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Skid Marks and the Advanced Skill of Wiping
Skid marks, racing stripes, whatever you choose to call them they are nasty. My daughter has been completely potty trained for 2 years now but she has yet to master the skill of wiping. Because she doesn’t wipe very well she ends up with horrendous skid marks on her panties and usually a rash on her bottom. It has gotten to the point that we have to send her to school with an extra pair of panties just to mitigate the problem and when I put her into the bath at night there will be shit-chips floating in the tub. Yuck!
I thought I might be the only parent plagued with this problem but after talking with my girlfriend and her husband this weekend I was relieved to find out that their 4 year old son has the same problem. Of course, these skids aren’t only found in our children’s underwear. Sometime when they are putting their underwear they choose to sit on the floor or bed and that is also where you can find the unmistakable brown streak. As a parent I think I find my daughters skids more embarrassing than she does.
I admit that wiping with toilet paper does come with a higher degree of difficultly. I even know adults that have trouble with toilet paper (you know who you are). Maybe the Europeans have it right with the bidet. I’m sure a quick shower of the crack would do the trick but I’m sure that comes with other obstacles. So, the question is what can you do? Well, I’ve asked around and have done a little research and here are a few things to try if your child is wiping handicap.
1. Flushable baby wipes – These seem to be a little easier for kids to manipulate and gets the area clean with less effort.
2. Adult inspection – Have mom, dad, or the adult on duty inspect for a clean crack. If it’s not clean, give a lesson on how you should wipe until the toilet paper is clean.
3. Mirror – keep a mirror in the bathroom so your child can check to see if they did a good job.
4. Positive reinforcement - Reward your child every day they have clean undies.
For more articles on my trials and tribulations with poop:
5 Tips to Relieve Baby’s Gas
My Son Found His Wiener
This Bud’s For You
Today is my handsome and talented husband’s 38th birthday and every year for the last nine years I have given him the same gift. Matter of fact, it is the same gift I give him for Valentines Day, Father’s Day and Christmas, BEER! He absolutely loves it and gets very excited when a holiday comes around because he loves getting his special beers. Of course, he loves all beers from the watered down versions that we drank in college to the Belgian Trappist Ale. For his birthday I got him a selection of the 1 pint Belgian’s with a mix of porter’s and stouts from around the world. These beers cost $8-$10 a bottle (1 pint, 9.4 Fl. Oz.) but with 7-10% alcohol one bottle will do.
If you are looking for a special gift for the beer loving man or woman in your life I would suggest putting together a selection of special beers. I like to place the beers in a basket with a few additional goodies like CD’s, balloons, beer glasses, fishing gear, etc. but you can customize your basket with your sweeties favorites. I promise, if you deliver this basket of love to your significant other it will be a huge hit!
What Plastic Containers Should We Get Rid Of?
Are we slowly poisoning ourselves and our family by reusing plastic bottles and containers? According to recent health publications plastic containers including, baby bottles, toddler sippy cups, water bottles and other food and beverage container are leaching Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound in hard, clear polycarbonate plastics. BPA has raised concerns because it appears to mimic the effects of estrogen, interfering with hormone levels and cell signaling systems. Previous studies have shown that people exposed to high levels of BPA have a greater risk of developing uterine fibroids, breast cancer, decreased sperm counts, and prostate cancer. Babies and children are thought to be at greatest risk from the exposure. In fact, the scientific evidence warrants “a higher level of concern than those expressed by the expert [scientific] panel for possible effects of bisphenol A on prostate gland, mammary gland and early onset of puberty in exposed fetuses, infants and children,” the NTP report concludes. Even more alarming is that heating plastics that have BPA can release BPA 55 times faster than normal.
BPA is chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and several types of resins. It is found in products used everyday such as compact discs, DVDs, baby bottles and other food and drink packaging. It is also commonly found in cars, sports safety equipment and water pipes.
Alternatives to polycarbonate include polyethylene and polypropylene plastics, as well as glass. Both alternative plastics are usually identifiable by recycling code, a number that should appear inside a triangular symbol on each plastic container. The number 2 marks polyethylene and the number 5, polypropylene. Polycarbonate doesn’t have a unique recycling code, but it tends to be assigned the code 7, a category for miscellaneous plastics. Various online resources—for examples, see here and here—list products said to be bisphenol A free.
