Okanagan Child » Healthy & Happy

Sleep Seminar

Colleen — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:40:19 +0000

Crying Baby? Sleepless nights? Frustrating naps?

SOLVE all your sleep challenges by attending an informative seminar with licensed sleep consultant, Pam Nease of Sleep Sense.

When:   Saturday October 15^th from 9 am to Noon
Where:    At the Kelowna Library, Downtown at 1380 Ellis St.
Cost:       $150.00 per couple

Includes materials & one week email support
Advance registration is required: Call: (250) 575-6988 or visit: www.sleepsense.net/kelowna/seminars

Optional on-site childminding provided by Nannysitters

Described as a miracle worker by her clients, Pam Nease left a successful career in the Fall of 2009 to open up her own business as a Sleep Consultant. She rescues babies and children from the plight of sleep deprivation by showing parents how to give their little ones the beautiful gift and skill of sleep. Pam meets with clients in person, over the phone and offers group seminars. She has appeared on the radio, is the sleep expert for two magazines and is a sought after keynote speaker for Baby Fairs across the Okanagan. Based in Kelowna BC, she has a growing local & international clientele which ranges from single parents to NHL Hockey Players and Celebrities.

For more great information and your FREE copy of the 5 Easy Steps to baby sleep, please visit her website at www.sleepsense.net/kelowna. She would also love to hear from you on Facebook and Twitter.

Celebrate U.V. Groovy Day with Free Sunglasses for your Kids!

Colleen — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:40:55 +0000

The Doctors and staff at Okanagan Optical (Sunglass Cove) have a goal this summer – to keep your children’s eyes healthy and protected from damaging UV rays. That’s why they’re celebrating UV Groovy Day on Saturday, June 18, by giving away free sunglasses to children ages five and under.

Did you know that you get more ultraviolet (UV) exposure by the time you’re 16 than during the rest of your life? Studies show that children’s retinas absorb more harmful UV rays than those of adults. While people are concerned about their own eye protection, they often forget about their kids’ eyes.

Protecting kids eyes from exposure to UV today, greatly decreases a child’s chances of developing cataracts and macular degeneration later in life.

Early detection is key. The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that all children have a complete eye exam by age three. No time is too soon. Until the age of eight, the connections from the eyes to the brain are still being formed, so it’s important that vision concerns be detected and treated early. And, believe it or not, that’s where we come in J. Tutt Street Optometrists are fully qualified to conduct a complete (and fun) eye exam.

Give your kids eyes a healthy start on June 18! To receive a free pair of kid’s sunglasses, adults accompanied by kidlets age five and under can visit Sunglass Cove (Canada’s exclusive Doctor-owned sunglass boutiques) @ Okanagan Optical from 10am – 3pm. No purchase necessary but quantities are limited so get there early!

Okanagan Optical, Suite 2, 2918 Tutt Street

Dr. Kim Bernot

Dr. Dave Grimes

Dr. Stacey Grimes

Dr. John Kemp

Dr. Louise Myshak

Dr. Tricia Rychjohn

Dr. Greg Wallace

Sleep Awareness Month!

Colleen — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:25:31 +0000

A good night’s sleep is rejuvenating, refreshing and restoring. Most of us would love to flop into bed and blissfully sleep uninterrupted at length. Enter babies…toddlers…young children…and you might be familiar with a night of more wakefulness than you’d like.

In March, we bump the clocks forward an hour which means less sleep AND an adjustment for our biological clocks. Pam Nease is a Kelowna-based licensed sleep consultant who has declared March ‘Sleep Awareness Month.’ She specializes in creating healthy sleep patterns for your entire family so you can all get the much-deserved rest that you need. This month, you can take advantage of a 20% savings off of Pam’s services. If you’re not in need of some support around sleep in your household, but you know someone else who does, you can earn $50 for every referral you make that signs up for a full consult.

Savings + Sleep. Does it get any better than that?
Check out Pam’s website for more details.

Into the mouths of babes – Phthalates Regulations soon in force

Colleen — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:40:37 +0000

Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastic toys, as well as soothers and other products, soft and flexible. Often these products end up in the mouths of infants, who may suck or chew on them for prolonged periods. Phthalates, which may enter the bloodstream via saliva in these infants, have been linked to reproductive and developmental toxicities in animals.

In 1998, Canadian industry voluntarily removed the two main phthalates used in teethers and pacifiers, but as most of these products are manufactured off-shore, the impact has not been significant. As well, there are many other products that are likely to be mouthed by infants, bath toys (e.g., rubber ducks), squeeze and inflatable ones, which may contain phthalates.

