Corner Stork Baby Blog

On Facebook.com, a Web site where thousands of girls and women have posted lewd and lascivious photos of themselves to attract attention, photos of nursing mothers are unacceptable and banned. Hypocritical and twisted are the first two words that come to mind. Though the ban has been in place for some time, women are beginning to stage an ardent protest over this idiocy.

FACEBOOK’S CLAIM

Facebook says it does “allow mothers to…share photos of themselves breast-feeding” but not photos of a fully exposed breast. Okay. It seems to me that if a baby is latched on to a nipple, effectively covering up what seems to be the big tamale when it comes to showing breasts on various TV shows, publications and Web sites, then how would a photo of a nursing mother EVER show a fully exposed breast? That’s my argument. Protestors are going with the “natural” argument and the fact that there’s nothing sexually obscene about breastfeeding.

PROS AND CONS

A group called “Hey Facebook, Breastfeeding is Not Obscene,” which now has over 10,000 members, staged the first virtual protest ever on December 27th. Of course, there are opposing views. A group of liberal females responding on another blog said, “There’s no reason women need to post pics of themselves breastfeeding online. They’re not writing a medical textbook, or a how-to guide. It’s just another form of exhibitionism and self-promotion under the pretext of being “natural.” Come on, folks. A naked body is just a naked body. We all have either one standard set of parts or the other. Why are they always regarded as obscene? Think about it. All these “parts” have other essential jobs that have nothing to do with sex! That’s why the US is such a sexually repressed country with uncontrollable teen pregnancies. Now you know what I think. What’s your take on this controversy?

NEWBORNS NEED NOURISHMENT!

Aha! We’ve just identified the primary reason women have breasts—to feed us after we’re born. Here’s a good article on baby-feeding basics to remind Facebook that what they’re banning are photos of mothers using their “on-board feeding system” to help keep their infants alive and healthy.
But, to show Facebook I can be fair (which is more than I can say for them,) I’ll show you two adorable mealtime baby gifts that don’t require Mom to use her breasts (Gasp! For all of you who feel defiled simply when someone uses the word breast, I’m so terribly not sorry.) First, a fabulous  baby gift for the bottle-fed newborn—”A Bib a Day” 21-Piece Gift Set (right) with days-of-the-week bibs, eight washcloths, a comb, a brush, a lollipop rattle and a teething ring. For NASCAR fans, how about the NASCAR “Today’s Schedule” Bib and Bottle Gift Set (left,) or is that too racy?

A final thought: Facebook, you need to grow up and rethink this.

Better get used to seeing Angelina Jolie as she is in the photo on the right. And no, that’s not her baby daddy next to her (though the look on his face does seem to say, “Look what I did!) According to the ever-grinding, celebrity rumor mill, Brangelina may be pregnant—and with twins!—again. She’s clearly in the zone: make a movie, have a baby, make a movie, have a baby, make a movie, have a baby. Either Angie and Brad love being pregnant, or their birth control is NOT working.

A ROLE MODEL FOR THE MISGUIDED

Having baby after baby, one or two at a time, is not the message celebrities need to be sending at this point in time. Certainly, Angelina and Brad have the right to bring as many children into their family as they want—as do we all. But here’s the difference: THEY CAN AFFORD IT! Even in this economy, THEY CAN AFFORD IT. A couple making a zillion dollars a year can buy anything they want or need for their children, making retailers very happy. So what am I getting at?

WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

Not Brad and Angelina. We already know what they’re thinking. I’m talking about companies, businesses and retailers who are crying because nobody’s buying. It’s the holiday season, and boo hoo. People aren’t spending. We won’t make big profits. Wah. Wah. Wah. Apparently, they’ve already forgotten how many people they’ve laid off over the past few months. Hundreds of thousands are out of work, others are fearful of losing their jobs, yet these businesses want everyone to get in the holiday spirit spend lots of money we don’t have or might need for other things like shelter and food. In the end, these companies are actually putting themselves out of business.  Time to figure it out, CEOs! People with jobs spend money. When they lose their jobs, you lose your profits. It’s that simple.

