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05.15.2008 | 12:05:36 am | Posted by mummums
By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist
Bonding with your new baby can have lasting effects on your child well into school aged years. While proper nutrition is imperative to child development, ensuring a child develops a strong, loving bond with his parents is of equal importance. One way to encourage that bond is through massage. A new DVD on the market Baby Massage: Bonding and Nurturing through Touch is aimed at strengthening those bonds.
 The DVD can be purchased for $25.00 and all proceeds directly benefit Hands to Hearts International. Hands to Hearts International (HHI) is a Portland, OR based non-profit organization dedicated to improving the well-being and health of vulnerable and orphaned children as well as disadvantaged women around the world.
Filmed in India, the heartwarming and educational video teaches mothers and caregivers basic baby massage strokes sure to make little ones feel better all while establishing a loving bond. The video also details how HHI is using baby massage to improve the overall well-being of orphaned children. The video is in English but offers subtitles in 19 different languages. A sneak peak of the DVD can be viewed at youtube.
Orphaned children are often robbed of their opportunity to develop strong bonds , which have been proved in study to be imperative for a child's healthy development. By teaching caregivers the art of baby message, the infants are given one on one nurturing time with someone who is providing the tender loving care orphaned children often lack when separated from their mothers.
Baby massage provides a wealth of benefits. Although it has been gaining notoriety, babies have benefitted from massage for centuries. Caring or healing touch is good for everyone and is even being performed in hospitals across the US as it has resulted in shorter recovery time. Benefits of infant massage include relaxation, stimulation, relief of discomfort, and interaction. Massage stimulates the nerves, improves circulation, and can strengthen the immune system. In addition, infant massage can provide relief from the pain colic can cause. Lastly, giving a baby massage ensures a moment during a busy day when all distractions are eliminated and you can provide your baby with undivided attention.
05.12.2008 | 3:05:17 pm | Posted by mummums
EU Food Safety Body Takes a New Look at Baby Bottle Safety
The safety concerns over plastic baby bottle usage has spread worldwide and is now under scrutiny by the European Union. Both Wal-Mart and Toys 'R' Us have declared they are not taking any chances and will be removing baby bottles containing bisphenol A by the end of the year. As a nation, Canada is the first country to ban the import and sales of BPA laden baby bottles. As the post explains, the European Union (EU) is also taking a second glance at the research.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the EU's watchdog group, announced they are contemplating whether or not to revise their previous stance on BPA safety based on current research and should reach a decision soon. The EFSA's previous risk assessment led to their January 2007 position statement that intake of moderate daily amounts of BPA did not pose a health risk. Despite increasing concern, Singapore announced it will not be pulling plastic baby bottles containing BPA from store shelves any time soon. The National Childbirth Trust urges that all baby bottle labels should clearly state they contain BPA, but the UK government feels mandatory labeling is unnecessary.
McGill University Study Suggests Breastfeeding Associated with Increased Intelligence
Many mothers know breastfeeding provides several health benefits, but can it actually increase a baby's intelligence? Mum Mum's explains a new study provides solid evidence that breastfeeding can indeed improve a child's cognitive development.
Researchers at McGill University found, through the largest randomized breastfeeding study ever, that breastfeeding can raise a child's IQ and improve academic performance. Dividing mothers from 31 hospitals and clinics into 2 groups, the researchers allowed one half to undergo breastfeeding education and promotion; while the others continued with normal outpatient maternity care. The children at the appropriate age were given IQ tests by pediatricians and teachers as a means of assessing cognitive ability via math, reading, writing, and other subjects. All cognitive measures were significantly higher for children whose mothers attended breastfeeding promotion intervention. A major factor was the exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding, as prolonged breastfeeding resulted in improved cognitive ability.
CDC Warns of Measles Outbreaks in US
Not to be outdone, the vaccine controversy is once again in the news. Almost obsolete since the increased usage of vaccinations, cases of measles have recently occurred in 9 different US states. The post reveals that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now urging parents to make sure their children are vaccinated while the current cases are being investigated.
Of the 64 reported cases of measles, only one of the children had been vaccinated. The measles cases were reported between January and April of 2008 and is the highest incidence rate since 2001. About 14 of those affected were infants who were too young to receive their first measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Measles is an airborne virus that is spread through coughing and sneezing and is associated with flu-like symptoms accompanied by an all body rash. Parents have become increasingly skeptical of immunizations and many have chosen to opt out of vaccines for personal or religious reasons. While vaccines have been associated in the media with an increased risk for autism, several recent studies have proved that vaccines pose no such risk.
About The Mum-Mum Blog
The Baby Mum Mum Blog discusses everything to do with Babies and Parenting with a focus on Health, Nutrition and Infant Development. Baby Mum Mum is a healthy, easy to digest baby rice snack that is enjoyed by babies and moms around the world for its portability, gluten free ingredients and great taste. Baby Mum Mum is a division of Want Want Holdings, a manufacturer of healthy snack foods, beverage and related products.
05.11.2008 | 11:05:21 pm | Posted by mummums
By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist
 Just when you thought the vaccine debate would certainly be overshadowed by the plastic baby bottle confusion, think again. Vaccines are once again in the hot seat, as government health officials have recently reported cases of measles in 9 different states. Considered rare since the advent of immunizations, only one of the recently infected children with the highly contagious disease had been vaccinated.
