I have a goal

When I took over Kohlrbaby I was thrilled to take on the challenge as this is a whole different ball game for me. For the past couple of weeks I have been thinking of ways of how to make "Moms" aware of  Kohlrbaby.

It is a great product I must say otherwise I wouldn't take on the challenge.  I approach BC Childrens'hospital and I was wondering whether I could work with them.  I told them that for every sleepsack that I sell.  I will donate $5.00 to Childrens Hospital.    I decided to do this not just because I wanted to promote Kohlrbaby but  on the personal side, we have been donors to the foundation.  We wanted to give more but that means I had to work a little harder to do it.  Days have past and have not heard.....well one day received this email saying that my cause marketing was approved.  Yipee! then reading the details of the "agreement"  the minimum donation is $25,000.
Then I started thinking...for me to achieve this $$$, I have to sell at least 15 sleepsacks a day. At present, I dont even come close to 1 a day.
This is now the biggest goal that I would like to achieve and maybe someday I would be able to reach this goal.
Of course with everybody's help

The Start of my journey

Having a business of my own is like having another kid.  Another task is added to my daily to do list as my day starts

Study links factors to choice of infant sleep position

Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have identified three principal factors linked to whether caregivers place infants to sleep on their backs. Those three factors are: whether they received a physician's recommendation to place infants only on their backs for sleep, fear that the infant might choke while sleeping on the back, and concerns for an infant's comfort while sleeping on the back.

A large body of research has shown that placing infants on their backs to sleep reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of death during the first year of life in the United States.

"Placing infants on their backs for sleep remains the single most effective means we know to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome," said Marian Willinger, Ph.D., Special Assistant for SIDS research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), which funded the analysis. "For the vast majority of infants, concerns about choking while back sleeping are unfounded."

Dr. Willinger noted that certain conditions might prompt a physician to consider recommending against back placement. However, such recommendations are arrived at only after careful deliberation and after taking into account all the potential risks and benefits for the infant involved.

The survey also found that after increasing steadily, the proportion of infants placed to sleep on their backs leveled off in the years since 2001.

The study appears in the December issue of Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Its lead author is Eve R. Colson, M.D., of Yale University School of Medicine.

To read full article visit this link

Camping with your Baby? - Choosing a location

So getting outdoors used to be one your favorite pass times. But now shouldering your backpack has been replaced by shouldering your baby carrier. Never fear! Getting back outdoors and introducing your baby to it is not as complicated as you might think. You might not be the minimalist packer that you once were, but just add a few things to your packing list and you’ll be back outside.

Since camping season is getting close, over the coming weekw we will be posting ideas for camping with your baby under the following categories:

• Choosing Location
• Dressing Baby
• Around Camp
• Sleeping
• Feeding
• Packing
• Tips and Tricks

Please feel free to add your own comments and experiences!

Choosing Locations

Start off choosing a familiar campsite not too far from home. Trying a practice trip in your back yard lets your baby get used to sleeping in a tent while allowing you to make sure your trip list is complete. As well, aim for a trip in the spring or fall when temperatures are cooler. It is easier to add clothing layers then to try to cool down your baby.

Baby's Sleep, Mother's Mood

I recently ran across an article in the ScienceDaily (Sep. 5, 2008)

Here is an excerpt from the article and the link to read the full article

"Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with an elevated risk for depression in everybody, at all stages of life, but in new moms, because of the hormonal changes and the need to recover from the pregnancy and birth, sleep deprivation can really be a problem," says Armitage, a professor of psychiatry at the U-M Medical School. "It can interfere with the social rhythms that are important for keeping the circadian clock in the brain in sync, it can minimize the amount of energy moms have to care for their infants, and it can contribute to the development of depression."

Visit us at Birthfest 2009!

Come by our booth and say hello!

We are excited to be back again at Birthfest, an event featuring locally-made products and local services. A great event for the whole family!

Date: March 14, 10-3
Location: Britannia Community Center off of Commercial Dr. (Vancouver, BC)

For more information visit: http://www.pomegranate-midwives.com/birthlounge.html

2 for 1 Sale

2 for 1 Clearance on microfleece sleepsacks and XL Sleepsacks
(Ecofleece, Microfleece and Organic Hemp)

We are getting ready for spring and clearing out our existing stock of microfleece sleepsacks in all sizes and XL Sleepsacks* to make room for our upcoming Spring stock.

