Baby Tips

We’re busting 5 common myths around baby sleep safety.

Article & Photos courtesy of Well Rounded NY

There’s a lot about parenting that comes instinctually. And in most cases, we’re the first to tell you to ignore the “expert” advice of Aunt Betty and Cousin Amy and your mail carrier. After all, you know what’s best for your baby. But, when it comes to sleep safety, there’s no room for “winging it.” In fact, there’s just one way get baby to sleep: safely. That doesn’t mean there aren’t tons of opinions out there, and some of them pretty bogus. We asked our favorite Certified Pediatric Sleep Specialist Carolina Romanyuk to help us clear through the baby sleep safety clutter.

From organic mattresses to tummy time, here’s 5 common baby sleep safety myths, busted.

Myth 1: Baby will sleep better in my bed with me.
Fact: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) highly emphasizes that bed sharing is a big no-no with newborns and infants, mainly because of the high SIDS risk possibility. Infants should sleep on surfaces designed for infants–a firm crib mattress and fitted sheet, with nothing else in the crib. Still thinking of bringing baby into your bed? Try a co-sleeper until you’re ready to move your little one into his own crib.

Myth 2: It’s no big deal to sleep baby on his tummy, they’ve been sleeping that way for hundreds of years.
Fact: Back in the early 90’s the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development launched the “Back to Sleep” campaign that was heavily promoted by the AAP. The campaign focuses on educating parents that placing their child to sleep on their back is the safest way to sleep. Till this day it is enforced because it has significantly reduced the death rates among infants in SIDS-related cases. We’re all for tummy time, but only when baby is awake and being watched.

Myth 3: As long as I use an organic crib sheet, it doesn’t matter if my crib mattress is organic.
Fact: Parents should now more than ever be looking into organic and healthier versions of everything, from the food we feed to our babies, to the clothes they wear, to the mattresses they sleep on–for approximately 16-18 hours a day! Having a healthy sleep environment is crucial for achieving sleep success, and one of the most important pieces in your baby’s life for their early years is the crib mattress. Find an organic crib mattress, like this one from Greenbuds, which uses only all natural and organic materials and is free from pesticides, chemicals or other harmful synthetic substances. Removable and washable covers are a great benefit, and eliminate the need for synthetic waterproof barriers.

Here’s some other guidelines for choosing a healthy mattress:
Firmness. Choose a firm surface. A soft sleeping surface can be a suffocation hazard and raise the risk of SIDS. Worried your toddler-to-be won’t like that firm surface? Try a dual-sided mattress (Greenbuds uses coconut coir and a layer of natural latex for extreme firmness on the infant side) and turn it to the cushy side when your babe is a bit older.
Wool or cotton? Organic wool has inherent flame retardant properties, eliminating the need for any flame-retardant treatments, including the most common flame retardants found in standard mattresses, PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers). These flame retardants can release toxic gases and other substances that could harm babies. Cotton can be treated for fire safety too–Greenbuds, for example, treats its cotton covers with a form of boiron, which is a naturally derived mineral that acts as a fire retardant in a completely non-toxic format.
Size of the mattress. It should fit snug in the crib, with a 2-finger max between the crib rail and the mattress.
Mattress Pad. We don’t blame you if you want to add a little protection for those midnight accidents. Choose an organic mattress pad that’s fitted, with elastic edges so it’s super-snug around the mattress. Greenbuds makes a mattress protector that is completely organic, which can be used with their own line or added to any type of crib mattress.

Myth 4 : SIDS doesn’t happen anymore. And it especially doesn’t happen to people like me.
Fact: SIDs is very real and isn’t race-, economic- or gender-specific. While the cause theories on SIDS range from genetic/brainstem abnormalities or some other form of early developmental situation to environmental factors (ex: smoke, overheating,etc.), there are ways to reduce your baby’s risk. Create a safe sleep environment and urge your childcare provider to do the same, using these tips:
1. Make sure there’s no wires or baby monitor cords in the crib.
2. Choose a firm mattress that fits snugly in the crib so there is no movement.
3. Use only a fitted sheet.
4. There should be no loose blankets or toys in the crib.
5. Dress the baby as you would dress yourself with an extra layer. Remember, if you swaddle, that swaddle IS one extra layer. A good temperature is anywhere between 68 – 72 degrees, and consistency is key, especially when baby will be sleeping in a new environment (such as daycare). A wool mattress can also help to regulate body temperature which makes for a safer and more comfortable sleeping environment.
6. Baby should sleep in a smoke-free environment.

