Make Your Own Natural Baby Care Products

If you are like so many parents today who are concerned that many conventional baby products contain questionable ingredients such as parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), talc, and synthetic perfumes and fragrances, you may have chosen to take matters into your own hands. All these ingredients can have adverse effects on the health and well being of your baby, so it is no wonder parents are now finding that it is easy, more cost effective, and safer to make their own natural baby products.

Since the skin is the body’s largest organ and it has the ability to absorb things that is comes into contact with, would you want to expose your baby to potentially harmful chemicals or would you rather use safe and natural ingredients? Most parents would agree that ensuring your baby products are completely natural, is worth it. Making our own baby products with all natural ingredients can be fun to do, it saves money, and most importantly, it ensures that your babies' delicate immune systems are not unduly taxed by harmful product ingredients. Most of the ingredients listed can be purchased at your local supermarkets, drug stores or natural food stores so you can pick some up on your regular shopping trips. With just a few key natural ingredients, you can make all sorts of natural baby care products. You don’t have to have a chemistry degree to create all natural, luxurious, baby friendly products. If you are currently using conventional baby care products, check out Skin Deep for more information on the safety of the products.

Try these easy recipes for natural baby products:

All Natural Baby Wipes Solution

• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup Aloe Vera Juice
• 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Calendula Oil
• 1 teaspoon grated, unscented soap
• 2 drops Lavender Oil
• 2 drops Tea Tree Oil

Mix in a jar and then pour over organic cloth wipes or paper towels. This baby wipe solution is anti-fungal and great for discouraging yeast diaper rashes. The essential oil can be found at any health food store and has a pleasing fragrance.

A Better Baby Oil

1 cup Grapeseed or Apricot Kernel oil
4-6 drops lavender or chamomile essential oils
1-2 vitamin E capsules (optional)

Squeeze the vitamin E capsules into the oils and mix together. Store in a dark colored bottle and use as a bath or massage oil. This is also great for moms after shaving!

Diaper Rash Ointment

2 ounces Jojoba oi
5 drops of tea tree or lavender essential oil
2-3 drops of Wheatgerm oil or Pure Vitamin E oil

Jojoba oil is perfect for baby skin due to its great nutritional properties. It is easily absorbed and allows the skin to breathe, unlike other oils. It nourishes the skin and moisturizes it at the same time. To further enhance these beneficial properties add 5 drops of tea tree or lavender essential oil (both act as anti-bacterial agents) for every 2 ounces of oil. Wheatgerm oil with its naturally high Vitamin E content complements this jojoba oil mixture. Adding a few drops will also help preserve this product. Pure Vitamin E Oil is a good alternative if you cannot find wheatgerm oil.

All-Natural Avocados A Good Nutrition Source for Babies

Avocados and Babies

The avocado's smooth, creamy consistency makes it one of the first all-natural fresh fruits a baby can safely enjoy. Avocados are sodium- and cholesterol- free, and contain valuable nutrients including 8% of the recommended Daily Value (DV) for folate; 4% DV for fiber and potassium, 4% DV for vitamin E; and 2% DV for iron. One serving of avocado also contains 81 micrograms of the carotenoid lutein and 19 micrograms of beta-carotene. Also, per serving, avocados have 3.5 grams of unsaturated fats, which are known to be important for normal growth and development of the central nervous system and brain.

Avocado Facts:

1. Avocados contain 81 micrograms of the carotenoid lutein, which some studies suggest may help maintain healthy eyes.
2. Avocados are included in Fruits & Veggies-More Matters™ consumer educational program to promote increased consumption of fruits and vegetables for good health.
3. Avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds that can contribute to the nutrient quality of your diet.
4. Due to their mono and polyunsaturated fat content, avocados are a healthy substitution for foods rich in saturated fat.
5. One-fifth of a medium avocado (1 oz) has 50 calories and contributes nearly 20 vitamins and minerals making it a good nutrient choice.
6. Avocados contain 76 milligrams beta-sitosterol in a 3-oz serving of avocado. Beta-sitosterol is a natural plant sterol which may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Additional Facts:

• One-fifth of a medium avocado, or about one ounce, has 50 calories and contributes nearly 20 beneficial nutrients to the diet.
• Avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are thought to help prevent many chronic diseases.
• Avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, including 4% of the recommended Daily Value (DV) for vitamin E, 4% vitamin C, 8% folate, 4% fiber, 2% iron, 4% potassium, with 81 micrograms of lutein and 19 micrograms of beta-carotene.
• Avocados act as a "nutrient booster" by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha- and beta-carotene as well as lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit.

