©iStockphoto.com/SaferTim

When was the last time a celebrity breastfed a baby, cooked breakfast, breastfed a baby, packed lunches, drove carpool, breastfed a baby, worked her ‘second job’ (breast pumping twice during the work day), drove carpool, breastfed a baby, cooked dinner, read a bedtime story, washed and ironed clothes, breastfed a baby—all in the same day and without help?

With thousands of U.S. women attempting to do all of the above and more, for Gisele Bundchen Brady to tell Harpers Bazaar UK, “I think there should be a worldwide law, in my opinion, that mothers should breastfeed their babies for six months,”…

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If the words “health care reform” make your eyes glaze over, check out the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) one-page fact sheets intended to explain the Health Care Reform Law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and how they align with the academy’s core principles:

1. Every child must have quality health insurance.

2. Quality health insurance should be a right, regardless of income, for every child, pregnant women, their families, and ultimately all individuals.

3. All health insurance plans should have a comprehensive age-appropriate benefits package directed to the special needs of…

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Ignorance is bliss. Or so they say. Remember the good old days, when you didn’t worry about what your baby’s bottle was made from? Glass, plastic…it didn’t seem to make a difference other than the look, feel, and style. That all changed in 2008, when the National Toxicology Program released its report on bisphenol A (commonly known as BPA), a chemical found in plastics. At that time, the government agency stated a series of concerns about the chemical used in many plastic food containers, including baby bottles. Among those concerns was that human exposure to BPA could cause brain, behavior,…

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In May, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved a new federal safety standard for infant bath seats. This is the first mandatory standard for infant and toddler products issued by the CPSC as required under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

Intended for use in sinks and tubs, infant bath seats provide front and back support for babies 5 to 10 months of age. Since 1983, infant bath seats have been implicated in 174 deaths and 300 serious injuries, many due to babies being left unattended.

In a warning to parents, the CPSC cautioned, “Young children can drown quickly, even…

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If you are among those who think hunger is a condition that exists only in poor countries—remote parts of the world with limited resources—think again. Although the United States is one of the world’s wealthiest nations, one in four U.S. children goes to bed hungry one or more nights each year—a condition defined as food insecurity. Nearly 20 percent of children in seven U.S. states and the District of Columbia live in households without adequate food supplies. And with summer just around the corner and school lunch programs coming to an end, the situation is about to get worse.

Administered by the…

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Natural. Pure. Wholesome. Good. Those are the words that come to mind when I see the “USDA organic” seal. At a time when we are all more mindful of the dangers of pesticides and chemicals in the foods we eat, it’s reassuring to see the small green-and-white emblem that means you don’t need to worry–this product is natural and good for you.

However, a recent ban of synthetic fats commonly found in some organic products raises serious questions about such thinking. A statement on the ban was recently issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and will impact infant formula…

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Let’s Move! is the rallying cry of the new nationwide campaign to address childhood obesity. Launched in February 2010 and spearheaded by first lady Michelle Obama, this campaign aims to “eliminate the problem of childhood obesity in a single generation.” It’s an ambitious goal, considering that over just the last few decades, childhood obesity rates have more than tripled, increasing from 5 percent in 1980 to 17 percent in 2008. Currently, almost one in three children is overweight or obese.

Although its name emphasizes activity, Mrs. Obama notes that the campaign relies on a multi-faceted approach where attention to food may even exceed that…

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U.S. children, on average, get 10 percent of their daily calories from sugar-sweetened drinks. (Gulp!) Sugar consumption has long been linked with childhood obesity. In 2006, researchers at the Harvard University School of Public Health released two reports. The first, Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Children’s Health, reviewed trends in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among U.S. children and the scientific evidence about the effect of such consumption on their health. And the second, Policies Affecting Access to Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Schools: A Legal and Regulatory Review investigated policies in all 50 states. As part of a nationwide effort to reduce consumption and combat childhood obesity, several…

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As we recognize the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day, we need to reflect on the pollutants all around us—at home, in the environment, even in our bodies.

If there are pollutants in our environment, does that cause us to have pollutants in our bodies? What about our breast milk? Does that mean it’s not safe for our babies?

Pollutants are everywhere and everyone is affected: pregnant or not, breastfeeding or not, male or female, young or old. Even infants have tested positive for common contaminants immediately after birth.

The question we need to ask ourselves is this: If a mother’s milk, produced inside…

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Choose toys wisely: Avoid phthalates found in soft plastics (like teethers and rubber ducks). ©iStockphoto.com/cujo19

Mom’s job is to protect baby. Feed him, clothe him, keep him warm and dry. Buy the safest toys and the healthiest foods. I thought I was doing plenty by choosing organic food and BPA-free bottles. As it turns out, that wasn’t enough. By digging deeper into the countless products that surround all of us, including our children—common household products, even—it is evident the list of harmful chemicals is exponential. Thankfully, this month, one U.S. senator introduced legislation to reform our nation’s outdated policies on the control…

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©iStockphoto.com/Mishella

It goes without saying that workplace bathrooms are not germ-free spaces for working mothers to express their milk and wash bottles and equipment. But many women working outside the home had few alternatives—until now. With the passage of the healthcare reform bill, working mothers have received support for expressing milk at work.

A major component of the Breastfeeding Promotion Act was rolled into the newly-passed healthcare reform bill (officially known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act), and employers are now required to accommodate breastfeeding employees. As part of the larger bill, this amendment of the Fair Labor Standards…

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Pinwheels for Prevention™ introduces the pinwheel as the new symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention nationwide.

In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, baby gooroo would like to share with our readers the importance of increasing public awareness of child abuse and neglect and encourage individuals and communities to identify strategies for supporting children and families.

This month, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families announced that 2008 saw the lowest child victimization rate in five years. Still, recent data show an estimated 772,000 children were victims of child abuse and neglect. An estimated one-third…

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