Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Phthalates found in baby care products: What you can do to protect your baby
What you can do to protect your baby
While the news is alarming, there are concrete steps parents can take to reduce their baby's exposure to phthalates:
• Limit the amount of baby care products you use on your baby, especially if he's 8 months or younger. Sathyanarayana recommends using these products only if "medically indicated" — in the case of diaper rash or eczema, for example. (Researchers found that diaper creams did not cause an increase in phthalates. Santhyanarayana suggests this may be because they're designed to sit on top of the skin and act as a barrier rather than be absorbed, like lotions.)
• When you do use baby care products, choose products that are phthalate-free. Unfortunately it's not always easy to tell from the list of ingredients. Manufacturers aren't required to list phthalates separately, so they may be included under the term "fragrance." To find out whether a product contains phthalates or other potentially harmful chemicals, call the manufacturer or visit the company's website, or use the Environmental Working Group's Safety Guide to Cosmetics and Personal Care Products and search by product, ingredient, or company.
• Because phthalates are also added to containers to make them more flexible and more durable, and because the chemical can leach from the container into a product, you'll also want to determine whether a product's container is phthalate-free. Many — but not all — "natural" body care manufacturers are conscientious about this, but you'll need to find out specifically from the company.
Sathyanarayana cautions that some products labeled phthalate-free were tested and shown to have phthalates in them, though at much lower concentrations than products not labeled phthalate-free. "I think it's really difficult to know what is in any of these products," she warns. Still, Sathyanarayana says, if you're concerned about phthalate exposure, products labeled "phthalate-free" would certainly be preferable.
While the news is alarming, there are concrete steps parents can take to reduce their baby's exposure to phthalates:
• Limit the amount of baby care products you use on your baby, especially if he's 8 months or younger. Sathyanarayana recommends using these products only if "medically indicated" — in the case of diaper rash or eczema, for example. (Researchers found that diaper creams did not cause an increase in phthalates. Santhyanarayana suggests this may be because they're designed to sit on top of the skin and act as a barrier rather than be absorbed, like lotions.)
• When you do use baby care products, choose products that are phthalate-free. Unfortunately it's not always easy to tell from the list of ingredients. Manufacturers aren't required to list phthalates separately, so they may be included under the term "fragrance." To find out whether a product contains phthalates or other potentially harmful chemicals, call the manufacturer or visit the company's website, or use the Environmental Working Group's Safety Guide to Cosmetics and Personal Care Products and search by product, ingredient, or company.
• Because phthalates are also added to containers to make them more flexible and more durable, and because the chemical can leach from the container into a product, you'll also want to determine whether a product's container is phthalate-free. Many — but not all — "natural" body care manufacturers are conscientious about this, but you'll need to find out specifically from the company.
Sathyanarayana cautions that some products labeled phthalate-free were tested and shown to have phthalates in them, though at much lower concentrations than products not labeled phthalate-free. "I think it's really difficult to know what is in any of these products," she warns. Still, Sathyanarayana says, if you're concerned about phthalate exposure, products labeled "phthalate-free" would certainly be preferable.
Phthalates in baby shampoos, baby lotions, and baby powder
Phthalates found in baby care products by Karen Miles
Last updated: January 2008
Source: babycenter.com
The safety of phthalates — one of the most commonly used families of chemicals in the world — is being called into question again. Researchers at the University of Washington's Seattle Children's Hospital and the University of Rochester have found that babies whose moms had recently applied infant care products like baby lotion, shampoo, and powder were more likely to have phthalates in their urine than babies whose moms didn't use these products.
The study, "Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure," will appear in the February issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.
"We found that infant exposure to phthalates is widespread, and that exposure to personal care products applied onto the skin may be an important source," says Sheela Sathyanarayana, an acting assistant professor in the University of Washington's Department of Pediatrics. This is disturbing because the safety of phthalates has been in question, with studies over the years raising more and more red flags. And, as Sathyanarayana points out, "Babies may be more at risk than children or adults because their reproductive, endocrine, and immune systems are still developing."
