Product Recall: Stork Craft to Recall More Than 2.1 Million Drop-Side Cribs

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc. announced the voluntary recall of more than 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs, including about 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. The recall involves approximately 1,213,000 units distributed in the United States.
Parents and caregivers are urged to immediately stop using the recalled cribs. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side. They should wait for the free repair kit, and not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit. Parents should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. .

According to the CPSC, "The cribs’ drop-side plastic hardware can break, deform, or parts can become missing. In addition, the drop-side can be installed upside-down, which can result in broken or disengaged plastic parts. All of these problems can cause the drop-side to detach in one or more corners. When the drop-side detaches, it creates space between the drop-side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space which can lead to suffocation. Complete detachment of drop-sides can lead to falls from the crib."

[Read more]

Adoption Awareness Month: Shining the Light on the Magic of Adoption

by Stacey Doss Doherty of Stacey Doss Doherty PR

I am single, 45, and after years of failed fertility treatments and a painful divorce, I decided to take that wild leap and adopt a baby on my own. Vanessa was born on June 13, 2008, and taking her into my life as my daughter at 24 hours old was the best thing I have ever done, by far. Words cannot describe the day she walked for the first time, or the day she said “Mama.”

My story did not come without its challenges (see Operation Vanessa); in fact the adoption still isn’t final. Even so, if I had to do it all over again, I would never pass up the opportunity to have Vanessa as my daughter. She is the brilliant light that shines within me every day, and brightens our entire family. People tell me “you saved her,” but I think SHE saved ME.

My journey has left me with an amazing sense of purpose that I will work to fulfill for the rest of my life: to promote the sheer magic of adoption, help others through the process, and work to make adoptions easier, more affordable, and much, much more common. There are so many children that need good homes. I wish I could adopt 10 more…….maybe someday, when I find my Brad Pitt!

About Stacey Doss Doherty PR
Stacey Doss Doherty PR was formed with the philosophy of giving clients what they really want: access to a group of sharp knowledgeable PR professionals for a reasonable price.

Adoption Awareness Month: A Songwriter’s Struggle with Blindness, Adoption & More

by Singer/Song Writer Donna Hill

Born with glaucoma, given up for adoption, blind by twelve, a high school drop-out ... all spelled long odds for an African-American kid in New York City. But, the odds-makers didn’t know Dennis Holston. Dennis (31, Manhattan) boot-strapped his way to a successful life as a computer teacher and artist recruiter. He mentors two teens through Mentoring USA and I Mentor. Now in his third year at the helm of the volunteer-run, nonprofit Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind.

Holston’s leadership is making inroads into the sighted world for blind entertainers. PAD offers scholarships which are funded through sales of the “Sound in Sight” CD, a multi-genre compilation of 18 original tracks and covers by blind musicians. Hear clips at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/padotnfotb

Dennis, in his second term as PAD’s president, is dedicated to expanding opportunities for blind entertainers, a vital step for improving acceptance and opportunity for all blind Americans. In 2002, when he was elected Treasurer, PAD was floundering. Dennis became president in 2006. He combed the nation for promising blind recording artists and persuaded eighteen to donate original tracks and covers to “Sound in Sight.”, The CD, a cross-genre compilation, features acclaimed blind musicians including Tampa Bay Idol finalist, Seria Chatters (Tampa), Just Plain Folks Album of the Year finalist, Brooke Fox (Brooklyn) and internationally acclaimed percussionist Jimmy Fontanez (Albany, NY).

“Seventy percent of working age blind Americans are “un”employed,” Holston says, “Only ten percent of blind kids are taught Braille despite strong Braille literacy/success links. There hasn’t been a new, blind American superstar in decades. And, the only famous blind woman most of us know is Helen Keller, who died over fifty years ago.”

“I have always wanted to be a mentor,” says Dennis, who recently re-established contact with his birth family, “I felt that I had a lot to offer young black teens, but I was afraid that the blindness would get in the way. Finally, in 2005, I stopped running. When I got my first kid in 2006, he did not seam to care about the blindness at all. I found out that these teens are just glad that an older man is there to turn to,

Dennis, who writes songs blending pop, R&B and rock, has also had a profound impact on the blind performers he located. Many have taken on leadership roles in PAD. Brooke Fox is vice president. Beth Allred, a decorated University of Colorado (Boulder) grad student in opera performance, is secretary. Seria is on the board of directors along with Mindy Jacobson (NYC), the first blind woman cantor. Harvard grad and acclaimed vocalist Lisa Ostrow (Boston) is the scholarship coordinator.

