Baby Blog - MyPreciousBaby.com

Disney Baby Enstein DVD Refunds

2009-10-24T15:10:00.004-04:00

Remember those Baby Einstein DVDs that are all the rage among new parents? Well Walt Disney is now offering refunds of $15.99 for up to 4 DVDs per household for the Baby Einstein DVDs due to prompting from Susan Linn, director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Ms. Linn targeted Disney's Baby Einstein and another company named Brainy Baby through a complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission, and her urging led to the word "educational" being removed from the two company's DVD advertising. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time at all for children under 2, and some studies have shown that exposure at young ages can be potentially harmful and lead to attention problems in children in the future.

Ms. Linn didn't think that removal of the word "educational" from the product advertising was enough, so last year she got together with some public health lawyers and together they threatened to file a class-action unfair and deceptive practices lawsuit against Disney unless they agreed to give back the full purchase price to everyone that bought the videos since 2004.

Disney has since agreed to refund the money, and as part of their "enhanced consumer satisfaction guarantee", they are allowing previous purchasers of Baby Einstein DVDs from June 5, 2004 through September 5, 2009 to exchange their video for a different title, receive a discount coupon, or get $15.99 each for up to four returned DVDs up until March 10th 2010. Disney is not requiring a receipt.

For more information on how to get your refund, visit the Disney site here: http://babyeinstein.com/parentsguide/satisfaction/upgrade_us.html.

Warning: Children's Cold Medicines

2008-10-28T17:02:00.000-04:00

So your little one has got a cold and you want to relieve their symptoms as quickly as possible, right? Of course you do, as all parents do; but recent studies have shown that children's cold medicines are NOT safe for children under the age of 6. From what I understand, the drug companies that have marketed these children's cold products were given permission by the FDA to make their own determination as to what age group the medicines would be safe for. As a result, the determination that the drug companies have made is that 4 years old is a safe age to take these cold medicines, but most pediatricians would not recommend giving these products to your children before the age of 6. That's not to say that sometimes it is warranted to give these products to your children, but please ALWAYS consult with your physician before you do so. It has also been found that most of these products are not effective for young children, so there is really no benefit to giving them to your child, in addition to it being risky.

So, please, before you give your child any over-the-counter cold medicines, check with your family physician or child's pediatrician -- it could save your child's life.

Sneeze and Smile

2008-06-21T14:42:00.001-04:00

I ran across an ad today from Kleenex (yes, the tissue company) showing where you can create your own tissue box design for only $5! You can add pictures and text, and I thought this would be another unique and cute way to announce your baby's birth, first birthday or for any other of life's precious moments. Only one downside -- it will cost you about $6 for shipping and handling. They said it will cost the same amount to send 1 box or 6 boxes, so it would be the most economical to order 6 (and at $6, I definitely would!). Bulk pricing is also available. You can find out more on the MyKleenexTissue.com website.

Record Breaking Twins Born

2008-06-20T13:30:00.001-04:00

A woman in North Carolina apparently just gave birth to twins that weighed a combined weight of over 23 pounds! She gave birth via c-section (of course!), but I can only imagine what the pregnancy was like! It is reported that these twins are the largest set of twins on record for at least the past 100 years. I'm happy to hear that the babies and momma are doing just great and wish them all the best in the future. You can view a picture slideshow of the babies here, courtesy of WXII News in Winston-Salem.

Combi Car Seats Recalled

2008-06-20T10:47:00.000-04:00

Combi USA has recalled over 67,000 child car seats because federal tests have shown that the seats may separated from their bases during a front end collision. Combi has said that it is safe to use the Combi Centre and Combi Shuttle models without their base, and that there have been no reports of injuries received.

If you have one of these car seats, then you may obtain a retrofit kit by calling Combi at 1-800-543-7734 or by requesting one via the Combi website. Please be aware that the kits may take up to 8 weeks to get to you.

The Importance of Milk in Your Child's Diet

2008-03-10T23:23:00.004-04:00

Does your child sweat at night or maybe a little abnormally during the day? I don't mean like if your child gets a little to warm under the covers while sleeping or after participating in an energetic activity, but more of a profuse sweating that occurs while sleeping that soaks a pillow or just pours off of their body. If so, this may be a sign that your child has a Vitamin D deficiency that may be a sign of rickets.

WHAT IS RICKETS AND WHO IS AT RISK?

