Definitely swim! My (almost 2 year old) son has only really ever played with bottles and his ‘colourful’ cup collection in the tub. They kept him very happy and he never seemed to grow tired of them. I recently ordered the Boon Water Bugs for him, thinking that it was time to change things up a bit. Mama thought right! The day they arrived I couldn’t get them opened fast enough…to this day I still can’t find the green bug. My son has stashed it away somewhere for safe keeping. So, the white bug and the blue bug made it safely to the bathtub, lucky bugs. The first bath they took was very entertaining. I wasn’t allowed to touch them! The two bugs sat (guarded) in the soap dish and the net was used for a very long game of peakaboo. Over a couple of days and many trials of bugs in and out of the net my son now thinks it’s much fun to catch the little critters and let them go……..I think Bob the duck will have to join the ranks! All joking aside, great bath toy!

“North Korea, with a population of about 23 million, has suffered acute food shortages for more than a decade.  United Nations and World Food Programme reports show that between two and three million North Korean children (infants to age five) consistently fail to receive the nutrients vital to their physical and mental development.  The result has seen the emergence of almost an entire generation of youngsters whose growth is stunted.

First Steps’ founding director Susan Ritchie was deeply moved by the plight of the children she saw as the interpreter for a Canadian government delegation that travelled to North Korea in 2000.  She was particularly affected at a home where a nursing mother didn’t have supplemental nutrition to feed her malnourished twins.  Susan vowed to herself to do something, and on her return to Vancouver she and other volunteers set about launching First Steps.  Susan’s fluency in Korean and understanding of Korean culture has been vital to gaining local trust and co-operation in First Steps’ mission”.

After sending over a container of Pablum in late 2001, which supplied nutrition to babies at an orphanage and paediatric hospital in Kangdong county, there sphere of influence continues to grow.  They have since provided 27 VitaCows and 36 VitaGoats

children receiving nutritious soy milk in North Korea

throughout North Korea.  Each of these highly efficient machines works in essence as a large pressure cooker to process raw soybeans into highly nutritious and protein-rich soy milk.  75 000 children are now the recipients of this liquid gold EVERY DAY!

While we realize that our contribution is merely a drop in the bucket, Better Baby Bums has recently donated 81 BPA-free baby bottles to help feed children in North Korea.  We are reminded of the story of the man who is walking along the beach during an ebbing tide.  He observes a young boy who was one by one throwing sea stars that had been left on the scorching rocks back into the cool waters of the ocean.  ”Young lad,” he says, “don’t you see that there are hundreds of sea stars all along this beach?  What difference can you possibly make?”  The young boy, wise for his years, replies, “but sir, I am making a difference for that one”.

If you would like to help, or to learn more about First Steps, we would like to encourage you to check out their website.

This shop is a new concept in retail and we believe that they will be putting themselves on the map as a destination for young families from all over MetroVancouver.  They are definitely worth the drive and are just minutes off of the Patullo Bridge.  We will be checking in from time to time ourselves and would love the opportunity to meet some of our loyal Better Baby Bums families face to face!  Hope to see you there!

Kidzown Boutiques

As an Agrologist by trade, it was funny to me that I never thought of this before. A number of studies have shown pesticide residues residing in the homes of both farm and non farm families.

Pesticides are everywhere. Many are used on farms, but a lot are used for cosmetic purposes in suburbia. Pesticides include, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. Our kids go out and play on many surfaces that contain trace amounts of these and if they don’t take off their shoes, pesticides come on in with them.

Pesticide residues in homes are most often found in the carpet dust. While most pesticides are designed to break down in the environment over a period of time, they don’t do this as quickly in our homes because there isn’t any rain, wind, or soil microbes to help the process occur. Studies have shown these residues to persist over a period of one year.

Children are at most risk when it comes to the harmful effects of exposure to these toxic chemicals because they tend to play on the floor and stick everything in their mouths. Health effects include: brain cancer, birth defects, Parkinson’s Disease, Leukemia, miscarriage, infertility, asthma, and sterility. Their little bodies are also less able to detoxify themselves against what is a relatively greater exposure as opposed to adults because they breathe more air and consume more water for their body weight.

Given all this, make sure your kids take their shoes off when they get in the house and help to keep their home environment a little safer.

