New System Monitors Sounds Around Preemies

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080328/D8VMJVD80.html

Preemie babies are getting a helping hand from Chris Smith, a man who noticed that his 5-week premature son was flinching from the bright lights in the neonatal intensive care unit and designed a system to soften the unit's lighting. Then the nurses asked him if he could do something about the noise level.

He found a way to manage the noise level by designing a system to monitor the levels of sound and flash warning lights whenever the volume starts to rise too high.

Babies born too soon lose the muffling effect of the womb before their ears can filter sound

While the system can't do much about the background noise from equipment that is in use, it's a great tool for helping to minimize the noise that people are contributing every time they're in the neonatal unit.

Birth Weight and Lifespan

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=cd550113-4ed7-461d-8712-0a3652b42d7a&k=89205

Having a lower than average birth weight shows a 17% increase in risk of death, from any cause, while above average birth weight shows a 7% increase, according to a new study in Denmark by the Centre for Health and Society in Copenhagen.

This new study examined over 200,000 men and women born during a 44 year period and followed their mortality rates due to any reason from 25 to 68 years old. The results showed that low birth weights as well as high carry some extra risks, and both are susceptible to developing low blood sugar.

When the researchers looked at cause of death separately, they found that deaths from cardiovascular disease followed a similar "U-shaped" pattern. But the risk of dying from cancer was lowest for the smallest birth weight individuals and rose steadily as birth weight increased.

Average birth weight was calculated to be between 7.1 to 8.3 pounds.

Plush Warming Polar Bears Recall

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08554.html

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Cozy Warming Polar Bears

Units: About 113,000

Distributor: Avon Products Inc., of New York, N.Y.

Manufacturers: Haiyan Boai Gifts Factory, and Yangzhou Honesty Arts & Crafts Co. Ltd., of China

Hazard: The warming pouch inside the bear can overheat and ignite when heated in a microwave oven, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Avon has received 41 reports of the warming polar bear overheating, including six reports of minor burns.

Description: The recalled white plush warming bear has a red hat and brown nose. It is about 17 inches long and comes with a buckwheat-filled pouch that is heated in a microwave oven and is inserted into an opening in the bear’s belly. “Avon Products” is printed on a white tag sewn onto the bear.

Sold exclusively by: Avon independent sales representatives and at www.avon.com from July 2007 through February 2008 for about $13 when sold alone, or as part of a gift set that sold for about $100.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled warming bear and return the buckwheat-filled pouch for a full refund. Avon is directly contacting consumers who purchased the warming bear.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Avon toll-free at (877) 217-0916 between 6 a.m. and midnight ET Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday between 12 p.m. and midnight ET, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.avon.com

Toy Penguins Recall

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08230.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Toy Penguin Figures

Units: About 3,000

Manufacturer: Plan Toy Inc., of Mountain View, Calif.

Hazard: The head of the penguin toy can detach, exposing connectors with sharp points, presenting a laceration hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Plan Toys has received one report of the head of a penguin toy detaching. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The wood penguin-shaped toy has a black head with rubber fins, a yellow nose and a white body with red on the base. The toy is round-shaped and creates a soft bell jingle when spun. The toy measures about 3 ¾ inches in height and about 3 inches in diameter. “PLAN TOYS” and UPC number 084543521109 or EAN number 8854740052117 are printed on the outside of the packaging of the toy.

Sold at: Specialty toy stores nationwide and on-line from May 2007 through February 2008 for between $15 and $20.

Manufactured in: Thailand

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the penguin toys away from children and return them to the store where purchased to receive a refund. Consumers also can contact Plan Toys to receive instructions on returning the penguin toys via mail for a refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Plan Toys toll-free at (866) 517-7526 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.plantoys.com

Plush Rocker Toys Recalled

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08233.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Rock ‘N Ride Plush Rocker Toys

Units: About 122,000

Manufacturer: Tek Nek Toys Int’l L.P., of Southlake, Texas

Hazard: The base of the rocker can become unstable and allow the rocker to tip forward or backward, posing a fall hazard to children.

