The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the largest crib recalls in history today, telling consumers to stop using 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-down-side cribs because at least four infants have sadly died in them. Our hearts go out to those families!

There have been at least 110 incidents in the United States and Canada when the drop-down sides of the cribs became detached, which resulted in dozens of babies either becoming entrapped between the side and the crib frame, or falling out of the crib altogether.

The four children known to have died suffocated after becoming entrapped, according to a joint statement from CPSC and Health Canada.

There are approximately 1,213,000 units distributed in the United States, including about 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo, and 968,000 units distributed in Canada. Not all dropdown-side models are being recalled, only those with plastic hardware and a one-hand system to drop the side rail.

Stork Craft has released a toll-free number for consumers to call, or to order a free repair kit: (877) 274-0277.

It is not the first time cribs have been recalled due to dropdown side dangers. Nearly 5 million cribs have been recalled over the past two years and the CPSC has discussed banning dropdown sides all together.

Please read the entire article by Lee Ferran and Lisa Stark on ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/ConsumerNews/massive-crib-recall-anticipated/story?id=9153419

Awhile back, we came across a report about alarmingly high formaldehyde levels found in baby furnishings sold at Target, Wal-Mart, Babies R Us, Sears and plenty of stores within America. Apparently, the Environment California Research & Policy Center found half a dozen out of 21 nursery furnishings it tested emitted formaldehyde (an indoor air pollutant) at levels high enough to trigger allergy and asthma attacks in children. Regulators strictly enforce safety for cribs (space between bars and little pieces), but they NEVER check for formaldehyde!

The brands tested with the highest formaldehyde levels were:

1. Child Craft Oak Crib
2. Bridget 4-in-1 Crib by Delta
3. Kala II Changing Table by Storkcraft
4. Berkeley Changing Table by Jardine Enterprises
5. Country Style Changing Table by South Shore Furniture
6. Rochester Cognac Crib by Storkcraft

Be careful if you own one of these high-emission cribs made of composite wood, especially if you live in a smaller apartment/space because the air contamination level just doubles and guarantees that your child will have asthma. Chronic formaldehyde exposure can also cause cancer in the long term because it is a known human carcinogen.

Recommendations to avoid formaldehyde exposure:

* Ask retailers or manufacturers about formaldehyde emissions of products (furniture, cabinetry, building products) made of composite wood

* Avoid products with components made of fiberboard, particleboard or other composite wood. Look for baby nursery cribs, baby changing tables and nursery dressers made of solid wood, which does not contain formaldehyde

* Maintain moderate temperature and humidity levels and adequate ventilation (fresh outdoor air) within your home and especially in your baby’s nursery

* Have pollution-absorbing plants in your home to reduce formaldehyde levels in indoor air: spider plants (Chlorophytum elatum), Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exalta Bostoniensis), dwarf date palms (Phenix roebelinii), pot mums (Chrysanthemum morifolium) which are beautiful, and peace lilies (Spathiphyllum)

Read the full report from Environment California:
Toxic Baby Furniture: The Latest Case for Making Products Safe from the Start

Download/print the pdf report: Toxic-Baby-Furniture.pdf

We wish you good health and safety for you and your children! You can trust that we will never offer you products that are not safe for your child.

Be prepared to fall in love when you see these amazing designs…

Cielo in Cloud

Also available in Night Time and Moonlight finishes.

Solare in Night Time

Also available in Cloud and Moonlight

Luna 3-in-1 Crib

Awhile back, we added the Q Collection Junior Celestrial Parade 100% Certified Organic Cotton crib bedding collections - made with the highest environmental and health standards, free of all toxic chemicals, in the highest quality material and in design. This crib bedding collection comes in two unique colors and patterns: Roxy for baby girls (soft watermelon pink and cream) and Sky for baby boys (soft sky blue and cream). Comes in a cute package specially wrapped with a matching organic cotton reusable drawstring tote too!

Check them out!

Celestrial Parade Roxy

Celestrial Parade Sky

Here’s a recipe to increase production of breast milk. It is an age-old Chinese secret recipe from my mom, Sophia, that has worked for generations in our family. You can get these inexpensive ingredients from any grocery store; you don’t have to pay top dollar for organic supplements (Although we do recommend organic supplements and natural herbs you don’t need them for this recipe), and it actually tastes good (our friends say it’s delicious). The most important thing is — it works! Our friends are swearing by this now, and we thought we’d share it here.

Note: Please do not republish this recipe in a book, blog, or magazine or any other medium as your own - this is our family recipe and is registered, copyrighted, and protected material. We just wanted to share and help others, so please be nice.
 

