Headline news in the world of baby products this week- over one million “sling” type baby carriers have been recalled as a result of at least three infant deaths. Specific brands include: Infantino Slingrider and Wendy Bellisimo. Newborns to 4 months of age have reportedly died from asphyxia/suffocation while being carried in the slings. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission evidently reported up to 14 deaths related to sling type carriers. For further information visit: www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10165.html www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/24/baby.sling.deaths/?hpt=C1

‘Recent headlines: Thimerosal did not cause autism, court rules’
This debate, that thimerosal (previously used as a preservative in vaccines) caused autism has long been established as NOT being the culprit. These cases are emotionally charged, and I have great sympathy for the parents raising autistic children. This quote from the advocacy group Autism Speaks, pretty much sums up the situation: “the proven benefits of vaccinating a child to protect them against serious diseases far outweigh the hypothesized risk that vaccinations might cause autism. Thus, we strongly encourage parents to vaccinate their children to protect them from serious childhood diseases.”

A very common theme, particularly among the highly successful, professional moms’ who are used to being in complete charge of their lives, accustomed to controlling their days, 24/7. Now… their lives have changed forever…of course, there is the falling madly in love with this new family member. There is also: Dads’ have gone back to work, grandparents have travelled back to their homes, friends have stopped dropping off pans of lasagna… now it’s you and the baby, day in and day out. Not always happy times…babies seem to eat nonstop and communicate by crying and just as you’re ready to load them into their car seats- they have an explosive poop…and so it goes-life in the Mom lane. To prevent loneliness from seeping into new family households, I strongly encourage all new parents to become part of an organized support group where there is an opportunity for social and emotional connection…

Baby Grant recently returned to the SF Newborn Class with his proud parents for a baby bath demo. He arrived in a sling worn by his Dad, being soothed by sucking on his Dad’s pinky…pretty sweet sight, while setting a great example for the expectant couples about the extent that partners can participate in parenting a newborn. While we prepared the tubbie, his Mom happily held her naked little baby in her arms…no sooner had she said, “they pee all the time”, when he showered the front of her sweater! The class roared as Grant’s Dad scrambled for a dry towel…too funny!
* As seen on www.giggle.com