ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gif ParentDish http://www.parentdish.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Seventh Generation publishes book on natural cleaninghttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/04/16/seventh-generation-publishes-book-on-natural-cleaning/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/04/16/seventh-generation-publishes-book-on-natural-cleaning/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/04/16/seventh-generation-publishes-book-on-natural-cleaning/#commentsFiled under: ,

seventh generationDo you worry about cleaning your house with toxic chemicals, but you aren't sure what you should use instead? Look no further than Seventh Generation's new book, Naturally Clean, The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy Non-Toxic Cleaning.

There have been books written before about how to clean your house naturally, with recipes galore. It seems as though this book is taking a slightly different approach, though. Instead of giving you a bunch of recipes with vinegar and castille soap, it sets out to educate you in changing your household environment for the greener. Help with reading labels and identifying toxins, how to choose green products, cleaning the air in your house and natural solutions to stain challenges in every room are sections of this book.

As usual, Seventh Generation proves it is a company dedicated to not only educating its customers but also meeting their needs. Bravo.

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]]>babybookscleaningguidenon-toxicreadingsafetyseventh generationSeventhGenerationKeith McDuffeeSun, 16 Apr 2006 14:02:00 ESTNew Yahoo groups target natural family livinghttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/04/16/new-yahoo-groups-target-natural-family-living/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/04/16/new-yahoo-groups-target-natural-family-living/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/04/16/new-yahoo-groups-target-natural-family-living/#commentsFiled under: , ,

natirual family online logoNatural Family Living Online announced the creation of two new Yahoo groups designed to help people come together and share ideas about natural family living.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/natural-family/ is for members to share information about "attachment parenting, breastfeeding, natural pregnancy and birth, vaccinations, cloth diapering and more," states their email newsletter. If you've got young children and want to know more about living naturally, this may be the group for you.  To discuss the whole natural living family lifestyle, including whole foods, holistic health and wellness, natural homes and other family life issues, http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/natural-home/ would be a good group to join.

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]]>babynatural familyNaturalFamilypregnancywebsiteyahooyahoo groupsYahooGroupsKeith McDuffeeSun, 16 Apr 2006 11:01:00 ESTCan fetuses feel pain?http://www.parentdish.com/2006/04/14/can-fetuses-feel-pain/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/04/14/can-fetuses-feel-pain/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/04/14/can-fetuses-feel-pain/#commentsFiled under: ,

fetusAccording to the British Medical Journal, no, fetuses cannot feel pain. But how can we know for sure? The reason this debate is so hot right now is because there is legislation in Congress that would require women to get anesthesia for their fetuses during abortions. Science is telling us that this is an unnecessary risk for the mothers.

An interesting debate to be sure, but not what I find most interesting about discussing whether or not fetuses can feel pain. If it is in fact true (and how can they prove that for sure, I wonder?), then what a wonderful thing to celebrate. The amazing protectiveness of the womb is already awe inspiring. Can it be that nature also gifted fetuses with nine pain-free months in the womb? It is a wonderful thing to ponder, and to hope such a great start is given to all of our children.

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]]>abortionanesthesiababiesbloggingbabycongressfetuslegislationpregnancyscienceKeith McDuffeeFri, 14 Apr 2006 17:06:00 ESTToxic stuffed toys?http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/23/toxic-stuffed-toys/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/23/toxic-stuffed-toys/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/23/toxic-stuffed-toys/#commentsFiled under: ,

toysYou can't give your kids plastic toys because of phthalates, PCBs and dioxins. Some wooden toys from Europe have toxic paint. Just when you thought it was safe to give your child a toy, the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry reports that stuffed toys carry DDT and flame retardants. Mothering gives tips on how to get safer stuffed toys, by avoiding recycled materials, surface washable only and washing them before giving them to your child.

I'm off to wash Owen's new stuffed kitty . . .

