babyproductsmom.com » Proactive Parent http://babyproductsmom.com/blog baby products--saving money and safety Tue, 10 May 2011 12:49:36 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Banking your amniotic fluid http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/banking-your-amniotic-fluid.html http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/banking-your-amniotic-fluid.html#comments Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:43:43 +0000 http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/?p=409 Cord blood banking was just coming on the scene when my first daughter was born 11 years ago. Now, there’s another option available to women in the U.S. that’s long been available in Europe–banking your amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid banking complements cord blood banking. Doing one–banking cord blood–doesn’t negate the need for the other–amniotic fluid banking–because different types of cells are collected. Cord blood is for blood-related disorders. Amniotic fluid banking, on the other hand, harvests stem cells from amniotic fluid. When deep frozen in liquid nitrogen (to as low as negative 196 degrees C), amniotic fluid stem cells, when thawed, are viable for decades. They can grow in to a broad category of tissues and organs, including bone, cartilage, skin, and kidneys. Amniotic stem cells may even help the heart repair itself after heart attack. So you never know when your baby or a member of your family might need them.

Amniotic fluid banking is convenient. The cells are collected as part of a routine amniocentesis during the second trimester. Instead of throwing away the fluid, it’s preserved. There’s a cost for the service–$1,650 for the first year and $120 for every year after that. But Biocell, the company leading the amniotic fluid banking effort in the U.S., is willing to work with every interested family. In other words, you may not need to pay full price, depending on need. The cost of amniotic fluid may also be covered by your flexible spending account. For more information, visit http://www.healthywomen.org/content/ask-expert/7135/banking-amniotic-fluid.

]]> http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/banking-your-amniotic-fluid.html/feed 0 Travel lighter with your baby and Diaper Buds http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/travel-lighter-with-your-baby-and-diaper-buds.html http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/travel-lighter-with-your-baby-and-diaper-buds.html#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:36:49 +0000 http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/?p=396 If you don’t know about Diaper Buds, check out my ShopSmart Magazine blog post on this nifty new product: http://www.shopsmartmag.org/kids/index.html. Diaper Buds are vacuum-sealed regular diapers that are reduced in size by 70 percent, but spring back to life (and full size) when you open the packaging. I think they’re a great idea, especially when you’re traveling and trying to pack in as much gear as you can into one carry on and a diaper bag. Incidentally, many airlines allow to you carry on a diaper bag at no charge; that may be true for the carry on as well, depending on the airline. Check the airline’s Website for details before flying.

Happy travels!

]]> http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/travel-lighter-with-your-baby-and-diaper-buds.html/feed 0 Tips from Santa on visiting Santa at the mall http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/tips-from-santa-on-visiting-santa-at-the-mall.html http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/tips-from-santa-on-visiting-santa-at-the-mall.html#comments Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:41:29 +0000 http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/?p=391 Visiting Santa should be a fun experience but when my kids were little, I always surprised by how scared they were to sit on Santa’s lap. I could have used these preparation tips, from a real Santa, which I just posted on Consumer Reports’ Shop Smart blog: http://www.shopsmartmag.org/2010/11/tips-for-taking-your-kids-to-visit-santa.html. The trick is to ease your kids into it, let them take a little control over the situation, and not to give up if the visit doesn’t work out like you thought it would. In other words, go back to visit Santa in few days if you have to, to try again. Bottomline: There’s more to visiting Santa than you think, especially if your kids are on the shy side, like mine are.

]]> http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/tips-from-santa-on-visiting-santa-at-the-mall.html/feed 0 Managing the fast-food frenzy http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/managing-the-fast-food-frenzy.html http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/managing-the-fast-food-frenzy.html#comments Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:42:05 +0000 http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/?p=379 What do you do when your 2-year-old is begging you for the chicken nuggets she keeps seeing on McDonald’s commercials? See what I and others say here, at CNN.com: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/11/fast.food.choices/index.html. 
My take? Go ahead and visit the nearest McDonald’s or Burger King on a snow day or your child’s birthday or half birthday. Everything in moderation and fast food is fine if you only eat it on rare occasions. And, fortunately, in my neck of the woods in CT, fast-food is hard to find. You really have to go out of your way to get to a McDonald’s or Burger King.  And that’s good. According to research, when something is geographically undesirable, whether it’s fast food or whatever, you’ll be less likely to eat it because it takes too much effort to get there. I can certainly attest to that.

How do you manage your kid’s requests for junk food? We’d love to hear what you do!  

Everything in moderation. Fast food is fine for a special occasion.

]]> http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/managing-the-fast-food-frenzy.html/feed 0 Organize Your Baby’s Outgrown Clothes http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/organize-your-babys-outgrown-clothes.html http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/organize-your-babys-outgrown-clothes.html#comments Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:35:25 +0000 http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/?p=371 Vroom! That’s how fast babies outgrow clothes. To keep better track of what your baby can wear and what no longer fits, here’s an organization tip from Sarah  Welch, co-author of Pretty Neat: Get Organzied & Let Go of Perfection (www.getbuttonedup.com).

Instead of keeping too-small items mixed in with things that still fit in your baby’s dresser like I did,  ”Keep a ziploc bag or plastic bin for clothes marked according to clothing size such as ’3-6 months’ in the bottom of a closet, in the corner of your nursery or in your laundry room. Then, when you go to put something on your baby that you realize no longer fits, just toss it in the labeled bin or bag,” Welch says. That little step makes it much easier to get the nursery ready for whenever baby #2 comes along. It’s also an excellent system for organizing hand-me-downs for friends and relatives with growing families.

