Parenting Children

Melamine has been found in U.S. brand baby formula this past week. Reversing a decision made less than two months earlier, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Friday announced an allowable threshold of 1 part per million of the chemical melamine in baby formula, the Associated Press reports.
The FDA’s decision actually allows for more melamine than has been found in U.S.-made baby formula.
The chemical, used in the production of plastic products, can cause kidney or bladder stones and, in severe cases, kidney failure.

Consumers Union, the national consumer advocacy group, and the Illinois attorney general, Lisa Madigan, had demanded that the FDA issue a recall of the products, and I agree.
In China, melamine in formula has killed at least three babies and made at least 50,000 ill.

The FDA says that the formula is still safe and to keep feeding your baby the formula. It is a time like this that I wish I never stopped breastfeeding, it really is best.

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Are you looking for a easy to make appetizer for your next holiday party?
Heinz and Ocean Spray have a great, easy recipe that you should try, The Ultimate Party Meatball. This quick recipe is super simple and fool-proof, it has only three ingredients and two steps!

Ingredients:
1 16-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
1 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce
1 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs

Directions:
Combine sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Add meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.
Makes 30 appetizer servings.
You can also cook in a crock pot just cover and cook 4 hours on high.

I made this for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it.
Thanks to Mom Central for the chance to try this out!

Heinz and Ocean Spray have also created the Ultimate Party Meatballs website which is filled with additional recipes, entertaining tips, and a sweepstakes with a grand prize of $3,000 to throw the ultimate party!

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Most toys that are purchased this holiday season will be from China. Many of those toys are laden with phalates, lead or are a choking hazard and you should be aware of what youa re buying this holiday season. A report, Trouble in Toyland, concentrates this year on substances that can be toxic to children. Several of these toxins have been outlawed under a new U.S. law, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, but some provisions of that law won’t take effect until next year.

last year more than 80,000 children under 5 years old were taken to hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries, and 18 died.
Phthalates, which can be found in many soft plastic toys, can cause serious problems when exposure occurs in the womb or during crucial stages of development. Problems include premature delivery, reproductive defects, early onset of puberty, and lower sperm counts. You know your toy has phalates if it has a “plastic” smell like baby dolls or shower curtain liners.
In February 2009, toys with a phthalate content that exceeds 0.1 percent will be banned. Currently, the phthalate content of some toys is 40 percent!

Lead exposure to lead can result in lowered IQ, delayed mental and physical development.

Remember not to buy cheap toys and try not to buy toys from China. Buy wooden toys, made in America toys and buy wisely. You may pay more but the toys will last and they are safe for your children.

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Everytime I go to the grocery store I can’t believe how much the price of food has gone up. Meat, eggs, produce and coffee has all gone up and there is no end in sight. It is getting more expensive to feed my family and I am always looking for ways to save some money or at least stretch my dollar further.

Kellogg’s cereal is a staple in my house, my twins LOVE cereal. Of course Kellogg’s is more than just cereal, their family includes Keebler, Famous Amos and Morning Star.
Without Kellogg’s there would be no rice krispies and life without rice krispies treats wouldn’t be worth living! We love making them as a family and eating them too. A great family time idea and perfect for a rainy day activity.
Check out The Kellogg’s home page for coupons on your next cereal purchase.

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED, CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMENT #30 JANET!
WIN IT! Kellogg’s has generously offered a giveaway to one of Parenting Children’s readers. You could win a Rice Krispies Treat ceramic tray and a complete Rice Kripsies making kit which includes a big red bowl with the cereal, measuring cups and a spoon all tied up with a big red bow! Fabulous, I wish I had one!
Leave a comment here on your favorite Kellogg’s cereal and you will be entered to win.
For an extra entry twitter about this giveaway and leave me your twitter name in a a separate comment.
Giveaway ends on December 3rd. Open to US addresses only.

Remember to check out my other giveaway here.

