5 Surefire Tips About The Way To Obtain A Baby Crib Mattress

Looking for a baby crib mattress? buying a mattress for your child is in contrast to shopping for one for the adults. it's a choice that will eventually have an effect on your baby’s well-being. In most cases, a crib mattress are your baby’s companion for a minimum of three to four years – one the foremost vital a part of their life after they are budding and growing.

Likewise, this is often the amount where the baby’s bones are still soft, thus it's the time where they need smart firm support throughout their rest. Hence, it’s vital to take care once you decide your alternative of baby crib mattress. we've got a number of tips which might assist you create an informed call when it involves shopping for a baby crib mattress.

1. Remember, an upscale mattress doesn't necessary mean that it's the simplest mattress. Similarly, an inexpensive mattress might not be value cash still. If unsure, you'll be able to continually check shopper feedback, reviews and testimonials on how common the mattress is by people who bought them.

2. selections of baby crib mattress will vary from inner-springs to foam sorts. Whichever one you decide on, attempt to decide one that's safe and lightweight in order that you'd not have any bother shifting the mattress around.

3. If you're confused over foam and coil mattress, it needn’t worry you. each are simply as safe and appropriate for your infant. The key distinction between the 2 is that foam mattress is cheaper and fewer soft. Coil mattress is firmer in nature.

4. what quantity must you fork out for a baby crib mattress? For a median to smart crib mattress, expect to shell out slightly below zero. you will not get the simplest complete ones however we expect it ought to be adequate for your baby.

5. For quality assurance, you'll be able to verify the manufacturer details by checking whether or not it's a member of the Juvenile product makers Association. this is often sort of a gold plated assertion that the merchandise has meet the standard and safety standards.

Top five Best Baby Crib Mattress and Their options

We currently live during a generation where folks greatly contemplate the comfort of the mattresses they're providing for his or her babies. Lately, there are reports of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases. this can be a condition when the baby suddenly dies for unexplained reasons. There are consultants that say mattresses will contribute to the present condition. this can be why folks ought to be a lot of involved regarding the mattresses they're providing for his or her babies.

The best mattresses are firmer ones. It provides higher support and luxury particularly to the lumbar region where your baby wants it most. The materials used even have to be hypoallergenic and natural to avoid inhalation of toxic chemicals. we've got chosen the subsequent 5 mattresses as our prime picks:

1. Sealy Baby Ultra Rest Mattress

This Sealy crib innerspring mattress is firm everywhere. the edges are integrated with surround borders that mimic the functions of an adult mattress. It provides higher edge support. It helps distribute baby's weight evenly through its steel vertical support bars. folks ought to contemplate this not solely as a result of its comfort however conjointly as a result of its non allergenic materials that reduces the risks for chemical inhalation and skin irritation.

2. Kolcraft Pediatric 2000 Mattress

This mattress from Kolcraft options a hundred and fifty serious gauge coils. meaning the mattress could be a heap firmer than your average coil crib mattress. it's undoubtedly a perfect selection for back support. Like Sealy, it conjointly has non allergenic layers for reduced risks of SIDS and skin irritation. additionally to that, it's Perma-Dri cowl that repels spills and diaper leaks.

3. Da Vinci MDB Twilight Crib Mattress

Customers who have purchased this mattress unanimously agree that this mattress is one in all the most effective. it's made up of polyester materials and cloth binding. it's bolstered laminated mattress covers therefore the mattress will work longer. you'll even use this for your next baby. It offers firm comfort which will facilitate enhance sleep comfort.

4. Serta Nightstar additional Firm Crib Mattress

This mattress from Serta options an honest quantity of support. Serta used layers of Polyester. they need conjointly incorporated four vents to permit air to seep within the mattress and regulate temperature. This way, your baby won't suffer from night sweats.

5. Colgate Classica I Foam Crib Mattress

For an additional firm reasonably mattress, opt for this one from Colgate. Its level of firmness has been backed by sleep and physicians. however though it's firm, it's surprisingly lightweight in weight. Like Serta, it conjointly has vents to manage mattress temperature and permit higher distribution of air.

Tips How to Clean a Baby Crib

The most vital piece of baby furniture is that the baby crib, that your baby can use from birth till around fifteen months. And as babies sleep most of the time throughout this age and, hence, use the crib most of the time, it's solely logical that it should be kept clean in the least times. After all, you would like to stay your baby as safe as attainable from grime, germs and dirt mites.

Fortunately, keeping your baby's crib clean could be a terribly straightforward task to try and do. this is often excellent news since you'll pay longer together with your baby rather than worrying a couple of tough task ahead.

Crib Beddings

Your baby can would like crib beddings like mattresses, blankets, sheets, bumper and quilts. These are necessary to stay your baby heat, offer a firm sleeping surface and simply typically build him look cute. (A word of caution: you need to make sure that unnecessary beddings are taken out of the crib when your baby is sleeping or is left alone lest SIDS becomes a daunting possibility)

To clean crib beddings, you need to follow the manufacturers' laundry directions. If the directions say hand wash them, then never place them into the washer. If it says use heat water and gentle detergent, then do so. Besides, you are doing not wish your baby's skin to be exposed to sturdy detergents, which can cause severe allergies on his sensitive skin.

It is additionally vital to separate them from different garments since you would like to avoid contamination particularly from underwear. Keep in mind that underwear bears traces of the E.coli bacteria from residual feces.

As for the mattress, continuously air them a minimum of once every week below the sun. this could kill the dirt mites that are gathering in it, with a hand vacuum sucking out the dirt.

Crib Pillows

Your baby may additionally have would like of baby pillows. If this is often the case, you need to make sure that said pillows are washed in an exceedingly gentle detergent and water answer on a monthly basis. To do so, simply fill an oversized basin with heat water and blend in an exceedingly gentle detergent answer. Soak the pillow one little section at a time and rub gently till the complete pillow becomes clean. Now, gently pat the surplus detergent and rinse a couple of times in clean water. Place below the sun to dry and switch it frequently to permit for even drying.

You may additionally use the dryer for this purpose though you'll ought to fluff the pillow additional attributable to the twists. Also, if your baby is allergic to feather pillows, a foam pillow could be a smart possibility though you need to bear in mind to not let him sleep with it since suffocation could be a risk.

Crib parts

As for the metal, plastic and wood parts of the crib itself, you need to wipe it with a clean cloth and a light disinfectant. you furthermore may got to vacuum the crib a minimum of once every week simply therefore dirt and dirt mites living within the areas between slants and railing will be removed.

Cleaning the crib is additionally a chance to see for any defect, loose half and missing parts that will create safety risks to your baby. you would like to form positive that not solely is your baby sleeping on a clean crib however he's additionally sleeping on a secure one.