Myth 5: Baby can’t move around anyway, so it’s totally fine to use that really gorgeous bumper that came with my set.
FACT: Babies move all the time, even when they’re swaddled. You place them on an area of the crib and they end up on the other side. Babies are known to scoot, shimmy and, once they have access to their hands…oh boy, nothing is stopping them. While bumpers were originally created to keep the baby warm in the crib, they are now banned by the AAP. We know they are super pretty, but toss them away. They’re a hazard. Concerned baby’s cute little arms or legs will get stuck in the crib slats? Keep removing them from between the slats and eventually your child will stop, or invest in breathable bumpers made from a mesh material.

This article is by Jessica Pallay, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Dress in autumn uniform--chic black leggings, crisp white button-down shirt, and oversized chunky knit sweater--pack up your family, and get outta town! Here are five fall U.S. destinations that will offer the right balance of excitement and (much needed) R&R for you and your partner, while being accommodating for little one.

1. Fall is harvest time in the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York, named for the eleven linear lakes that span the 4,692 square-mile region, so when you’re not visiting a U-pick farm to fill a bushel with NY apples or sip the freshly made cider, visit one of dozens of gorgeous gorges dotted across the country landscape. Known for over 200 wineries, the Finger Lakes region has three renowned wine trails—Cayuga, Keuka, and Seneca—that are easy to travel along and offer a beautiful view of the changing leaves. Head south to nearby Corning to tour the Corning Museum of Glass, where you can get your hands dirty—protect them first with Nine Naturals’ Repairing Body Balm—and work alongside experienced glassworkers to create your own glass masterpiece.

1. Portland, Oregon—also known as the “City of Roses”—is an ideal vacay locale for foodies and festival fans, alike. This gem of a city, located in the Pacific Northwest, experiences moderate fall temperatures in the mid-60s (dropping down to the 50s in late fall), and features a vibrant culinary scene, complete with acclaimed restaurants and over 600 food carts. From September through November, festies (festival fanatics) can attend Feast Portland, The Reel Music Film Festival, The West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, Wine Country Thanksgiving, and many more. Before returning to the “real world,” take advantage of the city’s zero sales tax policy and shop the Portland Saturday Market, which is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.

1. San Francisco, California one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S., is a beautiful city set along the San Francisco Bay that is ideal to visit during the fall, when the sky is sunny and the earth has dried out from the rainy summer. Chock full of attractions to see and things to do, unearth your inner child by devouring a hot fudge sundae at Ghirardelli Square, and then driving down the famously steep and winding Lombard Street. Treat your little one to a visual smorgasbord while riding in a cable car or walking along the streets of brightly colored Chinatown—the largest one outside of Asia. Skip the tour of Alcatraz and opt for a free show at Pier 39 put on by sea lions just returning from southern California islands and Mexico, where they breed during the summer months.

1. Dance your way around Nashville, Tennessee during the mild fall months, when temperatures range from 50- to 75-degrees, and music is playing 24/7. Immerse yourself in the culture by sauntering your boot-draped feet through the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Grand Ole Opry, and the Johnny Cash Museum before digging into a plate of Nashville hot chicken. Explore Music City’s past at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage: Home of the People’s President and the Tennessee State Museum—located within the Tennessee State Capitol Building. Let your little one run free—after a liberal application of Nine Naturals’ Natural Sunscreen SPF 32—at Cheekwood Botanical Garden, the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, or one of many area metro parks before jumping into the car for your road-trip home.

1. Bring your appetite when visiting Waterbury, Vermont, because this nearly 50 square-mile town is home to the Ben & Jerry’s factory, Cabot Cheese Annex Store, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Smugglers’ Notch Distillery, and other delectable food brands. Visit one (or all) of these locales and be treated to a FREE guided tour of the production process, as well as a sample or two of the foods that made these brands Vermont famous. Follow your nose to neighboring Burlington, Vermont where you’ll find the Lake Champlain Chocolates factory, in addition to a cuddly paradise for your little one at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, where children ages 12 and under tour for free. Work off all those samples on the 5.3-mile long Stowe Recreation path in Stowe, Vermont, which is enjoyed by walkers, runners, and cyclists, alike. Hop on the Champlain Valley Flyer train and enjoy a scenic ride through Champlain Valley on your way back to Waterbury.

Happy travels!

5 Truths about donating breast milk to a mother in need.

Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

Recently, a handful of hospitals in NYC started offering something amazing to NICU babies: donor breast milk. It sounds weird to the unknown ear, I know. Donor breast milk? Why? How? I had these same questions when my daughter Ava was born and ended up in the NICU, surrounded by babies who had been born prematurely. I decided to research donating my breast milk, and soonafter, found myself getting deeper into the labyrinth that is human milk. Here’s 5 truths I found during the process.

