That Danielle

Never google old friends or teachers on New Year's Eve

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 22:36:48 -0500

You might learn they’ve died and it will totally ruin your night.

I am distraught having just learned that my absolute favorite teacher from high school, Richard Marc Tiffen, passed away after a 15 month fight with brain cancer 3 years ago at the age of 51. He wasn’t especially popular among my friends for some reason but we got along really well. I had him for science and photography for several years and even graded tests for him, just to be able to spend time with him. I just thought he was the most awesome guy, let alone teacher, and I guess that was reflected in how I related to him because his assistant teacher once remarked to me, “you treat us like people, not teachers.” At a school where I often felt out of place and miserable, he was one of the bright spots in my day. I once did something stupid and he called me on it and I felt really crappy about it for years because I knew I had let him down, even if it was in a small way.

I hadn’t corresponded with him since college but you assume people you knew in the past are living their lives and that you can pop in from time to time. I think I had told him how much of an impact he had on me but I wish I could have connected with him as an adult to tell him again.

Discussing Healthy Child's 5 Easy Steps to a Healthier Home

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:08:33 -0400

Discussing Healthy Child's 5 Easy Steps to a Healthier Home

The WHO Code for Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes Expands Choice, Not Limits

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:36:00 -0400

I wrote this in response to the responses to Audrey McClelland’s post, Understanding the WHO Code. I was actually one of the friends who filled her in on the WHO Code. I feel that after the unintentional act of including formula in gift bags at an event at BlogHer, she now has a good grasp of why the WHO Code is important and why it should be enforced in the US. She has pledged to eliminate formula samples and/or bottles from all gift bags she is involved with. So far, all of the comments on her post were from her readers who don’t see anything wrong with formula samples so my response addresses why formula samples are wrong and why the WHO Code helps ALL women, yes, even the ones who exclusively formula feed.

The WHO Code is not about limiting choices, it’s about expanding them. The aggressive marketing of formula actually undermines breastfeeding and is one of the key reasons breastfeeding rates in the US are so abysmal- only 32% of women are breastfeeding exclusively at 3 months postpartum (74% of women try to breastfeed after birth). By supporting breastfeeding by eliminating aggressive marketing of formula levels the playing field significantly because it gives women the opportunity to actually succeed.

Supporting breastfeeding is something the US government and culture gives a lot of lip service to but does little to actually help out with. Women who have just given birth need help breastfeeding because most women of our generation were not breastfed so our mothers, even if they’re supportive, just don’t have the know-how. Throwing free formula at us from the time we announce we’re pregnant hurts this because we know there’s always that formula can in the closet “just in case.” And studies show that just ONE bottle of formula can be detrimental to successful breastfeeding because it’s a slippery slope… you give one bottle instead of feeding at the breast and your supply diminishes a little bit. Then you have to give another bottle and your supply will drop even more. Before you know it, you’re giving more formula than milk so you may decide to give up breastfeeding altogether. There is ample evidence that when formula is readily available due to samples being sent unsolicited or hospitals sending new moms home with “gift” diaper bags from formula companies, breastfeeding is less likely to succeed.

So the WHO Code is about protecting your choice in what to feed; it’s not about eliminating formula. It’s all about customer acquisition. If you indicate that you’re pregnant, or breastfeeding or even planning to breastfeed, they go after you because they know that when you start using one brand, you are likely to be loyal to it for all of your kids. If you tell them you’re using formula, they’re going to leave you alone because they know you won’t switch to another brand and they know you won’t go back to breastfeeding.

The return on investment is very high for formula samples and the markup is very high to make up for this. Even with the huge budget they have for marketing, the formula companies are still rolling in money because they pass those costs onto the end consumer. All of those freebies are not free! They’re figured into the retail cost. You’re paying for the few “free” cans you received initially when you pay $20+ per can. Just think— if they stopped their HUGE campaigns and advertising, the cost of formula should go DOWN, making it affordable to anyone who truly wants and/or needs it. (Think of how much organic food you could buy with the money you’d save!)