Find best baby bedding for your newborn

Proper baby bedding is crucial to the health and well-being of your newborn. Finding the proper bedding set for your kid doesn’t ought to be troublesome or expensive. On average, a newborn baby sleeps for regarding sixteen to eighteen hours on a daily basis. With a baby spending such a lot time sleeping, we'd like to produce the most effective comfort for him or her. When you have fed your baby and rocked her to sleep, you would like to make certain you'll place her down for her nap within the best baby bedding on the market. Baby bedding can be totally different for a boy or a woman. they may be gender neutral also. the colour combination and also the cute wanting cartoons are common to each the gender. it's necessary that you simply apprehend which kind of bed you may be most comfy having your newborn to sleep in as a result of there are differing kinds of beddings. every style of bedding is specifically created for an exact style of bed. Babies have to be compelled to feel comfort and frequently that's in their mothers arms. Mothers, however, cannot hold their youngsters all the time, thus make sure that your baby includes a nice bed with soft blankets. offer your kid with the comfort that they have.

Create an ideal surroundings for your very little bundle of joy with the baby bedding sets. on-line you'll notice styles from the highest designers within the market, as well as JoJo styles, CoCaLo, Glenna Jean, Pam Grace Creations, Trend Lab, Sweet Potato, Cotton Tale styles, and more. whether or not you're yearning for a a lot of ancient or up to date look, you’ll notice it with one amongst our baby bedding collections.

Baby crib is right bed till the baby is one or one and a [*fr1] years previous. Cribs are of the many differing kinds, however all of them have to be compelled to be robust and sturdy. you may select a customary crib, or choose a costlier one like a convertible or transportable crib which might be ideal for traveling. it's best to invariably select a crib from a reputable company.

Baby mattress is one amongst the foremost necessary aspects of baby bedding and on that the infant are sleeping. Most baby mattresses are created in standardized sizes, thus it’s not really troublesome to seek out one to properly suit your baby’s crib. Taking some basic measurements of the crib’s interior ought to offer you with the knowledge you wish to seek out the proper size. A properly fitted mattress ought to show no obvious gaps between it and also the crib rails. A soft mattress appears like a decent plan, however they will cause issues for infants who lack the physical strength to maneuver when sunk into the mattress. Mattresses for baby bedding are on the market in 2 basic styles, foam or spring-coil. Foam mattresses tend to be less costly, however are simply as safe and reliable as a coil version. If you are doing like better to associate with a coil style, make certain to ascertain the quantity of coils within the mattress. Higher coil numbers mean a firmer mattress.

Baby blankets are often one amongst the foremost comforting things your baby can ever own — and he or she is also hooked up to it for a protracted time! make certain you select the most effective baby blanket for your baby, because it might become her security blanket. you may each apprehend when you have found the proper baby blanket and crib sheets. they're going to be the baby bedding that's made from soft cotton, as soft as your baby's skin.

Baby sheet is another necessary a part of baby bedding. Fitted sheets are by so much the most effective choice for a baby crib. A properly fitted sheet can hug the mattress snugly enough on not permit it to return off because the kid moves regarding. This helps make sure that the kid doesn't become entangled within the sheets whereas sleeping or enjoying, thereby avoiding a potential hazardous scenario. Baby sheets are often purchased from varied sources, each on-line and regionally, and may be found to match your wants.

Where to start?

Start by viewing the photographs in those pregnancy magazines you have been reading since the day you acknowledged you were expecting a baby. Then take a glance on-line. By browsing around on the web, you'll get a decent plan of what you need and also the sets which will meet your precise wants. you will be overwhelmed by the quantity of patterns and designs that may be found on the web simply by typing in baby crib bedding or baby bedding into your favorite search engine. Once you have got a concept of the categories of patterns on the market, take a field trip to the closest massive baby retailer in your space. there is nothing like seeing one thing face to face.

Baby Crib - The importance and use of baby Crib, Baby Crib bedding and Baby Crib Mattress for your new born

Babies pay the foremost of their 1st year sleeping and this is often the rationale why oldsters pay a substantial quantity of your time making an attempt to seek out them the proper crib.

There are many issues for purchasing a crib and most couples have completely different priorities. whereas the look, color and material of the crib is also a crucial thought, the protection of the crib is even a lot of vital.

Baby Cribs

Cribs are out there in varied completely different shapes, sizes, styles and colours. Most of the cribs are designed in lightweight colours, with bright upholstery and baby crib bedding. it's been found that babies develop their cognitive skills faster when surrounded by varied shades of various colours. Therefore, most of the baby product are coloured brightly in order that except for increasing their cognitive skills, their nursery too assumes a bright and cheerful look.

A baby crib is often product of wood or metal and might be foldable too. Today, there are varied differing kinds of cribs out there within the market, right from the sleigh sort cribs to the spherical or the rocking sort cribs. However, the fabric is nearly perpetually fastidiously chosen in order that it's non toxic and doesn’t damage the kid in any means.

A baby crib typically conjointly comes fitted with a baby crib bedding that ought to be well fitting and cushty. Loose or an outsized bedding will cause the baby to urge caught in it and thus these accidents are best avoided by employing a sensible quality baby mattress which inserts well within the baby crib.

Importance of Baby Crib bedding

It is conjointly vital for the crib and also the bedding to be approved by a national or a world agency to blame for maintaining the standards for such product. each baby cribs and baby crib mattresses are out there in many various materials. Though several of the mattresses product of artificial fibers could seem terribly stunning, it's suggested that you just obtain solely those mattresses that are product of natural fibers. Natural fibers are non toxic and don't cause any rashes on the baby’s delicate skin. a similar but, can not be said for the artificial materials. The dyes and colours utilized in the mattresses and bedding ought to be non toxic. Check them well before you get them.

Round cribs are the foremost most well-liked lately. These also are counseled as a result of safety nets and crib tents are often simply put in on these cribs. These safety nets forestall the baby from falling off the crib and obtaining hurt.

Disney Crib Bedding - Some Safeguards to contemplate

When it involves folks decorating atiny low child's area they'll realize that going for a specific theme would be best. usually the foremost in style themes that youngsters can like are people who incorporate specific cartoon or film characters that they like. it's for this reason alone that Disney crib bedding is proving the foremost in style of all of them.

As there are such a big amount of totally different sorts of bedding sets offered that incorporate Disney characters on them. Finding one that a specific kid likes could prove terribly tough for fogeys. thus it'd be far more advisable for them to really enable their kid to settle on the one they need.

Although there are many various corporations around who produce crib bedding adorned with Disney characters you would like to use caution. sadly there are some unscrupulous individuals around who favor to turn out inferior quality merchandise however can raise you to pay an equivalent worth for the initial item. thus it's vital that you just do some careful analysis into the merchandise in question before investing any cash within the item.

Look careful at the materials employed in the creation of those things and ideally choose ones made up of cotton or different natural materials. Not solely can these then retain the colours far better in spite of what number times you wash them. however {they can|they're going to|they'll} additionally make sure that every night your kid will get an honest night's sleep as they realize them snug and soft to the bit.

If you're desiring to purchase things on-line then do some analysis into the vendor beforehand. hunt for any reviews or testimonials that previous customers have provided relating to the extent service that they need provided at the side of the standard of the merchandise. If you can't realize something or the data provided appears to a small degree lax look elsewhere to form your purchases.

Another issue you want to use caution of when shopping for any things on-line together with Disney crib bedding is how the private data you offer is kept secure. to make sure that this data will not be accessed by others to use for his or her own functions investigate if it's encrypted before being sent to them. The quickest and simplest way of determining the protection of a website is by seeing if they need a locked padlock on the page where the private information is to be entered.