BACK TO BRANGELINA

I figure that, in a few years, Brad and Angie will run out of odd names and stop having babies. But whatever the circumstances, newborns deserve to be celebrated, and Corner Stork Baby Gifts makes it easy to welcome new babies with an enormous selection of baby clothes, baby toys and baby shower favors in a wide range of prices. If you or your friends are having big families like the Jolie-Pitts, here are a couple of sibling gifts that we all know are just as important to give as baby gifts! Let big sis save the photos taken while she’s holding the baby in the “I’m the Big Sister” Photo Album (left.) The “I’m the Big Brother!” T-Shirt (right) announces his newly found status to the world. I wouldn’t be surprised if Angie and Brad buy these two items by the case…

2:00 am.  4:00 am.  6:00 am.  Mealtime for babies comes all too often.  And for many parents, their pocketbook just can’t seem to keep up.  Let’s face it.  If you’ve chosen not to or can’t breastfeed, the only alternative is baby formula.  But it can be expensive.  That’s why many parents consider watering down or stretching the baby formula to make it last longer.

It sounds like a good idea, but in reality, it’s a harmful one.  Diluting the formula with too much water can cause problems.  Because babies’ kidneys aren’t fully able to process or flush the extra water, their cells become bloated with fluid and everything swells. It can cause a condition know as hyponatremia.  In Florida, a woman discovered this condition first hand after rushing her unconscious and convulsive baby to the hospital.  After examination, the doctors said it was water intoxication. The mother admitted to the doctors that she had been adding water to her infant’s formula to make it last longer.

Don’t put your baby at risk because things are a little tight.  There are plenty of programs that offer assistance through local organizations, government programs and the WIC program so that you can fill those baby bottles with the right amount of formula according to the instructions.  For assistance in finding the right baby gift for all those feedings, Corner Stork Baby Gifts is your gift connection. From Nascar baby bottles and bibs to embroidered burp cloths, the prices of our mealtime baby gifts are so affordable, it’s just another way to help stretch your dollar.

It’s alarming and unfortunate, but 18 was the number of children killed in toy-related deaths this past year–not from car accidents or home invasions or even illness, but toys. With an estimated 232,900 toy-related injuries treated at hospitals, it’s apparent that there is a problem here.

And with the biggest gift-giving season quickly approaching, I feel the need to sound the alarm. While many of the incidents were not caused by the toys but occurred while the children were playing, the majority of these toy-related deaths were caused by blocked airways, drowning or accidents involving motor vehicles.

According to Consumer Product Safety Commission, six were killed while riding a tricycle or battery-powered vehicle (three of them drowned after falling into pools while riding.) Two drowned while playing with inflatable toys in water. Seven children choked on rubber balls, uninflated balloons and rubber darts. A six-month-old suffocated when he fell off of a bed onto a stuffed toy. And two children were hit by a cars while riding non-motorized scooters. In most cases, these were deaths that could have been prevented by two things–watchful supervision and toy safety.

All too often, we are content to know that our children are simply playing outside or in another room.  But, at least in these cases, if the parents or caregivers had given more watchful oversight during playtime, many of these deaths could have been prevented.

During the holidays and every day, use these tips to safeguard your children:

• Do not purchase baby gifts or toys that have small removable parts or pieces that can easily come off during play.  They present a choking hazard.  If the baby toys are smaller than the baby’s fist, it’s too small.
• Be sure that you are in the room (or within close proximity) with your children during playtime, especially when they are outside and near water.
• Learn the Heimlich maneuver and CPR, since most childhood deaths are the result of choking or drowning.  It is vital in the case of emergency.
• Keep party favors and small decorations out of reach of children.  When decorating for the holidays, be sure to keep the area free of debris, and baby-proof the area when finished.

