New From Soy Genius! Insect Repellent & Sun Protecting Clothing For Kids

Child Mode reports: Soy Genius recently teamed up with Insect Shield to develop the first and only line of apparel for infants and toddlers which is insect-repellent!

Organic cotton and soy fibres make up the new Buggies Collection which is durable and naturally wicking. Not only does the fabric provide a UPF 30+ rating, it is also antimicrobial and features the innovative Insect Shield® Repellent Technology, providing protection from a variety of bugs – including those that can carry West Nile virus, Lyme disease, malaria and other insect-borne diseases!

"Insect Shield apparel lasts through 70 launderings: the typical lifetime of a garment. Insect Shield’s EPA registration does not restrict use of the apparel. Products can be worn by infants, children of all ages, and women who are pregnant or nursing. Wearing Insect Shield apparel reduces the need for topical repellents. "

Buggies clothing collection consists of Bodysuits, Warmers, T-shirts, Shorts, Skorts, Capri Pants, Cargo Pants, Hats and Long-Sleeve Hooded T-Shirts with sizes for infants and toddlers up to 4T. They are available to purchase now in select REI stores, and at Buggies Clothing.

Amazing technology! Read the rest of the article here.

Batteries In Musical Greeting Cards Hazardous To Young Children

Image from CBC NEWS
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Those musical greeting cards may be entertaining, however officials at the Montreal Children's Hospital are warning parents that the batteries can easily be ripped off these cards and may pose a serious threat to children. CBC News reports that if the batteries are swallowed or put into a child's nose or ears they can cause serious damage as once coming in contact with bodily fluids, the chemicals from the batteries can leak within hours.

Dr. Sam Daniel, an ear, nose and throat specialist at the hospital, said each case he has dealt with had some form of long-term complication.

The esophagus is especially vulnerable, he said.

“It can lead to perforation over time and it can be deadly if you perforate your swallowing pipe," Daniel said. "You develop nasty infections in the chest."

The batteries can also damage the ear, Daniel said.

"Some of the complications you see with that are hearing loss or stenosis of the canal," Daniel said. The ear drum can be destroyed "just from the alkali in the battery, which is much more corrosive than acid, damaging the tissue and the body."

Daniel said more than 3,000 children are reported to have swallowed batteries every year in the United States.

Batteries like the ones found in musical cards are used in many different small toys so definitely keep your eye out!

Daniel also recommends that parents not try and remove a battery from a child's ear, nose or throat unless easily accessible as it can cause more damage if you don't know what you are doing

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Perfect For Imaginative Play: Toy Wooden Sewing Machine

Another brilliant find on Etsy! This handmade sewing machine is made up of solid Beech wood with a Fir base and measures 9"high. Not only does the sewing machine come with a vintage spool, but the crank even turns allowing the needle to go up and down! No worries about toxic sealers or paint, the entire piece is sealed with orange oil and beeswax.

WoodClinic on Etsy also has the most adorable wooden guitars for the little rockstar in your family!

Stocking Stuffer: Natural Modeling Beeswax For Children

While looking around Etsy I came across these cute little modeling beeswax sets that are actually affordable unlike many I've seen in retail stores.

Made from pure local beeswax, organic oil and non toxic pigment this natural modeling wax warms to your touch, never dries out or splits and smells heavenly! For a limited time twinkleofmyeye is offering free shipping on all orders.

Not only is this a great stocking stuffer idea, they also make great party favors!

Prices range from $10-$20.00 US.

Sakura Bloom Children's Play Sling

My daughter has been trying to carry her baby doll "just like mama" ever since her baby sister was born. We have been using everything from receiving blankets to large scarves to "tie" her baby to her back. Unfortunately as she's grown quite a bit over the last few months those substitutions just aren't cutting it.

While searching high and low for a play sling for my 3-year-old daughter I came across one from Sakura Bloom, a company renowned for their incredible silk and linen slings and loved by mamas everywhere!

This play sling is made from a single layer of machine washable handwoven dupioni silk and is available in Candy Pink (shown), Sky Blue, Jade Green or Freesia Blue.

The perfect gift for your mini babywearer!

Price: $38.00 from Sakura Bloom

HaPe Toys 30-50% Off Through HauteLook!

Another great sale going on at Haute Look! HaPe Toys are renowned for their quality top-of-the-line toys. Their rigorous safety standards and natural products are a comfort to parents looking for natural toy alternatives. All HaPe products made in China fully comply with North American regulations for safe use by children and do not contain lead paint or hazardous materials.

