September 22, 2008
Remember Goldilocks testing all the beds in Mama, Papa and Baby Bear’s house till she found the one that was just right for her? Anyone buying a mattress would be well-advised to do the same thing even today. For not only is it a long-term investment, the wrong one or one past its use by date could give you a pain in the neck. If you’ve been waking up feeling stiff and tired or with a backache even after a good night’s sleep, the chances are your mattress is to blame.
In our grandparents’ time, buying a mattress wasn’t much of a problem since there was only one type available — stuffed with coir. We have an embarrassment of riches, from the regular spring and foam types to the therapeutic ones. “We have a variety of mattresses, right from coir to rubberised foam. We even have orthopaedic ones for people who suffer from problems of the spinal cord. These help get rid of backaches and prevent other spinal cord related ailments,” says S. Chowdhury of Kurlon Ltd, Calcutta.
However, with options galore consumers seem a bit dazed when it comes to selecting the right mattress, especially since they do not know what to look for. “A mattress that keeps your spine in proper alignment by maintaining the optimum body curvature is the right one. Sleeping on such a mattress will not only be comfortable but help maintain your spine in the correct posture,” says Dr Ranjan Kamilya, senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Apollo Gleaneagles Hospital, Calcutta.
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September 15, 2008
She’s cutting a tooth.
She’s hitting a developmental transition.
She’s just back from a trip or you’ve just had an overnight guest.
She’s had a change in environment - for instance, a light is coming through from outside or a neighbor’s dog is barking.
Because your child is verbal, talk to her about what may be happening that is translating into her nighttime sleep issue. You want to make sure there isn’t something going on emotionally with your child that is legitimately distressing her.
For instance, she may be adjusting to starting camp or preschool, or grappling with potty training, or perhaps a new baby has entered the family.
“There may be something churning inside of them that they need to process,” Waldburger says.
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September 8, 2008
BASIC IS BEST!
When you’re crib shopping, you may be tempted to buy the showiest model, and bumper guards and coverlets that say your nursery is fit for a prince or princess. Resist the temptation. The safest cribs are basic; they have simple lines and no scrollwork or finials–infants can strangle if their clothing gets caught in such detail work. Heeding this advice will get you a safer crib and it will save you money.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the best sleeping arrangement for a newborn is a full-size crib or safety-approved bassinet or cradle; it advises keeping your baby’s crib, cradle, or bassinet in your bedroom until she’s at least 6 months old. After that, it’s fine to move the crib to the nursery. But we think full-size cribs, which are federally regulated, are better than bassinets and cradles, for which there are only voluntary standards.
Place your baby’s crib well away from windows, window blinds, wall hangings, curtains, toys, and other furniture so that an adventurous baby can’t get at anything dangerous.
For safety’s sake, monitor your child’s development closely and stop using a crib as soon as your toddler can climb out. At that point, consider a bed with child railings or put the mattress on the floor. Don’t put your child back into the crib after the first “escape,” regardless of his age. A child attempting to climb out of a crib can fall and be seriously injured.
September 1, 2008
Buy new. If possible, avoid buying or accepting a used crib. Older models may not meet current safety standards or may be in disrepair. If you must use an older crib, avoid those built before 2000, about a year after the latest voluntary standards for slat-attachment strength took effect. (Check the manufacture date on the crib label, which is required by law.) Currently, 12 states have laws banning the sale of unsafe used cribs or prohibiting their use in child-care facilities. Your state may have such a law.
Decide about drop sides. Do you want a crib with both sides that drop so that you can get your baby from either side, a crib with one side that drops, or one with stationary sides? Deciding first about drop sides will narrow the selection and make shopping easier. If you’re considering a crib with no drop sides–the most stable approach–be sure to test models in the store. Cribs with stationary sides have less hardware (less chance of missing or broken parts), but if you are not tall, it can be hard to get your baby. Use the mattress’ lowest setting to see how easy it is for you to bend in and pick up your baby.
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August 25, 2008
In the beginning, babies spend up to 18 hours a day sleeping. They’re not doing much, but don’t be fooled. They can get themselves into lots of trouble just by hanging out in their crib. The Consumer Product Safety Commission cites 97 reports of crib-related deaths from 2002 to 2004 (the most recent statistics) due to entrapment between old or broken crib components, encounters with accessories around the crib, such as window cords or curtain tie backs, and suffocation when infants ended up face down in cribs containing pillows, quilts, and other bedding. It’s up to you to provide your baby with the safest and best sleeping environment possible. Here’s what you can do to rest assured that your baby is snoozing safely:
• To reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation, place your baby to sleep on its back (unless your pediatrician advises otherwise) at naptime and nighttime in a crib that meets all safety standards with a firm, tight-fitting mattress. You shouldn’t be able to fit more than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress at any point.
• Place your baby’s crib well away from windows, window blinds, wall hangings, draperies, and other furniture so that an adventurous baby can’t get at anything dangerous.
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August 18, 2008
A number of distressed parents and grandparents have posted comments about last month’s recall of 320,000 Jardine cribs complaining about the lengthy and unwieldy process they’ve had to go through to get replacement cribs. They have our sympathy, but it may take more than that to get satisfaction—and a safe crib.