Organic Crib Mattress

Organic Crib Mattress - edges

A mattress is one among the foremost important things you'll purchase after you expect a brand new baby. Why? First, your new baby can undoubtedly pay over seventieth of their time sleeping in their crib. All new folks need the simplest for his or her babies, and a cushty and safe mattress is not any exception.

Many people are getting attentive to the importance of avoiding merchandise that are created while not the employment of harmful toxins and different materials that are harmful to us and therefore the setting, and since we have a tendency to pay most of our time in bed, this has special importance to our babies.

Therefore buying an mattress for your baby has several health edges. whereas we'll investigate these, let's initially investigate some attainable issues with the crib mattresses that are the quality for years.

Traditional Mattresses - the issues

Mattresses are created primarily in an unchanged manner for years. to shield the skin of the mattress against the doubtless diaper spill event, these mattresses are encased with a impervious vinyl covering. The soft inner fiber used to stuff the mattress appearance surprisingly kind of like the insulation that's used to fill our home ceiling and wall cavities. though this makes for a moisture-proof mattress and one that's comfy, there are toxins utilized in the chemicals used to form the stuffing fire-proof.

These chemicals that are utilized in these ancient mattresses are probably terribly unhealthy to our babies. Chemicals that are utilized in these typical mattresses off-gas and therefore the babies breath these gasses whereas they're sleeping. Phosphorus, antimony and arsenic are a number of the chemicals that are utilized in the manufacture of the everyday crib mattress. whereas there is not actual proof that the employment of those chemicals in these mattresses is expounded to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), what's known is that when chemicals were initially added to crib mattresses, the incidents of SIDS rose dramatically.

While the chemicals used for the filling are dangerous enough, the moisture-proof vinyl covering has numerous potential health hazards similarly. per the FDA, the vinyl that has been utilized in the moisture-proof outer layer has been known to cause hypersensitive reactions in several humans. Another issue with the moisture-proof vinyl outer layer is that this material doesn't breath and restricts air flow. after you take into account that in conjunction with the chemicals used within the standard crib mattress it gets pretty scary. despite the fact that the vinyl outer layer is moisture-proof, these chemicals will still leach through it and your baby will breath the gasses whereas within the crib. the nice news is that an organic crib mattress offers a secure and healthy choice.

The Organic Crib Mattress

Nowadays most mattress makers claim to possess mattress choices, and for the foremost half, all of them do. However, they largely use slightly totally different outer layer and filling materials. Since there are several safe and healthy choices out there nowadays, perceive that you just don't seem to be longing for only 1 choice when buying an organic mattress. Some things you need to explore for in an organic mattress include:

The use of 100 percent organic cotton and wool - each within the filling and therefore the outer layer of the crib. There don't seem to be any herbicides or pesticides used on organically grown cotton crops.

The fire retardants that are utilized in organic mattresses are organic.

As we have a tendency to mentioned before, the chemicals that are utilized in ancient mattresses, to shield against fireplace will have serious health effects. In-crib fireplace barriers are needed per governmental rules. Organic fireplace retardants like baking soda, hydrated silica, cellulose fiber and wool, that could be a natural fireplace retardant, are a number of the merchandise you ought to explore for. These are all natural alternatives that will meet the hearth protection demand of crib mattresses.

The Use of Recycled Materials.

Some mattress makers actually, manufacture use of recycled materials within the production of their merchandise. a corporation known as Pixel Organics uses recycled plastic bottles in their mattresses. These eco-friendly strategies are a good manner for a manufacturer to produce an environmentally-friendly product to the buyer.

Where you'll notice One

Nearly each crib mattress manufacturer currently offers an organic crib mattress choice. The one you choose on can rely largely on your budget. Expect to pay anywhere between $100 and $600 for an organic crib mattress. simply take care to try to to your analysis, and procure assurances that each one organic materials are utilized in its manufacture. In your seek for an organic crib mattress, take care to use the materials contained herein as a decent starting purpose.

Selecting the simplest Organic Crib Mattress

Since each mother needs the simplest for her new baby, it's solely natural to need an organic crib mattress to create positive the simplest nights rest for the insufficient one. In recent years additional mothers have turned to natural merchandise to grant their babies the simplest begin in life and there's no exception when it involves what the baby sleeps on.

Many makers use pesticides on the cotton. In fact, this crop is that the most heavily treated. a number of the pesticides used on cotton contain human carcinogens. the hearth barrier that's needed per safety standards additionally has substances that are harmful to the atmosphere and to folks.

These reasons build using natural merchandise an easy selection. One is ready to induce a mattress made up of recycled and organic materials which will be higher for baby and for the atmosphere. There are many things to seem for when one needs to make and eco friendly bed for baby.

The cover is incredibly vital. it's in as regards to the baby's skin. the duvet ought to be 100% organic. the fabric used for the hearth barrier ought to additionally contain no chemicals. Wool may be a eco-friendly and fire-retardant which is why it's currently being employed in production of bedding and alternative homeware.

For spring mattresses, check the recycled content of the steel. regionally manufactured merchandise travel for a shorter distance to the buyer, leading to less carbon emissions and a additional eco-friendly product.

By beginning the search early within the pregnancy, one is ready to require advantage of nice offers. Some on-line stores can supply free shipping, which can enable one to maximise on savings. Some oldsters might favor to purchase personally, so they're ready to check the organic crib mattress. Since no specific agency certifies merchandise as organic, makers have it done independently. One ought to look out for the words 100% organic.

How To buy An Organic Crib Mattress

When buying an organic crib mattress, make sure that you check for the specified firmness. many mattresses can in all probability utilize substandard quality materials or refrain from using the fiber from coconut, which might cut back the mattresses sturdiness. further loose space is additionally a lot of possible to form issues like back pain for your baby.

In addition make sure that the covering on the mattress is made from water-proof organic material. the foremost helpful crib mattress has each these options. several corporations can provide guarantees that they manufacture the highest organic beds, however it's best to conduct your analysis to verify these claims. a lot of usually than not, the producers use materials that are however the cheaper different to organic material.

You can realize a high-quality organic mattress for your baby crib for anywhere from $250 to $300. However, albeit you're unable to seek out mattress during this specific worth vary you'll be able to continuously conduct your analysis to get the simplest deals.

In the event that the worth of the mattress is very high then examine the raw material included. The vital issue to stay in mind when buying this product is to make sure that you just have gotten worth for cash. So, take your time to try to to your homework if you do not wish to finish up as a scapegoat.

An additional issue to require into consideration when looking would be to create call on whether or not you like the froth or coil mattress. the froth mattresses for cribs are typically less costly. The good thing about using this sort of mattress is that they have a tendency to be light-weight and can be convenient to hold. Where the coil bedding worries continuously bear in mind that this purchase is for the baby. owing to the very fact that increased variety of coils can build the bed appears firmer because the baby grows. the froth mattress can in all probability offer your baby with comfort since the strength are equally distributed. As a result it's possible that it will become a lot of solid or loose at some purpose.

