Growing Your Baby

Jessica Alba and Cash Warren Brunch With Their Girls!

2011-10-09T18:38:00.000-04:00

Just a day after debuting their newest addition to the world, Jessica Alba and Cash Warren were spotted out for brunch at Dominick’s restaurant in West Hollywood Los Angeles, California

During her interview with People Magazine Jessica revealed that Haven’s birth was the inspiration for her name. The infant was born in the caul, or in the amniotic sac. Father Cash stated after the birth, “She was born in her safe haven.”

For her first outing, the newborn stayed safe in her infant seat.

While dressed in a cute pink sundress and a pair of boots, big sister Honor showed off her hand tattoo and fancy ring.

Jessica pushes a Britax B-Ready stroller with a Chaperone infant seat.

{WENN & INFphoto.com}

Family Starts Infant Organ Transplant Fund After the Loss of Infant Son

2011-10-08T18:39:00.000-04:00

Dari Nowkhah, former News On 6 reporter in Tulsa, Oklahoma and his wife Jenn have turned one of the most tragic events a parent can be faced with into something beautiful. So beautiful that it actually brought me to tears.

Dari and Jenn became parents to little Hayden Michael on August 12, 2011. He was born a perfectly healthy baby boy but six days after his arrival, Hayden was struck with a virus. This virus attacked his heart.

Hayden was put on life support and on a waiting list for a heart donor. While waiting for a heart, Hayden suffered a stroke that damaged his brain. The doctors had to take him off of the donor list and Dari and Jenn were left with the awful decision of whether or not to take him off of life support.

“It was hell to make the decision and I’ll never forget Tuesday sitting in a hospital bed, in a hospital room with him in our arms. Jenn and I holding him as he took his last breath and his heart, that struggled to beat anyways, beat for the last time and I’ll never forget that moment,” Dari said in his interview with Channel 6 News.

The story could have ended there, but it didn’t. Dari and Jenn wanted to let Hayden’s life and unfortunate death shine some light on the need for infant transplants. They started Hayden’s Hope, named after their son, to raise awareness for infant transplants and to help raise money and offer support to families with infants and children that need an organ donation.

“Hayden’s Hope, we hope, helps others and that’s another way to carry Hayden’s legacy. We’ll never forget Hayden and our hope is that everybody who ever met him or didn’t but know his story get to realize what a great baby he was. Those 39 days, we wanted more but we feel lucky that we had that many,” Dari stated.

Currently, donors for infants are very difficult to come by because parents that lose an infant cannot donate the infant’s organs. Organs for infant come from children and adults. Because the donor list for adults is so large, the chances of an infant receiving a donor are very slim. There has been some talk recently, however, about allowing parents who lose their infant to donate the organs, if they so choose.

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RECALL: 58,000 IKEA Children’s Folding Tent Due to Laceration and Puncture Hazards

2011-10-07T18:41:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with IKEA North America Service, today announced a voluntary recall of about 58,000 (51,000 in the United States and 7,000 in Canada) BUSA children’s folding tents. The steel wire frame of the tent can break, producing sharp wire ends that can protrude through the tent fabric, posing a laceration or puncture hazard.

Three incidents were reported, including one injury. This recall involves a cube-shaped children’s folding tent with model number 90192009. The brand name BUSA and IKEA and the model number are printed on a sewn-in label attached to an interior seam in the tent. The tent frame is made of flat steel wire and the tent material is pale green polyester fabric with turquoise, pink and white trim.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take it away from children and return it to their nearest IKEA store for a full refund.

For additional information, contact IKEA toll-free at (888) 966-4532 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at http://www.ikea-usa.com

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Down Syndrome Families Speak Out About Their Experience

2011-10-05T18:16:00.000-04:00

Currently, there is only way to check for Down Syndrome during pregnancy – an amniocentesis; a test that pulls amniotic fluid from the womb, which does pose a risk for miscarriage. This risk is thought to play a part in the fact that only 2 percent of women actually choose Down Syndrome testing.

But right now, there are more testing methods waiting in the wings. Doctors may soon be able to test for Down Syndrome through a simple blood test. This virtually risk-free testing method is expected to increase the number of women that receive prenatal Down Syndrome testing.

No one really knows how many women choose to terminate a Down Syndrome pregnancy, but the numbers are estimated to be somewhere between 80 and 90 percent. With new testing available, some experts question whether or not the Down Syndrome community will disappear.

“Once everyone has the opportunity to learn prenatally with a simple blood test, what decisions will Americans make about pregnancies and will babies with Down Syndrome slowly start to disappear? People with Down Syndrome should be able to describe for Americans what it means to have the condition,” said Dr. Brian Skotko, a physician with the Down Syndrome Program at Children’s Hospital Boston.

