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I've said a few times that I'm anti-fluoride and that I'd explain why later. Well, later has finally come.

Our pediodontist says that since Hawaii doesn't have fluoridated water, I need to give my kids fluoride supplements--either liquid drops or chewable tablets. When I say no thanks, he goes on to explain that fluoride acts as a fertilizer for the permanent teeth beneath the surface of my baby's gums--to assure that when those teeth do emerge, they will have strong enamel and be resistant to cavities.

It's a very convincing notion, but I refuse the prescription every time. Here are the reasons why (I've gathered this info from a bunch of different sources and sites):

1. Contrary to previous belief, fluoride has minimal benefit when swallowed.
When water fluoridation began in the 1940s and '50s, dentists believed that fluoride needed to be swallowed in order to be most effective. This belief, however, has now been discredited by an extensive body of modern research. Water fluoridation’s benefits to teeth have been exaggerated. No difference exists in tooth decay between fluoridated & unfluoridated countries. Cavities do not increase when fluoridation stops. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, any benefits that accrue from the use of fluoride, come from the direct application of fluoride to the outside of teeth and not from ingestion. There is no need, therefore, to expose all other tissues to fluoride by swallowing it.

So why do most states in the US still fluoridate their water? The bottom line is that fluoride is an industrial pollutant which became a serious problem several decades ago, and this problem was essentially solved by devising ways to feed the stuff to humans. Today it’s become a difficult issue that involves big business, large sums of money, the ADA, the FDA, and lastly, public health.

2. Ingesting fluoride has little benefit to your teeth, and many risks to your health. 
Babies ingesting fluoride are at high risk of dental fluorosis, which is when fluoride damages the cells that form the teeth, but more alarming is the damage fluoride does to other cells in the body. Other tissues in the body can be affected by early-life exposures to fluoride. Fluoride may damage the developing brain, causing learning deficits and other problems.
- Risk to the brain: Animal studies conducted in the 1990s by EPA scientists found dementia-like effects at the same concentration (1 ppm) used to fluoridate water. Human studies have found adverse effects on IQ, even at low levels!
- Risk to the thyroid: According to the National Research Center (NRC), fluoride is an “endocrine disrupter.” Even low doses may reduce the function of the thyroid among individuals with low-iodine intake. Lower thyroid activity = loss of mental acuity, depression and weight gain.
- Risk to bones: According to the NRC, fluoride can diminish bone strength and increase the risk for bone fracture. 
- Risk of bone cancer: Animal and human studies – including a recent study from a team of Harvard scientists – have found a connection between fluoride and a serious form of bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in males under the age of 20. 
- Risk to kidney patients: People with kidney disease have a heightened susceptibility to fluoride toxicity stemming from an impaired ability to excrete fluoride from the body. As a result, toxic levels of fluoride can accumulate in the bones, intensify the toxicity of aluminum build-up. 

3. According to the Journal of Public Health Dentistry: "Virtually all authors have noted that some children could ingest more fluoride from [toothpaste] alone than is recommended as a total daily fluoride ingestion."

Cole sometimes swallows inadvertently before I can get the cup to make him swish and spit, so he's probably within that group of "some children" who ingest more than is recommended. Because of that, I have my kids brush with fluoride-free toothpaste. Dave and I aren't fluoride-free because I know we're not swallowing the stuff, and plus I like the Crest whitening power. But here are two good ones:

Tom's of Maine Fluoride-Free Children's Natural Toothpaste Silly Strawberry -- 4.2 oz

Nature's Gate Natural Toothpaste, Creme De Peppermint 6 oz (170 g)

If you'd like to do the research about fluoride for yourself, here's a link to get you started: 

http://www.fluoridealert.org/fluoride-dangers/health/index.aspx

They told me to try it as a reward from the beginning. I didn’t listen. I don’t believe you should use food as a reward with kids. But the potty training wasn’t going so well. I held out, thinking it’s just a matter of time. The potty training only got worse. Finally I gave in and bought a vial of M&M Minis.

I gave Cole one mini M&M for shishi on the potty, and 2 for doodoo. I put one vial in our bathroom at home, and one in my purse for whenever we went out. In school, the teacher kept a chart of how many times he used the potty, with a happy face for each time. When I picked him up from school, we would take out the chart and I would put an M&M on each happy face so he would associate it easily. And wouldn’t you know it, it worked. After 2 vials, we were fully potty trained.

So I’m not saying, yea, go ahead and reward with food, and I don’t usually tell parents to give their kids M&Ms. But you have to find what motivates your kid and use that to your advantage. Cole isn’t going to die because of 2 small vials of M&M minis...as long as he’s not still asking for his potty reward at age 30.

I love Baby Aquaphor...it seems to have healing properties that work on any rash that crops up. It’s just all-around good stuff to have around for the delicate baby skin. It’s worked for us when the more expensive creams haven’t.

Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment, 3 oz (85 g)

Here’s an example of how it’s worked for us. This has happened to all my kids...seems like on trips to the mainland, their skin is totally unaccustomed to the dry, cold weather. So their cheeks and eventually their whole faces gets red, chapped, and raw. The last photo kinda shows what I’m talking about on Ari. As soon as we got back home and I put the Baby Aquaphor on, it all goes away. Now I just need to remember to bring the stuff with us.

I like CeraVe and Cetaphil for dry skin and eczema treatment as well. But be sure to get the moisturizing cream, and not the lotion or cleanser. The lotion is not as concentrated and I don’t think it provides enough of a seal to keep the moisture in. The cleanser is good for handwashing, but one time I put it all over Ari’s face thinking it was the cream...didn’t realize it until the end of the day when the rash seemed to have worsened!

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (16 oz)

Cetaphil Fragrance Free Moisturizing Cream, 16-Ounce Jars (Pack of 2)

Of course, if the eczema is real bad and doesn’t go away with any of these, I resort to a 0.5-1% hydrocortisone cream, which is probably bad, but it does the trick. With babies you only need the TINIEST amount. Like a half a pea per palm-sized area of skin. Rub it into your fingers until you can’t see it anymore, then apply to their skin, avoiding eyes, mouth, etc. Wash your hands right after. You don’t want to use it on a regular basis, or too much of it. Better yet, so that I don’t get myself in trouble, consult your pediatrician first! :)

Listen to the ingredients: organic extra virgin olive oil, organic beeswax, oregon grape root, myrrh gum, organic yarrow herb, organic calendula flower. Now who wouldn’t want to put that on their butt? We’re talking about a highly sensitive area here, and when it’s red and raw from a wet diaper, wiping, yeast or a food reaction, you don’t want to mess around with harsh ingredients and fillers. And when you’re considering your baby’s bottom, even more so!

Seriously, I love this stuff. It really takes care of diaper rash—not with medication, but all natural ingredients that have innate healing properties to restore the skin. That’s why it’s even good for mom’s nursing nipples, too. I’ve used it on Ari’s face, ankles...really anywhere there’s rash or dry skin (as long as you scoop it out with something clean).  

Diaper Rash & Thrush Relief (Motherlove)

This article I read last night on CNN.com was so disturbing, I was thinking about it all night. http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/03/kids-car-seat-tests-reveal-chemicals/ They are saying that more than half of the carseats manufactured in 2011 have one or more hazardous chemicals in them, including bromine, arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury. This is a 64% improvement over those manufactured in 2008. Grreeaat. The carseat Ari’s using right now was is a 2006 model. 

 But I’m glad they also make the point that we should keep using carseats regardless of these findings, though. Car seats save lives even if they have chemicals in the plastic/upholstery. 

I feel like the point for us as parents, shouldn’t be to throw out our car seats or stop using them. We need not get all panicked and anxious. The car seats are the same today as they were yesterday. It’s just some interesting research has been done and we’re finding out about it. It’s good to be conscientious consumers, but not frantic ones. There are great non-profit organizations like the Ecology Center who created healthystuff.org to protect, inform and advocate for consumers like us. They are trying to get congress to pass legislation that would phase out or regulate certain very toxic chemicals. Isn’t it great that we have leaders in our community looking out for us? We can be informed about the risks and rewards of this essential piece of baby gear. We can make our choices wisely and confidently knowing we are always doing  what we believe is best for our kids. 

With that said, here’s a summary of the recent car seat related findings from www.healthystuff.org

Overall Findings

• Consumer products throughout our economy, including children's car seats contain harmful chemicals that are linked to reproductive problems, developmental and learning disabilities, hormone imbalances and cancer.
• Over 150, 2011-model car seats were sampled from retail locations based in Michigan. This is a follow-up study to car seats sampled in 2008 (131) and 2009 (58).
• Brands tested include: Alpha Sport, Baby Trend, Britax, Chicco, Clek, Combi, Compass, Dorel Juvenile Group (Cosco, Eddie Bauer, Maxi-Cosi, Safety First), Evenflo, Fisher Price, Graco, Harmony Juvenile, Orbit Baby, Peg Perego, Recaro, Sunshine Kids, Teutonia, The First Years.
• Brominated flame retardant chemicals that are either deemed toxic or that lack adequate health safety data were detected in 44% percent of the 2011 car seats tested.
• Over half (60%) of car seats contained one or more hazardous chemicals tested for (including PVC, BFRs and heavy metals).
• Overall, car seats are improving. Between 2008 and 2011:
• average seat ranking improved by 64% (1.5 - 2009 to 0.9 - 2011);
• number of car seats with BFRs declined by 18% (63% 2009 to 44% in 2011)
• However, some companies continue to use more potentially hazardous BFRs in their products than others in the industry. These include Baby Trend (100%), Recaro (100%), and Britax (84%).
  

