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To me there is no single best baby bathtub. It’s whatever feels comfortable and works best for you. My brother swears by their baby bathtub that straddles the kitchen sink. I know of another family that likes those tubs that have the infant sling attachment.

The first tub I tried came with a nylon bed that I ended up using straight on my bathtub floor. I started just using the nylon bed and handheld shower head to “shower” Evan and Cole because the water goes right through the nylon so it’s easy to rinse them off. Later I bought just the nylon bed (see photo) from Wal-Mart for like $8. It worked great the first few months, but Cole quickly outgrew it—so he’d slide down the bed and halfway through he’d wind up on the porcelain floor.

I had purchased the Primo Eurobath, which gets rave reviews on sites like http://www.bobbysbest.com . I tried it once when Cole was a newborn and hated it. It was so bulky, Cole didn’t seem to sit comfortably in it, and it was hard to store—took up too much room in my bathroom. I came this close to selling it on Craigslist. But I thought I’d keep it until Cole could sit up and then see if it would work better. Boy am I glad I kept it. Since Cole outgrew the nylon bed, I use the Eurobath exclusively. Once you and the baby get used to it, it’s so easy to use and comfortable for Cole to recline in without sliding or being able to turn over.

I put him in it dry while I’m taking a shower, and he’s content to just play with a toy or blanket if I peek my head out every few minutes to say, “Peek-a-boo!” It’s the greatest.

Here’s the product review from Bobby’s Best:
The Primo Eurobath's oversized design allows for your baby to be immersed in water, however it is molded to support the legs and arms while bathing so that your baby cannot slide down under the water. As soon as we ditched our original EvenFlo bath in favor of the Primo, my daughter finally started enjoying her baths because she could splash and play with toys. Once your child can sit-up, you flip them to the opposite side where there is another formed mold that supports them while they sit up. It's a really clever design.

Devil's Advocate:
Due to its dual use design, the Primo Eurobath is about twice the size of most comparable bathtubs. It definitely needs to come out of the tub if you want to shower. if you only have one bath and a tight bathroom, you might feel as if you are tripping over it when it’s not in use. One idea is to hang it on the back of the bathroom door with an oversized hook.

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Baby_bathtub_-_a_matter_of_opi.zip (1.04 MB)

PRI EuroBath, Pearl White

Safety 1st Bath Sling, Blue

I’ve been meaning to write this article for a long time—ever since I started this blog, actually. I’ve put it off just because the answer is so overwhelming and threatening to our convenient lifestyles. What’s wrong with microwaving? Basically EVERYTHING. You might want to stop reading here if you don’t want to make any changes in your quick cooking methods.

It all started when one night my friend Ivy was over and I was about to heat up something for her to eat. “In the microwave?” she asked. I looked at her like, of course—how else would I heat something up? She said she’d rather heat it over the stove herself. And she did. “Why? What’s wrong with microwaving?” I asked her as she stood over the stove. My ignorance surprised her (considering my adamant stand on other health topics) and she encouraged me to do my own research. The minute I started looking into it, I was at once overwhelmed and alarmed. But then if you know me, what’s new. Haha.

What I found out is that microwaving food is far more dangerous to the human body than I ever thought. Actually I hadn’t given it much thought. Because microwave oven manufacturers, Washington City politics, and plain old human nature suppress the facts and evidence against microwaves and people like me continue to use their microwaves in blissful ignorance.

It’s not just about standing far away from the micro when it’s on. It’s not just about not microwaving stuff in plastic. Those two things are the very least you can do.

In a nutshell, every microwave oven leaks electro-magnetic radiation, harms food, and converts substances cooked in it to dangerous organ-toxic and carcinogenic products. (Health Effects of Microwave Radiation - Microwave Ovens, by Dr. Lita Lee)

So again, why is microwaving food dangerous? Let’s start with how the microwaving process works. Microwave radiation interacts with the molecules in food. Food molecules - especially the molecules of water - have a positive and negative end in the same way a magnet has a north and a south polarity. All wave energy changes polarity from positive to negative with each cycle of the wave. Artificially produced microwaves in ovens are produced from alternating current and force a billion or more polarity reversals per second in every food molecule they hit. As these microwaves bombard the food, they cause the polar molecules to rotate at the same frequency. All this agitation creates molecular friction, which heats up the food. The friction causes substantial damage to the surrounding molecules, often tearing them apart or forcefully deforming them. Production of unnatural molecules is inevitable. Naturally occurring amino acids have been observed to undergo isomeric changes (changes in shape morphing) as well as transformation into toxic forms, under the impact of microwaves produced in ovens.

