It has just been brought to our attention that some children's face paints contain lead, which is a neurotoxin that can harm the brain at low doses. So, the face is the last place you would want to be applying this stuff ... and certainly not on our children! This info comes from a report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of nonprofit health and environmental groups.
In some of the paints tested, the lab identified the heavy metals nickel, cobalt and chromium, which are skin allergens, even in products labeled "non-toxic" and "hypoallergenic." Since these metals are not listed on product labels, parents shopping for Halloween makeup have no way of knowing which products are safe. The only way to know if a cosmetic product contains lead or other heavy metals is to test the product at a laboratory, which the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics did for their report.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics sent 10 children's face paints to an independent lab to test for heavy metals.
We are extremely happy to announce that the FDA has stepped in and addressed the Smart Choices food labels that have been hitting shelves. A food industry group is voluntarily halting promotion of its "nutrition" labeling program after the FDA suggested that their labeling could mislead consumers. We informed you about this program when it first was introduced, with our grave concerns over this labeling. http://www.ziggityzoom.com/parentsguide/content/smart-choices-food-label...
The Smart Choices program, which includes nine major companies such as Kellogg's, Kraft Foods and General Mills, has been highly critized for handing its green seal to processed foods that are high in sugar, such as Froot Loops and Cracker Jack snack foods.
The FDA is working to define the criteria manufacturers must meet to make certain nutritional claims on product fronts. Stay tuned, we will keep you updated here on ZiggityZoom.com.
The most important thing you can do to fight againt getting the Swine Flu is to teach your family, and all children you come in contact with, proper hand washing. Many kids have already been doing this as a regular part of normal hygiene but there are many who do not, primarily because they haven't been taught or have no good parental example.
I'm sorry to say that I know plenty of adults that don't take the time to do good hand washing, on a regular basis. Yes, they swish a little water onto their hands and that's it. But with proper instruction, we can do something positive about spreading germs this flu season. It's a proven fact that we all touch our faces all during the day ... rub our eyes, scratch our nose, touch our lip. And hand-to-face contact is one of the ways we contract illnesses. Germs can enter the body through breaks in the skin or through membranes of the eyes, mouth and nose.
So ... How should we Teach Children to Wash Hands ?
Wet Hands. Soap Hands. And wash for 10 seconds. You can tell them to count to 20 or say the alphabet to figure out if they have washed long enough.
Rinse Hands well.
Dry Hands well, using a paper towel if one is available.
Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet.
Throw paper towel in trash.
Give kids a good demonstration so they truly understand. Explain that we get colds and coughs from other people, and other kids, when we don't wash our hands thoroughly. Let them know that this is one way that germs get spread.
We are very excited to let you know about a site we just discovered called Healthy Stuff. It's a site that gives you immediate access to research done on Children's products and Toys, including car seats. The site is extremely easy to use and the information is presented in a simple coding system with graphics even a child could understand. It shows which products contain lead, arsenic, cadmium, chlorine, mercury and bromine and to what degree it is present in that product.
At HealthyStuff.org you can search by product, by brand or level of concern, for example, your concern of lead in a product. There's even a spot to "tweet" the results you've found so you can quickly share the info with your contacts and friends.
It is certainly no wonder that so many developmental problems are increasing in children and that cancer is a constant threat. But with this website, we all can benefit by choosing products and toys for our children and grandchildren that we know have the least amount of toxic chemicals. Please be sure to spread this info on to friends and family. HealthyStuff.org
We all worry about what we put into baby's mouth but do we think about what is right next to baby's skin, the clothing and bedding that they are layered in 24 hours a day? Well, we all need to give this serious consideration, as many articles of clothing contain dyes and chemicals that can seep through skin and into the body. Consider how fragile a baby's skin is and I think you will be trying to find clothing and bedding that is "pure" for your baby. We love the organic cotton baby clothes, organic children's clothes, organic bedding, layette and gifts that can be found at Sage Creek Organics. They offer only pure cotton clothing and bedding for infants and toddlers that has been stringently tested. And the designs are as cute as can be!
Sage Creek Organic cotton products go through many steps. From the farmer's field, to the mill where the cotton is processed, to the tailor's room, all the cotton and cotton fabric is tested, and certified to be organically grown and processed by ECO CERT, a well respected and trusted governing body in organics. The standards are so strict that commercial cotton or cotton fabric cannot be transported nor stored in the same building, to avoid cross contamination. The cotton, colors, snaps and zippers are all tested to ensure the absence of contaminants such as nickel, lead, formaldehyde, amines, pesticides and heavy metals.
As parents, we are all responsible for teaching our kids the basics to lead healthy lives. Of course, the best time to start teaching these lessons to our children is when they are very young. Just as toddlers start to mimic your actions and words, even before they have turned two, they are also very aware of the things you eat and the things you do. Primarily, young children are learning about our choices by our example, so it is important to remember to practice what we preach.Your children need to see you making healthy food choices and making time for exercise. Because of the lifestyles of Americans and their love of fast food, children in the United States are gaining too much weight, which is adversely affecting their health. Exercise, in all forms, has been put to the wayside. It is a known fact that weight problems that develop during childhood can lead to serious weight-related illnesses. And this can carry through to adult health problems. So, we need to address these problems now before they get started.What can You Do? When food shopping, read the labels. Choose foods that are low in sugar, low in fat and have few additives. Be aware that even "low-fat" foods may include ingredients such as added sugar. Did you know that fructose and sucrose are other ways of saying 'sugar"? Choose plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season. And try to alternate the fruits and veggies that you serve your family, however, if they have favorites be sure to include them often. Include whole grains in the form of whole wheat bagels (we love the mini ones), wraps and pastas. The operative word here is variety. Emphasizing fruits, veggies and grains will help your children to learn to enjoy these foods and they will continue this trend as they get older.
Considering the recent, widespread concern about High Fructose Corn Syrup, and the reports of it containing mercury, many parents and consumers, in general, have been opting for products that only contain Sugar, a natural sweetener. Even the first lady, Michelle Obama, has chosen not to give her children products containing HFCS.
Sugar is produced from cane or beet sugar. High fructose corn syrup is produced by a complex series of chemical reactions that includes the use of three enzymes and caustic soda. And alarmingly, Mercury has been reported to be found in as much as 50% of commercial HFCS. It has been found in many, many products eaten by children. And with the alarming increase of Autism and developmental disorders, parents should rightfully be concerned.
There has been so much concern since the reports came out about HFCS, that some of the biggest companies in the US food business have begun replacing high fructose corn syrup with old-fashioned sugar. Kraft Foods recently removed the corn sweetener from its salad dressings and is working on removing it from their Lunchables line of meals and snacks.
Obviously, as with all things, Sugar should be used in moderation. We get good sugars from the fruits and vegetables we eat and offering children a good supply of these foods will be a much healthier choice than any processed foods. We, as parents, need to keep these healthy choices on hand. Back to basics is the best policy.
So, choose the safer alternative, Sugar, when buying any packaged foods. Your family will be healthier because of your efforts.
