The government has recalled thousands of Simplicity and Graco cribs, warning that babies could suffocate or strangle in them.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said the Simplicity recall was linked to at least one death and involved possibly hundreds of thousands of cribs, though many had previously been recalled for other defects. The agency said about 217,000 Graco dropside cribs made by LaJobi were also being recalled.
The problem with both types of cribs stems from hardware failures.
In the case of the Graco-branded wood cribs, the dropside — can break or detach, creating a dangerous gap between the crib mattress and dropped side. A baby can become trapped and suffocate or strangle. CPSC and LaJobi have received 99 complaints of dropside problems with the cribs. None involved serious injuries.
The Simplicity recall is for all full-sized cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames. Those frames can bend or detach, causing the mattress to collapse and creating a space that a baby can roll into, become trapped in and suffocate.
A one-year-old boy in North Attleboro, Mass., became trapped in his Simplicity crib and suffocated in 2008, according to the commission.
“CPSC urges all parents and caregivers to not attempt to resell any Simplicity crib to a thrift store, at a yard sale or online,” said agency spokesman Scott Wolfson. “These recalled cribs have killed far too many babies and need to be kept out of homes and daycare centers.”
Simplicity has been the subject of almost a dozen recalls since 2005 and its cribs have been linked to 13 deaths.

This happens to most moms!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjIc_75nl1s

It is best to introduce the bottle to newborns at approximately 3 weeks of age; by this time, they have typically mastered breastfeeding and can manage going back and forth between mom’s breast and an artificial nipple. For babies who are resistant or refusing to take a bottle the following tips will be helpful:
• Someone OTHER than Mom introducing the bottle
• Type of bottle-may need to try several different brands (Avent works well for many)
• Older babies (after 3 months) use the next level up nipple-has 2 holes for more flow
• Mom pumps out some FRESH breast milk 1 hour before bottle intro (taste and texture is important-don’t use stored milk)
• Mom needs to REMOVE herself from the room-better yet, leaves the house!
• Intro session occurs about an hour before baby’s normal feeding time
• Dad/Partner or someone other than mom holds baby in cradle hold, with baby facing away (their back is against your tummy) OR put baby in car seat/infant seat
• Perhaps have one of mom’s shirts with her scent to hold against you while holding baby
• Run nipple under warm water just prior to intro
• Intro session goes no longer than 10 minutes- NOT a marathon session lasting an hour!
• Intro session once a day for a week
It may be helpful for the person introducing the bottle to sit on the edge of the bed and while holding the baby- gently bounce up and down on the bed- motion often assists the baby to be lulled into taking the nipple.

After a week or so, IF the baby still is not taking the bottle-there are OTHER ways to feed the baby-including: sippy cup, spoon, syringes etc…don’t get stuck on the BOTTLE is the only way. Good lactation consultants can assist you!

The goal of attachment parenting is to raise children who can form healthy, emotional connections with other people throughout their life; beginning by forming a respectful, compassionate connection between parent and child.
So, how do attachment parents practically achieve the goal of raising emotionally and socially rich kids? These parents believe that certain practices with infants set the stage for secure relationships later in life:
• Sleeping within arm’s reach of your baby. It is believed that it encourages responsive parenting and parent - child bonding.
• Carrying your baby in your arms as much as possible. Slings and front carriers are common accessory to those practicing attachment parenting.
• Breastfeeding encourages healthy physical, emotional, and mental development.
However, attachment parenting is not so much about practices parents MUST do and more about an attitude. It is a peaceful approach to parenting that stresses connecting with your child on a deep emotional level. For example, one family may choose to breastfeed. Another family might choose to bottle feed, but to pace the timing and amount of formula given to mirror breastfeeding. Attachment parents are encouraged to adapt practices to best address their family needs…essentially, attachment parents recommend treating children with kindness and respect, encouraging a sense of dignity and mutual admiration.

If Pregnancy and parenting were not stressful enough- couples in the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood and California are suing each other for control of two frozen embryos.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Friday that Edward and Kerry Lambert of Pleasanton, Calif., are suing to secure custody of the embryos from Jen and Patrick McLaughlin of Kirkwood.
Meanwhile, the McLaughlin’s are suing the Lamberts.
The Lamberts signed a contract in February 2009 that granted four embryos to the McLaughlin’s, who used two of the embryos to give birth to twin girls (now three months old.) Since then, the families have feuded over the fate of the remaining two embryos. The world is waiting to learn more about exactly what the nature of the feud is… as if it’s any of our business!
*reprinted with permission from www.giggle.com

In the news today-Overall US births fell in 2008, probably due to the recession. The one exception to the trend was the birth rate among women in their 40’s, who perhaps felt they didn’t have the luxury of waiting for better economic times…the biological clock is ticking! Add to this the decision to postpone starting a family due to professional aspirations, as well as the many women who struggled for years to achieve pregnancy (and now with high tech medical interventions are able to get pregnant) - the result is an increase in very happy, albeit, tired “older mommies!”