Phthalates (pronounced "thah-lates") are chemical compounds used to soften plastics (especially polyvinyl chloride, or PVC). You'll find them in some toys, household products, cars, and plastic bottles and containers. They're used in personal care products, too — to help lubricate and soften other substances, to help lotions penetrate and soften the skin, and to help fragrances last longer, for example.
The chemical industry asserts that there are no conclusive studies in humans to suggest that phthalates are dangerous in the amounts to which we're currently exposed. But some consumer advocacy, environmental, and medical experts disagree.
"The animal studies suggest there is a potential for phthalates to impact birth outcomes, including gestational age and birth weight, fertility (lower sperm production), and anatomical abnormalities related to the male genitalia," says Maida Galvez, a pediatrician and director of the Mount Sinai Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit in New York City. "Human studies are now looking at the relationship between phthalates and asthma. There are also studies examining whether phthalates influence the timing of puberty or the risk for childhood obesity." (While phthalates have been shown to cause kidney and liver cancers in animal studies, the mechanism involved isn't likely to be relevant to humans, says Galvez.)
Sathyanarayana and fellow researchers tested urine samples from babies 2 months to 28 months old whose mothers had used infant care products on them in the previous 24 hours. They found that every baby had at least one phthalate in his urine sample, and 81 percent of them had seven or more phthalates in their system. Babies 8 months or younger had the highest levels, along with babies whose moms used more infant personal care products.
The products with the strongest phthalate association were baby powder, lotion, and shampoo. Baby wipes and diaper cream did not have a strong association.
What makes this new study unique is its focus on absorbing these chemicals through the skin via personal care products. Most of the previous concerns raised about phthalates — and another plasticizer, bisphenol A (BPA) — revolved around kids ingesting the chemicals. Ingestion can happen when children are mouthing or teething on plastic toys and nipples, when the chemicals leach from a bottle or storage container into something kids eat or drink, and when they breathe in chemicals "off-gassed" by vinyl products like shower curtains and flooring.
Last updated: January 2008
Source: babycenter.com
The safety of phthalates — one of the most commonly used families of chemicals in the world — is being called into question again. Researchers at the University of Washington's Seattle Children's Hospital and the University of Rochester have found that babies whose moms had recently applied infant care products like baby lotion, shampoo, and powder were more likely to have phthalates in their urine than babies whose moms didn't use these products.
The study, "Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure," will appear in the February issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.
"We found that infant exposure to phthalates is widespread, and that exposure to personal care products applied onto the skin may be an important source," says Sheela Sathyanarayana, an acting assistant professor in the University of Washington's Department of Pediatrics. This is disturbing because the safety of phthalates has been in question, with studies over the years raising more and more red flags. And, as Sathyanarayana points out, "Babies may be more at risk than children or adults because their reproductive, endocrine, and immune systems are still developing."
Phthalates (pronounced "thah-lates") are chemical compounds used to soften plastics (especially polyvinyl chloride, or PVC). You'll find them in some toys, household products, cars, and plastic bottles and containers. They're used in personal care products, too — to help lubricate and soften other substances, to help lotions penetrate and soften the skin, and to help fragrances last longer, for example.
The chemical industry asserts that there are no conclusive studies in humans to suggest that phthalates are dangerous in the amounts to which we're currently exposed. But some consumer advocacy, environmental, and medical experts disagree.
"The animal studies suggest there is a potential for phthalates to impact birth outcomes, including gestational age and birth weight, fertility (lower sperm production), and anatomical abnormalities related to the male genitalia," says Maida Galvez, a pediatrician and director of the Mount Sinai Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit in New York City. "Human studies are now looking at the relationship between phthalates and asthma. There are also studies examining whether phthalates influence the timing of puberty or the risk for childhood obesity." (While phthalates have been shown to cause kidney and liver cancers in animal studies, the mechanism involved isn't likely to be relevant to humans, says Galvez.)