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Dreem clothing was started in 2004 when fonder Brooke Wall became pregnant with her first son and found it very difficult to find stylish tees to show off her my growing belly. She wanted something she could feel sexy in but had no luck. After becoming pregnant with her second son, she decided to launch her line of clothing for pregnant and sexy moms.

Dreem has shirts for every pregnant mom who doesn’t want to wear a generic maternity shirt. I would have loved to have this twin shirt when I was pregnant! Dreem has the cutest shirts offered in short sleeve, long sleeve, thermals or a tank top in a variety of great colors.
No longer pregnant? Try Dreem’s hot mom line. Let everyone know how proud you are of your body with the post pardum bod shirt or a hot mom shirt like I had the chance to try out.
The shirt has great stretch to it, is very soft and held up to a spin in the washing machine very well. I will say, if you are unsure about your size, buy a size up.

Dreem shirts would be great for moms on your list this holiday season, baby shower gifts or for a new mom. Better yet your purchase gives back, Dreem has partnered up with the Nature Conservancy, and for every tee that is sold a tree will be planted in your name! How cool is that?

Parenting Children readers get 20% off your total purchase when you use code: TEF20
Offer expires 1/1/09.

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Some mothers have a preference of when they want to have their babies. Some don’t want a baby around the major holidays, some don’t want to be pregnant in the heat of the summer. Now a new study shows that when you have your baby may effect their health.

Babies born in autumn which is four months before the peak of the virus season have almost a thirty percent increased risk of asthma compared to babies born at other times of the year, reports a study in the first December issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. “Children in the Northern hemisphere born in the fall months have the highest rates of asthma, which suggests that winter viruses, like RSV, cause asthma,” said study senior author Dr. Tina Hartert, director of the Center for Asthma Research and Environmental Health at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common infection in babies. Of course not all children who have an RSV infection will develop asthma, but those with more severe infections appear to have a higher risk. Since babies immune systems are not very developed until about six months, for fall-born babies the winter virus season coincides with a vulnerable period of development, where babies are transitioning from maternal antibodies to their own.

How can you avoid RSV in your infant? If you can, avoid daycare. The only thing you can do is wash your hands often and make sure everyone who has contact with your baby.

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My kids are new to the Build-a-Bear scene but they love the idea of it. I can see why, you get a basic something and then create whatever you want from there. Both boys and girls love it and build a bear birthday parties are wildly popular. If you are looking for the same type of place, Ridemakerz is the hottest thing for boys (and girls) to get into.

At Ridemakerz you create your own 1/18 model of a car! Ridemakerz has all of the very cool materials that are needed for creating and pimping out your own toy car. They offer traditional model cars or for an additional $25 they can create their own remote control car instead.
You start by choosing a body for your car from a HUGE selection of model types like pick up trucks, Mustangs, or Mini Coopers. Then you chose all the fun stuff and customize your car. You can choose roll bars, spoilers, decals, pipes, wheels and more.

My son loved his Ridemakerz and my nephew is now asking for one for Christmas. It provided hours of fun and bonding between him and his Dad and I. He wants to collect them all so you can say this was a hit!
They also will host a birthday party! You can find a Ridemakerz shop near you by clicking here. You can always order your custom car online.

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I always do a lot of my holiday shopping online. This year it is even more important for me to get good deals on gifts because money is tight. I usually shop for the items I want at the store I think I will find it at the best price. MomCentral.com recently introduced me to Shop.com and now I think I will do most of my online shopping with them.

Why would I use Shop.com?
Shop.com is a new kind of shopping comparison site that offers the most comprehensive shopping experience on the web. You can search for the products you want from the best stores online and see them side by side. Decide which price, shipping method, and delivery schedule options work best for you. Easy!

What makes it different than other online sites?
They offer other services that other sites do not have like the gift recommendation service which recommends the most appropriate gifts for that special someone, egifts, gift registries and date reminders so your husband will never miss your anniversary again!