Dr. Skotko recently conducted a series of surveys on families that are impacted by Down Syndrome. He found, through those surveys, that 96 percent of parents that have a child with Down Syndrome don’t feel any sense of regrets. In fact, nearly 8 out of 10 of those surveyed stated that their child had enhanced their lives – teaching them patience, flexibility and acceptance.

Louise Borke was just one of the families surveyed. She learned that her son, Louis, had Down Syndrome when he was just a few days old. She felt, “shock and surprise, trepidation and anxiety.” Yet, despite her fears, life with her son, “It’s been fun. It’s had its challenges – I won’t deny that – but it’s been fun. It’s been rewarding and I have no regrets,” Borke stated.

Even 88 percent of siblings stated that life with a Down Syndrome sibling made them “a better person” and 94 percent felt a sense of “pride” about their siblings.

Data was also analyzed on the feelings of those that actually have the condition. Nearly all Down Syndrome individuals said that they are happy with their lives and they like who they are.

Skotko hopes that the results, which are set to be published in the October issue of American Journal of Medical Genetics, will help families see the other side of Down Syndrome and enable them to make an educated choice about their unborn babies as the non-invasive tests become more available.

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Backpacker Mistakes Birth for Gastro Bug

2011-10-05T00:20:00.002-04:00

A 37-year-old backpacker, Lena, had a pretty dramatic turn of events during her adventures after giving birth to a five pound baby girl in the bathroom of her Australian hostel. She was completely unaware that she was in labor, let alone pregnant.

Doctors had told Lena a few years ago that her chances of ever getting pregnant were slim because she was going through early menopause. According to Lena, this was why she never gave the signs of pregnancy a second thought. “I just assumed I couldn’t have a baby. I thought I’d been through menopause so that was the end of that,” said Lena.

Lena assumed her growing belly was the result of overconsumption of pastas that she had been eating over the last several weeks and, according to Lena, she thought her labor pains were a horrible gastro bug.

“I honestly had no idea I was pregnant, none at all. I thought I had a gastro bug. I just remember sitting on the toilet thinking I was going to die from gastro. It was terrible. Then, all of a sudden, I pushed and she came out,” Lena told reporters.

Her roommates, Mathieu Caron and Antoine Flinois had no idea that Lena was pregnant either and they were in shocked when they heard a baby crying in the bathroom.

“I was working on my laptop and Lena came into the room but the light was off so I couldn’t see at that stage that she was holding a baby,” roommate Caron said. “But then she said to me, ‘Help, help!’ so I turned my laptop to light up the room and then I saw the baby.”

Upon seeing Lena’s situation, Caron woke up their other roommate Flinois and helped Lena sit down. Caron then called for help.

Little Bethany and her mother are now resting in the maternity ward of Manly Hospital in Sydney. In regards to what the future holds for the new mother-daughter pair, Lena says, “I have had absolutely no preparation, none at all…but it’s okay. We’ll make it work!”

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London Celebrates Rapunzel’s Coronation!

2011-10-05T00:18:00.000-04:00

Today in London, Disney had a Royal Celebration for Rapunzel to welcome her to the Disney Princess court.

The main character in last year’s blockbuster Tangled, Rapunzel has secured her spot in Disney’s history has their toughest, most independent princess. No fair maiden here. Rapunzel showed young girls that you can be smart, savvy and stand on your own as well.

Nicole Richie, husband Joel Madden and children Harlow and Sparrow all had the chance to walk to the red carpet for Rapunzel as they attended along with 10,000 fans who lined up along the Princess parade route to watch nine horse drawn carriages bring the Disney princesses to Kensington Palace for the ceremony.

{photo credit: onEdition, David Parry/PA}

Infant Suffocates in Baby Sling – Parents Reminded of Important Safety Rules

2011-09-20T00:07:00.000-04:00

Baby slings have become an extremely popular method for carrying babies all over the world. They are designed to keep baby close while still keeping Mom’s hands free to carry out everyday tasks. Infants are often calmed while being carried in a sling and most mothers adore their slings because of their convenience. A recent incident, however, reminded us just how important safety is when using an infant sling.

A two-day old infant from South Australia died while being carried in an infant sling. According to the report, the infant was being carried underneath the mother’s clothing. She later discovered that the infant was cold and not breathing.

Australian pathologists have named the sling as a “risk factor” in the infant’s death but it was not named as the actual cause of death. Essentially, what they are saying is that the sling could have caused the death, may have contributed to the death but the infant might have died, despite the sling.

This isn’t the first death linked to infant slings. According to Melanie Water from the Australian child safety organization, Kidsafe, there have been 16 other sling-related deaths reported in the United States and Canada. “All baby slings should be sold with clear instructions and specific diagrams to make sure the potential risks are clear,” said Melanie.