The WHO Code is also about not marketing formula in an inaccurate way. Remember “the breastmilk formula” campaigns? Or “similar to breastmilk?” That’s against the WHO Code too because it’s just not true. We will never be able to synthesize breastmilk in a lab because we don’t even understand it completely! Just recently, research revealed why certain sugars in breastmilk that were unused by the body - turns out they feed the good bacteria that lays down a protective layer in the gut. And one more thing- we also know that by breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months - meaning no solid food, no formula - we are providing baby with the immunity it’s designed for. Giving one bottle interrupts that process. Anyway, it’s why the AAP advises waiting to start solids at 6 months.

I am wholly sympathetic and empathetic to any woman who wants to breastfeed but is unable to — it’s why I became a Certified Lactation Counselor, it’s why I am volunteering with a local family center, it’s why I would like to become a WIC breastfeeding counselor — but with better support and education, MORE women will be able to breastfeed. We have to start when women are at their most vulnerable informationally (if that’s even a word) - when you’re pregnant for the first time, when you’re an exhausted mom of a newborn.

By the way, the US has agreed to (and signed) the WHO Code but has yet to enforce it.

My Mother's Breast Cancer Gift

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:20:00 -0400

People always talk about how “breast is best,” how it’s healthier for mom & baby but people usually only think about short term health benefits (i.e. breastfed babies get fewer ear infections than formula-fed ones) but less attention is paid to the long-term benefits. Even though I had breastfed my daughter for two years, I was surprised to learn during my lactation counselor training and deeply moved when I learned that breastfeeding your daughter reduces her risk of breast cancer by 25%. For me this was particularly poignant because MY mother lost HER mother to breast cancer when she was only six years old. Her entire life my mother has been extremely proactive about breast health, going for regular mammograms, doing self-exams, etc. because she’s very concerned about getting cancer. Not knowing about specific health benefits of breastfeeding, my mother nursed me for nearly 18 months. Nursing me is a lifelong gift she has given me that will significantly protect me from the same cancer that robbed her of her own mother.

What is particularly bittersweet is that my mother was not afforded this protection by her mother because she wasn’t breastfed (I’m not sure if it was because she had breast cancer at the time or if it was because most babies born in 1951 were not breastfeed). I hope that my mother is benefiting from the evidence that studies that show that women who breastfeed for a certain length of time are up to 11% less risk to breast cancer themselves. By breastfeeding my brother and me for over three years, she will receive some protection herself.

The Dairy-Free Breastfeeding Mother's Lament

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:55:40 -0400

We’re having a tough couple of nights with Asher. His system doesn’t tolerate cow’s milk - it makes him very gassy - and I thought maybe he might have gotten over it because I had had goat cheese recently with no problems on his end (literally). So yesterday, while extremely hungry with little else to eat, I scarfed down the few bites that were left of Whole Foods Macaroni and Cheese (made with real cheese vs Annie’s slightly less processed than Kraft stuff) and he’s been paying for it ever since. He keeps waking up crying, hardly comforted until he finally sobs himself exhausted in our arms. I feel so guilty. Cheese is not worth it!

Nestle-Sponsored BlogHer10 is a Huge Fail

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:35:03 -0400

It was just announced that two Nestle brands are sponsors of the 2010 BlogHer Conference this August: Stouffer’s and Butterfinger. This is giant fail on BlogHer’s part because they are very aware of what happened in September with the Nestle Family junket. A number of bloggers like Elita of Blacktating are canceling or contemplating canceling.

Annie of PhD in Parenting is a speaker and after much internal debate, decided that she can do more for the cause by not canceling. Read her post for the backstory.

mr linky test

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:29:00 -0400

Mr. Linky

Linky Tools

Back to work!

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:43:48 -0500

I have some big news! No, not pregnant again. Sorry. Two is it for me.

I have a new job.

