Bicycle Safety
Riding a bike is great fun and exercise for children,but they need to be wearing a helmet. Each year, more than 600 people in New York are injured badly enough to need hospitalization from a bicycle accident. Of the 40% of people hospitalized, almost half die from a traumatic brain injury.
Baby Bodyguards Loves The Moxie Spot!!!
At Baby Bodyguards, we are always looking for fun and safe activities to do with the kiddies. Last night we enjoyed some of the most fun we have had in a long…..time.
We had read a great blog post in A Child Grows in Brooklyn about The Moxie Spot, and I knew it was a place that I had to check out with my family. On their website, they have a calender and it listed Saturday as “Free Family Disco Night” at 5:30 PM. Nowadays, 5:30PM, seems like the perfect time for a disco. I could get my dance on and be home by a reasonable time to get my family to bed. I can also easily convince our childless friends to join us for a 5:30 disco party, because The Moxie Spot serves beer and wine.
As you walk into the restaurant, there are two cute doors, one for adults and a little one for children. The fun continues inside, the first floor has a chalk board and all kinds of blocks and puzzles. There is also an area to park your stroller, which as a stroller pusher myself, made me feel at ease and welcome.
I was a bit confused about the ordering process, but figured it out after asking a few patrons a few questions. I picked up a paper menu and got on line. The items on the menu were fabulous and so… reasonably priced. Most items were healthy, organic and hormone free. I ordered the turkey burger with some sweet potato fries and was very pleased. If you order hot food, the staff behind the counter has to bring it to you. I was handed a table number and told to claim a table by putting my number on it, and the staff would find us to bring us our food.
I brought our number upstairs to claim a table on the disco floor and to my delight and surprise, I encountered a safety gate. Wow, now I really felt at ease! I loved the idea that the children could dance and run around and parents could feel comfortable knowing that there was a gate blocking the stairs.
They had hula skirts, funky masquerade glasses, noise makers, etc…. It was like a scene from the best Bar Mitzvah I had ever been to. The music was very cool. I found myself singing along to a lot of the songs, which were mostly from the 80’s and 90’s.
When it was time to use the bathroom, I couldn’t help but notice outlet plugs, covering all the outlets. I decided to take a look around the rest of the restaurant to see what other safety features I could find. I looked at all the tables, and the corners were pretty rounded. The glasses were all plastic. They have computers in the back for the children to use and all the wires were hidden. The owners of The Moxie Spot, put so much thought and care into their restaurant. I will definitely be back, and am so happy I stumbled upon such a find.
Granite Countertops and Radiation
This morning as I was getting my son ready to go to grandma’s house, I heard on the news, that granite countertops are now considered a health threat due to the amount of radiation they give off. Not hearing the full news story, I decided to do a little research into this new finding and share the good, the bad and the ugly with you.
The Good- The Marble Institute of America told the New York Times the recent claims were “ludicrous” because although granite is known to “contain uranium and other radioactive materials like thorium and potassium, the amounts in countertops are not enough to pose a health threat.”
David J. Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University in New York, pointed out to the Times the cancer risk from granite countertops is “on the order of one in a million.”
The Bad-But Brenner also said, “If you can choose another counter that doesn’t elevate your risk, however slightly, why wouldn’t you?” (but granite is so pretty 
)
Health physicists and radiation experts agree that most granite countertops emit radiation and radon at extremely low levels.
The Ugly-The same health physicists and radiation experts, say these emissions are insignificant compared with so-called background radiation that is constantly raining down from outer space or seeping up from the earth’s crust, not to mention emanating from manmade sources like X-rays, luminous watches and smoke detectors.
The only way to know about radon levels from your granite countertops, and in your home in general, is to test for them.
If you are concerned about the radon levels in your home, feel free to contact us at Baby Bodyguards, and we will guide you through the testing process.
Review of BabyGanics
Protecting Children From Dog Bites
Dogs are popular pets in this country. With more than 60 million pet dogs in the United States, they are only slightly less popular than cats. Dogs and kids often get along just fine, but parents need to make sure their children know how to act around a dog to stay safe.
U.S. children suffer more than 2 million dog bites a year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). “A dog that attacks is very often the family pet,” says the AVMA’s Bernadette Cruz, D.V.M. “Education is the key to solving an issue that’s reaching epidemic proportions.” Dog owners and children can both learn to prevent bites.
If you own a dog or plan to buy one:
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Choose the breed carefully. Your vet can help you pick a pup.
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Socialize your dog. Start when the dog is a puppy.
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Train your dog. This helps a dog learn to trust and obey you.
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Have your dog neutered. Males that have not been neutered account for up to three out of four bites.
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Keep your dog’s shots current.
