Mommy MD Guides-Recommended Product: CBR

When I was pregnant, i read everything I could find about pregnancy and parenting. Surprised? Probably not!

I read about cord blood banking, but back then there wasn’t much info easily available, so I didn’t know what to do.  I asked my midwife. Looking back, it’s amazing to me that she dismissed my question so quickly! It’s one of my biggest regrets that I didn’t do more research and make an educated decision about banking my son’s cord blood. I am grateful that I have the opportunity now to help more moms-to-be learn about cord blood banking and make a more informed choice.

Of the many cord blood banks in the United States, Cord Blood Registry (CBR) is the world’s largest and most experienced, entrusted with storing more than 400,000 cord blood collections for individuals and their families.

CBR’s laboratory storage facility in Tucson, AZ, was the first family cord blood stem cell bank in the world. Inside, the lab is an amazingly high-tech facility. But outside, the building is nondescript, in an almost secret location, for security purposes.

In its 20-year history, CBR also helped more clients use their cord blood stem cells for lifesaving transplants and experimental regenerative medicine therapies than any other family bank. Visit CordBlood.com to learn more about cord blood banking.

Enter here through the end of February for a chance to win a grand prize of CBR CellAdvantage banking package, including cord blood and cord tissue storage (a $2195 value). Also Join @MommyMDGuides Wednesday, February 27, for a Twitter Block Party. The day will be filled with fun, expecting mom tips and tricks, and your chance to win some prizes!

Check our blog page in early March for our next Mommy MD Guides-Recommended (and Kid-Tested) Product review: FeverAll Acetaminophen

Mommy MD Guides-Recommended Product Review/Giveaway: Bumkins Prize Pack

by Mommy MD Guides blogger Jennifer Bright Reich

Do you hate to do laundry?

Me too. Nobody can generate loads and loads of laundry like babies and toddlers. Never in my life did I wash so much laundry as when my sons were little. And to make matters worse, few things stain clothes like baby food.

I’m delighted to tell you that there’s a simple solution: Bumkins Bibs. These waterproof bibs resist most stains. They’re machine washable; PVC-, BPA-, phthalates-, and lead-free; comfortable to wear; and made of colorful fabrics and designs.

“My son could be a very messy eater,” says Eva Mayer, MD, a mom of an eight-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son and a pediatrician with St. Luke’s Pediatrics Associates, in Bethlehem, PA.

“I bought a Bumkins Super Bib. The bib had a pocket at the bottom, so any food that missed my son’s mouth fell into the pocket. It was so funny, after my son finished his meal, he’d eat a second meal out of that pocket.”

Another challenge that I had when my sons were babies was keeping them warm when we went on walks. We had a fabulous jogging stroller, and we went for walks almost every night. To keep my sons warm, I’d cover them with a blanket. Just about every night that pesky blanket fell off, and I ran over it with the stroller! Yep, this created even more laundry.

Bumkins has a solution for that too: Bumkins Waterproof Stroller Blanket. This clever blanket attaches easily to the stroller with four Velcro straps, and it stays put. The best part is it has elastic at the bottom, so you can gather it around your baby’s feet. The blanket is generously sized at 30 X 40 inches. The exterior is waterproof (unlike regular blankets!) and the inside is a soft, microplush.  For moms who carry their babies in hands-free carriers, the Stroller Blanket also doubles as a blanket for your carrier, with the Velcro attaching easily to the carriers’ straps

For more information on Bumkins products, visit Bumkins.com. You can buy Bumkins products in stores such as Target and Walmart an at online retailers such as Amazon.com.

Enter here through the end of December for a chance to win a Bumkins Prize Pack filled with a Bumkins Junior Bib, Bumkins Super Bib, Bumkins Sleeved Big, Bumkins Tote Bag, and Bumkins Waterproof Stroller Blanket: That’s a $75 value.

Check our blog page in early January for our next Mommy MD Guides-Recommended (and Kid-Tested) Product review: FeverAll Acetaminophen

Renovating—with a Baby

by Mommy MD Guides cofounder Jennifer Bright Reich

Before I had kids, I didn’t give a whole lot of thought to what types of paints, window coverings, and flooring we had in our home. If they matched, I was happy.

But when I was pregnant with my first son, I really started to think more about what was on our walls, covering our windows, and protecting our floors.

If you have the time—and budget—to replace these items, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Walls: Choose paint with care. Washable is a great choice for family areas, and non-toxic, environmentally safe paint is a must throughout the house.