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]]>Keith McDuffeeThu, 23 Mar 2006 18:03:00 ESTFollow up to night doula article from Mothering onlinehttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/15/follow-up-to-night-doula-article-from-mothering-online/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/15/follow-up-to-night-doula-article-from-mothering-online/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/15/follow-up-to-night-doula-article-from-mothering-online/#commentsFiled under:

doulaI recently posted a link to an article on mothering.com about night doulas, and whether or not they compromise the bond between mother and child. A response to that article, written by a doula, furthers the discussion on this issue. I thought it was great that the first article made the author of the second one think about this, as she states, because that is what it made me do as well.

Some new points the second article brings up:
  • Night doulas may be the only source of breastfeeding support for some moms, and support is crucial in continuing the breastfeeding if a mom is struggling.
  • If a doula knows her stuff and supports the family and teaches them, the bond shouldn't be compromised.
It makes sense that it depends on the doula, and that it is the duty of the doula to educate and support the family, not bond with the child in place of the mother. What do you think?

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]]>babiesbabybloggingbabydoulahome birthHomeBirthmothering.comnight doulaNightDoulapregnancyKeith McDuffeeWed, 15 Mar 2006 08:04:00 ESTNew TV series on midwiferyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/12/new-tv-series-on-midwifery/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/12/new-tv-series-on-midwifery/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/12/new-tv-series-on-midwifery/#commentsFiled under: , ,

discovery health logoAre you addicted to TLC's A Baby Story? Well, you haven't seen a show that celebrates childbirth like House of Babies, which airs on Discovery Health. The unscripted show, depicting births at a Florida birth center and midwifery school, celebrates natural childbirth.

OK, you can tune in to A Baby Story and occasionally get a lovely natural childbirth. But for the most part, you are viewing a laboring woman laying on her back in a hospital bed, hooked up to an epidural, along with various tubes and monitors. Surely that won't give you your fix of the amazing power of women, childbirth and nature at its finest. Yep, I'm the proud husband of a wife who birthed our healthy son naturally in a birth center. Biased? You bet, but I couldn't imagine helping my baby be born in a place designed for sick people when we were a low risk birth.

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]]>a baby storyABabyStorybabybirthblogging babyBloggingBabyhouse of babiesHouseOfBabiesmidwivestelevisiontvtvsquadKeith McDuffeeSun, 12 Mar 2006 15:03:00 ESTEasy energy boost for busy moms and dadshttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/12/easy-energy-boost-for-busy-moms-and-dads/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/12/easy-energy-boost-for-busy-moms-and-dads/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/12/easy-energy-boost-for-busy-moms-and-dads/#commentsFiled under: ,

8 minutes in the morningNo, not uppers. Something else, and something good for you in so many ways. For years now, my wife and I have been doing the Jorge Cruise Eight Minutes in the Morning program. Aside from the serendipitous weight loss (we did not do the diet plan part of it, just the exercise), we enjoyed an amazing increase in our energy levels.

Then along came Owen. We were able to keep up with the exercises sporadically, but it all depended on what type of night Owen had and what kind of morning we were all having. It would seem easy enough, to use free weights to work two muscle groups a day, approximating only eight minutes of time, right? Well, for some reason we made every excuse in the book (and I don't mean this one.)

Continue reading Easy energy boost for busy moms and dads

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]]>babybloggingbabyexercisefitnessjorge cruiseJorgeCruiseKeith McDuffeeSun, 12 Mar 2006 14:01:00 ESTI love wooden toyshttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/10/i-love-wooden-toys/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/10/i-love-wooden-toys/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/10/i-love-wooden-toys/#commentsFiled under:

wooden truckWooden toys . . . I wish we had more than we do, but there have been times we have cheaped out because the wooden toys are more expensive than the plastic versions. That's no excuse, but I had to come clean. Some of my favorite wooden toy features:

  • The musical wooden toys, like the Brio Plan Xylophone Owen has, for instance, have such a lovely sound. It is a refreshing change from the usually obnoxious sounds of the electronic plastic music makers.

