Over the past two decades, there has been an extraordinary rise in the number of multiple births in the United States. Between 1980 and 2004, the number of twin births increased by 70% and the number of births involving three or more babies has quadrupled. The first days, weeks, and months are often the most difficult for parents of multiples, as everyone learns to get used to the frequent feedings and the lack of sleep.
I recently visited Kidegories with Lisa Madden, RN and mother of triplets - plus one, where she shared some seriously smart tips for every new mom of multiples. Read more...
*** Special thanks to Kidegories in Shrewsberry, New Jersey, for allowing us to videotape in their wonderful store. While we were there I feel in love with this Twilight Turtle. It's fantastic!
As a new mom, I have a new best friend: a morning cup of coffee. I wasn't much of a coffee drinker before but the sleepless nights and constant baby-wrangling, has made it a daily necessity. Imagine my surprise to read that drinking too much coffee could shrink my breasts! Read more...
According to a new study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, drinking three or more cups a day was enough to cause a smaller breast size. Almost 300 women took part in the study, which questioned them on how many cups of coffee they drank in an average day and measured the size of their bust. The researchers also found that the more coffee the women drank, the smaller their breasts.
At first I was annoyed that a study of this kind was even being done (don't they have more important health issues to research?!) but it turns out that drinking caffeine regularly appeared to reduce the risk of breast cancer among the volunteers, who had been specifically selected from families at high risk of contacting the disease. Why? The scientists believe that the effects of coffee are linked to its impact on the female sex hormone, estrogens, and the fact that it can also affect levels of the male sex hormone, testosterone.
Infant Death Prompts Recall to Repair 985,000 Delta Enterprise Drop Side Cribs; Missing Safety Pegs Can Cause Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to find a safe, alternative sleep environment for their child if their recalled crib is missing safety pegs.Read more...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Delta Enterprise Corp., of New York, New York., is announcing the voluntary recall to replace missing safety pegs involving 985,000 drop side cribs. Failure to use or install safety pegs can cause an entrapment and suffocation risk to infants and toddlers.
When the safety pegs in the base of each leg of the crib are missing from the lower track, the crib locks can disengage and detach if lowered below the peg hole, creating a hazardous gap. This gap can lead to the entrapment and suffocation of an infant or toddler.
CPSC staff is aware of a death of an 8-month-old child who became entrapped and suffocated when the drop side of the crib detached in a reassembled crib where the safety pegs were not installed. CPSC is also aware of two entrapments and nine disengagement incidents in cribs where the safety pegs were missing.
The recall involves all Delta cribs manufactured in Taiwan or Indonesia, with the "Crib Trigger Lock with Safety Peg" drop side hardware design. These model numbers and country of origin can be located on the mattress support board label: 4320, 4340, 4500, 4520, 4530, 4532, 4540, 4542, 4550, 4551, 4580, 4600, 4620, 4624 (production dates 01/06 thru 11/07), 4640, 4660, 4720, 4735, 4742, 4750 (production dates 01/95 thru 12/00), 4760, 4770, 4780, 4790, 4820, 4840, 4850, 4860, 4880, 4890, 4892, 4900, 4910, 4920, 4925-2, 4925-6, 4930, 4940, 4943, 4944, 4947, 4948, 4949, 4950, 4958, 4963, 4968, 4969, 4980.
The recalled cribs have date codes ranging from 1995 though December 2005 and one model (4624) was made in 2007. The model numbers are located on the top of the mattress support board.
The cribs, which were made in Taiwan and Indonesia, were sold at major retailers, including Walmart, Kmart and Target.com from January 1995 through September 2007 for about $100. These cribs have also been found to be sold secondhand. Cribs currently sold at retail are not involved.
CPSC and Delta urge parents and caregivers to immediately stop using cribs that are missing a safety peg on any leg of the crib and contact Delta to receive a free, easy-to-install repair kit. The kit will include safety pegs in a bold color and warning labels to be affixed to the mattress board. Consumers with cribs that have all safety pegs installed may continue to use the cribs; however, CPSC recommends that these consumers contact Delta for the repair kit for future assembly purposes. Call Delta toll-free at (1-800-816-5304) anytime after 5pm today or log on www.cribrecallcenter.com to order the free replacement kit.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to find a safe, alternative sleep environment for their child if their recalled crib is missing safety pegs.
CPSC would like to remind parents not to use any crib with missing, broken, or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy. When using a drop side crib parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly. Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement. Any disengagement can create a gap and entrap a child. In addition, do not try to repair any side of the crib, especially with tape, wire or rope.
Yippee! You're pregnant. Do you feel the glow yet? No? Well, don't despair over your skin. Acne, dry skin, varicose veins and darkened patches of skin around your eyes, nose and cheeks are common skin-related changes during pregnancy. A dark line may appear down the middle of your abdomen. It's also a common, but harmless, pregnancy-related skin change. To keep your skin healthy follow these simple steps: Read more...
