Baby stuff you don’t need

September 3rd, 2010

Some bottle sterilizers like this Philips deluxe model retail for more than $60.

For as little as around $20, you can buy a bottle sterilizer or put it on your baby registry for someone to snap up. But it’s $20 (or a lot more, depending on how techy you want to get) that could go toward someone really essential, like diapers and more diapers. Hot, soapy water or your dishwasher will do the job of cleaning bottles just fine, lactation experts tell me. In fact, one lactation consultant mentioned this potenial downside to bottle sterilizing. That is, if a plastic baby bottle (BPA-free, of course) has any milk residue in it and it’s sterilized (heated to a high, bacteria-killing temp), the protein in the milk could bake against the sides, leaving little, microscopic ridges for bacteria to grow and hide in later, when you use the bottle again. That’s a nerdy take on what could go wrong with bottle sterilizing but it’s worth noting.

I know some people will swear by their bottle sterilizer. Feel free to weigh in on this blog if that’s you. But if you’re looking to downsize your stuff list, I say that it’s safe to omit this item. What else do you think could go? What baby products did you buy or receive that you ultimately didn’t need or use?

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Cleaner caution

September 2nd, 2010

In July, I wrote a piece for AOL Health on the dangers of household cleaning sprays: http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/08/02/injuries-involving-spray-bottles-on-the-rise/.

They’re on the rise among kids because lots of parents use household cleaning sprays and we forget to turn the nozzle to the off button, or even better, store the closed bottle in a locked cabinet out of a child’s reach. Maureen, a mom of two, reminds us how easily cleaning-spray accidents can happen. She writes:

“Today, I was busy dusting furniture when little Mack decided it was time for a diaper change. I put the dusting spray bottle down and brought him upstairs to take care of him. While I was out of sight, 2-year-old Evelyn took it upon herself to squirt the dusting solution into her mouth. Oh no!!”

Fortunately, Maureen’s dusting spray was a homemade concoction of vinegar, water, and olive oil she didn’t have to worry, or call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222). But plenty of other parents like me who use commerical cleaning solutions aren’t always so lucky, especially considering that many cleaning products are blue, orange, purple, or yellow in color and look like juice or sports drinks to toddlers and preschoolers.

Preventing an accident only takes a minute, but it’s important to do every time you use a household cleaning spray. That is, turn the nozzle to the off button and store the solution in a locked cabinet out of your child’s reach (instead of under the kitchen sink–that’s not safe, even if you have a child-safety latch on it because determined toddlers may be able to override it). Your best storage solution is a high cabinet with a child-safety latch. Also, keep cleaning solutions in the original container. For more info, check out my AOL piece. September is National Baby Safety Month. For more child safety tips in general, visit http://www.jpma.org/bsm/2010/.

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Love those designer diapers!

July 12th, 2010

I personally love the look of new Huggies Little Movers jean diapers. Why haven’t they made disposable diapers so stylish before? Still, I wondered how the diapers compared, pricewise, to plain old white disposables so I did a little research at my local Wal-Mart.

On average, disposable diapers cost 25 cents each. With Huggies Little Movers, you’ll pay about 27 to 28 cents per diaper. So they do cost a little more. It’s just 2-3 cents per diaper, though. At a max of eight diaper changes per day let’s say, you’ll spend an extra 24 cents per day–that’s $1.68 per week, which translates to $6.72 more per month or $80.64 per year. That’s not much at all, but still, if you’re watching your pennies, you will be paying more for “the look.” 

The Poop on Diaper Savings

Want to save the most on diapers you possibly can? In general, here my tips for buying disposable diapers for much less:

–If you love the look of denim diapers–and I have a feeling Huggies Little Movers Denim are just the beginning of a disposable diaper fashion trend–save them for special occasions and use plain old white diapers for every day. 
–Buy big. In general, buy the largest count diaper box you can find and buy the smallest size diaper your baby can comfortable wear. In other words, don’t be too quick to trade up to the next-size diaper. Larger diapers cost more than smaller-size diapers do.
–Use coupons and load up at sale time.
–Try store-brand disposables.

