parenting Archives

What a Pregnant Woman Can Eat and What A Pregnant Woman Can’t Eat

May 15, 2017 by Momstart Leave a Comment

What to know what a pregnant woman can eat and what a pregnant woman can’t eat?

From Pregnant Woman can eat shrimp

Pregnant women are told they can eat this but not that, this food is better than that food, and that they have to avoid entire food groups just to keep themselves and their baby safe during pregnancy. The truth is there are some foods that are dangerous during pregnancy but there are just as many that are healthy and tasty at the same time. That being said, there are some foods that are dangerous during pregnancy not because of what they are, but because of how they are prepared or because of certain chemicals contained therein.

Foods that are raw like eggs, meats, and fish are always potentially harmful to developing fetus due to the fact there is no heat applied to kill off parasites and bacteria that grow in the uncooked meat. Alcohol is always a no no as well due to the harmful chemicals that are in alcohol that can damage the developing baby. Knowing what foods you can and cannot eat is a big task for pregnant women but there are some guidelines that you can follow to help make the task of eating a bit easier. Here is a run down of what you can and cannot eat during pregnancy.

How Safe Are Your Kids at Home?

May 11, 2017 by Beeb 1 Comment

This is a partnered guest post.

Our home is supposed to be a place of safety, but all too often, it becomes the scene of incidents and accidents. You need eyes in the back of your head when you become a parent, but what happens when your kids are home alone or being looked after by a babysitter or au pair?

We can’t always be there for our children. Many parents have to work and leave their kids at home. Older kids are responsible enough to be left alone, but younger children need to be supervised. You could drop your child off at a nursery, but often the best solution is to ask a family member to take care of them. Alternatively, you could employ a nanny or au pair to live in and be a surrogate parent while you are out of the house.

Peace of Mind

No matter how trustworthy a nanny, au pair or babysitter appears to be, as a parent, you will always have a niggling worry in the back of your head about whether your child is being looked after properly. It’s only natural. We love our kids and the parental instinct is a powerful thing. Sometimes, we have a gut feeling that something isn’t right, or our child says something about a childcare provider that makes the hairs on the back of our neck stand up. In the case of older kids, it might be a quiet word from a neighbor that lets us know we need to keep a closer eye on things.

Of course, we want to know our kids are in safe hands when we are not at home, but without standing outside and peeking in through a window, it is hard to know what’s going on. Luckily, technology is there to give us a helping hand.

Nanny Cam

Nanny Cams are readily available from online electronic stores. They are very easy to set up. Position the unobtrusive camera on a shelf and leave it running while you are not around. When you come home, you can play back the video footage to see if anything untoward happened while you were out. Nanny cams give parents peace of mind, but you need to be prepared in case you capture footage that turns out to be disturbing.

Home Security Systems

Sophisticated home security systems are designed to protect your home and contents. Anyone can buy a home security system and set up cameras in various locations, but if you want the system to be remotely monitored, be prepared to pay more.

With DIY home security systems, such as SimpliSafe, you can keep track of locked cabinets, and receive alerts if anything untoward happens and disarm or re-arm the system using an app. It’s a useful way of watching over your family when you can’t be at home. Since updates are live, you can intervene if you spot something that disturbs you, you can rest assured that you will be notified immediately via text or email, and can even have the emergency services immediately notified.

Home Alone

Remind your kids to keep doors locked at all times when you are not at home. Make sure they understand basic safety protocols and remind them to call you if they have any concerns. Remember, children 14 and under are not mature enough to be left home alone. Once your kids are 14 or older, it is safe to leave them at home while you are out, but don’t leave them home alone overnight until they are at least 16.

Over 10 Safety Standards Parents & Caregivers Need To Know

May 1, 2017 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Safety Standards: What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know

How do we know if children’s products are safe? One way is to see what standards they have been tested to – and by whom. Standards work to provide performance requirements for products – before our children ‘test’ them in our homes. Will the product hold up over time, have hazards such as entrapment, suffocation, or sharp edges been eliminated, and will it work as intended? Some companies test their own products to a voluntary standard, while others are tested by independent third party laboratories to a federal or mandatory standard.

