Kelly Neal's Blog

Rosenberry Rooms loves GFA's new Now & Forever convertible cradle! http://blog.rosenberryrooms.com/2011/04/04/new-now-and-forever-convertible-cradle-by-green-frog-art

Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus Nursery

Beautiful nursery for baby Madeline Leigh, daughter of Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus shown in the May 2011 issue of People Country  However, as lovely as the crib may be, it has clear corner post extensions which are not allowed under the ASTM safety standards!  Also, the baby is shown in the crib with both a pillow and a toy and each of those has ribbons which may be torn off.  Toys and pillows should never be placed in a crib with an infant! 

It is too bad that magazine photoshoot stylists feel they have to make a nursery unsafe in order to depict it in their publications.  They lead the rest of us to believe that this is an ok environment for our own kids.  Let's hope that when the cameras are gone baby Madeline is sleeping in a safer space than the one shown in this magazine.

And for all you normal parents, do your homework!  Make sure you follow the safe sleep guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.

I'm Back!

Sorry to all my readers that it has been so long since I've posted anything on my blog.  In my too busy world, sometimes I think it has just been a few days, or maybe a few weeks, since I last did something, then next thing I know months and months have gone by and I can barely account for the time!  I know all you working moms know this feeling!

Anyway, I've got stacks of great stuff to share and since next week is spring break (hooray!  a great part of having kids is once again getting a holiday for spring break) and my family is leaving sunny Florida to go skiing in Idaho (Ava's first time), I'll have lots of time to catch up on my posts.  So stay tuned!  And I hope your spring break plans are as fun, relaxing and satisfying as I plan for mine to be.

Great news!  You can now follow Green Frog Art on both Facebook and Twitter!  I'll add the links here as soon as someone teaches me how to do that!

CPSC issues warning on sleep positioners

The Consumer Products Safety Commission has issued a warning against the use of sleep positioners.  For more information visit the CPSC's website.

Green Frog Art is committed to safe sleep for young babies and we follow the research very carefully.  Please remember to put your newborn to sleep on his her her back (unless told otherwise by your pediatrician) and in a properly assembled cradle or crib.

September is Baby Safety Month

September is Baby Safety Month, sponsored annually by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). This September, JPMA is helping educate parents and caregivers on the importance of creating a safe sleep environment from naptime to nighttime.

Each year deaths occur when children are placed in a sleep environment that is not specifically designed for children. The safest place for a baby or child is in a fully functional, properly assembled, crib, cradle, bassinet, portable play yard, or toddler bed.

 Help spread the word about Baby Safety Month!   Read through the safety tips at www.babysafetymonth.org  and gain powerful insight into safe sleep practices. We invite you to celebrate Baby Safety Month 2010 and Make Every Night a Safe Night.

Registry Checklist

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) is now offering a printable registry checklist that expecting parents can bring to the store when registering for baby. By choosing a product that is manufactured by one of the companies listed under each JPMA Certified Category, you know that you are choosing a product that has met stringent testing requirements that exist as part of this program.

13 Baby Products That are a Waste of Money...NOT!

Interesting article from Reader's Digest 13 Baby Products That are a Waste of Money.  Although I agree with some of the items listed, I disagree, from personal experience, with items 1 (diaper genie), 3 (bottle sanitizer), 4 (bottle warmer) , 5 (wipes warmer - not in Florida but in our Idaho house this was invaluable), 8 (receiving blankets), 9 (hand mittens) and 13 (shopping cart cover).  That's over half the list!  I could however, add some money wasters of my own (the stuff you rub on their gums to soothe teething, the extra money spent on the bouncer that vibrated and played music that Ava hated...).

I think the lesson here is that with such an abundance of products on the market you should seek advice before purchasing but also tailor your purchases to your lifestyle and the importance of time saving convenience.  I understand the author's comments about sanitizing and warming bottles with a pot of boiling water, but as a busy working mom the extra time savings from a bottle sanitizer and warmer were well worth their cost.

A few items that I thought were WELL WORTH their price tag:

1. Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium (the best crib soother around - Ava quickly learned how to turn it on by herself and once woke us in the middle of the night shrieking "Dada, change batteries!"

2. Medela Double Electric Breast Pump (I was a hold out and pumped with a hand pump my first couple of months back at work - what was I thinking?  This thing is AMAZING - pumping is not fun so anything to help make the process easier is worth it in my book!)

3.  Disposable bibs (Great for restaurant trips - We kept them in our cars in case of impromptu stops.)

4. Cloth diapers (not for diapering - for use as burpcloths, mess cleaners, dusting rags...)

5. Bottle brush (I use my old ones to clean out vases.)

Tips for using bassinets and cradles

Some wonderful tips for using bassinets and cradles (our personal favorites!) can be found on the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association's Safe Sleep Website:

A bassinet [or cradle] is likely to be the very first bed for your baby. While it is perfectly acceptable and safe to introduce your baby to a full-sized crib from the onset, traditionally parents use one of these products for the first few weeks or months of a baby's life.

• Consider placing a bassinet or cradle in your room during the first few months when your baby needs to be fed throughout the night. Room sharing is an easy way to be within arm's reach without compromising your child's safety by bed sharing.
• Look for a bassinet or cradle with a sturdy bottom and a wide, stable base.
• Follow the manufacturer's guidelines on the appropriate weight and size of babies who can safely use the bassinet or cradle.
• Check screws and bolts periodically to ensure they are tight.
• If the product has legs that fold for storage, make sure that effective locks are provided to ensure that the legs do not accidentally fold while in use.
• Mattresses should fit snugly and be firm and smooth. Never use pillows.
• Decorative bows and ribbons should be trimmed short and stitched securely to prevent strangulation
• Swinging cradles should have a way to keep them from swinging once a baby is asleep.

Firm Flat Surface Best for Baby

In the midst of record numbers of baby product recalls it is hard to keep track of what's safest for your baby, but here's an easy tip to remember.  Firm, flat surfaces are safest for baby to sleep on and baby should never be put to sleep on pillows, cushions or other soft positioners.  A hot new product which was getting high marks from retailers and consumers alike, but did not meet the above guidelines, was recalled yesterday because of reports of entrapment.  For more information, click here.  For detailed information on the best places for your baby to sleep, see cribsafety.jpma.org

Thanks to The Giggle Guide!

Thanks to The Giggle Guide for including Green Frog Art in their list of super cool kid's art sources!  To read the article visit The Giggle Guide.