National Adoption Awareness Month: Rainbow Twins Finds Their Forever Family

by Karen Maunu of Love Without Boundaries Foundation

The Rainbow Twins” (named because their two given names of Hong and Cai combine to make up the Chinese word for “rainbow”) entered this world weighing one pound each. They were abandoned in front of an orphanage by extremely poor migrant workers who had no way to care for their daughters’ emergency medical needs. The orphanage director contacted LWB immediately, and we were able to get the girls moved to a top children’s hospital in Shanghai within hours. The twins spent the next three months in the hospital, slowly gaining the weight and strength they needed to survive.

Once they were ready to be discharged from the hospital, we moved the girls to our Heartbridge Pediatric Healing Home outside of Beijing, which provides tender loving care to some of China’s most vulnerable orphans.

Soon after entering our healing home, both twins reached the weight of four pounds. Hong and Cai were given frequent small feedings, plenty of rest, and lots of attention and hugs.

Just five months later, the girls had reached a weight of 12 pounds each and were considered well enough for adoption! All of us at LWB celebrated that Hong and Cai had beaten all the odds to bless this world with their presence.

They were just adopted and are now home with their very own family who will love them forever.

There are so many more stories of children just like these. We believe that every child should have their own family, to have someone to love and cherish them. We would be more than happy to help with your article or contribute a story. We have a precious child right now we are working to find a family for.

About Love Without Boundaries
Love Without Boundaries began in the year 2003, after a group of adoptive parents came together to help save the life of one tiny boy in China. Following his successful heart surgery, they realized that people with a pure love for helping children can truly make a difference.  Love Without Boundaries Foundation is a worldwide group of volunteers dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned and impoverished children in China.

[Learn more about Love Without Boundaries now.]

Adoption Awareness Month: Celebrating Bringing Families Together

Goodies for Mom is helping celebrate National Adoption Month all this week with stories celebrating familes being brought together by adoption. You'll hear the touching stories from those who have been personally touched by adoption. 

November is set aside to raise awareness about the adoption of children and youth from foster care, and we are trying to do are part in raising awareness. This year's theme,"You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent."

The Goodies for Mom family is in the process of making our family complete through a domestic infant adoption and we are very excited to be starting this journey. These stories of adoption are particularly heart warming to hear for us, and we hope will have a story to share soon. If you know of someone considering placing their child for adoption, please pass along these stories and we'd also be glad to speak with them.

Adoption Awareness Month: Waiting… Again

by Renee Hoyt

My husband and I are awaiting a match for a domestic newborn adoption. Like many other potential adoptive parents, we don’t know how long this could take. However, we have been here before. Our adoption application was approved to seek a birth parent match 8 months ago, and we were selected by a potential birth mother only 4 months after that. However, she changed her mind when she delivered and decided to parent her baby.

Now that we’ve gone through a wait before, and lived a few months expecting to be parents very soon, this wait seems different. We are already more prepared to receive a newborn baby than we were the first time, including having car seats, a bassinet and other baby items in our home. However, since we live in a small apartment, we’ve stored many of the baby gear items in the closet in the future baby’s room and at my in-law’s house. The failed adoption made it difficult to see those things daily with no baby using them.

Perspective is a wonderful thing. We know there is a baby out there for us, and that first one wasn’t the child, though we had convinced ourselves he was while we awaited his birth. It is only a matter of time—could be weeks, or it could be months—and we will be parents. When adoptive parents get to this stage, the anxiety and the nerves can really get the best of them. One thing I believe we gained in our recent experience was an understanding of how things can turn out. We are very excited, and we also have a better ability to be patient this time around.

[Read more]

About Renee
Renee and her husband have been married for 16 years, and together for 20. They tried starting a family late into our marriage due to layoffs and a problem with their first house. They are now awaiting a domestic newborn adoption. Renee shares her stories with others in similar situations on Adoptive Families Circle.

Adoption Awareness Month: Mamma Mania: The Making of a Multicultural Family

by Amy Jewett Sampson

I like to say that I have a multicultural family. After years of struggling with infertility, my husband and I traveled to China to adopt our daughter who was 12 months old at the time. Six months prior, our biological daughter was born and one year after returning from China, our biological son was born. Three kids in less than a year and a half. Life was crazy!

