s a compact hardcover guide with tabbed sections. It’s small enough to stuff into a diaper bag, but durable enough to handle…well…being in a diaper bag. The tabbed sections are brilliant. If I grabbed this book after my daughter’s notorious snow globe incident, I would be able to immediately flip to the section about bleeding without fumbling with an index.

Tabbed Sections for Ease During Freak Outs

Each section gives step-by-step instructions for what to do for the injury or illness your baby encounters. I’m convinced this book was written for the panicked parent, simply because it’s laid out in a format that is easily navigated. Flip to the section for “Bites & Stings” and you’ll get a little tidbit about animal bite statistics followed by a numbered instruction list of what to do if your baby is bitten. There is also a list of things to look for when deciding whether or not your baby needs to be seen by a doctor.

The book delivers concise information without an onslaught of fluff or illustrations, yet still manages to have an appealing look to it. Baby MedBasics is very streamlined and would make an excellent gift for a new parent who, like me, might freak out the first time the baby has a rash. A book like this one might help lessen the freak out because it explains what to do and when to head to the doctor.

A Basic Guide

The title does reveal one important aspect to remember about this book: it’s all about basics. There is not a ton of information in this small reference book, so I suggest having this book as a quick reference but still having a more comprehensive book available for those late nights when your baby is acting weird, your laptop’s broken so you can’t access the Web, and your pediatrician would be less than thrilled to hear from you in the middle of the night (again).

This book is just one more example of clever items I really wish I had with my newborn. Baby MedBasics would have saved me a lot of time and stress. You can’t prevent your baby from all illnesses and injuries, but you can have the resources available to deal with these illnesses and injuries with confidence.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: “metoo” Clip-on Chair

Units: 54,000 (these were the subject of a product safety alert issued May 6, 2011)

Importer: phil&teds USA Inc, of Fort Collins, Co.

Hazard: Missing or worn clamp pads allow the chairs to detach from a variety of different table surfaces, posing a fall hazard. In addition, when the chair detaches, children’s fingers can be caught between the bar and clamping mechanism, posing an amputation hazard. Also, user instructions for the chairs are inadequate, increasing the likelihood of consumer misuse.

Incidents/Injuries: phil&teds and CPSC have received 19 reports of the chairs falling from different table surfaces, including five reports with injuries. Two reports of injuries involved children’s fingers being severely pinched, lacerated, crushed or amputated. The three other reports of injury involved bruising after a chair detached suddenly and a child struck the table or floor.

Description: The product is an infant/toddler chair with a nylon fabric seat and a metal frame that clamps onto tables using two metal vise clamps. The upper part of each clamp rests on the table top and has either a rubber pad on its underside or a rubber boot covering the clamp. The chair is sold in three fabric colors – red, black and navy. Chairs subject to this recall do not have black plastic spacers between the cross bar and the clamps.

Sold through: Buy Buy Baby, Target, Toys R Us and their online sites; philandteds.com; Amazon.com; other online retailers; and a variety of independent juvenile specialty stores from May 2006 to May 2011 for between $40 and $50.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact the company to receive a free repair kit and revised user instructions. Consumers who previously received a repair kit with only rubber boots should also stop using the chair and contact the company for the new repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact phil&teds USA at (855) 652-9019 or visit the company’s website.

Why Make Something Up?

I’m not sure if she had given me that answer because she was trying to be whimsical, but my guess is that she probably didn’t know the actual answer right off the top of her head and that’s where the whale idea came from. She didn’t want to look like the kind of Nana who didn’t have the answer to any question, so she made up the answer.

I can appreciate that, especially considering some of the questions my kids have thrown at me that make me want to respond, “For crying out loud, I’m a writer, not a scientist! Come back when you have a grammar question!” It’s at that time that I can’t help but think of young me sitting in science class, having the realization that waves are not caused by whales slapping the water with their tales and feeling like a complete moron for having believed that they did.

What “I Don’t Know” Means

When my kids ask me a question that I don’t know the answer to, I admit that I don’t know the answer and then we find out the answer together. Luckily we only have to go so far as my husband, who should have “Scientific Dictionary” tattooed to his forehead (Note to my husband: Don’t really do that; I’m just trying to prove a point here) to get the answer. When he doesn’t know, or if he’s not available, we either head to the library or hop online to get our answer.

Not only do the kids get excited about doing the research, but they’re learning some valuable lessons in the process:

• Mom and Dad don’t know everything under the sun. They’re human and make mistakes just like everyone else.
• When you don’t know the answer to something, you can find that answer with some effort.
• Seeking out knowledge can be a lot of fun.

My daughter was a very early talker, and as soon as she could form words she was off and running with questions that were tough to answer. The trick was to respond to her questions as accurately as possible while also taking into consideration her limited understanding of the world around her. So when she asked, “Why’s the sky blue?” I didn’t respond with a complicated explanation of how the atmosphere and light and our eyes interact blah, blah, blah, but instead said something along the lines of, “because that’s how we see it.” For a two year old, that was all she needed to hear.

Come to think of it, that response was downright existential. Perhaps I should start reading some Descartes to her at bedtime.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Safety Latches and Outlet Covers

Units: About 37,000

Importer: Prime-Line, of Redlands, Calif.