HauteLook is offering 30-50% off some of HaPe's award-winning toys! The Gourmet Chef Kitchen, Welcome Home Dollhouse, Fire Box Set, Activity Box and a wide variety of wooden animal toys and puzzles are on for amazing prices. Be sure to check out this sale before it ends Tuesday morning (December 1)!

HauteLook is by invitation only. Click on the link for an exclusive invite from A Good Clean Life!

Plan Toys: 50% off Sale On HauteLook!

Green toy company Plan Toys has an incredible sale going on at the moment through Haute Look . Their contemporary dollhouse, airport and parking garage are 50% off as well as many of their other wooden toys which would make perfect gifts this holiday season!

In case you aren't familiar with Plan Toys, their products are made out of replenishable rubberwood which is preservative free and naturally processed. All colors used to paint the toys are water-based and the glue is made up of a non-toxic, non-formaldehyde formula, making these safe for children of all ages!

Check out HauteLook for all the steals from Plan Toys. Keep in mind, everything from HauteLook is first come, first serve and do have a tendency to sell out quickly!

Michelle Obama Will Give Gardening Tips On Sesame Street

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Michelle Obama is said to kick off the 40th anniversary season of Sesame Street on November 10th.

The First Lady will teach the furry "residents" of Sesame Street about the benefits of growing a garden and healthy living. She will also be teaching the children how to plant tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce seeds. Michele made a deep impact with the first fruit and vegetable garden at the White House since World War Two. A variety of 50 different fruits and vegetables were planted on 1, 100 square feet of land and will be used in the White House kitchen.

"All these seeds need to grow are sun, soil and water. If you eat these healthy foods, you're going to grow up to be big and strong, like me," Obama says.

"I know you're going to like these vegetables, because in addition to being healthy, they really taste great!"

Other celebrities due to make "Sesame Street" guest appearances in the 40th season include actresses Cameron Diaz, Eva Longoria-Parker, British comedy actor Ricky Gervais and U.S. basketball star Kobe Bryant.

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Spanking Your Child Stunts Their Intelligence

Researcher from the University of New Hampshire, Dr. Murray Straus, has just released a new study on the effects of physical punishment and IQ levels.

The study which included hundreds of American youngsters found those who were smacked had IQs between three and five points lower than other children of the same age.

Physical punishment can leave children in a state of fear, hindering their ability to learn.

Smacking children stunts their intelligence, research suggests.

Youngsters kept in line through slaps and spanks have IQs several points lower than those whose parents merely remonstrate with them, the study found.

Straus, who has devoted the last 40 years to studying the effects of corporal punishment, says that talking to children fosters brain development. 'Talking to children, including infants, is associated with an increase in connections in the brain and in cognitive ability.

'The less corporal punishment is used by a parent, the more verbal interaction is needed to teach and correct the child.

'Being slapped or spanked is a frightening and threatening event that children experience as highly stressful. Fright and stress can result in cognitive deficits.

'All parents want smart children. This research shows that avoiding spanking and correcting misbehaviour in other ways can help that happen.'

The more the children were hit, the worse they did on the tests.

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Television Affects Parent-Child Interaction

A new report has found that parent-child interactions suffer when a television is blaring in the background.

Researchers are saying that the finding is important because more than one-third of American infants and toddlers live in homes where the television is on most or all the time, even if no one's watching.

In the study, published in the September/October issue of the journal Child Development, a team at the University of Massachusetts observed about 50 children, aged 1, 2 and 3 years, who were with a parent at a university child study center.

For half of a one-hour session, parents and children were in a playroom without a television; in the other half-hour, parents chose a program to watch.

The researchers studied how much verbal interaction there was between parents and children, whether parents were actively involved in their children's play, and whether they responded to each other's questions and suggestions.

The study authors found that while the TV was on, parents spent about 20 percent less time talking to their children and were less active, attentive and responsive to their kids, resulting in a decrease in the quality of the interactions.

"Although previous research found that background television disrupts young children's solitary play, this is the first study to demonstrate its impact on the quantity and quality of parent-child interactions," the researchers explained in a news release from the Society for Research in Child Development.

"Given that high-quality parent-child interaction plays an important role in children's development, the study challenges the common assumption that background TV doesn't affect very young children if they don't look at the screen," the researchers concluded.

Children See, Children Do: A look at NAPCAN's latest campaign

An eye-opening look at NAPCAN's latest campaign for a Child Friendly Australia. How very, very true this is! Reminds me of Children Learn What They Live, something I posted back in May.