Our adoption journey was put on hold during the summer of 2003 because of the SARS epidemic. When the country reopened again four months later, I was 7 months pregnant and could not travel. We put our adoption on hold until after my biological daughter was born. As a result, we were matched with a different baby and traveled the summer of 2004.

The trip to China was very difficult because I was struggling with postpartum depression. Our daughter was healthy physically, but was emotionally scarred from the lack of stability in her life -- moving back and forth from orphanage to foster parents, then to adoptive parents. It took a toll on all of us.

She is now a happy, thriving 1st grader who colors wonderful artwork. We can't imagine life without her. She and her sister are bestfriends -- they are 5 months apart, Audra is 6, Lauren is 5 1/2 and Joshua is 4.

About Amy
Amy Jewett Sampson found herself with three children under two years old in less than a year and a half. Joining the ranks of women in the “mamma mania craze,” Amy was overwhelmed and quickly developed the most effective ways to care for her children while still maintaining her sanity. She shares those tips in Mamma Mania: Managing the Craze of 0-5 year olds (Tate Publishing, June 2009).

Sampson is hosting a 24-hour event on Amazon.com, November 19, to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect issues. She will donate half the proceeds from the sale of Mamma Mania: Managing the Craze of 0-5 year olds (Tate Publishing, June 2009) on this one-day to The Kempe Foundation, a Denver-based organization that advocates for the prevention and provides treatment for neglected and abused children.

Adoption Awareness Month: Proving Them All Wrong By Changing The World

by John Paul Engel

I was born with severe brain damage. The doctors said I would never walk and that I would never lead a normal life. I was also born addicted to drugs. Because of all of these problems the State of Iowa deemed me unadoptable. That ment that I wasn't going to a home with a mother and father, brothers and sisters, I was going to spend the rest of my life in an institution - Glenwood to be exact.

Fortunately, there wasn't room for me in the institution so I came to the Engel home awaiting placment. Norman and Jean Engel had six of their own kids and they ended up taking in over 104 foster children. I was number #4, the one in the worst shape, I cried 24 hours a day, everyday, because I was going thru withdrawl. My start in life is one of the worst imaginable yet my life has become an amazing adventure thanks to the love of this special foster family that eventually got the state to allow them to adopted me.

Norman and Jean taught me to believe in myself and that has made all the difference in my life. They always told me "You Can Do It!" I flunked kindergarden and was put in special education classes yet I went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Iowa where I received the Collegiate Scholar Award, the highest academic honor confered by the University. I worked on the research staff of the Federal Reserve where I prepared briefing materials for Chairman Greenspan and forecasts for the FOMC. My work helped economists at the Federal Reserve make billion dollar decisions. I went on to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business where I earned an International MBA. I have worked in 12 countries for some of the most successful organizations in the world. In 2001, I founded my own business. I would have never had been able to do anything of these things but for the love of my parents Norman and Jean.

Last year I started Project Be The Change. Thru a book and motivational speeches I share my story with students, parents, and teachers. I sought out volunteers from some of the most successful people in the world and together we have put together a book that we make available for free.

The book can be downloaded at http://www.projectbethechange.com/. Recently Western Iowa Tech Community College and the Department of Education gave me a grant to print 2,000 physical books that we will be making available to 8th graders for free. I also share my story in a speech called "You Can Do It".

A short clip of the speech is available at http://www.projectbethechange.com/Youth-Motivational-Speaker.html

Adoption Awareness Month: Down In The Heart of Texas: Nathaniel Entered Their Hearts For Good

by Teena Gomez

My husband and I adopted our son from Texas in November 2007. It was the happy ending to a long battle with infertility, because we'd done six IUI’s, six IVF’s and even tried donor sperm and donor embryos over a four-year period. Despite all of that suffering, we were happy to have gone through because it put us in the right place at the right time to adopt our son, Nathaniel. He was truly meant to be a part of our family.

We signed up with a San Antonio adoption agency in August 2007 and, the most amazing part of the story is that after four years of trying to have a family, we had only nine days notice before our son was born. It was the craziest, most exciting time of our lives as we rushed to put together a nursery and get our home ready for our child. We drove from Kentucky to the Texas panhandle nearly straight through (stopped to sleep just five hours), and we were there in time for the birth of our son on the morning of November 19, 2007. It’s fitting that National Adoption Awareness month falls at the same time as his birth.