1. Babies born prematurely benefit greatly from breast milk, and many of their mothers can’t provide it.

Babies born prematurely are extremely susceptible to a gastrointestinal disease called Necrotizing Entercolitis. This is a disease where the intestines aren’t fully developed and eventually end up deteriorating, causing holes to develop and waste and bacteria to enter the intestinal tract and ultimately causing life-threatening infections. It is the number one killer of preemie babies, but if they receive breast milk instead of formula during this crucial time, their chance of overcoming this disease is upward of 79%. Breast milk helps these babies thrive, gain weight faster and get the antibodies and nutrients they may otherwise not be getting from formula. It can also help these babies cut their NICU stays in half.

Many of the mothers of these babies don’t have their milk in yet, and the stress of having a baby in the NICU and having had birthed prematurely makes it difficult for them to produce milk, or enough of it. Donor milk can really help these babies get healthy faster and ultimately save lives and guard against disease. It’s almost baffling that hospitals wouldn’t offer something.

2. You hear about undersupply, but many new moms pump more than they can use.

While Ava was in the NICU (due to losing 10% of her birthweight and fever), I began pumping breast milk. My supply was enough for three babies, and I knew it! I stopped pumping a few days after she came home but started up again when I went back to work at four months postpartum. Having an oversupply of milk was hard to manage, but it was better than having an undersupply. I found myself pumping three times a day and bringing home more than Ava ever drank.

3. Informal milk sharing is not regulated.

Some women donate informally, finding other people who may need breast milk for their baby locally and giving it to them, person to person. While I tried this once, I felt uncomfortable knowing it wasn’t properly regulated and I was never sure that a baby was using my milk.

4. Some milk banks use breast milk for research instead of sending it directly to babies in need.

When I learned about donating breast milk via a milk bank, I felt more comfortable. Still there were pitfalls: I found some milk banks that said they would reimburse me for the cost of my breast pump (over $200!), but after reading more about them, I realized that these were research companies, and that my milk might never even make it to an actual baby.

5. Donating safely is easier than you think.

I finally read about the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. They guaranteed that my milk would go to a hospital NICU and help babies who were micro-preemies that weighed under 4lbs.

Signing up was easy: I did a phone interview with my local HMBANA milk bank, sent my medical records and did blood tests every six months. Every few months I would package up my milk and send it off to FedEx for an overnight delivery to the Mothers Milk Bank Northeast in Massachusetts. From there, they would test the milk, pasteurize it and send it off to hospitals, like Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, where it would go directly to the NICU and be used for preemie babies in need.

In all, I ended up donating around 400oz. to the milk bank and another 100oz. after that informally, because my milk had gone past the milk banks deadline of three months since pumped.

I had an amazing experience donating milk and was so thankful I was able to do it. This was something I could easily do, didn’t take a lot of extra time or money and helped save lives and help babies get healthy.

If you’re interested in breast milk donation, I highly recommend reaching out to HMBANA. If you’re someone who may need breast milk for your baby, talk with your hospital or doctor about getting your baby a prescription for donor milk and if you’re in the northeast, you can directly call MMBNE abut receiving breast milk at 617-527-6263, extension 4.

Want to donate breast milk to someone in need? Contact:

Human Milk Banking Association of North America

Mother’s Milk Bank Northeast

NEC Society

This article is by Chelsea Vassi, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Babies start learning earlier than you think, especially from each other.

Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

Have you ever seen a baby discover another baby? It’s amazing.

Take two 6-month-olds and place them on their backs next to each other. Almost instantaneously, they realize they aren’t alone and like two mini-people, magnetically they become drawn to each other.

With a slight move from the back to tummy, one baby will catch sight of the other. Soon enough, the babies are moving closer to each other for a better look. This leads to touching a face, reaching for a hand, catching a glance. In short, starting a friendship fueled by a natural desire to be with people and find a connection. All this happens very soon after birth–as if we are hard wired to become friends.

Before I became a parent and a teacher, I thought that socializing began as children entered the preschool years. Of course, I realized that babies smiled at parents and grandparents, were interested in adult faces and loved hearing people talk to them. What I didn’t realize is that babies are fascinated with other babies and that social interactions from birth can have a significant impact on a child’s social development and how they relate to others.

Here’s 5 benefits of social interaction between babies.