When choosing a color, consider that darker colors will make a room look smaller, while lighter tones will make it appear more spacious. I painted all of the rooms in my home either a coffee color or off-white, and all of the trim and doors in the house is the same white color. This helps to make my home feel unified and peaceful. It also makes it easier to move furniture and decorations from one room to another because everything pretty much matches everything else.

Floors: If you have the opportunity to redo your carpet or floors, consider washable surfaces, such as laminate flooring, linoleum, tiles, and wood.  At first, you might think about a slip-resistant surface, but check what chemicals the manufacturers use to provide a robust finish and avoid any additives that might be hazardous.

A local expert might be able to give advice about surfaces, including stain-protective finishes for carpeting, which can help when deciding whether wall-to-wall carpeting is better in a living room or den than a hearth rug, for example.  Medium to dark tones will be easier to maintain than very light wooden flooring or pale carpets. Believe me, I’m rethinking my decision to buy light beige wall-to-wall carpeting!

Windows: Window coverings can be dangerous for babies and small children. Be sure to keep all furniture far from windows and window coverings. Keep all strings and cords far out of your baby or child’s reach.

If your budget permits,  companies make “child-friendly blinds,” which include cordless blinds, shutters, vertical blinds or motorized blinds, or those that have a single wand operator. Our windows have “regular” mini-blinds, and so I loop the cords out of my child’s reach over a hook I fastened to the inside of the window trim.

With these tips, your home can be beautiful and babyproofed—in one!

Mommy MD Guides-Recommended Product Review: Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables

Do Your Kids Eat Their Fruits and Veggies?

by Mommy MD Guides cofounder Jennifer Bright Reich

The best part of my job is the fascinating people I get to meet and work with. The second best part of my job is discovering new and exciting products—and sharing them with our readers, friends, and family. I’m pleased to have that opportunity today! I heard about a new DVD that encourages kids to eat fruits and vegetables, Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables–and I was eager to give it a try!

Any movie starring babies and kids captivates my sons. They were huge Baby Einsteins fans. We watched those DVDs over and over and over. My sons also love to watch home movies of themselves and their cousins. So I wasn’t surprised that they enjoyed watching Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables, which features adorable kids enjoying eating fresh foods such as sweet peppers, broccoli, avocados, strawberries, and carrots. My five-year-old son especially loved it. As we were watching, he asked, “Is there a strawberry section?” Each fruit and veggie has its own chapter on the menu, so it was easy for me to oblige and put on the strawberries chapter. As we watched it, my son said, “I should eat strawberries while we watch the strawberry section!” Never mind we just ate supper! This made me very happy because fruit is not a common between-meals request here!

When we were watching the cucumbers chapter, my son asked, “What’s that?” I’ll be buying some cucumbers at the grocery store next time so he can give them a try! Maybe they’ll be a new favorite!

Don’t miss the Outtakes, Some of them made me laugh out loud! Also, the extras section by Jay Gordon, MD, is very valuable. I love how he said, “The standard American diet is best abbreviated “SAD.” Sad, but true.

After we finished watching the DVD, I asked how my son he liked the video and he said, “I give it a 10,000!” (That’s on a scale of 1 to 10, I’m thinking.) I also found the kids in the DVD to be absolutely adorable. I appreciated that they show their names and ages onscreen because it helps to put their reactions to the fruits and vegetables into context.

I was so pleased to read that Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables is the first of the series. I look forward to the next DVD! Copy-Kids gives parents a valuable tool in their quest to get the kids to eat healthy. The kids are so engaging and happy eating their fruits and vegetables that it inspired me to eat better too!

Enter here through the end of November for a chance to win a Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables PLUS a $25 Whole Foods Gift Card!

Check our blog page in early December for our next Mommy MD Guides-Recommended (and Kid-Tested) Product review: Bumkins Bib!

Mommy MD Guides-Recommended Product Review: Natural Calm

Natural Calm: The Anti-Stress Drink

by Mommy MD Guides cofounder Jennifer Bright Reich

It will not come as a surprise to anyone who knows me that I am an anxious person. If I’m not worried about something, I’m worried about what I’m missing.

A few weeks ago, my anxiety had grown to unprecedented levels. I was talking with a friend, who was experiencing the same thing, and we both agreed if something didn’t settle down soon, we’d consider going to a doctor for medication.