Since beginning my quest I’ve had the opportunity to try out and learn about many different types of natural disposable diapers.  These come in many shapes and sizes (literally!) but one thing that they all have in common is that they cost more than your regular drugstore brand.

Is the extra cost worth it, especially now that Huggies has come out with their own “natural” line?  At first blush the claims on the Huggies website sound promising! Daddytypes.com says it well, though, that “instead of sodium polyacrylate, they (Huggies Pure and Natural diapers) are made from recycled buzzwords”.  He goes on to point out that, “every phrase is loaded to the point of blowout: “includes,” not “made from”; “initial steps toward environmental improvements,” not “finally, good for the environment.”  Frankly, I’m always concerned when I see an asterix after a product name like “Pure and Natural” but can’t find the corresponding definition of that asterix anywhere on the site.

Let’s explore Seventh Generation next.  While we like the full disclosure model that Seventh Generation seems to follow on their website we do take issue with the common misnomer that these diapers are biodegradable.  They are perhaps biodegradable in the same way that a plastic water bottle is biodegradable.  While Seventh Generation certainly doesn’t make such claims about their own products they do sell themselves as a green brand.  Their claim to fame is that their diapers are “chlorine free”.  According to the manufacturers of Nature Babycare diapers, though, chlorine is rarely used by anyone anymore to whiten diapers.  So what are we getting when we purchase Seventh Generation diapers (which are dyed brown, by the way)?  Perhaps a bit of extra peace of mind that Seventh Generation seems to have  a real commitment to the environment (and to keeping a piece of this decade’s Table d’Hote: Greenwash Pie).

Is there an answer to all of this?  Especially in light of studies such the one published by German researchers, which have found that increased scrotal temperature (aggrevated by plastic disposable diapers) can lead to sterility in our males.  At Better Baby Bums we are just optimistic enough to believe that yes, there is an answer.  Jen and I both alternate between cloth diapers and biodegradable disposables on our own little ones.  When they are in disposables, which let’s face it, happens more often than not in my busy household, I am sure to put my little diaper-wearing baby  in a diaper that is not oil-based.  And yes, in case you haven’t heard this before, “conventional” disposable diapers are made out of oil and are, amongst other things, in essence plastic.

Our faves?

Broody Chick: these diapers are made from Ingeo fibres, which are produced from fermented (non GMO) corn.  They are the first and only disposable diapers that are completely biodegradable, right down to their absorbent core.

Nature Babycare: also corn-based, these diapers are slightly less biodegradable than Broody Chick.  The tabs need to be removed and the absorbent cellulose core won’t completely break down, but will rather provide some aeration to the compost.

Bambo: recipient of the prestigious Nordic Ecolabel, or Swan logo, to signify the high level of sustainability in the production of these diapers,  each step of the way.  These diapers are made from highly renewable bamboo fibres.

Earth’s Best: made from a combo of corn and wheat.  Less biodegradable than the first three brands as they still contain some petrochemicals.  For tricky-to-fit babies these are a great choice!

We are hopeful that more and more communities across North America will adopt a compost pick-up system which will allow these diapers to avoid having their final resting place be in landfills.  While you may have success composting the wet (not soiled) diapers in your properly managed backyard composter, the greenest way to dispose of these diapers is to bring them to a commercial composting system, such as those that many municipalities are now using for their yard waste.  In this environment they will receive the optimal temperatures and moisture level to allow them to properly decompose.  We would like to encourage you to contact your local government officials and request that they follow in the footsteps of a number of European communities in creating the proper composting facilities for all green waste.  In the meantime, we are confident that we are doing right by our kids by keeping them safely swaddled in any of the brands that we carry on our site.

Did it help? I don’t know. Maybe the stinging and burning distracted me from my ailment.

Given that I tend to steer clear of chemical-based products, especially ones on my children’s skin, and that I promised myself that I wouldn’t torture my kids with such treatment as my mom did me, I began to seek alternatives.

I came up dry. Other than the “No Name” versions of Vicks, that is. One thing that I noticed that they all had in common was their warnings not to use the products on infants or children under 2. This got me wondering why and here is what I found.

A case reported in Clinical Toxology 44:357-370, 2006 (http://www.aapcc.org/archive/FinalizedPMGdlns/camphor.pdf)  reported a case of a 2 month old infant hospitalized for an unrelated illness was discovered to have camphor poisoning due to repeated use of Vicks.