1. Social development. Long ago Jean Piaget introduced stages of social development that unfolded over time and came to fruition as children produced language and the skills of symbolic play (using a block to represent a telephone or developing the ability to step into a pretend scenario). These stages of social development in children start first with babies playing alone and being unaware of others. Next, children are side by side but still largely play independently. Finally, the third stage has children working and playing cooperatively with shared goals.

2. Language. Lev Vygotsky, another child development expert, posited that play evolved along with language development. Children’s language and cognition, he said, grew side by side to foster increasingly robust play.

3. Intentional actions, like crawling or reaching for a toy. When an infant of three months discovers her hands, becomes fixated on how they work, what they can do and ultimately how they can be harnessed for intentional action, we can easily miss the point. In discovering their hands, our baby has found their first toy. Similarly, a baby who is fascinated by another’s face or is eager to crawl towards a creature like herself is exhibiting rudimentary social awareness. It is literally their first step in developing connections with others. We see this attraction when babies look at books of baby faces. But just imagine how much more alluring—and rewarding—it is when that baby is next to them in the flesh!

4. Pleasure. Children who are exposed to other children during infancy have a greater opportunity to discover themselves in relation to others. They also come to see other baby faces as a source of pleasure.

5. Connections to each other. While it is clear that play deepens and changes as children develop their expressive and cognitive capacities to reveal what they imagine, it seems equally clear that babies are related to other babies in a special way. And we shouldn’t dismiss this connection simply because it remains mysterious. Learning to notice another, being attracted, reaching outside oneself to explore another’s face or hands—all of these are stepping stones to stepping stones that open the door to play.

Social learning centers, where teachers guide interactions, are perfect settings for this journey of discovering the self in relation to others. Social learning environments give children a solid start in the domains of social and emotional development, which are key to all future learning and, more importantly, lasting happiness.

This article is by Renee Bock, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Sleep expert Carolina Romanyuk helps ease the nighttime transition from baby to big kid.

Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

There comes a time in your baby’s sleep journey when you will say one of these things:

• “My kid hates her crib. She is always trying to get out of it. I have tried everything and nothing works. She ends up sleeping in our bed, and then no one sleeps. “
• “Woo hoo, you just turned 3. Let’s celebrate with you becoming a big kid with a big bed. I’m so excited!”
• “Baby # 2 is on the way. Time for a big bed.”

Translation: It may be time for you to transition your little one from a crib into a toddler bed.

First, here are two extremely important factors that need to be considered before this switch-a-roo is to take place: maturity and safety.

Maturity. Is your child actually mature enough for the transition? For the last couple of years, she’s been cozy in her safe crib and has a solid sleep foundation. A big bed can seem like a massive ocean. Some children that transition too early without having a solid sleep foundation can result in cuddling up in one corner for sometime because of the abundance of space. Otherwise, she may experience sleep disruptions and difficult bedtimes with tears and tantrums. For some, it can take several weeks into the transition to realize, “Well now, I’m actually supposed to sleep in this massive thing. They aren’t giving me my crib back. That sucks! Ok I’m gonna cry now because I hate this change. Was fun at first, but now it sucks!”

Safety. A 20-month-old is just now learning to follow simple instructions while simultaneously testing out rules and limits. They know your exact buttons to push. They are curious about the world and are extremely eager to explore. Now you add to the mix complete nighttime freedom–uh oh! What stops a small child from getting out of bed and roaming around in the dark? At 2-years-old, they are explorers, adventures, detectives and scientists. They can roam around their room at night; pull out drawers; climb on the changing table; eat the diaper cream–just making sure you’re paying attention. It becomes a time of potentially hazardous curiosity.

Even though I always recommend keeping a young toddler in her crib for as long as you can (preferably as close to 3-years-old as possible), she might have another agenda. You can try to stop her (turn the crib around or lower the mattress to make climbing out harder; remove large objects from the crib that could serve as a launch pad; or watching your monitor like a hawk to make sure you’re there with a firm “NO!” during any escape attempt). But when it’s actually time to make the switch, you need to know how to do it.

So when’s the right time? When your child is able to communicate verbally that she wants a big bed and is ready, usually around 2.5 to 3 years of age. (Side Note: 2.5 to 3 years is highly recommended as the appropriate age for going from crib to bed. But no one knows your child better than you. So listen to her, and if she asks for it and is between 2 and 2.5 with a solid sleep foundation intact, then go with the signals…of course, keeping safety in mind.)