In the past few decades, mandatory federal safety standards have gone into effect for many products that were previously unregulated. Products that are manufactured on or after these standards went into effect meet the strongest, most current safety standards and are safer for children. Below, we’ve listed some children’s products that have federal safety standards, followed by the dates those standards went into effect:

· Cribs – Manufactured on our after June 28, 2011

· Bassinets – Manufactured on or after April 14, 2014

· Play Yards – Manufactured on or after February 28, 2013

· Bath Seats – Manufactured on or after March 24, 2014

· Infant Walkers – Manufactured on or after December 6, 2010

· Strollers – Manufactured on or after September 10, 2015

· Portable Bed Rails – Manufactured on or after December 29, 2012

· Infant Swings – Manufactured on or after May 7, 2013

· Infant Carrier Slings – Mandatory federal standard will go into effect in 2018

· Furniture – There is currently no mandatory federal safety standard designed to address tip-over hazards for furniture. In the meantime, choose dressers or chests that meet ASTM F2057 – 14, a voluntary furniture standard.

· Toys – A new federal toy standard, ASTM F963-16, went into effect on April 30, 2017. This standard replaced ASTM F963-11, which had been in place since 2011.

So now you have a list of dates – but how should you use this information when you’re out shopping, or checking the products you already own? The key is to look for the manufacture date, not the date of sale. For example, if you simply purchased a stroller after September 10, 2015, it may not meet the new federal standard. Check to make sure the products you buy or products you currently own meet these current safety standards.

Although these standards have improved the safety of many children’s products, there are other products that aren’t covered by safety standards. Some durable products, such as crib alternatives, aren’t covered by any safety standards. It’s better to stick with products that meet a standard – especially for sleeping.

Take steps to keep the kids in your life safe by choosing products that meet current standards, registering all infant and toddler products, and staying up-to-date with recalls by checking cpsc.gov. You can also report a problem with a product at SaferProducts.gov.

Carson Gaffney

Program Associate

www.kidsindanger.org

Home Safety Tips for Worried Parents

March 22, 2017 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Things that can be done t ensure safety throughout the house.

For any parents of young children, home safety can be a hard thing to put into place. Children are by nature adventurous, and in the confines of their own home they often feel like they are invincible. They become more likely to look around where they shouldn’t, and take more risks as they presume that their home is going to be as safe as possible. Rather than taste this theory out, you should always look to give your children a helping hand in understanding the importance of home safety.

To help you get to that point, here are some valuable home safety tips you can put in place to make sure your home is going to be secure and safe for the children to explore.

· Safety Gates. An underused and hugely valuable form of security, security gates can stop your little one in their tracks. These can be used at the top or bottom of stairs and, if possible, attacked to walls. By offering better support as well as a clear barrier that cannot be used unless you are there, you can make sure that your little one has nothing to worry about when it comes to getting up and down the house. Use these as often as you can – they are one of the best home safety tips around.

· Water Barrier. Ensure that any locations in your home that house water – pools, baths etc. – are all clearly cordoned off without adult supervision. Children can find themselves in trouble with water much quicker than they would have expected. To help you getting any deadly water-based drama, you should try and use as many blockages as you can to make sure that the parts of the household that have easy access to water can be blocked off without any adult supervision

· Use a monitored alarm system. One of the silent killers in a household can be toxic products, such as carbon monoxide. Some top home security systems all offer secondary safety products such as C02 sensors, flood sensors and more to combat emergencies. Don’t just think of alarm systems as crime deterrents or devices to keep the bad guys out. They can be much more beneficial if the right equipment is chosen upon the time of sign up.

· Get Window Guards. For younger children especially, window guards can stop a child from balancing out the window or taking risks that they shouldn’t. Deciding to do this now is going to go a really long way to making sure that you can make your household much safer.

While some of these tips may seem excessive or overly coddling, safety is vital. Accidents can occur from seemingly totally harmless situations, so being prepared and ready to put a fall-safe in place can be just what you need to ensure a healthy upbringing.