We finalized his adoption eight months later, back in San Antonio. It was only a technicality, since Nathaniel was already our son, but it still made for the perfect happy ending to our long wait to become a family.

Adoption Awareness Month: Grandmom's Advice Kept a Family Together

by Paulette Cooper (Noble)

When I was adopted at the age of 6 from Belgium, my parents had a very very difficult time with me. No one told them that I would only speak French and my parents only spoke English so we couldn't communicate. My sister had been adopted by another family and remained in Belgium and I cried constantly for her.

The plump adorable child from the photo was an emaciated semi-starved 36-pounder at the age of 6 who was extremely sickly. I refused to bond to my adopted parents, sit still (or shut up) in school which had just started, and since I didn't understand the language, wasn't learning.

There was a clause in my adoption that if it didn't work out, they could return me. So one day, in total frustration, my mother went to my grandmother (who lived in our building) and said she was going to return me.

"You can't," said my grandmother. "If you gave birth to a child and things didn't work out, you couldn't return her. Well, you gave birth to this child so make it work."

So my mother realized she had to, and she did. And when I felt wanted and not on trial, I improved. That was 63 years ago and my mother and I were close until she died 4 years ago at 95. For the past four years I have been taking care of my father, who is now 99.

Recently, my father thanked me for all that I've been doing for him.

"You and Mom took care of me all my life; now it's my turn to take care of you," I explained.

"It was a pleasure for me and Mom to take care of you," he said, tears in his eyes.

Yes, the impossible adopted child had gone on to make both parents happy and proud of me, graduating with honors from college and getting a masters degree, writing 16 books and over 1,000 articles, winning 6 writing awards and even appearing on such shows for my books as 60 Minutes and the Today show, which they proudly watched.

And oh yes, 15 years ago, after my (separated) sister became a widow, I brought her over and set her up in America. She now works as a sales woman at Saks Fifth Avenue and we're together again.

Adoption Awareness Month: Breastfeeding An Adopted Baby

As we contemplate adoption, there is one thing that I would really like to be able to do for our adopted child.  I felt it was very important with both my sons to breastfeed them as long as I could and I would really like to try to do this for our adopted child also. Breast milk is easily digested and contains antibodies that can help protect infants from infections. Not only does breast milk provide a great source of nutrition, but it really is a wonderful bonding time between mother and child. Something that is especially important with an adopted child.

However, breastfeeding an adopted child provides its own unique set of challenges. Here are some tips to help in breastfeeding an adopted child:

1. Relactation, where a mother has previously breastfeed, tends to be more successful than induced lactation for a mother who has never breastfed in the past. It usually provides a greater milk supply. The shorter time since she last breastfed, also helps with a larger production of milk.
   
2. Prior to the baby arriving, regular breast stimulation is needed, preferable using a hospital-grade double electric pump. Pump for 10-15 minutes every 3-4 hours for several weeks to several months before the baby arrives if this is possible. Make sure to freeze it to store up. It may take a week or more to begin producing milk. This can cause a problem if you are placed with a child that is about to be born or already born but it is still possible.
   
3. Once the baby arrives, the baby can be encouraged to suck by using a Supplemental Nursing System. This aid allows a baby to breastfeed while at the same time receiving supplemental formula through a thin tube next to your nipple.
   
4. Many women try to induce lactation by using medications and supplements.  One such supplement, Goat's Rue Capsules, are made from an herb and are reported to help increase breastmilk by stimulating the development of mammary tissue. Some physicians will prescribe short term use of an oral contraceptive containing estrogen and progesterone.
   
5. Often times supplementing with formula is needed. Realistic expections are that most likely enough milk will not be produced and supplementing will be needed. The adopted mother should concentrate on the amount she is able to provide no matter how small, and the bond she is creating with her child.
   
6. If you are unable to produce milk, you can still use the Supplemental Nursing System to fed your child formula and create the skin to skin contact that helps create a feeling of trust and security for a newborn.
   
7. La Leche League International can provide more information, and possibly connect you with other adoptive mothers in your area who are nursing or have nursed. They also have online forums where you can ask questions of leaders and other nursing mothers. 
   
8. Local lacation consultants can also be a great resource in making sure the baby is latching on properly and giving even more tips and advice. Do not hesitate to call them if you have any concerns.

