Attached at the Hip

Picky on Plastics

As we begin this new year and new decade, many of us start thinking about ways we can improve our lives - our health, our dreams, our relationships.  While most of us don't think about "plastics" when we go through our resolutions for the new year, perhaps we should.

While it's impossible to totally avoid plastics in our lives today, there are certain types of plastic that we know contain harmful chemicals (such as bisphenol-A [BPA] and phthalates) which are best avoided.  The good news is there are many alternatives to these plastics, and they're becoming easier to find all the time.

Not sure what's good and what's bad in the world of plastics?  The Environmental Working Group has put together some simple tips to help you make wise choices in choosing and using plastics.  With details on the safest types as well as those to keep away from, it's a must-read for any family ready to make a positive change.  Also check out the EWG's Tips to Avoid BPA Exposure to find out where BPA hides in other common products.

Then, check out some of our favorite plastic alternatives:

• Klean Kanteen stainless steel colored water bottles
• Snack Sacks fabric food bags
• Bambu compostable plates, wooden bowls, and wooden utensils
• Frigoverre glass food storage containers
• Haba wooden baby teethers and toys

May you and your family enjoy a very healthy and happy New Year!

Not-So-Medical Advice

I have been a proponent of natural/alternative/complementary therapies for quite some time. In fact, over the last 5 years, we've gone from a household of mostly conventional medical treatments to mostly alternative treatments.  We use a combination of homeopathy, herbs, amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients to treat ailments on a daily basis.

Still, it can be hard to remember the details of each remedy and which situations it is best suited for.  That's when I turn to my favorite resources for treatment recommendations.  I keep Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child on my bookshelf at the ready for treating the kids, as well as Smart Medicine for Healthier Living, the adult counterpart.  These two volumes are arranged in an easy-to-use format, with information on common (and some not-so-common) ailments, along with a variety of treatment options.  Having details on conventional medical treatments side-by-side with herbal, homeopathic, and nutritional therapies is very helpful in making informed decisions.

For times when I don't have my books at the ready, I've discovered the University of Maryland Medical Reference on alternative medicines to be a very thorough and handy tool.  You can find details on specific remedies (such as the echinacea and astragalus that I dosed my kids with today), as well as information on the types of treatments (a very readable history and background of homeopathy is included), and even data on nutrient depletions that may be caused by other drugs.  With an iPhone app available, too, the UMMS Medical Reference is an excellent go-to resource with a bounty of balanced information.

As you explore options for your own family, I hope these resources will be helpful to you, too.

This is Must-See TV

The new wave in diapering... A must-see for all parents and parents-to-be!

Hope you enjoy this bit of humour, too.  I dare say the treatment of cloth diapering ("messy and hard to clean") is unfair, but I'm willing to overlook that for the hilarity of this skit.  ;)

Curious what cloth diapering is really like?  Check out a few Diapering Myths from Pinstripes and Polkadots (they have lots of other great diapering information, too).  Because even if Chewable Pampers are easier, they sure aren't cuter!  

The Birth Survey

If you've ever been pregnant, you've most likely searched for a care provider and birth place that would be just right for you.  But how do you find out what care providers and birth locales are really like?  It's nearly impossible to get specific answers to questions from providers, and especially from hospitals.  Without this data, we're left to choose from the proverbial phone book, or insurance company lists. Even personal referrals leave a lot of unanswered questions.  But what if these choices could make a huge difference in your pregnancy and birth?

The reality is that the choice of care provider and birth setting makes a tremendous difference, both on the progress of pregnancy and the outcome of the birth.  The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) has undertaken the task of making information about care providers and birth locations available to mothers, so we can make informed decisions about our births.

The foundation of their project is The Birth Survey, which is open to all women who have birthed in the U.S. in the last three years.  The survey gives you the chance to submit feedback for your prenatal as well as delivery care, through a detailed series of questions.  The information is being compiled into reports for the benefit of both mothers and care providers and hospitals, who can use the feedback to improve their services.

If you've given birth in the last three years, I highly encourage you to take The Birth Survey (take it once for each birth), so that other mothers will benefit from your experiences.

Babywearing around the World

A friend of mine recently sent me a link to a slideshow on Flickr of babywearing in indigenous cultures around the world.  The beautiful, colorful photographs depict a fascinating array of baby carriers, many of which I'm familiar with in their European and Americanized forms.  I find it particularly amazing how many carriers we use and love today that we've adapted very little from their original versions.  The decorations or color palettes may be different, but the function of the carriers and the connection between the children and their caregivers is the same throughout.

My big boys stopped by the computer while I was moving laundry and were taken in by the images.  I hope you will enjoy them, too!