What plastic containers should you get rid of?
· All polycarbonate
· Check the triangle: If you still want to go with plastic then choose the safest kind. Check the bottom of the bottle for a triangle with a number in the middle. This tells you what type of plastic used to make the bottle. Quick reference: 2,4,5 = safe, 1,3,6,7 = unsafe.
Alternatives to polycarbonate plastics
· Switch to glass bottles or those with disposable plastic liners that don’t contain BPA.
· Use microwave-safe paper plates
· Glass dishes covered with a paper towel rather than plastic wrap.
· Eden Foods, a Clinton, Mich.-based natural-foods company, sells beans and tomato products in bisphenol A-free cans.
· Some manufacturers, like BornFree, have begun to offer plastic bottles and training cups that are BPA free.
Go with stainless steel
Save money and reduce your carbon footprint: buy a water filer for home use and fill up your stainless steel bottle, which won’t leak any chemicals. Some tried and true companies include:
Sigg: The original stainless steel bottles can be found at many online sporting goods stores as well as amazon.com.
Klean Kanteen: Although manufactured in China, the company guarantees their product is safe and created in a factory with fair working conditions.
New Wave Enviro Products: Founded in 1993, this company offers several styles of stainless steel bottles.
As safe as plastic can be
Certain numbers are safer than others:
· #2 HDP or HPDE (high-density polyethylene): This high density plastic is the most resistant to chemical leaching. Most commonly found in milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles. Easy to spot because it will be semitransparent or a solid white color. It’s never clear.
· #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene): Although resistant to leaching, it’s almost never used in water bottles but is found in sandwich bags, cling wrap and grocery bags.
· #5 PP (polypropylene): This semi-transparent or white plastic is also resistant to chemical leaching. More used in syrup bottles and yogurt containers.
Avoid whenever possible
Try your best to turn your back on these plastics:
· #1 PET/PETE (polyethylene terephthalate): Made for one time use, these bottles should be avoided since they more than likely leach the heavy metal antimony and the hormone disrupting chemical BPA. Don’t reuse these bottles and don’t purchase if they are over six months old.
· #3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride): Known to leach two toxic chemicals, DEHP (di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate) and bispehonal-A that are both known endocrine and hormone disruptors, this is the most common plastic used in water bottles, baby bottles and cooking oil.
· #6 PS (polystyrene): Known to leach styrene, a carcinogen that causes headaches, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, this plastic is most commonly used in disposable coffee cups and take out containers.
· PC/PLA: Polycarbonate: Since this plastic is made with BPA, it’s going to leach and is probably the worst plastic to use. Unfortunately it’s found in baby bottles, reusable water bottles, 5-gallon jugs (used for the office water cooler) and food-storage containers.
Tips for bottled water
· If your water smells like plastic, even just a hint, don’t drink it. Dump it or return it.
· Keep your bottled water away from heat or sunlight. Hot plastic leaches chemicals more easily.
· Don’t buy water that has been on the shelf longer than six months. Ask the store how long it’s been on the shelf. Dust is usually not a good sign.
· Don’t reuse bottles made for single use. They are breeding grounds for bacteria and will also start to break down quickly, easily releasing chemicals
· Go with stainless steel or glass whenever possible.
· Buy in bulk and stay away from the individual bottles.
· Drink tap water. Buy a home water filter and start carrying tap in your stainless steel bottle. Save money and the planet.
More information
View the full study at babystoxicbottle.org.
Study of Chemical in Plastic Bottles Raises Alarm
BPA and plastic containers for more tips on minimizing your and your family’s exposure to BPA
Report Shows Dangerous Chemical Can Leach From Baby Bottles
“This is quite concerning. All 19 polycarbonate bottles [investigated in the study] leached BPA when heated. This is clearly showing that BPA is certainly leaching from popular and common consumer products,” Judith Robinson, special projects director with the Environmental Health Fund, said at a Thursday teleconference.
The new report tested six major brands of plastic baby bottles available at major retailers, including Wal-Mart and Babies-R-Us, in the United States and Canada. According to the study, 95 percent of baby bottles on the market contain BPA.