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Disposable Or Cloth Diapers?

Disposable Versus Cloth Diapers

One of the first and most important decisions you’ll make in caring for your baby will be what kind of diapers to use. There are two choices: disposable and cloth. Following is a summary of the best features and benefits of each:

Disposable diapers

• Types: Disposable diapers come in different sizes that are designated by the age and weight of the baby.
• How they stay on: Disposable diapers are fastened with tape or Velcro strips attached to the back panel that fasten in the front.
• 
  


It’s not unusual for baby to go through 8 to 10 diapers a day. That means in a year’s time you’ll be changing more than 2,800 diapers!

• Cleaning and disposal: Soiled disposable diapers should be folded in on themselves and be disposed of in your trash.
• Day-care use: Most day-care centers require disposable diapers because they are more convenient to use and to dispose of.
• Availability: Disposable diapers are available at grocery and discount stores.
• Diaper-rash prevention: Wetness is soaked into the diaper’s layers, keeping the baby’s bottom drier and less susceptible to irritation.
• Travel convenience: Soiled diapers can be disposed of in the appropriate trash receptacles.
• Price: Using disposable diapers is more expensive than using cloth diapers.

Cloth diapers

• Types: Cloth diapers come in woven cotton, terry cloth, or flannel and can be bought unfolded or prefolded in different thicknesses.
• How they stay on: Cloth diapers are fastened with safety pins, or you can buy Velcro-fastening cloth diapers or diaper covers designed to hold the diaper in place.
• Cleaning and disposal: Soiled cloth diapers need to be rinsed in your toilet, and should be machine-washed in hot water separately from other items. In between laundering, soiled diapers can be kept in a diaper pail. Flushable liners are available for cloth diapers and can make cleanup much easier.
• Day-care use: Discuss the option of using cloth diapers at your day-care center. In-home (theirs or yours) care providers may be more agreeable to using cloth than centers might be.
• Availability: Cloth diapers are available at department and discount stores. A diaper service is another alternative, which may provide convenient home delivery of clean diapers and pickup of soiled diapers.
• Diaper-rash prevention: With cloth diapers, wetness stays next to your baby’s bottom, which may cause irritation.
• Travel convenience: Soiled diapers can be placed in resealable plastic bags and laundered when it’s convenient.
• Price: Cloth diapers you launder yourself are the least expensive choice. Diaper services are a more costly option.

Environmental considerations
There are environmental pros and cons on both sides of the diaper debate. Self-laundering and diaper services both use water and electricity to clean diapers; disposable diapers add to the garbage that’s deposited in our landfills.

What’s best for your baby?
There’s no one right answer for everyone. Choose what you feel is best for your baby, yourselves, and your schedule. Whichever you choose, you’ll probably want to have some cloth diapers on hand to use as burp cloths and impromptu bibs.

PeaPod Indoor/Outdoor Travel Beds

Convenience, comfort, durability, affordability, portability, and adaptability. This is what today's parents should look for in a portable baby travel bed.

A good example is the PeaPod Indoor/Outdoor Travel Bed, which offers it all for on-the-go parents, and grandparents will love it too! PeaPod Travel Beds offer the flexibility to take baby along wherever you go, and know they will be snug and safe. So whether you are outdoors camping or vacationing, having a backyard barbeque, or whether you just want to have baby nearby while inside, a travel bed is a great convenience.

