LilSugar

Government Set to Issue Baby Sling Warning

babysugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 -0800

Babywearers beware! The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission is preparing to issue a general warning about baby slings, citing suffocation hazards with the popular fabric carriers.

Speaking at the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, CPSC head Inez Tenenbaum said, "We know of too many deaths in these slings and we now know the hazard scenarios for very small babies. So, the time has come to alert parents and caregivers."

The agency head did not specify any particular baby sling manufacturers, there have been growing safety concerns about the products. In some cases, slings have not been properly secured, and babies have fallen out of them, while other versions force lil ones into a curled up "C" position, increasing their chances of suffocation.

Babywearing has grown in popularity as more mamas heed attachment parenting beliefs. Seventeen percent of LilSugar readers told us that they tote their tot in a sling, and the carriers' popularity was even spoofed in a You Tube video earlier this year.

If you are a babywearer, do you ever worry about suffocation? Will you consider alternative methods for carrying your wee one now?

Tylenol Products Get Recalled But Do You Care?

babysugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:40 -0700

A mother's worry is never done, especially when recalls for common merchandise make the nightly news. The latest products caught in the headlines are those manufactured by Tylenol. A staple in most every mother's medicine cabinet, certain lots of Children’s and Infants' Tylenol drugs are said to be contaminated with B. Cepacia, a type of bacteria that can cause pneumonia in some children. Unlike many alerts, this one is precautionary as no illnesses or injuries have been reported in relation to the detection. Without a moment's hesitation, many mums may race to their bathroom and toss the questioned goods while others roll the dice and keep it locked up for the next cold season. What's your game plan?

To see the list of products that are being recalled, just click here.

Tubes Out of Water: Four Million Floats Recalled

LilSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:56:53 -0700

Get the kiddie tubes out of the pool! Before you set your child out to sail in the swimming pool, check out the more than four million flotation devices that have been recalled by Chinese manufacturer, Aqua-Leisure. The company makes many of the popular water items sold for between $8 - $15 at national retailers like Toys R Us, Kmart, Target and Walgreens. Though no injuries have been reported (likely because parents were supervising their children), 31 incidents of the leg straps tearing and causing tots to fall into or under the water were filed. If you have one of these inflatable devices, discontinue use and contact the company for a full refund.

Toss Your Cookies! Nestle Voluntarily Recalls Dough

LilSugar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:18:18 -0700

Think twice before letting your kids eat raw prepackaged cookie dough or taking a nibble yourself. This morning, Nestle Toll House initiated a voluntary recall of all its refrigerated cookie products. The company was informed by the Food and Drug Administration that E. coli illnesses have been reported by people who ate the uncooked prepackaged products.

Consumers can return the goods to their local grocery store for a full refund or call 1-800-559-5025.

Mommy Alert! Throw Out Expired Foods!

babysugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:00:00 -0700

Moms who stock their pantries on a weekly basis often forget about old packages of pasta or cans of beans stashed way in the back of the bin. Before cooking, I rarely double check expiration dates. However, an email alerting me to the dangers of old mixes had me lifting every box and can in my kitchen last night.

To see what happened to one child, read more.

A mother who also happens to be a registered nurse whipped up a batch of pancakes for her high-school-aged son. While at school, the boy called his mom to tell her he was having trouble breathing. After a trip to the nurse's office, the paramedics were called and took him to the hospital. Pancake and cake mixes that have yeast can develop toxic mold spores over time. People allergic to mold may have a deadly reaction, which is why we all should pay attention to expiration dates. Luckily, the boy was all right.

Mommy Alert! Is Baby Drinking Rocket Fuel?

babysugar — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:00:52 -0700

There is always something in the news that makes a mother cringe or second guess her parenting choices. The other day I started to read up on a chemical called perchlorate. It is an ingredient used in rocket fuel. Apparently, it can be found in particular formulas as well as tap water sources. The CDC team warned:

Mixing perchlorate-tainted formula powder with tap water containing "even minimal amounts" of the chemical could boost the resulting mixture's toxin content above the "safe" level set by the EPA.

In a frenzy, I googled "perchlorate" and discovered something extraordinary. The toxin is not only found in formula and water, but breastmilk, too! Maybe the fact that it is not mixed with the also contaminated water deems it less toxic than formula but how can we really know? I am still dumbfounded that my body is producing rocket fuel. That explains some feisty behavior around the house.

To learn more about perchlorate and the study, visit EWA. To check your local water system, consult the EPA. If you want to get involved, voice your concerns to the new EPA head Lisa Jackson.
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Arkansas Teacher Used Tape to Get Students to Sit Still

LilSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:00:52 -0700

Parents send their kids to school assuming it's a safe place to learn, but that wasn't the case in one Risen elementary school. An Arkansas first grade teacher has been placed on administrative leave after angry parents of nine of her twelve students brought child abuse allegations against her. They are accusing the educator of taping their young children to their chairs as punishment for not sitting still. The Sheriff's Department, DHS and the school board are all investigating the situation.

10 Tips For Preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

LilSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:00:00 -0800

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is the sudden death of an infant under one year that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation or autopsy. Sadly, the rates of sudden infant death from suffocation have quadrupled in the past 20 years in the US, changing many families' views of cosleeping and increasing awareness of the tragic syndrome. While there's no one perfect prevention technique, the American Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Institute has put together a great guide of tips for parents. Check out this slideshow to educate yourself.

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Mommy Alert! Make Sure Pool Has Proper Drain Covers

LilSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:00:00 -0800

Before you take your kids out to take a dip next Spring, check to make sure the (public, private or residential) pool has safe drain covers. Children have been terribly injured, paralyzed and died after the suction of a pool's drain has trapped them underwater. In one incident, it took two adults to pull a young girl from a hot tub. Despite their efforts, she passed away. Though a federal law went into effect in December, not all states are properly enforcing it so parents should take precautions.

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Six-Year-Old Gives Himself License to Drive

LilSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:00:10 -0800

You miss your bus so you hop in the car. Not a big deal...except if you are six! A Virginia boy put the pedal to the metal in his family's Ford Taurus after he missed his ride on Monday. While his mom slept, he grabbed the keys and got going, running off the road multiple times before he hit an embankment and utility pole. Luckily, he suffered only minor injuries despite not having buckled up and even made it to class after a trip to the hospital. What is going on in the world these days? One kid takes the wheel and a couple of others tried to get hitched?
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