By Jamell Andrews
We think of a baby’s cradle as the safest place on earth, after mommy’s arms. But sadly, many babies encounter very real danger in the crib, and these hazards prove fatal far too often.
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Pacifiers: Good or Bad?
By Lisa Pecos
Binky, dummy, choo-choo—regardless of what you call a pacifier, parents have long debated whether or not they’re a godsend or a mistake when it comes to a baby’s health.
Babies naturally have a strong sucking reflex, which is why many even begin sucking their thumbs and fingers in the womb. Besides sucking being the way they get their nutrition when feeding, babies also find sucking calming and soothing. But are there any other benefits to pacifiers?
Read MoreBenefits of an Organic Diet for Expectant Moms
By Jamell Andrews
When you find out you’re expecting, your priorities shift instantly and from that moment on, your love for your baby takes center stage. This is the time when many women begin thinking more about their health and the things that they can do to ensure that their baby is healthy as can be. For many expectant moms, this includes making the change to a healthier and even organic diet.
The Difference between Organic and Conventionally Farmed Foods
Read MoreSwimming Pool and Water Safety for Children
Swimming Pool and Water Safety for Babies and Children
Swimming is the most popular summertime activity for children, according to the American Red Cross. But sadly, drowning is the leading cause of death for American children younger than 5. And according to emergency room doctors, children are more likely to drown in a backyard pool than in any other body of water.
A group might gather poolside for a party or other social event, but if no one is watching the children, it can result in tragic consequences. To avoid such needless danger, it is imperative that parents take necessary precautions whenever their children are in or near the water.
Read MoreOpioid Prescriptions and Birth Defects
Many U.S. Women of Child-Bearing Age Use Opioid Painkillers: CDC Warns about Birth Defects
A report released earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that close to one-third of all American women of reproductive age got an opioid painkiller prescription filled each year from 2008 to 2012. This is of concern to health authorities because these medicines are known to cause serious birth defects.
Read MoreSafe, Nutritious, Home-Made First Foods for Baby
Great, Healthy Home-Made Foods to Start Your Baby on Solids
The recent news report about a small piece of glass having been found in a jar of Beech-Nut baby food is enough to send chills down a new mom’s spine.
What if you want to be sure about the quality control in the food you’ll feed your 6-month-old when that time comes? What if you want to prepare your own baby foods?
Read MoreAre Antidepressants in Pregnancy Safe?
Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy Raises Risk of Autism and Other Problems for Baby, According to Many Studies
We hope that if you are expecting a baby, you are brimming with joy and anticipation. But we know that in every life, there is sorrow, and maybe circumstances have you feeling glum and you’re thinking about taking antidepressants, or you are already taking them.
Read MoreParents Install Newborns’ Car Seats Wrong!
Many Parents Position Newborns Wrong or Install Baby Car Seat Incorrectly for Baby’s First Ride Home from Hospital
Some parents may not think about it, but one of the things expecting parents ought to do before their little one is born, is to learn the proper techniques for placing the newborn in the car safety seat they’ll use, as well as installing the safety seat correctly.
According to a recent small study, the far majority of parents make one or more big mistakes when they place the infant in the seat or in installing the seat, as they drive home from the hospital with their newborns.
Read MoreMore Parents Are Refusing Vitamin K Shots for Their Newborns Amid Fears of Reactions
A recent study from the University of Calgary has found that increasing numbers of parents are refusing to consent to their newborns receiving a shot of vitamin K at birth, due to fears about possible reactions to the high single dose of the vitamin, as well as the other ingredients that come with it.
Vitamin K is necessary for normal blood-clotting in both adults and children; however, babies are usually born with insufficient amounts of the vitamin in their system, as it doesn’t cross very well from the mother’s blood through the placenta. The mother’s diet does not affect the levels of vitamin K that her baby is born with to any large degree.
Read MorePhthalates Were Removed from Babies’ Toys in U.S., but Infants Still Get Them in Excess from Foods
A study has found that babies are getting twice the amount of harmful phthalates in their diets that the Environmental Protection Agency considers to be safe.
Phthalates are man-made chemicals used to make plastics softer and more flexible; they can be found in storage containers, water bottles, electronics, vinyl curtains and floors, plastic toys and many other consumer products.
But a number of studies on animals over the years linked phthalates to premature birth, low birth weight, lower sperm counts and anatomical defects in male genitalia. In addition, they remain in human tissue over time; studies have found that almost every person tested in the United States has the chemicals in their system.
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