Wear sunscreen and a hat in the sun. Your skin is more sun-sensitive and may burn more easily during pregnancy.
Take your prenatal supplement every day, in addition to eating a well-balanced diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Ask your dermatologist or OB about skin care products to control or reduce pregnancy-related skin irritation. Soap substitutes and moisturizers may be recommended.
Put your feet up to reduce varicose veins. Report any unusual skin changes such as yellowing of the skin (jaundice), blistering, severe itching, rashes or moles that change in color or size to your health care team.
Schedule your healthy pregnancy checkup and childbirth classes.
Sorry to break it to you but, if you've gotten used to your regular Botox injections, glycolic peels and microdermabrasion, it's time to get unused to them. Basically, you should avoid any medically unnecessary procedures or drugs during your pregnancy. And while you may feel those "lunchtime face-lifts" aesthetically necessary, they are definitely not medically necessary. The same goes for teeth whitening and hair coloring.
All of the jewelry items listed in this blog post are being recalled because they might contain high levels of lead. To be safe, if you own one of these, take it away from your kids immediately and return it for a refund. Read more...
It's a Girl Thing bracelets, necklaces, and phone charms distributed by Bead Bazaar USA and sold nationwide from February 2006 through June 2008
Ballet-shoe charm necklaces packaged with "The Magic Ballet Slippers" or "Ballerina's Magical Shoes," from Parragon Books, sold nationwide from January 2003 through June 2008
Faded Glory sets of lip gloss, locket and bracelet sold at Wal-Mart from May 2008 through June 2008
Super Dooper Charms and Shoelace Charms sold nationwide from July 2007 through April 2008
Clipping baby nails is often terrifying for most new parents. And, if you've ever accidentally nicked your baby's skin like I have (twice), you know how traumatizing it can be.
Your baby's nails are softer and more pliable than yours, but make no mistake, they're sharp and if your baby is anything like Gideon, you're both likely covered in scratches.
So, how can you clip your baby's fingernails and toenails without hurting them? There are a several ways worth trying. One of which is bound to work for you and your little one. Read more and watch our video...
Using a nail file In my opinion, filing your baby's nails with an emery board is the least difficult but it takes a lot more time. Just be careful not to file their tender skin under the nail bed. Using a baby nail clipper The best piece of advice I ever got was to wait until the baby is sleeping to clip their nails. Making it one of the easiest and quickest methods. Clip their nails as you would you own and press the finger pad away from the nail to avoid nicking the skin, and keep a firm hold on your child's hand as you clip.
If you choose to trim your baby's nails while they're awake, try to distract them and remain relaxed. When a newborn is alert they tend to clench their fist tightening the gap between the fingertip and nail, which makes the process a lot more difficult and potentially dangerous. Gently push back the fingertip from the nail to allow space for the nail clipper. This will help prevent clipping your baby's finger. Short little clips above the white nail line will help prevent clipping to close.
Baby toenails should be clipped straight across.
If you are still feeling really uneasy about clipping your baby's nails for the first time ask a more seasoned parent to show you how they do it.
If you have any tips or tricks to clipping newborn nails, please share them with us!
Gideon came with a lot of surprises - my husband's eyes, my curls, the sweetest smile, and his weight in paperwork. Birth certificate, hospital paperwork, Social Security and insurance cards, receipts from doctor's visits, baby equipment warranties, and so on. Trust me, it piles up very quickly.
Because I'm usually more of a "shove it in a box" kind of girl, when I need to locate important paperwork, I usually have to search for hours. Now that I'm responsible for someone else's documentation, I knew I had to become more of an "everything in its place" sort of mom. Read more...
Fortunately, I found the Original Baby Briefcase Organizer ($29.95) and have not misplaced a single item since. It's a super functional filing system that comes with preprinted and customizable folder categories, a thank you note tracker, and more. If it can help me - and it has - it can help any organizationally challenged new mom.
This is so sad: Richard Kanowitz's 4-year-old daughter, Amanda, died of the flu on March 1, 2004, barely 72 hours after she first complained of feeling ill.
Amanda came home from preschool on a Friday afternoon with a slight cough and fever, her father recalled. Her symptoms progressed slowly over the weekend and, by Sunday, she was sluggish, still feverish and now vomiting. The pediatrician said there were multiple viruses circulating and advised the parents to just keep her hydrated.
They did, but on Monday morning, Kanowitz went to wake Amanda, only to find that she had died during the night. Read more...
There was a crowd seven deep on Saturday outside one of the hottest clubs in Paris. Young people were pleading to get in, but the woman with the clipboard behind the velvet rope would not budge. There was some crying.