How To Child Proof Your Modern Home

March 19, 2017 by Momstart 2 Comments

We have an on going partnership with Tide.

Beeb and I have both been working with Tide and their safety awareness, “Up, Closed and Safe”. Last year she attended a media day at Tide headquarters and learned all about their safety launch and redesign of the Tide Pods Package with a New Child-Guard™ Zipper. And I wrote about keeping kids safe with Tide Pods #UPUPANDAWAY.

As Tide is gearing up to raise child safety awareness during National Poison Prevention Week we wanted to share a few findings from a new study by BabyCenter on behalf of Tide.

As a parent, I never thought about keeping the laundry room safe. I mean I keep everything on the top shelf but is that enough?

· 1 in 3 parents say their laundry room is located near spaces where the family spends most of their time such as the kitchen and living/family room

· Only 17% of laundry packet purchasers consider laundry packets a top 3 safety concern

· Just 29% of parents have safeguarded or plan to safeguard the laundry room

· 1 in 5 parents say their laundry packets are in within reach or sight of their child

Remember that Tide Pods now have a much more secure zip-closure. Only handle them with dry hands. Also make sure to clean up any loose packets that fall out of the container, and immediately wash your hands. If you use liquid detergents, you should also wash any items you use to pour or measure products.

How To Get Your Kids To Pay Attention

March 3, 2017 by Momstart 1 Comment

I know that this is something I struggle with. I saw someone post this on Facebook and I can relate. So we have some tips from Mike Prusinski, co-founder of BusyKid, for getting kids to listen.

1. Know What Kids Think – A June study by AVG Technologies surveyed more than 6,000 children, ages 8 to 13 and found that 32 percent of children felt unimportant when their moms and dads were distracted by their phones. In addition, 54 percent of the kids think their parents spend too much time on their phones. Hear that mom and dad? Time to lead by example.

2. A No Phones Meal Deal – Whether you eat as a family at home or in a restaurant, make your meals “phone free”. Make it a family rule that no phones are allowed when the family is eating. No calls, no text, no snaps and no tweets. Most families spend about 20 minutes eating dinner, so I think the world can probably wait that long to hear from you.

3. Suggest Limits – Ever have one of those moments when you look up and the entire family is sitting in the same room staring into their phones or tablets? If so, suggest a time period when phones or tablets can be used. Make sure to leave some time before and afterwards so you can connect as a family, even if it’s watching your favorite TV show together.

4. Put It To Bed – There are numerous medical studies that show why having your child go to bed with their phone or tablet is a bad idea, however, let me pile on. One revealed that kids who go to bed with technology send an average of 34 texts and emails a night after going to bed. Kids need sleep and not midnight texting!

5. Earn The Phone – In the US, kids are getting phones around the age of 6. Now I’m sure parents have good reasons for a phone that young, but to me, that seems a bit early. My bigger issue is that kids are usually just given an expensive phone and plenty of data. Why? Does a 9-year old need a $600 phone, unlimited data and no supervision? For safety reasons, I think getting a child a basic phone that calls and texts is perfect. However, if he/she wants something more, they should earn it by helping out around the house, earning allowance and contributing to the monthly bill.

For information about BusyKid, visit http://www.busykid.com.

What do you think of these tips? Are they spot on or not?

Pampers Operation Shower

March 1, 2017 by Momstart 1 Comment

We love being part of the Pampers Baby Board and from time to time get to do compensated projects, blog posts or just amazing community outreach. This month, we’re just excited to be part of this team of amazing influencers and sharing what Pampers and other members are up to.

The current campaign is honoring military moms/parents. Pampers sent all of Operation Shower’s military moms home with a few critical baby products for their soon-to-be littles!

Pampers will donate Baby Dry diapers to all Operation Shower events from January-June of this year. Operation Shower was founded in 2007 when LeAnn Morrissey had the idea to send a “baby shower in a box” to four expectant military moms whose partners were deployed at the time.

I’m not a military mom but my grandmother was and she often talks about how difficult it was to raise five kids away from family. I can’t even imagine! So thank you to all those families that serve our country. And thank you to Pampers for these generous donations.

