MarloElaine » Parenting

How To Save A Fallen Baby Bird

Elaine — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 05:13:59 +0000

Marlo took the kids on an evening stroll after dinner tonight. On their way back home, they came across two baby birds that had fallen out of their nest. At first they feared that the birds did not survive, but the tiny chicks started to move. The kids quickly called me to help rescue the birds.

With the help of my gardening tools, I moved one bird out of the grass into a cleared area, which was where its sibling had fallen.

Using his smartphone, Marlo searched “What to do with chicks that fall out of a nest” and found “A Guide To Assisting Wildlife Babies: What to do when you find them.” The article said to return the nestling birds to their nest, if possible. We looked up into the tree and discovered that the nest was turned upside down and dangling from a branch. Clearly, these birds could not be returned to their original home.

After reading the rest of the article, we decided to make a new nest. We felt we had to protect the birds from local cats, dogs, raccoons, oppossums, and other critters. I also did not think that the birds would be strong enough to fly away by the time the landscapers came back to take care of the lawn.

I poked some drainage holes into a plastic carry out food container. I also ran some pipe cleaners through the holes so the nest could be wired into the tree. Once that was complete, we lined the container with a paper towel, leaves, and dried grass. Using the aforementioned gardening tools, I gently placed the baby birds into the makeshift nest. Marlo used his ladder and secured the nest back into the tree as close to the original nest as possible.

While Marlo was up in the tree, I heard a strange noise that kept repeating over and over again. I searched the grass for another baby bird and realized that the noise was coming from up in the tree. It was the Momma Bird! She was calling to her babies. I think she even had bug in her mouth to feed her chicks.

As soon as the nest was safely in place, we all went inside the house to watch from the window. Sure enough, the Momma Bird reunited with her nestlings. We watched the mother bird fly back and forth to the new nest with food and other items for her babies.

We tried to use this experience to teach the kids the beauty of nature and the value of life. I think they were able to absorb some of the impromptu lesson, but they were very eager to look for worms and bugs to feed the baby birds. Since it was past their bedtime, I convinced the kids to let the Momma Bird take care of her babies from now on. I promised that we would check on them again tomorrow. It will be bittersweet when the baby birds are able to fly away on their own.

Review: Scatterpillar Scramble Game

Elaine — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:25:51 +0000

Hasbro’s Elefun and Friends just came out with a new game called Scatterpillar Scramble. The makers of Elefun, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Gator Golf, and Giraffalaff Limbo have another winner on their hands. This game would make an excellent Christmas gift for a preschooler. Keep reading for a chance to win this game!

Scatterpillar Scramble is a cute dancing caterpillar with four sets of hands. The game is for 2-4 players, ages 4 and up. Each player has a color coded set of tongs and marbles. The goal of the game is for each player to place all of their marbles into the caterpillar’s hands before their opponents.

My 3 1/2 and 6 year old children love the game, but they find it discouraging to play the game according to the directions. My husband and I even have a difficult time placing all the marbles while the caterpillar gyrates around to lively music. My kids like to race to place the marbles when the caterpillar is still, then turn it on to do a celebratory dance for the winner. The kids like to laugh and join in, then play again. They also like to play with their grandmother and anyone else who comes to visit.

This game would be excellent in a retirement home or rehab setting for people trying to improve their fine motor skills and hand eye coordination. It would also make for an interesting time at a college party.

What games or toys do you like to play with your preschooler or school age child? Please post a comment below for a chance to win Scatterpillar Scramble AND Giraffalaff Limbo. Special thanks to MyBlogSpark and Hasbro for giving us the opportunity to review this game as well as providing a set of games to a lucky reader. The winner will be announced on Monday, November 16th. Thanks for reading!

Concerns about the Swine Flu Vaccine

Elaine — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:50:54 +0000

The swine flu vaccine has thimerosal / mercury in it, yet will be recommended for all pregnant women and children over 6 months old. I’m not sure yet if my family will get vaccinated. What are you planning to do?