Incidents/Injuries: Tek Nek Toys has received 35 reports of the rockers tipping over, including ten reports of injuries such as bumps, bruises and lacerations.

Description: This recall involves Rock ‘N Ride plush rocker toys sold in eight models: brown pony, pink pony, pink unicorn, deluxe pony, deluxe bull, lil’ penguin, lil’ propeller plane and Clifford big red rocker. The toys have molded plastic rocker bases and were sold for children at least 18 months old and up to 65 lbs. A button on the toy’s ear, hat or dash activates songs and phrases when pressed. Rockers included in this recall have a date code from July 26, 2007 through December 29, 2007. The date codes are printed on a sticker inside the battery compartment.


Sold at: Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us, Kmart, Target, Atwoods, and Pamida stores nationwide and Internet retailers from September 2007 through March 2008 for about $30.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the rocker toys away from young children and contact Tek Nek Toys for a free replacement base.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Tek Nek Toys toll-free at (888) 686-2728 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.teknektoys.com

2 Year Old Rescued From 27 Hours in Well

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/26/india.trapped/?iref=hpmostpop

Outside of New Delhi a 2 year old girl fell 45 feet into an uncovered well and spent 27 hours there before being rescued.

Officials said the girl frequently asked for fruits and sweets, which was sent to her with the help of a rope.

Oxygen was also pumped inside the well through tubes to prevent any suffocation, CNN-IBN reported.

Long Term Health Risks for Preemies

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN2539485520080325

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ibCbrZrCzFGfGaEjN2Izl0MWZvlAD8VKLLEO1

A new long-term study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association studied 1.2 million people in Norway, 60,000 born before full term, and has concluded that babies born prematurely have increased mortality risks even into adulthood.

While most preemie babies grow up to be healthy, there is still a small statistical difference that indicates preemie babies are at greater risk for many years. Of course, the study examined data from people born from 1967-1988, so preemies born more recently continue to benefit from better medical technology, which may even further increase their chances of a healthy life.

Even with enhanced medical capabilities, however, it's still a good idea for parents of preemies to be aware that they should remain just a little extra vigilant even after the first few months or years.

Baby Names Map & Statistics Tool

There are plenty of lists of baby names available in a variety of places, but if you want an interactive name exploration experience then www.babynamemap.com/ is the site for you!

The site draws data from 2006 and gives you a great Google Maps mashup for browsing around and seeing top names in different states or countries, or you can delve into the data further and see more details and statistics.

Type a name into the search bar across the top left and the map will display places where the name you're looking for made the list and you'll see how many others chose the same name!

Most Popular American Baby Names

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23357561/from/ET/

MSNBC & TODAY have delved the banks of the Social Security Administration to find the most popular baby names of each decade from 1900 through 2006. If you're looking for a classic name for your baby, or just curious about what trends have developed over the years, take a quick peek at their list!

Cleaning Products Increase Asthma Risk

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=531269&in_page_id=1770 (short summary)

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2007/January08/Pages/Willcleaninghurtyourbaby.aspx (detailed story)

A study by Bristol University recently concluded that heavy use of household cleaning products while pregnant or just after a baby has been born can increase the child's risk of asthma by up to 41%.

Parents should not be overly concerned about the normal use of cleaning products while pregnant. Rooms should be adequately ventilated during and after cleaning anyway, and people should not expose themselves to excessive inhalation of the fumes. Likewise, parents from a clean household with an asthmatic child should not think that they are responsible for their child’s condition.

Camoflage Easter Eggs Toy Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Camouflage Eggs and Spinning Egg Top Toys

Units: About 13,000

Importer: Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., of Oklahoma City, Okla.

Hazard: The paint on the toys contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The Camouflage Easter Egg Treat Containers have Item #1031 printed on the front of the packaging and are white, brown and green camouflage colors, sold in a package of eight eggs. “Made in China for Tony Development and Mfg Ltd; TST, Kin, HK” and UPC code number 43078 01031 are printed on the back of the packing.