Sathyanarayana and fellow researchers tested urine samples from babies 2 months to 28 months old whose mothers had used infant care products on them in the previous 24 hours. They found that every baby had at least one phthalate in his urine sample, and 81 percent of them had seven or more phthalates in their system. Babies 8 months or younger had the highest levels, along with babies whose moms used more infant personal care products.
The products with the strongest phthalate association were baby powder, lotion, and shampoo. Baby wipes and diaper cream did not have a strong association.
What makes this new study unique is its focus on absorbing these chemicals through the skin via personal care products. Most of the previous concerns raised about phthalates — and another plasticizer, bisphenol A (BPA) — revolved around kids ingesting the chemicals. Ingestion can happen when children are mouthing or teething on plastic toys and nipples, when the chemicals leach from a bottle or storage container into something kids eat or drink, and when they breathe in chemicals "off-gassed" by vinyl products like shower curtains and flooring.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Halloween 2007 - My little Monkey
Pumpkin carvings this year. Themes: 'Bridge to Terabithia' and 'Garden of Wonders'
* 'Totoro - the guardian of the forests' one the first prize at Stantec (no pictures)
* 'Totoro - the guardian of the forests' one the first prize at Stantec (no pictures)
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Me falta tempo...
By Sam Butcher
Me falta tempo
para ler todos os livros que quero
Me falta tempo
para passeios e praias e as locadoras com seus filmes
Felinis que não vi e os museus que me esperam
me falta tempo.
Me falta tempo
para amar os flertes e aprofundar as amizades de coquetéis
Me falta tempo
para arrumar o armário jogar coisas fora
passar a limpo a caderneta de telefone
redecorar o quarto
Me falta tempo
para o orfanato e ajudar o meu vizinho a pendurar o quadro na parede.
Me falta tempo
para aprender japonês
pintar em tecido
tocar piano
tecer meus planos
Me falta tempo
para as aquarelas que sonho
preciso anotar meus sonhos
Mas me falta tempo...
Tempo para os amigos antigos que já me esqueceram
tempo para as músicas e cds
tempo para o estrangeiro, ilhas e cantões a conhecer
Me falta tempo
para os poemas que a poesia me exige
e gravar os programas de TV
no entanto,
quantas vezes não tenho nada,
absolutamente nada para fazer.
É assim que me sinto às vezes. Sinto que os dias correm e que não consigo fazer nada dele.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Becoming a Toddler
How your life is changing:
You're learning that 2-year-olds aren't the only ones to go through "terrible" phases. Your toddler may be easily overwhelmed by life's challenges and respond to them by dissolving into tears and screams. Don't ask him to stop — he probably can't. Instead be patient, available, and willing to offer him comfort or just your presence, whatever he seems to need at the moment. He'll get over it and be good as new if you just let him storm.
Children are generally very trusting now. They expect adults to save them from unwise or even dangerous adventures, such as climbing up on a chair to reach the sink. Try to have eyes in the back of your head during this period.
The next stage comes in the middle of the second year. Babies begin to use their new thinking powers and may get grouchy as they figure out that parents and caregivers can no longer cater immediately to their every need. Without warning, the rules have changed: a child now has to wait a bit for dinner; an adult playmate may not be available on demand; a parent who has been a constant presence may be back at work full time.
Great Expectations
In addition, the adults in a toddler's life now expect more mature behaviors. We want toddlers to use a spoon rather than dig into food with fingers. We insist that grabbed toys be returned to their rightful owners. And, most annoyingly, we ask that the toys be shared!
Struggling to understand these new rules is hard work for toddlers. Some toddlers become more low key; others become more defiant. Both responses are attempts to cope with the sweeping changes from early babyhood — when any cry brought prompt, tender care.
Emotional Swings
Toddlers' emotions will often seesaw wildly now. On one hand, they want to be on their own and grow toward more assertiveness, self-will, and independence. ("No!" and "Do it myself" become favorite refrains.) On the other hand, they're longing to still be cuddled and protected.