Rickets is a bone-deforming disease that causes bowed legs, knock-knees, or other deformities of the legs and skeleton. Because the US government has required that milk, cereal, and other foods be fortified with vitamin D due to an epidemic of rickets in the 1930s, rickets is fairly rare in the United States; however, if your child cannot drink milk due to a lactose intolerance, milk allergy or just plain dislike of milk's taste, getting Vitamin D is not always that easy. Infants that are exclusively breastfed are also at a risk for rickets, because breast milk in itself does not provide adequate dietary levels of Vitamin D. In addition, infants and children that do not get enough exposure to sunlight are at increased risk for rickets.

DAILY MILK REQUIREMENTS

As mentioned above, milk, cereals and other foods are fortified with Vitamin D, so try to get your child to intake the required daily allowance as much as possible. If your child doesn't like plain milk, consider giving them flavored or chocolate milk, or other typically milk-based products such as yogurts, puddings and cheeses. Not all pre-packaged cheeses or puddings are fortified with Vitamin D, however, so be sure to read the food labels to ensure you are getting Vitamin D rich products. One way of ensuring your pudding has Vitamin D value is to buy a boxed pudding mix and make it with milk. If your child has a lactose intolerance, consider buying a lactose-free milk or soy milk, both of which are typically fortified with Vitamin D. Again, be sure to check the labels.

For children 8 and under, 2 cups of milk or milk-based products should be consumed daily. For children over 8 and adults, the requirement is 3 cups daily.

The USDA has come up with the following chart that defines what combinations of food are equivalent to 1 cup of milk (click the image to enlarge it):

One Cup of Milk Equivalents - Courtesy of MyPyramid.gov

As sunlight is also a big source of Vitamin D, be sure your child gets exposure to sunlight as much as possible, and use the minimum amount of sunscreen required to protect your child from UV rays to reduce the risk of underexposure to sunlight.

Since the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that infants be kept out of direct sunlight and wear protective clothing and sunscreen when exposed to sunlight, the AAP recommends a daily supplement of vitamin D for breastfed infants beginning within the first 2 months of life unless they are weaned to receive at least 2 cups of vitamin D-fortified formula per day. Ask your pediatrician about vitamin D supplement requirements for your infant.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information regarding milk and other food requirements in your daily diet, visit the MyPyramid.gov website.

You Go, J Lo!

2008-02-23T23:12:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to say "congrats" to Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony on the birth of their precious baby twins! I know it was a long time coming! I'm happy to hear that it was a healthy delivery. I wish you both the best!

Baby Teething Jewelry

2008-02-23T22:57:00.000-05:00

While browsing the net the other day, I ran across the website SmartMomJewelry. This retailer sales cute, hip jewelry for moms (or anyone for that matter) that their baby can actually teeth on! I thought it was cute as it comes in an array of colors, and a great idea, because how often are you holding your baby and they happen to put your necklace or bracelet in their mouth? This retailer also offers teething bracelets that are equally cute.

For more information on baby teething jewelry, visit the SmartMomJewelry website.

Evenflo Infant Car Seat Recall

2008-02-02T11:06:00.000-05:00

Evenflo announced yesterday that they are recalling several of their infant car seats due to the realization that some of the infant car seats may become separated from their base during an accident. The models affected are the Discovery Infant Car Seat Models 390, 391, 534, 552. Consumers are instructed not to return the car seats to retailers, but rather contact Evenflo for a free supplemental dual-hook fastener that has proven that the seat remains attached to the base in the event of an accident. If you have one of these infant car seats, please contact Evenflo via the information below for more information regarding the recall and to request your supplemental fastener.

Evenflo Infant Car Seat Recall Infomation

Request a Supplemental Evenflo Fastener

Is Your Baby Producing Breast Milk?

2007-11-14T23:51:00.000-05:00

If so, don't be worried -- this is normal. When you are pregnant, there are all sorts of hormones that you produce, some of which are passed on to your baby. Sometimes those hormones cause your newborn baby to appear to grow breasts and produce milk, but this is only temporary and will subside in a short period of time. This happens to both boy and girl babies alike and is normally not painful to your baby; however, if you are concerned that your baby is experiencing pain, see your pediatrician.

Fun Educational Reading and Toys

2007-11-13T15:23:00.000-05:00

When choosing activities for your child to do, you want to pick something that is fun and educational, but no so challenging that your child will get discouraged and not want to try it again. There are lots of toys and activities that fit into this category -- one of which is Highlights Magazine and Highlights Toys.