"Fat Camp" Introduced For Britain's Overweight Children

A Government plan to tackle obesity is planning on sending hundreds of thousands of Britain's overweight children to a "fat camp". Some of these children as young as four years old!

School students who are labeled as overweight will be offered a place in this state funded camp. Parents can refuse at any time, however the ministers are hoping most will attend. Children who are obese could be sent to specialists for treatment, drugs or surgery.

Parent groups said the Government had moved ''beyond a nanny state, to a dictatorship''.

Experts said the public branding of children as fat could damage their confidence, expose them to bullying and trigger eating disorders. But pediatricians welcomed the move.

Under existing regulations, children are weighed when they start primary school and again as they leave. Parents receive a letter saying whether their children are healthy, overweight, underweight or very overweight. The latest figures show that by the time they leave primary school, one in three children is overweight.

Margaret Morrissey, the founder of the family lobby group Parents Outloud, said it was ''unforgivable'' to promote schemes that would encourage humiliation to be heaped on those children sent to fat camps. ''This has gone beyond a nanny state, beyond Big Brother,'' she said.

''To label young children as overweight because they are carrying a few extra pounds makes them so vulnerable to bullying and increases the risk of developing eating disorders, especially among the girls.

''Obviously it is unfortunate if parents feed their children badly, but this Government appears to have forgotten that we do not live in a dictatorship.''

However, the pediatricians don't agree and said that because of the scale of this crisis, drastic action was necessary.

Dr David Vickers, from the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health, said: ''It seems to me that it is more outrageous to tell parents that their child is overweight then do nothing about it, than to … offer some support.''

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Depression found in 15 per cent of preschoolers

A new five year study titled "Depression and anxiety symptoms: onset, developmental course and risk factors during early childhood," has shown that 15 per cent of children between the ages of 5 months and five years old were found with high levels of depression and anxiety. Results of a new study were recently published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Physchiatry.

Most of the children found with depression were most likely to have mother's with a history of depression.

Cote, a professor at the University of Montreal's Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, was among an international team of researchers who conducted the study. The 1,758 children who took part were born in Quebec -- and their mothers provided information on behavior and family members, during interviews.

"We found that lifetime maternal depression was the second most important predictor of atypically high depressive and anxiety problems during preschool years," said Cote.

"Our study is the first to show that infant temperament and lifetime maternal depression can lead to a high trajectory of depressive and anxiety problems before school entry."

Cote said it's critical that health professionals target these "high risk" infants who have mothers who struggle with lifetime depression -- and seek preventative treatments for their long-term well-being.

The study was supported by Quebec's Ministry of Health, the Social Science and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, and the Universite de Montréal.

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Planet box: a stainless steel alternative to lunch boxes

With "back to school" just around the corner I felt that I had to share this wonderful product with you. Caroline and Robert Miros have come up with an eco-friendly alternative to plastic lunch boxes using 18/10 stainless steel. I love everything about this product!

Below is an excerpt from their website.

Planet Box is designed to keep foods from "touching each other." When you close your PlanetBox the top and the bottom meet so that foods will not co-mingle, even when carried and stored on its side. The seal on the PlanetBox itself is not designed to hold wet, messy foods like yogurt, dips and applesauce. We created the Big and Little Dippers as an additional option for parents to use for these foods. They have a silicone rubber seal that engages when placed inside the PlanetBox and will create a tight seal.

The Big and Little Dippers are designed to hold wet, messy foods like yogurt, applesauce and dips. They contain a food grade silicone rubber seal in the lid to prevent leaking. When the Dippers are placed inside your PlanetBox the lid of the PlanetBox will seal the Dippers when closed. If you want to use the Dippers separately for snacks, you should either pack dry food in them or place a rubber band around them to engage the seal. The Dippers fit in the outside pocket of the PlanetBox Carry Bag so your child can have easy access to them for snack time. The silicone material used for the seal is a fully cured, synthetic rubber that is inert and stable at high temperatures. The silicone material is tested and certified to be free of lead, cadmium, mercury and a host of other toxic materials – we are happy to share the test results and certifications with you upon request.

For more information on this environmentally friendly lunch box, please visit Planet Box.

Letting go of Hyperparenting

I just read this article today and had to share it with you all. It is an important message which I believe should be heard. Many parents have tendencies to "over do it" with their children. As a parent myself, it is easy to get caught up in the everyday "mommyworld" of comparisons. I think many children are not allowed to really, truly enjoy their childhood and BE children.