As the new Social Media and Community Relations Manager at Healthy Child Healthy World (whose mission is to inspire parents to protect young children from harmful chemicals), I’m basically being paid to take a deep dive into what you may be doing on the sly at your job. If you’re like most people, you may not quite understand what social media is but if you’re reading this, you’re participating in it right now: you’re reading a blog, which is a highly interactive form of communication. I write something and unlike a newspaper or television show or radio broadcast, you can respond immediately and directly, with no intermediary. If you use Facebook or have ever looked at someone’s MySpace page, you’ve experienced social networking. If you ever googled something and landed on a Wikipedia page, you’ve read a collaborative encyclopedia. Maybe you’ve checked out images on a photo sharing site like Flickr, watched videos on YouTube, looked up restaurant reviews on Yelp, researched hotels on TripAdvisor, compared products on epinions, added your two cents on a message board- that’s all social media. See, you’re a social media expert too and these are all channels that I will be using to inspire parents to make their children’s environment healthier.

I consider myself an early adopter and fan of the internet. I first discovered it through my friend Scott who was a member of Prodigy, CompuServe and later AOL. In high school, I frequented BBS’s, online bulletin boards, and in college, I was attracted to how email compressed time, fell in love with a boy who went to college 100 miles away (and often skipped classes to chat online with him), and created one of the first websites. After graduation, I started grad school but that went sideways as I realized that I wanted to be part of the internet revolution so I ended up working at an agency that built a variety of websites, the best of which is still around, Beliefnet. The dotcom bubble burst so I retreated into safer territory, an administrative job at Avon Products where my favorite project involved strategizing how to police rogue Avon Representatives online.

Since my job lacked intellectual stimulation and creativity, I decided to start a blog. I was more than a little curious about celebrities who were pregnant and their kids and honestly, I needed a hobby so at my husband’s suggestion, while watching the Golden Globes, I created the Celebrity Baby Blog on my couch in January 2004. Even though the topic of celebrity + baby seemed a little weird at first, after a while, I wasn’t the only one who wanted to peer into the lives of the adorable offspring of gorgeous famous people… the site became quite popular, with approximately 3 million monthly readers by 2008. As the site developed and as I became a mother myself, in late 2005, the site became less about celebrity per se and delved into common themes in parenting. I made a special effort to highlight topics that don’t get much positive coverage in celebrity media like breastfeeding, babywearing and natural childbirth. I also added product reviews so moms (and aunts!) could find out if the gear we saw celebs using were as fabulous as it looked. After a few years it became so popular that People.com wanted to buy it. After helping the site transition, I left the blog to pursue the next chapter in my life.

Everyone wanted to know what my next step was going to be. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to focus on my new baby, Asher, who was born on November 20th and my daughter Anya, who was turning 4. I planned to take some time off to enjoy my “babymoon” and knew that I would know the right opportunity when I saw it. As the saying goes, it found me. My friend Isabel Kallman, founder of Alpha Mom, recommended me for a new position at Healthy Child. They were looking for an influential parent to engage their on-line community, expand their social media presence, and coordinate an advisory committee of other influential digital parents. It was serendipity. Here I was, a (semi-) experienced mom with a new baby, concerned with the toxins my family was being exposed to, trying to leave a smaller dent on the world, and immersed in the world of Twitter and Facebook.

I’ve been on Twitter and Facebook for a couple of years and use it primarily to talk about my family, as many do. I use Facebook to stay in touch with family and IRL (in real life) friends, posting photos of my little loves on a regular basis while I love the immediacy and brevity of Twitter, how it enables you to reach out to strangers and make them part of your life by sharing your passions and engaging them in discussions, learning from them. Both are great for spreading Healthy Child’s message. There’s a sizable community of parents just like me on Twitter and Facebook, who juggle home, work, shrinking budgets, but above all, want to ensure and preserve the health and happiness of their little ones.

If you’re not yet on Twitter, I encourage you to give it a shot and see what it’s about. Please follow Healthy Child at @healthy_child and me at @that_danielle and I hope you’ll join us for our weekly Thursday #healthychild Twitter parties at 6 pm PST/9 pm EST.

Online Sample Sale Sites for Babies, Kids and their Parents

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:03:53 -0500

Have you discovered online sample sales? Slightly different from the tech-heavy deal-a-day sites, online sample sales mostly take place over 2-3 days with a focus on a limited supply and selection of fashion and luxury goods, and a discount of at least 30%. They’re the hottest trend among those of us with limited time or who don’t live in big cities.