But the real turning point for me was when my son started to express that he was feeling anxious. My anxiety was probably making him anxious too! Ok, now I’d really better do something about this, I thought.

One of our Mommy MD Guides recommended a terrific product called Natural Calm. It’s a magnesium supplement they call the “anti-stress drink.” That sounded perfect to me, so I started taking it once a day.

Natural Calm is a tart-tasting powder that you mix into a beverage. I like it in iced tea, Diet Coke, and best of all mixed into water with a little powdered lemonade mix. The recommended dose is 2 rounded teaspoons, which provides 325 milligrams of magnesium.

Within a few days of taking Natural Calm, I noticed that I felt calmer and less anxious. To my tremendous surprise, I also noticed that I was sleeping better! I started to wake before my alarm, and I didn’t have that “is it possible to die from being this tired” feeling anymore! I was curious if this better sleep was from the supplement, so I skipped taking it a few days, and lo and behold I was back to not sleeping well again.

Why does Natural Calm help? Many people are deficient in magnesium, which in addition to easing stress and helping people to sleep better also reduces muscle tension, constipation, nervousness, irritability, and headaches.

You can buy an eight-ounce container of Natural Calm in raspberry-lemon flavor for $13.77 at VitaCost.com.

Enter here through the end of October for a chance to win two $30.00 gift cards to the Natural Calm online store. http://shop.naturalvitality.com. Please see some rules below.

Check our blog page in early November for our next Mommy MD Guides-Recommended (and Kid-Tested) Product review: Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables DVD!

Rules for the gift cards:

1. This coupon cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons

2. The shipping fee will be waived

3. The coupon expires on November 15th, 2012

4. A physical gift card will not be sent. The coupon will be emailed for redemption at: http://shop.naturalvitality.com

5. Open to US & Canadian residents only

Mommy MD Guides-Recommended Product Review/Giveaway: PonyUP! Kentucky Handbags

The Diaper Bag Alternative!

by Mommy MD Guides reviewer Jennifer Bright Reich

Even when my sons were babies, I wasn’t a froofy, pastel-diaper-bag­-carrying kind of person. I usually used a backpack-style diaper bag. Another benefit to that was my husband didn’t object to carrying it every now and then. But still as my sons got older and I didn’t need to be such a Sherpa, I was looking forward to ditching the diaper bag.

Pre-baby days, I carried a handbag that was just large enough for my organizer and keys. Realistically, I knew there was no going back to that. I’ve grown too accustomed to always having wipes for sticky fingers, a stash of plastic silverware and straws, and hand sanitizer. All of my small handbags are upstairs in a closet that my husband calls the “purse graveyard.” Maybe someday when my kids are out of the house, I can carry them again.

In the meantime, I found the perfect diaper bag alternative: PonyUP! Kentucky Equestrian Hobos! This handbag is the perfect size to carry what I need for myself and also for my kids. It comfortably holds my organizer, cell phone pouch, keys, wipes container, baggie of silverware and straws, and hand sanitizer. I can even fit in a book and/or my camera! It has several pockets, which help me to keep track of small items such as a mini first aid kit.

One of my favorite features is the strap is made from a leather horse halter! Unlike many handbags, the strap stays put on my shoulder; it’s not constantly sliding down my arm. Each strap comes with a brass nameplate, on which the folks at PonyUP! Kentucky will engrave whatever you wish, such as your name or the name of your horse. I bought handbags for my mom and sister and because they don’t have horses, I had the names of their cats engraved! The straps are interchangeable, and the handbags are so affordable I have five handbags that I mix and match with my one strap! I have several that match with blue (my favorite color), one that matches with brown, and one that matches with black.

Because I feel strongly that my hard-earned money go for good whenever possible, I love that PonyUP1 Kentucky donates 100 percent of their profits to help horses in need. To date, they’ve donated more than $10,000 to help organizations across the country that rescue and rehabilitate horses.

I also love that all PonyUP! Kentucky handbags are handmade in the United States. They are sewn by a seamstress in Lexington, Kentucky, and the straps are made by Amish folks in Crab Orchard, Kentucky.

Enter here for a chance to win PonyUP! Kentucky equestrian hobo handbag of your choice through the end of September.

Check our blog page in early October for our next Mommy MD Guides-Recommended (and Kid-Tested) Product review: Natural Calm: The Anti-Stress Drink!