I found this article really put it all into perspective, How to let go of Hyperparenting and learning to relax with your kids.

Experts suggest eliminating sandwich meats from children's lunches

The World Cancer Research fund is suggesting that families eliminate processed meats from their school lunches and use poultry, fish, low fat cheese, hummus or lean meats as sandwich fillings as processed meats increase the risk of cancer. They aslo said that although the research has not specifically looked at the effect of eating processed meat in childhood, the 'convincing' evidence in adults makes it important to teach children to avoid it where possible.


Scientists estimate that in the UK about 3,700 bowel cancer cases could be prevented if everyone ate less than 70grams of processed meat a week, which is roughly the equivalent of three rashers of bacon.

''Including sandwich fillers such as ham and salami could mean children get into habits that increase their risk of developing cancer later in life,'' the charity said.

''It makes sense for children to adopt a healthy adult eating pattern from the age of five.'' The fund said it was best to avoid processed meat and ''many of the habits we develop as children last into adulthood''.

In 2007 the fund noted that there was convincing scientific evidence that the risk of bowel cancer increased due to consumption of processed meats. They recommended people eat no more than 70g of processed meat a week - the equivalent to three rashers of bacon.

They also said that curing, salting or adding preservatives to meat, can introduce carcinogenic substances.

Source & Source

Children's vitamin D levels at a shocking low

New findings from a nationwide study have shown that about 70% of children are vitamin D deficient putting them at a higher risk for bone and heart disease. Many adults are also lacking in the vitamin.

About 70 percent of U.S. children have low levels of vitamin D, which puts them at higher risk for bone and heart disease, researchers said today.

"We expected the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency would be high, but the magnitude of the problem nationwide was shocking," said Dr. Juhi Kumar of Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center.

"Several small studies had found a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in specific populations of children, but no one had examined this issue nationwide," said study leader Dr. Michal L. Melamed of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.

The cause? Poor diet and lack of sunshine, the researchers conclude today in the online version of the journal Pediatrics.

The researchers found that 9 percent, or 7.6 million children across the country, were vitamin D deficient and another 61 percent, or 50.8 million, were vitamin D insufficient.

"Kids have more sedentary lifestyles today and are not spending as much time outdoors," Melamed said. "The widespread use of sunscreens, which block UV-B rays, has only compounded the problem."

Melamed recommends that children should consume more foods rich in vitamin D, such as milk and fish. "But it's very hard to get enough vitamin D from dietary sources alone," she said.

Vitamin D is also widely available in supplement form. It is especially recommended if you are breast feeding or live in the Northern regions where the sun expoure is weaker or in cooler climates. Low vitamin D has also been shown to be reversibly linked to reduced muscle mass and chronic pain syndromes. It is also known to regulates the immune system. Basically, if you replace the vitamin D, the problem goes away.

What else can parents do?"It would good for them to turn off the TV and send their kids outside," Melamed said. "Just 15 to 20 minutes a day should be enough. And unless they burn easily, don't put sunscreen on them until they've been out in the sun for 10 minutes, so they get the good stuff but not sun damage."

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New toy "Baby Gloton" a source of controversy

Berjuan, a Spanish toymaker has created a breast feeding doll which has caused some controversy . The doll which makes sucking noises as it feeds, comes with a halter style top with flaps for the little girls to wear at "feeding" time.

Although many health care providers promote the benefits of breast-feeding, parents around the world have criticized Berjuan, saying the idea of breast-feeding is too grown-up for young children -- and may even promote early pregnancy.

"That's not cool," Lori Reynolds, of El Paso, Texas, told KFOXTV.com. "No, I would never get that for my child."

But other moms said they support the product.

"I think that it’s great that people want to have a doll that promotes breast-feeding,” said Rose Haluschak, also of El Paso. “Most dolls that are purchased come with a bottle. That is the norm in society, an artificial way to feed your baby.”

Dr. Manny Alvarez, managing health editor of FOXNews.com, said although he supports the idea of breast-feeding, he sees how his own daughter plays with dolls and wonders if Bebe Gloton might speed up maternal urges in the little girls who play it.

“Pregnancy has to entail maturity and understanding,” Alvarez said. “It’s like introducing sex education in first grade instead of seventh or eighth grade. Or, it could inadvertently lead little girls to become traumatized. You never know the effects this could have until she’s older.”