The risk is highest for young infants; those under four months of age, says the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. But even these young infants can be carried safely, if the parent is aware of the proper precautions and potential risk factors.

There is no doubt that news like this can stir panic and fear in the hearts of every parent and parent-to-be. The reaction is normal and completely understandable. However, consider the report of the infant’s death again – the mother was wearing the sling under clothing. This is not proper safety.
The mother might have been trying to keep the infant warm or protect it from the sun. Maybe the infant wouldn’t quiet until it was skin to skin. Maybe she nursed the infant under her shirt and just figured everything would be fine if the infant stayed there and slept. The point is not to blame the mother. My heart goes out to her for the loss of her infant. It is truly sad news and I ask that parents not walk away from this with panic, fear or indifference in their hearts and minds.

What I do want parents to consider is that there is a right way and a wrong way to wear an infant sling. This safety is important, no matter how young or old the infant.

Yes, slings do need proper instructions and warnings – many brands do have instructional information on proper sling wearing in the package. There are some brands, however, that may not include this essential information or, if present, the information may not be thorough.

I looked around for a few safety tips for sling-wearing myself. Why? Because I believe in sling wearing. I believe it can be done safely and it was the preferred method of transport for me and my five little ones. Because I believe many parents, if taught how to use a sling safely may find joy in wearing them as well.

Understanding the Risks

Infants, particularly newborns, do not have the strength to pull away from soft fabrics when they are unable to breathe. For this reason, all soft fabrics should be kept away from baby’s face. This includes your infant sling. When looking at baby in the sling, his or her face should be facing yours. You should be able to see your infant’s nose and mouth clearly and their head should be close enough for you to kiss.
When looking at your infant’s head, you should also ensure that baby’s chin is not touching the chest. This also obstructs breathing and the infant lacks the muscle control needed to readjust the head to open airways.
Check your infant’s position regularly and readjust as needed. While most infants stay well situated in their sling, movement can and does happen.
Infant slings should never be worn under clothing. This could cause breathing obstructions or cause you infant to rebreathe the same air – air that lacks oxygen. It also takes away your ability to monitor your infant.
You should never run, jog or perform any other high intensity activity while your infant is in the sling. According to the American Chiropractic Association, this can cause damage to the spine, brain or neck of your infant.
Use the carrier designed for your baby’s weight and age range. Backpack slings should only be used with older babies and toddlers. Front carriers can be used for infants but parents that have infants under 8 pounds should not use a sling. Infants smaller than 8 pounds can slip out from the sling because they are not designed for infants this small.
Inspect your sling every time you use it. This will ensure that you notice any broken seams, buckles or fasteners as well as any worn fabric.
Do not carry an additional infant while using an infant sling.
If it is cold or wet outdoors, purchase a coat or poncho designed for sling wearing. Do not overdress your infant when it is hot outside. Remember, they are against your body and they will receive heat dissipation from you. If overdressed in the summer, heat stress can occur.
Do not carry anything in your infant sling besides your infant. Other items can become choking or suffocation hazards.

These tips were adapted from a list found on Babywearing International. There are also a few other helpful hints for baby sling wearing that were not directly related to this particular incident but that parents might find useful.

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Celebrity Families Visit Jayneoni Moore’s Pre-Emmys Gifting Suite

2011-09-18T23:54:00.001-04:00

Just ahead of the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards celebs and their families came out this weekend to socialize at Jayneoni Moore’s Pre-Emmys gifting suite.

The invite-only event, which was held at the Intercontinental Hotel, featured more than 40 companies looking to show off their products. Some of those included iCandy, LeapFrog, Happy Heinys, Way Tutu Cute, Plum Organics, Zodiac Baby, Nightmare Nibblers, Peeking Baby, Swim Zip, Berry Kids and LA boutique Petite Tresor.

Some of the celebrities spotted were:

Grey’s Anatomy star Sarah Drew and her husband Peter Lanfer
Lindsay Price
Ana Ortiz with daughter Paloma
Nia Long
Jodie Sweetin with daughter Zoie and Beatrix

{PACIFIC COAST NEWS}

Preview ~ Tiny Love To Introduce The 3 in 1 Rocker-Napper

2011-09-17T23:50:00.000-04:00

Developmental products company Tiny Love is set to introduce a multi-functional rocker that will triple as a seat and a cot for sleeping.

The 3 in 1 Rocker-Napper is a fun seat fitted with an engaging toy, a rocker that soothes baby with gentle rocking movements, and a flat mattress (180° ) with raised borders, which makes for a safe and cozy sleeping environment.

