Health and Wellness

Many of us try to buy (and pay a premium for) organic food whenever possible, since it promises to be more healthy than the conventionally grown varieties. But what exactly does “organic” really mean? Many products bear the USDA organic seal, which has been in use since 2002. USDA regulations for organic production

• prohibit the use of irradiation, sewage sludge, or genetically modified organisms
• reflect National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) recommendations for allowed synthetic and prohibited natural substances
• prohibit antibiotics in meat and poultry
• require 100% organic feed for livestock

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The other day while shopping I ran across something that I hadn't seen for years: ice pop (AKA Popsicle) molds. I'm sure they've been around all the while; it's just that they hadn't exactly been on my radar until I had kids. Anyhow, I picked up a set and we've been experimenting with making different kinds of healthy and tasty frozen treats. We've tried the obvious fruit juice, as well as various flavors of yogurt.

Coincidentally, I found some recipes for frozen fruit ice pops on the Food Network's website. The recipes--for strawberry and blueberry fruit pops--involve whirring fresh fruit and various other ingredients together in the blender and then freezing in the molds. They sound pretty good, so we're going to give them a try.

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Marin Mommies.com is happy to present another guest article by baby sleep expert Marsha Podd, RN, CLE.

Did you know that most babies under 6 months rarely have enough time on their tummy? Since the SIDS foundation has been recommending all parents put baby down to sleep on its back, tummy time has diminished.

Recently, the SIDS foundation issued a new recommendation--more tummy time! Why? Because a young infant needs to develop good strength in lifting its head, and pushing up with its arms. A baby is at greater risk to die from suffocation or SIDS if it is without good strength and control of the head and upper body.

When baby learns to roll over from back to tummy, it is important for him to have strength. If strong, he will easily be able to lift his head and breathe and move. A strong baby is a safe sleeper.
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OK, I know this sounds crazy, but I am still nursing my 2-year-old daughter. I’ve been trying to wean her for the last couple of months with little luck. I have been successful at cutting back, but she does seem a pretty attached to the whole thing still. I’ve tried replacements, like a pacifier or food, which in both cases haven’t worked. When looking into suggestions about weaning, I found some good info online from Dr. Sears and the La Leche Group. Both websites had similar suggestions. I have listed some of the basic ones below:

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Now that most schools begin some time in August, it’s time to start buying those back to school items. My son will be starting kindergarten this fall, so we are started shopping for a new backpack and lunchbox. When we were shopping for a lunchbox, we came across Laptop Lunches. These cool waste-free lunch boxes are American-style bento boxes that were developed by two moms in Santa Cruz. They’re designed to help families pack nutritious, environment-friendly lunches that do not contain lead, phthalates, or bisphenol A (BPA). Laptop Lunches also come with a book of healthy lunch ideas and lunch-making recipes. They are reusable, recyclable, and dishwasher safe. The basic Laptop Lunches starts at $20.99 (shown on right) online. You can buy them online at www.laptoplunches.com.
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The second in our series on outdoor safety for families, in this post we take a look at the notorious outdoor pest the tick. Often as small as a sesame seed, these nasty little parasites can be found all over California. While in times past they were regarded as more of a nuisance than anything, in the last 20 years or so they’ve become vectors for serious health problems, including the infamous Lyme disease. Of course, none of this should be a substitute for genuine medical advice, so if you suspect a real health problem, talk to your pediatrician.

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Summer is here, and it's time for families to enjoy popular outdoor activities like hiking and camping. Since kids don't always pay attention to their surroundings and potential hazards, it's up to us as parents and caregivers to watch out for them. The goal of our series of outdoor safety posts is to give parents and caregivers an introduction to some of the common safety hazards found in Northern California, with an eye toward children's safety in particular. Of course, none of this should be a substitute for genuine medical advice.

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Can't make it to the Lullaby Exercises class at Lulu this Friday? We're giving away a free copy of the new Lullaby Exercises DVD, courtesy of Chicks-n-Chickens! Designed for new moms to share moments with their babies, put them to sleep, and feel good emotionally, this set includes a DVD and bonus CD with original music by singer/songwriter Lisa Phenix. It's worth $29.95, and you can win it by sending an email with "Lullaby Exercises" in the subject line to contests@marinmommies.com.

Giveaway entries must be received by midnight on Wednesday, July 2. We'll pick a winner at random on Thursday, July 3.