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Dry Skin

Published
by
amy
on January 13, 2009
in healthy ideas, review, safe products and skin care
. Closed


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Every winter my daughter starts scratching, dry winter skin is back. Her skin gets so dry, especially on her back. At 3 she’ll ask me to scratch her back for her, “a little up, a little to the edge”. I hate to do it because, while I know it feels good for a moment its is making it more sore in the end. While I don’t use much on her throughout the year, every winter I have turned to my two favorites to help combat the itching- California Baby Calendula Cream and Weleda Calendula Cream. This winter, I found we were out of California Baby and had a little Weleda left, and everywhere I went (3 different stores) they were out! I ended up having order more online. I guess everyone is battling with dry skin right now!

The first winter it happened, she was a newborn, and her cheeks were chapped and her back had little spots of dry skin. I asked her doctor and he said just use Aquaphor. That got us thru the first winter but I wasn’t so sure about putting a petroleum product all over her skin. The next year I bought Weleda Calendula Cream, and it seemed to help quite a bit but it was a little greasy. I went back to Whole Foods and tried California Baby Calendula Cream. (I had been using a calendula gel for years for cuts, sunburns and scrapes on myself, found it worked really well in healing, so I was attracted to the products with that in it). It was great, I applied it before bed and there was a huge difference overnight and on two days it was gone.

While I use California Baby all over her back, I put the Weleda cream on really bad spots, elbows and knees. I find a little every other day keeps her skin without any dry spots. Both products unfortunately register with some low to moderate hazard at Skin Deep, but they work well and until there is a safer one that works just as well or better, I’ll have to stick with them.

Recipes and Cooking Advice for Picky Toddlers and Choosy Children

Published
by
amy
on January 8, 2009
in Uncategorized, eating, healthy ideas, reading and review
. Closed


You might have always had a picky eater on your hands, or maybe its a new thing for your normally eat-everything toddler. Either way it can be frustrating to ask what your little one what she wants to eat and the response is same thing they had for breakfast and lunch or turn their nose at everything you suggest or worse- you make. A few months ago we started to see this, my daughter had been a very diverse eater- from a great array of veggies and fruits right down to a big variety of ethnic foods. But we are witnessing a pull back- an apprehension to try new foods as well as a rejection of some old favorites. So we’ve been employing some new tricks and recipes, mostly good old fashion smoke and mirrors, to hopefully keep variety in her diet. I think back to the kids I baby-sat for in high school that ate hot dogs every night and am going to fight that kind of scenario all the way.

One good book I found a help is The Toddler Café by Jennifer Carden. Her approach, “fast, healthy and fun…” and the book is full of recipes that reflect that mantra. It is not so much like The Sneaky Chef, (another good one) which adds more nutritious ingredients to recipes, but more so a think out side of the box look at feeding a picky toddler. The recipes are simple, but apply fun and involvement as part of the toddler eating experience. There are recipe notes about where to get something or how to store or freeze, recipe variations (incase your kido is really against some implemented ingredient!) and tips on how to get them involved or to eat it. Ever thought about a grilled cheese made in a waffle iron? That is likely to impress a tough customer toddler. Sticky rice balls with carrots and beets mixed in- they will at least be curious (hopefully enough to sample). There are many more like this.

Prior to finding this book we were using some of these fun-type approaches that worked great. Cutting sandwiches in triangles or with cookie cutters, presenting a smorgasbord of dipping foods with hummus (toddlers love to dip), fruit dipped in yogurt, arranging food in different and unexpected ways. Think basic but fun. But if you’re stumped like many others, you and your toddler might find Jennifer Carden’s creative ideas inspiring enough to eat!

See a sample of what’s inside the book!

Winter activities for your babies and toddlers




Published
by
amy
on December 30, 2008
in activities, healthy ideas and parenting
. 1 Comment

Winter is upon us (in case you missed it!). And well as we all know days might be shorter, but some days at home with bored babies and toddlers can feel very long. We live in the northeast so sometimes there is no chance of even taking a walk on a very blustery day. So every winter since my daughter was walking we’ve registered for a class or two to make sure we have something to do to mix up our week. For the last, nearly two and a half years we’ve done Music Together and Gym Cubs.

Music Together is a nationwide music program for babies, toddlers and young children. Most children listen to music at home and in the car, like we do, but Music Together does a lot to get them to pay attention to rhythm, learn to carry a tune and use different instruments. Parents are expected to participate with their children so be prepared to sing a long!

Gym Cubs is a local gymnastics program for us that is walking to 3, and Gym Bears 3-6. It is great for teaching coordination, confidence and learning to participate with a group- especially waiting waiting your turn. Call your local gymnastics gym to see if they offer any baby or toddler classes or go online to find a YMCA near you. Many Y’s will offer not only some sort of tumbling gymnastics class but swimming with a parent as well. There is also The Little Gym which has locations in many states with all sorts of physical offerings for infants all the way to 12 yr olds. Itsy Bitsy Yoga- if your lucky to have one near you, is a great bonding and physical activity for you and your little one. We have a gap near us where they are unfortunately no yoga offerings for the 2-4 yr old crowd… so we do our downward dog together in the living room for now.