Continue reading I love wooden toys

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]]>babybloggingbabybrio plan xylophoneBrioPlanXylophonetoywooden toyWoodenToyKeith McDuffeeFri, 10 Mar 2006 08:33:00 ESTBreastfeeding your teens?http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/10/breastfeeding-your-teens/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/10/breastfeeding-your-teens/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/10/breastfeeding-your-teens/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

breastfeeding posterOK, now that I've got your attention, no, don't breastfeed your teenagers. But new research shows that the longer you breastfeed your infant, the less likely he or she is to have weight problems during the teen years.

Researchers speculate this occurs for a number of reasons. One, they they learn to self-regulate feeding, as that is what breastfeeding babies do. Also, that breastfeeding has a positive effect on body metabolism.

Let's do a little informal poll here. If you are willing to share how long you breastfed your baby and whether or not they are weight for height proportionate between the ages of nine and fourteen, we can test the study in real life.

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]]>babyboggingbabybreast feedingBreastFeedingnutritionobesetyoverweightKeith McDuffeeFri, 10 Mar 2006 08:00:00 ESTOrganic baby food under firehttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/09/organic-baby-food-under-fire/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/09/organic-baby-food-under-fire/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/09/organic-baby-food-under-fire/#commentsFiled under: ,

organic baby foodThanks to Nick at Slashfood for posting this story, about some brands of
organic baby food in the UK that are not what they seem to be. Because of the UK labeling laws, an ingredient has to be a certain percentage of the whole product if it is listed first. Several brands contained much less than the amount required by law, which means that not only are you not getting what you think you are getting, but also that there are a lot more fillers in the baby food. If you are concerned about feeding one of these brands to your child (Heinz and Cow and Gate were two mentioned), check out the links to articles provided by Nick in his original post for more details.

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]]>babybloggingbabyfoodorganicslashfoodKeith McDuffeeThu, 09 Mar 2006 07:02:00 ESTBlogging Baby Deals: OshKosh salehttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/02/blogging-baby-deals-oshkosh-sale/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/02/blogging-baby-deals-oshkosh-sale/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/03/02/blogging-baby-deals-oshkosh-sale/#commentsFiled under: , ,

oshkosh logoDo you have an OshKosh outlet store near you? If you do, you'll want to rush in soon. Their clearance merchandise is now 75% off, but they have a fun deal on their new spring items, too. You can mix and match and the more pieces you buy, the more you save. If you buy one or two items, you get 25% off, three items get you 40% off and four or more items a whopping 50% off. Come on, you know what size your kid will be in a few months; what have you got to lose? The sale is only for a limited time, but they don't specify how long that is, so I say get there quickly.

Another tip -- there is no place on their website to sign up for their newsletter, but if you tell the cashier at the store to make sure you are signed up, you'll get coupons, normally for 20% off one item, every month or so. They count for sale items, so you could potentially get 70% off one item with a coupon right now. Well, that is practically free . . .

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]]>babyclothesclothingdealsoshkoshoutlet storesOutletStoresKeith McDuffeeThu, 02 Mar 2006 09:35:00 ESTBaby Einstein exposed?http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/21/baby-einstein-exposed/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/21/baby-einstein-exposed/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/21/baby-einstein-exposed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

baby einstein looI don't even know where to begin on this post; there are so many sides to the story. Should your babies watch TV? Are Baby Einstein videos essential to brain development? Are TV and videos just good babysitters? Is it bad that you think TV and videos are good babysitters?

The author of this web exclusive article on Mothering's site has done extensive research on Baby Einstein and their claims. Why? Because having a company tell her that her baby would develop better by watching these videos just didn't sit right with her. And she found out some pretty interesting things, like studies to debunk claims that Baby Einstein's Language Nursery can help teach your child another language.

Continue reading Baby Einstein exposed?

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]]>babiesbabybaby einsteinBabyEinsteindvdsparentingvideosKeith McDuffeeTue, 21 Feb 2006 12:39:00 ESTGentle and natural ways to help your child sleep betterhttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/20/gentle-and-natural-ways-to-help-your-child-sleep-better/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/20/gentle-and-natural-ways-to-help-your-child-sleep-better/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/20/gentle-and-natural-ways-to-help-your-child-sleep-better/#commentsFiled under:

sleepingalexWhat? Your child still isn't sleeping through the night or going to bed on his own? Do you hear questions like that from everyone, including your mother in law, the lady behind you at the supermarket and your pediatrician?