Many parents don’t realize how a small child’s boisterous activity or loud behavior can confuse a dog, or how a child’s invasion of a dog’s space might provoke the animal. If you have a small child or infant, never leave the youngster alone with a dog, Dr. Cruz says. Even when you are with your young child around a dog, keep a close eye on their interaction to avoid potential problems.
You and your child should also look for signs that a dog is aggressive, afraid or protecting his territory — three reasons for bites. Watch for:
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Growling, snarling or barking
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Crouching with the head low or the tail between the legs
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Fur that’s standing up, erect ears, a stiff body and a high tail
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Obvious injury or pain
You can teach your child how to act around a dog, whether yours or another’s. Tell your child to:
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Stand still, keep his hands down and avoid eye contact if a strange dog comes near.
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Curl into a ball and cover her head, neck and face if knocked down.
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Avoid dogs that are cornered, chained, in a car or behind a fence.
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Never play rough with any dog.
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Never break up a dogfight.
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Ask before petting a dog he doesn’t know.
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Avoid surprising older dogs. If they’re deaf or blind, they may bite.
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Keep her face away from a dog’s head.
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Never hold the dog around the neck or try to hug the dog.
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Avoid disturbing a dog that’s sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
If a dog bites your child, wash the wound with warm, soapy water, cover it with a clean bandage and call your doctor. If the bite is bleeding heavily, apply direct pressure and raise it above heart level until the bleeding stops. Contact the dog’s vet to check its vaccination records.
Publication Source: Starting Out Healthy magazine
Author: Bramnick, Jeffrey
Online Source: American Veterinary Medical Association http://www.avma.org
Online Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/biteprevention.htm
Peru Embraces Vertical Births to Save Lives
Last week I read an article “Peru Embraces Vertical Births to Save Lives“, I was amazed at how different the whole birthing experience is in Peru than in the United States, and almost felt a bit cheated that my own birth experience was so clinical.
After about 6 hours of intense labor and already being strapped to the bed with Pitocin, I caved and got an epidural. I have friends who have had home births and I get the whole “childbirth is natural” thing, but I also like the idea of being in a setting that if an emergency happens, I don’t have to be transported to a hospital.
Ancient pottery from the Andes depicts women sitting or standing while giving birth. Peru’s health ministry has said vertical birthing positions can be healthier for women by reducing pressure on the uterus and large blood vessels that can affect the amount of oxygen going to the baby.
“Western science is unaware of the priorities and needs of women, particularly rural women, who consider childbirth a natural event and do not think changes to the traditional vertical delivery are needed,” the ministry said in a small book extolling the benefits of standing during childbirth. The practice of women giving birth on their backs is done for the convenience of doctors, not women, say supporters of Andean birthing methods.
I think it is such a shame that so many birthing centers in New York are being shut down or are not covered by insurance. After reading this article, my mind is more open to different birthing methods. If I ever find myself pregnant again, I may protest being strapped to the bed and the stirrups too.
Making Healthy Food for Your Baby
Summer Shouldn’t Equal Drowning
Summer and pool time go hand in hand. The other night as I was getting ready for bed, I had the news on. Once again, a little child had drowned in a pool out on LI, and was clinging to life in the intensive care unit. As I shed a few tears, I grew furious. It’s not fair and just unacceptable! The cost of maintaining a safe pool is nothing compared to the devastation of losing a child.
I am not claiming to be a Supermom but I accept that I’m not, and know that it only takes a minute or two for a child to get into trouble and possibly drown if a pool is nearby. My parents have a pool and before I would let me son play there, I made sure they got a 4 foot pool fence.
All pools on Long Island and throughout the state are supposed to be inspected when they are built to ensure they meet regulations, including a new state requirement for an alarm for any pool built or substantially modified after Dec. 14, 2006. The problem is, it cost too much to actually have inspectors go door to door regulating residential pools. It is up to the pool owner to follow regulations.
Baby Bodyguards also urges parents to teach their children how to swim as early as possible. Check out your local YMCA for classes.
If you are a pool owner and would like to install a pool fence but don’t know where to begin, feel free to contact us at Baby Bodyguards.
Erbaorganics Has Great Products snd Supports a Great Cause
I recently got a hold of some Erbaorganics Baby Body Wash and Shampoo. I put my son in the tub, lathered him up and tested out my new products. The fragrance of lavender and chamomile filled the room and the products washed off nicely, leaving my son’s hair smelling lovely and his skin squeaky clean. I am now a huge fan!
Erbaorganics is eco-friendly and all their products are organic. They have a product line for babies and the mommy-to-be. Their products are completely free of parabens, pesticides, SLS’s, artificial colorings and fragrances.
Part of the proceeds from their products goes to the World Wide Orphans Foundation. The WWO works with local communities in underdeveloped areas around the world to enrich the lives of orphans through diverse programs focusing on health, society and education.
Erbaorganics takes pride in being 
completely green, safe, and natural.
NBC’s "Baby Borrowers" Is Controversial
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