Storytime! Yes, a great way to spend a boring rainy or chilly day. Many libraries and small bookstores offer storytime. Even little babies will enjoy it. We use to go, when we could find a seat! Our neighborhood branch had a very popular storytime. Go and your little one will likely enjoy hearing someone else read for a change.

Find a Music Together location.
Other music programs include Kindermusik and Gymboree.
Also see Gymboree Play and Learn for activities.
Find a library or check with your local bookstore to see if they offer storytime.

Safe Toys for the Holidays

Published
by
amy
on December 2, 2008
in Uncategorized, healthy ideas, phthalate-free, safe products and toys
. Closed

Safer Toy Guide 2008Can you have a lead-free, BPA-free, phthalate-free, worry free holiday season?? God- I hope so. With all the ability to test, research and procure we are bound to have a safer gift giving season. In my house, it means I am researching the toys we give my daughter, limiting what we are giving her, looking for wooded toys, buying US and European and hoping our generous relatives follow suit. We’re in the same boat with everyone- you can’t have total control over what other people pick out for them. So I have hit the internet to check out where to look for reviews and tests, who is carrying the good stuff, and maybe even how to get a deal!

Check out: Fawn and Forest~ one of my favs with lots of natural and eco friendly products, even many handmade. They have a bunch of giveaways with purchases with month too!
Etsy’s Natural Kids section features handmade clothes and toys that are carefully, naturally and lovingly made. You’ll be dealing right with the creator so their standards are especially high.
Palumba~ a beautiful selection of all natural toys and gifts
Oompa Toys~ Lots of nice wooden toys, they have a link that you can see where all the manufacturers of the toys they sell are made.
Craftsbury Kids more handmade, high quality toys and items for kids.
Want to support us? Click on Earthy Birthy Mama, Nubius Organics, Baby Earth or Wild Dill on the right for your safer all natural toys and we’ll get a percentage of the proceeds! (albeit a small one but everything helps support the site!)
Last but not least~ Cool Mom Picks for a great safe toy gift guide and a bunch a deals listed, too! Click above.

Where to go if you’re worried: HealthyToys.org will be available on Dec. 3rd with loads of info on dangerous/safe toys. Consumer Safety Product Commission, Recalls.gov and the CDC Lead Program are all sites that will have recall information.

Still worried about that toy your kido got from your aunt in the midwest- which he/she loves and will flip if its suddenly “missing”? Buy a lead testing kit, they can be found at most big hardware stores and online.

Sound advice: remember always buy for your child’s age group, some toys are meant for older kids because they are age appropriate but many times it’s for safety reasons.

Mom’s Groups




Published
by
amy
on November 11, 2008
in Uncategorized
. Closed

My daughter was almost 5 months old when I finally reached out to meet some other new moms in my area. I had a little postpartum depression and well, wasn’t feeling my best to go out and make some new friends. In my case I decided to meet people through Stroller Strides, the fitness program designed for moms to do with their babies in tow. For me, it was great, I was able to slowly and comfortably meet some people and get some exercise as well. My husband and my mom and my friends (who unfortunately lived too far for a walk and meet for a quick coffee) all encouraged me to get out of the house. After doing it, I wished I had earlier. What evolved from Stroller Strides was a sort mom’s group and playgroup made up of those of us who had babies within a few months of each other. It was an easy natural formation for us and today my daughter is almost 3 and I am still friends with the same group of women and our kids get together to play once a week.

After the experience that I had, I find it very important to encourage other expectant and new mothers to get out there and meet some other moms. Becoming a mother is a big adjustment and well, misery loves company. Just kidding!! Really, reaching out is a healthy, positive way to help make your way as a mom. Decades ago, families lived much closer, sometimes in the same neighborhoods making it easier to find help, advice, a sympathetic ear, but now many people live quite far from their relatives. Moms groups can provide that much needed support and connection.

Want to join a mom’s group? Look at your local coffee shops, libraries, toy store and baby stores. Moms groups often post on bulletin boards at these locations to reach out to moms. Look online, many well-organized groups will have a website for groups in your state. Some are very casual and free, some are organized and facilitated by a knowledgible leader/s with and will have some fees, but are still generally affordable.

Want to start a mom’s group? Reach out, post a sign at any place moms will show up. Talk to other new and expecting moms- I know that is not for everyone, but you might be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to meet a new mother. Once you have a group, find a meeting place, your home, rotate homes, a coffee shop, etc- decide what you’re comfortable with. Some groups will be easy to start and others might need some structure to help get the ball rolling with topics and discussions.

Join a stroller fitness group like Stroller Strides. There are branches reaching in many cities and towns across the country. If your not sure about being in an organized group or starting one yourself, it will be another avenue to meeting other moms.
Any way you decide to meet other moms, it can be a helpful and fruitful experience. It will offer you support and possibly some little friends for your little ones.

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