A Few Recommendations About Getting Used Cribs

Baby baby cribs can be be extremely costly depending on style that you’re checking out . Since the baby will only utilize it for a year or perhaps two it might not necessarily possibly be worthwhile to buy . Some people just simply can’t afford that cost so many people seek out used baby cribs . You want to make sure you actually will be acquiring something really safe . Some older designs of baby cribs might have lead paint on them that may be unsafe to kids . Make certain the actual space in between the panels isn’t going to be a threat for them either .

Don’t assume all used baby cribs available though are usually older so don’t allow that to get the better of you . Several moms and dads would like to get eliminate them immediately after their youngster changes right into a child bed . This might be their last newborn or perhaps they just don’t have anyplace to store it . You can find a used crib that is in exceptional condition from rummage sales, consignment stores, as well as next hand retailers . It’s also possible to try looking in the paper for such items for sale.

Chances are you could have a buddy or perhaps member of the family that has a used crib in a storage area that they may share with you, lend to you, or offer for sale to you . This is often a good method in order to obtain the crib you will need for a cost you can afford . It’s a very good strategy to visit online and glance at the basic safety score for just about any used crib . That way you’ll be able to discover if it’s appropriate for your child . Sign-up on-line for information to be delivered to you concerning just about any recalls for the item at the same time .

It is a wonderful thought to check out used baby cribs at the beginning of having a baby . In this way if you learn any kind of portions are absent you possibly can make contact with the manufacturer to get all of them prior to your child is delivered . Additionally , you will have enough time to sand down the actual used crib and paint it if you’d like to . Being ready for the actual baby along with the baby’s crib is significant as they quite simply will require it as soon as they get home .

Often you should purchase a baby crib bedding though when you obtain a used crib . This is because the mattress which was inside it is usually shifted to the actual child bed for the child . Nearly all moms and dads will likely be making use of it . You can purchase a completely new mattress for the crib while for around $30 which means you will not likely have to spend much income.

It’s not nice (or good for the baby) to fool Mother Nature

I’ll admit: I’ve been out of the baby-making business a good while now.

Which means I’ve not kept up with all the new products and trends that fill department store aisles and the pages of Parenting magazine.

Just the flip-flopping alone on the correct way to lay a baby in a crib has my head spinning.

And here’s a trend that’s really caught me off guard: At some point, expectant parents — and their ob-gyns — became so arrogant they decided they knew more than Mother Nature.

For the past few years, an increasing number of moms and dads, too impatient or too inconvenienced, are scheduling the births of their babies before the actual due dates. At Naperville’s Edward Hospital, according to a spokesman, the number of elective deliveries before 39 weeks has gone up dramatically over the last 10 years.

My initial response to this news is pained: Who’d want to go under the knife unless you absolutely had to?

I count myself among the fortunate: I was able deliver all six kids without surgeries. In fact, I never really understood what a Caesarean was all about until I watched on video the birth of my first grandchild via an emergency C-section. Seasoned mom that I am, my mouth was agape as I witnessed all my daughter-in-law went through in order to bring this babe into the world.

Vaginal births are no walk in the park, either, but the fact some women would actually choose to go through a major operation both confounds and disturbs me.

And hearing some of the reasons only adds to my perplexed state of mind. They include:

Because hubby has an important out-of-town business trip.

Because they want the tax break (before Jan. 1).

Because the due date falls when their favorite obstetrician will be vacationing in sunny Acapulco.

And my all-time favorite: Because the little woman is tired of being pregnant.

The good news is Edward Hospital is joining forces with the March of Dimes in a pilot program that will ban elective deliveries before 39 weeks of pregnancy. Research, as it turns out, reveals it’s simply not in a baby’s best interest to arrive too early.

Like we needed a bunch of data to tell us that?

There can be, of course, solid reasons for these scheduled early deliveries; most notably, when the health of mom or child is in peril. Still compelling but more questionable: Dad being shipped off to Afghanistan (as opposed to a business conference in San Francisco).

Call me unpatriotic, but even If I’m going off to fight a war, I’d prefer to miss the birth of my child entirely than cheat my kid out of a chance for the very best start in life the little tyke could possibly have.

There are plenty of reasons those glass cribs of our hospitals’ neonatal units are filled. Babies have a habit of arriving when they darn well want to. In most cases, there’s no reason — except selfish ones — that mom or dad should help put them there.

Kudos to Edward Hospital and the March of Dimes for taking this stand. Hopefully, unnecessary early deliveries will go the way of drop-side cribs.

Source : http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/3159345-418/baby-deliveries-business-early-edward.html

New crib guidelines part of ABC's for resting babies

JOPLIN, Mo. — Making sure your baby is getting a good night’s sleep is as easy as ABC to Kathy Cowley.

“Babies should always sleep alone, on their backs, and in a crib,” said Cowley, manager of the birthing center at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin.

While A and B fall primarily to parents, a federal agency has recently taken steps to regulate C. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission last month approved new federal standards for baby cribs that will prohibit the manufacture and sale of drop-side cribs.

The standards will increase testing of cribs’ durability, mattress support strength and hardware such as slat strength. According to consumers groups, they will also improve warnings and labels on cribs to make parents aware of when a crib has been wrongly assembled and when to stop using a crib.

Citing concerns over safety, the commission has recalled more than 11 million cribs since 2007. The commission has also associated at least 32 infant suffocation and strangulation deaths since 2000 to cribs with detaching drop-side rails, with additional deaths resulting from faulty or defective hardware.

The move has been applauded by consumer and safety groups.

“The lack of durability of recently produced cribs is appalling and has put many babies at risk,” said Don Mays, senior director of product safety and technical policy for Consumers Union and its Consumer Reports publication, in a release. “These new regulations will ensure safe sleep environments by raising the bar for the safety and quality of cribs.”

Beginning in June, all cribs manufactured, sold or leased in the United States must comply with the new federal standards. Within two years, child care businesses and hotels must also be in compliance.

Individuals continuing to use old drop-side cribs privately in their homes may continue to do so, but they won’t be able to sell them under the new regulations.

As drop-side cribs fade, there are still guidelines parents should keep in mind when crib-shopping. Look for cribs with slats that are close together. If the opening between slats is wider than 2 3/8 inches, roughly the width of a soda can, then they’re too far apart, Cowley said.

She also said parents should check whether the crib’s paint is lead-based, as can sometimes be the case if it is manufactured outside the United States.

“Otherwise, I think it’s up to you what you’re looking for,” she said.

Dean Lasseter, a pediatrician with Freeman Health System, said parents should take care when choosing a crib for their child.

“Thirty deaths (associated with drop-side cribs), it’s a small number compared to the number of babies who die in car accidents, the number of babies who die from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), but it’s there, and it’s preventable,” he said. “I would select that crib really carefully and not take a chance I don’t need to.”

Once you have a crib, the only items that belong in it are a good mattress with fitted sheets, a blanket and your baby, Cowley said. To lower the baby’s risk of suffocation, avoid decorating the crib with heavy blankets, crib bumpers or pads, pillows and stuffed animals, she said.

“They’re very cute, they’re very nice, but they’re not safe,” she said.

Lasseter said parents shouldn’t be tempted by sleeping with their child, who belongs in a crib or a bassinet. Babies otherwise risk falling off the bed, getting stuck between the mattress and the wall, breathing in the same pocket of air, or being crushed by their parents, he said.