Whether it’s baby’s first Christmas or you’re celebrating with teenagers, taking these precautions will help make sure that you and your family and a safe and happy holiday.

For your consideration–the European-style Spa Tub for baby. Their advertising says, “Babies love this tub.” I would have loved to be a fly on the wall in that focus group. Babies just love being loved—and if they love bath time, they don’t care if it’s in your bathtub, a reclining baby tub or a large, aluminum wash tub. They’re not likely to voice a valid opinion about your tub of choice until it’s way too late to matter. As long as the water is warm, and you’re there to help make it fun, baby’s content.

As you can see, baby sits in what the advertising says is a “natural upright position.” Is that more natural than a reclining position? It’s also promoted as “easy to use, comforting and secure for your baby.” It may be comforting and secure, but with baby’s feet, legs and tush filling up the bottom of the tub, washing some of those important, hard-to-get areas may be a bit, well, hard to get.  What do you think about this design? On the positive side, the tub is eco-friendly, with no PVC, polycarbonate, bisphenol-A or paint. On the negative side, there’s not a lot of room in there for tub toys. 

And tub toys make taking a bath worthwhile! You absolutely must have room for the Squirty Tub Zoo (left) to float around. Bath time is always more fun when it’s shared. And if you’re going to get a round tub for baby to sit in, why not get one that’s full of cool bath stuff? After you take out the wash cloths, hooded towel, baby caps and booties, t-shirts, rubber duckies, baby shampoo and body wash from the Splish Splash! Bath Time Baby Gift Basket, you can replace them with warm water and baby’s bottom. Needless to say, Corner Stork Baby Gifts has bath time—and baby—covered with everything wet and wild!

Rescuing Recess. Now there’s a term I didn’t think I would hear. But, sure enough, playtime has become an endangered species. When I was growing up, recess was valued as an important part of the school day. Allowing kids some time to burn off extra energy and come back to the classroom refreshed, the need for physical activity throughout the day was (and is) important for children’s productivity and development. But in recent years, more emphasis has been placed on formal learning in preschool, more homework for elementary school students and more pressure from parents on young children to quickly acquire academic skills. Unstructured playtime seems to lose out, as we scramble to keep up with global standards. But is that what’s best for our children?

Let’s face it. After school, kids spend more hours per week watching TV, playing video games, using the Internet, and communicating on cell phones than almost anything else. It seems that, for a lot of children, physical activities don’t even rank on the list anymore (unless they’re playing organized sports.) Because of this trend, the National PTA has launched a “Rescuing Recess” campaign to help restore a healthy balance to our children’s activities.

Get outside and play!

Nowadays, our kid’s fingers get a workout on the computer keyboard, but what about the rest of the body? Whether at school or at home, the entire body needs exercise. Riding bikes, roller skating and even a game of touch football can make a big difference. Try making it a family affair and go walking together. And don’t let those cold or rainy days stop your kids from getting exercise. There are other ways they can be active indoors. Set up a home gym for older children and allow toddlers to exercise with interactive baby toys. Because wooden pull toys are an excellent tool for teaching motor skills and promoting exercise, they’re perfect for small children.

Babies need activity, too!

You’re never too early to start a good exercise plan. Before they’re able to crawl and walk, babies can get their share of exercise on an activity playmat that includes lots of fun shapes and stuffed animals for baby to play with.

Making these small changes in your children’s activities can help make them more alert, energetic and healthy. With childhood obesity on the rise, our kids are at risk for far more deadlier things than lower test scores. High blood pressure, diabetes and other illnesses that were once only seen in adults are now affecting our children. Don’t allow the lack of physical activity at school and a sedentary lifestyle at home to take its toll on our youth. At Corner Stork Baby Gifts, we have lots of fun baby toys and gifts that can help keep our children happy and healthy.

Thanksgiving is behind us, and Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa are just days away. We’re all thinking about those holiday presents for our family and friends. When it comes to the very newest and smallest of those we love, there’s a world of options. Here’s one I came across in another blog, and I had to give it some thought.