The Easter Spinning Egg Tops have Item # 1054 printed on the front of the packaging and are multi-colored and come in packages of a single egg and a rip cord. “Made in China for Tony Development and Mfg Ltd. TST, Kin, HK" and UPC code number 43078 01054 are printed on the back of the packaging.

Sold at: Hobby Lobby Stores nationwide from January 2008 through March 2008. The camouflage egg sold for about $2.50 and the Spinning Top sold for about $2.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled Camouflage Eggs and the Spinning Egg Tops away from children and contact Hobby Lobby to receive a $3 exchange card that can be used toward the purchase of any other products sold at Hobby Lobby stores.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Hobby Lobby toll-free at (800) 326-7931 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.HobbyLobby.com

Toy Puzzle Recall

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Toy Puzzle Vehicle Sets

Units: About 198,000

Importer: Merchant Media Corp., of Framingham, Mass.

Hazard: Surface paints on the puzzle pieces and components contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall includes the 16 piece Puzzle Track Play sets also known as Battery Operated Puzzle Vehicle sets. QVC item number T16876 is printed on the exterior of the brown box packaging. The sets have plastic puzzle pieces that when put together form a track with a battery operated train, fire engine or school bus vehicle designed to run on the track. Miniature street signs, traffic cones, and a battery for the vehicle are also included in the sets.

Sold by: QVC televised shopping programs, Web page, toll-free number, and Studio store from September 2002 through December 2007 for about $20.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy puzzle sets away from children and return to QVC for a full refund including shipping and handling. Consumers who purchased the recalled set from QVC’s television program or at QVC.com were sent a package by mail containing return information. Consumers who purchased the recalled set at the QVC Studio store should return the product to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact QVC at (800) 367-9444 between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET or visit the firm’s Web site at www.qvc.com

Magtastik & Magnetix Jr. Pre-School Toys Recalled

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-school Magnetic Toys

Units: About 1.1 million

Distributor: MEGA Brands America Inc., of Livingston, N.J.

Hazard: Magnets in the small flexible parts of the animals, vehicles and building sets can detach. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

Incidents/Injuries: MEGA Brands and CPSC have received 19 reports of magnets coming loose, including one report of a 3-year-old boy receiving medical treatment to remove a magnet from his nasal cavity and one report of an 18-month-old boy with a magnet in his mouth, which was not swallowed.

Description: The Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-school Magnetic Toys include small flexible parts embedded with magnets that allow the parts to connect to large, colored metal balls.

Model # Name of Product
427 Magtastik Starter Set
468 40 Piece Tub
428 Magtastik Deluxe Set
467 Deluxe New Starter Set
429 Primary
465 Wonder Coaster
431 Primary Starter
496 Starter Set - New Parts
434 Car
424 Magnimals – Monkey
435 Helicopter
425 Magnimals - Dog
448 Fun Pack
426 Magnimals - Dinosaur
456 Jumbo 24 Piece Bag
423 Magnimals Assortment
461 Round Bag
433 Mag Mobile Assortment
462 12 Piece Mag Bag
436 Magnimals Pet Set
466 Target Bucket
446 Magnimals Bonus Pack
469 Easter Pack

The model number is printed on the front of the product’s packaging.

Sold at: Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, K-Mart and other toy stores nationwide from January 2005 through December 2007 for between $10 and $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled toys immediately and return them to MEGA Brands for a free replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact MEGA Brands at (800) 779-7122 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.megabrands.com

Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster) Gives Birth

http://tv.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=305913>1=7703

Soleil Moon Frye, who played Punky Brewster as a child, gave birth yesterday. She and her husband Jason Goldberg welcomed Jagger Joseph Blue Goldberg, who weighed in at 8 pounds, 6 oz.

Terrible Baby Names From Census Data

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23631411/?GT1=43001

Sometimes celebrities have come up with bizarre names for their babies that the rest of us just look at with confusion. But it's not just celebrities who've given their children sometimes strange or awkward names.