Choose from our:

• Ecofleece - XL Only
• Microfleece - All Sizes
• Organic Hemp - XL Only

*Classic sleepsack not included

**Available while quantities last

***No applicable with any other discounts

Support Big Sisters at Marble Slab this Saturday!

Marble Slab Creamery (www.marbleslab.com) has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters in Canada to provide support both locally and nationally!

Marble Slab Creamery will be formally announcing this partnership at specially selected franchisee locations across the country this Saturday (June 21^st) – the first day of summer.

On this day, $1.00 from the sale of a special item sold across the country that day will be directed to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.

If you haven't already tried their ice cream, its DELICIOUS!

Facebook/Telus scam, unsolicited 'trivia' text messages to your phone cost you $2 per spam

User Beware!

I recently started receiving unsolicited text messages to my phone in the form of trivia.

Initially I just ignored them, but was getting quite annoyed so I called my cell phone carrier, Telus Mobility, to find out how to stop them.

Telus told me to text back "stop" which I did and am now apparently unsubscribed, however I also found out I have been charged $2.00 per text message, which seems like an exceptional scam to me.

I asked Telus to let me know who was sending the messages, so that I could complain and it turned out they are coming from Facebook. I have emailed Facebook to complain and am waiting for a response.

I am not sure what triggered these texts as I have signed up for very few apps on FB and would never have agreed to either receiving text messages or paying for them if I had been aware of it.

$40 later I am feeling pretty frustrated, so beware of any apps you sign up for as it seems like there must be something tricksy going on!

I'll post my phone bill on an upcoming blog to show how the charges appear for reference.

Facebook Applications and Families

I recently attended a seminar on Facebook and business and learned about an interesting application. For those of you regularly sending photos and information to friends and family this might be of interest.

Sending digital photos is often the norm now, but not everyone is online. This application offers the ability to set up specific rules for each person on your list ie: send photos by email to my sister, send photos by flikr to my friend and mail photos to my grandma. At a click of a button it is completed!

There is a fee for some parts of this service, but for those of you regularly sending photos it might be a time-saving application!

To learn more about it visit www.kinzin.com

Sleeptime Struggles

After a busy day of juggling work, children and other responsibilities, bedtime can often feel like the last straw. All you can think about is finally sitting down and having some silence, but your child just won't settle down. Has this ever happened to you?

I was reading through some online articles and came across this one which seems to offer some great ideas for developing a sleep plan to make bedtime a pleasant and special time for both you and your child.

If you have any sleep tips, please feel free to leave them in the comment section!

The Best Baby Gifts Ever!

So I was talking with some friends about the best baby gifts they have received. Between everyone there was some pretty neat stuff, but the favorites came down to three:

1) meals: there are some great companies offering pre-made, delivered meals. In the Vancouver area we really like Meals for Mums.

Are there any in your area you would recommend? Please post a comment below if you do!

2) house cleaning: not only does this help keep the house clean, but it can be a sanity saver for singles and couples a like!

3) overnight doulas: this one was especially popular for those without any family around. One in the Vancouver area is Mother Me

Please comment below if you have some great doula services in your area!

I liked these gifts because they can be so helpful and aren't more "stuff"! However, they can be a bit pricey, so sometimes it helps to get a few people to pitch in!

Helen Sands - Sleep Education

Looking for better sleep for you and your little one?

Try Helen Sands!

Phone: 604 - 803-0068

Email: info@helensands.com

Web: www.helensands.com

Read more about her different packages:

Long Distance Consultation – NO HOME VISIT

Package #1 - $190.00

Includes:

• Initial Phone Consultation or Email Contact followed by the Assessment of Family History Sheet
• Prepare personal Sleep Plan and Schedule for the family/child
• Telephone or email contact to discuss the plan and answer any questions
• Complimentary follow up/support should any problems arise during training

Personal Consultation – WITH HOME VISIT

Package #2 - $299.00

Includes:

• Initial Phone Consultation or Email Contact followed by the Assessment of Family History Sheet
• Prepare personal Sleep Plan and Schedule for the family/child
• In Home Consultation and Q & A session on family/child sleep issues (approximately 2 hours) at your home
• Complimentary follow up/support should any problems arise during training

