Better Baby Wipes

http://doterrablog.com/diy-baby-wipes

This is what I think is a great idea. What if we could stop putting all these crazy chemicals on our babies. I’m not going to write out all the ingredients and rant and rave about it either, I figure if you want more information you will click on the web links provided. We all know that we should do a better job with protecting our children and environment – we just have to make up our minds to do it.

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

This is a web site that list all the ingredients contained in baby wipes and it rates them based on their content. Check it out – think about it – and then lets do it!

So this blog has returned from its sabbatical and is ready to go at it again. Sabbaticals are necessary in order to rejuvenate. Rejuvenate or contemplate and here is what I discovered.

Although I love pre-natal anything – pregnancy, moms, motherhood, babies, all the cute themes for babies, beautiful clothing for mom and baby, all the new gadgets to make mothering more convenient (like that could happen), all the consumer products – when I was pregnant I chose, due to lack of resources and true interest in non consumerism,  to purchase only what was mandatory. I would like to get back to that state in this blog and in my life.

My challenge will be to cut out the BIG BOX shopping (I only go once every 6 months now) and only purchase local products. Each time I think I need something (other than emergency) I am going to wait 24 hours and if I can remember what I was going to get (lol) then I will ask “Do I need this? What are the repercussions on the environment? Is this necessary?”.  Notice I did not say what my next step is – each choice will have to be decided on an individual basis.

Here is my other challenge – I’m leaving for Ecuador the 19 of this month and know that I will not have many of the conveniences I have grown a custom to having at my finger tips. I will only take carry on luggage but am staying till November – can I do it? I went to France for 14 days with carry on so I can live with out my “junk”, right?

This will be a great opportunity to practice non-attachment and contentment. Will keep you posted.

Buying Guide for Cribs

This is a huge concern of mine since my child fell through the bottom structure and was pinned at his throat in a hotel rental crib. He was not injured just scared as were we! Double check, double check and then check again.

This article is from http://www.babycenter.com

The lowdown on cribs

Babies probably spend more time in their crib than anywhere else, so while comfort is important, safety is essential. And since most children sleep in a crib until it’s time to move into a real bed – typically between the ages of 2 and 3 – you’ll also want a sturdy one.

Many moms like to have the crib set up several months before their due date. It’s nice to get this task taken care of, but if your baby arrives before your crib does, don’t worry. Babies will do fine in a bassinet for the first several weeks or even months.

When it comes time to set up the crib, be sure to choose a spot away from windows, window blinds, and draperies. Babies can strangle on the cords, and older babies could possibly pull themselves up and fall through the window. To keep cords out of your child’s reach, use a clamp or clothespin, tie the cord to itself, or cut the loop in half to make two separate cords.

The cord on a baby monitor can also pose a danger. Between 2004 and 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received seven reports of babies strangled by monitor cords near their crib. Use wireless monitors or keep the cord well away from the crib.

• Find out more about crib safety in “what to look for when buying” and “important safety notes,” below.
• Get safe sleeping tips about crib bedding and sleep position to reduce your baby’srisk of SIDS.

What to look for when buying

Safety standards: When you buy a crib, look for the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association certification. This ensures that the product was tested for quality and safety. Also check BabyCenter’s Product Recall Finder to see whether your crib – or the one you’re planning to buy – has been recalled.

Slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart: Your crib should have slats that are close enough together to prevent your baby’s head from slipping through or getting stuck. The distance between the crib slats must be no more than 2 3/8 inches (about the size of a soda can).

Safe corner posts: If the crib has corner posts, they should be no higher than 1/16 of an inch (unless they’re over 16 inches high to support a canopy). If corner posts are higher than 1/16 of an inch, clothing can catch on them and injure or choke an infant.

Adjustable mattress height: Most cribs let you change the height of thecrib mattress by simply raising or lowering the mattress support. The time to lower the mattress is when your child begins sitting up. As kids get more active and move to pulling up and standing, you don’t want them to climb or fall out of the crib.

Stability: Give the crib a good shake in the store or after you put it together at home. If it wobbles or rattles, it may have been put together improperly. But wobbling or rattling could also be a sign that you should look for a sturdier crib.

Frame size: The crib interior should snugly accommodate a standard crib mattress – at least 51 3/4 inches long by 27 3/4 inches wide. If you can fit more than two fingers between the side of the mattress and the crib, the mattress is too small. This poses a significant danger, as babies can get trapped in that space. Make sure that with a mattress in place, the crib sides are tall enough to keep your baby safely inside.

Versatility: Many cribs are designed to convert to a toddler bed, a children’s bench, or even the headboard and footboard for a full-size bed. While this sounds appealing, make sure that the crib makeover is relatively easy to perform and that you like the look of the new furniture.

We can not be reminded enough

BabyCenter News

The latest child safety recalls

Keeping track of all the recalls isn’t easy! That’s why we do it for you.

You can search for recalls in our Product Recall Finder.

Here’s a list of the most recent ones.