Vicks is made from menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, cedarleaf oil, nutmeg oil, thymol and turpentine oil suspended in a beeswax base.

Camphor, the active ingredient, is dangerous if ingested. Historically it has been used as an aphrodisiac, contraceptive, abortifcient, analeptic, lactation suppressant, cardiac and central nervous system stimulant, cold remedy, muscle and joint liniment, and rodent repellent. Important to note that Camphor poisoning symptoms include stomach ache,  nausea, vomiting, irritability, and seizures.

While I realize that reactions from exposure on the skin are rare, I think that if I can avoid the stuff, I will.

So the question remained, what do I use instead? Well, I got my answer when we began working with a new Canadian company called Broody Chick. Broody Chick has a line of natural skin care products that includes one my my new faves and a mom-must-have, Sniffs and Snuffles (Canadian link and USA link).

Steph, creator of Sniffs and Snuffles, “wanted to create a salve or balm that could be rubbed onto baby, the act of gently rubbing a baby’s chest or back is very soothing itself, but if the balm contained very gentle decongestants that would calm and soother irritated airways and realse nasal and chest congestion, then all the better.”

Here is Steph’s description of the ingredients she lovingly selected, “The balm itself is a blend of coconut oil, bees wax, macadamia oil and vitamin E ,this melds together to form a light,readily absorbed base. The oils I choose to incorporate are all safe to use on young children and have no contraindications (in the percentages I use them in). Eucalyptus blue gum, or fever tree, as it is also known,a traditional oil used for respiratory ailments such as bronchitis and croup, Frankincense used medicinally in the east and west for respiratory infections, Indian myrrh used for its ability to ease asthma, coughs, the common cold and catarrh and Ravensara for its ability to assist with respiratory problems colds and flu, sinusitis and lung infections.

The oils were all chosen not only for they’re therapeutic qualities but when blended together they create a wonderful calming and soothing aroma that doesn’t over power the senses and it actually does work!!!!!!

All of the Broody Chick skin care range has been created with this kind of fore thought, the best possible ingredients combined with the best possible therapeutic benefits of pure essential oils.”

Both Corina and I have used it on our entire families and the stuff just plain works! I rub some on my kids’ chests and backs, especially at night time when they are congested, and they sleep WAY better than without. One application seems to work all night long.

My whole household is sick with colds at the moment and I don’t know how we’d get on without the stuff! Thank you Steph and Broody Chick for a safe, effective, economical alternative!

This heart-shaped limited edition teether doubles as a toy as there is a rattle inside and is attached to the ring with velcro for easy washing.

RiNGLEY Natural Teethers are a favourite in my household. RiNGLEY is the original Canadian-made natural teether that combines two very effective teething tools: untreated Canadian Maple and 100% organic cotton terrycloth. They are made free of dyes and without any harmful chemicals. Use them wet or dry. Wet the terry cloth and stick it in the freezer. Works like a charm!

Get them on our site Better Baby Bums and help your baby give back.

Many spinal problems seen in adults begin in early childhood. Significant spinal stress can occur at birth as more than 75 pounds of force may be applied to the newborns neck during the delivery. Within the first year, an infant has a 50% chance of falling off a bed or changing table. Toddlers fall an average of 25 times a day as they learn how to walk. Children have an amazing ability to recover from these unavoidable injuries however years of small traumas to the spine can contribute to a range of health problems. Slight imbalances in the spine irritate the nerves which control the many systems in the body from the way a muscle develops to how the stomach digests and even determines the way the body responds to allergens. If neglected, the bumps and falls experienced during childhood may lead to more serious problems later in life such as neck and back pain, stress and a weakened immune system.

Regular chiropractic checkups can identify these problems and help prevent many of the health complaints seen later in adolescents and adults. Birth, head support, crawling and a baby’s first steps are important milestones in the growth and development of a child. Your chiropractor will check these milestones and ensure proper spinal hygiene just as a dentist takes care of a child’s teeth to avoid decay. He or she will also address other important factors such as proper nutrition, exercise recommendations and adequate rest for your child’s optimal health and wellness.