According Jody Wright of Infant Massage USA, "I also found, personally, a profound hormonal benefit to breastfeeding. I might sit down to nurse in a harried state, and a few minutes later realize I could not even remember why I had been upset." [Read Jody Wright's story of breastfeeding her three adopted children.]

Breastfeeding an adopted infant is definitely possible and definitely worth it. The more educated and commited one, the better chance there is of having a positive outcome for both mother and child.

 Sources:

• Journal of the American Dietetic Association
• Alison Dodge of Happy Bambino
• Great Expectations: The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding ©2009 by Marianne Niefert, M.D. Used with permission from Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
• Breastfeeding an adopted baby (Baby Center)

The Tale of Breastfeeding My Adopted Children

by Jody Wright of Infant Massage USA

I have five children, and I breastfed the three that I adopted as infants, along with one I birthed. It was a warm and loving experience that I would not have missed for the world. Let me tell you the story of my first nursling.

I read about nursing adopted babies in a book a few years before I adopted, and realized how meaningful that would be to me. Of course I was sad to miss the pregnancy and births of my children, but I wanted to develop an intimate relationship with them – and breastfeeding seemed like a key to doing that.

Through La Leche League, I found someone who was nursing her adopted child and visited with her, to learn what was involved. I decided to use a supplementer, a device designed for giving a baby supplementary milk while they nurse at your breast. And I was able to obtain one before I got my baby. I pumped with a bulb pump (this was 1980, and I did not know about electric pumps) several times a days to help my breasts mature and prepare for a baby.

My baby was born at her mother’s home with a midwife, so our introduction was very intimate. We stayed with her mother for four days, and we worked on nursing during that time. Olisa also nursed her mother a few times. We had some latch-on difficulties – my nipples were soft and not well-formed. Sometimes she would latch on to nurse, and after some minutes she would get tired and begin to whimper, as she was just too tired to continue but did not know if she would be able to latch on again. The kind of supplementer I was using only allowed a small amount of milk through at a time – so nursing took at least 45 minutes. But after a few weeks we got it down.

Olisa was a determined nurser. She would not allow anything else in her mouth besides my breast (and the tiny flexible tube of the supplementer). She had no interest in bottles, pacifiers or even lint off the floor as she got older. She would not eat food until she was nine months old!

Nursing in public was a challenge with a supplementer. I needed to see what I was doing in order to hook us up right and make sure that the milk was flowing. In addition, Olisa was Black/Asian and I was white – so it was pretty obvious that our family was formed through adoption. I got used to answering people’s questions about how we could nurse: “If you put a baby to your breast every couple hours for about three weeks, you start producing some milk.”

Nights also posed special challenges, since I had to sit up and see what I was doing to nurse. After a few nights of getting up with a crying baby and going to the refrigerator to fill a supplementer, my husband developed a new system. We purchased several supplementers, filled them with milk, and lined them up in a small ice chest. We filled a thermos with boiling water and provided a quart size yogurt container to put the two together in. Everything was lined up next to my bed, and it just took a minute for the supplementer to warm up, while I nursed my baby without it. I used a dimmer switch I kept near me at night to keep the lights as low as possible, and lots of pillows to lean against and rest my arms on. Soon we were pros at nursing at night!

As Olisa grew up, I worked hard to increase my milk supply. At that time there was no pharmaceutical protocol for increasing your milk supply. Nursing often, using herbal galactagogues, and drinking lots were the primary recommendations for increasing milk supply. I probably only provided about a 10th of her milk needs from my body. But I felt like it helped her health a lot – that I was supplying important immunities and digestive enzymes through the milk I did give her.

I also found, personally, a profound hormonal benefit to breastfeeding. I might sit down to nurse in a harried state, and a few minutes later realize I could not even remember why I had been upset. Breastfeeding has an amazing ability to relax you, clear your mind and focus your thoughts on this lovely little child who is looking up at you with such trust. At night I found that I woke up just as she did – we had that hormonal connection that nursing mothers often have.

When Olisa was two years old, we adopted another little girl. The two of them nursed side by side, or traded off nursing times. I think it helps sisters to nurse together – feeling the wonderful flow of oxytocin and other warm and loving hormones from breastfeeding, while at the same time cuddling with your sibling. What better way is there to create family?

Eventually, I eliminated supplementors, when they were no longer needed. And eventually Olisa weaned on her own when I was pregnant with my third baby.

