Long Island, NY Getting Ready to Ban BPA

A county in Long Island, New York may just be the first to ban baby bottles and sippy cups that contain the chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA). BPA has been shown in many studies to have adverse affects on the developmental growth of babies. BPA can leak from sippy cups and baby bottles into food and drink. Suffolk County legislature approved the ban unanimously, now it is up to Steve Levy, the County Executive to sign it into law. This would make Suffolk County the very first in the nation to actually ban BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups. Other state … Continue reading →

The Danger of Artificial Turf

Many homes use artificial turf for porches, rugs, mats and more when real grass just wouldn’t do. There is also a growing trend in some parts of the country to replace real grass with artificial turf that never needs to be watered. But if you have children, you will want to steer clear of artificial turf, because there is a real health hazard for children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory against artificial turf because it may contain high levels of lead that could pose a health hazard to humans. The high lead … Continue reading →

Bassinet Safety

Bassinets, co-sleepers, portable play yards and cradles are all great products to use for an infant when you want the baby to be close and hand. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents share a room with their baby but not a bed, and a bassinet can do the trick. One thing that many parents don’t realize (I know I didn’t, and we used a bassinet with all three of our children) is that there are no federal regulations regarding bassinets as there are with cribs. In other words, cribs must follow safety standards set by the Consumer Product … Continue reading →

Kitchen Safety

The kitchen is a room that most families spend a lot of time in, cooking and cleaning up. In some homes it is actually the heart of family living. Because so much time is spent in the kitchen, it is where many accidents occur. When babies and small children are involved, kitchen hazards can be devastating. While most people put chemicals out of reach and install a stove guard, there are other hazards lurking in the kitchen. Here are some tips on how to keep your kitchen safe, including some areas that are usually overlooked. Trash With small children, trash … Continue reading →

Vicks VapoRub May Make Children Sicker

Chances are pretty good that you might have had Vicks VapoRub placed on your chest, the soles of your feet or under your nose when you had a respiratory illness as a child. My mother used this product so often on me that the local pharmacist used to put some aside for us whenever a new shipment came in. I’ve used it myself on my children, although only occasionally. And I am sure that we are not alone in using this product. One billion units of Vicks VapoRub were sold in the united states in the last five years. MSNBC.com … Continue reading →

Reducing Your Child’s Blood Lead Risk

The studies on the damage that too much lead can cause in children is overwhelming. Lead exposure in young children can lead to irreversible brain damage and loss of IQ. Very young children are extremely susceptible to levels of lead in the blood. Their smaller bodies and developing brains put them at risk. So how can you reduce your child’s risk of having high levels of lead exposure? Here are some answers. The number one risk for lead exposure comes from lead paint used in houses before the 1950s. Homes built before 1970 may also contain lead paint. Lead can … Continue reading →

Cutting Corners On Formula Could Be Fatal

In tough economic times, families are cutting back everywhere. One practice that could be deadly is cutting back on formula. Some parents are actually watering down formula in order to make it stretch further. Not only is this unwise, holding back needed nutrition for you baby, but it could be fatal. The Todayshow.com is reporting on a story about one mom who almost lost her five-month-old son because she watered down his formula. She was shopping with him at a store when he curled up and stopped breathing. The culprit was water intoxication. The baby was rushed to the hospital … Continue reading →

Safety Alert! Traces of Melamine in U.S. Formula

Here is important news for anyone who is currently using infant formula. The Associated Press is reporting that traces of the industrial chemical Melamine has been found in the top-selling brands of infant formula. Melamine is the chemical that was found in formula from China as well as some chocolates. The Chinese formula has been linked to the deaths of at least three infants and the illness if more than 50,000 others. The Food and Drug Administration is urging parents and caregivers not to stop using formula because this would be a dangerous overreaction to keep formula away from babies … Continue reading →

Infant Product Recall: Gas Relief Drops

Here is another recall, this time for infant gas relief drops. Johnson & Johnson is recalling one-once bottles of infants Mylicon gas relief drops in the non-staining version. There is a possibility that these drops might contain metal fragments that could have gotten into the product sometime during the manufacturing process. The recall includes more than 12,000 bottles of these infant gas relief drops. If you have these drops, stop using them immediately and call the manufacturer at 1-800-222-9435. They will tell you the details of the recall, including how to dispose of the infant gas relief drops and how … Continue reading →

Protect Your Baby: Free DVD

Your baby could be in danger in your own home. Baby proofing is so important, but some areas of baby proofing can be easily missed. Any experienced parent probably has at least one or two stories of near misses where their baby narrowly avoided disaster, despite vigilant care. Babies can get into all kinds of things, and this can be dangerous. I recently hosted a play date where there were babies in attendance. Although I make every effort to baby proof the play areas, one very enterprising crawler got around my efforts. She pulled off one of those sticky pads … Continue reading →