We know that some members from our team are also going to be helping other military parents in our communities and I can’t wait to see all the joy it brings so many different moms. If you would like to get involved with Operation Shower check out their website. OperationShower.org

Graco TrueShield Technology Extra Protection in Extend2Fit 3-in-1 Car Seat

February 28, 2017 by Momstart 17 Comments

We received samples

Graco’s new line of car seats for 2017 have a new technology that provides extra protection.

Graco’s new TrueShield Technology provides children with extra protection when out on the road. These new innovations provide side impact protection from your child’s head to hips, in case of a side impact accident. Graco TrueShield Technology will be available in 2017 in the following car seats:

· The SnugRide® Infant Car Seat for rear-facing infants from 4 – 35 lbs.

· The Extend2Fit™ 3-in-1 Car Seat which provides up to five inches of additional legroom for children to ride rear-facing longer, up to 50 lbs.

· The TurboBooster® 2-in-1 booster seat with a high back and backless option to help keep your big kid safe. The TurboBooster® LX ft. TrueShield™ has been side impact tested for occupant retention by the vehicle belt in highback booster mode only.

We were invited to review one of these amazing car seats and we chose the The Extend2Fit™ 3-in-1 Car Seat. My sister is having a baby next month and she asked me to help her pick out a new car seat. Having had two kids in car seats in the past and having reviewed quite a few I felt this would be the best option for her. I’m a big fan of 3-in-1.

When you start out with your child they are safer rear facing and this particular car seat allows you to have your child rear facing up to 50 pounds. It turns out that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear-facing until at least the age of 2 now. Even if they are long, the car seat is built for their growing and changing.

Installation process: For first time dad, my brother in law was a little frustrated installing it.

It made me remember back when we first learned how to install car seats and that once we had a car that had the bars you can just lock the seat into place with it became so simple.

Also how you become so good at installing car seats eventually it’s like easy as 1, 2, 3.

The Extend2Fit Technology provides an extendable base that gives your little one up to five additional inches as they grow.

This gives their legs room to stretch while keeping them rear-facing up to 50 pounds and 45-inch. The 3-position extension panel provides 5 additional inches.

Forward facing is my favorite time in the car seat. It’s much easier to reach your kids and hand them things or help them with things they need help with. So once you are able to turn them around it’s nice to be able to use the same car seat. Just flip it around and then you still have that amazing 5 point harness.

Here is a close up of those final points..

This car seat also has a Fuss Free Harness Storage that holds the buckle out of the way, making it easier to get baby in and out.

There is also the Simply Safe Adjust Harness System that adjusts the height of your harness and headrest in one motion.

How To Track Baby’s Feeding Schedule without Stress

February 17, 2017 by Momstart 36 Comments

This is a sponsored post.

Being a new mom is such an exciting time. You’re full of so many different emotions all at once and it can be quite overwhelming. Even with my second child I didn’t really know what I was doing. Because he was completely different from my first and feeding him was much more challenging. I thought he might be jaundice and not getting enough to eat for the longest time. Turns out he was just allergic to dairy. But what if there was a way you could know how much your baby was getting to eat and how often without having to worry your already overly tired brain?

There is a smart sleeve for your baby bottle which connects to an easy to use mobile app to help you keep track of your child’s eating schedule, BlueSmart mia.

BlueSmart mia is more than an app it’s a high-tech system that tracks and analyzes your baby’s feeding intake and consumption patterns. New parents often look for products that will help them worry less and the BlueSmart mia helps moms and dads do just that by alleviating anxieties surrounding baby feeding. The BlueSmart mia smart-sleeve fits most bottles and is available in pink and blue. It precisely measures the amount of milk consumed by your little one and alerts parents and caregivers in real-time.

The BlueSmart mia connects to Wi-Fi and allows multiple users to input feeding data on their smartphone via an easy-to-use app – so both parents can track baby’s progress anytime, any place.

Knowing that your child is getting the right amount to eat can give you the peace of mind to get that rest you need during this precious time.