It also features an easy one hand operation switch from sit to sleep, an adjustable arm for easy parental access and baby-activated electronic toy with 9 different tunes. Babies will love the adorable pals – rattling snail and flowery mirror, the soft fabrics and calming vibrations which can be felt through entire seat.

Because it will just be revealed this weekend at Kind + Jugend there is no release date for this chair. We will update when it goes on sale.

Delayed Pregnancy Increases Risks for Canadian Moms and Baby

2011-09-16T23:58:00.000-04:00

In a first large scale study in Canada to analyze the risk faced by older moms and their babies, researchers found that while the number of delayed pregnancies are on the rise in the country, it is also increasing the risk of diabetes, hypertension and premature births.

The new national report by the Canadian Institute of Health Information was released on Thursday and it suggests that one in five births in Canada is to mothers above the age of 35. The trend is alarming as it is at that age exactly that risks associated with childbirth and pregnancies begin to increase.

The report warned that mothers who were above the age of 40 were three times more likely to develop serious complications as compared to their younger counterparts. The babies too in this case, faced the risk of chromosomal disorders.

“The extent of the change in risk is surprising to me. They become even more pronounced for those 40 and over and that’s a growing segment of new moms,” said Kathleen Morris, CIHI director of health system analysis.

The three year long project examined one million hospital births across Canada from 2006 to 2007 and 2008 to 2009.The mothers age ranged from 20 to 60 years old. Almost 20 percent of the mothers were 35 years of age.

The researchers found that compared to mothers under the age of 35, the older moms were two times more likely to get gestational diabetes associated with pregnancy. Those above 40 were three times more likely to have the high blood glucose problem with one in every eight women complaining of the condition. The researcher added that a third of these women who had gestational diabetes also developed Type 2 diabetes later.

“It can really affect a mother’s health because it’s a chronic condition and life-long health concern,” she said, noting that these women also tend to carry heavier babies leading to delivery complications.

Dr. Mark Walker, a University of Ottawa professor and senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute noted that hypertension was also a cause for concern.

“As we get older we’re more at risk for diseases and pregnancy is a stress test to the body so if you have an underlying condition, it could express itself,” he said.

Another thing pointed out by the report was the staggering number of caesarean operations. 41 percent of moms above 40 had C-sections with more than half of the first time mothers going for the surgery. In comparison only a quarter of women in the age group of 20-35 gave birth via C-section.

“C-sections are medically necessary in some cases and they can be life-saving but compared to a routine delivery, they pose greater risks to the mom and baby and they also cost more,” Morris said.

Dr. Walker, who is a high-risk obstetrician expert and has delivered more than a 1000 babies of older women, commented that he had spent a lifetime being a researcher and still this finding surprised him.

“There’s a lot we don’t understand, such as why C-section rates would be so high. It’s perplexing to me,” Walker said.

While the research threw light on the risks moms face, it also reports on the risk that the child is put at with older moms.

To moms older than 40, one in nine babies are preemies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. For younger moms this risk is lowered to one in 13 mothers.

It is well known that preterm babies might have many developmental issues like intestinal problems, breathing difficulties and vision problems. Morris said that though some issues could be corrected most problems might become a lifelong one.

What was alarming to note was that one on 127 babies of older moms had chromosomal disorders like Down’s syndrome, but the likelihood of these anomalies was only one in thousand among younger moms. Morris added though that the risk was still relatively low.

Dr. Walker mentioned that a condition called Placenta previa when the placenta grows on the lower side of the uterus and covers almost half of the cervix is what might trigger preterm deliveries. The condition is seen in one in 65 mothers over 39 and one in 208 for younger mothers.

According to the report, British Columbia had the highest number of older moms with 22.3 per cent while Ontario trailed at 21 per cent. C-section deliveries were highest in Newfoundland and Labrador at 47.9 per cent followed by B.C. at 45.6 per cent. Saskatchewan, Quebec and Manitoba recorded the lowest rates for the procedure.

Cost wise as well, hospital birth costs increased with a mother’s age. On average a mother between 20 to 35 years of age spent $2,900 and $1500 for their babies while $3,000 was spent by mothers aged 35 to 39 with additional $1,600 for their babies. For those above 40 the cost they bore were $3,200 for mothers and $1,800 for their babies.

These estimates were apart from the physician and specialist fees, medical costs and repeat hospitalizations.

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Finn + Emma ~ Gorgeous organic clothing, bedding and toys for babies!

2011-09-12T19:05:00.000-04:00

Finn + Emma is brilliantly mixing stylish with sustainable and classic with contemporary. Beautifully constructed clothing and accessories in a wonderful palette of modern color combinations abound within the Finn + Emma collection.