The likely result is overwhelming frustration. For example, a toddler who wrestles with a puzzle piece but cannot make it fit will commonly react by sweeping the puzzle to the floor and throwing himself with passionate sobs into his caregiver's arms.
Balancing Act
So what does a wise adult do during these rocky emotional times? First, offer reassurance, and boost the child's courage to try again. If adults do not provide new challenges in judicious doses, they may dampen the toddler's motivation to grow toward more independence.
In addition, offer toddlers limited choices ("Do you want apple juice or orange juice?"), and be as patient as you can be. Anger and indignation at what parents and caregivers may view as defiance and disobedience can crush a toddler's spirit. Adult fury leads to gray moods and loss of toddler joy.
At all costs, be careful not to shame toddlers. Check your words and take care not to call a toddler "bad" for having toileting accidents, saying "no," or being clumsy. When a toddler's struggle toward independence is ridiculed, scolded, ignored, or punished, the result is often rage or deliberate hurting of others. Make every effort to support your toddler with firm, calm words and gestures. Empathize with this difficult emotional stage. Offer a hug when he dissolves into frustrated tears. If you can't be there, make sure to leave a "blankie" or other self-soother with your child's caregiver.
If you work patiently with your child to face the difficulties in the drive toward independence, he'll learn how to calm himself, wait patiently, and cope with stressful social situations. Just remember that there's no quick fix: All new emotional learning takes time.
You're learning that 2-year-olds aren't the only ones to go through "terrible" phases. Your toddler may be easily overwhelmed by life's challenges and respond to them by dissolving into tears and screams. Don't ask him to stop — he probably can't. Instead be patient, available, and willing to offer him comfort or just your presence, whatever he seems to need at the moment. He'll get over it and be good as new if you just let him storm.
Children are generally very trusting now. They expect adults to save them from unwise or even dangerous adventures, such as climbing up on a chair to reach the sink. Try to have eyes in the back of your head during this period.
The next stage comes in the middle of the second year. Babies begin to use their new thinking powers and may get grouchy as they figure out that parents and caregivers can no longer cater immediately to their every need. Without warning, the rules have changed: a child now has to wait a bit for dinner; an adult playmate may not be available on demand; a parent who has been a constant presence may be back at work full time.
Great Expectations
In addition, the adults in a toddler's life now expect more mature behaviors. We want toddlers to use a spoon rather than dig into food with fingers. We insist that grabbed toys be returned to their rightful owners. And, most annoyingly, we ask that the toys be shared!
Struggling to understand these new rules is hard work for toddlers. Some toddlers become more low key; others become more defiant. Both responses are attempts to cope with the sweeping changes from early babyhood — when any cry brought prompt, tender care.
Emotional Swings
Toddlers' emotions will often seesaw wildly now. On one hand, they want to be on their own and grow toward more assertiveness, self-will, and independence. ("No!" and "Do it myself" become favorite refrains.) On the other hand, they're longing to still be cuddled and protected.
The likely result is overwhelming frustration. For example, a toddler who wrestles with a puzzle piece but cannot make it fit will commonly react by sweeping the puzzle to the floor and throwing himself with passionate sobs into his caregiver's arms.
Balancing Act
So what does a wise adult do during these rocky emotional times? First, offer reassurance, and boost the child's courage to try again. If adults do not provide new challenges in judicious doses, they may dampen the toddler's motivation to grow toward more independence.
In addition, offer toddlers limited choices ("Do you want apple juice or orange juice?"), and be as patient as you can be. Anger and indignation at what parents and caregivers may view as defiance and disobedience can crush a toddler's spirit. Adult fury leads to gray moods and loss of toddler joy.