The device also provides suggestions on optimal feeding angles and temperatures, along with letting you know when milk should be discarded due to expiration. You’ll also find a journal feature on the app that enables you and caregivers to chronicle your baby’s feeding pattern and other milestones to share with family members and your pediatrician.

Where to Purchase and Savings:

The BlueSmart mia is now available and already helping parents worry less. Just head over to bluesmartmia.com or Amazon.com to purchase your BlueSmart mia today. To Save use the code NEWMIA30 at checkout for $30 off throughout the month of February.

Follow Along Socially:

Blue Smart mia Facebook.

Blue Smart mia Twitter.

You can also subscribe to their newsletter.

Boppy: Not Just For Mom’s And Babies (But Mostly)

February 3, 2017 by Momstart Leave a Comment

When I was pregnant I had the worst time sleeping, until I found a full body pillow. Then I had the best sleep ever. Then when my baby was born I needed a different pillow, I needed a support pillow for my daughter while I was breastfeeding and the Boppy nursing pillow came to the rescue.

My kids are now 9 and 10 years old and the options from Boppy are even more amazing than they were when I used their products. Now it’s my sister’s turn to use Boppy and check out this new selection.

Boppy just introduced a fully redesigned prenatal pillow collection with two NEW pillows! The pillows vary in shape and size, each serving a different need, but all of them give an expecting mom (or dad and dog) the support she needs.

Because sleeping on your back is not recommended and sleeping on your side can be difficult without the right support the Boppy® Prenatal Comfort Collection was created.

The Multi-Use Slipcovered Total Body Pillow offers the highest level of comfort and is often the most popular choice among expecting moms. Filled with 100% virgin fiber, this one-piece pillow features a unique contour shape and offers full body support from head to toe. This one-piece pillow can be used in bed for sleeping or to prop yourself up on the couch. It also comes with a removable, machine-washable cover for easy cleaning.

Curl up with this plush Pregnancy Support Pillow for a peaceful slumber. The pillow offers excellent mid-size support for the hips, legs and bump so you can sleep comfortably and wake up feeling refreshed. The size doesn’t take over the bed and it’s great to use for propping up to watch TV or read. It comes with a removable, machine-washable jersey slipcover.

Looking for a little extra support and help with side sleeping? The thoughtfully designed Bump& Back Support Pillow provides both back and belly support. No more waking up at night in discomfort, this pillow is the ultimate choice to provide women with top level comfort. You can also use it under your legs or wrapped around your waist in a chair to get support and comfort when sitting. And it’s great for travel—not only are the cushions removable so you can make it more compact for traveling, but it also comes with a removable, machine-washable slipcover for easy cleaning.

Searching for the right maternity pillow to cradle and comfort your bump, your hips, your knees, your anything? The Pregnancy Wedge will be your new favorite travel companion—small enough to go anywhere and it provides comfort and support when and where you need it most. Also, it comes with a removable, machine-washable slipcover.

My sister loves her new pillow as does her husband. He says “best snuggle pillow ever-it even hugs you back!”

I didn’t get a picture of my sister using the pillow. She said she feels like she’s just now showing enough that you can tell she’s pregnant. I know that in the last trimester is when the pillows become the most helpful as that baby is in there and taking up all your room. Comfort is next to impossible for a while. She also said the pillow is sure to get a lot of use even after her pregnancy because of her husband. She said he loves the smaller one and stole it from her. He uses it around his neck and chest as his “snuggle pillow”. Boppy…Not Just For mom’s and Babies. Winking smile

About The Boppy Company

Founded in 1989, The Boppy Company is the world leader and expert in creating comfortable, supportive and award-winning products for mom and baby. To date, Boppy® Products have won over 50 awards and continue to be named must-have products around the world. Most well known as the maker of the world’s original nursing pillow, the iconic Boppy® Feeding and Infant Support Pillow, The Boppy Company has expanded into skincare, pregnancy pillows, breastfeeding accessories, baby loungers, baby clothing, plush goods, baby travel products, nursery products and baby seats. For more information, visit www.boppy.com.