I recently posted this on my facebook page along with a link to USA Today’s article “H1N1 and seasonal flu: Multiple doses, many questions“.

An overwhelming majority of my fb responders were NOT planning to vaccinate themselves or their families against the potentially deadly H1N1 virus. Some believe that they could survive the swine flu just like they would any other flu. Many feel that the vaccine is just too new and has too many unknowns. Several feel that the thimerosal component of the vaccine cannot be overlooked due to it’s association with autism.

A nurse practitioner friend posted that she has had some experience with the anti-viral drug Tamiflu believes it is very effective against the H1N1 virus. She believes that contracting and treating swine flu outweighs the risk of the vaccine itself because the previous round of the swine flu vaccine was associated with Guianne Barre Syndrome.

Guianne Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a paralyzing illness that at worse can cause death, and at best has a long, painful recovery with lingering paralysis or weakness. My friend Cricel’s husband Khalil was diagnosed with GBS last year. She documented Khalil’s struggles and his miraculous progress in order to share her family’s experiences with GBS. Cricel e-mailed me, “We are not sure what caused Khalil’s GBS, so we cannot really make a link between his case and a flu vaccine. But I did know that the old swine flu vaccine was linked to an increase in GBS incidence. Scary…”

USA Today reports:

“The government’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) … recommended that (the H1N1 vaccine) be given to pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old, health care workers, people ages 6 months to 24 years and people 25 to 64 who have chronic illnesses or immune problems.”

When I asked my pediatrician’s office last month what their recommendations were regarding the swine flu pandemic vaccine, they said they were waiting for the American Academy of Pediatrics to make a statement before finalizing their medical group’s opinion. I plan to ask them again soon for their recommendation. My children usually get the seasonal flu vaccine, but I request the thimerosal-free vaccine that is normally reserved for smaller children. If the H1N1 vaccine does not come in a thimerosal-free version, we will most likely NOT get the swine flu pandemic vaccine.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says:

“The H1N1 virus is a hybrid, with genetic elements of swine influenza, avian influenza, and human influenza…Because this is a new strain, seasonal flu shots do not protect people, so good hygiene is important to help prevent the spread of germs. The influenza is spread by coughing, sneezing and unclean hands.” They continue, “If you suspect your child has influenza, call your pediatrician. Antiviral medication, if taken soon after infection, can shorten the duration of the illness. These medications are effective against swine flu.”

My husband and I will carefully weigh the pediatrician’s recommendation along with pros and cons of the H1N1 vaccine before making a final decision about vaccinating my preschool daughter, my kindergarten son, my husband, and myself against the expected swine flu pandemic.

What are you planning to do to protect yourself and your family?

Review: Honey Kix Cereal

Elaine — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:08:47 +0000

This fall, my son will be starting Kindergerten and my daughter will attend pre-school for the first time. No more leisurely mornings and long breakfasts for us. It’s back to fruit, bagels, toaster pastries, or cold cereal. Luckily, MyBlogSpark sent us a Honey Kix promotional pack to review on our site.

The package they sent us includes a coupon for a full size box of Honey Kix, a large Honey Kix “cereal pitcher,” a full size Honey Kix cereal bowl, a honey jar with server, and a cool milk and cereal travel kit. The travel kit consists of an insulated bowl for milk that screws onto the cereal compartment for storage. The cereal compartment is a bowl with a cover that has a spoon built in.

My kids tasted Honey Kix cereal for the first time today. I poured their milk into small bottles so they could pour it themselves without spilling. I transferred the Honey Kix into the cereal pitcher and called them to the breakfast table. For once, instead of listening to arguing and playing, I heard the quiet sounds of crunching and slurping.

My picky daughter ate two bowls of Honey Kix, while my hungry son ate four! They served themselves, so I’m not sure how full each bowl really was. My son has already requested the same breakfast for tomorrow, the first day of Kindergarten.

