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The state of Utah recently implemented a four day work week for the majority of the state employees in the hopes of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving workers a day of gas money.   Employees work 10 hour days Monday through Thursday and are off Friday through Sunday.  The way I see it, this a great idea from an environmental and financial standpoint and should be considered by other states and corporate entities as it:

1. Reduces our dependence on oil imports, by eliminating a full day’s worth of commuting.
2. Is better for the environment as it reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Helps to alleviate traffic congestion.
4. Saves money by eliminating a day of driving and child care.
5. Longer weekends for more quality family time.

The only real drawback to this new system is that the longer work days on Monday through Thursday would mean a more hectic pace during those days, especially for families.  Working later means late dinners, late baths and less time for homework help.  It could also mean that other businesses and governments that adopt this policy of a shortened work week will be less available to the public.  What do you think?  Would a four day work week be better for your family and your wallet?

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My infant daughter has exhibited food sensitivities in her early culinary life. Bananas and avocados have caused her develop eczema on her chest. As a result I have been hesitant to introduce foods that are common allergens such as dairy, for fear that she may be allergic. However, a recent study published in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics, “Age at First Introduction of Cow Milk Products and Other Food Products in Relation to Infant Atopic Manifestations in the First 2 Years of Life: The KOALA Birth Cohort Study” has found that delaying the introduction of certain common allergen foods, particularly cow’s milk, is not favorable and does not prevent the development of allergic response such as eczema, wheezing or atopic dermatitis. They studied data from 2558 infants in the Netherlands to come to this conclusion, through questionnaires administered at 34 weeks of gestation and 3, 7, 12, and 24 months postpartum.  They then measured allergic sensitivity at age 2, through blood sampling.  They determined that delaying introduction of common allergens may actually increase the risk of eczema at age 2 and beyond.

I’ve also read that a child’s allergies may be prevented by exposing them to a household pet early in life.  We have two dogs who could stuff pillows daily with the fur that they shed.  If dogs offer prevention, my daughter should have no allergies by the time she grows up!!

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The results of a study as reported by WebMD shows that more and more parents are using bassinets, however little is known about their safety.   In a nutshell, the study reports 53 infant deaths in bassinets over the course of 14 years.  The majority of these deaths occurred as a result of suffocation due to loose blankets and pillows and/or the infant being placed on their stomach to sleep.  More details on this limited study can be found in the article “How Safe are Bassinets for Baby“?

Currently there are no federal safety standards for Bassinets, however there are guidelines.  Here’s what the CPSC advises to look for in bassinets:

• A sturdy bottom with a wide base.
• Bassinets should have smooth surfaces.
• No hardware should be sticking out of bassinets.
• Mattresses need to be firm and fit tightly.

While some parenting experts including Dr. James McKenna, the world’s leading expert on infant sleep, advise that co-sleeping is best, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep near their parents but not in the same bed due to the possible risk of SIDS.  Bassinets provide a cozier alternative to a crib but due to the lack of safety standards, may not be the best option.   What do you think?  Where is the best place for baby to sleep in the early months?  Crib, Bassinet, Co-Sleeper, or Parent’s Bed?

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The FDA approved a new 5-in-1 vaccine, Pentacel. I’m not sure if it’s good news yet, but it seems to be a step in the right direction towards reducing an infants exposure to vaccine preservatives such as aluminum. The current immunization schedule provides for 23 vaccines administered during the first 18 months. This will reduce that number of shots to 16 for children under 18 months. Pentacel is the first combination vaccine to protect children against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections. According to studies done on more than 5,000 children in the United States and Canada, the vaccine appears to be safe and effective. However, as with any medical breakthrough, only time will tell.

More information on this new vaccine can be found at WebMD in their article “New Children’s Vaccine Means Fewer Shots”

Previous posts related to Vaccines can be found here.

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WeeGeneration has finally released their much anticipated eco-friendly diaper bag to the public!

“Wee Generation’s eco-friendly baby bag is an important development in consumer goods,” said William McDonough, green architect and environmental designer. “The initiative sets the pace for an environmentally-intelligent industry and will continue to change how goods are created and repurposed going forward.”

Made from 100% post-consumer recycled water bottles, with PVC-free outer fabric, this diaper bag includes the following features:

• Removable insulated feeding tote, changing tote and plush changing pad
• Detachable insulated bottle holder and quick-access zip pouch
• Large rear zip organizer pocket for on-the-go convenience
• Dual front zip compartments with key tether
• Velcro and magnetic closure as well as dual buckles
• Deluxe adjustable comfort strap with quick release cam buckle
• Stroller attachment straps
• Available in four patterns: Soda Pop Silver Weed, Soda Pop Sage, Soda Pop Black Current, Bottle Bank Thistle

The best part…100% of the proceeds from the sale of these diaper bags goes to Healthy Child, Healthy World!