"Too old," the clipboard woman said in French to a photographer, who was snapping pictures every time the door opened to reveal a peek of a padded red room with glittering lights and the promise of V.I.P.'s inside. One apparently overstimulated patron was passed out on steps outside. There was a D.J. and a bar and, wait just one minute, was that really a man dressed in a panda costume?
Oh, to be young and beautiful. It looked just like any night at the Beatrice Inn, except that the V.I.P.'s in question were infantile persons. At Babydisco, which has been a certified hit since it opened last month in the middle of the Palais de Tokyo contemporary art museum, admittance is restricted to those from ages 3 to 7. The museum has been crawling with toddlers with attitude problems ever since. Read more... Asked if the party was worth waiting in line for, a 6-year-old boy coming out of the club looked at a reporter as if he didn't speak English. Really!
The club was conceived as an art installation by Carine Charaire and Olivier Casamayou to introduce children to the creative aspects of dance, music and video. But for adults, watching from the outside, the club seems to take on a different meaning - "part of their universe being reinvented by children," according to the creators.
And it is rather startling to see how adult behavior is almost innately imitated by the children enthusiastically lining up and checking their names on a list to gain entry into a dance party inside what is actually a plywood box about the size of a minivan. One little boy was dancing madly while sloshing his drink about in a sippy cup. Perhaps he was making a statement about the absurdity of modern glamour culture.
Like grown-up clubs, Babydisco even has a clothing sponsor, Little Marc Jacobs, and a hot retailer rushing to be the first to have a party there. Colette will be host to one of its dance classes on Oct. 11. It's enough to make you want to get a fake I.D.
One of my best girlfriends, Florence, is one of those super moms we all hear about. She has three children, lives in the East Village, works full-time, always looks great, etc. I'm in awe of her. Thankfully, she has always been there for me with great advice -- like which breast pump I should buy, which diapers to try, and even helped me prepare for the baby blues.
Well, tonight, she just sent me the cutest video ever! Read more... It's of her youngest, Josh (who is also my Godson) taking his first steps.
I always thought babies (especially boys) didn't walk until they were at least a year old. What have you heard? When did your little one(s) start to walk? Gideon has a long way to go but I can't help but fantasize about his first few steps and would love to know when to expect them.
As a new mom it's nearly impossible to find time to exercise. And, even if I could find the time, who would watch my little guy for me? Since I would love to get my pre-baby body back, Gideon and I enjoyed a little Mommy & Me workout with the help and guidance of Leslie McNabb, HealthyWomen.org's Fitness Expert. What's really great about these exercises is that you can do them at home alone or with your little one.
One of the great things about working with the National Women's Health Resource Center and HealthyWomen.org is that I get to read the latest health news as soon as it happens.
For example, I just read that by keeping the air moving around a bedroom seems to dramatically reduce a baby's risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Check out our Women's Health in the News section and read the article Bedroom Fan Cuts SIDS Risk by 72% for more information.
Learning this information, are you more inclined to install a ceiling fan in your baby's room?
Winter is right around the corner so, as I make my holiday plans and vainly hope that I can fit into my pre-pregnancy winter wardrobe, I know there's one thing on my To Do list that I need to attend to first: Get my yearly flu shot. If you're wondering why it's such a priority to me, you've never had the flu. Read more...
In February 2005, I got the flu and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I can't count how many times I thought I had the flu before this but, in retrospect, I now know they were merely bad colds. When you actually get the flu, it's like nothing else. I had just started to date the man who is now my husband and, thankfully, he was there for me every single day as I shivered and sweated myself into exhaustion. There were times I thought I was going to die and, when my fever was at its highest, he forced me to go to the hospital. I suppose that's when I knew he was a keeper. Of course, when he walked my dog for me when I was too sick to stand, it really sealed the deal ;)
This time last year I was an excited and expectant mother and I asked both my primary physician and my OB if I should get the flu shot. Both doctors agreed that it was perfectly safe and in the best interest of my health, and the health of my baby, to get the vaccine. I did as they advised and thankfully did not get the flu. And, now that I'm breastfeeding, I'm happy to have just learned that I can once again safely get the flu shot.
If you have any questions about preventing the flu during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and finding out why it's safe to get the flu shot and how it can help you to avoid dangerous complications, check out the Pregnancy & Parenting Health Center's Flu-Free and a Mom-to-Be on HealthyWomen.org.
I've got big news to share! Huggies is celebrating its 30th birthday in a very big way -- big as in a $30,000 sweepstakes prize. Why? Because Huggies loves moms and moms buy diapers. It's kind of a match made in heaven. In addition to the sweepstakes, they're also hosting a video contest, the winners of which will be featured in an upcoming National Ad Campaign. Simply make a 60-second video sharing your everyday journey as a mom, upload it to the Generation Huggies website, and you could be one of the 30 everyday moms the ad campaign features. Read more... While you're on the Generation Huggies site, check out the other videos and vote for your favorites. If I end up submitting a video, please vote for mine ;)