At all costs, be careful not to shame toddlers. Check your words and take care not to call a toddler "bad" for having toileting accidents, saying "no," or being clumsy. When a toddler's struggle toward independence is ridiculed, scolded, ignored, or punished, the result is often rage or deliberate hurting of others. Make every effort to support your toddler with firm, calm words and gestures. Empathize with this difficult emotional stage. Offer a hug when he dissolves into frustrated tears. If you can't be there, make sure to leave a "blankie" or other self-soother with your child's caregiver.
If you work patiently with your child to face the difficulties in the drive toward independence, he'll learn how to calm himself, wait patiently, and cope with stressful social situations. Just remember that there's no quick fix: All new emotional learning takes time.
Another fun day at Butterfield Acres
Leandro and I spend long mornings almost every week. We got the season pass after using one pass given by our little friend Gus as a Birthday present. Leandro just loved! So I decided to get a season pass, which has been just AWESOME! The animals there are very kind, tamed and sweet (a little smelly though).
Another fun day at Butterfield Acres
Butterfield Acres Farm is a petting zoo or hands-on farm for kids and families but entertaining for all ages. Located in Calgary Alberta. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE!!! Butterfield Acres Children's Farm is THAT kind of place. You know, where you can listen to the sheep munching on their hay, or wiggle your fingers into the curly wool of a newborn lamb, or inspect the hair in a calf's ear. You can feel the warmth of a newly laid egg, or be amazed that cute little pigs can smell so awful!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Why Am I signing with my son?
You maybe wondering why am I signing with my son?
Infants were born with abundant intelligence, but unfortunately with a limited verbal means of communicating what are their thoughts and needs. Leleo is very smart and his need to communicate with us is amazing. Signing has helped me teaching him other languages. The importance of teaching him different languages is big as his grandparents, uncles and cousins cannot communicate in English.
But Mom and Daddy also have been enjoying very much learning Signing language.
Certain very important facts about human language have been known for many years. Two thirds to three quarters of all everyday language is ordinarily acquired by the third birthday. He recommends the teaching of sign, starting at about seven months of age (Leo did start at this time too), for several reasons.
First, sign language represents a SECOND LANGUAGE, and research consistently showed that when a second language was introduced in an effective manner to a child from the early months on, the child would not only become bilingual by the second birthday, but would be ahead of the monolingual child in both languages.
Second, research showed that the period between seventeen and twenty months of age is particularly difficult time, in that the normal child is very limited in regard to frustration tolerance, and being unable to express himself exacerbates the problem. A child who can sign at that stage of life is a child who will cause considerably LESS FRUSTRATION for himself, for his parents and others. That means that the attachment process can move along much more smoothly and probably to a better outcome.
Finally, the potential for understanding mental activity in children between eight and twenty-two months of age that is made possible by sign language is intriguing.
- Dr. Burton L. White (Director of the center for Parent Education and author of 'The First Years of Life and Raising a Happy Unspoiled Child')
But above all, signing is another language and for him as well for me, is a wonderful thing to be able to learn another language.
Infants were born with abundant intelligence, but unfortunately with a limited verbal means of communicating what are their thoughts and needs. Leleo is very smart and his need to communicate with us is amazing. Signing has helped me teaching him other languages. The importance of teaching him different languages is big as his grandparents, uncles and cousins cannot communicate in English.
But Mom and Daddy also have been enjoying very much learning Signing language.
Certain very important facts about human language have been known for many years. Two thirds to three quarters of all everyday language is ordinarily acquired by the third birthday. He recommends the teaching of sign, starting at about seven months of age (Leo did start at this time too), for several reasons.
First, sign language represents a SECOND LANGUAGE, and research consistently showed that when a second language was introduced in an effective manner to a child from the early months on, the child would not only become bilingual by the second birthday, but would be ahead of the monolingual child in both languages.
Second, research showed that the period between seventeen and twenty months of age is particularly difficult time, in that the normal child is very limited in regard to frustration tolerance, and being unable to express himself exacerbates the problem. A child who can sign at that stage of life is a child who will cause considerably LESS FRUSTRATION for himself, for his parents and others. That means that the attachment process can move along much more smoothly and probably to a better outcome.