Highlights has been around for over 60 years and has provided children with fun and educational reading experiences about science, other cultures, math, the environment, health and more. Highlights was originally geared toward elementary school-aged children, but they have recently come out with a new magazine that is aimed at the 2 to 6 year old and preschool crowd - High Five. This magazine has all of the fun, creative and educational activities that everyone has come to expect and love from Highlights over the years, but on a level that the younger readers would enjoy and understand. Of course, if you have older children, the traditional monthly Highlights magazine is a wonderful read for them as always.

In addition to the magazines that Highlights offers, they also have a wide variety of educational toys for children of all ages to play with. You can view a sampling of the items in the Highlights Toy Catalog here; they are currently offering a special where you can get up to $20 off your purchase!

You can view a sample copy of the High Five magazine or Highlights magazine here. Highlights is currently offering a great deal where you can get a free Sticker Stories book or Hidden Pictures 2008 Calendar with your subscription as well -- an added bonus for your child to enjoy on top of an already great magazine. Subscriptions make great gifts!

The Basics of Booster Seats

2007-11-11T10:23:00.000-05:00

By Jayne O'Donnell

I know, I know. Getting a 6-year-old who has been riding in the car like a "big girl" to go back to a child seat would be no easy task. But now there's considerable evidence that keeping older kids in booster seats until they reach small-adult size reduces injuries and saves lives.

Still, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says fewer than 7 percent of the 20 million U.S. children ages 4 to 8 are riding in booster seats. That's a frightening statistic when you consider that more than 500 children in this age group are killed in car accidents each year, and thousands more are injured. Safety experts say many of the deaths and injuries could be prevented by the proper use of booster seats.

Understanding the Necessity
When children wear adult safety belts too soon, their internal organs can be injured if the belts ride up and slice into their stomachs in a crash. If shoulder belts are put behind their backs, their torsos can jackknife forward, increasing the chance of head and abdominal injuries. More than 80 percent of 4- to 8-year-old passengers in 30,000 car crashes studied by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance were improperly restrained in adult-size safety belts. And the results were often tragic.

Autumn Alexander Skeen lost her 4-year-old son in a crash when an adult seat belt failed to keep him inside the car. Skeen is now a spokeswoman for Ford Motor Company's educational campaign promoting booster-seat use. "No parent should ever know the pain of losing a child, especially if death or injury is easily preventable," Skeen says.

A Simple Solution
Booster seats raise children up off the seat to position them in adult belts properly. These special seats are recommended for kids who weigh 40 to 80 pounds and are intended for use in the back seat of vehicles that have three-point lap/shoulder belts. (Remember, children younger than 13 should never ride up front in a car that has front air bags.) Children can usually safely use adult belts in the back seat once they reach a height of four feet nine inches and weigh 80 pounds.

Booster seats are available at many major department stores and at Web sites and superstores that carry children's products. Your vehicle's manufacturer or your insurance company may also be able to make suggestions about where to buy a booster seat in your neighborhood. Some insurance and car companies even have special programs that offer the seats for free or at a discount.

Jayne O'Donnell, is a Washington, D.C.-based reporter whose automotive expertise and investigative reporting skills have helped break some of the biggest auto-safety stories of the past several years.

Teach Your Child to Read With Phonics

2007-11-10T00:21:00.000-05:00

It's never to early to teach your child to read. With all of the competition that your child will face as they get older, giving them as much as a head start as possible is something you want to be sure to do. The article below discusses teaching your child to read with the use of phonics. This is very important, as reading is a foundation that when learned early in life, will benefit your child tremedously. I hope you enjoy the article.

Learn to Read with Phonics:
A Good Tool
by Cathy Caughman

More Details at: http://www.talking-letters.com

Because early childhood is an exciting and stimulus pacted period of our lives, children need and even demand information, tools for making sense of their world. Children know that that is where the secrets are hidden. Children are wondering why mom is smiling while she sits with that book all by herself.

Children show, very early, in their drawings that symbols are becoming very important to them. They recognize that symbols have meaning. Look closely, you'll see a cross, a sun shape, a line, a circle, a broken line. Because the child is physically able to produce these symbols, his brain is ready. This is the perfect time in a human's life to present his language. The next step is order, taking those symbols and giving them meaning, sound, and phonics.