Frankly, what I have come to accept is that infants and toddlers aren't wired to sleep through the night all of the time. Expectations like this sure have helped my wife and I learn to happily parent Owen twenty-four hours a day, giving him what he needs to be the confident and secure 14-month old that he is now.

Continue reading Gentle and natural ways to help your child sleep better

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]]>babiesbabybloggingbabyhomeopathysleepKeith McDuffeeMon, 20 Feb 2006 15:34:00 ESTDo you want to help get junk food out of the schools?http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/20/do-you-want-to-help-get-junk-food-out-of-the-schools/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/20/do-you-want-to-help-get-junk-food-out-of-the-schools/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/20/do-you-want-to-help-get-junk-food-out-of-the-schools/#commentsFiled under: , ,

junk foodWhy not, I say? There is a bill proposed to Congress that would redefine  'junk food', and keep more of it out of our schools, not only the cafeterias, but also the vending machines. You can't control everything your child eats once they leave the house and are a certain age, but setting a good example at home and carrying that example through to school would be a big help, don't you think?

Follow the link in the article to urge Congress to support this bill -- make a difference!

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]]>babybloggingbabycongressfoodjunk foodJunkFoodschoolKeith McDuffeeMon, 20 Feb 2006 14:45:00 ESTPhthalates linked to childhood asthma in studyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/12/phthalates-linked-to-childhood-asthma-in-study/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/12/phthalates-linked-to-childhood-asthma-in-study/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/12/phthalates-linked-to-childhood-asthma-in-study/#commentsFiled under: ,

PhthalatesScientists, pediatricians, teachers, parents and everyone are wondering about the huge rise in childhood asthma. A study done in Sweden may shed some light on this. Phthalates, chemicals found in plastics, tend to migrate out of the products (like cosmetics, cling wrap and soft plastic children's toys) and reside in the dust in your house. When the dust in the study households was analyzed, the higher the concentration of phthalates in the dust, the more likely there would be an asthma sufferer in the household. The amount of phthalates was also related to the severity of the asthma.

Um . . .yuck? And scary, too, that these chemicals are so crafty as to jump out of their original products (some being children's toys, which is a whole other level of yuckdom) and hide in the corners of your house, waiting to wreak havoc on your child's respiratory system.

The good news? Seventh Generation's newsletter has lots of tips on how to avoid phthalates in your home, and not all of them include changing to a natural lifestyle. There are simple cleaning tips that can help, too.

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]]>asthmababybloggingbabydusthealthPhthalatesKeith McDuffeeSun, 12 Feb 2006 09:02:00 ESTUse EFT to help your children be balanced and happyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/07/use-eft-to-help-your-children-be-balanced-and-happy/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/07/use-eft-to-help-your-children-be-balanced-and-happy/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/07/use-eft-to-help-your-children-be-balanced-and-happy/#commentsFiled under: ,

shy childWhat do you mean you've never heard of EFT? My wife has been using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for years and even has a certification in this amazing modality, which works on the subtle energy system to balance emotions. Anyone can learn how to do the basics in a matter of minutes; all you need to do is tap on certain acupressure points.

Does it really erase negative emotions? Yes, it really does. What is so fascinating is you can still have the same traumatic memory, but you can talk about it with none of the emotional charge attached. It also works on pain, food cravings and chronic problems (the article mentions stuttering, nightmares, fear of the dark).

I am not just reporting an article to you; I am testifying that when done right, I have seen that EFT is powerful. It costs nothing to try it, and your life and your children's lives can be enhanced by the balancing nature of EFT ... even if you do feel a little silly tapping your forehead.

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]]>acupressurebabybloggingbabyeftemotional freedom techniquesEmotionalFreedomTechniquesKeith McDuffeeTue, 07 Feb 2006 13:01:00 ESTCould scientific parents pass on autism gene?http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/03/could-scientific-parents-pass-on-autism-gene/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/03/could-scientific-parents-pass-on-autism-gene/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/02/03/could-scientific-parents-pass-on-autism-gene/#commentsFiled under: ,

scientistFascinating, simply fascinating. Um, but not from a scientific standpoint or anything. Why am I afraid to show that my brain may be highly analytical? A professor at the University of Cambridge has a theory that when scientific couples unite, they pass on an autism 'gene' to their children. He is trying to explain why more children are being diagnosed with autism these days.