All told, if you use all these tips, you can save as much as 17 cents per diaper. Based on my estimates, that’s $1.36 per day or $9.52 cents per week or $38.08 per month or $456.96 per year in your bank account. Yowza!

What do you do to save $$ on disposables?

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Stationary crib recall

June 29th, 2010

To keep your baby safe when she’s sleeping, it’s best to buy a crib with stationary sides. Compared to drop-sided cribs, stationary-sided cribs don’t have drop sides or moving parts that can be installed incorrectly or possibly malfunction while in use. But it turns out that they can have stationary sides that can be installed incorrectly.

Amidst the recent rash of crib recalls–over 2 million cribs with top brand names such as LaJobi (Bona Vita, Babi Italia and ISSI), Simmons, Jardine, Delta (Jenny Lind) and Delta–were recalled on June 24, 2010–40,000 to 50,000 of them were stationary cribs by Childcraft. (The rest were drop-sided cribs.)

The stationary side on these Childcraft cribs can be assembled upside down, but look like they’re installed correctly, leaving a hazardous five-inch gap at the top of the crib. Infants or toddlers can become entrapped in this gap (see photo, below, of what the dangerous gap looks like), which can lead to entrapment, strangulation or other injuries.

These cribs were sold at Babies ‘R Us and other stores nationwide between January 1998 and June 2009 for between $600 and $650.

What to Do:

The remedy for this crib is to examine it immediately and determine whether you’ve assembled it properly. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that the best way to do this is to measure the gap between the front and back sides of the crib and the dowel that runs parallel to the sides. The gap should be no more than two and three eighths inches (2 3/8″). If the gap is greater than 2 3/8″, the side has been installed upside-down and needs to be re-assembled. Another indicator that the side has been installed improperly is the appearance of the barrel nut. The barrel nut should be at the bottom of the side, not the top. If either of these conditions are present, the side of the crib has been installed upside-down and needs to be re-assembled so that the barrel nut is not visible from the top and the gap between the dowel and the side is no greater than two and three eighths inches (2 3/8″).

If you’ve installed this crib incorrectly, you should also contact Foundations Worldwide, Inc. toll-free at (866) 614-0557 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.cribsafetyinfo.com to obtain instructions and decals to affix to the stationary sides of the crib to ensure proper assembly in the future.

Mind the gap!

To check to see if your stationary or drop-side crib was part of the recall, visit www.cpsc.gov asap, and take the necessary steps they recommend to fix the problem and keep your baby safe. Remember, even though your baby is sleeping, he can get into a lot of trouble just by hanging out in his crib. It’s still the safest sleeping environment for babies, though.

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Help! My toddler keeps unbuckling!

June 22nd, 2010

It’s a fact of life that starting around age 2-2 1/2, curious toddlers become enamored with unbuckling their car seat while you’re driving. It’s one of those unofficial milestones–the unbuckling the car seat stage. Look what I can do, Mom! Dad! Ta da! “Is there anything you can buy to prevent my child from unbuckling?” I was recently asked that question at a childproofing symposium I was leading.

The answer is…unfortunately, no. There’s really nothing you can or should buy to essentially lock your child into his car seat. In fact, here’s the stance about aftermarket products like these that manufacturers, such as Britax, state on their Website:

Do not use any aftermarket products (e.g., mirrors, sun visors, toys attached to the seat, etc.), as they could affect the performance of the child seat in the event of a crash and could become dangerous projectiles in a collision.

And in this case, there may be an instance in which you need to get your child out of her car seat quickly. So, the best you can do for this problem is to engage your child by, for example, keeping special small, squishy toys in your car for your child to play with that are for the car only. Another distraction idea: One mom at the symposium recommended putting in a DVD. That sounds like a good idea if your car has a DVD system, but keep in mind that watching TV while riding counts towards your child’s screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting TV time to 1-2 hours of quality programming for kids age 2 and over: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/work-play/Media/pages/The-Benefits-of-Limiting-TV.aspx. I know first hand how addicting TV can be for kids. So I hesitate to actually recommend that strategy. I think putting a fun song in the CD player is better. You can also try to reason with kids this young and begin to state ground rules such as “I won’t drive the car until your car seat is buckled because that’s what we need to do to be safe.” Kids thrive on praise so a little, “Thank you for buckling your car seat like a big girl,” probably couldn’t hurt either.