I loved the warm relationship that developed between me and each of my babies. A warmth and sharing that I cannot imagine I would have found in bottle feeding. Each of my children, though each one is from different birth parents, have been wonderfully healthy. I wish I could have given them 100% breastmilk, but I can see that even the amount I gave them has been very positive.

Nursing a child makes them 100% dependent on you for feeding. I think your continual presence is important in ensuring the bond grows with any child, but perhaps even more important for a child who has already gone through a loss (and any adopted child has). I adopted another baby after giving birth to my third child. And I nursed her too. I wouldn’t have missed it!

[Read more about breastfeeding an adopted baby.]

Jody Wright, CLC CEIM ITIM, is one of the founders of the International Association of Infant Massage, located in Sweden (www.iaim.net). She has worked with parents and babies for 25 years, as an Infant Massage Instructor and Trainer, as a Certified Lactation Counselor, and as the President, from 1986 to 2005, of Motherwear, a catalog and website for breastfeeding mothers. A mother of five, she specializes in breastfeeding, massage and bonding with the adopted child.

Contact Information:
Jody Wright,
Infant Massage USA
jody.wright@infantmassageusa.org
website link: http://www.infantmassageusa.org/

Winners of Danielson Design and Lou Lou Corner's Giveaways

 The winner of the Danielson Designs Make a Great Gift Giveaway is:

• Commenter #39 - Ginny

The winner of the Bilibo Shell Toy Brings Creativity to Christmas Giveaway is:

• Commenter #84 - Melodicmom

Thanks again to our wonderful sponsors. Please make sure to visit them when doing your holiday shopping:

Danielson Designs - Custom decor so simple it's stunning.^TM
Lou Lou's Corner - the place for innovative gifts and the stuff childhood is made of.

Toys for Tots Brings Christmas to Those Less Fortunate

With hard economic times, this year the  holiday season will be difficult for many.  The U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program helps these families by collecting new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distributing those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. Their goal is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.

“I’m really just a big kid myself, and I can’t imagine a child going without a toy to unwrap during the holidays,” said Shaquille O’Neal, this year's Toys for Tots Spokesperson or “Shaq-A-Claus” as he has come to be known for his holiday giving to children in need. “Toys are magical for kids! My life was transformed one Christmas morning when, as a boy, I received an autographed Dr. J basketball from Toys“R”Us. With millions children living in poverty in this country, I urge everyone to ‘Join Shaq Give Back’ this holiday season.”

[Find a dropoff site near you.]

Maclaren Recalls Strollers Following Fingertip Amputations

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Maclaren USA announced a voluntary recall of Maclaren Strollers. Consumers should stop using the recalled strollers and contact Maclaren USA to receive a free repair kit.

The stroller’s hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller. Maclaren has received 15 reports of children placing their finger in the stroller’s hinge mechanism, resulting in 12 reports of fingertip amputations in the United States.

This recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers sold from 1999 through November 2009. The word “Maclaren” is printed on the stroller. The affected models included Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.

[Read more]

Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Hawaii

For those of you who do not know, our family is starting the adoption journey.  I'll be telling you more about this over the next month as we celebrate November is National Adoption Awareness Month. I just sent an e-mail to an adoption lawyer in Hawaii today.  That could be a double bonus if we adopted in Hawaii. We get our baby and we have a great trip to Hawaii. 

Just for fun I looked up the best kid family friendly hotels in Hawaii since if we did adopt from Hawaii we would most likely be spending several days there possibly with our two very active boys. 

We spent our honeymoon in Hawaii (check hubby and I out on the Road to Hana in Maui) and it is absolutely a beautiful place with so much to see and do.  We spent part of our time on the Big Island which offered so much to see and do. The history of Pearl Harbor was particularly touching.  The rest of our trip was spent relaxing and seeing the sights on Maui. Talk about the beauty of nature.  We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Maui. The pool was incredible with a swim up bar and water slide.  The beds were the most comfortable I've every slept on.  It was very expensivebut Hawaii is pretty expensive all around and the beach as was mentioned is some reviews was very small, beautiful but small.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village was named one of the the Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Hawaii so it would definitely be something to check out if we ended up on that island.

Only down fall is the incredible long plane ride, especially with a newborn.

This is a TravelingMom dedicated post.

Review and Giveaway: Bilibo Shell Toy Brings Creativity to Christmas

One Goodies for Mom reader will win their little one a Bilibo Shell, courtesy of Lou Lou's Corner just in time for the holidays.