Over the past year, tons of them have cropped up with the majority focusing on high end fashion but a number of them focus solely on stuff for babies, kids and parents. If you’re familiar with the brand or the product, they’re a great way to pick up special items at a great deal but watch out — they’re pretty addictive.

They start at different times each day but usually between 9-11 am EST. I suggest registering with all of them so you get on their email list to get the heads-up on upcoming sales, bookmarking all of them and opening them all up at one point each day to check it (I created a folder in Firefox and select “Open in All Tabs”). You typically have a limited amount of time (15-30 minutes) to complete your order once you place something in your shopping cart so stay focused!

As an incentive to share the sales with your friends, most of the sites offer a referral bonus. Once your friend registers and makes a purchase, you get credit of $10-25 added to your account.

Here I’ve provided shortcuts to the best of the best and what makes them special.

— Danielle

BABIES/KIDS ONLY PRODUCTS:

bTrendie:
They say: bTrendie.com is an invitation only shopping network for moms and moms-to-be. We scour the globe for wonderfully designed, high quality, newly created products you need for your baby, your home and yourselves.
I say: At least two sales at a time, including gear and accessories but so far no clothes. Premium bFirst membership costs $19.99/year (or after you refer 10 friends) gives you access to sales one hour before everyone else.
Return policy: Varies depending on brand, category.
Shipping: Varies, sometimes free
Referral bonus: $10
Shop now: http://www.btrendie.com/affiliate?DANIELLE
Find them on: Twitter @bTrendie, Facebook
Disclosure: I’m on the bTrendie Advisory Panel.

The Mini Social:
They say: Conceived by mom’s for mom’s, the mini social provides private access to the most hip and modern designer clothing and accessories for mom, baby and child, all at up to 60% off. A portion of the proceeds from selected sales will be donated to several favorite women’s and children’s charities, including the United States Fund for UNICEF and Shoe4Africa.
I say: One of my favorite of the kid-focused sites, they mostly have mid-priced apparel but also toys, accessories and stuff for moms like diaper bags.
Return policy: 21 days store credit on some things
Shipping: US only via UPS Ground: continental US $6.95, Alaska/Hawaii $24.95
Referral credit: $10
Shop now: https://www.theminisocial.com/myaccount.php?invitation=5352
Find them on: Facebook, Twitter: @theminisocial

Mamabargains:
They say: The original one deal at a time website for anyone interested in buying top notch parent, baby and kid items at the best prices you will find anywhere.
I say: Check out their Playground forum to request products and brands, see what’s coming up next, share feedback.
Return policy: Final sale
Referral bonus: None.
Shipping: US only, varies.
Shop now: http://mamabargains.com/, no code required
Find them on: Twitter @MamaBargains, Facebook

BabySteals and KidSteals:
They say: We sell one quality baby or maternity product every day at 50-80% off until it sells out. It’s not just a deal, it’s a steal! A ‘BabySteal’!
I say: Love them but they tend to sell out quickly so make sure you check them out every day at 11 am EST. What sets them apart from the rest is that they have everything in stock and ship the day you order so you get your purchase within 2-4 days usually.
Shipping: Actual, based on weight/item: USPS 1st class or Priority Mail & Canada Int’l USPS 1st class or free local pickup in Murray, UT
Return policy: Final sale with some exceptions.
Referral bonus: None
Shop now: http://www.babysteals.com, http://www.kidsteals.com, no code required
Find them on: BabySteals: Twitter @BabySteals, Facebook, KidSteals: Twitter @KidSteals, Facebook
Daily Steal Alert

