Basinets and Playpens regulations in Canada

I would like to share with some regulations that Canada is making regarding baby bassinets and playpens.

Health Canada is calling on the manufacturing industry to implement stricter safety standards when it comes to playpen accessories, after a number of infants suffered injuries and have even died while using the products.

In 1976, playpen regulation legislation was issued to ensure playpens sold in Canada met a certain standard of safety. However, those regulations do not cover accessories attached to playpens, such as change tables, bassinets, mobiles and canopies.

Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Bureau received eight complaints related to playpen accessories between 1996 and 2009, including three deaths.

Some of the biggest problems with these types of accessories is the tendency for infants to become either trapped, or fall.

One Health Canada recommendation is that playpen makers, sellers, importers and advertisers meet the design, testing and labeling standards outlined by ASTM International, a voluntary international standards development organization.

Those standards include increased product testing to ensure infants do not become entrapped in playpen accessories.

Health Canada is also recommending bassinet accessories be tested for structural solidity, and bassinet mattress supports be at least 230 mm lower than the highest surface of the lowest stationary side of the playpen to which it is attached.

Visit our other blogs about baby accessories:
www.babystrollerupdate.blogspot.com
www.bassinetreview.blogspot.com
www.bicycletrailerreview.blogspot.com


We offer a wide gallery of safe baby bassinets, co-sleepers, cradles, baby strollers of every kind, and bicycle trailers at www.strollernstuff.com - We care about your child's safety and your budget!

PLastic - Convenience or Danger...

Do you know about plastics? Are you aware of the basic components that your baby's sippy cup is made of? Do you read before you hand it to your child?

Some petroleum-based plastics leach harmful chemical into foods and drinks, especially when plastic comes in contact with oily or fatty foods, during heating and microwaving and when exposed to excessive moisture.

It is important to make wise choices.

Choose smart plastics (see icons below) and avoid putting them in the microwave (where they can release dangerous chemicals when heated) or the dishwasher (where they can degrade in the heat and excessive moisture).

Safer Choices:

Select safe plastics that use polyethylene (#1, #2, and #4) and polypropylene (#5), which require the use of less toxic additives. They also are non-chlorinated.

Avoid:

Avoid choosing products that use polyvinyl chloride (#3), polystyrene (#6), and polycarbonate (#7) which often are found in baby bottles or sippy cups.

Safety Checklist

• Be aware of plastic products in your child’s surroundings – squeeze toys, rattles, bath toys, cribs, teethers, pacifiers, high chairs, sippy cups, and baby bottles
• Avoid PVC products, like vinyl chew toys, which are identified with a “V” or “3.” If you can’t eliminate them all, then make sure they are cleaned regularly.
• Opt for toys and books made with natural wood, paper, cloth, or metal.
• Opt for plastic alternatives – glass, ceramic that’s lead-free, and stainless steel -- whenever possible.
• Use glass or ceramic containers to microwave food and beverages.
• Be cautious of cling wraps, especially for microwave use. Wrap foods in butcher paper, waxed paper, or paper towels. Or store food in glass or ceramic.
• Avoid using plastics that aren’t identified on the packaging.
• Look for products that state “no phthalates” or “no bisphenol A (BPA).”
• Wash plastic containers by hand with a mild soap.
  
  I hope that info will be useful for many moms that use plastic in their kitchens on the regular basis.
  We give our children sippy cups, and now please check what kind of plastic they are made of. Before you buy, check for these important numbers.
  Our website at www.strollernstuff.com offers lots of tips, info, resources, and buying guides regarding baby products, strollers, bassinets, and bicycle trailers.
  
  
  We also blog for www.babystrollerupdate.blogspot.com
  www.4baby.storeblogs.com
  www.bicycletrailerreview.blogspot.com
  

How to prevent Flat Head Syndrome

Lately I read a very interesting article about a flat head syndrome and I would like to share it with you:
"In a new study, infants averaging six months of age who exhibited positional plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) had lower scores than typical infants in observational tests used to evaluate cognitive and motor development. Positional or deformational plagiocephaly may occur when external forces shape an infant's skull while it is still soft and malleable, such as extended time spent lying on a hard surface or in one position. This is the first controlled study to suggest that babies who have flattened areas on the back of their heads during the first year of life may be at risk for developmental delay. Led by clinical psychologist Matthew L. Speltz, PhD, from Seattle Children's Research Institute, these findings suggest that babies with plagiocephaly should be screened early in life for possible motor and cognitive delays. "Case-Control Study of Neurodevelopment in Deformational Plagiocephaly" published online on February 15 in Pediatrics.
"Statistically, there has been a dramatic rise in the diagnosis of positional plagiocephaly since the 1990's. This may be a result of multiple factors, including increased awareness and babies spending more time on their backs in strollers, car seats, infant seats, cribs and sleeping on their backs. This time period also coincides with the national Back-to-Sleep campaign designed to help protect babies against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), although it should be noted that a direct correlation with flat head syndrome hasn't been scientifically established," added Speltz. "For every ten babies, one or two may have at least mild plagiocephaly. Many parents and physicians have dismissed it as a cosmetic issue or one that babies will grow out of as they develop, but our study indicates that we should look deeper."