In sizes from 0 to 18 months, clothing comes in the form of rompers, sleepers, body suits, hats, pants and tops for both boys and girls. As well, there are a number of toys, crib sheets, blankets, sleepsacks and gifts! To keep things stylishly simple, the girl’s color palette is an absolutely gorgeous combination of light and dark lavender, cream and aqua, and the boy’s palette is one of gray, cream, dusty blue and orange.

Not only is all clothing and bedding material made from 100% organic cotton and Eco-friendly dyes, but all clothing and accessories are manufactured under fair trade conditions ensuring that all workers have a safe, fair environment in which to provide for their own families.

Among my favorites are definitely the little girl’s kimono set as well as the wooden play gym with 100% wool filled hanging toys.

Finn + Emma has truly created a sweet, sophisticated and serene line of baby clothing, bedding, toys and accessories…we love it!

Jennifer Garner Co-Hosts The Pink Party To Benefit Cedars-Sinai Women’s Cancer Program

2011-09-12T19:01:00.001-04:00

Mom-to-be Jennifer Garner looked beautiful in red while walking the red carpet before her co-hosting duties at The Pink Party ‘11 in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

The event, which took place at Drai’s Hollywood, was created by fashionista Elyse Walker in 2005 to help fund the Cedars-Sinai Women’s Cancer Program.

The actress was joined by many other famous moms including her co-host Jamie Curtis, TV host Samantha Harris and Grey’s Anatomy stars Jessica Capshaw, Kim Raver and an expectant Sarah Drew.

In the past seven years, roughly $6 million has been raised.

{FAME & WENN}
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Mother’s Contact Better at Reducing Infant Pain According to Study

2011-09-10T12:21:00.000-04:00

Premature infants often experience more pain during the first few weeks of life than full term infants because they are less developed, which makes simple tasks like regulating heartbeat, temperature and breathing a challenge. They also often require more tests, like heel sticks to collect blood, than full term infants.

Preemies really do have it pretty rough and it can be devastating for a preemie parent to know how much their baby is hurting, especially when this frail little human has to have all of these tests done just to make sure they are okay. But there is good news for parents of preemies when it comes to pain. According to a new study, parents can help significantly reduce the amount of pain their premature infants experience during testing through skin-to-skin contact known as ‘kangaroo care.’

‘Kangaroo care’ is a method in which the infant is held wearing only a diaper and the parent is bare chested with a towel or sheet wrapped around both the infant and the parent. The method has been researched previously, showing that there are numerous health benefits, including heart regulation, breathing regulation, temperature regulation and pain management.

“There is a big difference between when a baby gets (blood drawn) alone in an incubator and when the mom or dad holds the baby for this procedure,” Dr. Larry Gray, pediatrician at Corner Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago, who did not participate in the study, said.

Health practitioners have long agreed with Dr. Gray and parents have even been advised to spend time using ‘kangaroo care’ with preemies, long after they go home. Preemies that receive ‘kangaroo care’ have even been found to grow and develop quicker than preemies that did not. This study, however, was the very first to actually compare the difference between a mother’s touch and a father’s touch.

In this new study, C. Celeste Johnston from the McGill University School of Nursing in Montreal took a look at 62 premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit that would need multiple heel sticks for blood testing. During the heel sticks, researchers had mom and dad take turns holding baby in the ‘kangaroo care’ position during various heel sticks.

Babies were video-taped to monitor facial reactions that would give indication to the level of pain experienced by the infant during the procedure. Various signs of pain were observed, including furrowed noses and lips as well as squeezed eyes. A 0-to-21 pain rating scale was used.

When infants were held by their fathers, the infants scored a pain level of 8.5 to 8.6 thirty seconds and one minute after the heel stick was performed. When held by their mothers, infants scored 1.4 to 1.5 points lower at thirty seconds and one minute after the procedure was performed. However, there was no difference in the pain score after one minute, regardless of whether the infant was held by mom or dad. In an incubator, infants scored between 11 and 13 when having the same procedure performed.

“This supports the hypothesis that there is something unique about the comfort of a mother’s contact over and above that of another caring adult,” researchers wrote in the report which was published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. “The difference in the male physique, especially the chest, may be perceived by the infant to be not that of a natural caregiver.”

Dr. Gray pointed out, however, that the real message here is that, while mothers do seem to help their infants experience slightly less pain than their fathers; both parents significantly reduced the amount of pain that premature infants felt during medical procedures compared to the amount of pain felt if the infant were left to go it alone in an incubator. He concluded by saying, “Although it’s a scary thing to hold a tiny vulnerable baby, the new findings show it does help.”

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Ali Landry Bares Her Bump in New Ad Campaign!