I think the best part is that you can purchase from over 2,000 merchants all in one place. Purchases can be conveniently made using one universal “shopping cart” to buy everything at one time or by clicking over to participating merchants’ sites. Talk about one stop shopping, this is going to make for a very easy Christmas shop this year for me.

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Thanksgiving is next week? Wow, that snuck up on me. If Thanksgiving is next week that means Christmas is right around the corner. With Christmas decorations, music and commercials going up right after Halloween, Thanksgiving gets lost and that is a shame because it is a great holiday and you and your kids can make crafts for your home or for gifts for your guests. Here are some ideas for things to do at home for thanksgiving.

This site has a ton of Thanksgiving print outs for kids of all ages.

Make this thankful turkey craft.

Kids love to help in the kitchen, what about making these popcorn balls ahead of time with your kids? They get to make dessert and you get to have an afternoon of fun with your kids.
Caramel Popcorn Balls

Ingredients:
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups unpopped popcorn
1/4 cup butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions

1. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil to a 4 quart saucepan, and heat over high heat. When oil is hot, add 1/2 cup of popping corn. Keep pan moving constantly. When corn stops popping, remove from heat. Place popped corn in oven to keep warm. Repeat until all corn has been popped. Set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan with a candy thermometer inserted, combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup. Stir well and bring to boiling over medium heat. Stir in condensed milk; simmer, stirring constantly, until thermometer reads 238 degrees F (114 degrees C). Stir in vanilla.
3. Pour caramel over popped corn and stir to coat. Butter hands lightly; shape popcorn into balls about 3 1/2 inches in diameter.

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My kids are like most, if you ask them what they would like for Christmas they will have no problem rattling off two- or twenty things they would like. As they get older there are more things they can play with, more games they can learn and toys they can play with. Now though, they ask for gifts that we don’t like, or want them to have. I ask you parents, how do you handle your kids asking for a toy you don’t want them to have?

Last Christmas my daughter was almost five years old. Her number one must have was High School Musical 2 DVD. I thought she was waaayyy to young for High School Musical, but at the last minute I relented and let my sister buy it for her. I am glad I did because every gift she opened Christmas morning she said ” I KNOW this is High School Musical!” Needless to say that DVD was her favorite gift.

This year she is asking for a Bratz hair style. I have no idea what that is, but she saw it last year on television and has never forgotten it. We have a “no bratz” rule in this house, I don’t like those toys and will not buy them.
Will she get over it after she gets other gifts that she will love as much if not better? Sure, but you always want to give your kids the things they truly want.

How do you deal with your kids asking for something you don’t want them to have or is not age appropriate? Do you give in thinking about how you never got what you wanted as a child or do you hold firm?

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We are all aware how expensive it can be to have children, especially these days. For some reason they keep needing new clothes and want to be fed 3-4 times a day! That is why keeping a food budget can be a great idea.
Here are some ideas on how to keep your grocery budget down while still feeding your family healthy foods. Of course, some of these ideas may have to be adapted for your larger, or smaller family.

Use coupons.

Shop flyers first. Maybe your grocery has great sales on the meat you need but Target or Walmart has great deals on the paper goods you have to buy. Making a separate trip may work in your favor if these stores are close to you.

Do not eat out. Or only eat out on special occasions. Make a pizza at home or find your favorite Chinese recipes online.

Buy in season produce and vegetables. You can always buy canned fruit, which can be rinsed of the sugary water it is packed in.

Drink water. Ditch sodas and sugary energy drinks.

Plan your weekly meals ahead of time. That way you know exactly what to get at the store and if you leave your kids at home you will be less likely to buy impulse purchases.

Try these two great web sites to help you plan meals for your family. How to feed yourself for $15 a week has some good ideas, as well as $45 emergency menu for 4-6 people who has great menu ideas as well as a shopping list for these sample menus.

Do you have any tips or tricks to keep your weekly food bill down?