Lou Lou's Corner sent us a sample of the Bilibo Shell to try. My favorite two testors, my two boys, were very excited to try this unique shaped toy with unlimited possibilities.

The Bilibo Shell is a Swiss-designed toy that brings out the creativity in your child.  The Bilibo is made from durable, high-density polyethylene. This hard plastic toy held up to my two rough and tumble boys.  You can use it indoor and outdoor, in the sand or snow, the Bilibo shell encourages kids to use their imaginations and use it different ways. Here are just some of the uses my boys found for it: seat, step, cave, parking garage, spinner, to crawl over, hat, and more. They'll have lots of fun figuring out new ways to use this uniquely shaped toy.

They come in one of six bright, fun colors and are designed for ages 1 and up.

About Lou Lou's Corner
Located in the heart of a quaint square in Hickory, North Carolina, Lou Lou's Corner is known as the place for innovative gifts and the stuff childhood is made of. Their shelves are lined with toys, clothing, gifts, and favorite brands like Barefoot Dreams, Appaman, Small Paul, and Zutano. Treat your child (or the child in you) to toys and gadgets from Jellycat, Zolo, Nyokki, and Vilac!

ENTER TO WIN
To win a Bilibo Shell, visit Lou Lou's Corner website, and then leave us a comment telling us what color you like the best. Deadline is Monday, November 9, 2009 at midnight EST. Open to US residents only.

More Chances to Win

Extra entries for:

• Linking to this contest
• Subscribing to our feed, follow us on Twitter or following us with Blogger,
• Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
• Tweeting about this giveaway
• Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know.

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Lansinoh Marks Its 25th Anniversary by Giving Away 25 Gift Baskets

Since 1984, millions of moms have relied on Lansinoh Laboratories, Inc. to help while breastfeeding. To celebrate these 25 years, Lansinoh is giving away 25 gift baskets filled with the products that have supported breastfeeding for a quarter century. Each basket includes the entire line of Lansinoh products, including the Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump, Disposable Nursing Pads, Milk Storage Bags, and award-winning Diaper Rash Ointment.

"Lansinoh has played a crucial role in many moms` successful breastfeeding experiences," says McLaughlin. "When moms` nipples have become sore, dried, or cracked from nursing, Lansinoh`s HPA Lanolin has been there to soothe them. When moms have returned to work after their maternity leave, Lansinoh breast pumps have been there to help them continue to provide their breastmilk to their babies. When their babies have developed diaper rash, Lansinoh`s Diaper RashOintment has been there to help heal and protect their baby`s skin. The list goes on, for every mom who`s breastfed and depended on Lansinoh."

To enter Lansinoh`s gift basket giveaway, moms must write about their most rewarding breastfeeding experience in a comment on ByMomsForMoms.net. Twenty-five winners will be randomly selected from the pool of applicants. Deadline for submission is Nov. 21 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Winners will be announced on ByMomsForMoms.net. Tell them Goodies for Mom sent you :)

[Go to ByMomsForMoms.net to enter now.]

Gro Baby's New Bio Soaker Pads, the Hybrid Diaper Option

Gro Baby, creator of reusable diapers for modern parents, announced last week the debut of the newest addition to their line, Gro Baby Bio Soaker Pads. This is a new essential for parents who treasure convenience but also love the earth. The Gro Baby's Bio Soakers offer mom and dad the ultimate eco -friendly cloth diaper option with the convenience of a disposable.

Unlike other hybrid diapers, Gro Baby's Bio Soaker Pads are specially designed to be composted in commercial composting programs. Gro Baby's Bio Soaker Pads have no petroleum or plastics and a compostable waterproof outer layer made from corn, maintaining Gro Baby's promise to be gentle with the environment.

Gro Baby's Bio Soakers use contoured gussets and leg elastics for a snug fit, while providing soft comfort for baby's skin. The easy to use system sticks securely onto the Gro Baby Shell. No shifting or scrunching means no mess. Just stick a Bio Soaker to a Gro Baby Shell and baby is ready to go. When soiled replace with a fresh Bio Soaker and simply compost or toss dirty Bio Soakers.

"Many parents are intimidated by the idea of cloth diapering," said Kim Ormsby Creator of Gro Baby. "Our Bio Soakers are the perfect solution for modern moms and dads who want to help reduce the environmental impact of babyhood, but also prefer the convenience of disposable diapers."

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