Ecobabybuys:
They say: We select our vendors based on the following criteria and we always welcome suggestions from our customers of companies that fit this description: the use of non-toxic materials and dyes; the use of organic and/or recycled textiles and materials; the use of eco-friendly packaging; and a commitment and adherence to the standards of fair trade.
I say: Hit or miss. Sometimes brands you’ve heard of like Kicky Pants, Kee-Ka, I-Play and Under the Nile, other times you have to take their word for it. They limit you to buying 3 styles of any product to restrict resellers.
Shipping: Varies. US & Canada only.
Return policy: Final sale.
Referral bonus: None.
Shop now: http://www.ecobabybuys.com
Find them on: Twitter: @EcoBabyBuys, Facebook
Daily Sale Alert Signup

Totsy:
They say: Totsy offers moms on-the-go and moms-to-be access to brand-specific sales, up to 70% off retail, just for them and the kids, ages 0-7. Prenatal care products, baby gear, travel accessories, bedding and bath, children’s clothing, toys, and educational materials — and that’s just the start.
I say: Mid-high end brands
Return policy: Store credit only, 5 days on non-final sale items.
Shipping: US via USPS or UPS, Canada, email or call for international
Referral bonus: $15
Shop now: http://totsy.com/join/dbt
Find them on: Twitter: @myTotsy, Facebook

Zulily:
Shop now: http://www.zulily.com/index.php/referafriend/?bl=ZGJ0QGlubm9jZW50LmNvbQ==

GENERAL SITES (men/women/kids):

HauteLook:
They say: As the “hottest thing to hit the fashion business in years” Hautelook provides an exclusive platform where premium brands reach their customers directly. As a result, Hautelook club members have access to the latest merchandise at discounts of up to 75% off of retail prices, all from the comfort of their home or office.
I say: One of the better all-around sample sale sites, they offer kid stuff occasionally.
Return policy: 14 days on apparel, final sale on everything else
Shipping: US usually $7.95, Canada flat rate of $10.95 + international surcharge of 18%, no international yet
Referral bonus: $10
Find them on: Twitter @HauteLook, Facebook
Shop now: http://www.hautelook.com/invite/103709

ideeli:
They say: ideeli provides access to not only the most sought-after products (often at privileged prices), but also true lifestyle experiences (ranging from tickets to fashion shows to VIP seating at sold-out concerts). With a hand-picked offering of luxury fashion, home and beauty brands and a commitment to bring that lifestyle to life beyond your closet walls, ideeli has quickly become the go-to destination for the savviest shoppers.
I say: Fairly mid-high end brands. You can register using your Facebook account. Get access to sales an hour before everyone else with their 1st Row membership which is $6.99/month (an annual fee).
Return policy: 14 days for shoes and apparel, final sale on everything else.
Shipping: Around $10 via UPS Ground to the US (no FPO)
Referral bonus: $25
Find them on: twitter @ideeli, Facebook
Shop now: http://www.ideeli.com/invite/dbt

Gilt Groupe:
They say: Gilt Groupe provides access, by invitation only, to Men’s, Women’s and Children’s coveted fashion and luxury brands at prices up to 70% off retail. From Valentino to Rachel Roy and John Varvatos, we offer a selection of merchandise at a range of prices.
I say: Mainly very high end luxury brands. I love their iPhone app which tells you when new sales launch and lets you shop from your phone. (It does have glitches: once it ordered me the wrong color and the second time it wouldn’t let me complete a purchase.)
Shipping: In the US, approximately $10-12 via UPS Ground, $21-42 via UPS Next Day Air. Will ship via USPS Priority Mail to PO Boxes and military addresses.
Return policy: 14 days on apparel and shoes for store credit only, final sale on everything else.
Referral bonus: $25
Find them on: Twitter @giltgroupe, Facebook
Shop now: http://www.gilt.com/invite/cbb

Rue La La:
They say: Rue La La is an ever-changing destination. Every two days, the passport stamp is different. And the anticipation is half the fun.
I say: More mid-range sales than other general sites. Has the most liberal return policy of all of the sites.
Shipping: $9.95 for standard shipping in the continental US, $16.95 + $0.95/additional pound for Second Day Air (4-6 days for Hawaii, Alaska) and $18.95 + $1.95/additional pound for Next Day Air. If you choose standard shipping, all additional orders placed before 10 pm that day incur no additional shipping charge.
Return policy: 30 days for store credit on almost everything using their free pre-paid UPS return label. Swimwear, intimate apparel and large/heavy items may be final sale.
Referral bonus: $10
Find them on: twitter @Rue_La_La, Facebook
Shop now: http://www.ruelala.com/invite/that_danielle