This theory seems controversial to me in a couple of ways. First, he states that it is when two scientific-minded people have children that there is a risk (Oh, so why was I afraid? Deb surely doesn't qualify!) for passing on certain qualities, like obsession with detail and lack of social skills, because these are things that tend to be traits of scientific-minded people as well as symptoms of autism. Well, other than being a bit insulting, it also poses the question as to whether or not the offspring of such a couple is actually autistic or just has those traits.

Continue reading Could scientific parents pass on autism gene?

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]]>analyiticalautismautisticbabygenesscientificKeith McDuffeeFri, 03 Feb 2006 13:02:00 ESTNight doulas -- help or hinderance?http://www.parentdish.com/2006/01/30/night-doulas-help-or-hinderance/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/01/30/night-doulas-help-or-hinderance/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/01/30/night-doulas-help-or-hinderance/#commentsFiled under:

doulaDoulas. It depends on your paradigm whether or not you welcome the presence of a hired birth assistant at your baby's debut. My wife and I found our doula indispensable -- a professional birth companion to gently guide us through unknown territory with strength and surety.

Night doulas seem a different story to me, though. Trust me, if anyone could have used a night doula, you are looking at the model family; wife with severe mastitis (we are talking 103 degree fever and bedrest) off and on for the first six weeks of Owen's life, Owen with his bellyaches; and did I mention a 36-hour natural labor? We were all more than tired could describe, but never once did we consider turning over the care of Owen to hired help. It may have been difficult, but in the end we learned more about Owen each moment we spent with him and it made it all the easier to meet his needs as we grew together as a family.

Continue reading Night doulas -- help or hinderance?

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]]>babybirthblogging babyBloggingBabynight doulaNightDoulapregnancyKeith McDuffeeMon, 30 Jan 2006 14:28:00 ESTProtect your baby from osteoporosishttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/01/27/protect-your-baby-from-osteoporosis/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/01/27/protect-your-baby-from-osteoporosis/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/01/27/protect-your-baby-from-osteoporosis/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

cod liver oilConcerned about your unborn child getting osteoporosis when he or she gets older? Probably not the first concern on your mind during your pregnancy, but an easily preventable one nonetheless. A recent study showed that if a pregnant mom didn't get enough vitamin D, their children have weaker bones.

Is a supplement your best choice? Not if you get enough sunshine or take cod liver oil, as Dr. Mercola states in his comments to this study.

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]]>babybonescod liver oilCodLiverOilmercolaosteoporosispregnancypregnantunbornvitamin dVitaminDKeith McDuffeeFri, 27 Jan 2006 07:01:00 ESTGenetically engineered food has negative effect on the offspring of ratshttp://www.parentdish.com/2006/01/24/genetically-engineered-food-has-negative-effect-on-the-offspring/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/01/24/genetically-engineered-food-has-negative-effect-on-the-offspring/http://www.parentdish.com/2006/01/24/genetically-engineered-food-has-negative-effect-on-the-offspring/#commentsFiled under: , ,

ratsOK, I know we are not rats, but we cannot ignore the possibility that something sold as a food may compromise the health of our children. A genetically modified (GM) soy flour, which is designed to be resistant to toxic weedkillers, caused infant mortality and lower birth weight when fed to pregnant rats. As if that wasn't enough, the babies stayed small and some were still dying up to three weeks after birth. All because their mommas ate GM soy flour.

If nothing else, hopefully pregnant women will read this and eat organic soy flour to avoid the GM component. My hope is that all pregnant women will research what is best for them to eat for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. You really are what you eat . . .

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]]>babiesbabybirthbreastfeedingGMOpregnancypregnantKeith McDuffeeTue, 24 Jan 2006 09:15:00 EST