A good tool is a satisfying possession and that is exactly what owning a word structure is, a good tool. Phonics strengthens us because the tools provide a guide to deciphering the written word. Once the child has learned the sound for each consonant and vowel he is ready to spell with the written symbol the object that he has seen. I see a dog, I can spell d-o-g. He can see the word dog and can decipher the word to read dog.

A strong foundation gives the confidence to successfully tackle unfamiliar words. Spelling will become easier with an understanding of phonics. The phonics knowledge you give your child will follow him throughout his life.

About the Author
Cathy Caughman, Signal Mountain, TN, USA
info@talking-letters.com
http://www.talking-letters.com

A teacher since the 70's, Cathy Caughman is co-founder of the Mountainwood Learning Center in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. The highly acclaimed Center uses the "Talking Letters" program to teach phonetic reading skills to 3 and 4-year-olds. Their time-tested, proven system for teaching children to read is now available on DVD at www.talking-letters.com.

Hey Moms -- Blogging Pays!

2007-11-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

It is just amazing how the internet has become a revenue stream for so many people! I was reading an article the other day about a mom in Scotland that created a blog she wrote on motherhood when she had her baby 18 months ago and now she has a book deal to publish her blog!

I also saw on the nightly news the other night how two moms in Northern VA decided to create a podcast of their conversations that they called Mommycast -- next thing you know, Dixie paper products heard their podcast and offered them a $200,000 sponsorship to be displayed on their website and heard on their podcast!

One more blog money making opportunity I've heard of is with a site named PayPerPost where you sign up to provide reviews of other blogs and websites on your blog; the companies or site owners requesting the review pay you for the review. One blogger has earned over $15K reviewing sites!

The bottom line is, if you want to earn money online, blogging is definitely a great way to do it!

AquaDots Recalled

2007-11-07T22:15:00.000-05:00

A couple of days ago I wrote about Toys R Us listing the top toys for the 2007 holiday season, and one of the items was AquaDots by Spinmaster. Well, today Aquadots were recalled and shipments of the product are being halted due the finding that when the beads (or dots) were ingested, children were having reactions similar to those of people that have been given the date rape drug and were becoming unconscious, comatose or having seizures. This recall is due to the fact that an approved process for making the toy beads was not followed and an unauthorized chemical was used to spray the dots. For more information on the AquaDots recall, click here.

Top Toys for the 2007 Holiday Season

2007-11-05T23:36:00.000-05:00

The votes are in -- Toys R Us has come up with their annual "Fabulous" list of hot new toys for the 2007 holiday season -- and they are (drumroll, please!):

Amazon.com Widgets

Your Kid's Favorite Videos On Your PC

2007-11-04T17:01:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been on a trip and don't have your kid's favorite videos handy, but you do have your laptop? Well Amazon.com has a pretty neat service called Amazon Unbox. With this service, you can download some of your child's favorite videos to watch right on your computer via the Amazon Unbox Player. Popular programs such as Dora the Explorer, Cyberchase, Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo, The Wiggles and more are available for instant download for just $1.99 per episode. Plus, these are not rentals, you own these episodes once you purchase them for your child to watch over and over again (like you know they do!) I have used this service to download Cyberchase and Arthur videos for my son and he loves it -- they even had some episodes that he had not seen before on TV. To see an example of some of the items offered on Amazon Unbox, select any of the shows below, then press the play button to view a sample.

Amazon.com Widgets

Free Toy Video Demos on Amazon

2007-11-03T18:03:00.000-04:00

Can you believe it? There are only 51 days left until Christmas and Thanksgiving is around the corner too! It's time to start Christmas shopping now for the perfect toys for your child so you can beat the last minute holiday rush!

With so many toys out there to choose from, have you ever wanted to see how a toy works before you bought it? Well Amazon.com has come up with a great tool just in time for this holiday season that offers just that type of service. Amazon has come up with toy video demonstrations of some of the most popular baby and kids toys that you can preview before you buy them! Even if you don't buy from the Amazon site, this is a really cool tool that you can use to help you make your decision on if the toy you are thinking about purchasing is the right toy for your child. Visit Amazon.com today and view the videos -- you won't be sorry; Happy Christmas toy shopping!

Cheap Educational Kid's Toys

2007-11-02T23:37:00.000-04:00

I just love Chick-Fil-A! Not only do they have great chicken sandwiches, but they also have cool educational toys for toddlers and kids in their kid's meals. They offer items such as children's software, children's look and learn books, educational CDs and more. One of the best things about these items is that you don't have to buy a kid's meal to get them. You can visit the Chick-Fil-A website and go to their shop and purchase the items directly! Most of the items are under $6 and are very interesting to the kids. Visit the Kid's Meal Premium section of the Chick-Fil-A online store for their current offerings. Happy shopping!