Billion Dollar Babes (formerly Regents Secret):
They say: Our designers range from European powerhouses like Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino and Chloé to American contemporaries Diane von Furstenberg, Catherine Malandrino and James Perse. The New York Times calls us “An A-list affair” and our designers return season after season.
I say: Not my favorite of the sites but they do have really good sales occasionally. VIP membership for $100/year gives you access to sales two hours early, free domestic shipping, automatic entry into their monthly $500 shopping spree giveaway, and exclusive promos custom-tailored to the VIPs.
Return policy: 14 days store credit for most apparel, final sale for almost everything else.
Shipping: FedEx Ground to the US $5.95-$13.95 depending on number of items ordered, free shipping on orders over $150. International shipping to Helsinki, Beijing and Dubai only (go figure!). No shipping to PO Boxes of APO/FPO.
Find them on: Twitter @BillionDllrBabe, Facebook
Shop now: https://www.billiondollarbabes.com/register/u/b4cbdac9cad99676a798a8

Beyond the Rack:
They say: A private shopping club for women and men who want designer brand apparel and accessories at prices up to 70% off retail.
I say: Pretty high end mixed with some mid-range brands.
Shipping: USA - $9.95, Canada - $11.95, International - $45
Return policy: Within 14 days with exception of final sales
Referral bonus: $10
Find them on: Twitter @BeyondtheRack, Facebook
Shop now: http://www.beyondtherack.com/member/invite/B52B7CC

Editor’s Closet
They say: We help you shop smarter by offering established and “up and coming” brands at strongly reduced prices (up to -80% compared to the retail price).
I say:
Shipping: US $9 via UPS, Canada $15 via USPS
Return policy: 14 days
Referral bonus: $5
Find them on: Twitter @EditorsCloset, Facebook
Shop now: http://www.editorscloset.com

OTHERS:
Swirl by Daily Candy not launched
Kids Woot
Planet Lulu
Gomatta Girls
One Kings Lane Home decor
I Love Sample Sales Online
The Savvy in-person sales only?
Top Secret
Luxe Club One - doesn’t appear to host actual sales, links to Zappos, Saks, etc.

Axxium by OPI

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:59:19 -0500

The Axxium nail process does what it promises: an application that takes no longer than a typical manicure and lasts about two weeks. Application involves filing the nails slightly with a drill, painting on a clear base layer then two color layers with a paint brush and then a top coat, curing each layer for several minutes under a UV lamp. Then my nails were completely dried. I didn’t have to sit with my hands under dryers or touch things gingerly for the rest of the day like I do with regular polish. My nails remained exceptionally shiny and smooth for an entire week with nary a crack or chip. This was especially a treat because the color I selected was very dark and bold - usually those colors show blemishes right away. (Bogota Blackberry is a flattering deep dark wine.)

After about 10 days, the tips of my nails became dulled and small cracks were evident to me. After two weeks new nail growth was easy to notice because of the dark polish color. The only chip appeared after two and a half weeks. I am sure that no one else would have noticed these things from afar so I could have kept it another week.

Removal involves soaking the nails with acetone polish remover, scraping it off and filing with a drill. I’m sure that if you regularly remove and reapply the product your nails will thin out similarly to artificial nail procedures so I don’t recommend doing it more than occasionally such as for special events or vacations. The ~$40 cost may also be prohibitive to doing it on a biweekly basis but those used to acrylics will find it a bargain.

Note: I paid for these manicures myself.

Papa Products 1Z Baby Carrier Cover

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:16:14 -0500

The problem with certain baby gear like the Baby Bjorn carriers is that they come in limited colors and don’t allow you to easily customize them. That’s where Papa Products 1Z covers come in. For just $25-30, you can change the look of your front baby carrier.