If you would like to receive a Honey Kix promotional pack from MyBlogSpark for yourself, please leave a comment below to be entered in a random drawing. Comments must be posted by Friday, August 28th to be eligible. The winner will be notified by e-mail on Sunday, August 30th.

How to: Refill Foaming Hand Soap Pumps

Elaine — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:29:00 +0000

Hand washing is the best way to prevent the transmission of germs, even better than all the hand sanitizers on the market. Encouraging children to wash their hands before eating and after using the washroom is very important. We also teach our kids to wash their hands as soon as they come home and after handling money or library books.

My kids love to wash their hands with foaming soap pumps. They don’t need to spend as much time lathering up their hands, and the foam rinses off easily. The problem is, the pumps empty so fast and replacing them can get expensive, not to mention wastefully and environmentally unfriendly.

I have yet to see foaming soap refills at the stores, probably because a special dispenser is required to make the foam. My solution is to just refill the foaming soap bottles using diluted regular liquid soap. You need one part soap for four parts water. For example, one ounce of soap and four ounces of water. The first time I did it, I accidentally used 2 ounces of soap and 6 ounces of water to fill my 8 ounce bottle. The foam was thicker, but still worked fine.

Refilling Foaming Hand Soap Pumps are especially useful for those parents concerned about super-viruses and mutated bacteria caused by all the anti-bacterial products in use these days. I’ve only seen anti-bacterial versions of the foaming hand soaps in the stores near me. Now anyone can now make non-anti-bacterial foaming hand soap with any liquid soap. Leaps and Bounds sells a foaming soap pump bottle that has fill lines for easier measuring. The reviews for the actual bottle are mixed, but most people like the measuring lines and the refillable concept.

I prefer the Bath and Body Works Pumps. I usually buy 1 foaming bottle and the rest regular liquid soap bottles when there’s some kind of promotion or coupon (3 for $10, 5 for $15, etc.). Though they are antibacterial, my family likes the scent. I purchase all the same variety so no one even knows that the bottles were refilled! Bath and Body Works also has a Kid’s Signature line, but no refills or regular liquid soap available. They do sell 16 oz refills of their regular antibacterial foaming soaps in certain scents for about $5, but that’s really about 3 oz of soap and 13 oz of water. It’s much more economical to make your own foaming soap solution. Even more so if you stay away from the brand name products.

What other ways do you encourage your children to wash their hands? How else do you stretch your dollar at home? We’d love to hear your ideas!

Motrin Campaign Offends Babywearers

Elaine — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:18:26 +0000

The Motrin website is running a commercial or “Mom-Alogue” that makes babywearing seem like a painful, unpleasant thing done only for vanity. The first line of the commercial is, “Wearing your baby seems to be in fashion.” Here is another quote, “It TOTALLY makes me look like an official mom.”

I just loved wearing both of my kids in the BabyBjörn and Hip Hammock. It had nothing to do with being trendy and everything to do with comfort and convenience for my baby and myself. As long as I adjusted my babycarrier properly, I did not need any pain medication because of it.

The online babywearing community is outraged and vows never to buy Motrin brand ibuprofen again. Barb, a babywearer and former Motrin user, posted a transcript of the commercial on her blog. Jessica believes that Motrin is picking on fragile, new moms thus angering many moms.

I have not purchased any Motrin brand products recently, and I do not plan to in the future. There are many other brands and generic options available for both adults and children that work just as well, and are often a lot less expensive.

Update 11/17/08:
Motrin and it’s parent company McNeil Consumer Healthcare have heard the voices of the many outraged moms who have e-mailed, blogged, twittered, etc.

The Motrin.com site went down sometime on Sunday, November 16th. As of Monday evening, the following message replaced the controversial Mom-Alogue:

“With regard to the recent Motrin advertisement, we have heard you.

On behalf of McNeil Consumer Healthcare and all of us who work on the Motrin Brand, please accept our sincere apology.

