Fingertip Amputations Prompt Recall of Maclaren Strollers
 Maclaren Quest Photo © CPSC |
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- Triumph
- Quest Sport
- Quest Mod
- Techno XT
- Techno XLR
- Twin Triumph
- Twin Techno
- Easy Traveller
If you don't have this stroller now but it's on your list and you're looking to save a buck by getting one used, be aware of what you're getting. Baby Products Guide Heather Corley says:
"Maclaren strollers have typically been popular for resale since they hold up well over time. Would-be used stroller buyers will want to make sure that used Maclaren strollers have had the repair kit for the hinge recall installed."
She's also got more tips on buying used strollers and ways to keep your toddler safe in the stroller even when there are no design or manufacturing defects to worry about.
Celebrate National Peanut Butter Lover's Month in November
 Yum! Peanut Butter Jason Tromm / Flickr |
So what's not to love? Well, for one thing, if you've got a history of allergies in the family, you should wait before introducing peanut butter to your child. You've also got to be careful with little ones even when allergies aren't a factor, because it can be a choking hazard.
All in all though, peanut butter is an easy way pack the most nutrition into your child's diet. To help you and your child celebrate, I've pulled together some of my favorite peanut butter recipes in a month-long "I Love Peanut Butter" newsletter. If you hate to cook but still want snacks that pack the peanut butter punch, try two of my son's favorites: Clif Zbar Peanut Butter Snack Bar (compare prices) and Late July Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies. Both are organic, healthy and tasty to boot. I've also got some peanut butter trivia you can quiz yourself on, so start celebrating with your wee one today.
Post-Halloween Dental Care For Toddlers
 Mark and Allegra / Flickr |
"Schedule candy time once a day, preferably with snacks or meals, not in between. It is always best to eat sweets with other foods. The presence of the additional food increases the saliva production in the mouth. Plaque thrives on the acids produced by sugar. This increase in saliva helps to break down the sugar quickly, which in turn decreases the amount of acid produced in the mouth."
Right now is one of those times when dental care is at the forefront of your mind, but good oral hygiene is important every day. Baby teeth are more than just a temporary set of teeth and it's important to take care of them from today until tooth fairy time.
Learn More or Share Your Ideas:
How to Carve a Pumpkin
 Carved Pumpkins alicia rae / Flickr |
This year, though, I'm going to do it. There's a church within walking distance that has a pumpkin patch set up, so my son and I are going to head down there today and get us a nice one and carve it up. I've watched this instructional video (where I learned that carved pumpkins may only last a day to a week thus explaining my neighborhood's lack-o'-lanterns) and picked out a simple pumpkin pattern (I'm going for happy rather than spooky) so I'm ready to go.
If you're thinking about carving a pumpkin with your toddler this year, make sure you do it safely. Pumpkin carving tools are sharp and pumpkin flesh isn't the most yielding stuff even for the sharpest of knives. Make sure you keep your toddler at a distance as you carve and put sharp objects out of reach when not in use. If you can, have another adult around to supervise your toddler as you work. Remember that roasted pumpkin seeds are a great treat for adults, but can be a choking hazard for toddlers. And of course, when you light the candle inside, make sure your put away any matches or lighters.
An alternative to carving a pumpkin is to cut out the eyes, nose or other markings on your pattern or template, tape it to the pumpkin and let your toddler color the pumpkin with a black magic marker (like a stencil). You can also keep your toddler occupied and safe as you carve nearby by putting him in his high chair with a miniature pumpkin and some markers or crayons or set him up at his own table with some pumpkins and paint. You could even paint your pumpkin first and wait to carve it just before Halloween.
More Fun with Pumpkins
Last-Minute Halloween Costumes
I think there may still be a little time -- depending on the shipping option you choose -- if you're looking to purchase a Halloween costume for your toddler online. If you're like me and can't make up your mind or like to procrastinate, Sherri has a ton of ideas for last-minute costumes and most of them use stuff you probably have around the house. (No purchase necessary - sweet words for this frugal mama!) Many of these would work for a toddler or an adult, so no matter whose costume is undecided, she's got you covered.
Daylight Saving Time is Not Over Yet
That means now is a good time to start transitioning your child into a new bedtime. A toddler with a bedtime of 7:30 p.m. is going to feel like he's hitting the hay at 8:30 p.m. after the change takes place. If you start tonight, you can start putting your child to bed ten minutes later each night and by the time you get to the time change, you're all caught up. Some parents play it by ear, though, rather than make any changes. My son didn't mind the later bedtime as much as he did the earlier waking with the time change in the Spring, for example, but your child's temperament and sleep preferences will determine how well he adjusts. If you have a grumpy guy or gal on your hands if bedtime is ever late, then I suggest giving the transition a try.
Disney Offering Refunds on Baby Einstein DVDs
If you're a parent who purchased a Baby Einstein DVD anytime from mid-2004 to last month, then you could get a refund from Disney. This move comes after a class-action lawsuit was threatened against Disney for making unproven claims about the educational merit of the DVDs.