New regulations restricting the concentration of phthalates in some products used by infants and children will soon be in place. These regulations are consistent with measures taken by the United States and European Union. This is a positive step in minimizing exposure to these chemicals in our most vulnerable population - infants and young children.

Below, we highlight some concerns about these chemicals, and briefly summarize the new regulations.

Health concerns – phthalates

The six phthalates that have been identified as potential concerns for human health are as follows:
- Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP)
- Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)
- Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (BBP)
- Diisononyl Phthalate (DINP)
- Diisodecyl Phthalate (DIDP)
- Di-n-octyl Phthalate (DNOP)

DEHP, DBP and BBP have been linked to reproductive and developmental toxicity, as well as liver and kidney effects, in rodents. Of particular concern to regulators is that the estimated average daily intake of DEHP, by children under 4 years of age, may slightly exceed the tolerable daily intake. Assessments under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) concluded that the average daily intake of DBP and BBP will not cause adverse health effects in humans.

As for DNOP, data are insufficient to determine an appropriate tolerable daily intake or whether this agent affects human life or health. DINP and DIDP have not been assessed under CEPA. However, a 1998 Health Canada risk assessment (and recent re-calculation) of DINP-containing soft vinyl children’s products concluded that there is a potential health risk for those under 3 years old who suck or chew on such products for prolonged periods. A 2001 US Consumer Product Safety Commission report also concluded that there may be a concern for children up to 18 months of age who mouth DINP-containing soft vinyl toys for 75 minutes or more per day. The US Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction has reported rodent studies showing the DINP and DIDP pose developmental hazards to rodents.

The Phthalates Regulations

The Phthalates Regulations under Canada’s Hazardous Products Act (HPA) were registered on December 10 2010, and will come into force after 6 months, in June 2011. The regulations restrict advertising, sale and import of toys and child care articles made of vinyl that contains phthalates. “Toys” means products intended for use by children under 14 years of age in learning or play; “child care articles” are those intended to help a child under 4 years of age relax, sleep, feed, suck or teethe.

Soft vinyl products may contain up to 1000 mg/kg (0.1% w/w) of DEHP, DBP or BBP. As well, any part of a product containing vinyl that could “in a reasonably foreseeable manner” be placed in in the mouth of a child under 4 years of age may contain up to 1000 mg/kg of DINP, DIDP or DNOP.

The regulations set out how one identifies if such a product can be “placed in the mouth” of a child: if any part of the product can be brought to the child’s mouth to be sucked or chewed AND if one of its dimensions (in its deflated state, where applicable) is less than 5 centimetres. Vinyl-containing products that exceed 5 cm in all dimensions or that can only be licked, are not considered a concern, as these cannot be placed in the child’s mouth, and licking is not a concern regarding phthalate absorption.

As of December 2010, toys and child care articles composed of phthalate-containing vinyl were added as restricted products under the HPA and the Hazardous Products (Toys) Regulations were amended – both as a consequence of the Phthalates Regulations. However until the Phthalates Regulations actually come into force later this year, it is doubtful that regulators will enforce these provisions. Enforcement will range from product recall to criminal prosecution, and those found guilty of contravening the HPA or its regulations are liable to significant fines and/or imprisonment.

Useful Links:

Phthalates Regulations – SOR/2010-298
http://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2010/2010-12-22/html/sor-dors298-eng.html

Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement
http://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2010/2010-12-22/html/sor-dors297-eng.html

Order amending Schedule I to the Hazardous Products Act (Phthalates)
http://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2010/2010-12-22/html/sor-dors297-eng.html#REF2

Health Canada. Preventing the use of six phthalates in soft vinyl children’s toys and child-care articles. June 2009
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/nr-cp/_2009/2009_96bk1-eng.php

A recent US report on chemical additives in toys highlights the concerns about hazardous substances in children’s toys: See Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) and Teamsters Office of Consumer Affairs. Toxic Toys R Us: PVC toxic chemicals in toys and packaging. A Report to the National Commission of Inquiry into Toxic Toys. November 2010
http://www.toxictoysrus.com/documents/Toxic-Toys-Report_11.17.10.pdf

Oh Baby, Let’s Get Some Sleep!

Colleen — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 05:45:56 +0000

Hey parents…do you secretly (or sometimes not so secretly!) wish your little one(s) would sleep more consistently through the night? Nap better?