2011-09-10T12:18:00.001-04:00

Now in the last few weeks of her pregnancy actress and Hollywood mom Ali Landry has announced that she will be the new spokesperson for the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula stretch mark products’ national print, television and radio ad campaign. The mom-to-be proudly bared her baby bump yesterday in Los Angeles during the ad shoot, which will showcase Ali, her baby bump and her secret to keeping her skin glowing throughout her pregnancy.

The campaign will also mark the debut of the brand new, advanced formulations of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Stretch Mark products, such as Massage Lotion and Cream for Stretch Marks and Tummy Butter for Stretch Marks.

Due in October with her second child, Ali has strived to keep her skin in tip-top shape while carrying her new addition. She joins a list of other expectant moms that have shown off their pregnant bellies in past Palmer’s ad campaigns including Samantha Harris, Laila Ali, Angie Everhart and Emily Procter.

Gween Toys ~ Fun, educational and eco-friendly!

2011-09-08T12:22:00.001-04:00

Gween Toys aims to create toys that are not only fun and entertaining, but that are educational as well!
They have created toys in two categories with a child’s developmental stage in mind. Toys for 2-3 year olds focus on stacking and movement, and include Gwomies and Gusto. Gwomies is a set of 20 interchangeable stacking pieces with which to make trees and shrubs! Toddlers can make them as tall or as short as they would like, and can “grow” an entire forest for their toy animal friends. Gusto is a set of stacking pieces with which to build a windmill.

Toddlers can build the windmill and then spin the fan and mimic the wind.

For children 3-5 years of age, who are starting to learn their numbers and letters, have increased motor skills and enjoy stringing beads and other fine activities, Gween Toys presents Picazee, Alfinx and Zarafu. Picazee is a zebra who encourages color recognition and practices matching skills, Alfinx is a tiger who encourages basic reading skills using simple spelling activities, and Zarafu is a giraffe who introduces preschoolers to early math skills.

What a great collection of wooden animal friends!

Gween toys are all made by hand with sustainably harvested trees. Natural pigments are used to color the toys, and Gween Toys states that no paints, metals, plastics or other synthetic materials are used. The packaging of all Gween Toys is made with recyclable materials, and on the inside is an additional coloring activity!

For a wonderful set of toys that are both educational and fun, check out Gween Toys!

Tenth Anniversary of 9/11: The Child’s Perspective – Then and Now

2011-09-04T08:39:00.000-04:00

One bedtime, not so long ago, I was reading my son the story, Curious George in the Big City.

“Here was a good lookout!” I read. “From up here George could see a bridge, lots of tall buildings, and a little green lady standing in the water.”

I glanced up at the picture and was taken aback by what I saw. It depicted the skyline of New York City, complete with the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building – and the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

“Oh,” I said in surprise. “Those buildings aren’t there anymore.”

I had already said too much. The barrage of “why” began.

“Why”

“They fell down.”

“Why”

“Bad guys crashed airplanes into them.”

“Why”

“Oh dear…”

So began my awkward attempt to explain the heinous acts of September 11^th, 2001 to a four-year-old.

With the tenth anniversary of 9/11 looming on our doorstep, filmmakers are finally preparing to present the facts of those events in a child-friendly way and from a child’s prospective.

There hasn’t been a great deal of attention given to the children who were closely affected by 9/11, until now. The documentary, “Children of 9/11,” set to air September 5^th, on NBC, follows a year in the lives of 11 children, who lost parents in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on Flight 93, ten years ago.

The show’s producer, Janice Sutherland, discovered that, “Most of them (children who lost parents in 9/11) felt an incredible sense of responsibility for the surviving parent, and a fear of what would happen if they lost that parent…It is something they have had to deal with on their own.”
Sutherland has, at last, given these young people the opportunity to articulate their experience and their loss.

One of the participants in the documentary, Caitlin Langone, was only 12 years old in September 2011. She recalls her teacher informing the class about the attacks. Only later, would she discover that her father had been a victim.

“I felt this documentary was my opportunity to tell my story in my own words,” Langone says. “I hope it gives people a better understanding. I hope it makes 9/11 more personal and more real for them.”

There are millions of children around now, who were not around in 2001, or were too young to remember 9/11. For these children, my son included, that day is a part of history; as much as the moon landing and the JFK assassination are history for many of us. We all know people who remember those events very vividly, but we don’t have a personal connection ourselves.

Many of today’s youngest cohorts understand the importance of 9/11 but are brimming with inaccurate information.

Linda Ellerbee, the award winning journalist behind the Nick News special, “What happened? The Story of Sept. 11 2001” discovered a wide range of misinformation when she spoke to children about 9/11.

Nick News quotes one girl saying, “I heard that on 9/11, 500 planes disappeared into the air.” Other misunderstandings included confusion over whether the Islamic militant hijackers were actually Hindu or Japanese.

