Just as it is unhealthy for you to smoke while you are pregnant it is also unhealthy to smoke while breastfeeding.  It isn't something that we hear about all of the time, but some of the harms of this would be:

• increased chest problems
• increased allergies
• increased asthma
• increased respiratory disease
• increased risk that they are going to hook their child
• the child will be predetermined to be addicted to cigarettes and smoking

Another factor that needs to be considered are things like the patch, these things can actually put just as much nicotine into your baby's system.

If you have quit smoking while you were pregnant, try to not to go back to it.  I know this is easier said than done, but why not give it a try?

If you feel like you just can't quit, then when you smoke do it away try to stay outside while smoking, try to smoke as few cigarettes as possible, and wait until after you feed your baby to smoke.

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Cozy Warming Polar Bears

Units: About 113,000

Distributor: Avon Products Inc., of New York, N.Y.

Manufacturers: Haiyan Boai Gifts Factory, and Yangzhou Honesty Arts & Crafts Co. Ltd., of China

Hazard: The warming pouch inside the bear can overheat and ignite when heated in a microwave oven, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Avon has received 41 reports of the warming polar bear overheating, including six reports of minor burns.

Description: The recalled white plush warming bear has a red hat and brown nose. It is about 17 inches long and comes with a buckwheat-filled pouch that is heated in a microwave oven and is inserted into an opening in the bear’s belly. “Avon Products” is printed on a white tag sewn onto the bear.

Sold exclusively by: Avon independent sales representatives and at www.avon.com from July 2007 through February 2008 for about $13 when sold alone, or as part of a gift set that sold for about $100.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled warming bear and return the buckwheat-filled pouch for a full refund. Avon is directly contacting consumers who purchased the warming bear.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Avon toll-free at (877) 217-0916 between 6 a.m. and midnight ET Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday between 12 p.m. and midnight ET, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.avon.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Backyard and Beyond Metal Water Bottles

Units: About 18,000

Distributor: Downeast Concepts Inc., of Yarmouth, Maine

Hazard: Surface paint on the metal water bottles contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: Backyard and Beyond brand water bottles with model numbers 67402, 67404, 67442, 67444, 67742, 60442, 67744, 67746, 67748 and 60448 printed on the hang tag. The metal water bottles have a black plastic sip-top and were sold in green, pink or blue with assorted animal or insect graphics on the exterior.

Sold at: Major retailers, gift shops, convenience stores, mass merchandise and drug stores nationwide from February 2006 through February 2008 for about $8.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled water bottles away from children and return it to the store where purchased for a refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Downeast Concepts at (800) 343-2424 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.backyard-beyond.com or e-mail the firm at productsafety@downeastconcepts.com

This is a pretty common concern, because of seafood allergies and the mercury that is in seafood.

If there are no seafood allergies in the family you are probably safe to let your child eat some seafood at one-year of age.  If there are some allergies in the family your should probably wait until your child is 3-years-old.

Try not to discourage seafood altogether because it is very good for you, with a lot of nutrition. Eating seafood low in mercury twice a week is a good way to get the nutrition without worrying.

Shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish are among 5 of  the more commonly eaten and contain less mercury.

This is actually a pretty common question, and there are a few different answers.  First thing is if you see any changes that your dog is going to have to make when the baby gets here start changing now.  If you wait for the baby to be born before you make those changes there is a good chance that the dog will blame the baby for these changes.

An example of some changes would be does your dog sleep in the bed with you, is he/she snappy, and does he/she jump on you?  It will be the most difficult with a dog that is used to being the center of attention.

Other things that you will need to do will be to make the baby's room off limits and slowly train your dog how to act in baby's room.  Also teach your dog the difference between baby toys and doggy toys.

Plan ahead, hire someone to come over and walk your dog for the first little while when your baby is born.  This will help you to have some alone time with your baby without worrying about your pup, and will give your pup some time to run around!

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Camouflage Eggs and Spinning Egg Top Toys

Units: About 13,000

Importer: Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., of Oklahoma City, Okla.

Hazard: The paint on the toys contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description:

The Camouflage Easter Egg Treat Containers have Item #1031 printed on the front of the packaging and are white, brown and green camouflage colors, sold in a package of eight eggs. “Made in China for Tony Development and Mfg Ltd; TST, Kin, HK” and UPC code number 43078 01031 are printed on the back of the packing.

The Easter Spinning Egg Tops have Item # 1054 printed on the front of the packaging and are multi-colored and come in packages of a single egg and a rip cord. “Made in China for Tony Development and Mfg Ltd. TST, Kin, HK" and UPC code number 43078 01054 are printed on the back of the packaging.

Sold at: Hobby Lobby Stores nationwide from January 2008 through March 2008. The camouflage egg sold for about $2.50 and the Spinning Top sold for about $2.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled Camouflage Eggs and the Spinning Egg Tops away from children and contact Hobby Lobby to receive a $3 exchange card that can be used toward the purchase of any other products sold at Hobby Lobby stores.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Hobby Lobby toll-free at (800) 326-7931 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.HobbyLobby.com

I have done different things with Alex to get him to brush his teeth.  We started brushing before he even had teeth, just to get him used to the pattern and the feel.

Now I help him brush his teeth after meals (if we are home) but at least in the morning and before bed.   By help him I mean I do it for him enough to sing a song or two just to make sure they are getting cleaned.  After I do that, I let him brush them too, while I am brushing my own teeth.

I like this pattern because he is getting a since of independance, but they are still getting cleaned.  Also, he likes to sing songs and to brush our teeth together.

If you are having a hard time with your toddler wanting to brush their teeth try this out and see how it works for you.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-school Magnetic Toys

Units: About 1.1 million

Distributor: MEGA Brands America Inc., of Livingston, N.J

Hazard: Magnets in the small flexible parts of the animals, vehicles and building sets can detach. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

Incidents/Injuries: MEGA Brands and CPSC have received 19 reports of magnets coming loose, including one report of a 3-year-old boy receiving medical treatment to remove a magnet from his nasal cavity and one report of an 18-month-old boy with a magnet in his mouth, which was not swallowed.

Description: The Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-school Magnetic Toys include small flexible parts embedded with magnets that allow the parts to connect to large, colored metal balls.

The model number is printed on the front of the product’s packaging.

Sold at: Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, K-Mart and other toy stores nationwide from January 2005 through December 2007 for between $10 and $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled toys immediately and return them to MEGA Brands for a free replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact MEGA Brands at (800) 779-7122 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.megabrands.com

A lot of this depends on the child.  In general I would say around 18 months, but if your child tends to put things in his/her mouth, ears, or nose I would suggest waiting a little bit longer.

When you do decide to give it a try use the non-toxic brands, this way if a piece does make it to the mouth it wont be that bad.

Only allow your child to use the clay with an adult that is paying very close attention, just like with anything else you never know what could happen.

I will start this by saying that you should ask your child's doctor before giving your child ANY supplement. There is such a thing as too much of certain vitamins.

Giving children too much Vitamin A or Zinc could actually have negative affects, by damaging the immune system. Children should not be getting more than 100% a day.

Good vitamins for your child to have are Calcium and Fiber. A good way to judge this with Fiber is to take your child's age then add 5 for the amount of Fiber your child should have in a day.

With Calcium your child, ages birth to 3 years should be getting about 500 mg (a cup and a half of milk). Ages 4 to 8 should be getting about 800 (2 and a half cups of milk). Ages 9 to 18 should be getting about 1,300 mg (4 and a half cups of milk).