The inflatable air mattress helps protect baby from cold, damp floors while providing a comforting place to sleep. It's great for outdoors too because of its UV protection and wind screens. The PeaPod Indoor/Outdoor Travel Bed comes with zippered panels which allows parents quick and easy access to baby from any angle. The easy-to-fold design makes it ideal for storing and also allows for quick set-up. The PeaPod Travel Beds are available in several sizes as baby grows. A pump is included for the inflatable mattress, and it also comes with a washable sleeping pad and a storage bag.

Big Problems In Small Parts

Around 160,000 children per year in our country go to the emergency room with accidental injuries involving toys. Even though most toys are extremely safe for children in the age group indicated by the label, manufacturers' instructions and warning labels should be taken seriously. It's important to follow age guidelines and follow the labels' instructions. Anything that fits in a federally approved "small parts tester" is considered a small part and a choking hazard for infants and toddlers. These testers are available in toy stores; however, to save on the cost, a cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper will work just as well. Just make sure the toy or part is larger than the roll, otherwise it is too small to give to a baby or young child.

Be very careful of button-type batteries and small magnets which a baby or small child can easily put in their mouths. These can be particularly dangerous if swallowed. Besides being a choking hazard, batteries can poison a child. Magnets can get stuck in the digestive system and can cause life-threatening internal injuries. Another choking hazard is balloons. Each year, several children choke to death on broken or deflated balloons. When considering things to keep away from your child, remember that small children have small airways that are very easily blocked.

Many of today's new toys come with a product registration card. Be sure to register the toy for recalls and send in the card. This way you are registered for recalls from the manufacturer and they can contact you If the product is found to be defective, or with other important information. The manufacturer will contact registered owners with safety notices and trade-in instructions. On secondhand or hand-me-down toys, look for the manufacturer's toll-free number or Website to register. You can visit Recalls.gov to check on safety notices and information about the product.

How To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night

Many parents suffer needlessly, along with their baby, through hours of baby's crying and sleepless nights. If you are experiencing the same problem as I suffered with when my children were babies, now there is a new, natural way to end those long, unpleasant hours and help your baby fall asleep on his own. In fact, there are more than 23 ways to naturally bring about a peaceful, gentle way to get your baby to sleep through the night and without crying.

I wish I had known of these natural methods when I was struggling to get my own babies to sleep through the night. It would have saved us from many unneeded tears and long nights, just to get them to sleep.

The good news is, there are now a number of methods to use, conveniently recorded on audio cd's to listen to whenever you are at home or in your car, which will save busy parents much more time than reading books about how to get your baby to sleep through the night.

Since every parent and baby is different, there are many choices of methods to use, depending on each personality, but each natural method has been tried and successfully used.

How To Make A Baby Shower Diaper Cake

A few weeks ago, one of my daughter's friends had a baby shower and my daughter wanted to make her a unique gift. I suggested that she could make her a baby diaper cake similar to one I had made for my grandson at her recent baby shower.

My daughter said she had no idea how to even begin to make a diaper cake, so I told her about some video tutorials on making diaper cakes I had seen on the internet which I had purchased when I made the one for her baby shower.

The tutorials show you step-by-step how to make several styles of diaper cakes in under 25 minutes. These kind of original designs would cost over $100 to purchase from specialty shops, if you could even find them!

After the friend's baby shower, everyone was so impressed with her gift that they kept asking her where she got the "cake" from, and found it hard to believe that she had actually made it herself.

If you have a baby shower coming up or know someone who does, tell them to check out these tutorials on how to create a diaper cake. It will be a unique and personal baby gift that the new mom will love and appreciate.

Building Baby's Language Skills

If you would like to boost your baby's language skills, one way is to get out the building blocks!

According to a six-month study of 18- to 30-month-olds, those who played with blocks had about 15 percent bigger vocabularies than those who didn't. The reasoning behind this is that blocks, along with other toys such as dolls and cars, provide parents a way to actively play with and talk with their baby, while at the same time offer a way to subtly lay a foundation for their baby's language skills.