“Never put the baby in bed with the parents,” he said. “The risk for SIDS skyrockets. It’s the most dangerous thing parents can do to their baby.”

Other tips for parents to help their newborn sleep, and possibly reduce the risk of SIDS, include:

~ Place the baby on his or her back, Cowley said. Parents who worry about the child choking should have little cause for concern because babies will instinctively turn their face to the side if they spit up, she said.

~ Develop a bedtime schedule, if possible. “If the parents have a routine, and they can get the baby into the routine, that’s going to help enormously,” Lasseter said.

~ Keep a fan in the room. Circulating the air could help reduce the risk of SIDS and can provide “white noise” to help your baby sleep, Lasseter said.

~ Swaddle the baby, which gives him or her a sense of comfort and closeness, he said.

~ Keep the room temperature at a comfortable level and don’t overdress the baby at nighttime.

Source : http://www.joplinglobe.com/healthandfamily/x1961026537/New-crib-guidelines-part-of-ABC-s-for-resting-babies

Doctor and assistant jailed for selling newborn

A MALAYSIAN court sentenced a doctor and his assistant to a year in jail for selling a newborn boy in what a government lawyer said today was a rare successful prosecution over baby trafficking.

A court in southern Johor state found Dr Robert Luk and his assistant Suleiman Salim guilty yesterday of selling the baby to a couple for 10,000 ringgit ($A3151) in 2005, said prosecutor Dzul Iswari Mohamad Jaafar.

Luk, working at a private obstetrics clinic, was accused of altering the birth certificate of the boy, born to a poor woman who wanted to give him up for adoption. Suleiman acted as a middleman, taking the baby from the woman, Dzul Iswari said.

The offence - unlawful transfer of control of a child - carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail and a fine. The judge postponed the execution of the sentence to allow the two men to appeal.

Dzul Iswari told The Associated Press that the couple who bought the baby was not charged, nor was the mother.

The couple was not aware of the sale and believed they were adopting the baby legally, thinking that the money they paid was the fee to cover the boy's mother's medical bills, he said.

The mother was unaware that her son was sold for money and believed he was being given up for adoption through proper channels, Dzul Iswari said. The couple and mother appeared as prosecution witnesses.

Several people have been arrested in recent years over the sale of babies.

But it was not immediately clear if any of the accused were ever convicted. Dzul Iswari said there had been no successful prosecutions until yesterday's verdict, as all other cases were pending.

"This has become the first such case," he said.

Abdul Majid Hamzah, head of the prosecution division in the Attorney General's chambers, said he recalls some successful prosecutions but could not give details.

The act under which the doctor and his assistant were charged came into effect in 2001.

Last year, Malaysian police rescued six babies and arrested 15 people allegedly involved in a child trafficking ring, which paid women to get pregnant for childless couples. It was not immediately clear whether any of the suspects were prosecuted.

The Kuala Lumpur-based group allegedly paid Malaysian, Indonesian, Filipino and Vietnamese immigrant women 5000 ringgit (AUD$1,575) for each baby delivered.

The babies were sold on for 20,000 ringgit each (AUD$A6401). The gang is believed to have been operating for more than five years.

Dad charged with hurting baby

Infant boy hospitalized in critical condition

LAWRENCE — A father previously jailed for breaking his daughter's skull is now charged with shaking his 3-month-old son and critically injurying the infant.

Alexis Medina, 23, of 4 Inman St., apt. 19, was arrested Tuesday night and charged with assault and battery on a child causing serious bodily injury.

His son had difficulty breathing and was later diagnosed by emergency room doctors as having "broken ribs, a broken vertebrae and other symptoms associated with shaken baby syndrome," Prosecutor Jennifer Kunsch said in court yesterday.

In 2008, Medina was sentenced to 18 months in jail for causing his daughter's skull fracture, according to court and police records.

Medina told police that in an effort to quiet the baby Tuesday morning, "he placed his son face down in his crib and pushed on his back until he became quiet and fell asleep." "Medina told us he had done that in the past and it has usually worked and his son would fall asleep," wrote Detective Paul MacMillan in a police report.

He told police he regularly played "rough" with his son and "may hug him too hard at times," according to the report.

Yesterday morning, as he stood in the prisoner's dock in the courtroom at Lawrence District Court, Medina's defense attorney, Steven Van Dyke of the Committee for Public Council Services, attempted to shield him from public view and a news photographer's camera.

Van Dyke had asked Judge Kevin Gaffney to allow Medina to stand behind a courtroom door and just listen to the arraignment proceedings yesterday morning. Gaffney rebuffed his request, however.

Gaffney ordered Medina held without bail until Jan. 7 for a probable cause hearing.

Police and paramedics went to Medina's Inman Street apartment at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday after receiving a report of an "infant not breathing."

Paramedics immediately started CPR while detectives were called to the scene to investigate, police said.

The baby was taken to Lawrence General Hospital and later to Tufts Medical Center in Boston. At 5:30 Tuesday night, Tufts personnel notified Lawrence police that the "infant was in critical condition," MacMillan wrote in his report.

MacMillan, along with Detective Brian Voisine and state troopers assigned to District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett's office, went to Tufts to interview Medina.

He said that around midnight the night before "his son would not sleep so he had squeezed him and shook him, trying to get him to fall asleep." Medina told police "he was tired and just wanted his son to sleep," MacMillan wrote in his report.

In the morning, when his son cried again, Medina said he did what he'd done before; put the infant face down in the crib and pushed on his back until he stopped crying.

Medina also told police he has problems with his wife, employment and money troubles.

After speaking with doctors, police arrested Medina and brought him back to the Lawrence police department Tuesday night for booking.

Attempts to reach the baby's mother were unsuccessful yesterday.

Source : http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x1758586645/Dad-charged-with-hurting-baby

Boomers getting old in a crowd

It's almost 2011 -- the first year that baby boomers will officially become senior boomers.

One baby boomer will reach 65, the traditional retirement age, every eight seconds for the next 18 years, according to the U.S. Census. As a result, the population age 65 and older will increase 79 percent between 2010 and 2030.

We boomers have spent our entire lives in crowds. We were born in hospitals with maternity wings so full that many of us spent our first days in a crib in the hallway. There were routinely 50, or even 60, kids in our elementary school classes -- but we learned to read anyway.

To accommodate us when we got to high school, communities had to build thousands of new buildings. And when I graduated from Ohio State University in 1972, there were more than 60,000 kids on the main campus in Columbus.

When we boomer women opted to stay in the workforce after our children were born, we revolutionized how the world did business. And now we're thinking about leaving that workforce, although a recent survey by Charles Schwab found that 88 percent of boomers -- men and women -- expect to work at least part time, even though they are eligible for full retirement benefits. About 28 percent say they "need more money."

Why is that? Schwab's survey says that 44 percent of Americans on brink of retirement expect to retire with debt. And 30 percent expect to rely on Social Security as their primary source of income in retirement. With the average Social Security payment less than $1,200 per month, living on it is surely a retirement planning challenge.