Just put it on like a t-shirt or a… onesie… and you’re ready to go. Great for when baby pees or spits up in the carrier or when you want to jazz it up a little. You can even customize it with a rhinestone design. A prototype the company sent me even has a pocket to stash a cel phone and a ring to attach a toy or keys.

Giving Baby Bjorn Another Chance: The Synergy Baby Carrier

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:33:00 -0500

I didn’t start using a Baby Bjorn Carrier until Anya was 3 months old and by that time she was fairly heavy so when I wore her in it for extended periods of time my shoulders really hurt. I was looking forward to trying it with Asher when he was newborn. The Synergy combines features from their other models: the Euro styling of the Original, the breathable mesh fabric of the Air and the lumbar support of the Active - to make an uber Bjorn: one that is stylish and comfortable in all seasons.

I started wearing Asher in the Synergy after he was about two weeks old. It has been my favorite carrier so far because it’s fast and easy to put on and he gets very cozy right away. I love how he nestles against my chest and often falls asleep. If he doesn’t, he’s very mellow and content to be with me and just rests his paws on my chest and hangs out.

Since he’s only 11 pounds, I am comfortable wearing him in it for two or three hours at a time but my shoulders do start to hurt a little from the straps digging in from supporting his weight. When I wore a 9+ month super chubby Anya in the Original, the shoulder pain would start right away. When someone reviewed the Synergy for me for Celebrity Baby Blog, she said her baby would probably be too heavy for it by 6 months.

The lumbar support is made of a plastic skeleton and an additional band that attaches to the front. I can’t say how effective this feature actually is though because the discomfort I feel is on my shoulders, not my back. The additional adjustable band is similar to a mei tai’s waist band but much higher so it doesn’t balance the weight. As such, the baby is still essentially hanging from your shoulders. I’d love for Baby Bjorn to introduce a version with a true waist belt in the future to facilitate the wearing of heavier/older babies.

N.B. Make sure you read the instructions when you first put the carrier on. I didn’t and the lumbar support did not fit the small of my back. I wrote it off as it not fitting short people but found an instructional slideshow on their website that shows how to get a good fit and it made a difference.

(I’m wearing the Synergy with a Papa Products 1Z cover.)

Faux-gurt: Dairy-Free Yogurt Roundup

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:07:00 -0500

The idea of a dairy-free yogurt seems antithetical but there are quite a few brands that make yogurt or cultured products out of things that are not animal’s milk. In my attempt to give up dairy and casein for my health I’m looking for replacements of my staple foods like yogurt so I picked up a few non-dairy yogurts at Whole Foods and asked my husband to help me describe the taste since he’s more experienced in food reviews.

(A more scientific survey would have included all vanilla flavors but I wasn’t planning to taste them all at once.)

Silk Live! Soy Yogurt (vanilla): Even though there’s no artificial sweeteners, it tastes like it does. (Incidentally I mistrust food with exclamation marks in them.)

Stonyfield O’Soy Soy Yogurt (vanilla): Rich, consistency most like cow’s milk yogurt, but tastes vaguely like tofu. Josh’s favorite. But not 100% dairy free as it contains dairy cultures so would not work for a vegan.

Whole Soy & Co. Soy Yogurt (blueberry): My dairy-free friend Lisa says Whole Soy is her favorite but we think it has a funky aftertaste. Josh actually used the word “nasty.”

So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt (strawberry): Tastes thin and artificial, like a diet dessert. Out of the four, I like this one the most but just barely.

Conclusion: I am not impressed by ANY of these faux-gurts and can’t envision buying them again. They all lack the creamy taste that even fat-free cow’s milk yogurt has. I greatly dislike the artificial flavor and gelatinous texture all but theall but the Stonyfield samples have . I suppose if you never tasted conventional yogurt or haven’t in a long time these will work for you but I’m accustomed to Greek-style yogurts from Fage and Oikos (a Stonyfield brand) so they just don’t do it for me. I guess I’ll be giving up yogurt!

How much rounder can this belly get?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:53:58 -0500

How much rounder can this belly get?

Anya Audio

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:51:00 -0500

What Anya calls an exclamation point!