We have heard your concerns about the ad that was featured on our website. We are parents ourselves and we take feedback from moms very seriously.

We are in the process of removing this ad from all media. It will, unfortunately, take a bit of time to remove it from our magazine advertising, as it is on newstands and in distribution.

Thank you for your feedback. It’s very important to us.”

Sincerely,

Kathy Widmer
Vice President of Marketing,
McNeil Consumer Healthcare

Your Child’s Flu Vaccine May Contain Mercury

Elaine — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:29:33 +0000

I took Sammy to the doctor last Friday for his 5 year old check up. Among other things, he was due for a flu shot. Since I had Sophie with me too, they offered to get her flu shot done at the same time as well. I agreed so that I wouldn’t have to come into the office again.

In our pediatrician’s office, they have a regular flu vaccine and an infant flu vaccine for children under age 3. I normally request the infant flu shot for both of my children because it is thimerosal-free. Sophie is not yet 3, so she would receive the infant one anyways, but I have been making special requests that Sammy receive the infant version as well.

According to the CDC, “Since 2001, with the exception of some influenza (flu) vaccines, thimerosal is not used as a preservative in routinely recommended childhood vaccines.” The FDA states: “A preservative-free version of the inactivated influenza vaccine (contains trace amounts of thimerosal) is available in limited supply at this time for use in infants, children and pregnant women. ” The older children generally get the regular or adult flu vaccine, which contains thimerosal. Thimerosal is a mercury based preservative that may or may not be linked to autism. There are numerous articles and studies both supporting and disproving the link between thimerosal and autism.

I err on the side of caution and try to avoid as much mercury as possible. However, many parents may not realize that their child’s flu shot has mercury in it. Or if they are aware of it, they may not know that there is an alternative. Since flu season is approaching, I just wanted to post this so that parents and caregivers would be aware of it and ask their pediatricians to give their children a thimerosal-free flu vaccine. Some pediatric offices only have a certain amount of infant flu vaccines, so make your child’s appointment in mid to late September to increase the chances of getting the mercury-free version.

If the infant flu vaccine is not available to your child, ask your pediatrician about the nasal flu vaccine, which is also thimerosal-free. It is marketed under the name MedImmune’s FluMist. The CDC describes in detail the brands and manufacturers of thimerosal-free flu products, but also claims that “there is no convincing evidence of harm caused by the small amount of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor effects like swelling and redness at the injection site due to sensitivity to thimerosal.”

How do you feel about childhood immunizations and the possible link to autism? Do you believe the flu vaccine is beneficial for children? What does your child’s pediatrician say about all of this? Please share your comments below.

Review: Here Come the 123s with They Might Be Giants CD/DVD combo

Elaine — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:29:43 +0000

If your children love the Disney Channel as much as mine do, chances are you’ve already heard something from the album “Here Come the 123s” by They Might Be Giants (TMBG). I discovered this CD/DVD combo at my local public library. Both of my kids love it so much. I have already renewed it the maximum number of times, so I guess I will have to break down and purchase my own copy.

I actually enjoy listening to all of the songs myself! I have very fond memories of listening to TMBG’s “Flood” album over and over again on a cassette tape, trying to memorize the quirky lyrics. When my four year old son Sam tries to sing along with “Seven Days of the Week (I Never Go to Work),” I just have to laugh. At least he’s finally interested in learning the days of the week! Of course, this means two year old Sophie will learn them too!

The album comes with both a CD and a DVD of all the songs and music videos. There are cute little introductions to the videos by puppets named John and Jon (the members of TMBG). Some of the videos are animated while others are Sesame Street style with hand puppets. Very entertaining and cute. Not sickeningly sweet cute, though.

The 24 songs and 23 music videos are arranged in numerical order, starting with “Zeroes,” “One Everything,” etc., to “Eight Hundred and Thirteen Mile Car Trip” and others. My kids’ favorite songs right now are “Triops Has Three Eyes,” “One Dozen Monkeys,” and of course “Seven Days of the Week (I Never Go to Work).”