My husband, who is a leading-edge baby boomer, spent part of his day today figuring out how Medicare will mesh with his company health plan. This was all new territory for the human resources people where he works, so they figured it out together, knowing that my husband is only the first of many to ask these same questions.

Growing old in a crowd should be interesting.

Source : http://www.bankrate.com/financing/retirement/boomers-getting-old-in-a-crowd/

Infant's death, investigation leads to warrant for arrest

— An eight-month investigation into the death of an infant led the Grady County District Attorney's office to issue a warrant Tuesday for the arrest of a 27-year-old Blanchard woman.

Court documents show that charges filed against Kasey Duverney include one felony count of child neglect and one felony count of second degree manslaughter.

Information filed by Michael Francis, an investigator with the District Six District Attorney's Office, states that Duverney failed to provide the proper care and supervision of the child by placing him in a bed which was not safe for an infant. She was responsible for him while her boyfriend, the baby's father, had gone to work.

Francis said that while in the bed, Trevor squirmed into a position where he ultimately suffocated and died.

Records show that the baby's parents were going through a divorce during March and April and the father had left the home and moved to the home of his girlfriend, Duverney.

On April 9, the mother allowed her estranged husband to have a scheduled overnight visit with Trevor. He had repeatedly reassured the mother that he had an appropriate children's crib for the baby to sleep in while in his custody.

At about 5:40 p.m. Duverney called the Grady County 911 dispatcher and advised that "the baby is dead." Records show that she told the dispatcher she found Trevor hanging from the bed stuck between the bed railing and the mattress. When emergency workers arrived on scene they were unable to save him.

The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as mechanical asphyxiation caused by being caught between a bed railing and the mattress. Documents state that according to witness statements, the bed was not a safe children's crib. It was a modified single bed frame with a board running along the side.

Francis said that as Trevor's temporary caregiver, Duverney committed child neglect when she failed to provide for the proper care and supervision of the baby and placed him in an unsafe adult bed where his injury led to his death.

Upon conviction of child neglect, the crime is punishable by imprisonment up to life in the Department of Corrections or by up to one-year in the county jail or by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Upon conviction of second-degree manslaughter, the crime is punishable by imprisonment for two to four years in the penitentiary or imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year or a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

Source : http://chickashanews.com/local/x982166423/Infants-death-investigation-leads-to-warrant-for-arrest

Baby Jesus stolen from crib

Brighton might be Britain’s most Godless city, but an East Sussex village is sans Jesus.

Soulless thieves have stolen a baby Jesus figurine from a church in Sidley near Bexhill.

The un-Godley thieves also attempted to make off with Joseph and a sheep but were forced to drop their loot when challenged by Father Trevor Buxton.

Joseph and the sheep have since been returned to Mary and the rest of the Nativity. But the statuette of the infant Lord, pinched from his crib outside All Saints Church, All Saints Lane, is still missing.

Sussex Police were called to reports of three teenage boys removing a figurine of Joseph, a sheep and baby Jesus shortly after 6pm on Wednesday.

The youths ran off towards Ninfield Road.

Sergeant Tricia Reeve-Fowkes said: “This Nativity crib has been at All Saints Church for many years.

“This is the first time that the figures have been stolen and the members of the church are very upset that this has happened.”

The missing figurine is described as 15 inches long, made of hardboard, flat in the shape of an infant and is painted bright red, yellow and blue.

There is no detailed description of the three teenage boys other than one boy was wearing a grey tracksuit.

If anyone has any knowledge of the whereabouts of the missing figurine please contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting serial 1185 of 29/12 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Source : http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/8763631.Baby_Jesus_stolen_from_crib/

Baby Crib Safety

New Baby Crib Safety Standard Slated to Take Effect in June 2011

Since 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recalled more than 11 million dangerous infant and toddler cribs. In an effort to ensure a safe sleeping enviroment for small children, on December 17, 2010, CPSC voted unanimously to approve new mandatory standards for baby cribs. The new standard will effect both full-size and non-full-size cribs.

The new federal standard will take effect in June 2011, requiring cribs being manufactured, sold, or leased in the United States to comply with the new safety standards. CPSC said the mandatory crib standards will stop the manufacture and sale of traditional drop-side cribs, will require mattress supports be made stronger, crib hardware must be made more durable, and safety testing will be made more exacting.

Child care facilities, such as day cares and home infant care facilities, and places of public accommodation, including hotels and motels, will be required to have cribs that meet the new standards in their places of business within 24 months after the new ruling takes effect.

CPSC has received reports of 32 crib related deaths due to infant suffocation and strangulation involving drop-side cribs since 2000. Faulty and/or defective hardware is also to blame for the deaths of more children.

Source : http://newsfuzion.com/2010/12/27/new-baby-crib-safety-standard-slated-to-take-effect-in-june-2011/

The Various Baby Crib Bedding Sets Available

If you are looking for baby crib bedding sets, you aren't going to have a shortage of options. Because there are so many wonderful bedding sets available, the choice can become more complicated. The following will cover factors relating to modern baby bedding, including the most popular materials and designs used for both boys and girls.

A typical baby crib bedding set consists of a crib skirt, quilt, fitted sheet, and bumper. Modern bedding designed for kids is made of the best materials, is comfortable, and attractive. Of course, the color of the baby items for boys are different than the ones for girls. Most people tend to go by the book with colors, buying a blue set for boys and a pink set for girls. You can also decide to get bedding collections that have a neutral color, since they are acceptable for both boys and girls. Next, we will discuss bedding for boys, girls, and the neutral collections.

Bedding collections are available in just about every shade of pink when shopping for girls. The bedding set may include not only variations of pink, but also chocolate and cream. The "princess' themed set is very popular choice for girls, which consists of numerous delicate fabrics. Flower garlands, embroidered bouquets, and pink polka dots could be featured in such a collection. Healthy cotton, soft velvet, and shiny silk may also be used in a given bedding set for girls. The skirts often times have ruffles, and the trimming on the bumper consist of beautiful, textured stripes.

Blue is the most common color selected for boys. There are several options here as well, including themes such as "forest" or "jungle" sets. Collections like these might have leopard or cheetah prints with a mix of green, earth, and honey. Healthy cotton and soft velvet could be the fabrics used. Other themes you might find for baby boys are sky and sea ones.

Baby crib bedding sets that come in neutral colors might be the most popular choices. These sets don't come in more distinct colors such as blue or pink, but ones that are more unique. Some colors included could be a shade of brown or blue lagoon. A mix of chocolate and cream also make up a theme that would be considered neutral.

Modern baby crib bedding sets provide the ability to put together the ideal place for your child. He or she will be soothed, comforted, and be able to capture their imagination with their new atmosphere.

by: Danielle Navarro

Breast Intentions

The strength and ubiquity of the 'breast is best' message in New Zealand means there is greater awareness than ever of the benefits of breastfeeding, increasingly advocated as the risks of formula feeding.

However, women remain unsupported in their choice to breastfeed, from work policies and a lack of timely information and support, to family attitudes and perceptions of a "good baby" as one which sleeps through the night and therefore requires slowly digested formula to do so.