The study author Dimitri Christakis, MD, states that it's not just the time the parents spend playing with their baby, it's the benefit later on when their baby is playing alone that he will recreate what you did. While playing, if you say, "This block is yellow", then later on when your baby is playing with the blocks he will be thinking, "yellow".

Crib Baby Bumper Safety

If you are a mom, safety always comes first for your children, and especially a concern for a new mom with her first baby.

Crib baby bumpers have always been designed to prevent crib injuries; however, I have just been made aware that new research from Washington University School of Medicine, in St. Louis, Missouri, suggests otherwise. As babies get old enough to wiggle or roll around, they could get trapped and suffocated by the bumpers. Older babies could stand on the bumpers to get out of their cribs and get hurt or injured by a fall. According to study author Bradley Thach, MD, bumpers should not be used at all. If you choose to use them, he says, be sure to remove them before your child can move or roll around, usually by 3 to 4 months.

This information is provided as a safety measure for your child or children. Please post a comment if you would like, or if you have any further information on the subject.

Sign Language for Children

I came across a wonderful program called Signing Time which is being shown on public television stations across the country. They also offer products, dvds and vhs tapes, books, and many other resources. This fun and clever television series teaches kids with fun videos and interactive songs and play, how to sign. It reminds me a little of the Sesame Street format of teaching children through songs and repetition, and kids themselves mimicking what they see. Check it out - it has won much acclaim and news coverage, plus numerous awards, including the Parents' Choice Award. Designed to help parents and caregivers make informed decisions about which products are recommended for children, the Parents' Choice Awards is the nation's oldest nonprofit guide to quality children's media and materials for children, including: books, toys, music, magazines, software, videogames, television and websites.

You can watch an introduction video on their website. This is an interesting and fun way for children to learn another way to "speak', and may be very helpful to interact with other children who may not be able to "speak' the words. Click on the box below to go to the website for Signing Time.

Growing Up Healthy and Strong with Organic Food

Growing up healthy and strong with organic food
Contributed by Dr. Joey Shulman for Sweetpea Baby Food

All parents want the best for their growing babies. Decisions about the quality and quantity of the food your baby is eating are, therefore, of the utmost importance.

Selecting high quality foods and "going organic" have been shown to have immense benefits, which include:

• Lowering your baby's risk of developing allergies or asthma
• Decreasing the chances of having a "picky eater"
• Optimizing your baby's digestion and immune system function
• Decreasing exposure to toxic chemicals found in conventional fruits and vegetables

Step 1 - Starting with cereal (approx. 4-6 months)

A hypoallergenic infant cereal such as organic brown rice, barley or mixed grain is the best "starter" food for your baby. Mix cereal with added breast milk, formula or water to ensure it has a soft and smooth texture.

Step 2 - Moving on to 100% organic fruits and veggies (approximately 4-6 months)

Fruits and vegetables are the next solid food category you should introduce on a one by one basis. As a general rule, the more colorful the fruit or vegetable, the more nutrient value it holds. The top organic fruits and vegetables to introduce include avocados, bananas, blueberries, pears, broccoli, peas, carrots, squash and sweet potatoes.

Step 3 - Introducing organic proteins for strong muscles (approximately 6- 8 months)

As your baby's energy and growing demands change, s/he is ready to eat a greater amount of protein and iron. Introduce new protein foods one at time with a 3-5 day lag between each new protein introduced.

Becoming informed about your baby's nutritional and growing needs gives parents peace of mind. Having the right information will help with your baby's continuing growth and development.

To contact Dr. Joey, visit drjoey@sweetpeababyfood.com

Introducing Healthy Foods and Good Eating Habits

Healthy Eating for Babies

Healthy eating starts with good choices.

As a new parent, you want to provide your baby with the best possible start in life. Studies show healthy eating habits begin to develop with your baby's first foods. Starting early by educating yourself and to introduce your child to fresh, all-natural foods, you are creating the foundation for your child to make healthy food choices.

