Are you seeing pink? This month many organizations and individuals are wearing pink to support breast cancer awareness. Turn on the TV on Sunday and you will find big, burly linebackers wearing pink in support of this cause. The NFL is just one of the many organizations that actively participate in breast cancer awareness activities. Did you know that October is also SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Awareness Month? Can you guess an activity that lowers both the risk for breast cancer and SIDS?
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National Child Passenger Safety Week (September 19-25) is upon us. Over the past year, I have participated in many car seat inspections and it has become very clear to me that many car seats have not been inspected by a certified child passenger safety technician (CPST). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 73% to over 90% of child restraints are misused. In my experience, over 95% of the car seats that I have assisted with were misused in some way (installation, location of seat, child restrained properly, safety of the seat itself, etc). To date, I have seen 2…that’s right…2 car seats that passed inspection. Let’s take a look at some common mistakes to help you avoid making the same.
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Having trouble with low milk supply? Check out these dietary tips from our friends at New Mommy Oasis (NMO). Both Holly and Lisa, founders of NMO, experienced a drop in their milk supply and utilizing these tips helped Lisa TRIPLE her milk supply!
Going back to work and worried how you will manage pumping during business hours? Our friends from Best for Babes have you covered, mama! Here's what they say:
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If you are anything like me, you can’t even imagine your life without your cell phone. I remember the days of pagers and stopping at a local payphone to return a call. These days, payphones aren’t readily available and with my increased germaphobic nature, payphones aren’t really a feasable option. I also remember the days before pagers when I would wait around for an important phone call which sometimes would take hours to come (wow that seems so long ago). Now with great advancements in technology, those days are over. But now a new problem arises…cancer from cell phone radiation.
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Recent Study Shows Parents are Puzzled
By Kimberlee Mitchell, National Child safety Expert & CPST (Child Passenger Safety Technician)
There’s no question that parent’s #1 concern about car seats is SAFETY. However, when it comes to the specifics about car seat requirements (i.e. how long child should ride in it and the best place to install it) the majority of parents are confused and lacking knowledge. (Source: Recent study by AAA and Dorel Juvenile Group.)
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Last weekend, I read an interesting blog “Bride to BPA” by Anna Davis posted on Healthy Child, Healthy World that I really relate to. In a nutshell, Anna and her fiancé spent an exhausting afternoon registering for healthier household items for their wedding registry. I can see how trying to “green your life” all in one shot can be exhausting! I use a phasing out approach and replace items over a span of time.
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The FDA has reported growing concerns over the manufacturing quality of McNeil Consumer HealthCare’s facilities. McNeil, the producer of many over-the-counter medications, has been frequently cited for unsatisfactory inspections. In February of this year, both McNeil Consumer HealthCare and Johnson & Johnson, McNeil’s parent company, were warned by the FDA to correct the problems noted by FDA investigators.
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Earlier this week I attended a great breastfeeding conference in Houston. Our speaker, Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSEd, IBCLC, discussed the various challenges that mom’s face when breastfeeding and what we, as healthcare professionals, can do to help promote and support breastfeeding.
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Last year I was introduced to an ingenious product called the Shower Hug. The Shower Hug is a wrap that is used in the shower to support and protect sore breasts and nipples. The Shower Hug can also be used to protect c-section incisions! Check out all the benefits.
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Mother’s Day is just a few short days away and the internet is swarming with contests, specials and FANTASTIC Mother’s Day gifts. Here is just some of what we found:
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In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, we wanted to share some quick and easy ways that you, as a new or expecting parent, can positively impact this wonderful planet we call home. It’s no surprise that our previous ways of life have propelled us into a state of global warming, limitation of resources and polluted waterways, soil and air. It’s time to band together and take action. Here are some easy tips to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle:
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Have you heard of Healthy Child, Healthy World? If not, please allow me to share with you the vision, purpose and inspirations of this wonderful non-profit organization. The vast amount of information that this organization provides is absolutely imperative to all parents (including those of you hoping to be parents in the future), caregivers and healthcare professionals…heck, it’s imperative to EVERYONE. Healthy Child, Healthy World is just that…an organization advocating for the health of children and our environment. Here’s the 411:
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On April 8, 2010, the FDA addressed the chemical triclosan on their website (in the Consumer Updates section). Many of us have heard for some time now that triclosan, an ingredient used as a preservative to decrease or halt the growth of bacteria, fungi or mildew, can be harmful to our health, the environment and may be responsible for making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. This ingredient can be found in many common household products including: antibacterial soaps, body washes, toothpastes, cosmetics, deodorant, shaving cream and much more. Both the EPA and FDA, the authorities responsible for regulating triclosan, state that triclosan is NOT harmful to humans and in recent news, the FDA has stated that more research is being conducted to verify its safety and efficacy.
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Breastfeeding is the single most important thing a mother can do to promote the health of her baby, and it lowers her risk of disease, too. Unfortunately, either through misconceptions, difficulties, negative perceptions and/or lack of qualified personnel before, during and after delivery, many moms’ give up on breastfeeding after just a few short weeks.
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National Poison Prevention Week kicks off this week (March 14th -20th). According to the 2008 report conducted by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, approximately 1.3 million children younger than 6 were exposed to poisons.
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On March 12, 2010, the Consumers Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a warning to all parents and caregivers using infant sling carriers. Infants, especially those younger than 4 months of age, premature infants, twins, infants with health issues and those who are of low weight, have weaker neck muscles and can suffocate against the sling fabric. Another hazard that arises with sling use is that the infant’s airway can become obstructed if the infant’s head is positioned in a chin-to-chest position. According to the CPSC, “the baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate.” Presently, the CPSC is investigating 14 sling-related deaths with 12 of them involving infants younger than 4 months of age.
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Over the past months, Melinda Olson, founder of EMAB, and the 3 Green Angels have held many Twitter parties discussing the presence of cancer-causing chemicals found in personal care products. Since I have been working closely with Melinda and the EMAB staff as their hospital liaison, I attend as many of these parties as possible. Stacy Malkan of the non-profit organization, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, also joins the party on occasion.
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Two weekends ago, I attended the Healthy Baby and Child Expo in Houston. Now, for those of you who know me from my blog or website, you know that as a NICU nurse, my mission is simple….to promote the health, safety and well-being of babies. There were many vendors at the expo whose products/services were truly designed to promote infant health and safety. Let’s take a look at some of these companies:
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This past weekend, I got to attend the Healthy Baby and Child Expo at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas (the same venue my nursing graduation walk was held over a decade ago!). Presented by H-E-B (a supermarket for those of you not in TX) and Huggies, this event was jam packed with vendors, educational seminars, kid’s activities, mommy make-overs and fabulous prizes.
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2009 welcomed many babies into the world. Some of the most famous of them include:
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Can you believe 2009 is finished? It seems like the year just flew by! As a new year begins, I find myself reminiscing over the last year and am amazed at the many changes that have occurred over the last 12 months.
For us here at Babies 411, 2009 has been challenging, inspiring and full of accomplishments. Here’s a recap:
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