meta-dad

RAZ-Berry Infant Teether

• Stimulating multi textured can be frozen for extra soothing comfort
• Bumpy texture soothes baby’s gums
• Non-toxic and 100% medical grade silicone

(RaZ-Berry Silicone Teether Via Amazon.Com)

Recalled Pacifiers and Rattles

Here are two more things to keep out of the mouth of babes; It’s My Binky novelty pacifiers basically fall apart, and Bright Starts Ring Rattles antennae detach – both (obviously) pose choke hazards. We are victim to the pacifier recall, just a sucker for personalized products, I guess (pun intended, chalk it up to dad humor).

Specifically, the Bright Starts soft toy rattle is a bee with a yellow head, ring-shaped green body, blue/green wings and purple/red antennas. Model number 8534 and date code PA8 are printed on a sewn-in label on the bee’s head.

It’s My Binky pacifiers are personalize pacifiers and have “Japlo” imprinted on the front of the pacifier shield at the bottom, center. The pacifiers were sold in blue, white and pink with various words or designs printed on the button of the pacifier. Contact It’s My Binky toll-free at (888) 689-9444 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday PT or visit ItsMyBinky.Com or e-mail Danielle Riiber at Danielle@itsmybinky.com

For additional information, contact Kids II toll-free at (877) 325-7056 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit KidsII.Com.

So check the floor of your minivan, or rummage through your diaper bag for any of these baby items and send them back to their respective companies for a free replacement.

Sited Links:
Kids II Recalls Infant Rattles Due to Choking Hazard
It’s MY Binky Recalls Personalized Pacifiers Due to Choking Hazard

Sun Exposure and Your Kids

We all know during the hot summer months you need to keep the kids covered and in the shade. It’s not easy to do but the facts show that little kids need some type of safe and effective UV barrier to protect their skin now and in the future. The sunburns and over-exposure they experience under the age of twenty have a lasting affect on the health of their skin later in life so by protecting their skin now you are helping their odds against types of skin cancer later in life. But this is all the tip of the sandcastle when it comes to forming a good understanding of how much exposure, if any, is good for you kids and how you should protect them from it.

We all know that skin cancer is on the rise. Over 60,000 individuals will have it this year alone and over 8,000 will die from it. On the flip side of the argument, there is proof that your body metabolizes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to natural sunlight. Vitamin D, of course, helps your body absorb calcium which is super important for growing boys and girls. Also, links have been made between healthy amounts of sun exposure in children and lower incidents of type 1 diabetes.

And the third angle of this discussion is regarding the potentially harmful ingredients in that sunblock you’re basting your kids with throughout the day. Does that Coppertone sunblock that you got on sale have definitive links to neurotoxicity, cancer or developmental/reproductive toxicity? The short answer is probably. So how is a parent supposed to navigate through all this? Should we just keep little Timmy and Sally inside with a grow lamp on them, probably not, besides I imagine cabin-fever would set in mighty quick.

Experts say you should mind local UV ratings (watch the weather on the news or check the paper) and limit exposure during the peak UV hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This means allowing your kids a few minutes at the beginning of the day and/or the end of the day to get some of that nutritious sunshine would be a good and relatively safe thing.

Regarding the sunblock dilemma, read the ingredients. If it doesn’t say chemical-free it isn’t. Don’t buy the cheap stuff. The folks over at the CosmeticDatabase.Com have a good breakdown of most sunblocks available, what’s in them and what is safest to use for the young ones. One of their highest scoring products that I have found is California Baby (on a scale of 0-10, 0 being the safest, California Baby sunblock products got between an 0-1) but it’s not the cheapest on the shelf and one of the worst is Coppertone (on the same scale their baby products scored between 4-7).

I am not saying you should buy one and avoid the other, rather that it is in your best interest to be an informed Consumer and know that not all sunblocks are the same.