The brands tested — which included Avent, Disney/The First Years, Dr. Brown’s, Evenflo, Gerber and Playtex — all leached BPA when heated. According to the study authors, these same levels of BPA caused a range of adverse effects in laboratory animals.
Among U.S. bottles, Dr. Brown’s brand had the highest level of leaching while Avent brand bottles had the lowest levels, the report said.”
Does sex matter? Conceiving a boy or girl
Why does sex really matter? Its something we all do when we first find out we are pregnant. We start imagining visions of pink or playing ball with our son. Outwardly we just say “we want a healthy baby” but deep down we do have a preference. We have a daughter and a son so since I am pregnant with our third and final baby you would think preference would not play into our thoughts and yet it still does.
My brother got himself in trouble recently when he proclaimed to the world that his 3rd child is going to be a boy. He made it clear that a girl wasn’t an option and in fact his wife didn’t even need to call and tell him what the results of the ultrasound was because he was 100% sure that it was a boy. It was as if he was daring God to deny him a second son and we all know what happens when you do that. IT’S A GIRL!
I am a planner; I love to think I have control in my life by setting aside a plan. We planned our first born; a girl. Then we decided to plan a second. Since we had a girl we decided to try for a boy. I did some research and found several good articles and suggestions. The information provided was so scientific and since there really wasn’t any down side to “trying” we followed the Shettles Method. Nine months later we gave birth to our son. Do I believe that this method really works? I believe you have a 50/50 shot at a boy or a girl and we would be silly to believe we have any control over this miracle than faith alone. I do believe there is a plan; we just aren’t the one’s doing the planning.
Basically, men produce two types of sperms, the X (female) and Y (male). According to Dr. Shettles‘ studies the y-sperms are smaller, weaker, but faster than their siblings x-sperms, which are bigger, stronger, but slower. Based on this fact, there are several things you can do to “favor” the conception of boys or girls:
(1) The most important aspect of all is timing of intercourse during the monthly cycle. The closer to ovulation you have sex, the better the chances to have a boy, because the y-sperms are faster and tend to get to the egg first. If you have sex 3 days or more before ovulation, the better your chances to conceive a girl, because the weaker y-sperms tend to die sooner and the x-sperms will be available in greater quantity whenever the egg is released. On the other hand, having sex from 2 days before ovulation, through a few days after ovulation, is better for conceiving a boy. Around the 2-day point — 48 hours before ovulation — seems to be the 50/50 mark.
(2) The pH of the women’s tract is also very important. A more acidic environment favors girls, since it will kill the weaker y-sperms first, leaving a greater quantity of x-sperms available to fertilize the egg. On the other hand, a more alkaline environment favors boys.
· Diet high in potassium and sodium for a boy.
· Diet high in calcium and magnesium for a girl.
Note: Some women are naturally very acidic and have a hard time conceiving boys.
(3) Position of intercourse and depth of penetration are important, partly because of pH. The closer to the entrance to the vagina, the more acidic the women’s tract is. Also, deep penetration places the sperm closer to the egg, and gives those aggressive boy sperms a head start :-). So, a shallow penetration will favor girls and a deeper will favor boys. Shettles recommends missionary-position for a girl, and rear-entry (dog-style) for a boy.
(4) Women’s orgasms can also be important. It also has to do with pH. When a woman has an orgasm, the body releases some kind of substance that makes the environment more alkaline, favoring boys. He recommends no orgasms when trying for girls!
(5) The sperm count is another factor. Obviously, a low sperm count to begin with doesn’t favor either sex. But a high sperm count favors boys. Shettles recommends three things:
(a) When trying for a boy, don’t have sex for 3- 4 days before you reach the target date a day or two before ovulation! For girls, have sex everyday from day=1 or day=5 (”cleaner” :-)), and stop 3 days before ovulation.
(b) Shettles recommends that for boys, the man wear loose underwear only — that is, men who usually wear briefs or other tight underwear should switch to boxers. The idea is the same as wearing boxers to increase overall fertility — the testicles need cooler temperatures for sperms to survive, and the Y-sperms, since they are weaker, will be helped more than the X-sperms by this method. However, Shettles does NOT recommend the opposite, that men wear briefs for a girl — this will just decrease overall fertility.
