Category — Baby News

This is definitely the craziest thing I have heard all week: a 6-month old baby was found crawling around downtown LA by herself on Monday. I shudder to think how that even happened. I really hope this story has a happy ending; best wishes to that adorable little girl.

Celebrating it’s tenth birthday is the Baby Einstein Disney line. You may know of its hit TV series or even the tons of toys, CDs, books and DVDs they produce that center around providing fun ways to learn about music and sounds for infants. They recently began targeting toddlers and will have a new line called “Einstein Pals ™” coming out in the spring made just for them. Also coming in 2009 will be the releases of two interactive DVDs called “Grow With Me” and “Select Your Segment”. These will have a focus on world music (vs. just classical music) and different cultures.

Meanwhile you can pick up two new DVD fall releases (that were center of attention during the anniversary celebration at Disney’s Concert Hall), “Baby Mozart” and “Baby Beethoven”, which have a cute puppet show and performance by the Glendale Youth Orchestra. If you aren’t already a part of the Baby Einstein mom fan train, you might want to hop aboard. I personally enjoy the DVDs and have seen my growing son singing new songs and even identifying instruments.

If you’re like any other mom, you want to have the best things for your baby and it seems that right now, having organic products is for the best. With all the talk of plastic being unsafe and chemicals like BPA threatening the health of your baby, it seems logical. More and more companies are coming out with natural products and solutions to ensure the safety of your baby.

Like the Lafe’s Natural Bodycare product line who has just announced its new line of organic baby products. They are already known for making organic deodorants and now they are expanding their line with 95% certified (by the USDA) organic baby products like shampoo, sunscreen, diaper cream, bug repellant, baby lotion, baby wipes and massage oil. The products are also packaged with baby-safe plastic, which is free of harmful estrogen activity EA chemicals. These items are set to launch on the Lafe website sometime later this year.

After what seemed like the longest pregnancy in the history of pregnancy, Gwen Stefani has finally given birth, adding another healthy baby boy to her family. I am curious how they came up with the name “Zuma Nesta Rock” for the little guy; here are my best guesses:

• The baby was conceived either at or near Zuma Beach, which is right by some nice rock climbing, or Zuma Rock in Nigeria.
  
• Parents Gwen and Gavin are way into Jamaica (first baby Kingston, now “Nesta” as in Robert Nesta Marley aka Bob Marley.)
• They may just really like The Rock. Or The Rock. Or just plain Rock.

At any rate, congrats and best wishes to the family!

It just got even tougher being a baby in France: TV shows aimed at children under 3 years old have been officially banned by the broadcast authority for possible developmental risks to young children. That means non Wiggles, non Nick Jr., and definitely non Teletubbies–but, how will the French children understand who the characters on their toys are?!! Mon dieu!

First Death Threat Elmo, now this: a Fisher Price “Go, Diego, Go!” walkie-talkie reportedly picked up some questionable trucker banter in West Virginia. Apparently there was talk of marijuana and strippers, but the humor of the overheard conversation was ultimately lost on the mom of the tot who owned the walkie-talkie kids’ toys. She’s asking Fisher-Price for a recall, but maybe she should look at this as an opportunity: the intercepted trucker conversations sound more exciting than an episode of Law & Order! Plus, a walkie-talkie that can pick up a signal almost 300 miles away would probably have tons of bidders in an online auction!

We’re very accustom to how quickly Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt extend their family, especially when the three well-known adoptions (Maddox, Pax and Zahara) and their daughter Shiloh come to mind. You may have already read all of the headlines about their newborn twins Vivienne and Knox, but have you heard that Brangelina are now considering adopting a Chinese baby (I know what you’re thinking, ‘is she starting a collection of babies from around the world?’)

The earthquake that took place in China in May this year has left tons of orphans. The concept of this has devastated Brangelina and now has them considering adopting one or two Chinese babies (two if they are siblings). I can’t imagine how hectic the Jolie-Pitt household is with so many children, but it seems they are happy with it (I still can’t believe how Brad went from having no kids to 6 kids in less than five years).

Angie has begun making calls to relief workers in China as part of her UN involvement.

So how serious is she? Well, she’s already got her hands on a couple of photos of orphaned Chinese children – you decide. I think it’s great how she is so quick to open her doors (and wallet) to those really in need.

Make sure to keep an eye out for one or two Chinese additions to the Brangelina household.

I am totally depressed over the news that PBS is giving Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood the ax. Thank goodness for the SaveMisterRogers.com website. I don’t even want to think about all the little ones in my life growing up without Mister Rogers. He was so cool and mellow, and I think of him and smile every time I get into the office and change out of my sneakers and into work shoes. Sigh. I am already thinking about stocking up on Mister Rogers’ DVDs, just in case the campaign to save the show doesn’t work. But hopefully it will be successful…so please check out Save Mister Rogers and help if you can!

Source: Babyrazzi.com

File this under: WTF is wrong with people?

Some jerk in New York was just arrested for posting videos on YouTube in which he claimed to be responsible for poisoning millions of jars of Gerber baby food. Gerber says the claims are false, and that there is no evidence that any of their products have been tampered with, but it is still pretty unsettling. Here is some more information on the case:

NY1: Police Arrest Man Wanted in Poisoned Baby Food Hoax

WNBC: Man Claims He Tried to Poison Baby Food

Daily News: New York man arrested in video baby threat scam

If you want to try your hand at making your own baby food so you no longer have to worry about lunatic threats, check out these links:

Wholesome Baby Food

Homemade Baby Food Recipes

Andres’ Homemade Baby Food Recipes

Simply Baby Food Recipes

It’s hard to believe a little summer fun could turn to a horrid case of skin burn.

A story was released recently about a toddler whose feet were burned to the point where the skin was falling off. Now, you would think that something really wrong occurred, but it was something that many children do at the park. The child, named Will, kicked off his shoes and ran to play on the mats that lay throughout the park. The sun wasn’t that hot – maybe about 80 degrees, but the mats were well over 165 degrees. Almost instantly the child began to scream and just like that, his feet were severely burned. The child was in the New York-Presbyterian Hospital for four days.

When questions were asked to the NYC Park Advocates, they replied that there are signs posted with warnings against the removal of shoes – but it doesn’t exactly state any dangers of disobedience.

The request for removal of the mats was denied since the Park Advocates are more concerned about bone fractures and deaths over burns. Yes, if a kid falls off the monkey bars onto the mat, it saves them from a hard fall, but if they are at scorching temperatures, won’t other exposed skin be burned? Or if a kid with their shoes on decides to sit down on the mat or do a handstand, what warning did they have?

Who should be at fault, the parents or the parks?