Due to an increase in overloaded backpacks and competitive sports injuries, I am seeing more kids with back pain, neck strain and headaches at younger ages. Parents also seek chiropractic adjustments for their children to help with pediatric health issues such as nursing difficulties, gastric reflux, allergies, “growing pains”, ear infections, bedwetting, autism and ADD. Adjustments balance the spine to allow the brain to communicate with the body more effectively for a fully functioning nervous system and a healthier child. Your chiropractor can also give you practical advice such as carrying positions for a colicky baby and breathing exercises for asthma.

Research has proven both the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care from newborns to adolescence. It is a drug-free approach to health that gets to the cause of the problem instead of just covering up the symptoms. The specific chiropractic adjustments to balance the spine are extremely gentle as they are modified to fit the age of the child. Children enjoy their adjustments as they feel good and are pain-free.

Should your child have a chiropractic check-up? If your child has an injury or illness, chiropractic provides a natural alternative and/or complementary care. Even symptom-free children will benefit from a balanced spine as a preventative measure against the physical, chemical and mental stresses of life. It is never too late for your child’s spinal assessment although the earlier the better with newborns being checked within the first few days of life. As a twig is bent so grows the tree, a favourite metaphor of mine which illustrate the importance of a healthy spine today for a healthier child tomorrow.

Article by:  Dr. Stephanie Bonn  (Bonn Chiropractic) BSc,BPHE,DC,FICPA

For more information & research on Pediatric Chiropractic log onto the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association’s website: www.icpa4kids.org. Dr. Stephanie can be reached for questions or consultations at  www.bonnchiropractic.com or 604-688-kids (5437). She is presently accepting new clients.

REFERENCES

Abroms IF et al. Cervical cord injuries secondary to hyperextension of the head in breech presentations. Obstetrics and Gynecology, March 1973, 41(3): 369-378.

Arcadia VC. Birth induced TMJ dysfunction the most common cause of breastfeeding difficulties. Proceedings of the National Conference on Chiropractic and Pediatrics. October 1993 ICA: 18-22.

Barras M. Objective evaluation of neurological disorganization and potential subsequent learning disabilities and/or dyslexia. ICAK Proceedings, Vol I: 1999-2000.

Bronfort G et al. Chronic pediatric asthma and chiropractic spinal manipulation: a prospective clinical series and randomized clinical pilot study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2001; 24(6): 369-377.

Fallon JM. The role of the chiropractic adjustment in the care and treatment of 332 children with otitis media. Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics 1997: 2(2): 167-183.

Gotlieb MS. Neglected spinal cord, brainstem and musculoskeletal injuries stemming from birth trauma. JMPT 1993; 16(8): 537-543.

Hewitt, E. Chiropractic treatment of a 7 month old with chronic constipation: a case report. Chiropractic Technique, Vol 5 No. 3 Aug 1993: 101-103.

Holtrop DP. Resolution of sucking intolerance in a 6 month old chiropractic patient. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2000; 23(9): 615-618.

Killinger, LZ et al. Chiropractic care of infantile colic: a case study. Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics 1998; 3(1): 203-206.

Langley C. Epileptic seizures, nocturnal enuresis, ADD. Chiropractic Pediatrics 1994; 1(1):22.

Pistolese RA. Epilepsy and seizure disorders: a review of literature relative to chiropractic care of children. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2001; 24(3): 199-205.

Plaugher G et al. Pediatric Chiropractic, Williams & Wilkins, 1998.

Reed W et al. Chiropractic management of primary nocturnal enuresis. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1991; 14: 110-115.

Robins AM et al. The effects of backpack weight on functional mobility and balance. Arch Phys Med Rehab 2000; 81(9): 1297-1298.

Spigelblatt L et al. The use of alternative medicine by children on the rise. Pediatrics 1994; 94: 811-814.

Van Breda A. A comparative study on the health care status of children raised under the health care models of chiropractic and allopathic medicine. Journal of Chiropractic Research 1989; 5: 101-103.

Wiberg JM et al. The short-term effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of infantile colic: a randomized controlled clinical trial with a blinded observer. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1999; 22(8): 517-522.