Get your new eco-friendly diaper bag now!

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It’s summer time which means your children are out of school and probably playing outside or at the pool. With record high temperatures all over the country, it’s important to use sunscreen especially during the peak hours of the day from 10am to 4pm. Some sun exposure is actually good for your child as it helps the body maintain the necessary levels of Vitamin D. However, too much exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays puts your child at risk for skin cancer. But, you also have to be careful that the sunscreen product you’re using doesn’t put your family at risk for other health problems.

The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization committed to product safety, reports on the safety of skin care products including sunscreens in their Skin Deep Database. According to their safety studies on sunblock as reported in an article by Gaiam:

In all, 84 percent of the 831 sunscreens EWG tested did not pass health and environmental muster. Many contained potentially harmful chemicals like Benzophenone, homosalate and octyl methoxycinnamate (also called octinoxate), which are known to mimic naturally occurring bodily hormones and can thus throw the body’s systems out of whack. Some also contained Padimate-0 and parsol 1789 (also known as avobenzone), which are suspected of causing DNA damage when exposed to sunlight. Furthermore, EWG found that more than half the sunscreens on the market make questionable product claims about longevity, water resistance and UV protection.

There are safer alternatives to the conventional sunscreens. I encourage you to visit the Skin Deep Database to see where your current product ranks or if you want to find a safer alternative. My favorite: California Baby SPF 30 Sunscreen. California Baby also has a sunblock stick applicator for the face.

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I recently read an interview on Gaiam, “How to Become a Mindful Parent” and it’s stuck with me, so I wanted to share. Lately I find myself caught up in the hectic pace of day to day life with a 3 year old and 9 month old, working part-time, running a business, blogging, and managing a household, and I find that I sometimes react mindlessly to my family. This article reminds me to stop stressing about everything I have to do, allow my children to be who they are, to stop “sweating the small stuff” and instead live in the present moment and enjoy my life as a wife, mother and well, me!

“How are children, as you put it, live-in Zen masters?

Jon Kabat-Zinn: Well, for example, a Zen master is likely to continually push your buttons so you have plenty of occasions to practice maintaining clarity and emotional balance. Children, by their very nature, are going to call into question and perhaps disrupt everything you know, and that is a great opportunity for bringing mindful awareness to the situation. Say you’ve put a lot of energy into making dinner after a difficult day, and your baby starts screaming and is inconsolable just when you are about to sit down and enjoy it. That’s a perfect opportunity to bring mindfulness right into that moment and see how attached you may be to having a peaceful dinner. What are your options? You can flip out and be immature and not be in resonance with whatever your child is experiencing, or you can realize this it what it means sometimes to have baby or a toddler. Life itself is the curriculum. When you give up your attachment, you won’t relate to your child with resentment. Our live-in Zen masters teach us to accept things as they are, and then respond appropriately rather than react mindlessly—because things are already as they are.”

Now, I know that mindful parenting is an ideal and not always realistic. Much of the time it’s a challenge to focus on a recipe for dinner much less to have the time to master the Zen of parenting! However, I’m going to try to change some of my reactions and instead respond mindfully in the moment. It’s a start and if it brings me inner peace and helps me to relate better to my family, I’m all for it!

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As you all may know from reading my previous blog posts, I’ve been trying to avoid artificial ingredients, flavorings, colorings and high fructose corn syrup especially with concern to my children. I’ve been able to replace much of what we eat with the healthier, natural alternatives without sacrificing taste. My most recent find was ketchup. I love ketchup…I use it on everything from french fries (Cascadian Farms Organic Potato Fries that I bake); hot dogs (nitrate/nitrite-free, no added growth hormones and no antibiotics) and hamburgers (see hot dog). However, I discovered in reading the ingredients that the quality of good old Heinz Ketchup is dubious…and they’re probably the best of the conventional ketchups. So, I’ve found a new healthier ketchup, Annie’s Naturals Organic Ketchup that’s free of high fructose corn syrup and tastes great!

Below is a comparison of ingredients:

Now that you know the ingredients, which one would you prefer for your family?

You can buy Annie’s Ketchup at some grocery stores, Vitacost.com, and Amazon Grocery in bulk (6 pack).

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One of the top google searches today is “secondary drowning”. Wikipedia defines it as follows: “Secondary drowning is death due to chemical or biological changes in the lungs after a near d