The link above will take you to a section of MSN showing some of the most embarrassing and interesting baby names on record with the US Census Bureau. Use the links on the left to switch between categories and see the names that some people have gotten stuck with from their parents!

Potty Training School

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/03/17/hm.potty.school/index.html

Parents of children who are having difficulty with potty training have a recourse available to them instead of continued frustration: school.

Children's Hospital in Boston has a Toilet Training School for frustrated parents that works with both child and parents to help find a new approach to potty training that will work and help the child cross this threshold.

Halle Berry Is a New Mommy

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gA0xoax6TjgPh26AunRvz62RIEHwD8VF5V684

Halle Berry gave birth on Sunday to a baby girl.

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=305918>1=7701

Been wondering what Halle & Gabriel were going to name their little newborn? It's actually a rather pretty name: Nahla Ariela Aubry.

Vitamin D Reduces Diabetes Risk

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2861222.cms

A new study in the Archives of Disease in Childhood has shown that children who receive vitamin D supplements are less likely to develop type 1 diabetes later in life.

The study, by St Mary's Hospital for Women and Children, Manchester in the UK, brought together data from five studies examining the effect of vitamin D supplementation.

Dr Victoria King of the charity Diabetes UK believes that more research is needed to conclusively prove this point beyond any doubt, and suggests a controlled study where one group receives the supplements and one group does not.

Quit Smoking To Have A Happier Baby

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=532888&in_page_id=1774

A new study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health by Dr. Kate Pickett of York University concludes that babies born to mothers who quit smoking just before pregnancy had more regular sleeping and eating patterns. The study determined that these babies were 'happier babies' than those born to non-smokers or those who quit years before becoming pregnant.

There are plenty of very important reasons for an expecting mom to quit smoking, but it's nice to see an extra bit of motivation added to the list!

When To Question Your Pediatrician's Advice

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/03/13/ep.pediatrician.advice/index.html

It's not always easy to tell on some subjects when you're getting medical facts versus personal opinions from your pediatrician. For a new mom it can be especially daunting to consider doubting the advice of the expert, but on a few things it's probably better to stick with your own instincts and preferences.

Some examples of things that you can question include:

1. Don't pick up your baby in the middle of the night.
   
2. Baby should be at home with Mom
   
3. Don't give your baby 'triple nipple confusion'
   
4. Your baby must eat solid foods by 6 months
   
5. You must take the pacifier away

Cursing Caterpillar Toy

http://www.wesh.com/family/15582057/detail.html

A grandfather in Florida stumbled across an unexpected result from a combination of buttons on a Leapfrog Caterpillar toy designed to teach children the alphabet. Instead of hearing the expected letter the toy blurts out something inappropriate.

Maybe it's just this one toy that's been tampered with, but the site above includes a video clip for you to see for yourself what's happened in this case.

Melissa Joan Hart of Sabrina Gives Birth to 2nd Son

http://people.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1395256.php/Melissa_Joan_Harts_boy_joy

http://www.starmagazine.com/melissa_joan_hart_birth/news/13983

Melissa Joan Hart, of Sabrina Teenage Witch fame, has given birth to her 2nd baby. She and her husband Mark Wilkerson have named their new son Braydon, who joins them and their 2-year old son Mason as part of the family.

Some sources, including Star Magazine, are reporting that she endured 10 hours of labor before the little one was finally born.

Ring Sling Baby Carrier Recall

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08215.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Ellaroo Ring Sling Baby Carrriers

Units: About 1,200

Manufacturer: Ellaroo LLC, of McKinney, Texas

Hazard: The aluminum rings on the sling carriers can bend or break. This can cause the fabric to slip through the rings and infants to fall out of the carrier.