“I believe we needed to put together a show explaining in simple clear terms just what happened on the day, what happened next and how people felt about what happened,” says Ellerbee, adding,
“Ignorance is not bliss; ignorance is dangerous.”

Nickelodeon and the American Psychological Association have jointly created a supplementary package of educational materials to increase children’s understanding of the events. These materials are available online.

It’s as important now as it was then, to consider children and their understanding of tragedy, generally and as it pertains to this specific event. As we mark the tenth anniversary, it will be hard to avoid the replay and reanalysis of images many of us would like to forget.

As parents, it will be our job to ensure we give our children clear information and a kid-friendly context to the images they will likely encounter over the next couple of weeks. These child focused documentaries, and others, may help. – Jen R, Staff Writer

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Kourtney Kardashian & Son Mason Enjoy A NYC Park Playdate!

2011-09-04T08:37:00.000-04:00

While out filming scenes for the second season of her reality show Kourtney and Kim take New York, Kourtney Kardashian was spotted yesterday afternoon playing at the park with her son Mason, 18 months.

Is it possible that Mason will be part of the second season? During an interview with People last year Kourtney told the magazine, “You’re not going to see Mason. Scott and I decided not to have him on the show this season.”

She continued saying she gets “weirded out to have [Mason] on camera. He can’t make the decision if he wants to be involved in this craziness or not.”

Later it was reported that Scott pulled the plug after E! refused to pay $5000 per episode for Mason’s appearance.

Dressed in orange suspenders and a pair of preppy loafers, the toddler is enjoying NYC. While out with his mom, he a great time playing in the sand, on the climber and on the swings!

{PACIFIC COAST NEWS}

Alyssa Milano Welcomes a Baby Boy!

2011-09-01T17:43:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to new parents Alyssa Milano and David Bugliari on the safe arrival of their first child – a little boy!

After announcing their pregnancy in March (via Twitter) the actress and her agent husband welcomed a baby boy, whom they’ve named Milo Thomas. Their bundle of joy came in at a healthy 7 pounds and 19 inches long at 9:27am.

This the first child for the couple, who married in 2009. During her pregnancy, the actress has been actively, tweeting her excitement, offering tips for cloth diapers and even answering fans’ questions about motherhood.

Just this evening Alyssa tweeted to her fans: “Thank you for all the well wishes for my son Milo. My heart has tripled in size. I love him more than all the leaves on all the trees.”

Alyssa looked stunning through her entire pregnancy. Here are some of our top pic’s of her pregnancy looks:

{WENN, ZUMA & PACIFIC COAST NEWS}

RECALL: 3,400 Wooden Rattles by Manhattan Toy Due to Choking Hazard

2011-09-01T17:41:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Manhattan Group LLC, today announced a voluntary recall of about 3,400 Twirlla™ Wooden Rattle because the toy’s U-shaped parts can break, posing a choking hazard.

The painted wood rattle is approximately 6 inches long and has a yellow ball at each end, two U-shaped pieces (red and pale blue) and an orange bead in the center with a green center post connecting all pieces. The moving parts make noise when they come together.

Consumers should take the rattles away from children immediately and return them to the store where purchased to receive a full refund.

For additional information, contact Manhattan Group at (800) 541-1345 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.manhattantoy.com

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RECALL: 5,500 Pacific Cycle Swing Sets Due to Fall Hazard

2011-08-30T17:59:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Pacific Cycle Inc, today announced a voluntary recall of about 5,500 Playsafe Dartmouth Swing Sets because the sling-style swing seats can crack or split prematurely, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

Pacific Cycle has received five reports of the sling-style swing seats breaking during use, including reports of minor injuries involving bruises and scrapes.

This recall involves Playsafe’s Dartmouth Swing Set, model number 22-PS340, with date codes FSD0115AA and FSD0315AA. The model number and date code can be found in the owner’s manual. The swing set has six metal legs and includes two swings with yellow plastic sling-style seats, a yellow plastic sliding board, a two-person glider with yellow plastic seats, yellow plastic trapeze hanging rings and a four-person lawn swing with yellow plastic seats and footboard.

The sets were sold exclusively at Toys R Us stores nationwide from January 2011 through May 2011 for about $270.

Consumers should immediately stop using the sling-style swing seats, remove the seats from the swing set and contact Pacific Cycle to obtain free replacement seats.

For additional information, contact Pacific Cycle toll-free at (877) 564-2261 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.pacific-cycle.com or email customerservice@pacific-cycle.com
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Celebrities Design Maternity Denim To Benefit March of Dimes

2011-08-30T11:18:00.000-04:00

Celebrity trendsetters and Hollywood moms have teamed up to create unique maternity jeans to be auctioned of to benefit the March of Dimes.

