Changing minds about cloth diapers

(ARA) – “Cloth diapers are hard to use.” “Cloth diapers are inconvenient.” “Cloth diapers don’t fit my busy lifestyle.” These are some of the many reasons expressed by families about why they don’t or won’t cloth diaper, according to author and cloth diaper advocate, Kelly Wels.

Wels is a determined mom of three who will stop at nothing to get moms to open their minds about cloth diapering and stop the excuses.

“I find that many moms are unsure about cloth diapering their babies, but if they knew how easy it was and how much money they would save, I think they would give it a go,” says Wels.

In her mission to change minds, Wels wrote a book, “Changing Diapers. The Hip Mom’s Guide to Modern Cloth Diapering,” where she lists five reasons why a parent might choose to cloth diaper:

1. Cloth diapers are best for baby

2. Cloth diapers can save a family a lot of money

3. Cloth diapering is eco-friendly

4. Cloth diapers are convenient to use

5. Cloth diapering is fun

After years of selling cloth diapers direct to consumer through a dotcom, Wels hung up her hat so she could spend more time with her family. She sold her multimillion dollar cloth diaper retail business and took a much needed break. That’s when she began focusing on writing and publishing a book about modern cloth diapering.

Wels says the word “modern” is key to the book’s title.

“Modern cloth diapering requires fewer resources than cloth diapering of the past. Modern cloth diapers like bumGenius and Rumparooz fit just like disposable diapers except instead of a tape closure, modern cloth diapers use durable snaps or Velcro-like closures to secure on the baby. This means less time securing pins and plastic pants like moms did decades ago,” says Wels. “Modern cloth diapers also are easily cleaned at home in a washing machine and require no soaking, swirling or any of that icky stuff of yesteryear.”

Wels says she couldn’t wait to share her love of modern cloth diapers with others around the world and help them save money in these trying economic times.

“Disposable diapers can drain a family’s wallet, forcing them to spend $25 or more each week on diapers. With cloth diapers, a family only spends a few hundred dollars upfront and is set for their baby’s entire diapering years,” she says. “The savings really adds up when you factor in the costs of a second or third baby using the same cloth diaper stash as baby No. 1.”

Wels adds that families should be aware of other “costs” too.

“Our natural resources are so few and so precious. Disposable diapers, no matter how you slice it, require natural resources to make, package, ship and haul away to the trash dump every week.”

With cloth diapers, she adds, “You buy your diapers once and you never have to worry about buying again. Many busy moms use disposables strictly out of convenience, but I’m here to tell them that having everything you need to cloth diaper your baby in your home offers all the convenience needed.”

She adds, “If I can get just one more mom to become more open-minded about cloth diapering and maybe even encourage her to give it a try, I would consider my mission a success.”

Secrets of safe sleep: What parents need to know before putting baby to bed

(ARA) – When a baby arrives in your home, the world changes. Even after the months of preparation and planning for the little one’s arrival, the love a parent feels is stronger than could have been imagined – and so is the protective instinct. Giving your baby the finest of everything and keeping her safe are the top priorities for parents, but the gap between what seems like the right thing to do and what will actually be best for your child can be wide.

It’s second nature to plan an adorable nursery that’s coordinated from the art on the walls to the crib to the changing table. But while there’s an infinite supply of bedding sets that appeal to your taste in decorating, those sets might not be safe. In fact, the breathing hazards presented by soft, cushy bedding have caused organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics to recommend against using plush pillows, blankets and bumpers.

Creating a safe sleeping environment for your baby is easy, and you can rest easy – or as easily as new parents can – knowing that your baby is both comfortable and safe. Consider these tips to give your baby the best sleeping environment.

* Always place your baby on her back whenever you’re laying her down to sleep. Since the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched its “Back to Sleep” campaign in 1994, urging parents to put babies to sleep on their backs, deaths from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) have been reduced by nearly half, according to a study published in the journal “Pediatrics” in March 2012. Whether it’s nap time or night time, this is the safest position.