As everything in parenthood-land, a plan of action is needed. Here are 4 simple steps on transitioning:

1. Decide on the type of bed. You may want a toddler bed which is low to the ground and can fit the crib mattress inside; it’s good till about 4 -5 years old. Otherwise, go right to a twin bed, which is higher off the ground and a twin mattress is needed. This is good till high school. (Side note: involve your child in the process of choosing her own bed, from choosing the color to picking out her sheets and pillow.)

2. Safety-fy the room. Make sure all drawers are secured and locked, including the changing table and closet. All electric sockets should be closed off. You may want to install bed rails to help if your child moves around a lot at night.

3. Hold a Family Meeting. This is super crucial to continuing with your solid foundation by establishing sleep rules so she can understand what is expected from her, why she is being transitioned and hear about the new big bed rules.

4. Have a Plan B. I always advise to have a Plan B when reality hits for your toddler after the transition. That moment when her toy falls to the ground, she gets out of bed to pick it up, and eureka! She realizes she can get out of bed by herself, and then the fun begins. A Plan B is needed if these setbacks occur, even way after the transition. Always stay consistent.

The transition from crib to big bed is huge and should be done at the moment your child is mature enough. As long as you listen to your child, and take in consideration her maturity level and safety, you’ll be golden. Even if once in a big bed, she starts talking about her crib and missing it, listen and place her back into the crib. That’s not going backwards or a regression, it’s listening to your child.

Here is to a healthy future and a good night’s sleep.

This article is by Carolina Romanyuk, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Combat Grandma’s “When I had a Baby….” with the latest guidelines in child safety.

Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

As a New Yorker, my mission was to find the warmest yet coolest snowsuit for my 4-month-old son. My mother told me how cozy Cal would be bundled up in the car when the temperature was below freezing. This seemed logical, until a girlfriend shared how car seat baby safety regulations have changed. My mother hasn’t taken care of a baby in nearly 35 years. And while she did one helluva job raising me, according to recent studies on baby safety, she could have easily (and innocently) killed me.

Now that Grandma is caring for my son while I work, I am working to empower myself in order to advise her in caring for Cal, as opposed to the other way around. And let’s just say, when it comes to baby safety regulations, times, they have-a changed!

Sleep Safety

It seems that every few years the recommended sleeping position for a baby changes. Today, babies sleep on their backs. Additional SIDS prevention guidelines include:

• Always use a firm sleep surface. Car seats, swings, etc. are not recommended for routine sleep
• Baby should sleep in the same room as parents, but not co-sleep
• Keep soft objects (pillows, blankets, bumper pads, toys) or loose bedding out of the crib
• Do not use wedges or positioners
• Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime
• Avoid covering the infant’s head or overheating
• Do not use devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS

Get additional information here.

Playtime

Swings
In May 2013 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously to approve mandatory safety standards to improve the safety of infant swings in newer products. Products manufactured in prior years may not possess these safety standards.

Jumpers
The number of recent recalls involving the breakage of clamps has raised serious safety concerns among experts. Additional concerns arise with potential physical developmental effects that can possibly lead to delayed motor skills.

Mobile Walkers
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that the U.S. government place a ban on the manufacture and sale of baby walkers with wheels, deeming them unsafe. Additionally, according to the AAP, walkers can delay motor and mental development.

Babysaucer
The stationary “walker” tends to hold baby’s hips in an extended position and prevents the visual of seeing feet, which is needed when learning how to move.

Tummy Time
As a new parent the first item to learn is “back to sleep, tummy to play”. Tummy time helps strengthen muscles, improve motor skills, as well as helps prevent the development of flat head.

Teething
A few recommendations in managing teething pain include:
• Massaging with a (clean) finger or simply let baby gnaw
• A cold washcloth, spoon or teething ring. Refrigerate only, freezing may cause harm
• A frozen bagel, banana, or carrot (for babies who are eating solids)

And the don’ts:
• Liquid-filled plastic teething rings. Aside from the potential phthalates/BPA presence, there is possible bacterium and concerns about ring leakage
• Numbing gels are no longer approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in babies as the ingredient lidocaine may be harmful

Hygiene
Reports advocate for not bathing baby every day, especially a newborn, as daily bathing can dry baby’s delicate skin.

Travel

Rear Facing Car Seats
The AAP advises parents keep children in rear facing car seats until the age of 2 as research has shown that children under age 2 are 75% less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear facing.

Winter Coats
Experts warn that the usage of “fluff” in order to keep baby warm in a car seat is not safe due to compression making the straps too loose for baby’s body to be held safely in the event of a crash.

Car Seat Toys
Giving baby something to play with while in the car has the potential of becoming a dangerous projectile in a crash so it is recommended to avoid placing toys, mirrors, etc. in or around a car seat.