Who, me?!

son was “taking care of business” his curiosity got the better of him. Iʼm still trying to get the facts straight but hereʼs how I think it went down…

In the process of his “clean-up” he must have finished the previously half-full toilet paper roll and then added the cardboard tube as well. And since it didnʼt completely flush the first time, perhaps letʼs try flushing again. And again. And again.

By then there was a good inch of water on the tiles surrounding the base of the toilet and I was in there, rubber gloves donned, bucket in one hand and plunger in the other. Fortunately, Iʼve had my share of practice unclogging toilets after a couple of gDiaper fiascos, so I knew exactly what to do. I turned off the water at the source and began scooping water from the overflowing toilet and dumping it down the sink. Once I got the water level down as low as possible I began plunging. This is not the right venue to describe exactly what began floating to the surface with each successive plunge but letʼs just say it was not pleasant. Unfortunately all of my plunging was still no match for my little guyʼs handiwork so out came the wire coat hanger (not a good idea as I nearly got it stuck in one of the loop-de-loops at the back of the toilet).

Next came The Snake, also to no avail. The only thing I could think to do next was to dump a bunch of baking soda and vinegar down that plugged up hole and see what would happen. It was just like a Grade Five Science Fair experiment, minus the paper mache volcano and food coloring! We taped off the entire area for a few hours, deeming the site toxic, and went on with our lives.

Later on, once the kids were in bed, my husband and I decided to spend some quality time delving into the world of plumbing. Well, it seemed that my little science experiment was successful. A few plunges later and the toilet was flushing and draining and filling again beautifully! I think if you had been there and listened carefully you just might have heard the angels singing! My only regret is that my husband is willing to give me all of the credit. This might say a lot for womenʼs liberation but there are certain traditional divisions of labor that I am more than okay with!

I have now made sure that each of the toilets in our house comes equipped with a pack of Nature Babycare Flushable Wipes. Iʼm hoping that this will prevent future temptations to use wa-a-ay too much tp that will jam things up. And hereʼs hoping he doesnʼt decide to take his matchbox cars to the carwash any time soon…..

Given the nature of our business, we are lucky enough to be able to test out a wide variety of products. Only those that we love pass the test and make it onto our site. One such brand is Sweet Pea Cloth Diapers.

I tested these out shortly after Josh was born and really liked them. In fact, I liked them a lot better than the Sckoon diapers. Why, you ask? Well, the one-size-fits-all first of all! I like to reduce my baby’s “bumprint” as much as possible and having to buy three different sizes of diapers means using more precious resources. Not to mention the fact it leaves me with a whole lot of diapers to try and give away when we are done with them. I can atest to the one-size-fits-ALL claim. My kids should be the poster children for this. These diapers are so adjustable (length and width) that they fit my skinny mini 2.5 year old girls and my MOOSE 10 month old son.

What else? The pocket! Pocket diapers were a new concept for me. What I like about this is that there is no cover needed for the diapers and the insert is super absorbent. I haven’t had these leak yet. The other thing is that the insert is so absorbent that it soaks up all the moisture inside and leaves the fleece that is up against your little one’s bum dry. I can actually reuse the diaper by simply changing the insert if it isn’t too wet. Less laundry!

So the question remains, why didn’t I switch over to these diapers after the test? I have no idea! It could’ve been the fact that I have three kids 2 and under and the thought of ANY extra work was too daunting. Maybe it is also that I love Earth’s Best Tendercare diapers.

What led me to switch to these fabulous diapers were two events. The first was garbage day. In our house that is my domain. One horrible, rainy morning, as I dragged three heavy garbage cans to the curb, I looked down our lane only to notice that we are the only ones on the block to put out so much garbage. Granted we have 2 suites on our property, but so does everyone else. How embarassing. And ironic since our neighbour’s kids call me Mrs. Green.

The second was Alicia’s sensitive skin. With the cold weather, her eczema is pretty bad. Diapers make her itchy in general so she was going out of her mind (so was I). In desperation, I grabbed my two sample diapers from our test and put one on her. She was instantly happy and not complaining. A miracle in my books.

So after these historic events we haven’t looked back. We use cloth 80% of the time on all 3 kids. I’m not sure why I thought it would be more work. It really isn’t. I’m constantly doing laundry anyway so I haven’t noticed a difference. I highly recommend you give these a try. They come in great colours and will last you through your child’s entire “diaper-hood”. If I can do it, so can you!