For more organization tips for everything, you can follow Sarah on Twitter at /SarahButtonedUp or sign up for her e-newsletter at http://getbuttonedup.com/e-mail-sighup/.

]]> http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/organize-your-babys-outgrown-clothes.html/feed 0 Everything you ever wanted to know about breastfeeding http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-breastfeeding.html http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-breastfeeding.html#comments Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:36:17 +0000 http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/?p=367 The 4th edition of The Complete Book of Breastfeeding (Workman, 2010) is just out, written by Sally Wendkos Olds and my local awesome pediatrician, Laura Marks, M.D., as well as Marvin S. Eiger, M.D. I cover how to buy the best breast pump and nursing bra in my book, Consumer Reports Best Baby Products (http://www.amazon.com/Best-Baby-Products-Consumer-Reports/dp/1933524243/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283862056&sr=1-1). But this comprehensive guide takes breastfeeding to the ultimate level, covering everything from how to breastfeed a pre-term infant (in the old days, when I was born, women were told that premature infants couldn’t latch on, which is why my mom obediently gave me infant formula–Wah! I’m still mad about that!) to the breastfeeding benefits for Dads (yes, even you benefit when your baby is breastfed). As with most things in life, information is key, and breastfeeding is no exception. With this updated classic, you can read your way through breastfeeding issues, solving as you go, and arm yourself with the knowledge you need to breastfeed your baby with conviction and confidence.

]]> http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-breastfeeding.html/feed 0 Have your tried Plum Organics Spouted pouches? http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/have-your-tried-plum-organics-spouted-pouches.html http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/have-your-tried-plum-organics-spouted-pouches.html#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:11:49 +0000 http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/?p=343 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.

]]> http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/have-your-tried-plum-organics-spouted-pouches.html/feed 0 Have you tried the iPhone scanner app at Myregistry.com? http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/have-you-tried-the-iphone-scanner-app-at-myregistry-com.html http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/have-you-tried-the-iphone-scanner-app-at-myregistry-com.html#comments Mon, 24 May 2010 17:07:27 +0000 http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/?p=324

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?

]]> http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/have-you-tried-the-iphone-scanner-app-at-myregistry-com.html/feed 5 Stopping High Chair High Jinks http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/stopping-high-chair-high-jinks.html http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/stopping-high-chair-high-jinks.html#comments Wed, 05 May 2010 14:36:08 +0000 http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/?p=289 Here’s a question from Amber of New York City, mom to 1-year old, Chloe:

“My baby loves to drop things from her high chair, whether it’s food, her bottle, or her spoon, and squeals with laughter when I fetch things again and again. It’s fun yet exasperating. How can I teach her to stop?”

If your baby is under a year old, you really can’t teach her to stop. In fact, throwing food helps your baby learn cause and effect–if she throws food from her high chair, it falls down and you’ll pick it up. Instead of getting exasperated, play along for another round or two. When you’ve had enough, say something like: “That was fun, but Mommy isn’t going to play anymore,” then stop picking up the food.

By the time your baby is a toddler, though, she’s old enough–and developmentally capable of understanding–that flinging food isn’t okay. Toddlers may still do it when they’re bored or want attention, or if they don’t like what’s being serving. To end the antics, state a rule positively, such as: “Food is for eating and it belongs on your plate.” Stay calm. “A huge reaction from you will only reinforce the bad behavior,” says Marcy Guddemi, Ph.D., executive director of the Gesell Institute of Human Development in New Haven, CT. If your toddler keeps it up, end the meal.
Game over.

High chair shopping tip: Look for a fixed center crotch post, which prevents your baby from slipping under the tray and getting his head caught between the tray and the chair (it happens!). Check the leg openings, too. They shouldn’t be large enough for a child to fit both legs in one. And inspect the safety belt. Some high chairs have three-point harnesses, but a five-point harness (shoulder straps that attach to the waist belt) is better.

]]> http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/stopping-high-chair-high-jinks.html/feed 0 Should babies younger than 6 months wear sunscreen? http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/should-babies-younger-than-6-months-wear-sunscreen.html http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/proactive-parent/should-babies-younger-than-6-months-wear-sunscreen.html#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:41:08 +0000 http://babyproductsmom.com/blog/?p=280 Quick quiz

True or false:  Babies younger than 6 months shouldn’t wear sunscreen.

 Answer False. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says it’s safe for infants younger than 6 months to wear minimal amounts of sunscreen on small areas such as the face, neck and the back of your baby’s hands. In general, however, the AAP advises that you keep a baby younger than 6 months in the shade of a tree, umbrella, or stroller canopy and to dress your baby in lightweight long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Why? “Babies are more prone than adults to sunburn because their skin is thinner and their body’s protective tanning response isn’t developed,” explains Jim Chow, M.D., associate director of the division of dermatology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, in Columbia.

If you can’t avoid exposing your baby to the sun, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

Blue Lizard Australian sunscreen (available at Amazon) contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

These key ingredients physically block the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays without irritating your baby’s sensitive skin. Otherwise, try to keep your baby covered.

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