Best and Worst Car Seats
Worst 2011 Car Seats:

• Infant Seat: Graco Snugride 35 in Edgemont Red/Black & Graco SnugRide 30 in Asprey
• Convertible Seat: Britax Marathon 70 in Jet Set & Britax Marathon in Platinum
• Booster Seat: Recaro Pro Booster in Blue Opal & Recaro ProSPORT Toddler in Misty
  

Best 2011 Car Seats:

• Infant Seat: Chicco KeyFit 30 in Limonata, Graco Snugride 35 in Laguna Bay & Combi Shuttle 33 in Cranberry Noche        
• Convertible Carseat: Graco Comfort Sport in Caleo, Graco MyRide 65 in Chandler and Streamer, Safety 1st OnSide Air in Clearwater, and Graco Nautilus Elite 3-in-1 in Gabe
• Booster Seat: Graco Turbo Booster in Anders

 

Whatever baby carrier you’re using, these are good babywearing principles to remember:
Baby should be close enough to kiss.
Baby should never have his chin resting on his chest.
Baby's head should be above the rest of her body.
Baby's knees should be higher than his butt.
Baby's face shouldn't be covered by fabric.
Baby's head should be supported.

I did not know this was possible until the other day, when I was about to throw my sling in the donate pile, I decided to try carrying Ari in it. I hadn’t used it since she was probably 3 months old. She’s 8 months now and a chunker. In the past I’ve only used this sling style carrier (Peanut Shell, Hotslings) for that newborn stage when they can actually lie down almost horizontally in the carrier with their body all snugly tucked in there, nestled against you. Once my boys started getting chubby and could no longer squeeze their legs and shoulders all the way in, I gave up on the sling.

But lo and behold, the instruction manual is right. You CAN use the sling for an older baby! It’s called the “Hip Carry,” for 6-12 months. All you do is,

1. Slide the Peanut Shell over your body, placing one side on your dominant shoulder and the other side tucked under your other arm.
2. Hold your baby on the hip opposite your dominant shoulder as if you were going to carry her without help from the sling. Lift the sling over her head and slide it along her body until you get to her bottom.
3. Place her bottom in the pocket of the sling by positioning it under her bottom, and then pull the fabric to stretch under the crooks of her knees. Pull the upper lip of fabric along her back until it's stretched enough to provide stability.
4. Leave her arms & shoulders in if you’re bending over and moving around a lot, or let her arms be out if she prefers.
5. Make sure your shoulder is right in the middle of the fabric so that it’s not loose enough for her to fall out. I always have my left hand sort of cradling her just in case. But at least your hands can be free to do stuff and you’re not supporting her whole weight with your biceps.
   

You can’t carry them like this forever (it’ll tire out your shoulder for sure) and you need to alternate sides. But I like using the sling for short stints now because it’s so easy to put on (no buckles) and it’s so compact (you can roll it up and stick it in your purse). Doesn’t beat out the comfort and versatility of the Ergo or Beco, but it is what it is and I’m just glad it doesn’t have to retire to the donate pile just yet.

By the way, slings got a really bad rap after the product recall came out on the Infantino slingrider ( http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10177.html) in 2010. I was so sad because I thought they were saying all slings are dangerous. But then when I looked into the issue more closely, I learned that Peanut Shell and Hotslings carriers are qualitatively different from that Infantino sling. The Infantino one is a bag sling, which is worn around the parents' neck and body like a messenger bag. Babies placed into the deep pockets of these slings are at risk for suffocation because their bodies are in a C shape where their neck often touches the chest and restricts airways. The excess fabric, low carrying height of the baby and bad positioning of the baby’s face/neck/chest all make for a very dangerous situation. 

In contrast, the Peanut Shell and Hotslings are made in different sizes (like dress sizes) so it’s suited to your body, there is no excess fabric bunched up around the baby, the baby is held high up on your chest, and the baby’s face is clear of fabric and tilted up away from the chest.

The Peanut Shell Adjustable Sling, Whisper

Hotslings Everyday Sling in La Vie en Rose

Just to complete the instruction manual, here are the other two ways to use the sling-style carrier:

Cradle Carry (0-3 Months)

1. Slide the sling over one shoulder with the seam at the bottom. Place the sling on your dominant shoulder and tuck the bottom corner of your sling under your other arm. This will create a pocket for your baby across you chest.
2. Support your baby's bottom with one hand as you open the pocket with your other. It may help you to place your baby on your dominant shoulder for stability. Open the pocket and slide your baby's legs and bottom into the sling.
3. Slide baby's shoulders and head into the pocket. Ensure that your baby's airways are left clear of fabric and that her neck and chin are not touching. 