Fish Fillet Soup with Peanuts

To increase production of breast milk NATURALLY
 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup peanuts, unsalted (best raw)

1 lb. white fish fillet (bass, trout, halibut) sliced to small strips, marinate with light salt and corn starch

1/3 lb. of pork, sliced to very thin slices, marinated with salt and corn starch to tenderize

1/4 cup small ginger root sliced to small strips

salt to taste

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/2 cup white rice wine (from the Asian aisle)

3-4 cups of water (best filtered)

1 tablespoon cooking oil

Cooking Instructions:

1. Stir fry the peanuts in a wok or large cooking pan until lightly brown, set aside

2. Add oil at medium to high heat and pan sear marinated fish fillet for about 8-10 mins  until it turns white.

3. Add ginger slices and stir fry for 3 minutes.

4. Add 3-4 cups of filtered water and bring to a boil.

5. Add strips of pork to soup and bring to a boil. (or omit if you don’t like pork)

6. Add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and salt to taste, stir

7. Add peanuts, stir

8. Add the white rice wine, stir

9. Bring to a boil and it’s done. 

Makes about 4-6 servings. Share with your husbands!

Visit again for more recipes.

While we’re on the subject of breast feeding, here’s another tip: Every time you start to feed, squeeze a little excess milk from each nipple and wipe with a warm damp tissue. We clean our dishes before serving food, so why feed your baby old smelly milk?

As featured on Access Hollywood!
(April 2009 by Sharon Spaeth)

“Hot mama Nicole Richie is expecting a sibling for little Harlow. And of course, when you’re as style savvy as Nicole it’s never too early to start thinking about designing a beautiful yet practical nursery for your little one… even if you want to be surprised about the gender.

For tips, we went to Design Experts “The MiGi Girls,” Michele Adams and Gia Russo, who have designed six chic and affordable nursery collections (Brooke Shields, Jaime Pressly and Heidi Klum are fans).

“When creating a nursery from scratch, the first thing to consider is your budget and space. Knowing how much you have to spend and exactly how much room you have to work with will save a lot of time in the long run.”

The girls recommend measuring everything including walls, windows, doors and closets and mapping out the dimensions.

“For the furniture, think long term.” Remember, the nursery will likely become a toddler’s room and then a kid’s room.”

The MiGi girls suggest choosing a crib that can be turned into a toddler bed so it can be used for a longer period of time. Also, “you aren’t limited to baby furniture. Consider a dresser that can serve as a changing table with a pad placed on it.”

“When choosing your nursery’s theme, select the focal point that will set the tone for your room and help you pull it together. Consider a fun color palette, a piece of art, an icon or a meaningful keepsake and then design your nursery from that inspiration.”

There are plenty of themes that are gender neutral, including the alphabet (one of MiGi’s collection is alphabet themed and adorable!), animals, and geometric patterns.

For gender-neutral color palettes, the gals love these combinations:

Pale aqua, Spring green and brown with white accents

Pinwheel by Migi

Splash by Migi

Bailey by BananaFish

 
Orange and white with chocolate brown accents

orange birds / orange burst

Yellow, green, brown and white

Moda by BananaFish

Cameron by BananaFish

Multi-colored: green, blue, red, yellow and white” 

SKIP*HOP MOD DOT

Read the original article @ http://www.accesshollywood.com/style/glam-slam-baby-talk_article_16477
 

Glenna Jean Madison Crib Bedding

New!

An instant classic - that is Madison. Madison radiates charm and sophistication with traditional design elements. Surround your precious little one with embroidered dots on taffeta, whimsical cotton toile, soft cream velvet and fuzzy pom pom tassels. Embellished with luxurious satin ribbon bumper ties and corded quilt trim.

Glenna Jean is a family run business for over 25 years and specializes in soft textured fabrics and hand-patched bedding that is truly unsurpassed in quality and design which makes their products well worth the higher price.

The Versailles, Windsor, Columbia, and Richmond 4-in-1 Convertible Cribs

We’d like to tell you a little more about the Atlantic Furniture Convertible Cribs we offer. These cribs are 4 beds in 1! These beds grow with the changing needs of your child; they can be converted from a crib, to a toddler bed, to a day bed, to a full size bed. It’s a great investment and very economical.

Atlantic Furniture prides themselves on using solid Eco-friendly Hardwood. Otherwise known as the Rubber Tree, using these trees is economical and good for the Earth and here’s why:

rubber trees

After 30 years, a decline in latex production has made only tapping rubber trees for their sap uneconomic. The trees are removed by hand and replaced with new seedlings. In the past, felled rubber trees were either burnt on the spot or used as fuel for locomotive engines, brick firing or latex curing. The wood is now used in the manufacture of high-end furniture such as these convertible cribs. It is valued for its dense grain, stability, attractive color and acceptance of different finishes. It is also prized as an “environmentally friendly” wood, since it makes use of trees that have been cut down at the end of their latex-producing life cycle and are always replaced with new seedlings.

The Five Step Finishing Process

Each product in the entire line of convertible cribs and furniture is finished with a high build, five step finishing process. After a thorough sanding, (1) a wipe on sealer is applied. Once dry, a tinted sealer (2) is applied to even the grain and color of the wood. Next, another round of sanding before the first base color coat is applied (3). More sanding and the second base color coat is applied (4). Finally there is a final sanding and the finish coat is applied (5).

This process produces a long lasting and durable finish that will last for years. We’re very happy of the high quality of Atlantic Furniture’s collection of cribs and case goods!