Eating

The AAP advises that if baby is old enough to eat cereal (around 4-6 months) then they are old enough to eat from a spoon as incidents of gagging or inhaling the mixture are increased if baby is not developmentally ready. Exposure to solid foods before baby is ready may put them at risk for developing food allergies, and some believe it increases the chances of “overfeeding”.

I am by no means a medical professional. I believe we, as parents, have a responsibility to be informed on all subject matters relating to our children; however, we hold the rights to make what we feel are best decisions. For me, making those decisions are based on understanding the risks, weighing the benefits, and doing a thorough check in with that motherly instinct that resides within. Be empowered!

This article is by Jaime K. Teich Krinsky, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

Breaking down the what, why and which ones of the organic formula marketplace.

Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

If you’re taking the formula route, there are more options for you and your little one than ever before. And as the formula market evolves and expands, many of those options now include organic products to meet the growing demand for quality and sustainable ingredients. But, with all of the available options, a quick trip down the formula aisle can easily turn into a long, overwhelming whirlwind.

The FDA sets very rigid regulations and holds strict nutritional requirements for all infant formula. So, feel confident that any formula you choose will provide your baby with all of his or her nutritional needs for calories, protein, fat and the essential vitamins and minerals. That is why the nutritional breakdowns, ie the nutrition facts, are pretty comparable amongst all formulas.

What: What really differentiates organic from conventional formulas are the sources and quality of the ingredients. In addition to being more environmentally sustainable, organic formulas are made with non-GMO plant-derived ingredients, free of pesticide and herbicide residue, and with milk ingredients from cows, free of antibiotics or growth hormones. Unfortunately, organic formulas are more expensive, and are not as easily available (hello Amazon Prime). And, organic options don’t exist for more specialized, allergy friendly formulas.

Why: All formulas, organic and conventional alike are very processed, so it is not entirely clear if the organic seal comes with significant health advantage. It is always a challenge to find studies conducted on infants, and hard data isn’t always available. The few studies done have not found detectible levels of pesticide residue in infant formulas, nor have they found any health risks associated with milk from cows treated with hormones or antibiotics. But, what we do know is from adult studies, which have shown as much as a 33% reduction in pesticides found in organic products. While the organic and non-GMO landscape is constantly changing and in question, at the moment it is the best seal we have. So if your budget permits, it’s worthwhile to go organic to protect the environment and to reduce your baby’s potential exposure to pesticide, hormone and antibiotic residue.

Who: The main players in the organic formula market are Nature’s One Baby’s Only*,Earth’s Best and Honest Co., whose formula lines are exclusively organic; Bright Beginnings and Parent’s Choice both of which have organic and conventional formulas; and Similac, which is the only major mainstream formula company offering a single organic formula: Similac Advance Organic. These formulas differ in what sources of protein and carbohydrates are used, and if essential fatty acids are added.

Organic formulas can be divided into two main categories: standard cow’s milk and specialty soy or lactose-free formulas. Let’s take a closer look at what’s inside.

Standard Cow’s Milk Based Organic Formula

Fat: All standard organic formulas contain a blend of easy to digest vegetable oils that include sunflower, safflower, coconut and soybean oils. All of these oils, including the soybean, are highly refined so there is little risk of any allergic reactions.

Protein: Standard organic formulas use a blend of the milk proteins whey and casein. Formulas should be designed to closely mimic breast milk, which has a much higher ratio of whey than casein. Earth’s Best and Honest Co. add additional concentrated whey to more closely replicate the protein breakdown of breast milk, whereas other organic formulas do not resulting in higher amounts of casein.

Carbohydrate: The carbohydrate, or sugar, in breast milk is lactose, however all of the organic formula companies replace some or all the lactose with less expensive sugars. Earth’s Best and Honest Co actually maintain some lactose but use glucose syrup solids as an additional carb source. Baby’s Only use no lactose, and use organic brown rice syrup as the sole carbohydrate source, but rest assured that the syrup is vigorously filtered and tested to ensure undetectable levels of arsenic. Bright Beginnings, Parent’s Choice and Similac Organic replace all of the lactose with glucose solids, maltodextrin (corn sugar), and/or sugar. The health effect of different sugar sources in infant formulas has not been well studied. What has been studied are the benefits of lactose, and the blood sugar spiking effects of highly processed sugars like maltodextrin, so if applied to infant formulas, it would be convincing to choose lactose based formulas when possible.