Kangaroo Carry (3-6 Months)

1. Slide the sling over your dominant shoulder, placing it around yourself as if you were going to carry your baby in the cradle carry position.
2. Hold baby with his body facing outward from yours and his back against your chest. Cross his legs "Indian" style and lift his bottom with one hand, supporting his body with your chest. Open the pocket of the sling with your free hand.
3. Place your baby, bottom first, into the sling with her belly facing outward. Pull the excess fabric up around her chest. Grasp the top lip of fabric from your dominant shoulder and pull it down over the bottom lip for added strength and stability.

 

It’s a mushroom brush...it’s a vegetable cleaner...it’s....BEAN-B-CLEAN! Bean-B-Clean is one-of-a-kind, the only product like it on the market (as far as I know), and the BEST thing to help with cradle cap. If you don’t know what cradle cap is, some newborns get it (at about 5 weeks). The medical term for it is seborrhea—crusty, waxy substance that appears on your baby’s formerly smooth scalp, ears, even their eyebrows. It’s such a disturbing thing to have your perfect little newborn go from a flawless complexion, buttery skin and peach fuzz top, to having a bumpy, flaky mess. All three of my kids had it, and each time I was beside myself looking for ways to remedy the situation.

I walked into Makana Mother & Baby (which is closed now, SO SAD!) looking for something to help with Ari’s eczema and cradle cap. None of my old methods were workin- not dandruff shampoo, baby oil overnight, not even the Original Sprout shampoo. The owner, Kathy, actually gave me this Bean-B-Clean for free because she just knew how it was and she’s just that nice. It really worked. I mean it was like magic.

So this is what you do. Wet baby's head with warm water. Use a small amount (1 tsp) of your favorite oil (can use EVOO, I used grapeseed or coconut oil) and massage into baby's scalp. Apply gentle pressure using a circular motion as you massage baby's scalp with Bean-B-Clean brush; rinse baby's head. Wash brush with any soap and warm water and rinse it to free captured oil and loosened debris. Using your favorite tear-free baby shampoo, lather baby's head. Use scrub brush to gently massage away any remaining traces of oil. Rinse and repeat as necessary. Make sure to wash Bean-B-Clean brush with soap and warm water and rinse thoroughly between uses. Store bristles down in an open area to air dry.

It beats using your fingernails, however short you cut them, to scratch their head while you wash. That’s what I was doing before, not realizing how much bacteria I must’ve been introducing in the process. This way is much more gentle and clean...and effective.

Bean-B-Clean Baby Scalp Massaging Brush for Cradle Cap

Between Cole and Ari, a new product was invented. It’s called the Baby Moon Pillow.

I saw it on babysteals.com right about the time I was noticing Ari’s head was getting a flat on one side from being in her carseat. It worked like a charm—seemed to keep her in one place while she slept, too. But as soon as she started rolling over, I didn’t feel comfortable using it, and I never did try it out as a neck support pillow, though the site says it was designed for that as well. Who knows how much flatter Ari’s head would be now had it not been for the Baby Moon Pillow, especially with all the sleeping she does. Haha.

Basically, since pediatricians started recommending infants be put to sleep on their backs to prevent SIDS, SIDS has gone down 40%, but 80% of the infants now sleeping on their backs are developing flat-head syndrome. So the Baby Moon Pillow was designed by a mom to remedy her baby’s flathead syndrome. It’s supposed to be used as a head support from 0-6 months and a neck support from 6-12 months. We used it in the carseat and stroller as well as in the crib.

What’s great is that you can throw it in the washing machine, too. If only these were around when I was an infant, then maybe I wouldn’t have such a flathead. Thank God for hair.

Baby Moon Pillow - For Flat Head Syndrome / Plagiocephaly (Pistachio Stripe) - I love this color, because it's unisex and cool looking. But I have the minky pink. 

My kids have been on antibiotics so many times it’s ridiculous—ear infections, bronchitis, sinus infection, everything gets treated with amoxicillin. At least now they have the dye-free version available (rather than the calamine lotion pink). But after or during a round of antibiotics, it’s always good to supplement with probiotics. Probiotics replace the good, friendly bacteria in your digestive tract that the antibiotics tend to kill along with the bad bacteria associated with the infection. So make sure to give the probiotics either after the round of antibiotics is done or, if administered during the round, give it between doses.

You’ll find the quality probiotics in the refrigerator. It should say Lactobacillus something. These ones by Nature’s Way I usually get from Kokua Market, but I just saw them on amazon for half the price and free super saver shipping. Score. I’m stocking up because I give Evan and Cole one each daily and they eat them like candy. Nothing artifical in them though. I’m sure there are tons of other kinds that are good, but these are cherry and chewable. Store in the fridge.

Nature's Way Primadophilus for Kids, Cherry, 30 Count (Pack of 2)