This was produced by Disney Sound, as was our other favorite CD/DVD combo “Welcome to Ralph’s World” by Ralph Covert. They Might Be Giants have other children’s CDs available called “No!,” “Bed, Bed, Bed,” and “Here Come the ABC’s.” I’m looking forward to listening to these albums with my children.

In the meantime, there’s a Free weekly kids video podcast! and lots of videos on YouTube. Here’s Sammy’s favorite song found on YouTube:

Calling All Hip Moms and Babies!

Elaine — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:03:38 +0000

Calling all hip moms and babies! I’ve just discovered a new store perfect for all the fashionable and budget conscious moms out there! I’m so excited to share the site and my purchases with everyone!

Hip Moms and Babies is an online store featuring Maternity and Nursing products. Hip Moms and Babies was created by Zeka, who is a mother of three and also a Pediatrician/Neonatologist. She has gathered a collection of really cute clothes and accessories for pregnant women, nursing moms, infants, and toddlers, as well as pumping supplies, organic bath products, baby slings, natural soy candles, etc.

Each “Hip Moms and Babies” item has a several photos with detailed descriptions. Many offer tips on how to utilize the product best. The site is based in the Philippines, so prices are listed in Philippine Pesos (P or PhP) which are approx PhP40/42 = $1.00 US. Click here to convert from PhP to USD. The price of each item is in the description or the photo title. They accept Paypal and are happy to ship to the US through FedEx, DHL, or UPS.

So far I have purchased two Transition Tubes and a Diaper Clutch.

The Transition Tubes are only P250 each, or about $6.25! I chose Charcoal Heather and Dusty Rose. They are so comfy and provide great nursing coverage when wearing regular shirts. Nursing moms will no longer be limited to those expensive nursing tops! These are also great for pregnant women who find that regular or even maternity shirts don’t quite cover up their bellies. They can also be used like a belt to hold up loose pants. Most styles are available in both 13″ and 15″ sizes. Zeka described it perfectly when she wrote, “It’s the perfect accessory and wardrobe extender you will need for pregnancy and after the baby.”

DIAPER CLUTCH

The Diaper Clutch in Pink with Brown trim was a great deal at just P600, approx $15.00. I use it to hold three diapers and a stack of baby wipes. When folded, it looks just like a regular purse. When opened, it converts to a generous changing pad that wipes clean easily. It can be carried alone or inside a diaper bag.

NAPPY CLUTCH

My sister-in-law purchased the Nappy Clutch and loves it. She said it’s the perfect size for diapers and wipes and fits nicely inside her purse. She only paid P750, or about $18.75.

If you have any questions about a product, shipping, or currency conversion, post a message on the site or e-mail hipmomsandbabies@gmail.com for a very prompt response from Zeka. I hope you will take the time to browse the site and pass it on to all the Hip Moms or Moms-to-be that you know. I’d love to hear what you think in the comments section!

How to make your own Spot the Dog puppet

Elaine — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:35:50 +0000

Sammy and Sophie love the Spot the Dog series of books by Eric Hill. Their favorite ones are the lift the flap books like “Where’s Spot?” and “Spot Goes to School.” When our local public library announced that Spot the Dog was coming to visit, they were so excited! Sammy gave Spot a big hug, but Sophie was happy to just wave from across the room.
After reading Spot books, visiting with Spot, and taking lots of pictures, the wonderful librarians helped the kids make Spot puppets.

All you need to make your own Spot the Dog puppet is a square piece of yellow paper, a popsicle stick, tape, and a black or brown crayon to provide hours of fun for the kids!

First, simply fold the square down the middle diagonally to make a triangle. Position the triangle in front of you so that the folded side is on top. Fold the two top corners down to make ears. Draw on a face and color as desired. Finally, tape on the stick to complete the puppet! Enjoy!