 

Nap Nanny recliners recalled by retailers after five infant deaths

Baby and children’s jeans

Hug N’ Tug toys

Expanding toys recalled for ingestion hazard

Baby Jogger strollers

Dream On Me bed rails

Dream On Me bath seats

Nap Nanny infant recliners

Children’s inflatable waterslides

Trampolines sold at Sports Authority

Riding toy recalled for fall hazard

Elephantito girls’ pajamas

Boden children’s pajamas

PeaPod child travel beds

Graco glider rockers

Britax car seats

Halloween mini projection lights

Double Dazzler Light Show toy

Eddie Bauer bassinet

ValcoBaby booster seats

Upholstered toddler chairs

Dream On Me highchairs

Dream On Me swings

Sweatshirts and T-shirts sold at Target

Graco highchairs

Denim girls shorts

Pirate toy gun

H&M children’s water bottles

Death prompts recall of window blinds

Girls and boys bikes

2 million Summer Infant baby bathers

Care Bears pacifier

Mini Micro scooter

Babylicious crib fringe

4 million Bumbo baby seats recalled after 21 skull fractures

Animal snap bracelets

Children’s nightgowns and pajamas

Kenta and Kenta Plus child carriers

Green Toys mini vehicles

Peg Perego strollers

Kolcraft tandem strollers

Children’s beach chairs

Children’s mini trampoline

Old Navy toddler aqua socks

Chicco Polly high chairs

Flexible Flyer swing sets

Discovery Kids animated marine and safari lamps

Ishtex cotton pajamas

PajamaGrams children’s pajamas

Evenflo highchair recalled due to fall hazard

Activity centers sold at Toys “R” Us

Safety 1st toilet latches and cabinet locks

Trampolines sold at Toys R Us

Bassinets recalled for fall hazard

Inflatable Banzai pool slide recalled after death, paralysis

Children’s letterman jacket sold at Dillard’s

YMI Jeanswear hooded sweatshirt

“Goddess” hooded sweatshirt

Walmart trampolines recalled after broken bones, back injuries

Girls’ winter jackets

M.M.M. jogging suits

O’Neill Pluto hooded flannel shirts

Onboard 35 and Comfy Carry infant car seats

Puma children’s jackets

Girls’ jackets sold at Ross

Whoozit Starry Time baby rattle

Sippy cups sold at Target

Drop-side cribs sold at JCPenney

Child bicycle seats recalled after fingers crushed, nearly amputated

Kelty single and double jogging strollers

Playground slides recalled after serious injuries

Indie single and double strollers

Ikea high chairs

Bugaboo Bee Strollers

Bugaboo car seat adapter

Try our Product Recall Finder
See what else is going on in the news

High Risk Pregnancy

I just started teaching Pre-natal Yoga at a rehab center. I have known the director for a couple of years, even filled in to teach the regular yoga class to these ladies, so I felt like I knew what I was in for when I offered to teach Pre-natal Yoga at this facility. Let me also say that I have been teaching and training Pre-natal Yoga for several years so this is not my first rodeo.

I have been volunteering 2xs a week at an odd time during the day to teach these pregnant ladies relaxation skills, breath techniques and asana to improve or relieve pregnancy. When I found out that everybody in the program will be giving birth in the next 6 months, I felt a sense of urgency to start the practice ASAP and 2 days a week, the girls were on board  with this same sense of urgency.

One more thing… I am super cautious when I teach or train in Pre-natal Yoga. Life is short and very precious. Enough said!

I went to the facility Thursday to teach, signed in, went to the room where we have the class – alls good – until the director sticks her head in the door and says…” blah blah blah and these ladies are all high risk pregnancy” . What was I thinking? It’s rehab! Rehab from tic tacs? It never crossed my mind that these babies were in such a high risk situation, these ladies seem like most of the other ladies that I have taught Pre-natal Yoga to in the studio. It should not have shifted my teaching but it did – the shift was in what or rather how I teach to these ladies, more cautious. It saddened me to  think that this high risk could have been avoided. I can go two ways with this – 1. thank God that these ladies have taken the right step and are seeking treatment and continue to help and support  2. turn away and never look back.

Helping is what I choose for now and what they do in the future I can not control, I only have this moment to provide what little I have to offer these ladies. Yes, it still saddens me but sometimes we need to be the change.

Be the change you want to see in the world. Mahatma Gandhi

Maintain Health

Yoga, when practised during pregnancy, will help you not only maintain your health and well-being but also bring peace and freedom to the body, heart and mind of both you and your child.

-boost your energy

-refresh you when you are feeling tired

-it can calm a chattering mind

-can help you sleep more sound

-helps reduce backaches, constipation, bloating and swelling

-improves mood, posture and energy

-improves ability to cope with labor

-cultivates healthy bonding between mother an baby

just thought know should know – try a class to see for yourself. Namaste

Pre-Natal Yoga

The Tittibha Prenatal Teacher Training School, RYS is offering a Yoga Alliance approved pre and postnatal teacher training. This is currently the only Yoga Alliance approved Pre and Postnatal certification in North Carolina.