New study possibly links cognitive and motor delays with 'flat head syndrome' in young babies

TIPS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS:

• Flat spots in a young baby's head can be quite common, and by itself they are not a cause for alarm. Ask your baby's doctor about it.
• If your baby is diagnosed with plagiocephaly, ask the doctor to screen for developmental delays in both motor and cognitive skills. Talk about the results.
• Remember that babies develop at different times, and at different rates. What is "normal" for your baby may be ahead of or behind what is normal for another baby. Babies who start out slower often catch up later.
• Always place babies to sleep on their backs: this remains the safest way to sleep. Place your baby's head at one end of the crib and switch to the other end the next night.
• Encourage active "tummy time" when babies are awake: find ways to for baby to engage, play and move while on their tummy, several times each day. Watch your baby during tummy time.
• Choose different positions and ways for babies to play and be held: variety of stimulation is important. Switch the arm you use to cradle your baby each feeding session; right one time, left the next.
• Use strollers, car seats, infant seats, bassinets, cribs and play pens when necessary, but remember that babies need frequent lap time, cuddling, active play times and chances to move that aren't limited to being in stationary positions.
• Develop motor skills: play with babies to get them moving. Encourage crawling, rolling, reaching, pushing, pulling, holding, grasping.
• Develop cognitive skills: play with babies to get them thinking and talking. Encourage interactions with their environment, looking, listening, imitating, babbling, singing, talking, reading.
  
  I hope you enjoyed the article, I've learned a lot from it and think that can benefit every parent.
  Please visit our site at www.strollernstuff.com, we offer a wide selection of baby strollers, bassinets, and bicycle trailers. Also we offer buying guides, resources, ans tips for parents.
  

4 Unsafe Baby Products to Avoid

New parents are quick to jump on any product they think will make life more comfortable for their baby—and easier for themselves.
I remember when I was shopping for my new baby, I knew its not going to be easy, because I wanted to get the best and the safest products on earth. It is hard especially for new, first time parents with no experience at all.
I did some research and want to share it with you.
Some items present safety risks I don't believe are worth taking. Here are four that I think you should skip:

Baby bath seat
Each year, an average of 10 babies drown while using baby bath seats. Nearly all of those deaths occurred when a parent or caregiver left the baby unattended momentarily. The problem is that these seats, intended to make it easier to hold the baby in the bathtub, can give parents a false sense of security. It’s better to use an infant bathtub for bathing and never, even for a second, leave the baby beyond arm’s reach.

Sleep positioners
These devices are intended to keep infants on their back in a secure sleeping position. But the youngest infants, for whom these are designed, are not able to roll over from their backs on their own, which makes this product unnecessary. The soft foam in the sleep positioners can pose a suffocation hazard and our medical experts don’t recommend them.

Crib bumper pads
Designed to prevent bumps and bruises, crib bumpers can create their own hazards. One study found 27 cases of infant death involving bumper pads or similarly padded bassinets. Most of the deaths occurred when the infant became wedged between the bumper and another object or when the infant’s face was against the bumper.

And since bumper pads cannot be safety secured to cribs with solid end panels and should not be used with toddlers who can stand, we think it’s best to avoid them altogether.

Sling carriers
Over the past five years, at least four babies died and there have been many reports of serious injury associated with the use of sling-type carriers. The incidents include skull fractures, head injuries, contusions and abrasions. Most occurred when the child fell out of the sling. As slings grow in popularity, so do the number of serious injuries. No safety standards exist for slings. We think you should skip the sling and opt for other types of infant carriers, which have safer track records. (Image note: The CPSC recalled 100,000 Infantino slings in 2007.)

On my website at www.strollernstuff.com we offer buying guides and resources for parents to make their decisions easier when they shop for baby accessories. We offer a wide variety of baby strollers, bassinets, and bicycle trailers