Incidents/Injuries: Ellaroo has received four reports of the rings bending and two reports of rings breaking. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall includes Ellaroo Ring Sling baby carriers with item numbers 2101 and 2102 printed on the outside of the product box. The Ellaroo Ring Sling has a fabric carrier with two aluminum rings that is worn by the user to carry an infant up to 35 pounds. The carriers are sold in mahogany, mango stone, brasilia and malay color prints. Only sling carriers with lot numbers 03/07 and 07/04 printed on a label, under the size label, inside the Ring Sling are included in the recall.


Sold at: Juvenile product and department stores nationwide and online, including BabiesRUs.com, from June 2007 through February 2008 for about $100.

Manufactured in: India

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the sling carriers and contact Ellaroo for instructions on returning the carriers for a repair or replacement Ring Sling.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ellaroo at (800) 483-4902 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.ellaroo.com

Urgent Gear Hooded Sweatshirts Recalled

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08217.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Micros Boys’ Hooded Jackets

Units: About 700

Importer: Urgent Gear Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif.

Hazard: The garments have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves Micros boys’ 100% cotton jackets. The hooded sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood. They were sold in black with a peace sign patch and a “MCC Micros” patch on the chest, silver with a silver stitched design on the front, and gray with skulls on the front. Style numbers BZAT 718 (Black) / BZAT 722 (Silver) / BZAT 724 (Dark Gray) are printed on a label sewn into the jacket’s inner side seam.


Sold exlusively at: Nordstrom stores nationwide from November 2007 through December 2007 for about $50.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings to eliminate the hazard or return the sweatshirts to Nordstrom or to Urgent Gear for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Urgent Gear collect at (213) 741-9926 ext. 247 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.urgentgear.com

Toy Airplanes, Cars & Motorcycles Recalled

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08219.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: X Force Commander Toy Airplanes and Super Famous Toy Cars and Motorcycles

Units: About 5,000

Importer: S.U. Wholesale Inc., of Vernon, Calif.

Hazard: The recalled toys contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The “X Force Commander” is a set of six plastic jet airplanes. Item number 5689 is printed on the front of the packaging. The airplanes are painted green, red, blue, silver, black and yellow. The “Super Famous” is a set of a plastic toy car and a motorcycle. The car is yellow or red and the motorcycle is gray.




Sold at: Dollar Stores nationwide from September 2006 through November 2007 for about $1.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these toys away from children and return to them to the store where purchased for a refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact S.U. Wholesale toll-free at (877) 580-8883 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

Toy Sundaes from Target Recalled

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08220.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Play Wonder Toy Sundae Sets

Units: About 22,000

Distributor: Battat Inc., of Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Hazard: The wooden cherries on top of the toy sundae pose a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled wooden sundae set toy includes six wooden scoops of ice cream, three cherries that attach to the top of the ice cream scoops, banana slices, a spoon and bowl. The ice cream scoops are green, pink, brown, yellow and purple. The sundae set pieces attach to each other with Velcro. Model number DPCI-204-12-0526 is included in this recall and is located on the packaging.


Sold exclusively at: Target Stores nationwide from December 2006 through December 2007 for about $10.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy sundae sets away from children and return the toys to any Target store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Battat Inc. at (800) 247-6144 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET or visit the firm’s Web site at www.battatco.com

Magnabild Magnetic Toys Recalled

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08221.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Battat Magnabild Magnetic Building Toys or Sets

Units: About About 7,000 (125,000 other Battat Magnabild Building Systems were recalled on January 23, 2008)

Distributor: Battat Inc., of Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Hazard: Small magnets inside the building pieces can fall out. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC and Battat have received 16 reports of magnets coming out of the building pieces. No injuries have been reported. No incidents have been reported with models BB1439 and BAT-34.

Description: This recall involves the 108-piece (item number BB1439H) and the 68-piece (item number BAT-34) Magnabild Magnetic Building System sets. The 108-piece set comes in a rotating display case containing sixty 1-inch rods with magnets and 48 metal balls. The 68-piece set comes in a window box and contains forty-four 1-inch rods with magnets and 24 metal balls. The rods come in different colors. All of the plastic building pieces have the word “Magnabild” in raised lettering on them. “BB1439H” is found on a hang tag attached to the display case. “BAT-34” is found on the box. The products are designed for children older than three years.