Lucky for you, Natural Belly and Baby and Sleep Sense^TMConsultant Pam Nease have teamed up to bring you a FREE 30 minute seminar.

During the months of September and October, Natural Belly and Baby will be running a series of sleep seminars to benefit you and your family. Pam Nease, the only local and licensed Sleep Sense^TM Consultant in the Okanagan will come into the Natural Belly and Baby store to deliver these informative and interactive workshops.

FREE 30 Minute Seminar –
5 Easy Steps to get your Baby to Sleep Through the Night!

Thursday September 23^rd 11:30 am to Noon

Please feel free to bring your kids to learn about the proven steps that leads to a blissful and restful sleep each and every night.

Although there is no cost to you, please register in advance as space is limited. Please confirm via phone 250-860-0307,facebook or email to Natural Belly and Baby: angie@naturalbellyandbaby.com . Goody bags and refreshments will be provided.

Local Children’s Product Wins PTPA Award!

Colleen — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:12:23 +0000

Every year, companies both big and small submit their products for consideration of a PTPA Media Award – “Parent Tested, Parent Approved.” Because independent parents evaluate these products in their own homes, PTPA winners are chosen based on merit and consumer experience – not on commercial considerations. This ensures that when you see the PTPA Media “Winner” Seal, you know you’re purchasing a high-quality product or service. As a result, the PTPA Seal has quickly gained recognition as an international leader in certifying consumer products for quality, effectiveness and value.

Kelowna based mom, Kia Robertson, developed Today I Ate A Rainbow™ which offers tools to help make healthy eating FUN for kids. Whether you use their interactive chart with your child, or snuggle up with ‘The Rainbow Bunch’ book, you can count on Today I Ate a Rainbow™ to creative a positive space for healthy eating in your home. And if you struggle with picky eaters, don’t despair! Kia Robertson has a created a truly informative website with loads of interesting tips and facts. You can even sign up for their newsletter in order to access special member-only contents.

Today I Ate A Rainbow™ is no stranger to us here at Okanagan Child Magazine — we’ve previously featured a chart giveaway and even a great fruit kabob recipe in our summer issue. It’s particularly exciting to see a local company meeting with such well-deserved success. If you don’t know about Today I Ate Rainbow™, be sure to check out the website.

Congratulations to Kia and the entire Today I Ate A Rainbow team!

Sunscreen Guide

Colleen — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:24:15 +0000

With the sunshine finally beaming down in all its glory, we want to share with you some of our favorite sunscreens for kids (and adults too!). We’ll also take a moment to point out some sunscreens you should simply walk on by. Although the labelling and words might sound enticing, some sunscreens simply aren’t the best for rubbing into the skin.

Buyer Beware

There are tons of brands on the market, but not all are created equal. When you’re shopping for a sunscreen, you might want to think twice about these ones:

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Banana Boat

Don’t get on the boat, not the Banana Boat. With almost all of the Banana Boat sunscreens earning hazard scores of 8 out of 10 from Cosmetic Safety Database, there simply are better options out there.

Hawaiian Tropics

Ahhhhh, the gentle tradewinds, palm trees and aloha spirit. We all love Hawaii. Just don’t transfer that love to your bottle of sunscreen. Much like Banana Boat, the Hawaiian Tropics line earns high hazard scores, even in the ‘kids’ versions.

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Coppertone Kids Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 70+

With an SPF 70, a ‘Kids’ label and a familiar brand name, it must be a great choice, right? Not so much. The Coppertone family of sunscreens varies significantly in hazard scores. This is one to avoid, but below, we’ll share one that is good to pick up.

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Good Bets

If you’re looking for a mainstream sunscreen that won’t cost you a bundle and is readily found in drug or health food stores, consider one of these following sunscreens. Although these contain chemicals, if you’re going to purchase typical brands, these are good bets:
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Kinesys Kids Spray on Sunscreen, SPF 30+

Kinesys is an all-around great brand and the sunscreen formulations for kids are particularly great. It offers low hazard ratings and a reasonable price point – Costco often has double packs for a steal. You can always find a bottle of Kinesys in our house.
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Coppertone Kids / Coppertone Water Babies Pure and Simple Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50.

If you love Coppertone products, then we suggest you reach for either the Kids or Water Babies Pure and Simple Lotion. It’s well-ranked by the Cosmetic Safety Database and won’t cost you a bundle..

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Alba Botanica Mineral Sunscreen

Another good option, Alba Botanica sunscreens rank well, particular for the ‘Kids’ and ‘Fragrance Free’ versions.