Personal Consultation – CONSULTATION AT MY LOCATION IN DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER

Package #3 - $240.00

Includes:

• Initial Phone Consultation or Email Contact followed by the Assessment of Family History Sheet
• Prepare personal Sleep Plan and Schedule for the family/child
• Consultation at my location and Q & A session on family/child sleep issues (approximately 1.75 hours) - downtown Vancouver
• Complimentary follow up/support should any problems arise during training

Mattress wrapping doesn’t account for fall in SIDS deaths

An Auckland postal survey of 400 mothers has found wrapping cot mattresses in plastic has not contributed to the continuing decline in SIDS mortality.

Mums who gave birth at National Women’s Hospital in Auckland between January 2005 and March 2005 were asked if they used plastic wrapping over their child’s mattress, and if so did the wrapping completely cover the mattress, in a study by Auckland University’s professor in child health research Ed Mitchell...

Professor Mitchell’s study finds parents who used plastic wrapping on cot mattresses were more likely to be European, sleep their baby supine, not share a bed and be a non-smoker – all factors associated with a reduced risk of SIDS. - Lucy Ratcliffe lratcliffe@nzdoctor.co.nz

Read Full Article

Travelling with Your Baby?

I just came across a Question and Answer from the BabyCenter UK Website which I thought might be useful:

We're going on holiday abroad in a few weeks' time. How can I help my baby adjust to a different time zone?

The BabyCentre Editorial Team answers:
Travelling with a baby or toddler can be tricky, and when it requires adjusting to a different time zone it can be even harder. But you can try some things to make the transition easier.

A few days before you head off on holiday, begin adjusting to the new time zone by moving your baby's sleep times an hour back or ahead each day. If you're flying to America, for example, this means your baby should go to bed a bit later each night and get up later in the morning. If you're going east to Europe, you could try moving your baby's bedtime a bit earlier each evening and wake her up earlier in the morning. You can adjust naptimes in the same way too.

When making travel arrangements, try and keep your baby's usual sleep times in mind. If you can, select a flight that arrives in the late afternoon or early evening and then you can put your baby to bed at her usual (adjusted) bedtime. Overnight flights can work well if the flight is long enough and you think your baby will actually sleep. Once you get on the plane, change your watch to the new time zone and stick to your baby's usual sleep times if you can.

Once you reach your destination, help your baby adjust to the new time zone. Although her internal clock may tell her it's evening, try and keep her busy during the daytime and spend as much time as possible outside. The exposure to sunlight will help adjust your baby's biological clock.

Of course, if your baby is very young, or if your trip is short, you may find it easier simply to keep your baby on her usual "home" time zone. If your baby is very young and sleeping lots during the day it won't make a huge amount of difference to change her sleep times. Toddlers and older children may be better at changing their sleep times than babies. Or if you are travelling east, to continental Europe, for example, you may prefer simply to put your child later to bed in the evening and let her wake up later, which can be no bad thing on holiday!

How to Choose a Crib

We recently found this fun site called "How Stuff Works".

It has all sorts of different topics and we felt the one on how to choose a crib might be useful.

"For the sake of the consumer, a lot of attention has been paid to crib safety. Any crib manufactured after February 1974 must conform to strict safety codes, which were necessitated by a large number of serious crib accidents. If you are considering an older crib, perhaps one that has been in your family, compare its features with the current safety standards"
read more

A Piece on Fleece

Rarely a week goes by that I don't get some sort of question about fleece fabric. Is fleece safe for my baby? Is fleece breathable? are some of the more common ones. So I thought it was time to give some more detailed information about fleece.

A bit of history on fleece: Polartec fleece was first invented in the early 80's by Malden Mills as an alternative to wool for extreme outdoor adventurers. Fleece has forever changed the way the world dresses for cold weather.

But it's not just for athletes. Fleece has found a great home in baby's and children's apparel. In fact, in 1999 Time Magazine named Polartec fleece "One of the hundred great things of the 20th century."

So what is fleece then? Fleece is basically a 100% polyester fabric with an “altered” fibre structure. This unique way of creating the fibres and the fabric result in the ability of the fabric to transfer moisture through itself (wicking) from the baby’s skin to the outside of the garment.