I personally don't see why this is such a big deal. Unfortunately much of today's society still isn't comfortable with breastfeeding and the bottle has become the
"norm". My 3 year old daughter pretends to nurse her dolls all the time. It is called playing mommy. Little girls have been doing it for decades! Children make connections. When they see their mothers feeding babies with their breasts they are going to assume that's what they are for. Not a bad assumption for something that is completely natural and normal.

I don't understand how someone would compare this to introducing sex education to a first grader!

What gets me confused however is the name of this doll. Baby Gloton translates as "gluttonous baby". I'm sure they could have come up with something a little more appropriate.

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Some school supplies cause toxic threat to Children

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Toronto/Falls Church, Virginia – As back-to-school shopping kicks into high gear, two environmental groups are warning parents not to buy products made with polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, which contains chemicals that can cause a range of adverse health effects. A guide released today by Environmental Defence and US-based Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) helps parents choose safer, PVC-free school supplies in over 20 product categories. Many of the safer alternatives identified, including brand-name food and beverage containers, backpacks, computers, shoes, and some writing supplies, can be found on store shelves across Canada.

"The release of this guide comes just in time for back-to-school shopping, and will help parents avoid filling their children’s backpacks with toxic products," said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence and co-author of the recently-released book 'Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health'.

Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC or vinyl as it is more commonly known, can be found in or on many back-to-school products, including lunchboxes, binders, vinyl backpacks, clothes, and art supplies. It contains dangerous chemical additives, including phthalates, lead, and cadmium, to soften or stabilize it. These chemicals may evaporate or leech out of PVC products, and contribute to developmental disorders and damage of the liver, central nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems. Recent studies have linked PVC flooring in the home to increased rates of autism and asthma in children. Over 90% of all phthalates are used in PVC products such as school supplies.

There is particular concern about children's exposure to these chemicals since "numerous studies have found that young children are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of chemicals released by PVC," said Mike Schade, PVC Campaign Coordinator for CHEJ.

Canada recently announced that it will set limits on phthalates in vinyl toys and products such as teethers and rattles. However, the limits do not affect children's school supplies and other phthalate-containing PVC products used or worn by children.

"This guide was created to help parents make informed choices when it comes to back-to-school shopping by suggesting alternatives and offering tips," said Smith. "Given that many safer PVC-free products are available, parents should try to avoid products made of this chemical concoction wherever possible."

A copy of the PVC-Free Back-to-School Guide is available to download for free on the Environmental Defence web site at www.environmentaldefence.ca.

About Environmental Defence (www.environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence protects the environment and human health. We research solutions. We educate. We go to court when we have to. All in order to ensure clean air, clean water and thriving ecosystems nationwide, and to bring a halt to Canada's contribution to climate change.

For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Jennifer Foulds, Environmental Defence, (416) 323-9521 ext. 232; (647) 280-9521 (cell)

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Pollution exposure during pregnancy linked to lower IQs

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A study of 249 pregnant mothers was performed in New York City. Air monitors were worn on backpacks during the last few months of their pregnancy. Most of the pollution they were exposed to was mostly from cars, buses and truck exhaust.

At age 5, before starting school, the children were given IQ tests. Those exposed to the most pollution before birth scored on average four to five points lower than children with less exposure.

That's a big enough difference that it could affect children's performance in school, said Frederica Perera, the study's lead author and director of the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health.

Dr. Michael Msall, a University of Chicago pediatrician not involved in the research, said the study doesn't mean that children living in congested cities "aren't going to learn to read and write and spell."

But it does suggest that you don't have to live right next door to a belching factory to face pollution health risks, and that there may be more dangers from typical urban air pollution than previously thought, he said.

"We are learning more and more about low-dose exposure and how things we take for granted may not be a free ride," he said.

While future research is needed to confirm the new results, the findings suggest exposure to air pollution before birth could have the same harmful effects on the developing brain as exposure to lead, said Patrick Breysse, an environmental health specialist at Johns Hopkins' school of public health.

"It's a profound observation," he said. "This paper is going to open a lot of eyes."

The study in the August edition of Pediatrics was released Monday.

In earlier research, involving some of the same children and others, Perera linked prenatal exposure to air pollution with genetic abnormalities at birth that could increase risks for cancer; smaller newborn head size and reduced birth weight. Her research team also has linked it with developmental delays at age 3 and with children's asthma.

The researchers studied pollutants that can cross the placenta and are known scientifically as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Main sources include vehicle exhaust and factory emissions. Tobacco smoke is another source, but mothers in the study were nonsmokers.

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