Mommy MD Guides-Recommended Product: FunBites Food Cutter

Did you ever get something new and were delighted to discover that it worked every bit as well as well as you had hoped? That’s the experience I had with FunBites!

When I opened the box of FunBites with my sons, seven-year-old Tyler and five-year-old Austin, they were immediately drawn to the bright colors. Austin grabbed the green “Cube It” cutter that cuts food into small squares, and Tyler wanted the purple “Luv It” cutter that cuts food into heart-shaped bites. Both boys were excited to try the cutters right away, so I got out a pack of soft flour tortillas. I put the tortillas on a cutting board and showed my kids how to use the FunBites. It was easy to rock the cutter back and forth and then press down the popper top to pop out the food.

When I lifted the cutters to see the shapes, my sons literally gasped! Their tortillas had been cut into absolutely perfect cubes, hearts, and triangles!

“I give it a 100!” Tyler said. I’m pretty sure that’s on a scale of 1 to 10!

“Share?” Austin asked, as he handed me a perfect tortilla heart.

Next we experimented by cutting out whole wheat bread and red peppers. My sons gobbled up all of the perfect pieces, and then they cut extras to put in small bowls for supper.

FunBites were invented by Mommy entrepreneur Bobbie Rhoads. They’re BPA-free, which is very important to me.

After supper, I washed the FunBites in the dishwasher, and they came out good as new.

You can use FunBites for cutting cheese, pizza, omelets, turkey burgers, pancakes, sandwiches, watermelon, cantaloupe, tofu, and more. They’re perfect for picky eaters to get kids to try new things and eat healthier. Choose the “Cube It!” cutter to cut food into small squares or the “Luv It!” cutter to create heart-shaped bites. Each costs $12.99 at www.funbites.com.

Enter here for a chance to win the FunBites food cutter of your choice through the end of August.

Check our blog page in early September for our next Mommy MD Guides-Recommended (and Kid-Tested) Product review: PonyUP! Kentucky handbags!

Do Your Kids Eat Their Fruits and Veggies?

by Mommy MD Guides blogger Jennifer Bright Reich

The best part of my job is the fascinating people I get to meet and work with. The second best part of my job is discovering new and exciting products—and sharing them with our readers, friends, and family. I’m pleased ot have that opportunity today! I heard about a new DVD that encourages kids to eat fruits and vegetables, Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables–and I was eager to give it a tray!

Any movie starring babies and kids captivates my sons. They were huge Baby Einsteins fans. We watched those DVDs over and over and over. My sons also love to watch home movies of themselves and their cousins. So I wasn’t surprised that they enjoyed watching Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables, which features adorable kids enjoying eating fresh foods such as sweet peppers, broccoli, avocados, strawberries, and carrots. My five-year-old son especially loved it. As we were watching, he asked, “Is there a strawberry section?” Each fruit and veggie has its own chapter on the menu, so it was easy for me to oblige and put on the strawberries chapter. As we watched it, my son said, “I should eat strawberries while we watch the strawberry section!” Never mind we just ate supper! This made me very happy because fruit is not a common between-meals request here!

When we were watching the cucumbers chapter, my son asked, “What’s that?” I’ll be buying some cucumbers at the grocery store next time so he can give them a try! Maybe they’ll be a new favorite!

Don’t miss the Outtakes, Some of them made me laugh out loud! Also, the extras section by Jay Gordon, MD, is very valuable. I love how he said, “The standard American diet is best abbreviated “SAD.” Sad, but true.

After we finished watching the DVD, I asked how my son he liked the video and he said, “I give it a 10,000!” (That’s on a scale of 1 to 10, I’m thinking.) I also found the kids in the DVD to be absolutely adorable. I appreciated that they show their names and ages onscreen because it helps to put their reactions to the fruits and vegetables into context.

I was so pleased to read that Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables is the first of the series. I look forward to the next DVD! Copy-Kids gives parents a valuable tool in their quest to get the kids to eat healthy. The kids are so engaging and happy eating their fruits and vegetables that it inspired me to eat better too!

Sunday Safety School

by Jennifer Bright Reich

I admit it: I’m a worrier. If I’m not worried about something, I worry I’m missing something.

My best tools I have to combat this constant anxiety are education and training. I learned that as a Lieutenant in the Army, and I see it in action too with my husband, a professional firefighter.

When our sons were babies, we babyproofed the house really well. I literally wrote a book on it when Tyler was a baby, The Babyproofing Bible.