DHA & ARA: The fatty acids found naturally in breast milk have known respiratory, and cognitive benefits, yet are one of the few essential nutrients not required in baby formulas. There has been some question about the integrity of the form of DHA & ARA approved for use in formulas, but because there is little evidence substantiating the claims most brands add DHA & ARA. To give parents the choice, Nature’s One has both a formula with and one without DHA & ARA, and Honest Co does not add the essential fatty acid to its formula. If you choose a formula without the DHA & ARA it is recommended to supplement.

Specialty Reduced Lactose & Soy Based Organic Formula

Earth’s Best and Nature’s One are the only two brands mentioned with a line of organic reduced lactose and soy based formulas. Earth’s Best Organic Sensitivity and Baby’s Only Lactorelief formulas are great alternatives for fussier babies needing gentler, easier to tolerate formula. Soy formulas should be avoided unless specifically advised by your pediatrician for a medical reason.

*There is some confusion as to whether Nature’s One Baby’s Only formula is suitable for infants. It is marketed and labeled as a toddler formula as an attempt to promote breastfeeding until 1 year of age, however it is designed and suitable for infants.

This article is by Nicole Silber, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

3 Tips to starting your relationship with your child’s new caregiver off on the right foot.

Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

For many parents, the task of simply finding a caregiver for their precious bundles can be overwhelming. But once you’ve managed to find someone, it’s important to focus on creating a successful employer/employee relationship that will set you both up for success. Here are a few things you should be thinking about, and some tips to help you establish the right relationship from day one.

1. Do you have a work agreement? It’s not too late, if the answer is no. You can still create an agreement that memorializes all of your intentions/needs/duties in a clear easy-to-refer-back-to document. Keep in mind that the nanny you’ve hired has likely worked for other families, and, as you know, every family does things differently. Help her out by explaining your daily routines, your parenting philosophy, religious tenants etc., if you haven’t done so already. Remember to ask whether she had issues at previous jobs that she wished she’d been able to talk about with those employers, so you can avoid any of the same pitfalls. Spelling things out enables and empowers both you and your nanny BEFORE any issues arise (and as a parent, you know that with kids involved, there will always be issues that arise). In fact, you may want to schedule quarterly or monthly ‘check-in’ meetings, or at the very least build in an annual review, so you both have the opportunity to share your thoughts on how you feel everything is going or if there are new changes to consider.

Don’t feel like you need to muddle through creating a document from scratch; there are a number of sites with templates and tools to help you both communicate what is right for each of you, and especially for your children. You can check out a few here, here and here.

2. Remember that the nanny you employ is your employee. Think about how you are or want to be treated by your employer when you consider vacation days, sick days, bonuses etc. (Note that in NYC, you are required to give your domestic worker employee 2 sick days and 3 rest days). Not only do you have legal obligations as an employer, but you also have the opportunity to show your nanny that you respect her and want to treat her accordingly. Have you considered or already discussed paying your nanny ‘on-the-books,’ providing healthcare, or workers compensation? Now is the time to sit down and discuss these things with her, or do some research to explore your options. She may or may not be familiar with NY law, and/or may have additional insight to share with you. To help you see where NY stands, you can find specific state requirements here.

3. Pay fairly and cover reasonable costs. Whether you’ve already decided on how much you will be paying your nanny or you are still negotiating, remember that not only should you factor in an hourly or weekly rate, but an overtime or additional hours rate. Also include any transportation costs both during regular working hours and if you ask her to stay late or babysit on a night she does not typically work for you. Rates fluctuate depending on your job description, the number and age of your children, and any additional non-childcare related responsibilities you’ve agreed to. There are numerous ways to find out about going rates for other families in situations similar to yours: parent listservs are a good crowdsourcing go-to, and every neighborhood has a least one. Be sure to ask around because a nanny that finds she isn’t being paid as well as her colleagues is likely to feel unappreciated. You can also consider using a living wage calculator to determine what she would need to earn in order to support her or a family.

We all hope that the people who care for our children feel like a member of the family, but at the end of the day we have to remember and respect that working for your family is your caregiver’s job, no matter how happy she is to work for an amazing family like yours.

For more tips and resources, please check out these guides at HireOurNanny.org.

This article is by Alix Ford, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.

What’s normal and when to call the doctor for these 5 totally gross newborn things.

Article & Photo courtesy of Well Rounded NY

Having a new baby can feel magical. They are so small and cute and they smell good. Then it hits you. Literally. Your adorable perfect newborn sprays you full of poop while you are changing his diapers. Her eyes start to have green goop. You wonder how could this be happening to your perfect baby. Is this normal?

Here’s 5 yucky or gross things that happen in newborns that may throw you for a loop, but are perfectly normal.

