babyminding.com

The results of a study as reported by WebMD shows that more and more parents are using bassinets, however little is known about their safety.   In a nutshell, the study reports 53 infant deaths in bassinets over the course of 14 years.  The majority of these deaths occurred as a result of suffocation due to loose blankets and pillows and/or the infant being placed on their stomach to sleep.  More details on this limited study can be found in the article “How Safe are Bassinets for Baby“?

Currently there are no federal safety standards for Bassinets, however there are guidelines.  Here’s what the CPSC advises to look for in bassinets:

• A sturdy bottom with a wide base.
• Bassinets should have smooth surfaces.
• No hardware should be sticking out of bassinets.
• Mattresses need to be firm and fit tightly.

While some parenting experts including Dr. James McKenna, the world’s leading expert on infant sleep, advise that co-sleeping is best, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep near their parents but not in the same bed due to the possible risk of SIDS.  Bassinets provide a cozier alternative to a crib but due to the lack of safety standards, may not be the best option.   What do you think?  Where is the best place for baby to sleep in the early months?  Crib, Bassinet, Co-Sleeper, or Parent’s Bed?

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The FDA approved a new 5-in-1 vaccine, Pentacel. I’m not sure if it’s good news yet, but it seems to be a step in the right direction towards reducing an infants exposure to vaccine preservatives such as aluminum. The current immunization schedule provides for 23 vaccines administered during the first 18 months. This will reduce that number of shots to 16 for children under 18 months. Pentacel is the first combination vaccine to protect children against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections. According to studies done on more than 5,000 children in the United States and Canada, the vaccine appears to be safe and effective. However, as with any medical breakthrough, only time will tell.

More information on this new vaccine can be found at WebMD in their article “New Children’s Vaccine Means Fewer Shots”

Previous posts related to Vaccines can be found here.

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Since May is Pregnancy Awareness Month, it’s a good time for all moms-to-be to watch “The Business of Being Born“, produced by Ricki Lake and directed by Abby Epstein. This powerful film that came out in 2007 speaks to the oftentimes unnecessary and abundant medical interventions during childbirth in the United States.

I had a personal experience with hospital intervention despite my intentions for a VBAC with my second daughter. Now in my case it may have been necessary but I will never know for sure. When my first daughter was born I had a text book pregnancy. All of my visits to my OB went well with no indication that there were any problems, until I made it clear to my doctor that I did not want to be induced hoping for a more natural experience. The very next visit he sat me down and explained that I was “borderline” and that my baby was too big and would never be birthed naturally. He pushed me to schedule a c-section, stating that I would die in childbirth if I attempted to birth even a 3 pound baby. Scared out of my mind, I opted for a c-section and Britton was born a very healthy 8lbs 10ozs, and I recovered as well as can be expected. But, I felt cheated. Continue reading ‘“The Business of Being Born”’ »

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I’ve recently read a couple of studies that seem to support breastfeeding even more than before! I’ve always heard that breastfed babies can have higher IQ’s than their formula fed peers. Historically, there has been debate as to whether this phenomenon is due to breast milk itself or the differences in how moms who breastfeed interact with their children. WebMD released an article “Does Breastfeeding Boost IQ?“, that discusses the results of a study published in Archives of General Psychiatry. The study shows that children who were breastfed, scored 7.5 points higher on verbal IQ and 5.9 points higher overall. This increase is attributed to long-term, exclusive breastfeeding. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed exclusively for the first 3-6 months and to some degree for the first year.  The CDC reports that the rates of breastfeeding in the United States are up to to 77% for babies born in 2005-2006 versus 60% for babies born in 1993-1994.   This is great news for our future generations!

Another study, reported by BabyCenter contributor Susan Markel, M.D., shows that iron in infant formula may actually delay development.  The study supported by National Institute of Health (NIH) shows that infants fed iron-fortified formula scored 11 points lower in IQ.

It’s important to note that many factors influence a child’s development and isolated studies do not always tell the whole story.  Also, iron is important in a child’s development as it helps in the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body.  However, I believe that nature knows best and our bodies are made to produce milk to meet the nutritional needs of our babies. I encourage all moms to try to breastfeed for 3 months exclusively, as there is no question that breast milk is good for your baby! For more information on the benefits of breastfeeding, visit La Leche League.

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Please join me in stopping toxics in baby bottles.  Sign the petition to get BPA out of children’s products. The evidence is mounting. After years of concern about the safety of baby bottles, children’s care products, and other food and beverage containers that contain the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), the verdict is in–and it’s not good. The Canadian government recently announced it is planning to ban the use of BPA in baby bottles, and declared BPA dangerous.[1] And, earlier this week, the Los Angeles Times reported that the U.S. based National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that there is “some concern” that babies, fetuses, and children are in danger because BPA harms animals at the low levels found in nearly all human bodies.[2] Sadly, a recent study found this chemical in all five leading brands of American baby bottles.