This program is designed to provide the participant with safe, informed and current methods for teaching prenatal yoga. You will leave feeling confident in your knowledge of bringing yoga as a form of health and wellness to your clients, both Pre and Postnatal.

Nancy Gilbert, E-RYT is a certified Pre and Postnatal instructor, RYPT. She brings not only her knowledge, but also integrity into her teaching. Nancy has been teaching Pre and Postnatal yoga for several years and her keen love of Prenatal yoga shines through in her kind attention towards her Mothers–to-be.

This 85-hour training in Pre and Postnatal follows the strict guidelines of Yoga Alliance. Though open to all interested, only YA certified teachers can…

View original post 174 more words

Should I try Pre-natal Yoga?

I get asked this a lot when people find out that I teach yoga. I tell them it helps with breathing, it helps you to relax but… be careful when you decide to sign up for a class. Its important that the instructor is qualified to teach prenatal yoga. To find out her qualifications you can ask her, look her up at the Yoga Alliance website where she will be listed as a Registered Prenatal Yoga Instructor or ask for recommendations. This is a very special time in your life and you need to be cautious. With that being said, there are some teachers of prenatal yoga that have found no need to register with Yoga Alliance maybe because they have nursing degrees, doulas, midwifes or they have been teaching forever. I would still like to ask how they are continuing their education in prenatal yoga.

Yoga is very beneficial pregnant woman – like I said earlier it helps with breathing and relaxation. These benefits alone can help with the pregnancy, labor, birth and motherhood. The breathing techniques help the mother to calm the mind and body, providing the time for the body to destress and relax. The whole class is focused on preparing the mother for the birth and labor by hip openers, strength building, chest expansion and meditation.

Taking a prenatal yoga class is a great way to meet like minded people – make new friends and share your new experiences with

 .

Part 2 of Foods & Beverages to Avoid

Lets start with my favorite…

Cheese

Dont Eat Unpasteurized soft cheese such as feta, brie, camembert, blue-veined cheese, queso fresco, queso blanco and panela.

Do Eat Check the label when buying soft cheese to make sure it’s made with pasteurized milk

 

Other Foods

Don’t Eat Prepared salads from the deli (especially if the contain eggs, chicken, ham or seafood)

Buffet or picnic food that’s been sitting out for two or more hours

Stuffing cooked inside a bird, unless heated to 165 degrees

Raw sprouts or any unwashed produce, especially lettuce and cabbage

Do Eat Reheat any left overs until steaming hot, again 165 degrees

Peel fruits and vegetables or wash them well

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Beverages

Don’t Drink  Alcoholic beverages

Unpasteurized raw milk

Unpasteurized or fresh squeezed juice

More than 12oz of coffee a day

Do

Wash all fruits and veggies before juicing

Limit your caffeine to 200mg a day and watch out for sneaky caffeine in teas, soft drinks, energy drinks and chocolate

Tittibha Prenatal Yoga

Food and Beverages BEWARE

 

I found this article on foods and beverages to avoid and thought, really? I tried to list all the foods that are on the “avoid” list in my head and found that I could not recall all of them. Being a Prenatal Yoga Teacher and Teacher Trainer I thought I had it all down… ha! I’m thinking it has more to do with age now. Anyway, here are the foods and these are suggestions an by any means the end all list of foods to avoid during pregnancy.

Fish

DON”T Eat: raw or under cooked fish or shellfish (oysters and clams), fish with high levels of mercury, including shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish(golden or white snapper), unpasteurized, refrigerated, smoked, or pickled fish unless heated until steaming, do not eat more than 6 ounces a week of canned (yuk, who can eat it any way?) “solid white” or albacore tuna

DO Eat: cooked fish to the temp of 145 degrees or until opaque in the center, eat up to 12 oz. of low mercury fish, such as salmon, shrimp, pollack, or trout

Meat & Poultry

DON”T Eat: Raw or under cooked meat or poultry, refrigerated meat of any kind(ham, roast beef, hot-dogs,  bologna, prosciutto, pate) unless heated until steaming 165 degrees, dry, uncooked sausage, such as salami and pepperoni, unless heated until steaming hot. Be careful of the rotisserie chicken in the grocery stores that are refrigerated – they are the ones from the previous day and they are not always cooled to room temp before placed in the refrig.

Eggs

DON”T Eat: Runny or undercooked eggs, raw cookie dough(darn it :C) or cake batter that contains raw eggs, homemade desserts that contain raw eggs like, eggnog, ice cream, custard, chocolate mousse, hollandaise sauce (missed this item too) bearnaise sauce, mayonnaise, and Caesar salad dressing.

Kinda takes the fun outta eating but it is worth it to be cautious and to be protective of you and the unborn. It’s only for a few months and then you can go back to your normal eating.

I will be a few other foods so stayed tuned…