Sick Baby? When to Call the Doctor

2007-11-01T23:34:00.004-04:00

It's that time of year again when colds abound and babies unfortunately sometimes get sick. It's always disheartening to see your precious baby in a miserable state, and you of course do everything you can to get them immediate relief; however, it's important to know when you should call your baby's doctor. The Mayo Clinic has come up with the following quick, useful listing of baby ailments and recommendations on when you should call their doctor.

Sick baby? When to call the doctor

Your baby can't tell you when something hurts. Sometimes normal fussiness and mild illnesses are tough to distinguish from more serious problems. Here's when to call the doctor — and when to seek emergency care.

Making the call. Occasional illnesses are usually nothing to worry about. But if you're concerned about your baby's crying or your baby isn't eating, sleeping or behaving like usual, a call to the doctor may be in order. Be on the lookout for specific signs and symptoms:

Changes in appetite. If your baby refuses several feedings or eats poorly, contact your baby's doctor.

Changes in mood. If your baby is lethargic or unusually difficult to rouse, tell the doctor right away. Also let the doctor know if your baby is persistently irritable or has inconsolable crying jags.

Changes in skin color. If your baby's skin becomes yellowish or you notice a bluish color around your baby's lips or nails, contact the doctor right away.

Tender navel or penis. Contact the doctor if your baby's umbilical area or penis suddenly becomes red or starts to ooze or bleed.

Fever. Mild fevers are common and usually harmless, but it's important to keep an eye on the thermometer. Contact the doctor if your baby is younger than age 2 months and has a rectal temperature of 100.4 F or higher or if your older infant has an oral or ear temperature of 102 F or higher.

Diarrhea. Breast-fed babies typically have soft stools. Contact the doctor if your baby's stools are especially loose or watery for six to eight diaper changes.

Vomiting. Occasional spitting up is normal. Contact the doctor if your baby begins to spit up a large portion of every feeding or vomit forcefully after feedings.

Dehydration. Contact the doctor if your baby doesn't wet a diaper for six hours or longer or if the soft spot on top of your baby's head seems to sink. Crying without tears also warrants a prompt call to the doctor.

Constipation. If your baby suddenly cries during a bowel movement, passes bloody or jelly-like stools, or has fewer bowel movements than usual for a few days, contact the doctor.

Upper respiratory infections. Contact the doctor if your baby has a cold that interferes with breathing or feeding, or if the cold is accompanied by severe coughing or discolored phlegm.

Ear pain. Contact the doctor if your baby pulls at one or both ears, fails to respond to loud sounds, or has drainage from one or both ears.
Rash. Contact the doctor if a diaper rash or patch of eczema becomes red and raw, or if your baby suddenly develops an unexplained rash — especially if the rash is accompanied by a fever.

Eye discharge. If one or both eyes are pink, red, swollen or leaking sticky fluid, contact the doctor.

Minor injuries. As your baby gains mobility, he or she will become more accident-prone. If you're unsure how to treat a minor cut, bruise or burn, call the doctor for advice.

Above all, trust your instincts. If you think you should call the doctor, go ahead.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Sometimes there isn't time to call your baby's doctor. Seek emergency care for:

Bleeding that can't be stopped

Poisoning

Seizures

Trouble breathing

High fever

Head injuries

Sudden lethargy or inability to move

Choking

Unresponsiveness

BE PREPARED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS

Whether you contact your baby's doctor or seek emergency care, be prepared to help the medical staff understand what's happening with your baby. Expect questions about:

Your baby's symptoms. Why did you decide to seek medical attention now?

Your baby's medical history. Does your baby have any known allergies? Are your baby's immunizations current? Does your baby have any chronic conditions? Has your baby been exposed to illness at home or elsewhere? Has your baby been injured?

Changes in your baby's feeding and bowel movements. Have you noticed changes in your baby's eating or drinking patterns, in the number of wet diapers, or in the number and consistency of bowel movements?

Changes in your baby's temperament. Has your baby ever acted like this before? What concerns do you have about your baby's behavior?

Changes in your baby's temperature. Does your baby have a fever? What is your baby's temperature? How did you take your baby's temperature?

Home remedies and medications. Have you tried any home remedies or given your baby any over-the-counter or prescription medications? If so, what, how much and when?