* Use a crib that meets current safety standards. While there might be sentimental value attached to a crib passed down through generations of family members, it’s not likely to meet the most up-to-date ideas of safety. Even if you have a modern crib, it’s important to pay attention to recalls – millions of drop-side cribs have been recalled in recent years. To see if your crib has been affected, check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website at www.cpsc.gov.

* In your crib, place a firm mattress that fits in place snugly. Try out the “two finger test” – if mom can fit two or more fingers between the mattress and the side of the crib, the mattress is too small.

* Choose a bedding set that supports baby’s safety. Quilt and bumper sets might be cute, but the importance of safe sleep for your baby should be paramount. A simple sheet is enough for your baby’s crib, when combined with a comforting wearable blanket  that keeps baby feeling secure. Crib sets offered by Halo have won multiple awards for safety and include SleepSack wearable blankets, crib sheets and a decorative crib skirt. More information can be found at HaloCribSet.com.

* Breastfeed, if possible, but when finished, put baby back to sleep in her own safe sleep area near your bed. It’s perfectly fine to share a room, but sharing a bed presents hazards for your baby.

* Encourage your baby to use a pacifier, once breastfeeding has been established. Pacifier use has been reported to be associated with a reduced risk of SIDS.

* Don’t dress baby too warmly for sleep, even if that’s what you think is comfortable. Keeping baby’s temperature at a safe level is important, so avoid overdressing and keep the room temperature at 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.  Using a SleepSack will also help to keep baby’s temperature regulated all night  long.

* Never put your baby down for sleep – either for a nap or overnight – on any soft surface or furniture, such as sofas, chairs, adult beds, quilts or sheepskins.

It’s easy to feel as though you should give your baby a soft, snuggly place to sleep, but taking a practical and informed approach to baby’s sleep environment is best. When it comes to what’s safest, remember to decorate the room, not the crib. For more information about safe sleep for your baby, visit www.halosleep.com.

Looking For A Baby Monitor With 2 Cameras?

Sometimes, 1 camera for a baby monitor is not enough. This is true if you have more than 1 child to monitor. So, what baby monitors allow you to hook up to 2 cameras or more? These models come highly recommended

• Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor with 3.5 Inch Color LCD Screen
  You can hook up to 4 cameras to this baby monitor. It is very simple to pair up the extra cameras and it works flawlessly. You can select which camera you want to view or use the “scan” option which toggle views between cameras every 12 seconds. You can only view one camera at a time, no split screen. The camera has night vision. This model has great range, clear picture, and the ability to pan, tilt and zoom. This baby monitor uses 2.4Gigahertz FHSS technology. It won’t interfere with your WiFi and the transmission is secure.
  You can order the extra camera here: Motorola Additional Camera for Motorola MBP36 Baby Monitor
  
• Lorex LW241 LIVE sense Wireless Video Home Monitor
  You can have a maximum of 4 cameras. Pairing the handheld LCD monitor to the extra cameras is hassle free. The cameras have built-in infrared LEDs that provide up to 15 feet of night vision. The digital transmission is secure, the video and audio is very clear. You can view your children online through skype. Use your PC, iPhone or iPad to keep tabs on your home. There is also a record function. Store the recorded videos on the included microSD card. You can later transfer these videos to your personal PC or share them online. This monitor uses a 2.4Ghz FHSS frequency. Even though other wireless devices may have competing signals, FHSS has proven a reliable and effective technology at co-existing with other wireless devices. This can function more than just a baby monitor but as a home surveillance system.
  You can get the extra camera here: Lorex LW2401AC1 Add-on Wireless Color Camera
  

What kind of parent do you want to be?

Baby may still be small but you can never be too early in planning what kind of parent you want to be. It does without saying that how you parent influences your child’s behavior and character. It is better to practice early the parenting style that will allow your children to become happy, independent individuals. If you decide to just go with the flow of things, you may make wrong decisions and then have a hard time later trying to undo your mistakes.