The conflict between the lactating and revered sexual breast in Western society means that while the media is awash with images of 'boobs', public breastfeeding is taboo. A 2009 study found that 36 per cent of Australians said breastfeeding was unacceptable in a cafe or at work. Jennifer James of RMIT University, which conducted the study, said "Part of the issue why young mothers wean their babies too early is societal pressure and isolation from other mothers experiencing the same difficulties."

The result is that many women do not establish breastfeeding, the trauma of which is then compounded by the censure faced when bottle feeding.

In recognition of the experiences of these mothers, Christchurch based counsellor Karen Holmes, is launching a counselling service specifically for "unvalidated grief" around women's breastfeeding experiences.

Holmes explains: "This is something which is just never talked about, but for many women giving up breastfeeding is a very real loss which impacts their lives. It may never be acknowledged as grief - not by others and not even by themselves." This grief therefore expresses itself in other ways, for example through anger at breastfeeding mothers or feelings of resentment at being let down by the health system.

Holmes offers counselling to those impacted by infant feeding grief, trauma or related concerns, including mothers and those who find themselves with issues in their work with mothers. Counselling could be historical, for example with grandmothers, as well as for contemporary issues. In addition to grief from not establishing breastfeeding, it can also arise when a child weans unexpectedly.

Mother of three, Charlotte, comments: "I breastfed my eldest for 23 months. I couldn't breastfeed my middle son and I had to bottle feed, it caused me a lot of negative psychological stress for a while, and I got it into my head that he didn't love me. My third son I breastfed for just over 6 months, then he decided he wasn't interested anymore and preferred food and a bottle. This was a bit of a shock at first."

Infant feeding issues may also arise in pregnancy. For example, one mother who had an eating disorder when younger, had recurring nightmares throughout her pregnancy that she would be unable to feed her baby.

University of Albany evolutionary psychologist Gordon Gallup believes the grief a mother may experience also operates at the level of biology, commenting: "For most of human evolution the absence or early cessation of breastfeeding would have been occasioned by miscarriage, loss, or death of a child. We contend, therefore, that at the level of her basic biology a mother's decision to bottle feed unknowingly simulates child loss."

A study of 50 mothers conducted by Gallop showed that those who bottle fed scored significantly higher for postnatal depression than breastfeeders.

Feelings of loss at not breastfeeding may be compounded by guilt, and also rejection by having felt undermined by questions when attempts at breastfeeding were underway.

Holmes spent ten years as a La Leche League (LLL) leader and observed that much of the meetings were devoted to discussions about addressing challenges from others toward breastfeeding women. For example "are you sure you've got enough milk", "that baby's got you wrapped around it's little finger", and assumptions about the duration of breastfeeding and the need for supplementation from formula.

Anthropologist Sheila Kitzinger in Ourselves as Mothers (1992) stresses the importance of self-belief when she writes: "The firm expectation that (women from traditional cultures) will breastfeed successfully is much more important for a mother than any specific breastfeeding practices... women can breastfeed under apparently impossible conditions if they are convinced that they will be able to do so."

Breast vs Bottle Polarisation

The polarisation of breast versus bottle hurts mothers and the women at the frontline of breastfeeding promotion. Holmes comments: "There appears to be this big division between breast and bottle feeding, but there are multi-causal factors with infant feeding in Western culture today including historical, cultural, familial and political. In a culture that often wants to point the finger in one direction, in reality it serves no one to do this. I believe we need an honest look at where we are to acknowledge that the two camps have much in common."

Holmes continues: "I think we need to appreciate that all women go through the same ringer when making decisions about feeding their babies - a successfully breastfeeding mother could have had endless struggle, undermining and interference to get to that point, just like a formula feeding mother. But yes, the breastfeeding mother's trauma may be alleviated by her eventual success."

Holmes herself experienced problems breastfeeding so knows first hand what women may go through. Holmes said she wanted to breastfeed her now grown-up daughter for economic reasons and because "it gave me an excuse to be close to my baby", a poignant testament to the independence expected between mothers and infants in Western society.

During the first few days of her daughter's life, and having difficulty feeding, Holmes was "constantly questioned" as to whether her baby was getting enough breastmilk and was "eventually worn down", and gave her baby formula. She then overheard someone saying of her "they just don't try very hard these days do they". However Holmes persevered, and with help from an LLL breastfeeding counsellor regarding positioning of the baby, she went on to breastfeed until her daughter was three years old.

The breast versus bottle debate has lead to an emphasis on breast pumps, by viewing breastfeeding through a bottle feeding lens and equating breastfeeding with breastmilk. However the use of breast pumps are linked to a decrease in milk supply and therefore negatively affect breastfeeding outcomes.

Carol Bartle, coordinator of the Canterbury Breastfeeding Advocacy Service, comments "Breast pump marketing implies that all women need a breast pump to breastfeed, and the only pressing issue is finding out "which pump is right for you". However seductive the pump marketing messages are, with their impressions of the modern mother's need to get away from her baby, fathers' need to give bottles, and images of attractive women with their backpack and pump, the reality of pumping is that of a complex and time consuming practice that is hard to maintain. I have yet to meet a woman who enjoys pumping but have known hundreds who love to breastfeed once they have established breastfeeding".

Bartle, who has 30 years' experience working in neonatal intensive care, where women try and establish their milk supplies using breast pumps, continues: "Many pumps are inefficient and do not remove milk effectively enough to maintain milk supply. Women who give breastmilk to their babies in bottles, and do not put their baby to the breast at all, are at the highest risk of serious milk supply problems."

This observation is confirmed by a 2009 study from Stanford University School of Medicine, California, which found that "pump suction alone often fails to remove a significant fraction of milk as more can be expressed using manual techniques". So to ensure pumping is done effectively, and the milk supply is maintained, pumping needs to be done in combination with hand massage techniques. Something few women are aware of.

Barriers to breastfeeding

It is very clear that women should not take sole responsibility for their breastfeeding experiences. Holmes identifies that grief issues "depend on self-image and expectations", so that when women are given unrealistic ideas of breastfeeding and at the same time undermined on the way to achieving breastfeeding, the grief and sense of failure can be significant.

New Zealand's National Breastfeeding Advisory Committee (NBAC) in its 2008-2012 national plan for breastfeeding detailed a list of 13 Social and environmental barriers to breastfeeding. These included the perception that artificial feeding enhances the father's opportunities to bond with the infant, attitudes that make breastfeeding embarrassing or uncomfortable for the woman, societal expectations about the acceptable duration of breastfeeding, a culture that portrays bottle-feeding as normal, and returning to work, by choice or through financial necessity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that "virtually all mothers can breastfeed, provided they have accurate information, and the support of their family, the health care system and society at large".

These sentiments are reinforced by the pro-formula backlash, for example the book Bottle Babies by Adelia Ferguson (1998), which catalogues letters from bottle feeding mums - many of which are a testament to a fundamental lack of support around their breastfeeding experiences.

Holmes comments: "Many bottle feeding mums feel extremely traumatised by their persistent efforts to breastfeed to the point where they will not ever try again with subsequent babies. Sadly much of this experience is due to inaccurate breastfeeding information. However, there are successful breastfeeding experiences after some extreme circumstances. This is done knowing how breastfeeding works and that others have done it successfully."