Knowing the answers to these important questions will save you and your baby's doctor time — and stress — during an office visit or emergency situation.

Online Baby Birth Announcement Ideas

2007-10-28T23:42:00.000-04:00

Congratulations! You’re a new parent and you’ve brought your precious, beautiful baby into the world. You want to shout from the rooftops that you have this wonderful bundle of joy and you are so proud! You have seen or heard about online birth announcements before, and realize that they are a quick, easy, and no hassle way of spreading the news of the birth of your precious baby. Below we’ll outline ways you can share your baby photos online or create your own online birth announcements.

The easiest way to create an online birth announcement is to go to a site that already has birth announcement templates for you to choose from. There are free birth announcement websites where all you do is upload a baby photo and some information and you are set to go, and there are other birth announcement websites that present you with the opportunity to create mini-journals of your baby, usually for a fee. There are sites that specialize in birth announcements that spotlight your religious preference or even for your favorite sports teams. From traditional to unique and even humorous, there is a birth announcement service out there for everyone.

Sharing Baby Photos Using a Free Online Photo Album Service

Another method for creating your own birth announcement website is to use one of the free photo album services offered online. For instance, iPhoto for Apple users provides the ability to upload pictures from a digital camera directly onto your own Apple hosted website.

Another online service, Shutterfly.com, lets you create customized baby announcements, share pictures online with friends and family, and create unique photo keepsakes and gifts such as coffee mugs, mousepads, calendars and more. Right now, they are offering a special where you can get 15 FREE prints just for trying Shutterfly's service.

With your digital camera, you can also upload your pictures to Wal-Mart.com where you can view the pictures and even send your baby photos to your local Wal-mart store for photo processing in an hour so you can get photo prints for your own offline baby photo album.

Sharing Baby Photos with Your Digital Camera Software

Most of the digital camera manufacturers come with their own software that allows you to share photos also. For instance, HP offers a Share-to-Web software application allows you to upload your photos from your digital camera to a unique website that you can give out to your friends and family. HP’s software also gives you the ability to email the photos without sending them as attachments or sending them as thumbnails attached to the email.

Sharing Baby Photos Over Instant Messenger

If you want instant gratification, the Yahoo! Messenger service now offers the ability to send pictures over your instant messaging program so you can just upload your baby photos and send them instantly! Visit http://messenger.yahoo.com for further information.

Nifty Baby Crib Blanket

2007-10-27T10:39:00.000-04:00

While browsing the internet, I found a nifty new product that a mom created -- the SnapCozy crib blanket. This blanket gives your baby the freedom to move around while asleep, without becoming uncovered. The new baby blanket also has a special seam sewn into it that prevents the baby from sliding their head under the crib blanket. This offers a great alternative to baby blanket sleepers. It retails for around $70. You can find more information on the SnapCozy crib blanket by visiting the SnapCozy website.

Feeling All Alone Out There? Don't!

2007-10-26T23:01:00.000-04:00

Have your kids ever done something that makes you feel like "I've got to be the only one out here that is going through this!" Does your baby do something unique that you just have to brag about? Are you a stay at home mom with very little social outlets and wish you had a group of other moms to bond with? If so, then maybe you should try a new social newtorking site for moms - CafeMom. CafeMom offers forums and message boards for moms to discuss things they have in common, as well as features such as a marketplace where you can buy and sell items such as used baby clothes and equipment, toys or anything you can think of. Registration is free and easy, so go ahead, get networking with other moms today!

Bumbo Baby Seats Recalled

2007-10-26T00:04:00.000-04:00

If you are using a Bumbo baby seat, be aware that they have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission due to 28 reported cases of baby head injuries, some including skull fractures. This is apparently due to the the baby seat being placed on elevated surfaces (such as kitchen tables) and the babies then moving in a manner which makes the seat unstable. The full story regarding the Bumbo seat recall can be found here.

Baby Pacifiers -- Do You Use Them?

2007-10-25T22:37:00.001-04:00

From what I understand, there is a lot of debate regarding whether the use of baby pacifiers is ok, or whether it does harm to your baby. Since babies are born wanting to suck and the sucking seems to soothe them, I personally don't see the harm in using them. I actually tried to use one, but my son wouldn't take it; however, I know people that swear by using pacifiers and wouldn't be caught without one. If you're undecided, the Mayo Clinic has come up with a useful list of do's and don'ts of using baby pacifiers that may assist you with your decision.