Sold at: Various retailers nationwide and online sellers from July 2005 through February 2008 for between $20 and $35.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled Magnabild Magnetic Building System away from children and contact Battat to receive a pre-paid mailer to return the toy and to receive a free replacement product.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Battat Inc. at (800) 247-6144 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET or visit the firm’s Web site at www.battatco.com

Worrying Too Much, New Baby Fears

http://www.parenting.com/article/Baby/Care/Ease-Your-Baby-Fears1204123138097

Are you constantly worried about how fragile your baby seems to be? It's pretty common among new parents to be anxious over every new thing, but Parenting magazine has some good points for you to keep in mind.

Most of the big fears are there: leaving the baby with a sitter, SIDS, choking, spoiling your baby, & developmental delays.

If any of those 5 things strike a chord with you, take a look at the article and the provided information and hopefully it will help you to relax a bit and breathe a little easier. Your baby isn't as fragile as you might fear!

More from the 2008 Toy Fair

http://www.parenting.com/Common/photo_gallery.jsp?galleryID=1000016901&genID=425

Parenting magazine has more from the 2008 American International Toy Fair. This time it's all about encouraging motion from your little one!

Their selection includes a walking lion to encourage crawling after, a bounce-walk toy to encourage following, a sports climber for once your little one is walking and playing around, and some faux sports equipment for infants and toddlers to get introduced to favorite sports.

Check out the slideshow to see pictures of the toys and more detailed descriptions.

Advice About Babies & TV

http://lifestyle.msn.com/familyandparenting/babyandpregnancy/articletkt.aspx?cp-documentid=6359508>1=32001

There's been a lot of information in the news over the past year or so about letting babies watch television. How much is bad, how much is good, and what the direct effects are have all been examined. There's not a lot of hard cause and effect certainty available, but there are at least a few good guidelines that can be followed from the studies that have been done.

MSN Lifestyle has compiled a list of suggested guidelines to keep in mind when deciding whether to let your little one watch some television or other video entertainment.

The article comes across with the same tone that most of the users of the site seem to share, based upon the opinion poll statistics quoted at the end. That conclusion is basically that a little bit of television or dvd now and then isn't going to badly harm your baby, but isn't likely to help much either.

7 Parenting Life Tips from Actress Kim Raver

http://lifestyle.msn.com/familyandparenting/raisingkids/articlerb.aspx?cp-documentid=6391563>1=32001

Kim Raver, the actress who plays Nico on Lipstick Jungle on NBC, is a mother of 2 who has a very busy schedule and has some tips to share with other stressed out new moms.

Her advice includes:

1. Recruit family & friends
   
2. Know that it gets easier
   
3. Seize the moments
   
4. Keep following your own dreams
   
5. Forget about the Joneses
   
6. Accept the energy of little boys
   
7. Notice everything
   

Preview Hottest Toys of 2008

http://www.parenting.com/Common/photo_gallery.jsp?galleryID=1000016892&genID=5

Parenting magazine attended the American International Toy Fair in New York City and reports on the hottest toy trends from the show. If you're wondering what your little one is likely to be looking for this year, this is the place to brush up on what to expect.

The presentation starts off with a cool looking skeleton dinosaur that's part of a "lincoln logs" sort of building set that can also be motorized. (Where was this when I was a kid!?) It then proceeds through a couple of other dinosaur themed toys, including a plush one for babies.

After the dinosaurs come some cupcakes and sweet desert plush toy designs, and then some funny faces toys. The funny faces show up on stacking wooden toys as well as a bowling set.

There's a new jungle theme mobile that also converts to a music box and night light, plus some jungle theme stroller toys and then a domino set that's ecologically friendly.

Check out the presentation for all of the details and to see the pictures! It's definitely worth a few minutes.

