Erythema Toxicum

Babies have the most amazing skin. Unlike adults, the brand-new skin of a baby has not been affected by the damaging rays of the sun or environmental factors. Although the skin of a baby is soft and supple, it is not necessarily blemish-free. Babies often have rashes and blemishes that are quite common. Many of these skin conditions do not require special care and eventually correct themselves, but some do require special treatment.

Erythema Toxicum

This skin condition sounds rather serious, but it commonly affects up to 50% of all newborn babies. This skin condition is characterized by red flat blotches that appear on the trunk and face of newborns, generally before they are five days old, and it does not require any special treatment. These harmless blotches usually disappear on their own within seven days.

The Cloth Diaper Choice

Some choose to use cloth all the time, others use cloth as the rule, with exceptions made for traveling, outings or nighttime, while others will use disposables all the time. There are important reasons why we chose to use cloth and with the fabulous products that are currently available, it is easy to do so with very little fuss and a much lighter footprint left upon the environmental future of our children.

We used cloth 99.9% of the time. For the first month, as we adjusted to life with Terran, we used a diaper service. While they were fabulous and I would probably go that route again if we were to have a second child (though maybe just 2 weeks next time around), it is far more economical to own and wash one’s own set. We also used one pack of Tushies brand disposables on a two-week trip we took, but we also took our cloths with us, and alternated between the two as convenience and washing opportunities presented themselves.

One point to mention here is that if it is economically viable, you will probably find that the investment in a really good set of diapers is well worth it (and they can always be found at consignment shops for a fraction of the new price). We found some with built-in liners, velcro fastenings, and snaps that allowed the diaper size to grow with our babe. There are many different types on the market and whether you’re investing in or inheriting a set, it may be a good idea to stop by a good diaper store and discuss which type of wraps go with which type of diapers and the liner options available (generally bio-degradable disposable or reusable).

Why Cloth?
Number one factor in our decision to use cloth was quite simply health. There are no chemicals in cloth diapers therefore there aren’t chemicals in constant contact with baby’s bottom. As we hear more and more about the detrimental effects of various chemicals and toxins in our world, I feel strongly about eliminating those we can for our son.

There are a number of chemicals, perfumes, and dyes in disposable diapers that can irritate babies’ bottoms. One chemical in particular, dioxin, though found only in trace amounts in most brands, has been classified by the World Health Organization as a Class 1 Carcinogen (which means it is a known human carcinogen). Dioxin is a by-product of the paper bleaching process and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that skin rashes, liver damage, weight loss, and a reduction in the effectiveness of the immune system have all been attributed to human exposure of dioxins. I just could not bear the thought of exposing our baby to even trace amounts of such a chemical almost constantly for the first 2-3 years of his life (the time in which his immune system is developing rapidly).

Another of the chemicals found in most disposables is called sodium polyacrylate, which is the chemical that was removed from tampons because of its link to TSS (toxic shock syndrome) in 1985. It is used to make diapers more absorbent (it can hold 100 times it’s weight in liquid), but some sources say it can cause bleeding in the perineal and scrotal tissues of some babies and has even been found in the urinary tracts of some infants.

Hmmm…not a comforting thought for our babies’ bottoms, is it?

Another strong factor in the diapering decision is the environmental impact. It takes about 500 years for disposables to decompose - if they are exposed to sun and air (how long will it take them to decompose if singly wrapped by the Diaper Genie, then put in another, bigger plastic bag to go to the curb in, then dumped into a landfill and piled with tons and tons of other garbage?). They are piling up in our landfills very quickly. From birth to potty-learning, each child will undergo 6000-9000 diaper changes. That literally translates to over one ton of waste entering the solid waste system per child. Disposable diapers are landing in the landfills and besides not decomposing, they contribute to the contamination of the soil, water supplies and create air pollutants. Feces in the disposable diapers can carry over 100 viruses to landfills, and those same chemicals that were next to the baby’s bottom (including dioxins) are also transferred to the land.

