Archive for October, 2009

Random survey about mommy bloggers accepting freebies

Friday, October 9th, 2009

“Is becoming a mommy blogger a good way to save money on baby products?

I was asked that question this week by a writer for www.bankrate.com. It was a curious question, especially since Consumer Reports accepts no advertising and buys all the products we test. She noted that several of the mommy bloggers in her new-moms group were receiving free baby products from manufacturers. It goes to show you how pervasive this practice has become–getting freebies from companies in exchange for a review (or not).

As you may already know, the FTC is cracking down on product endorsements. An existing FTC rule that states product reviewers must reveal any connection they have with advertisers was extended to bloggers and takes effect on December 1.

Anyway, that question really didn’t quite apply to me. But as a result of it, I’m taking a random and anonymous survey. I’d love to get your thoughts on this…How do you think the new FTC rule will affect the mommy blogger “industry?”

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Posted in FAQ | 2 Comments »

The Best Home Remedies for Diaper Rash

Friday, October 9th, 2009

A reader, Danalydiva, asks: “What’s the best home remedy for diaper rash?”

That’s a great question. Here’s what I determined, after doing a little digging: It seems that the best home remedies for diaper rash are preventive. That is, to change your baby’s diaper regularly–basically as soon as your baby pees or poops–so the area stays as dry as possible. That can be an endless job if your baby has diarrhea. For my book, Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, I interviewed Ilona J. Friedan, M.D., director of pediatric dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco Children’s Hospital, who is also a firm believer in using disposable diapers over cloth. “Because of the gel in disposable diapers, irritant diaper rashes that were once commonplace are now rare,” she says. The gel not only absorbs moisture, but wicks moisture away from a baby’s delicate skin. But if your baby doesn’t get frequent diaper rashes, however, there’s no reason to switch to disposables if you currently use cloth diapers.

If a rash develops, it seems there’s no substitute for the age-old remedy of zinc-oxide-based diaper cream–applying a thick coat to the rash. For more on preventing and treating diaper rash, here’s what the American Academy of Pediatrics has to say, just fyi: http://patiented.aap.org/content.aspx?aid=5297.

 Keep your questions coming!
 

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Posted in FAQ | 3 Comments »

Fall-out from the economy: Changing diapers less often

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Members Mark diapersThe economy has affected us in all sorts of ways and a notice for a diaper drive in the restroom of my nearby public libary caught my attention recently. The notice about the drive, sponsored by the United Way, mentioned that babies in families struggling to make ends meet often spend the entire day or longer in a single diaper. Infants need up to 12 diapers a day and toddlers up to 8 a day. If you don’t change a diaper that often, it can lead to diaper rash. The notice mentioned that it can also increase the risk of hepatitis, even child abuse from the constant crying that can result when a child is left in a dirty diaper too long.

You can’t use food stamps or the WIC Federal Program to purchase diapers. That’s where the diaper drive comes in. Turns out anybody can organize a diaper drive in his/her neighborhood or workplace. If you’d like to help, contact the United Way. Here’s the link:

 http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/uwoci/org/opp/10243089539.html?return_url=%252fuwoci%252forg%252fopp%252fmedallions%252f%253fmedallion%255fid%253d10277321974

Meanwhile, to save on diapers in general, my best advice is to go with store-brand disposable diapers. Although Consumer Reports’ tests show that the name brands are the top-rated disposable diapers, because overall they tend to be more absorbent and fit better, you may find store brands more than adequate—and a cost cutter. You’ll save about 3 cents per diaper if, for example, you compare the cost of size 1 Par­ent’s Choice, Wal-Mart’s store-brand diapers, with Pampers, also size 1. Saving pennies per diaper may not seem like much, but with 10 changes per day (which is reasonable with an infant), you’d bank about $9 per month and $108 per year using the size 1 store brand diapers.

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Posted in Proactive Parent | 2 Comments »