Celebrity moms Laila Ali, Heidi Klum, Naomi Watts, Jewel, Nicole Sullivan, Diane Farr, Camila Alves, Busy Philipps, and Kaitlin Olson each have embellished a pair of designer maternity denim as part of an online auction, “Celebrities 4 Maternity Denim.” The auction is an initiative between the March of Dimes and Destination Maternity to raise awareness about the importance of preventing preterm birth so more babies can get a healthy start in life.

The denim will be auctioned off to the public from August 25 to September 22 on www.biddingforgood.com/celebs4maternitydenim. Bidding will begin at $300 per pair of jeans. All of the proceeds will support March of Dimes work to help moms have full-term pregnancies and stronger, healthier babies.

“Now moms can be even more stunning in one-of-a-kind jeans, personally designed by their favorite celebrity icon,” said Jane Massey, Executive Vice President of the March of Dimes. “We are thrilled to work with Destination Maternity and these generous celebrity moms to connect with moms and give them the information they need to have full-term pregnancies and healthier babies.”

New and expectant moms and their guests are invited to Destination Maternity’s Fashion’s Night Out celebration hosted by Laila Ali, to see the denim on display. Fashion’s Night Out will be held at Destination Maternity’s flagship store, 28 East 57th Street at Madison Avenue in New York City, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8th. Guests can bid online from the store that evening.

“We are proud to partner with the March of Dimes on this initiative,” said Ed Krell, Chief Executive Officer of Destination Maternity. “This auction makes a strong statement of support for a cause Destination Maternity believes in and has supported for many years.”

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The Rossdales Hit The Beach!

2011-08-30T10:17:00.001-04:00

Gwen Stefani and husband Gavin Rossdale enjoyed a beautiful California day at the beach with their children, Kingston and Zuma, in Malibu yesterday.

The boys had a blast working together with their dad to make a sand castle and running around playing in the surf.

Gwen has been one busy mama. She has so much on her plate right now that she may not even be able to attend the showing for her LAMB collection in New York City next month.

Her spokesperson said.‘Given the extraordinary demands of working on three fashion lines while also finishing a new record, it is hard to say whether she will be able to attend the actual presentation in New York next month.’

One thing is for sure. No Doubt fans are excited the band is back in the studio. It will be their first album in 8 years.

{INFphoto.com}

Sofia Coppola & Her Family Enjoy A Pre-Wedding Play At The Beach

2011-08-29T09:33:00.000-04:00

Rather than run around tying up loose ends, Sofia Coppola and her family spent a relaxing afternoon on the beach in Basilicata, Italy, the day before her wedding.

The director was photographed playing with the water with her youngest daughter Cosmina while her oldest daughter Romy built sandcastles.

Sofia and Thomas were married during an intimate ceremony yesterday in the palatial garden at her father’s grand palazzo in the village.

The star-studded affair was attended by 80 guests including Johnny Depp, Star Wars creator George Lucas and her Rocky actress aunt Talia Shire.

{INFphoto.com}
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Celebrity Families Attend Lion King 3D Premiere

2011-08-27T23:57:00.000-04:00

The hot ticket in Hollywood this afternoon was the premiere of Disney’s Lion King 3D. The updated version of the 1994 animated classic will hit theatres on September 16th in a limited re-release for two weeks before the Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D hit stores on October 4th.

Some of the celebrity families in attendance were:

Ali Landry and daughter Estela
Melissa Joan Hart & husband Mark with sons Mason and Braydon Wilkerson
Rick Schroder with his wife Andrea Bernard and their 4 kids Holden, Luke, Cambrie and Faith
Julie Bowen with her son
Antonio Sabato Jr. and daughter Mina Bree
Monet Mazur with her son Marlon
Gilles Marini with his wife Carole and daughter Julianna,
Shaunie O’Neil with daughter Mimi
Maria Canals- Barrera with husband David and daughters Bridget and Madeleine

{PACIFIC COAST NEWS, WENN & ZUMA}

Rachel Stevens Strolls With Amelie

2011-08-25T01:15:00.000-04:00

Former S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens was photographed yesterday shopping at the local shops in London with her daughter Amelie.

After having becoming a mom Rachel revealed she ‘would love to have more’ children and that she can’t now imagine her life before Amelie.

‘It is literally like Christmas every morning! I remember my brother saying the same thing.’
‘He has got two little girls, and I remember him saying that before I had Amelie.
‘It really is, when you see them for the first time in the morning, she wakes up and I hear her chatting away and she is singing away and its lovely!’

A barefoot Amelie rode in a pink bugaboo bee special edition stroller.

{PACIFIC COAST NEWS}