When my kids were younger, we often pulled over in a safe spot until the car seat got buckled again. And sometimes, we had to sit and sit until finally, my daughter gave in, only to have to pull over again until the we heard the magic “click” of the buckle. It’s an exasperating time, but you’re not alone. Most every parent I know went through it.

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Have your tried Plum Organics Spouted pouches?

June 17th, 2010

If I had a baby at the “solids” stage and I was into organic food (a good choice for kids in general), I’d definitely check out Plum Organics new line of premium “spouted pouch” baby foods, even just to try out the system. The 3.17-ounce pouch is designed to be used with a twist-on spoon, designed by Boon, aka “the Boon spoon.” The complete line of stage 1 foods includes 6 pure organic fruits (prunes, mangos, peaches, bananas, pears and apples). Stage 2 includes 7 interesting blends: spinach, peas & pear; pumpkin & banana; sweet potato, corn & apple; pear & mango; peach, apricot & banana; apple & carrot; blueberry and pear & purple carrot.

It’ll run you $7.14 for a six pack of Plum Organics pouches. The Boon spoon is sold separately. You’ll get two reusable, BPA-free spoons and a carrying case for $3.99. (You can skip this purchase by squeezing pouch contents into a bowl and using your regular baby spoon.) Each 100 percent BPA-free pouch has a recylable child-safe cap; there are gaps for airflow in case your child swallows it. Still, it’s still a choking hazard because it’s small enough to fit through a toilet paper tube, so keep it away from your baby.

The Bottom Line

You’ll pay a premium for this premium product. Still, it’s certified organic, with no added sugar, salt or artificial ingredients. Hopefully, your baby will like it, too! And that’s always the clincher. By 6 months, babies definitely have an opinion about what they want to eat and what they won’t. Keep trying if the going gets tricky. Food snags are common when babies are teething. And keep in mind that your pediatrician is your best source for what to feed your baby when.

Plum Organics Pouch Pointers:

–Don’t microwave the pouch. To warm it up (only if you want to), let it sit for a few minutes in a bowl of hot water.
–Squeeze what you need and refrigerate the rest for later. But use it within 24 hours.
–If the pouch looks damaged or inflated, don’t serve it to your baby.

For stores near you that carry Plum Organics, or to buy online, visit www.plumorganics.com.

The Boon Spoon retails for $3.99; it's sold separately.

Plum Organic's spouted pouch is designed to be used with the Boon Spoon.

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Seen on the street: Mom jogging with a travel system

June 1st, 2010

The other day, I spotted a mom on the sidewalk of a nearby town I was driving through trying to jog with her travel-system stroller with her baby in the car seat. (Travel system strollers are traditional strollers that accomodate an infant car seat.) Very few jogging strollers are made to accomodate an infant car seat or allow a baby to lie flat, which is important if your baby can’t hold his head up yet. In fact, I know of only one brand–Baby Jogger–that makes a jogging stroller that can accomodate infants–and the brand of stroller this mom was pushing definite wasn’t it.

babyproductsmom.com says:

If you like to run, like I do, it is tempting to try to use your regular stroller as a jogger. But you’re better off keeping the two–your baby and your run–separate. Or to get a jogging stroller in addition to your regular stroller. And even then, you’ll want to wait. In fact, because of the jarring nature of the ride, hold off on using a jogging stroller until your child is a year old, even if you’re just walking fast on rough terrain. And always secure your child in the stroller’s five-point safety harness and use the wrist strap. It keeps the stroller from getting away from you if you fall or trip while you’re running.

Sandra Gordon is the author of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, which is available on Amazon at
Travel systems like this Acella Sport Travel aren’t meant for jogging.

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Baby-Products-Consumer-Reports/dp/1933524243/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275415666&sr=1-1.