Also, and this is very important for all parents, NEVER EVER EVER MICROWAVE YOUR BABY’S FORMULA OR BREASTMILK even for a few seconds to warm it up. Microwaved formula has been found to be poisonous to the nervous system and to the kidneys! Just turn the tap water on hot and put the bottle of milk in the hot water until it’s a good temp (don’t waste your $ on those bottle warmers).

Read on if you’re still interested and want more info (how could you not?).

Below are the findings of Russian studies done on microwaved foods. Carcinogens were formed in virtually all foods tested. No test food was subjected to more microwaving than necessary.

• Microwaving prepared meats sufficiently to insure sanitary ingestion caused formation of d-Nitrosodienthanolamines, a well-known carcinogen.
• Microwaving milk and cereal grains converted some of their amino acids into carcinogens.
• Thawing frozen fruits converted their glucoside and galactoside containing fractions into carcinogenic substances.
• Extremely short exposure of raw, cooked or frozen vegetables converted their plant alkaloids into carcinogens.
• Carcinogenic free radicals were formed in microwaved plants, especially root vegetables.
• Decrease in nutritional value
• Russian researchers also reported a marked acceleration of structural degradation leading to a decreased food value of 60 to 90%
• in all foods tested. Among the changes observed were:
• Deceased bio-availability of vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, essential minerals and lipotropics factors in all food tested.
• Various kinds of damaged to many plant substances, such as alkaloids, glucosides, galactosides and nitrilosides.
• The degradation of nucleo-proteins in meats.

The anti-microwave group (a.k.a. microwave militia) have skeptics who call them crazy, but really, it makes more sense to me that long-term exposure to man-made microwaves are harmful to the human body than that it’s not. The skeptics are probably also doubtful that McDonald’s, processed foods, canned goods and plastics are harmful to their bodies, too. It comes down to what you’re wiling to believe and let affect how you live. 

Do your own research. It’s totally your decision to choose to throw out your micro, eat food heated by a micro or even purchase one in the first place. For me, when I initially read all this, I put a sign on my micro that said “If possible, DO NOT USE MICROWAVE.” I tried to heat everything on the stove or in the toaster oven. But that became inconvenient and over time I’ve become lax about it. Sadly I microwave food several times a day now, though I make sure to use only ceramic or glass (NO plastic, saran, not even those “microwavable” splatter covers!!). But after rehashing the details of my research, I just might put up the sign again and give my anti-microwave campaign another go.

Two things I never got to use but would have if I were following the Happiest Baby on the Block book more diligently (or if I had really read it instead of skimmed it while standing, swaying with my screaming baby):

1. the Miracle Blanket – I hear this is very difficult for even the wriggliest baby to get out of. Miracle Blanket -Baby Swaddling Blanket -Beige
2. a white noise CD – they sell one on the Happiest Baby website, but I got this other one that had good reviews. Unfortunately I haven’t used it yet so I can’t honestly review it myself.
   Baby's First White Noise: White Noise CD for Babies

Coulda, shoulda, woulda.

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Miracle_blanket_and_white_nois.zip (33 KB)

I skimmed the book and I think it really helped me to feel in control of Cole’s fussiness and crying spells. It gives you the tools you need to know what to do to soothe your baby. I heard the DVD is even better—because who has time to read anything when you have an infant on your hands and it’s just a really good DVD. The Happiest Baby on the Block (DVD)

So now I really want to get the Happiest TODDLER on the Block DVD because sometimes I’m at a complete loss when it comes to parenting my extremely UNhappy toddler. Now he has anger and yelling fits. He actually says, “Mommy, I am so sooooo sooo ANGRY!” Well at least he’s in touch with his emotions. The Happiest Toddler on the Block

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Happiest_Baby_Toddler_on_the_B.zip (18 KB)

When my Aunty Linda gave Cole the fruit basket, I didn’t know how good these “healthy” toys really were. Four soft veggies or fruit come in a basket or crate and are supposed to encourage kids to develop a positive attitude towards vegetables and fruits. The veggie crate comes with a carrot, mushroom, green bean and tomato. The fruit basket comes with a banana, watermelon slice, pear and bunch of grapes. They make great teethers because they’re made with 100% organic Egyptian cotton and you can just throw them in the wash to clean. My Aunty is always ahead of the times. 100% Organic Cotton Stuffed Multi Fruit Tote

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Under_the_Nile_fruit_and_veggi.zip (58 KB)