Let’s take a look at 3 parenting styles: Authoritative, Authoritarian and Permissive.

• Authoritative parenting is the one you want to strive for. You have rules for your children but you enforce them in a nurturing way. You don’t punish without reason and you don’t demand obedience out of fear. You allow your children to choose their course of action and teach them problem solving skills. You acknowledge your children’s feelings instead of shutting them up. You could say this way of parenting strikes a good balance between rules and freedom. Children grow up confident, happy and successful.
• Authoritarian parenting is like the strict parent that you can’t negotiate with. Your children must do everything you say and if they don’t, there will be harsh punishments. A child is obedient out of fear, rather than respect. Because they have no say in anything, their self esteem becomes low. They are not very happy either.
• Permissive parenting is a parent who can’t say “no” to their children. You don’t have many rules and allow your children lots of freedom.You are more like their children’s good friend rather than a parent. In the end, you will have a brat for a child that do not respect authority.

Authoritative parenting doesn’t come naturally. It is a learned skill and you have to make a conscience effort to practice it. It is in the best interest of your children that you learn how to parent the right way.

Safe at home: the importance of using infant gear properly

(ARA) – Who’s responsible for keeping infants safe from gear-related injury? Is it gear-makers, who must meet stringent manufacturing codes, perform strict mandatory government safety testing, and submit to oversight by safety-focused government agencies? Or are parents responsible? The answer, experts agree, is: both.

Just as product manufacturers are obliged to live up to strict safety standards, parents are responsible for doing their part, and ensuring items are used as intended.

Each year, 1.3 million infants are injured accidentally, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

“It is not enough to rely on a seal of approval to inform parental or caregiver decisions on how or when to use a juvenile product,” says Alison Rhodes, “Safety Mom” a national family safety expert. “An item that is safe when used as intended or as instructed by the manufacturer’s packaging and directions can be unsafe when used the wrong way.”

Car seats are a compelling example. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 2 to 14, due in large part to improper use or non-use of child safety seats and seat belts, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Three out of four car seats are not used correctly and the NHTSA estimates that 85 percent of car seats are improperly installed for their age and size, which increases the risk of injury.

Safe Kids USA (formerly known as The National Safe Kids Campaign) says nearly a third of children ride in the wrong restraints for their age and size which increases the risk of injury. NHTSA rates car and booster seats for their ease of use, helping parents and caregivers find a seat for their infant, toddler or 4 to 8 year old that is safe and easiest to install properly. For more details on NHTSA’s Five-Star Ease of Use Ratings and to see their evaluation of children’s car seats, visit www.nhtsa.gov.

Falls from elevated surfaces are also a leading cause of injury in infants. There are 170,000 injuries annually and more than half of all falls seriously injure children, according to the CDC. Bouncer seats, infant seats, infant carriers and other portable items placed on elevated or unstable surfaces can result in these serious injuries. Even a well-made product can be involved in an injury if it’s used incorrectly. For example, as seen recently in the news the Bumbo Baby Seat, of which nearly 7 million units have been sold since its introduction in 2001, is fully compliant with applicable safety standards, yet it has been linked to incidents and injuries, mostly stemming from cases where the seat is being used improperly.

The Bumbo’s warning label clearly reminds consumers to use the Bumbo Seat only on a floor-level surface, to not set the seat on any elevated surface, not use the seat as a car or bath seat or in water and to never leave a baby in it unattended. The product maker and CPSC are cooperating to further educate consumers on the proper, safest use of the seat. To that end, the company has created a video explaining the proper use of the baby seat, which can be viewed at www.bumbousa.com.

When it comes to preventing unintentional injuries in infants, nothing can replace the watchful eye of a parent or caregiver and infants should never be left unattended, even for a moment, experts agree.

“Even the most visible warnings can’t prevent babies from being active and possibly wiggling themselves into danger if they are not watched closely,” says Rhodes.