Hazard: The screws on the safety latches and outlet covers can loosen and/or break. When this happens, young children can gain access to electrical outlets and other potentially hazardous items.

Incidents/Injuries: Prime-Line has received four reports of screws breaking. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Prime-Line child safety drawer and cabinet latches and outlet covers with rotating receptacle covers. These products were sold under the brand name Child Safe.

The drawer and cabinet latches were sold three per package.

Model number:

• S 4439 with SKU 049793044396
• S 4444 with SKU 049793044440.

The outlet covers were sold one per package, in ivory and white.

Model number:

• S 4447 with SKU 049793044471
• S 4461 with SKU 049793044617.

The model number and SKU are printed on the back of the package.

Sold at: Drawer and cabinet latches were sold at Ace Hardware, Bostwic-Braun, Cal-Do-It Centers, Do-It-Best, Friedman Brothers, Menards, Orgill, The Andersons Inc. and True Value stores nationwide between October 2010 and June 2011 for between $2.50 and $2.70. Outlet covers were sold at Ace Hardware, Cimarron Lumber & Supply, Do-It-Best, Friedman Brothers, Handy Hardware, Menards and W.E. Aubuchon stores nationwide between October 2009 and June 2011 for about $3.50.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately contact Prime-Line to receive a free replacement kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Prime-Line toll-free at (855) 839-9555 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.prime-line-products.com. See more details about this recall.

Project: Countdown to Zero

The initiative to eradicate AIDS in babies is appropriately called Countdown To Zero. The project is expected to cost in the region of $2.5 billion. The prevention program will help to ensure that HIV-positive mothers-to-be are given medication to prevent the transmission of the virus to their babies. The expected impact is that less than five percent of newborn babies will get the virus from their mothers.

The majority of the 15 million women who will get treatment are in sub-Saharan Africa. It has been reported this is almost twice the number of HIV-positive women currently getting treatment. The ultimate aim of Countdown Zero is to make it easier for women to receive treatment for HIV as well as information on preventative methods.

Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General, said at the launch at the initiative, “We are here today to ensure that all children are born healthy and free of disease. We are here to ensure that their mothers live to see them grow.” Countdown to Zero was unveiled at the United Nations High Level Meeting on AIDS. Ki-Moon further stated that the ultimate aim was, “… zero new infections, zero stigma and zero Aids-related deaths.”

HIV Free by 2015

The preamble to the Countdown To Zero campaign states: We believe by 2015, children everywhere can be born free of HIV and their mothers remain alive. While geared towards low and middle income countries, Countdown To Zero will focus primarily on 22 key countries, mostly those in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Statistics show that in high income countries, the new infection rate in children is virtually zero. The rate of death due to HIV is also extremely low in these countries when compared to the statistics for low and middle income countries.

If this works, it will mean a lot for many women and their children. The current data showing the large number of orphans as a result of HIV deaths of parents is frightening. Anything that can help to counteract this is a welcomed blessing.

Gender Based Colors

If you know the sex of the baby, it can be easier to come up with a theme for the shower. But there are plenty of options for unisex baby showers as well. Animal themes can be used for either sex, and they open the door to many fun possibilities when it comes to favors and décor. If you’d rather not have a very specific theme, simply choose a color or two to coordinate everything around. Yellows and greens are typical for unisex showers, but there’s no need to feel limited. If the mom-to-be has a favorite color or has chosen a specific theme for the baby’s nursery, use that. But remember, anything goes. Just have fun coming up with an idea that fits both mother and baby.

Décor

When it comes to décor, the possibilities are endless. Create a banner with ribbon and cut-outs that spell out the baby’s name (if you don’t know the name, just put ‘Baby’ and the last name of mom). Purchase blank onesies and decorate them to hang on the wall. If you enjoy being creative, use puff paints to create fun designs on them. Otherwise an iron-on transfer or other appliqué will look great. One of the best centerpieces for a baby shower, and one that’s practical too, is a diaper cake. It doesn’t have to be anything phenomenal. Just roll diapers and tie with ribbon in several tiers. Add in shoes or bows, baby toys, whatever you’d like to add flair to the cake.

Food and Treats

Chocolates and cookies are some of the easiest and most versatile favors. They can be made into any shape and/or color you desire. Even plain cookies or chocolates can be wrapped in cellophane and tied with a colorful ribbon to match any theme. If you should decide to give out cookies, attach a shaped cookie cutter to the bag or box. Candles, soaps, and lollipops are favors that are also relatively easy to make and can be designed to emphasize the shower theme. It all depends on your artistic skill set, patience, and the amount of time you have.

Whatever you choose, remember that not everything has to be 100% perfect. The mom-to-be will be very appreciative and feel loved knowing you took the time to put things together for her. No one is going to notice minor mistakes or flaws. Everyone will be too busy fawning over the pregnant belly and cute baby gifts to worry about any of the other minute details.

Andrea Boley is a writer and blogger with Storkie.com.  She has been writing articles and blogging for over 10 years and is always happy to share her passion for life and experiences through her work.  Her educational backgrounds in psychology and journalism have given her a solid foundation from which to draw experience and expertise in an array of topics.