1. Explosive Pooping. When a baby is first born, the stool will be dark and tarry appearing. This is called meconium. As your milk comes in or your baby starts to bottle-feed, the stool will change in both color and consistency: it may be yellow, orange, green or brown in color and cottage, tooth paste, mustard or honey in consistency. It will be very loose. If it were your stool, you would think you had diarrhea, but this is normal for babies. You may find that the stool squirts out at you during a diaper change. Sometimes, you may find your child has such a large stool that it goes up their back. This is what we call a diaper blowout and it’s normal as well.
Seek medical attention: If your newborn is stooling more than 15 times a day, has blood in the stool, has not urinated for over 6-8 hours or seems to be in pain or feeding poorly.

2. Newborn Congestion. Newborns are obligate nasal breathers. This means that they breathe much better through their noses than through their mouths. Newborns have small nasal passages so any little bit of congestion can make them sounds very noisy like a washing machine. The only way for your baby to clear their nasal passages is by sneezing, which explains why newborns sneeze a lot. Typically, the congestion bothers the parents more than the baby. If your baby is happy and feeding and sleeping well there is no reason to intervene. In fact, trying to suction your baby’s nose will only annoy them and over suctioning can actually lead to increased congestion by irritating the nasal passages. You may see a giant booger right there and really want to get it out. Remember if your child is not bothered by it then leave it alone. Soon enough your baby will sneeze and that bothersome booger will come right out. If your baby is bothered by the congestion you can use some nasal saline drops and suction to help make them more comfortable. Keeping a humidifier running will also help with nasal congestion.
Seek immediate medical attention: If your infant is less than two months old, has a temperature 100.4 or above, is feeding poorly, is irritable, is having persistently rapid breathing, has a change of color to the lips to pale or blue, or if you have any other concerns.

3. Umbilical Stump. After your baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut. Within 2-3 days the stump starts to dry out and can look a little gross. As the cord separates it will also look unattractive. The cord typically changes from a yellow/green color to brown or black as it dries out. It may even start to smell a little as it falls off. The key to stump care is to keep the area dry. This means not submerging your infant in water until after the umbilical stump falls off typically between 10-14 days of life. Until then, you can sponge bathe your baby. Your baby has sensitive skin and does not need to be bathed frequently. Signs of infection include: circumferential redness in the belly button area, very foul smelling discharge, pain or fever.
Seek medical attention: If you have other concerns, it is always best to check with your pediatrician.

4. Clogged Tear Ducts. It happens one morning soon after you come home from the hospital, you go to your sleeping baby and notice lots of green discharge from one or both their eyes. You immediately panic does my child have an eye infection? Luckily the likely answer is no. It is common for infants to get clogged tear ducts. In this case, the white of the eyes are white and there is no redness or swelling or the eyelids. There will be some yellow-green color discharge from your baby’s eyes and at times there may be a large amount of discharge. You will also notice that the affected eye may be watery and tearing. The good news is that clogged tear ducts typically self-resolve by nine months of age. If that has not happened, your pediatrician will refer you to an eye doctor at that time.
Seek medical attention: Signs of infection include redness in the white part of the eye, eyelid redness or swelling, or a hard bump at the corner of the eye. If your baby has these symptoms or you have any concerns you should contact your pediatrician.

5. Cradle Cap. The medical term for cradle cap is seborrhea. These are the scaly, flaky patches you may see on your new baby's scalp. The scalp may look yellow and greasy and can sometimes have some redness. No one knows the exact cause of cradle cap but some theories include: maternal hormones passed from the mother can cause a build up of oil in the oil glands and hair follicles or that it is caused by a non harmful yeast. While cradle cap bothers parents because it can look unsightly, it is not dangerous or harmful to babies. It typically does not bother your baby and is not contagious. The good news is that most cradle cap self resolves within a few months. So hang tight and observe.
Seek medical attention: If your baby’s scalp is very itchy or is bleeding it may not be cradle cap and you should talk to you doctor.

Remember, children can sometimes be messy. The good news is that they are adorable and have so many positives you are left thinking, “Really, what’s the big deal about an occasional poop squirt between family!”

This article is by Deena Blanchard, courtesy of Well Rounded NY. Conceived with love by former magazine editors Jessica Pallay and Kaity Velez, Well Rounded NY aims to be the singular pregnancy resource for city-savvy moms-to-be. Through reviews, profiles, expert Q&As, local guides and more, Well Rounded curates the New York City pregnancy and helps its readers come to terms – and term! – with pregnancy in the city.