(c) Also, for a girl, the man is supposed to take a hot bath immediately before intercourse. “Room temperature” is fine for a boy. The idea is the same as the briefs versus boxers — give the X- sperms an advantage.
(6) Finally, in trying for a boy, Shettles recommends a nice cup of caffeinated coffee for the man, right before sex — he isn’t clear on how or why this works, but apparently it gives the Y-sperms a jolt!
Will it Be a Boy or a Girl? Predicting and Influencing Gender
http://www.ovulation-calculator.com/pregnancy/gender-prediction.htm
Tried, But Not Always True - Methods to Choose Baby’s Sex Range From
New Tech to Old Ideas
http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/Living/gender_selection_methods_040419.html
Does the Shettles Method Really Work?
http://preconception.com/resources/articles/choosep2.htm
http://preconception.com/resources/articles/truth.htm
Ovulation Calendar
http://www.ovulation-calendar.com/
Fertility Calculator:
http://www.planbaby.com/fertilitycalculator.html
Boy or girl? 38 fun ways to guess your baby’s sex
http://www.parentsplace.com/pregnancy/getready/articles/0,,239007_432032,00.html
More Old Wives Tales and Folklore:
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/preconception/gettingpregnant/7061.html
My Son Found His Wiener
Why is it that men feel so comfortable touching themselves regardless of the audience or situation? I used to think it was because they felt more comfortable with themselves than women do but now I believe it is something more primitive. I believe men are born with a reflex that compels them to automatically check their junk without even thinking about it. Growing up with brothers I have always been aware of boy’s fascinations with their body parts but it wasn’t until I watched my son discover his wiener that I truly understood that this is all apart of the development process.
It was like any other diaper changing event. I was quickly wiping off the poop that had lodged itself in every crack and cranny. During this procedure is when this primitive reflex started. My son very cautiously reached down and gave himself a tug. It was as if he found a new toy and from that diaper change on it has been the same discovery over and over.
I think the most interesting part of this event was my husband’s reaction. His reaction was not of disgust or embarrassment, which, is what he does when our daughter does something similar. He was actually proud, like this was a “that’s my boy” moment. Maybe this is a right of passage that every male makes but for me as a mom, my epiphany was that I am actually raising a man and this is just one of many discoveries he will make during his life. I just wish he would stop “discovering” while I’m wiping poop off of him.
8 Cheap to Free Childcare Options When You Need a Little “me time”
We have all been there as parents when you’ve just had enough and just need to get away even just for a moment. After the birth of my daughter I remember spending lots of time at the grocery store going down each and every aisle enjoying the silence and freedom of being there alone. We shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting some alone time or adult time with our spouse and friends. It’s natural and frankly healthy. You will be a better mommy and wife if you make sure your needs are being met. Here are my 8 cheap to free childcare options when you need a little “me time”.
1. FREE - Friends and Family – This should be your first option if you have any family or friends that live close. Ask for a weekly or monthly appointment where they can take your kid(s) for a couple of hours. You will be surprise how accommodating and sympathetic your loved ones will be for a favor like this.
2. FREE - Parent co-op or Kid(s) swap – Find another mom or group of moms in your situation willing to take turns watching each others kid(s). craigslist.org usually has listings for parent co-op’s in your area.
3. CHEAP - Join a gym – Most gyms offer childcare so this is a great way for you to get some exercise in and get a break. Don’t feel like exercising? Relax in the sauna, sit in the hot-tub or just pretend to exercise and do some people watching or read a book. Also, I have even seen some gyms offer “date night” where they will watch your kid(s) for a couple of hours while you and your spouse have a date.
4. FREE - Join a church – Most churches offer free childcare during their service or bible study. A ladies bible study is a great way to meet other moms, grow your support system and faith.
5. FREE - Freddy’s Playland at Fred Meyer - Fred Meyers is a regional grocery store and they have a great little service called “Freddy’s Playland.” It’s a place where kids, between the ages of 2 and 5, can go for one hour while their parents do their grocery shopping. There are a couple really great things about this: 1) it’s free 2) the store is huge, along the lines of a Super Target with all your shopping needs 3) it has a Starbucks inside 4) My daughter loved going there. 5) Even if you don’t have shopping to do, you can have a 1 hour break of all parenting obligations.