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The Best of the Best

Truly the best sunscreens you can purchase contain zinc and/or titanium as the sole active ingredients. Although they don’t come cheap, you can rest assured you’re putting a very safe product on your little ones. Remember, this will be thicker and go on a bit white. Rub them in though and your lil one won’t look ghostly

Badger Sunscreen

With a cute little name and SPF of 30, this zinc-based sunscreen is much beloved by moms and dads. Contains 20% microionized zinc oxide which acts as a barrier to UVA and UVB rays.
Where to get it: EcoMama

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Matter Co. Sunscreen

The natural bases, herbs, and essential oils nourish the skin. It’s pure and gently for baby. Contains 20% microionized zinc oxide which acts as a barrier to UVA and UVB rays.
Where to get it: The Little Dipper

ThinkBaby Sport

thinkbaby’s SPF 30 sunscreen is one of the safest sunscreens on the market today for many reasons. Made from high quality safe ingredients, thinkbaby sunscreen contains no nano-particles, does not contain PABA or parabens and does not contain any hormone disrupting chemicals. Where to get it: Nayla Naturals

Remember, UV clothing is another great option to keep your kiddies covered. It also minimizes the amount of sunscreen you’ll need to use. If you’re looking for a great summary on the lingo and options for various sunscreens, check out this great piece on the Nayla Naturals Blog. Enjoy the sunshine!

Sleep Routine: One Dad’s Take

Colleen — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:46:38 +0000

I am always delighted to hear from readers; this week I was particularly excited when a local dad contacted me to share his disagreement with the recommendations put forth in the Summer issue article “Eight Sleep Tips for A Every Child” by Elizabeth Pantley. If you haven’t had a chance to read the article yet, take a boo at it on page 8. You can find a copy online here.

When Tom contacted me, he included the following piece he wrote in response to a similar type sleep article that recently ran in the Western News in Penticton, BC.

Although his response addresses some content the Pantley article in the Summer issue does not cover, his words nicely summarize his perspective on handling bedtime.

Here’s my take: There are two key elements that influence our parenting style, no matter the domain. First, each of us has our own philosophies, beliefs and values that guide our behaviors. No two individuals parent the same, nor should they. Second, the extent to which our actual parenting maps on to our ideal intentions is influenced by the temperament of our child. In a way, parenting is a bit of a dance between adult and child, where we move at slightly different rhythms at different times. It’s up to the parent to choose the music but we can always see how our child(ren) respond to one type of music versus another.

Ultimately, we go with what feels right to us, what makes the most sense to us. It doesn’t make an approach another parent employs wrong, just different. A discrepant approach might feel wrong, but I think it’s important that we remember there’s a difference between another approach feeling wrong and taking another step to then judge it as wrong. We’re all just simply different and that diversity is a good thing. We can learn so much if we’re open to listening and entertaining the ideas and thoughts of others. I am always a strong advocate that all of us parents need to act in ways that will keep us the happiest and healthiest we can be. This in turn means having the resources available to respond with greater sensitivity and patience to our child(ren). How the parenting looks will vary and what feels right to any given parent will vary. And that’s OK.

Please tell us…how do you handle naptimes and bedtimes in your house?! What works best for you and your little ones?!

Infant Massage

Colleen — Fri, 28 May 2010 04:59:52 +0000

Massage. Mmmmm. Most of us uttlerly adore receiving a massage. Aside from feeling pampered, there are a number of documented health benefits such as reduced anxiety and depression, stress relief and pain reduction. The benefits, though, are not limited to adults.

Recognition of the value of infant massage is on the rise with many parents expressing an interest in learning basic massage techniques to use their baby or infant. Childbirth.org outlines the following benefits for babies:

Relaxes the Infant Loving touch lessens tension, fussiness and irritability. Digestion is aided and this can provide relief of gas and colic.
Enhances Bonding Touch conveys nurturing and love, the essential ingredients for emotional and physical growth and well-being.
Aids Growth and DevelopmentStudies have shown increased weight gain and immune function. Myelination of nerves is also increased. These things in turn are needed for brain and muscle development.
Promotes Communication Parents become more aware of baby’s nonverbal cues. One-on-one communication instills a sense of love and security.
Improves Baby’s Sleep

If you’re looking for some tips and guidance on how to approach massage with your wee one, we recommend you check out Vimala McClure’s book entitled Infant massage: A handbook for loving parents.You can even pick it up at your local library branch.

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