Anya came home from preschool one day singing this Clean Up Song

39 Weeks 5 Days Pregnant

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:35:08 -0500

Yes, I’m still pregnant.

Anya loves to type names on our computers, preferably in large...

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:55:23 -0500

Anya loves to type names on our computers, preferably in large hot pink type.

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Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:34:51 -0500

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#BooNestle: Brands to Avoid for a Nestle-free Halloween

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400

Please visit http://boonestle.blogspot.com/ for the new home of the Boo Nestle Campaign where you can find answers to these questions:

What is Boo Nestle?
What Did Nestlé Do To Deserve a Boycott?
What Brands Should I Avoid? What Can I Do?
and more!

Nestle’s brands dominate the market in many categories including, most egregiously, baby formula and foods (including Good Start formula, Gerber, Gerber Graduates) bottled water (including Arrowhead, Deer Park, Perrier, Poland Spring, San Pellegrino), dairy products (including Coffee-Mate), and ice cream (including Dreyers, Edy’s, Haagen-Dazs, Drumstick) but also dinner and diet meals (including Hot Pockets, Buitoni, Stouffer’s, Lean Cuisine), breakfast items (including Carnation Instant Breakfast), coffee and beverages (including Juicy-Juice, Nesquik, Nescafe, Nestea), petcare (including Alpo, Cat/Dog Chow, Fancy Feast, Friskies, Purina), nutrition and health (including Jenny Craig, Power Bar) and last but not least, most of us know about… chocolate and candy.

If you’re disgusted by what you’ve learned about the Nestle Corporation and want to vote with your wallet but are overwhelmed by the magnitude of their portfolio, here’s a small way to make a difference right now — don’t buy Nestle chocolate, candy and foods this Halloween.

If you want to participate, here are the major candy brands to avoid:*

Aero
Baby Ruth
Bit-O-Honey
Butterfinger & Butterfinger Crisp
Cailler
Chunky
Crunch including Crisp, Miniatures & Buncha Crunch
Goobers
Kit Kat (manufactured by Hershey under license in North America)
Nips
Oh Henry
Orion
Raisinets
Smarties
Sno-Caps
Wonka: Pxy Stix, Gobstoppers, Spree, Laffy Taffy, Nerds incl Nerds Rainbow Rope, Fun Dip, Runts, SweeTarts, Shockers, Mix-Ups, Wonka Bar, Tinglerz, Kazoozles, Gummies, Harry Potter-branded candy
100 Grand

Also, if you’re having a Halloween party, avoid these brands that you might use for party food:

Nestle Toll House (chocolate chips, refrigerated cookie dough)
Juicy Juice
Coffee-Mate
Dreyer’s
Haagen-Dazs
Jamba Ready-to-Drink
La Lechera (condensed milk)
Nescafe
Nestea
Nestle Abuelita chocolate
Nestle Crunch Ice Cream and Dibs
Nestle Hot Cocoa
Taster’s Choice
YoCrunch yogurt

Make sure you print and take this page with you to the store!

* The above lists the relevant brands Nestle manufacturse themselves but there are many other products and brands they are involved with distributing, licensing (such as Kit-Kat) or have partial ownership of in the US and globally so there may be other products in the Halloween aisle but at least this is a start.

If you’re in Canada, follow this link for a list of their Canadian-distributed brands.

If I’m missing any other Halloween-related Nestle-owned or -related brands, please post a comment below.

If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Halloween without Nestle, read Forget goblins: it’s the (Nestle) candy that should scare you on Musings on Mamahood (who is @doudoubebe on Twitter).

If you’re wondering why you should boycott Nestle in any capacity, here’s a shortcut to the primer on the topic as well as the ever-growing list: An open letter to the attendees of the Nestle Family blogger event (by @phdinparenting) and the Anthology of Nestle Activist Blog Posts & Twitter Names by Best For Babes (by @bestforbabes).

Originally published on October 5, 2009 but republished to make it easier to find!

Anya Turns 4!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:13:45 -0400

We celebrated Anya’s birthday at school today. Check out the photos! Powered by Whrrl