I'm totally fine with Disney offering these refunds and I think that every parent who wants to should participate without even a glimmer of guilt. And though some groups feel that government entities should be involved in recalling the DVDs or there's cause for a class-action lawsuit, I think that's taking it a bit far. I was happy to see the overblown labels and claims removed from the DVDs, though, and am glad the company made those changes in marketing on their own even if it may have been to avoid a larger investigation and possible federal enforcement (see Federal Trade Commission letter .pdf to the company in 2007).
Still, we're adults and we're capable of making decisions about what our kids see on television. I can't imagine there are many parents who are honestly disappointed that their baby or toddler isn't some sort of genius after watching these DVDs. If there are, then the issues there are probably much bigger than anything a class action lawsuit can solve, I'm afraid.
The best way to increase your baby or toddler's intelligence isn't through anything they will see on a screen. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children don't even watch television for a minute until they are 2 years old (though I think that's a bit on the extreme side, too.) If you really want to make your child smarter, however, there are a lot of other things that you can do:
But don't, whatever you do, sit him down in front of the TV in hopes of boosting his brain power and if you do allow television in your home, make sure you're also doing lots of other things to make sure your child is stimulated.
Right now only folks located in North America are eligible for these refunds or exchanges, but there are efforts to get the program going in other countries like Britain where the DVDs were sold as well. If you are interested in obtaining an exchange, coupon or refund of your Baby Einstein DVD, fill out the form located on the Baby Einstein Web site. You can do this up to four times per household. And once you've got the DVDs out of the house, sit down with your little one, relax, and read a good book.
Is it Time to Move Your Toddler to a Booster Seat?
Heather Corley, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, has answers about when you should move your toddler from a full car seat into a booster and what type of booster seat you should consider. Her recommendation:
"I suggest that parents keep their children in a harnessed car seat to at least 40 pounds and 4 years, but preferably longer. Today there are many car seats available that harness to 65 or even 80 pounds. Most children can fit into one of these bigger car seats well past age 4."
Your child needs to be able to sit properly for the booster to offer complete protection and for most toddlers, that's just not going to happen. It may seem easier for you to wrangle your child into the booster, but it's also easier for your child to move around, sit sideways and slouch there. Even when my son was technically ready for the booster seat, it was a struggle to get him to stop trying to sit sideways. The sides and harness prevented him from doing this in his car seat. So it can be worth it to wait before you make the switch.
Sometimes, too, you have to go above and beyond the law and do what's safest for your child. When it comes to booster seats, sometimes the laws haven't caught up with what studies and data tell us. When you finally make the move and you're thinking about when to move your child out of the booster seat, keep in mind that recent research shows that your child is safest in a booster up to the age of 8.
Kids and Computers: What's Appropriate?
That may be how it's taking shape if you have a computer in your home, too. Christy Matte, About.com's new Family Computing Guide, says:
"Between the ages of 1 and 2, your child will start to understand the basics of cause and effect, as well as the need to be gentle with the keyboard. There are games that require simply touching a key on the keyboard for something magical to happen. If your child is interested and you are ready to take the plunge, this is a good time to start to introduce the basics of the keyboard and the mouse."
Check out Christy's Virtual Growth Chart for more advice about kids and computers...
Some Pharmacies May Not Offer Flu Shot to Toddlers
"I would pay them anything if they would give it to my son, but they can't. My pediatrician, who is a member of a huge medical network, can't get the flu shot in. But every pharmacy in town has it, and WON'T give it to my toddler, who has asthma, because of age restrictions. Everyone in the family has received the shot, except the person who needs it the most."
And Erin Kelly was disappointed after being turned away at a CVS:
"We went as a family to the CVS minute clinic to get our seasonal flu shots -- the doctors office is OUT of them till late October -- and I was told that they could not vaccinate my 25-month-old daughter. CVS has a policy that they will not give the shot to anyone under the age of 9!"
It's a good idea to call ahead first to make sure the pharmacy will actually administer the shot to your toddler. Different states have different regulations about who can give the shot and who they can give it to. Some states are even changing their laws in order to get as many people vaccinated this season as possible. Oklahoma, for instance, has a law in place requiring a prescription from your doctor before you can be vaccinated at a pharmacy, but starting Nov. 1, the law changes and a prescription won't be necessary.
If you aren't having luck with your chain pharmacy, an independent pharmacy might be a better bet since they are often privately owned and are not bound by the same types of policies and procedures the corporate stores have to follow. Even for chains, however, the policy can vary by state and independently-owned clinics that operate within those pharmacies can have their own policies as well. Take Care Clinics that are located inside some Walgreens stores (but not run by Walgreens) indicate that they offer the seasonal flu shot to children 2 and older, for example.
In any case, check out your doctor's supply first, and always make a call to any pharmacy before you head out the door or you might be disappointed.