In 2008, the UK's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition said of the latest Infant Feeding Survey in 2005 that "The reasons mothers gave for abandoning breastfeeding suggest that relatively few mothers truly chose not to breastfeed. Three-quarters of breastfeeding mothers... said they would have preferred to breastfeed for longer had they been able. These findings suggest that most women who start to breastfeed are committed to it but stop because they encounter problems and find that skilled support is not readily available."

In recognition of this, the Canterbury Breastfeeding Advocacy Service provides not just information about breastfeeding but practical support in the form of networks between health care professionals, local groups and mothers. Bartle comments "We are trying to shift the culture to one that supports and protects breastfeeding women, rather than just promoting breastfeeding without support structures in place to really make a difference. For example, I have just been working with a mother who said that the most useful assistance she could have received while trying to establish her preterm baby on the breast after going home from the hospital, was home help."

Meanwhile, commenting on the national situation in New Zealand, outgoing LLLNZ Director Barbara Sturmfels, says: "Legislative changes to improve conditions for breastfeeding mothers in the paid workforce, a public advertising campaign to promote breastfeeding in public, and support for the implementation of UNICEF's Baby Friendly Initiative in New Zealand are some of the ways that the government is seeking improvements in breastfeeding rates through institutional and societal change."

Many problems need not prohibit breastfeeding were they seen as part of the breastfeeding journey and if consistent support and information were on hand in the crucial first days and weeks. Denise Digman in Breastfeeding in New Zealand: Practice, Problems and Policy (1998), says the medicalisation of breastfeeding has detracted from "perceiving the range of physical sensations and difficulties experienced while breastfeeding as part of the normal spectrum of events". This is echoed by NBAC which talks of "insufficient knowledge about the normal course of breastfeeding, including common problems and the solutions".

Holmes gives an example from her own life to illustrate this point: "In her first weeks, my youngest daughter was putting on very little weight and this was of concern to the Plunket nurse. I explored what factor might be creating the problem and discovered a cowsmilk intolerance. As soon as this was eliminated from my diet her weight gain improved. Without this knowledge, this could have turned into a safety issue."

New Zealand's breastfeeding rates compare favorably with those of other developed nations. Different countries measure the rates in different ways and for different years, but for a broad comparison, rates for exclusive breastfeeding are: New Zealand 2008 16% at 8 months; Canada 2008 14.4% at 6 months, Australia 2007 14% at 6 months, USA 2006 13.6% at 6 months, UK 2005 less than 1% at 6 months.

However seen globally, it is clear the impact Western values may have on breastfeeding. WHO recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months and for breastfeeding to continue "up to two years of age or beyond".

The top 5 countries for exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months (Unicef 2008) are Rwanda 88%, Kiribati 80%, Sri Lanka 76%, Solomon Islands 74%, and Peru 69%. At aged 20-23 months, Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Nepal all had breastfeeding rates of over 80%, with Nepal at 95%.

In New Zealand, rates for Maori and young mothers are much lower than average, and Maori currently have the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rates in the country. This is also a hallmark of Western society: As Glover et al explain in Maori Women and Breasfeeding (2008) "Beliefs and practices introduced to Maori by European immigrants to New Zealand have supplanted Maori infant feeding practices". The report therefore recommends that "promotion of breastfeeding to Maori should focus on re-establishing breastfeeding as a tikanga (right cultural practice)".

As well as Karen Holmes new counselling service, Christchurch is fortunate in having the Young Parents' Breastfeeding Group Whangai U "Matua Puhou". Headed by public health advocate and breastfeeding peer counselling administrator Susan Procter, the group has over 20 regular members and meets regularly to support breastfeeding families where the mother is aged under 25.

Procter comments: "The impact the group has had is enormous, both in terms of breastfeeding success and also in giving several of the mums a passion and motivation to apply to enter the health care professions to advocate for breastfeeding and to support other young mothers."

Breastfeeding as Patriarchy

A further irony of the breastfeeding debate is that when a mother does successfully breastfeed, she is likely to be censured if she continues past an arbitrary cut off point of a few weeks or months.

Part of the problem is that motherhood, the archetypal female domain, is accused of becoming a patriarchy with male values overlaid upon it. For example the reverence of science over instinct, of experts over the mother's voice, and of consumer products over the mother's body. This is particularly relevant with the medicalisation of birth, with the rising number of cesarean sections impacting negatively on the establishment of breastfeeding.

Dr Truby King is a controversial example of the mothers' expert, having founded New Zealand's Plunket Society in 1907 "to help the mothers and save the babies" and the Karitane Product Society (KPS) in 1927, which consolidated King's production of infant formula.

Linda Bryder says of King in A Voice for Mothers (2003) "The diagnosis of the problem and the solutions put forward were the same everywhere: mothers were ignorant of the correct methods of child-rearing and needed to be educated". Meanwhile Sheila Kitzinger claims that King "Destroyed women's confidence in breastfeeding and made loving mothers feel inadequate and guilty."

One hundred years later, that charge was still being leveled at Plunket for the promotion of scheduled feeding, based on the digestion time required for formula, rather than for quickly digested breastmilk. The emphasis has shifted recently with Plunket advising that "your baby may wake wanting frequent feeds. For breastfed babies these feeds are important to help establish and maintain breastfeeding". However the organisation remains out of step with international WHO guidelines by recommending breastfeeding only "until they are at least 1 year or older".

Plunket's controversial partnering of breastfeeding promotion with corporate interest through King's formula production, continues today with Wattie's sponsorship of Plunket. Wattie's promotes Nurturebaby formula and markets "Stage 1" baby foods for "4-6 months onwards", in conflict with WHO's recommendation of "exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months" and Plunket's recommendation of "breastfeeding exclusively until around 6 months". The Plunket logo appears on the packaging of Wattie's Stage 1 foods, giving the perception that Plunket endorses feeding solids at 4 months, despite the clear conflict with Plunket's own policy. The presence of the Plunket logo also gives the impression that Plunket is endorsing that particular brand of baby foods above both competitive brands and baby food prepared at home.

The patriarchal legacy remains a tangible presence for women, their partners and families today. Holmes comments: "Progressively, women were told that their instincts, their feelings and everything else they may have previously believed were wrong and they needed to listen only to the experts if they wanted their babies to live. This creates internal conflicts which may become problematic, especially the thought that something must be wrong with a woman as mother."

Holmes continues "It is with this that I want to work, for example validating grief, feelings, impacts. Helping women to understand what creates these conflicts and giving them permission to feel what they feel. I would hope also that in doing this women may regain a sense of their own wisdom and feel empowered to make informed choices."

Holmes stresses that the understanding and support of fathers is a crucial part of this process. Holmes comments: "Breastfeeding is a human issue, not a women's issue. Men have a valuable and active role in supporting women to breastfeed and in protecting it." This is reinforced by Sturmfels who says "Informed and skilful mother-to-mother support can really make a difference. A new mum needs the love and support of her partner and family."

Holmes concludes: "What is most important is that all mothers are honored in their experiences around infant feeding. That mothers feel supported, valued and confident in their own ability as a mother."

by : Elizabeth Willmott Harrop