While cotton is a great fabric for some things, it is also a porous fabric and absorbs moisture holding it against a baby’s skin. This means when cotton fabrics get wet, they will stay wet --and clammy. They become uncomfortable and uncomfortable children become cranky. Further, cotton’s properties hinder the evaporation process which is important for keeping baby’s temperature at an appropriate level. In the winter it will make baby cold, in the summer too hot. Fleece breathes well and comes in a variety of weights appropriate to different seasons and climes—Vancouver rain or Whistler snow! Parents in the know are aware of these advances and use fleece to keep their baby warm and snug.

Fleece’s characteristics –

• Highly breathable – keeps baby dry. No rashes etc Highly breathable to provide comfort in all activities; does not restrict the movement of moisture vapour this idea links to the next benefit)
• Provides warmth without weight – great for long days. In the baby bag etc
• Pill resistant – stays soft and comfortable against baby’s skin even after many washings
• Low maintenance and durable, cleans ‘messes food etc” less laundry time = more play time
• Virtually stain-proof
• A quick-drying fabric
• Machine washable/dryable
• Very SOFT and immediately warm to the touch.

Plant a Tree for Baby

I was reading an article on carbon credits and came across a couple of interesting sites.

Dell has an initiative called "Plant a Tree for Me". In their own words, "Dell now makes it easy to help protect the Earth’s climate by offering anyone in the U.S. and Europe the opportunity to offset the CO2 emissions related to the use of an extended selection of IT products. Participants can also help offset the total one-year carbon impact of the average citizen. "

In Canada, this initiative has partnered with Tree Canada. Another great organization that "creates opportunities for individuals and groups with an interest in planting and caring for trees for non-commercial use. We assess projects from an environmental perspective and offer funding and/or technical assistance. Our planting partners, who have planted over 75 million trees in ten years, are responsible for ongoing care and maintenance."

What an interesting baby gift, instead of the usual!

Baby Toys Made in the USA

With all the recalls happening with baby products made in China, it's time to take a close look at the products our babies are using and playing with. We decided to do a bit of digging to see what locally and ethically-made, baby products we could find to share with you.

Here are a couple we found:

Wooden Toys:
Making handcrafted wooden toys in Vermont, Maple Landmark has been around for 25 years and has been getting rave reviews from their customers for their building blocks, toy trucks and trains, rattles, wooden games and more!

Stuffed Toys:
Another great find from Vermont is this Organic Stuffed Dog sold by Our Green House. Who wouldn't fall in love with this puppy! They also make an elephant, a pony and a bunny and other toys.

If you have any others you would like to recommend, please email us a link!

Truth and Myth of Natural and Organic Fabrics

From our August Newsletter:

There is a growing interest in natural fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp and bamboo, but "approach new fabrics with skeptical enthusiasm"People often forget that just because a fabric is made from natural fibers, doesn't necessarily make it environmentally friendly. We decided it was high time to do a little digging and find out the story behind some of the natural and organic fabrics especially when choosing fabrics for your baby.

Organic Cotton: Conventional cotton uses 25 percent of the world's insecticides and 10 percent of the world's pesticides (more than $2.6 billion worth). Organic cotton eliminates the use of chemical pesticides, fertilizer, defoliants and other toxins. Instead they depend on natural processes to increase yields and disease resistance, partly through enhancing soil quality. Organic production is also the only internationally recognised, independently assessed certification or label for cotton production - OTA

Hemp is an extremely fast growing crop, producing more fiber yield per acre than any other source. Hemp can produce 250% more fiber than cotton using the same amount of land. The amount of land needed for obtaining equal yields of fiber place hemp at an advantage over other fibers. The plant itself is easy to grow in temperate climates, and requires good soil, fertilizer and water, but no pesticides nor herbicides. Moreover, hemp does not exhaust the soil. Hemp plants shed their leaves all through the growing season, adding rich organic matter to the topsoil and helping it retain moisture. - Hemptraders

Bamboo, at first glance, sounds great: it's a fast-growing plant, not reliant on chemicals, and beautifully drapes the human form. Trouble is, bamboo plantations can displace native forests, and the harvesting and fiber processing are often polluting and unregulated. As with soy, corn, and Tencel (which comes from trees), the processing from plant to fabric is energy and resource intensive - TreeHugger