6. FREE - Public Library service – Most public library’s offer fun free activities for kids off all ages. You do have to stay onsite but this is a great way for someone else to entertain your kid(s) or an hour and you can take a mental break.
7. CHEAP - Teen babysitter or mommy helper - There are a lot of qualified teenagers available after 3pm on week days that have taken classes on babysitting including safety, emergency training and are experienced. You can post or read ads out on craigslist.org or check out a babysitting service that can find someone for you. Have the sitter come over for an interview to see how comfortable you are with them and they are with your child. This is a cheap childcare option and a great way to schedule some regular “me time”.
8. CHEAP - Timeshare a nanny - Find another parent wanting or willing to share a nanny on a part-time basis.
10 Chores your preschooler will love doing
It seems that my daughter changed overnight to wanting to do everything “myself”. This is a great time for preschoolers to gain self confidence but it also can be quite frustrating when they can’t do something on their own. Like most toddlers my daughter is eager to help with chores, and while her “helping” may not always be appreciated, keeping her excitement and the habit of helping out alive, should be.
10 Chores your preschooler will love doing:
Help cook – This is usually a messing proposition however nothing makes my daughter more proud than to tell people she helped cook something with mommy. I usually help her crack the eggs and stir anything that needs mixing.
Empty dishwasher – Right now I have only had her empty own the silverware tray (after I put away any sharp objects like knives). She loves to sort the spoon, forks and butter knives.
Wash fruits and vegetables – Again, this can be very messy however she loves to stand at the sink washing potatoes or anything else that needs rinsing.
Water plants – I fill up a plastic container partially with water and she walks around the house watering the plants.
Dust furniture – I keep a basket of old socks and cloths in the laundry room specifically for this purpose. She really enjoys putting the socks on her hands and walking around and dusting off the furniture.
Help with laundry – She puts her dirty laundry in the hamper, she puts dirty cloths in the wash machine and moves the wet laundry to the dryer. As a reward I let her turn the washer and dryer on by herself which is the highlight of the chore.
Feed younger siblings – My 1 year old son adores his big sister so any time she helps with him is big fun for both of them.
Garden – I bought my daughter her own gloves and gardening tools and she loves to pick weeds, berry’s, plant flowers and of course any sort of digging in the dirt is great fun.
Clean up after them selves: wash sink after brushing, putting dirty close in hamper, put away toys, put away cloths, clear their plate after a meal, clean up many of their own their own spills and messes
Use a hand-held vacuum – Most preschoolers are not big enough for a full size vacuum but a hand-held is just right
First Time Parents: Choosing a Pediatrician
The search for your baby’s Pediatrician should begin at least one month before your due date. The best way to select a Pediatrician is by word of mouth. Unfortunately, many of us don’t have this valuable resource, and so we are left to do our own investigating. This process will include an “interview” with as many physicians as it takes to find the “right” one for your family. I suggest physically visiting the doctor’s office so that you can scope out the atmosphere. Ask yourself: Is the office and physician baby friendly? How busy is the waiting room? Does it seem like people are waiting a long time for their appointments? How helpful is the receptionist? In my experience, Pediatricians accepting new patients are happy to meet with expecting parents for a face-to-face interview. I would be wary of any physician unwilling to extend this courtesy.
The following is a list of questions I found useful in my search for the best Pediatrician for my son:
- Is the doctor(s) covered by my insurance?
- How many doctors are in the clinic? More than one doctor makes for more flexible scheduling and the availability of drop-in appointments.
- Will my child see the doctor, the doctor’s assistant, or a nurse during his/her visit? It was important to me that my child see his Pediatrician for each of his wellness visits.
- What vaccination schedule does the doctor follow, why, and is he/she flexible in that regime?
- Is there a separate waiting area for sick kids vs. kids being seen for routine check-ups?
- What are the hours/days of operation?
- Who is on-call for emergencies when the office is closed?
- What hospital(s) is the doctor affiliated with?
- Does the doctor(s) have children of his/her own?
- What are the doctor’s credentials and how long has the doctor(s) been practicing?