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New thinking on used cribs

May 26th, 2010

I’m constantly being asked the question: “What baby products should I not buy used because they’re unsafe?” This sort of question often comes from parents who are savvy with navigating Craig’s List. The site is a popular way to buy used baby products from local fellow parents and, in fact, I’ve bought and sold my kids’ products on Craig’s List myself.

As it turns out, there are lots of baby products you shouldn’t buy used. I’m finding, though, that my list of “what not to buy used” is constantly changing, as safety standards get updated. Toys, for example, used to be on my ”okay to buy used” list. But since toy safety standards were revised as part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, I’m generally not recommending buying used toys unless they’re new or look like new since they might have been made before 2009, when the new toy safety standards got implemented. The new standards ban three types of phthalates, a chemical in plastic, and lower the bar on the permissible lead limit in paint applied to children’s products.   

On the other hand, cribs used to be on my “don’t buy used list.” But if you buy a stationary crib (no-drop sides), as we now recommend in Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, a stationary crib now seems okay to buy used, provided that all the slats are sturdy.

A stationary crib has no potentially dangerous drop sides.

 A stationary crib is a solid piece of furniture; the danger with drop sides, which can malfunction over time or be installed incorrectly, is eliminated. But here’s the catch: If you decide to buy a used stationary crib, know the date it was manufactured. The safest stationary cribs were made after August 2009, which coinsides with the new lead paint standards.

Feel free to chime in!

What baby products have you bought used? What tips can you offer other parents who may be considering going this route?

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Have you tried the iPhone scanner app at Myregistry.com?

May 24th, 2010

myregistry app is available at iTunes for $1.99.

A reader, Carla, asked me that question recently. I have an iPhone but I haven’t tried that App yet. Have you?

I think it’s an ingenious idea. The Myregistry App turns your iPhone into a bar code scanner so you can add items to your baby registry gift list as you shop. iPod Touch and iPad users can use it too by entering UPC codes while offline. They can retrieve them later to add to their registry.

What are your thoughts on the Myregistry App? What others Apps do you use to make your life as a Mom, Dad or parent-to-be easier?

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Save Dollars on Diapers

May 20th, 2010

The other day, I chatted with Louise and Garen, radio hosts of The Frugal Yankee. (Love their site, BTW, www.frugalyankee.com.) We were talking diapers, specifically how to save money on them. They wanted to know about the age-old question: How much can you save by going with cloth diapers vs. disposables? The answer: Hundreds if not at least $1,000 by the time your baby is out of diapers by using cloth instead of disposables–if you’re willing to do lots of laundry detail (and not use a diaper service). Forget pins and plastic pants. If I were doing it all over again, I’d definitely try out pocket and/or all-in-one reusable diapers such as Fuzzibunz (www.fuzzibunz.com) or Bummis (www.bummis.com). They take cloth diapers to a new, more convenient and doable level for a fraction of the long-term costs of disposables (which amounts to roughly $2,500 by the time your baby is diaper-free). But cloth/reusable diapers aren’t for everybody. Maybe you hate to do laundry, for example, or your baby is in daycare, in which case, you’ll need to use disposables some of the time, or your baby is prone to diaper rash. As you probably know from previous posts, disposables have done wonders for eliminating irritant diaper rashes.

Stores and Websites often put diapers on sale as "loss leaders" to induce parents to shop there, so take advantage of good deals.

In any event, here are three more ways to save on both types of diapers:

–Shop Wal-Mart and Target. You’ll find rock-bottom prices on disposable and reusable diapers at www.walmart.com and www.target.com. Don’t be afraid to try the store brand and save at least 3 cents per diaper with every change. (It adds up!) 

–Visit www.drugstore.com, www.diapers.com, www.amazon.com, and www.cvs.com for good deals on name-brand and store-brand diapers (and save yourself a trip to the store) and stock up at sale time.

–Save on regular deliveries. Amazon’s Subscribe and Save program, which pops up at the checkout, offers the best deal if you sign up for regular deliveries; you can save 15 percent and get free shipping too.

What do you do to save money on diapers? Give us the poop!

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