As we wrote in June, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 320,000 cribs made by Jardine Enterprises and sold for the past six years at retail and online outlets of Toys ‘R’ Us properties. The reason for the recall? The wooden slats and spindles can break, leading to entrapment and strangulation hazards. At the time of the recall, the CPSC had received 42 reports of crib slats and spindles breaking including four in which children became entrapped in the gap created by the broken piece. Two children were scraped or bruised.
The recall notice directed owners of the cribs to the Jardine Web site, which spells out details on getting a voucher for a replacement crib. Many parents who wrote us were surprised to see that they had to dismantle the crib and follow a multi-step process to get the voucher. Here’s what they’re directed to do after they request a recall kit:
- Remove mattress support hardware and identification label using the kit’s instructions and Allen key that is provided.
- Place the bolts, mattress support plates, identification label and signed acknowledgment form in the prepaid shipping envelope provided.
- Send the envelope to Jardine via UPS.
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August 11, 2008
Stanley Furniture Company is recalling 2nd Nature Built to Grow cribs sold nationwide from March 2006 to December 2007. The cribs could fail to meet a federal safety standard for crib dimensions. When the mattress support is in the middle setting, the space between the mattress and the crib could be too wide, posing an entrapment hazard.
This recall involves the full size 2nd Nature Built to Grow cribs, model number 353-14-220. Model and serial numbers are located on the headboard.
The crib is natural maple in color. Only the following serial numbers are included in the recall: 353-14-220-L-01, 353-14-220-L-02, 353-14-220-L-03, 353-14-220-L-04, 353-14-220-L-05, 353-14-220-L-06, 353-14-220-L-07, 353-14-220-L-08, 353-14-220-L-101, and 353-14-220-L-103. The recall does not include cribs sold after December 2007.
Consumers can contact Stanley Furniture at 888-839-6822 Monday through Friday to determine if the crib is subject to this recall, and if it is, to receive a free replacement crib headboard or visit www.youngamerica.com.
August 4, 2008
Mattresses might be about comfort above all, but on the salesfloor style is just as important as substance, which is why manufacturers leave no detail—from the border design to the ticking’s touch—to chance. While your sales staff should be prepared to talk about technical points, these mattresses are just as ready to speak for themselves:
Restonic’s promotionally priced, 70th anniversary ComfortCare™ innerspring line includes a cashmere Euro top plush mattress (shown) that features a RestoFoam™ and Quiltflex™ comfort quilt and a RestoFoam™ and Dunlop latex comfort layer.
Simmons’ Natural Elite mattresses feature Talalay latex made from biodegradable materials that are resistant to dust mites, mold and mildew; a layer of soy-enhanced base foam; and soy-enhanced foam edge support. Other features include Simmons’ smooth-top EvenLoft construction, a natural knit cover made from wood fibers and a Triton® foundation made from 100 percent sustainable wood and up to 80 percent recycled steel. Pikes Peak (shown) is one of the collection’s four mattress models.
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July 29, 2008
• Stick to a schedule: Keep regular bedtimes and wake times, even on the weekends. This will help train your body when to fall asleep.
• Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet. Eliminate distractions such as TV, computers and ticking clocks.
• Avoid trying to sleep. The harder you try, the more awake — and anxious — you’ll become.
• Hide the clocks in your bedroom to avoid checking the time obsessively in the middle of the night.
• Don’t eat or drink too much before bedtime. Avoid alcohol because it may initially make you feel sleepy, but it can cause frequent wakings and restless sleep.
• Take time to relax before bedtime. A warm bath, snack or massage from a partner may help prepare you for sleep.
• Make sure your mattress is giving you the right support and comfort you need. Many mattresses become saggy after 5-7 years.
• Don’t spend too much time in bed. If you aren’t sleeping, get out of bed. You can’t force yourself to sleep by lying in bed.
• Use sleeping pills only as a last resort, and check with a doctor before taking any sleep medications.
July 29, 2008
During the first few months of a baby’s life, every parent suffers moments of self-doubt, on whether they are doing the right thing or not.
In this day and age when families usually comprise of a mother and father, many a times a nanny, and little or no guidance from elders, this doubt is further compounded. First-time parents have no clue on the best ways to look after their delicate newborn.
“Newborns need special support while being held, because they lack the muscle strength and motor control to hold their heads until they’re two to three months old,” says Dr Chadamas Juljerm, a neonatologist at St Louis Hospital.
The key to holding your newborn is a “gentle touch”, as physical contact between parent and child is important for development, she says.
Always approach your baby with confidence in your ability to hold the child and provide the child with the comfort and safety it needs. If you find yourself afraid of holding your baby or lack the confidence to do so, neither of you will enjoy being close, as babies are sensitive to touch.
What is shaken baby syndrome (SBS)?
The main reason of SBS is when a baby is forcefully shaken in an attempt to stop it from crying. Injury can also occur when the care-giver is too rough while playing with the baby. This action can bruise the brain causing severe blindness, brain damage, or in some cases death.
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