Going Green: Before it was cool
Since today is Earth Day I decided I would dedicate this blog to the person that taught me the most about recycling, reusing and re-purposing, my mother. The reason my mom had a black belt in recycling, reusing and re-purposing was not because she lived through the depression nor was it because she is a tree-hugging ex-hippie; she was simply trying to support a family of 6 on a teachers salary. In the past she had been accused of being cheap but I would like to suggest that in reality she was just going green before it was cool.
Here are a few tips you can use straight from my mother’s book of recycling, reusing, and repurposing.
Wax paper from your cereal box: Once you finish the cereal from the wax paper bag it was contained in then you can re-purpose the wax paper for cooking or other uses. Simply pull the bag apart until its flat and you have a perfectly good piece of wax paper.
Welfare Gore-Tex: My parents couldn’t afford to buy special winter gear for us so if we didn’t get it second-hand then we would have to make do. This is where the “Welfare Gore-Tex” (nickname my brothers gave it) came into play. My mother would save bread sacks and we would layer socks and bread sacks to form a warm water-proof barrier for our feet and legs. Our Welfare Gore-Tex would enable us to play for hours in the snow.
Butter/Margarine wrappers: Once you have unwrapped your sticks of butter or margarine fold the wrappers and keep them in your refrigerator. These wrappers have little bits of butter/margarine stuck to them so the wrappers are great for greasing cookie sheets or frying pans.
Toilet paper CAN be recycled: Growing up my brother’s and I were in sports so usually during Homecoming our house would be toilet-papered. Most people would look at this as a big mess to clean up. My mother saw this as free toilet paper. We would have to gather up all the bits of paper off the trees and bushes and then this would be our every day toilet paper for the bathroom. There would be little bits of twig on some of the paper so you would take caution in wiping.
Expiration dates are just a suggestion: My mom never believed in expiration dates. If the food looked ok, smelled ok, then it was ok for consuming. *To her credit none of us went to the hospital for food poisoning.
All grease/oil is reusable: My mom kept a container on the stove for storing any sort of excess grease or oil from cooking. This was especially useful when cooking bacon since there is always lots of excess grease. This bucket-o-grease was then handy for the next time you needed some sort of cooking lubricant. Besides being VERY bad for you the only down side to this was that everything my mom cooked had a slight bacon taste to it.
Tin foil, plastic wrap, and plastic bags are all washable: I think this one is self explanatory.
Recycling dinner: My mother was a firm believer in leftover’s. If one night we had bean soup, the next night we would have bean soup tacos and then perhaps the next night we would have some sort of bean soup taco dip.
Plastic ware: This includes plastic forks, knives, spoons, plates and cups. If you have the luxury of buying plastic ware you can get months use out of them by simply washing and reusing.
You can freeze everything: If my mom found something on sale at the grocery store she would buy several months supply. This would include food items that wouldn’t normally keep several months like bread, cheese, meat, etc. All of this food would be placed in our large freezer for use at a later date.
Vaccinations, Autism and My Decision for My Baby Boy
Can vaccinations cause autism? It’s something I think about a lot lately especially since boys are 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism and my son just turned 1, which, is around the time doctors can reliably diagnose autism. Even with all the controversy over whether vaccinations can cause autism I made an informed decision to take my son in for his one year vaccinations last week.
I started talking with our pediatrician about a vaccination schedule for my son as soon as he was born. I also tried to educate myself on autism by reading all the information I could find on autism and talking with several parents that have children with autism. With this information to guide me I decided that I would do a modified vaccination schedule as determined by myself and my son’s pediatrician.
Here are a couple shot schedules available to parents:
American Academy of Pediatrics shot schedule http://www.cispimmunize.org/
Dr. Sears shot schedule http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/
Deciding on whether to vaccinate your child is a very important decision that every parent makes and it’s not an all or nothing proposition. Immunization is one of the most effective ways parents can protect their infants and children from potentially serious diseases. The best advice I would give to any parent is to educate yourself as much as possible and talk with your child’s health care provider to determine the best course of action for you.
Here are a few resources for more information on autism:
http://www.cafemom.com Has forums for Autism/Asperger’s/PDD Awareness and Parenting Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Center for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/Features/InfantImmunization/
http://www.autism-blog.com/ Allows people who have been affected by autism to share their stories and help other people to overcome. Their goal is to provide the best online autism support group possible.