Something New for Newborns and Preemies

What you see holding the infant at the left is called “The Zaky” from Zakeez, Inc., and it’s a soft, yet heavy pillow that “imitates the look, feel, weight, scent and warmth of the parents’ hand and forearm.” You have to admit that, at first glance, it looks a little bizarre—like amputated hands holding a baby. But in a way, these hands do offer a loving touch to a tiny baby, even when parents aren’t around. Due out December 8, “The Zaky” is touted as an “ergonomic and award-winning, theraputic, comforting, positioning aid and transitional item” that helps with sleep, pain management and both physical and psychological development. It’s designed to help baby feel safe, loved and protected.

I’m not sure if they’re sold in pairs or individually, but I imagine you’d want to get two for logical reasons. “The Zaky” has been used successfully as a bonding aid and for non-medicinal pain management since 2001 in neo-natal intensive care units. They may look a little weird, but it sounds to me like they can have a positive impact on the littlest on your gift list. Two “Zaky” thumbs up!

Great Baby Gifts You Can Get Right Now!

If you’re hoping to have your holiday shopping done before December 8, here are a couple of comfy-cozy gifts ready to go at Corner Stork Baby Gifts! The Yeti Sleeping Bag (left) from Kaloo is the safe alternative to blankets for the first few months of baby’s life. The sleeping bag features cream-colored faux “yeti” fur on the outside and a soft, smooth lining inside. Then there’s the Personalized Bunny Buddy Gift Set (right.) The cuddly Bunny Buddy unfurls into a soft, warm, 100% cotton-flannel blanket and it’s ears are satiny and reassuring to baby’s touch. The gift set also comes with a matching bib and a pacifier. Have you noticed that newborns are—hands down—the most fun to shop for? Happy shopping!

You’ve probably read a lot lately about the chemicals phthalates and Bisphenol A, and both can be harmful to your baby. Another recent study, on both animals and humans, suggest that your exposure to high levels of phthalates during pregnancy might result in changes to your baby boy’s genitals, like undescended testicles and smaller penises. I know you don’t want to be responsible for that second possibility!

 Study Recap

The study was done by Shanna Swan, a professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and reported in the current issue of Environmental Research. She studied 106 mothers during pregnancy and their sons until age 12 months. Boys whose mothers had the highest phthalate levels were more likely to show the two differences mentioned earlier, along with a shorter distance between the anus and the base of the penis. In most cases, they weren’t serious problems (the testicles usually descend on their own by age 1,) but Swan says these changes might indicate a more serious problem–that phthalates may make boys less masculine in key ways. Similar tests on animals resulted in males with lower sperm counts. A spokesperson for the chemical industry claims these chemicals have been shown to be safe for humans. You’ll have to decide for yourself.

Where Are Phthalates Found, and How Do I Avoid Them?

Phthalates are everywhere—in plastic products, drinking water, cosmetics and household dust, just to name a few more common hideouts. Drinking filtered water should help, and you should always read the Ingredients on the labels of everything you buy. You’ll rarely find the word “phthalates” on a label (except for the occasional “phthalate-free,” which helps.) Thanks to thedailygreen.com Web site, I’m providing you with these three tips for identifying products that have phthalates or Bisphenol A:

Read the ingredients. You can identify phthalates in some products by their chemical names, or abbreviations:

1. • DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) and DEP (diethyl phthalate) are often found in personal care products, including nail polishes, deodorants, perfumes and cologne, aftershave lotions, shampoos, hair gels and hand lotions. (BzBP, see below, is also in some personal care products.)
   • DEHP (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) is used in PVC plastics, including some medical devices.
   • BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate) is used in some flooring, car products and personal care products.
   • DMP (dimethyl phthalate) is used in insect repellent and some plastics (as well as rocket propellant).
2. Be wary of the term “fragrance,” which is used to denote a combination of compounds, possibly including phthatates, which are a subject of recent concern because of studies showing they can mimic certain hormones.
3. Choose plastics with the recycling code 1, 2 or 5. Recycling codes 3 and 7 are more likely to contain bisphenol A or phthalates.