As our sons grew, we adjusted our babyproofing efforts accordingly, removing some methods and adding new ones. I once might have thought that when my kids were school aged, I wouldn’t worry so much about their safety. Oh no, I just have new things to worry about.

So we recently started a new program: Sunday Safety School. Each Sunday after supper, we “meet” in the living room to talk about safety concerns. My husband and I try to make it fun, and keep it as light as possible. In addition to explaining things, we also do a lot of role-playing. But the boys know this is serious stuff. The first week we talked about what to do if someone tries to lure them into a car or grab them in a store. (Yell and run away as fast as you can to find a grown-up.)

Other topics we plan to cover include:

• Fire drills
• Stop, drop, and roll
• Don’t play with matches
• What to do if you see a gun
• How to be safe around dogs

I’ve gradually removed some of our safety devices, such as outlet covers. But here are some of my favorite kidproofing tips that are still imporatant for older kids.

• Turn the temperature of your hot water down to 120°F. To test it, run your hot water until it’s as hot as it gets. Fill a ceramic mug, and then take your water’s temperature with a meat thermometer. If you live in an apartment or can’t adjust your water temp, install an anti-scald device on the faucet. Because kids have thinner skin than adults, their skin burns more quickly. Just three seconds of exposure to 140°F water can give a child a third-degree burn.
• Install nonslip mats in your bathtub and on the floor next to the tub.
• Check the temperature of the tub water before letting your child get in.
• Never ever leave your child unattended in the tub.
• Wipe up puddles of water immediately. Teach your child that wet floors are slippery floors and to “walk gently.”
• Keep all medications and vitamins in high, locked cabinets. This includes items you might not think of as dangerous, but can be, such as Visine and iron tablets.
• Keep hair dryers and curling irons unplugged, and better yet stowed away.
• Make sure your hair dryers and other appliances in the bathroom have large, rectangular plugs. Inside those special plugs is a circuit that senses water and, in milliseconds, shuts off the power, keeping your child safe if the appliance accidentally falls into water.
• Keep cleaning chemicals in high, locked cabinets. This includes dishwasher detergents, furniture polish, and pretty much anything you’d use to clean your home.
• Load the dishwasher with knives pointing down and keep the dishwasher closed, locked if possible.
• If your stove’s knobs are on the front, within reach of your child, remove them or install knob locks.
• Train yourself to cook on the back burners whenever possible and to turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
• Before you take a hot pan or pot off the stove, for example, to drain cooked pasta in the sink, scan the room to see where your toddler is. Then say a simple warning like, “Hot stuff, stay back!”
• Keep electrical cords and power strips out of reach.
• Keep candles and matches far out of reach.
• Slide TVs back from the edge of cabinets, or better yet mount them to the cabinet or wall.
• Secure heavy and tall furniture, such as bookcases, to the wall or floor. Each year, nearly 15,000 kids visit emergency departments for furniture-tip-over-related injuries.
• Latex balloons should be kept completely away from kids younger than eight years old. If a child puts a popped balloon in his mouth, the balloon can drape itself over the entrance to his larynx, suffocating him.
• Along the same lines, tie up and discard plastic shopping bags, keeping them far out of your toddler’s reach.

***

Mommy MD Guides–Recommended Product: Safety 1st Oven and Refrigerator Locks

Your child is now tall enough to reach the oven door and strong enough to pull open the refrigerator, so it’s time to start making these appliances safe. It’s particularly important if you have an extra fridge or freezer in your basement or another out-of-the-way place where your child might decide it’s a good spot to play hide and seek.

Safety 1st offers oven and refrigerator locks to prevent injuries, but remember when you install them that the surface has to be very clean before you put them in place. The Safety 1st Oven Door Lock (Model HS035) retails at $5.49 and can be found at Wal-Mart, Babies ’R Us, and online retailers. The Safety 1st Refrigerator Door Lock (Model HS187) retails at $5.49 and can be found at Wal-Mart and online retailers. Visit Safety1st.com for more information.

Where Are the Mommy MD Guides?

Where are the Mommy MD Guides? Our books are being picked up by stores, but our distributor won’t tell which ones! If you spot either of our books, The Mommy MD Guide to Pregnancy and Birth or The Mommy MD Guide to Your Baby’s First Year, in a store, email us or FB. We’ll send a $15 Starbucks card to the first person to report each new retailer.

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