Economically speaking, cloth diapers again win hands-down over disposables. Depending on the cloth system employed by families (fitted, flat, pre-folded, all-in-ones, etc.), the costs can range from $150 to $500. Disposables will easily run well over $1500 – for each child. Should you have more than one child, a good set of cloth diapers will likely be able to see another babe or two through their diapering days.

Makes a rather strong argument for the cloth system, doesn’t it?

What To Feed Your Baby - “Real” Food or “Fake” Food?

What to Eat and Why

I know - you’re reading the book title and thinking “real food as opposed to what? Fake food?” Nina Planck is going to let you know just what “real food” is in her book Real Food: What to Eat and Why. And you’re going to be surprised to learn just how close to fake some of the stuff sold to you as food is. You’ll also find out what foods are real - and really good for you.

You’ll instantly be drawn into Real Food. Planck begins with her own story and writes in a humorous and compelling style. She’s candid and real - you can identify with her. In fact, you can see yourself in her shoes, making her discoveries really hit home.

After her introduction Planck jumps right into “real” foods by category. You’ll learn what real dairy products, meats, fish, and vegetables look like. You’ll also learn what they’re raised eating, or what kind of soil they’re growing in. There is a difference between conventional meat, dairy, fishing and farming practices and more sustainable, concientious livestock rearing and farming practices. And it’s not just the label “organic” that tells you something has been raised naturally. Planck’s book will help you judge the quality of what’s avaiable in your area.

After covering these basics Real Food moves on to real fats. This is the section you need to read. It’s hard to absorb, especially with all the anti-fat propoganda we live with in our time - but the information is vital and valid. You’ll learn why fat is not the criminal its been made out to be. You’ll also learn why the so-called “good fats” invented by modern man aren’t all that they’re made out to be. Planck includes a full survey of fats to enjoy (fats we’ve used traditionally for thousands of years) and fats to avoid (new fats “invented” by various industries in the last century).

Planck covers other foods such as eggs, salt, grains, and even chocolate. She also delves into a discussion on cholesterol and gives advice she’s gleaned from her studies. She ends the book by helping you find sources for good real foods.

The book is a clear and simple read and a great introduction to the world of real food - and sustainable food practices. I highly recommend it as a great book to help you learn to eat well for your own health, and most importantly, the health of your children.

Making a Safe Family Bed: Part 1

There are some simple yet important things to address in order to create a safe, comfortable family bed. There are situations where you should consider an alternate arrangement to having baby right in bed with you. And there are things you can do to your bed to make sure it is safe for baby.

Safety First
Many people fear “overlying,” which means rolling on top of and smothering a child. However, this is exceedingly rare. Think about sleeping in bed at night? Do you roll out of bed? The same instincts that keep you in bed at night keep you from rolling onto your baby. The instincts to protect your baby are even stronger than those that keep you from rolling out of bed! Parents all over the world sleep with their babies every night and their babies are safe and secure.

If you are a heavy smoker, an extremely deep sleeper, or very overweight, it is safer to have your baby sleep in a sidecar arrangement or in a separate baby bed in your room. If you are using any kind of illegal drug, or a prescription drug that affects your sleep, it is also safer for your baby to be in a sidecar or separate bed in your room.

Of Bedding and Bedfellows
Choose a firm mattress for your bed. If you normally use a pillow-top mattress cover, you should remove it while you share sleep with your baby. Many adults find that sleeping on a firm mattress or a futon helps them have a more restful sleep, and it is safe for the baby. Don’t put your baby on a waterbed. Some babies nap well on a lambskin, but remove the lambskin when you are ready to go to sleep.

Babies and toddlers don’t need pillows. They will sleep just fine with their head on the mattress, and it is much safer for them. Also remove stuffed animals from around your baby. Keep your blankets below your baby’s face. See making the family bed work for some tips on how you can stay warm in the family bed.

Don’t allow your toddler to sleep next to your infant. Toddlers are not yet aware in sleep; they don’t have the same instincts as adults (notice that your toddler may still roll out of bed) - making the family bed work has some ideas for accommodating both your infant and other children.

We’ll continue with Part ll of this article in a post shortly!