When using sunblock remember a few things;

• Put it on at least 30 minutes before exposure to the sun. Personally, I put it on the moment I get up and re-apply throughout the day.
• Put on enough sunblock, people tend to put too little on. Dermatologist suggest using a tablespoon for children and a shot glass full for adults.
• Use more than SPF-15 (which is what is recommended) that will compensate for the thin coat problems
• When they get out of the pool, re-apply

The best protection from the sun is shade and clothing. There is no indication that either shade or long sleeve shirts are linked with endocrine disruptors, carcinogenics, or vitamin deficiencies. So when the kids are playing in the sandbox throw an umbrella between them and the sun and go out of your way to find some sunglasses and/or baseball cap that your tikes really-really like wearing.

SITED LINKS:
MSNBC | Kids Exposure May Be Key to Deadly Cancer
CosmeticDatabase.Com
Science Daily | Sun Exposure and Vitamin D Levels May Play Strong Role in…
National Institute of Health | Vitamin D Fact Sheet

Cute and Safe Teething Jewelry

Teething Bling^® was inspired by babies who like to tug on our jewelry. Made from the same material as many teething toys, Teething Bling^® looks great on Moms, Grandmas, Aunts and Caregivers but is safe for curious babies to handle and chew.

Smart Mom Jewelry is non-toxic, phthalate, BPA and PVC free and all pendants come with a breakaway clasp. CE marking approved. Considering Mother’s Day is a few short weeks away, this may be a smart gift for the new Mom in you life.

(Via TinyBoutique.Com)

INTERVIEW: Dr. Glade Curtis – Your Pregnancy Week by Week

I have had the special pleasure of talking briefly with Dr. Glade Curtis of the famed series, Your Pregnancy Week By Week. This being the penultimate primer for both first time Moms and Dads. Dr. Curtis and co-author Judith Schuler provide detailed information about the current development of your baby and describes in detail all the changes happening in mother right up until birth as well as important health issues (for both mother and baby) to be aware of during the course of the pregnancy.

meta-DAD: First I would love to find out how long this week-by-week book series has been going on? And what led you to create the first one?

Dr. Curtis: Your Pregnancy Week By Week was first published in 1989. Looking at pregnancy a week at a time makes sense to me, and it is the way I was taught as a medical resident and resident. As a practicing OB/GYN I found that my patients wanted to follow their progress through pregnancy this way as well. I came across a book with photographs of fetuses and developing babies beginning very early in pregnancy. I thought patients could benefit from understanding the changes taking place in their growing baby. The first edition came out my desire to share this information with pregnant couples.

mD: With technology and medical practices changing as quickly as they do, does it affect how you approach each new edition?

Dr. Curtis: People looking for medical information want it to be current and up to date. This has been important to me and is the reason that this is the “Sixth Edition” of Your Pregnancy Week By Week I am constantly looking at many resources for new developments and advancements in technology and information. I believe it is important to look carefully at advances making sure they are proven, safe and effective. This is an important responsibility that I take very seriously.

mD: Can you give me an example of one of these changes or advancements in the recent past?

Dr. Curtis: Until recently, the standard of care dictated that women age 35 or older at the time of delivery were offered ultrasound guided amniocentesis. This age was picked years ago because the risk of delivering a baby with Down syndrome at this age (1 in 350) was about the same as the risk of miscarrying as a complication of the More »

Phthalate-Free Natural Rubber Teether

They are handmade in France from 100% natural rubber and non-toxic paints. Chan (blue), Pie (pink), and Gnon (yellow) are adorable and safe mushroom shaped soft teething toys for your little one.

• Parabens, PVC, phthalates and BPA (bisphenol-A) free.
• Chan, Pie and Gnon have a cute little nub on top of his head for teething babies to chew on in complete safety.
• Easy to grasp and grip for baby’s hand.
• Makes a squeaker sound when squeezed.
• Stands 5 inches tall.
• Great baby shower gift – Newborn to 2 years.

(Vulli Vis a Vis ZoeBOnline.Com)