10 Healthy Eating Habits

-- Teach your baby about different fruits and vegetables.
-- Talk about what your baby is eating. Make it fun!
-- Be a good role model. your baby learns by imitating you.
-- Encourage your baby to drink water. Offer it at every meal.
-- Your baby's tastes will change often. Don't get discouraged.
-- Your baby needs a balanced diet, with plenty of variety.
-- Don't be in a rush at mealtimes. Enjoy time with your baby.
-- Set times for meals and snacks.
-- Never force your baby to eat. Be patient.
-- Make mealtimes a relaxing, family event. Avoid distractions.

Dads' Parenting Style Influences Childhood Obesity

Date updated: May 06, 2007
Content provided by Health Day

SATURDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- Fathers' parenting styles have a major influence on children's weight, says an Australian study that looked at almost 5,000 children, ages 4-5, and their parents.

The researchers found that fathers with permissive (no limits on their children) or disengaged parenting styles were more likely to have overweight or obese children, while fathers with a consistent (clear limits, following through with instructions, etc.) style were less likely to have children with a higher body mass index (BMI).

There was no association between the mothers' parenting styles and children's weight, said the study authors from the Centre for Community Child Health (CCCH) at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.

The findings were to be presented this weekend at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies, in Toronto.

"This study of a large cross section of Australian preschoolers has, for the first time, suggested that fathers could be at the frontline in preventing early childhood obesity. Mothers are often blamed for their children's obesity, but this study suggests that for more effective prevention, perhaps we should focus on the whole family," Melissa Wake, an associate professor at CCCH, said in a prepared statement.

"Given the importance of the family unit in a child's preschool years, and its influence on their nutrition and physical activity levels, it is timely to look at the parenting roles of both parents and the impact they have on a child's tendency to be overweight or obese," Wake said.

She noted that more than 60 percent of the fathers and more than 40 percent of the mothers in the study were overweight or obese.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases offers advice for parents on healthy eating and physical activity for children.

Article provided by ScoutNews, LLC.

Are We Harming Our Children?

You Can Protect Your Baby from Harmful Carcinogens

Like most new mothers, I'm sure you want the best for your new baby. Using products that are full of chemicals, even though they may have a popular image, may be harming your baby's tender, sensitive skin. Research has shown that some of these skin and bath products may include harmful carcinogens,

I have found a wonderful website that offers only the finest natural products for baby, moms-to-be, and new moms. They offer support and advice on the many aspects of having a baby, before, during and after, as well as offer pure, natural gifts for mama and baby.

If you are concerned about your precious baby's well-being, please read what Earth Mama Angel Baby has to say about its products:

"What do women do when they need advice about breastfeeding, diaper rash, morning sickness, heartburn, and hemorrhoids? They call mama."

That’s why Mama created Earth Mama Angel Baby®, the only line of 100% natural skin and body care products to support the entire birth process: pregnancy, labor, post-partum and c-section recovery, breastfeeding, baby care, and even the loss of a baby.

Pure, natural products and gifts for pure, natural mamas and babies!

We use the highest quality oils and QAI certified organic herbs. Our products are 100% toxin-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and have no artificial preservatives, fragrances or dyes."


For more information about Earth Mama Angel Baby, click their link below.

The Pure Facts and Benefits About organic

What Does It Mean?

The pure facts:
•	Organic ingredients are produced without the use of growth hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals.
•	To ensure manufacturers’ compliance, the USDA rigorously monitors Organic standards and regulations.
•	To be certified USDA Organic and display the USDA Organic seal, a product must contain at least 95% organic ingredients by weight.
•	USDA Organic certification ensures that the farm where the food is grown and the companies that handle or process the food meet USDA Organic standards.
•	More and more families today are choosing organic options as a part of a healthy lifestyle.

To learn more about organic food products, please visit www.usda.gov.

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Good Advice

The Four R's

• Reduce~the amount of trash discarded
• Reuse~ containers and products
• Recycle~use recycled materials, and compost
• Respond~ to the solid waste dilemma by reconsidering waste-producing activities and by expressing preference for less waste