Finally, the potential for understanding mental activity in children between eight and twenty-two months of age that is made possible by sign language is intriguing.
- Dr. Burton L. White (Director of the center for Parent Education and author of 'The First Years of Life and Raising a Happy Unspoiled Child')
But above all, signing is another language and for him as well for me, is a wonderful thing to be able to learn another language.
Baby Can Sign! Workshop
Baby Can Sign! Workshop
1 ½ hour long interactive, Signing with Singing Workshop
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Location: Varsity Community Centre Address: 4303 Varisty Drive NW
Time: 10:30am til noon
Description:
Fun-filled 1½ hr interactive workshop with baby or toddler Other family members are welcome to attend
Includes: handouts with digital photos of signs;
List of child-friendly signs taught (approx. 30 signs); Songs & rhymes to sign to;
List of recommended books & internet resources.
Workshop Registration Fee: $35.00 per family
*Payment required before date of Workshop (Visa, MC accepted , or cheque or cash)*
For more information or to register :
call Tricia Davis at (403) 990-4908 or email: babycansign@shaw.ca
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Amigos saudosos
'Depois de algum tempo, você aprende que verdadeiras amizades continuam a crescer mesmo a longas distâncias, e o que importa não é o que você tem na vida, mas quem você tem na vida...' (William Shakespere - de Claudinho no Orkut)
Friday, May 18, 2007
Signing Time - Best Signing Resource
One of our most used resources are from Two Little Hands Production. They have a wide variety of fun and educational American Sign Language (ASL) products.
See: http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.php?articles_id=2
We found them at the Public Library. There are a series of 13 sign language DVDs for children to watch. I looked around online for other fun interactive sources, but Signing Time was the best option! Leandro just loves to watch all their DVDs. He is not crazy for cartoons. Actually you cannot make him watch any cartoon for more than 10 seconds. But with Signing Time, he just watches the entire show and asks for more. It is fun and educational!
See: http://www.signingtime.com/article_info.php?articles_id=2
We found them at the Public Library. There are a series of 13 sign language DVDs for children to watch. I looked around online for other fun interactive sources, but Signing Time was the best option! Leandro just loves to watch all their DVDs. He is not crazy for cartoons. Actually you cannot make him watch any cartoon for more than 10 seconds. But with Signing Time, he just watches the entire show and asks for more. It is fun and educational!
Signing Really Works!
Leo has been watching Mom and Dad sign and learning signing since around 6 or 7 months old. So, I don't really know when his first sign emerged. All of sudden there was an explosion of different hand gestures and sounds. But it was after he completed one year old that he really tried to communicate back to us. If you sign to him, I think that he probably understand more than we know, but for now he prefers to use just a few. Repetition was a key for success.
The words he can sign back to you at 15 months old are: AIRPLANE (we think it was the first one), MORE, FLOWER, CAR, CAT, FOOD, BIRD and HAT.
The words we think he understands when you sign to him are: All the above plus PLEASE, THANK YOU, SORRY, DOG, HORSE, WATER, MILK, JUICE, BEAR, BUBBLE, some of the ABCs, some of numbers, ROCK, SHOES, SOCK, TRAIN, BATH, BLOCK, CUP, BALL, BOOK, GRANDMA, GRANDPA, MOM, DAD, PLAY, STOP, GO, NO, YES, etc.
The words he can sign back to you at 15 months old are: AIRPLANE (we think it was the first one), MORE, FLOWER, CAR, CAT, FOOD, BIRD and HAT.
The words we think he understands when you sign to him are: All the above plus PLEASE, THANK YOU, SORRY, DOG, HORSE, WATER, MILK, JUICE, BEAR, BUBBLE, some of the ABCs, some of numbers, ROCK, SHOES, SOCK, TRAIN, BATH, BLOCK, CUP, BALL, BOOK, GRANDMA, GRANDPA, MOM, DAD, PLAY, STOP, GO, NO, YES, etc.
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