Identical Triplets Born on Long Island New York

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/suffolk/ny-litrip0305,0,2895170.story

A Long Island, NY couple who've been trying to have a baby for 4 years have had their dream come true... three times over! They are now the happy parents of identical triplets, something that is particularly rare.

Estimates on the odds of identical triplets being born range from 1 in every 60,000 births to 1 in 200 million births, said Dr. Victor Klein, who delivered the three boys.

North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, where the babies were delivered, has stepped in to help out with at least part of the challenge of raising the triplets. The hospital's executive director, Susan Somerville, said that the hospital will provide free diaper service for the first two years.

Infantino Lamb Grabby Rattles Recall

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08208.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Infantino Lamb Grabby Rattles™

Units: About 20,000

Manufacturer: Infantino LLC, of San Diego, Calif.

Hazard: The tail-piece on the rattles can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: Infantino has received eight reports of the tail piece on the rattle detaching. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled Infantino Lamb Grabby Rattles™ are shaped like a lamb with an Infantino elliptical-shaped logo stamped on the front right foot of the lamb. Only rattles with date code 0907 printed on the back of the left ear of the lamb are included in the recall. The production batch code is printed in a dial format with the year in the middle of a circle and an arrow pointing to the number on the circle that indicates the month. Rattles that do not have a date code are not included in the recall.


Sold at: Wal-Mart, Babies “R” Us and other specialty stores nationwide from September 2007 through February 2008 for between $3 and $4.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from young children and contact Infantino for a replacement rattle or a product of equal value.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Infantino toll-free at (888) 808-3111 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at service.infantino.com

Revisiting Vaccines & Autism

http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Vaccine_Contributed_to_Girls_Autism_Symptoms_14866.html

http://www.11alive.com/news/health/article_health.aspx?storyid=112451

Vaccines & Autism are back in the news again.

This time it's a court case in Georgia. Hannah Poling, a 9-year old girl, began developing symptoms related to autism after being given 9 vaccines in a single day, due to having missed 12 month and 15 month vaccinations due to illnesses.

A leaked document posted online details how the government's Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation concluded that five shots Hannah received in 2000, when she was 19 months old, "significantly aggravated an underlying mitochondrial disorder" and resulted in a brain disorder "with features of autism spectrum disorder."

The girl already had an underlying disorder, and the conclusion is that this disorder was aggravated by receiving everything in a single day rather than spaced out. There isn't any way of knowing whether she'd have had the same reaction if they were spaced out and this is just a tragic incidence that would have happened anyway, but it seems likely that the combination of so many at once is the cause.

There's still no evidence in this case of whether it is the immune response of the body that the vaccines provoke that caused this unfortunate incident, or whether it could have had something to do with the thimerosal, which has previously been concluded to have no impact due to its speedy excretion by the body. (http://www.newbornnewscorner.com/2008/01/vaccines-not-responsible-for-autism.html)

The first link in this post, however, goes on to show that despite removing thimerosal from US vaccines, there has been an increase in the incidence of autism, which would indicate that either 1) the vaccines themselves, or the immune responses they provoke, are responsible or more likely 2) there is an environmental factor at work that has not yet been isolated.

The second link in this post indicates that the resolution of this particular case does not extend to any other cases of vaccines and autism that are still pending or making their way through the legal system.

Most experts seem to agree, though, that the benefits of vaccinations outweigh any potential risks.

Worst Baby Names of 2007

http://lifestyle.msn.com/familyandparenting/babyandpregnancy/articletkt.aspx?cp-documentid=6359418>1=32001

The Nest Baby Editors in MSN's Lifestyles section have released their collection of the worst baby names of 2007. Each name comes with a description of who chose it and what the editors think, but here's a quick rundown of the selections:

Ptolemy, Magnus, E-, Story, Ever, Heaven Rain, Alabama, Princess, Evan, & Superman

Check out the article to see the explanation of where some of these odd names come for, and why Evan made the list!