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My kids have been into making books lately. they started making small books at school and now want to make them at home. I think it is a great idea to get their creative juice flowing, a great way to introduce reading and spelling and it makes a great gift or keepsake.
Make your own books at home:

Easy Peasy Book: Just fold a few sheets of paper like a greeting card. Staple down the crease. Let your kids do the rest.

Advanced Book making: Do the same as above but dion’t use a stapler, instead punch two holes along the edge and thread a ribbon or old shoe lace through each hole and tie!

A Shape Book: Stack several sheets of paper and cut into a simple shape (heart, cat, egg, tree, cloud,) and just staple the left edge.

You can also laminate each page at Staples and then punch a hole through it to make a more durable book.
If you want to go high tech, scan your children’s artwork and add the story line text to a make your own book at shutterfly or ofoto.com, where small soft cover books start at around $6.00 or you can go to blurb.com and their books start about $13.00. Make sure you add your child’s name and date to the back.
Check out this website for more book making ideas!
Check out my other ideas for indoor fun this winter.

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While it is no longer uncommon for any child in this country to be developmentally delayed, nobody wants it for their own child. Everyone wants a happy and healthy baby. Since the spectrum or “delays’ is so large, many children fall under this category and receive some form of early intervention. Most children who receive early intervention services catch up to their peers in their area of difficulty and no one will every be the wiser.

If your child does have a diagnosis that is going to cause him to have special needs in school or early intervention have no fear, there are many parents that are in your situation.

Lets explore what exactly is Early Intervention. Early Intervention was started in 1986 to provide services for infants and toddlers under the age of 3 who have a developmental delay of any kind or a disability.
Early Intervention can provide service such as physical therapy for children with gross motor delays (late to walk, sit, crawl etc.) or speech therapy (two of my nephews have had this with great success) for children who are late to speak or occupational therapy for fine motor delays, feeding difficulty, cognitive delay, or a delay in social or emotional skills.
Most will come to your house for your therapy session and how many you will receive depends on what side of the spectrum your child falls in to.

Other services early intervention provides: family education and counseling, audiology testing, nursing, nutritional information, psychological services, and even vision evaluation.

If you have an older child who you think is in need of special services, contact your public school system.
If you think your child has a delay of any type, call your pediatrician to have him or her evaluated. You can also contact your state’s Early Intervention Services directly.

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Getting baby to lie down, stay still and get her diaper changed can be a challenge, especially when she starts to crawl or walk. My twins acted like they are much too busy for a 1 minute change and now the baby won’t sty still either.
Here are some ideas to keep baby in place so you can do your business and change their business:

Put a sticker on the back of baby’s hand. By the time she can get the sticker off you are done with the diaper change. Works every time!

Buy a balloon. A $3.oo mylar balloon fastened to the end of the changing table will give your baby something to focus on or play with. Just never leave baby unattended with balloon, or let baby put it in his mouth.

Spoon. You can stash one in the diaper bag and one in the changing table. let baby play with the spoon and voila! you will be done in no time.

So tell me, how do you get baby to stay in one place long enough to change a diaper?

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This recall is most troubleing. Johnson and Johnson has issued a recall of their very popular Gas Relief drops, Mylicon. About 12,000 units of Mylicon drops were recalled Monday because some bottles could include pieces of metal.

The recalled bottles are from lots SMF007 and SMF008. These numbers are printed on the bottom of the box and on the lower-left side of the sticker on each bottle. Mylicon is used to treat gas in infants.
Please send this article to every mom you know.

Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact the company at 1-800-222-9435 or via the internet at www.mylicon.com for further instructions and to request a replacement or refund.

The recall does not include original infant’s Mylicon gas-relief products or half-ounce bottles of the nonstaining Mylicon gas relief dye-free drops. Visit http://www.mylicon.com/ for more information.

If you have a gassy baby you can always try these home remedies:
-Burp baby very well after each ounce for a newborn or after each bottle for an older baby
-Gripe water or Colic Calm

What are your favorite ways to get rid of gas in babies?

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