Now that you’re doing something good for that precious baby boy in your belly, here’s how you can do something great for him! Get him some cute clothes or a cuddly toy from Corner Stork Baby Gifts! Here are two of the newest and most adorable items on their Web site! The “Embraceable Blue” Cable Knit Jump Suit (left) is hip, stylish, comfy, and can be personalized with baby’s initial. For a terrific toy that grows with baby, the Mother Goose Seven-Piece Gift Set with Plush Nursery Rhyme Buddies and Books (right) lets you begin bonding with baby by reading him beloved nursery rhymes while he plays with tiny, plush toys like Humpty Dumpty and the Cow that jumped over the moon. When he’s a toddler, huggable Mother Goose makes a terrific tag-along toy. It’s easy to love Corner Stork, because all their delightful baby gifts (except the girlie things!) are great for the little guy!

Premature birth is the number-one killer of American newborns. To draw attention to this disturbing statistic, the March of Dimes has named November as Prematurity Awareness Month. Premature births are common, costly and often preventable if moms-to-be take care of their health and learn the warning signs.

SAD STATISTICS

According to the March of Dimes organization, between 1981 and 2003, the rate of premature births rose from 9.4 percent to 12.3, an increase of almost 31 percent. Every year nearly 500,000 infants are born prematurely. The March of Dimes is partnering with the American Academy of Pediatrics to fund research and education aimed at reducing prematurity by 15 percent. You can help by making a donation at the March of Dimes, www.marchofdimes.com. And if you are a mom-to-be, you can take a little time to find out about premature births and what you can do to make sure it doesn’t happen to you. Here’s a head start from your friends at Corner Stork Baby Gifts:

WARNING SIGNS OF PREMATURE BIRTH

Most pregnancies last about 40 weeks. By definition, a premature birth takes place more than three weeks before the due date. In a premature birth the baby has less time to develop and mature in the womb, which results in an increased risk of various medical and developmental problems. You can recognize preterm labor if you know what to look for. Even months before your due date, pay attention to:

How many times have you pressed your way through the airport while juggling your luggage, a baby, a stroller and a car seat for the flight?  With all of that in tow, even the simplest of tasks can quickly become overwhelming and near impossible.  You could navigate your way with no problem if you had a few extra hands or a personal assistant.  But alas, you have neither.

But what you can have is a TravelMate.  When I saw this product, I couldn’t help but think, “Why didn’t I come up with that?”  As you can see in the picture, this handy gadget attaches to just about any type of baby car seat, giving you wheels and the freedom to zip through the airport and tight spaces with ease.  Baby can enjoy the view, securely strapped into the car seat, which is attached to the carrier.

Here ’s why so many Moms have found it to be a great help:

• Easy to attach and remove
• Compact and lightweight–only weighing 5 lbs.
• Telescoping handle with four positions
• Attaches to most car seats
• Keeps one hand free, and there’s no need for a stroller

FAA rules require children under 40 lbs. to travel by airplane in a car seat, so ditching it to lighten your load is not an option.  Besides, you’ll need it for the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel.  But for children up to 50 lbs., the TravelMate is a great way for Mom and Dad to reduce back strain and the amount of gear they travel with.

While this product is helpful, I can think of two other thing that Moms-on-the-go may need.  One is a great diaper bag!  Roomy with plenty of pockets, this stylish diaper bag set makes sure she has all of her baby’s gear organized and accessible.  It even has a separate bottle holder that’s insulated.  Those Moms who are flying around town instead of in the air are sure to appreciate this second helpful item–a car seat mirror.  It attaches to the car seat or headrest so that Mom and Dad can easily keep an eye on baby in the rear-view mirror.  Both of them make excellent baby gifts!