WHAT DOES IT DO? Growing children are especially at risk to chemicals as they face greater exposure per pound of body weight. Even fetuses are susceptible as chemicals, including BPA, cross the placenta in pregnant women. Over 130 studies suggest that BPA exposure, even at low doses, is linked to many health problems, including early puberty, breast and prostate cancer, obesity, attention and hyperactivity disorder, brain damage, altered immune system, and lower sperm counts.[3]

This is a widespread issue which we need to address together. A 2007 study by the Environment California Research and Policy Center found that all five leading brands of baby bottles leached BPA at levels found to cause harm in numerous laboratory studies.[4]

It’s enough to sink any mother’s stomach.

Let’s take a second to take a collective deep breath, and then mobilize for major action. Sign a petition calling for the CEOs of the leading manufacturers of baby bottles to stop the use of BPA in our baby bottles and other children’s products. Sign on now and we’ll send the petition to the CEOs of Avent, Disney/First Years, Dr. Brown’s, Evenflo, Gerber, and Playtex in collaboration with Center for Health, Environment, & Justice and other organizations.

For tips on how to limit exposure to BPA, see this article

[1]http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2008/04/18/bisphenol-a.html?ref=rss

[2]http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-na-plastic16apr16,1,498138.story

[3] http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/environmental-health/stop-toxic-toys/bisphenol-a-overview
[4]http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/reports/environmental-health/environmental-health-reports/toxic-baby-bottles

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Given the recent attention the news has given to toxic Bisphenol-A (BPA) found in baby bottles, sippy cups and infant formula packaging, it’s important to recognize the safest choices if you are unable to or choose not to breast feed your baby. Environmental Working Group (EWG) is an organization dedicated to protecting public health and environment by providing public information about potentially toxic products. On their website, EWG provides a Guide to Infant Formula for parents to use when determining which formula to buy for their infants. You can reduce your baby’s exposure to BPA by choosing powdered formula over liquid, formula stored in glass bottles or surprisingly, if you choose liquid formula, grab the plastic container over the metal as the metal is lined with BPA containing plastic. According to EWG, the best brand choices are Nestle, Enfamil and Similac Powdered Formula. As far as bottles and sippy cups go, please see my other post on Polycarbonate Plastics or view the Environmental Working Group - Guide to Infant Formula.

Please keep in mind, however, that experts agree that “breast is best”. In those situations where breastfeeding is not an option, the second best is to avoid BPA containing products altogether.

Related Posts

Bisphenol-A (BPA) Found in Infant Formula Cans!

Precocious Puberty - Early Onset of Puberty

BPA Being Slowly Pulled Off Store Shelves

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In a previous post on Polycarbonate Plastics and Your Family’s Health, I discussed the potential dangers of chemicals from some plastics, such as Bisphenol-A (BPA), that can leach into food. U.S News and World Report released an article, “Study of Chemical in Plastic Bottles” earlier this week on the findings of the BPA in bottles toxicology study. Bisphenol-A acts as a hormone disrupter and mimics estrogen causing health problems such as cancer, uterine fibroids, decreased sperm count, has been linked to hyperactivity and can be the cause of precocious or early onset puberty. This is especially a concern in children’s products as BPA has a more toxic effect on babies and children and has been found in many baby bottles, sippy cups and even in the lining of infant formula cans. Canada has recently announced their plan to ban BPA from baby bottles. Walmart is going to start pulling their BPA baby bottles at the beginning of next year. However the removal of Bisphenol-A containing plastics from the market place is a slow process. I encourage you again to review the IATP Smart Plastics Guide so that you can make informed buying decisions when purchasing your baby’s bottles or children’s plastic products. Born Free Bottles are BPA-free and a great option for babies with slow flow technology to minimize gas. For older infants and toddlers, some good options are Think Baby BPA-free Sippy Cup or Foogo Stainless Sippy Cup.

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This “news” is very late for babyminding.com but I’ve been thinking about the story since it came to my attention several days ago and I just have to write something about it. In October 2006, a mom, Emily Gillette, on a Freedom Airlines flight out of Vermont to New York was sitting in the next to last row in a window seat and while the plane was still sitting at the gate was breastfeeding her child and holding her shirt closed with one hand. The flight attendant told the mom “You’re offending me.” and asked her to cover up her breastfeeding baby with an airplane blanket. The mom refused and was escorted off of the plane by crew.

Now, I try not to preach my views to anyone and try not to over do it with regard to my strong belief that “breast is best” because I know for some moms it just isn’t an option. However the fact that another breastfeeding mom was called out and made to feel ashamed of providing the best nourishment for her child really irks me! What is offensive about breastfeeding? Especially when done discreetly. What’s even more ridiculous is that the rest of the crew supported the attendant and actually escorted the mom off of the plane! I truly believe that more moms would choose to breastfeed their child if it wasn’t a public taboo. I hate that I feel embarrassed to breastfeed in public. I hate that I always sit in the darkest booth of a restaurant when dining out with my 7 month old because of the stares I get when she wants to eat (discreetly) with the rest of the family. I hate that I have to stop my shopping mid way through to run out to the car and breastfeed in the backseat under the protection of my tinted windows. Perhaps I’m more modest than most but I have to think that based upon what happened to this mom it is not uncommon for other breastfeeding moms to feel the same way. Bottles have nipples; are those to be hidden under a blanket too?

Read more about the Vermont Human Rights Commission ruling on this breastfeeding in public case in this Babycenter blog post.

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