Several of the children infected with measles were not immunized as their parents opted out of vaccinations claiming exemption due to “religious or personal beliefs”. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 64 people have contracted measles between January and April of 2008. This is the highest rate since the same time frame in 2001. Fourteen of those affected were infants who were simply too young to get their first measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. The CDC is now urging parents to make sure their children are vaccinated while they are actively investigating these recent cases.
While it is still uncommon in the United States, measles currently affects 20 million people a year worldwide. The condition, also known as rubeola, is due to an airborne virus that spreads via coughing and sneezing. Measles causes flu-like symptoms such as a fever, cough, and runny nose, along with a full body skin rash. The virus can also lead to other health problems as contraction of measles weakens the immune system making the body more susceptible to other bacterial infections.
According to BBC News, a Labor MP has made a bold statement saying children who are not vaccinated should not be allowed to attend school. Public health expert Sir Sandy Macara feels that mothers should realize they have the responsibility to protect their children and advocates education on the benefits of vaccinations as opposed to a forced policy.
Parents have become increasingly skeptical of vaccines due to the increased risk of autism. There is no scientific evidence supporting this claim as recent research has found that vaccines do not pose a health risk. Both the US and the UK governments would like to see at least 95% of their children vaccinated, but both countries currently fall short of their goal. Forced vaccination is not in the near future as the UK government states it has no plans to impose such regulations. British Medical Association Chairman Dr. Hamish Meldrum finds the idea to be “Stalinist” and goes on to say that forcing parents to vaccinate their children is “morally and ethically dubious”.
05.11.2008 | 10:05:46 pm | Posted by mummums
By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist
Mum Mum’s has reported numerous studies examining the benefits of breastfeeding. The health benefits of breastfeeding have been well documented, but can breastfeeding actually make your baby smarter? A new study shouts a resounding yes.
 In the largest ever randomized study of breastfeeding, researchers found nursing may raise babies’ IQ’s and improve academic performance. Led by Dr. Michael Kramer, Professor of Pediatrics and of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McGill University, researchers found that exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding makes kids smarter. Dr. Kramer points out that this is the strongest evidence to date that breastfeeding benefits a child’s intellectual development.
The researchers examined children in 31 Belarusian clinics and hospitals. Divided into 2 groups, half the mothers underwent extra encouragement and education advocating exclusive breastfeeding; while the other half followed their typical hospital and outpatient maternity care. The group that did not receive any extra attention provided the researchers with an unbiased measure of the affects of breastfeeding on the baby’s cognitive development.
IQ tests were given to the children’s pediatricians and teachers as a means to assess cognitive ability, with ratings given on performance in writing, reading, mathematics, and other subjects. All measurements were significantly higher for the children whose mothers underwent the breastfeeding promotion intervention.
Dr. Kramer notes that the effects breastfeeding has on a child’s intelligence has been an avidly debated topic, and that previous studies had been based on association alone- until this study that is. While breastfeeding rates have continued to climb over the past few years, little progress has been made in increasing the exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding. The authors hope this study will provide further incentive for nursing mothers to continue breastfeeding for several months after the baby is born.
Resource:
McGill University (2008, May 6). Breastfeeding Associated With Increased Intelligence, Study Suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 11,
05.07.2008 | 11:05:01 pm | Posted by mummums
By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist
The baby bottle safety debate rages on. Just a few short weeks ago, Canada banned import and sales of baby bottles containing bisphenol A (BPA) along with Wal-Mart and Toys ‘R’ Us promising to pull the potentially harmful baby bottles from store shelves. The European Union (EU) announced it too, will be revisiting the research.
 The EU’s watchdog group the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced it is aware of the current research on BPA and is deciding whether or not to re-state their previous position statement on the chemical which was dated January 2007. Located in Parma, Italy, the EFSA is expected to reach a decision soon.
Following Canada’s ban on BPA sales and imports, the EFSA may also follow suit despite the fact it had previously deemed small amounts of BPA in plastics as safe for consumers. US government reports found BPA to be potentially harmful to both reproductive and nervous systems. The EFSA’s January risk assessment found that an average daily intake of .05 milligrams of BPA per kilogram of body weight to not pose a health risk, adding that this amount was significantly larger than what an infant would consume on a daily basis.
Despite global concern, Singapore maintains plastic baby bottles are safe and urges stores to continue selling the bottles. Even though the US based National Institute of Health warned BPA could affect brain development in infants and increase their risk of developing breast and prostate cancer later in life, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Association (AVA) found that the BPA in plastic baby bottles was within safe limits.
Several researchers are claiming BPA is ubiquitous throughout the food supply and that plastic bottles are bearing an unfair brunt of responsibility. Many parents and environmental groups alike feel consumers should have the right to choose products containing BPA or those without. The National Childbirth Trust wants all bottles in the UK clearly labeled if they contain BPA, yet the government states they are safe for infant use and that labeling would be unnecessary. One of the largest charities in the world supporting parents, families, and infants; the National Childbirth Trust advises parents not to pour boiling hot liquids into the bottles as well as discarding them when they become scratched or damaged.
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| About this Blog: |
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The Baby Mum-Mum blog discusses everything to do with babies and parenting with
a focus on child health and child development. Baby Mum-Mum is a healthy, easy
to digest baby rice snack that is enjoyed by babies and mothers around the
world for its portability, gluten free ingredients and great taste. Baby
Mum-Mum is a division of Want-Want Holdings, a manufacturer of healthy snack
foods, beverages and related products since 1962.
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