Similac Voluntarily Recalls Powdered Baby Formula
Over the past week, well-known manufacturer of baby formula Similac recalled five million cans of baby formula, according to an article in the Keen Observer. The article mentions that the formula by Similac may have contained beetle parts or larvae inside, which could upset a child’s stomach or cause digestion problems. Although the presence of beetle parts inside the formula hasn’t been entirely confirmed, Similac producer Abbott Laboratories voluntarily recalled the following numbered cans. The risk, however, might be from a shipment from a plant in Sturgis, Michigan. A parent’s complains about the formula have already gotten it taken off the shelves in some Midwestern stores.
Nevertheless, the recall does not pertain to all Similac products – just those whose numbers are listed in the Keen article. In the case of any recalled baby products, the solution is often to stop using the product immediately and switch to another item or brand. For Similac, their liquid baby formula has not been recalled and makes an ideal substitute for a recalled Similac product.
But Similac appears to be causing problems in other parts of the world, recall or no recall, and essentially bring up the debate of formula versus breastfeeding. Similac advertises its product as being a near duplicate in nutrients to breast milk, while parents bring up the many issues bottle feeding has, including finding BPA-free bottles and other development concerns.
The recall, for example, has affected areas as far away as Saudi Arabia, in which, according to an article in Reuters, stores want to ban Similac because of the presence of beetle parts and larvae, although the Reuters piece specifies that Similac products in the Middle East are manufactured in Ireland. In Australia, meanwhile, mothers are raiding supermarkets to get the product off shelves.
New Pampers Diapers Potential Cause of Diaper Rash
How many cases of diaper rash need to happen before a product needs to be taken off the shelf? In the case of a new type of Pampers diaper, not enough, according to a recent news story. The story, from Arizona’s ABC 15 station, discusses these Pampers diapers with Dry Max technology, which was added to make the diapers thinner. Since then, many parents have noticed children having severe diaper rash and blisters and have joined together on – where else? – a Facebook group.
But, while parents online are discussing the often sudden results from using the new Pampers diapers, the company behind the product, according to the ABC article, doesn’t believe it. No matter how many pictures of diaper rash parents put on Facebook, the company claims that its diapers have no association with this condition.
While it’s easy to tell the parents to stop using the diapers, what about other unsuspecting parents that pick up the familiar brand? A middle ground needs to be sought between the parents and Proctor and Gamble. While the company, after a complaint filed by 40 parents with the U.S. District Court, claims that the parents’ claims are false, the parents, on the other hand, want the company to test its product again. Proctor and Gamble, according to the article above, claim they tested the Dry Max diapers on 20,000 babies.
As the article above claims, the increase in diaper rash cases, at least in Arizona, has spiked this past year. Nevertheless, even if the babies are having an allergic reaction, such a large amount of parents from all over the country fabricating cases of diaper rash isn’t likely. If Proctor and Gamble don’t want parents abandoning their brand completely, they’ll re-test the Dry Max diapers and try to work with – not against – concerned parents.
Bamboo Baby Products Become More Visible
Bamboo, in general, seems to be one of the latest trends in fashion. The material, when combined with cotton or used by itself, has a cashmere-like softness and naturally has antimicrobial properties. The fabric, as it needs no pesticides to produce, is also green. As environmentally-friendly fashion has expanded over the past few decades, bamboo is an alternative to organic cotton, and various green designer lines use the material.
But, when it comes to baby products, bamboo is also an asset. Organic clothing manufacturer Organica Essentials put out a press release recently for its line of Baby Bambu clothing. Baby Bambu garments are made from a cotton-bamboo blend and have the same softness that adults prefer for themselves. Additionally, all garments by the brand are gender neutral and have UV resistant, hypoallergenic, and odor-resistant properties.
Baby Bambu isn’t the only manufacturer of bamboo baby products or clothing. While this brand is sold in various baby boutiques, other retailers carry baby products made from the fabric. Baby and Me Boutique and Dada Baby Boutique both carry blankets, sheets, pillows, and car seats that use bamboo-cotton fabric.
As the increased visibility of bamboo fabric for baby products indicates, going green is possible even with your baby. Both clothing and blankets are made from bamboo or organic cotton, and such products release less chemicals into the atmosphere of your child’s room. Babies sleep for 70 percent of their first year – unfortunately, their sleep patterns aren’t on your schedule – and need a safe environment. Mattresses, sheets, and blankets made with conventional cotton – a product needing many pesticides to grow and other chemicals to be processed and dyed – release some chemicals into the environment, and your child could potentially breathe them in.
Baby Safety Tips Around the Stairs
You take your safety for granted. But many things that are common sense or well-known safety hazards to adults often have to be introduced to children. While, in some instances, a child can simply find out what’s good and what’s bad on his own, this type of approach doesn’t apply when a stairs or open outlet is nearby.
Bloomberg Business Week published some safety tips by the Nemours Foundation recently regarding stairs safety. If you’re unsure about what to do with the stairs in your home and a potentially roaming baby or child, here are some suggestions:
• Children and babies should never be unsupervised near stairs. A parent should always be watching when a staircase is nearby.
• Remove clutter, such as books and children’s toys, near the stairs that could be a tripping hazard.
• If your staircase has larger open spaces, cover them with rail guards.
• Use a safety gate at both ends of the stairs, preferably one installed by hardware. Children may undo a gate pressed into place.
• Older accordion gates are a hazard to young children. A baby’s or child’s head an easily be stuck inside one of the holes.
• Once your child is old enough – usually toddler years – show him or her to move down the stairs backwards.
Several baby products needed to childproof the house are sold at retailers like Designer Baby. Their child safety products include baby gates, monitors, covers, and guards for various sharp edges and outlets around the home. Hardware for these various products is also sold through the store. Although childproofing a home doesn’t last more than a few years, you should be prepared for your child’s curiosity. Young children, including babies and toddlers, want to touch everything, and, while exploring a safe area is fine, a small level of protection should be present.
Baby Aspen Introduces New Baby Products
Filed under: Baby Bath Time, Baby Clothes, Baby Gear, Baby Showers, Baby Toys, Premier Baby Stores
Many moderate to upscale baby boutiques carry Baby Aspen products. The brand is best known for its collections of Welcome to the World wagon gift sets, but the brand recently put out more baby gifts. Their press release gives more details about the new products, many of which appear to be animal-themed.
Several retailers carry baby gifts by Baby Aspen. Various products by this brand are found at Baby and Me Boutique, Dada Baby Boutique, and Designer Baby.
Baby Aspen is often a brand many go to for finding a baby shower gift – or any type of baby gift, for that matter. The brand has perfected the fun-but-practical baby gift: each present is made from soft cloth and contains a combination of toys and clothing. Animal themes are often common, allowing several Baby Aspen gift sets to be perfect unisex baby gifts. Gifts by the brand range from blankets and soft toys to bath clothes.
Finding the right baby gift can be difficult, especially with so many products from which to choose. In general, the present should be both fun and practical. After all, the parent should be able to get more than one use out of the gift. In general, toys and everyday clothing are common baby gifts. Stuffed animals, such as the plush toys carried by Baby Aspen, are often welcome, and ones with “educational” or “stimulation” colors – red, black, and white – serve a dual purpose.
If you can’t settle on just one item, a gift basket is a way to put all of your ideas together. Many baby gift baskets, such as the sets by Baby Aspen, combine a blanket, clothing, and toys – all items a child will use during its first year. Baby retailers may carry pre-made or their own put together baby gift baskets and sets.