Health Tips About Germs And Kids

http://www.parenting.com/article/Child/Health/Shortcuts-Keeping-Children-Clean-Healthy

Ever cleaned your hands with a baby wipe after changing a diaper? Given your baby a pacifier or bottle that has fallen to the ground? Skipped bathtime or brushing teeth? You're not alone if you have! Every parent wonders where the balance between good care and real life comes in.

Parenting.com has some great information about the various shortcuts that are fairly safe to take in coping with the pressures of daily life, and lists a few things that you shouldn't take no matter how rushed your day gets.

Your Baby and Personality Indicators

http://www.parenting.com/article/Baby/Development/Your-Baby-Personality-and-You

Research has indicated that some of our personalities are hard-wired into us as part of our chemical and genetic makeup. So how can you learn to work with your baby's personality before she's old enough to express it verbally?

The editors of Babytalk have presented a few suggestions for learning to recognize and enhance the best sides of your little one's innate personality.

Here's a quick list of the 9 traits that they cover:
1) Activity Level
2) Regularity
3) Sociability
4) Adaptability
5) Intensity
6) Disposition
7) Distractability
8) Persistance
9) Sensitivity

Mixing Bottles With Breastfeeding

http://www.parenting.com/article/Mom/Feeding/Yes,-you-can-use-breast-and-bottle!-21391690

While breastfeeding is still the preferred method of feeding a newborn baby, it's not always going to be possible for every mom every day.

So whether you're pumping breast milk for others to feed your baby while you're at work or whether you're looking to supplement formula now and then, parenting.com has some good advice from the editors of BabyTalk.

4-in-1 Vaccine Doubles Febrile Seizure Risk

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=87504

Thinking that it would be better to combine some of those infant immunization shots into a single event? A new Centers for Disease Control safety study found that in some cases the combined 4-in-1 shot doubled the risk of febrile seizures, also known as fever fits.

"ProQuad, Merck's 4-in-1 measles-mumps-rubella-chickenpox vaccine, doubles children's seizure risk compared with two separate MMR and chickenpox shots."

The risk was small even with the increased odds, 9 out of 10,000 had a febrile seizure 7-10 days after the vaccination.

About 1 in 25 children has a febrile seizure at some point, lasting anywhere from about a minute to as long as 15 minutes. The seizures start within a few hours of a fever, and can be frightening to witness, but are usually nothing to get too alarmed over.

If your child has one that lasts more than 10 minutes, you should seek treatment at the nearest medical facility. Once a seizure ends, even if it's just a short one, you should still consult your pediatrician to rule out any other factors.

Wooden Crib Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Majestic Curved Top and Flat Top Cribs, Essex Cribs, Brighton/Sussex Cribs and Captiva Cribs

Units: About 24,000

Importer: Munire Furniture Inc., of Piscataway, N.J.

Hazard: The cribs fail to meet the federal safety standards for cribs. The four support brackets on the mattress support spring are too long. The brackets prevent the spring from lowering to the full 26 inch minimum height in its lowest position, allowing children inside to crawl over the railing, posing a fall hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The cribs are wooden. The recalled cribs include: Majestic Curved Top cribs with model number 9500; Majestic Flat Top cribs with model number 9000; Essex cribs with model number 7100; Brighton/Sussex cribs with model number 9100 and Captiva cribs with model number 5100. Only cribs with manufacture dates between November 1, 2005 and November 1, 2007 are included in the recall. The crib model number is printed on the white label on the bottom inside of the right side rail. The crib manufacture date is printed on either the white label near the model number or on the white label located on the bottom of the headboard. Cribs with a green sticker on the mattress frame are not included in the recall.

Sold at: Specialty juvenile product stores nationwide from November 2005 through November 2007 for between $400 and $600.

Manufactured in: Indonesia

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled cribs and contact Munire Furniture to receive replacement spring brackets.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Munire Furniture Inc. at
(866) 586-9639 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET or visit the firm’s Web site at www.munirefurniture.com

Majestic Flat Top Crib Model # 9000



Majestic Curved Top Crib Model # 9500



Essex Model # 7100



Captiva Model # 5100



Brighton/Sussex Model # 9100