Young Girls, Makeup and the Media: How Not to Raise a Diva on Eco-Child's Play

Have you every seen the show Toddlers and Tiaras (I haven't, but the whole idea makes me sick)? Did you know that there are spas catering to young girls?

This week I wrote a post for Eco-Child's Play called Young Girls, Makeup and the Media: How Not to Raise Diva.

Now I know I am tempting fate. My girls are only 2 and 4, and are showing no diva like characteristics (other than wearing skirts and singing with reckless abandon). I do think this has something to do with how we are choosing to raise them. The article shares some shocking statistics about this generation of girls, and some tips for fighting back against the oversexualization and rampant consumerism they face.

Parents of young, tween and teen girls, how are you handling this issue? What are your tips for taming the barrage of impossible perfection our girls see in the media?

Mercury in Your Town, In Your Fish, and Your Teeth (and what we can do about it)

I've written about mercury in fish, dental sealants, and in high fructose corn syrup here on this blog. It is clear to me that we need better regulations of mercury from the multiple exposures we receive regularly. That's where Earthjustice and hopefully the EPA is stepping up to the plate.

Earthjustice started a Mercury campaign called Cleaning Up Mercury, Protecting Our Health, and they have loads of information on the site that is helpful to all busy parents-- and ways to take action to protect all of us from mercury pollution and the health problems it causes.

You can find out where mercury emitting cement kilns are located in our nation, and read about the health effects on the communities that surround them.

There is a very informative section with an interview from Dr. Jane Hightower, a doctor who authored the book Diagnosis: Mercury, answering common questions about this toxin. Such as:

"Do I Need to Replace Mercury Fillings?

It’s generally not necessary to remove your mercury fillings. The use of mercury-based fillings has declined to about 30% of all fillings in the U.S. Other countries have eliminated their use completely. If you are seeing your dentist for a routine filling, or replacement of old fillings, ask if he or she uses non-mercury based fillings."

She writes also about how the regulation of mercury has been stalled by bad research from manufacturer's scientists. There is alot of money at stake here, and like every other major pollutant, chemical, or toxin, many corporations, industries and lobbies have a lot at stake in this debate. They've successfully muddied the waters and stalled the time table for significant change. And meanwhile, thousands of people are exposed to mercury everyday, from multiple sources. According to Dr.Jane Hightower,

"Wherever mercury has been, there has been an incredible amount of money to be made or lost. Coal fired power plants are currently the largest polluters of mercury today. Other polluters have also weighed in on the issue and lobbied for lax controls, no regulation, and no warning to the people. The fisheries industry has fought long and hard to sell their product despite the mercury content. The FDA has had to sort through flawed research provided by industry funded scientists, and bad data out of a poisoning that occurred in Iraq that set our current standards for mercury in fish. This has resulted in a murky advisory, and little or no testing of the mercury content of the suspect large predatory fish that are in our markets."

What do we do? Thankfully, Earthjustice gives us a way to take action to protect our families from mercury. Linda Jackson at the EPA is committed to regulating mercury emissions, especially in the cement kilns that emit the high levels of this toxic substance into our air and water. Send her an email to support her commitment and to urge her to move forward quickly to protect our children from the dangers of mercury pollution that can "impair a child's ability to walk, talk, read, write and learn. Mercury also interferes with the brain and nervous system and can affect blood pressure, fertility, can cause memory loss and tremors."

Watch the video embedded above to see the cement kilns in the Seattle area and their impacts on local waterways and communities. The site also has a game to learn about which fish contain the most mercury, and recipes that lessen your family's exposure as well.

Thanks to Earthjustice for this valuable information, and for fighting for a healthy environment for all of us.

Breastfeeding Benefits and its Effect on your Baby's (and your) Health

This is a guest post from Rich over at www.trusted-breast-pumps.com. I'm back and will be posting again this week!

Breastfeeding is one of the best things a mother can do for her child. It not only provides your baby with nutrition, but it also helps in building a bond between you and your baby. Research shows that breast milk is best for a babys health and is perfectly suited to protect the baby from illnesses. Babies who are breast-fed are healthier and develop a stronger immune system, making them less prone to hospital admissions and problems such as diarrhea, allergies, and infections, which are more prone in babies who are bottle-fed.

The question most mothers face after giving birth is how long to breast feed their baby. Should it be for a week, a month, for a year or more? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should be breast fed for at least a year after birth. However, this is not a realistic goal for most mothers, especially if they have to work or stay away from home for a longer period of time. Products like Medela style breast pumps can help nursing mothers store milk to feed their baby. This can be extremely useful for working mothers who want to provide the best nutrition to their baby. Here are some of the benefits provided by breast milk.

Protection against illnesses
Breast milk is not only highly nutritious, but it also contains disease fighting substances which help the baby build a strong immune system. In addition to containing nutrients, vitamins and minerals, it contains antibodies which are not present in formula milk. During the last months of pregnancy and the first few days after birth, colostrum is produced by the mothers breasts which is different from milk. It is a clear golden – yellow coloured fluid which is thick and sticky and contains a highly concentrated form of antibodies. It contains low fat content and is high in carbohydrates and proteins, making it easy for the new born to digest it. Its thick concentration provides more nutrition to the baby, as compared to natural milk. Colostrum also contains a natural laxative, which helps the baby to pass early stools, keeping the baby’s digestive tract clear and healthy. The antibodies present in colostrum also help prevent jaundice in babies after birth.

Breastfeeding in the early days after child birth not only reduces gastrointestinal problems, but it also helps in preventing respiratory problems and ear infections. This is possible due to the immune factors present in colostrum which form a protective layer on the baby’s mucous membranes in the intestines, nose and throat, guarding the baby against invading germs. It is essential that mothers should start nursing their baby right after birth to provide the baby with all these health benefits.

Exclusive breastfeeding should be continued for at least six months after birth, which means no other solid food should be given to the baby. Breastfeeding for six or more months helps the baby build a strong immune system, making it less likely that the baby will suffer from allergies. The first six months of breast feeding can protect the childs respiratory system against respiratory allergies till adolescence. Other studies show that if a child is breast fed for the first 4 months, it significantly reduces the child to develop asthma by the age of 6.

Boosts your child’s intelligence
Studies have shown that babies who are breast fed for at least the first 6 months after child birth have higher IQs. Although the exact reason for this is unknown, some experts say that it could be due to the emotional bonding between the mother and the child which develops during breastfeeding, while other experts think it could be due to the specific fatty acids present in breast milk which help in the development of the baby’s brain.

Protects against obesity and diabetes
Breastfeeding is also known to reduce the chances of a child becoming obese in the later years of life. Babies who are breast fed develop healthier eating patterns as they grow, enabling them to regulate their fat intake. Moreover, breast milk contains less insulin as compared to formula milk, which protects the baby from developing type 1 diabetes at a later stage in life. Breastfeeding is also known to reduce the chances of childhood cancers and leukemia in children.

There are many more benefits of breastfeeding, which are not only useful for your baby, but they can help you in your life later on. This is why breastfeeding should be an important health choice which mothers have to choose for their babies. By breastfeeding, you not only spend time with your baby, but you are able to build a bond between you and your baby, making it an enjoyable experience. Every mother should take this opportunity to succeed and take the best decision for herself and her baby.

(It's Katy again. For small perecentage of women, breast feeding doesn't work physically, and there should be no guilt involved. We know breastfeeding is best for baby and mother, but everyone faces a unique set of issues in new motherhood. I also think it is realistic for most women to set a goal of one year for breastfeeding if they have a supportive family and work environment.)
image: 1 week old and breast-feeding perfected by ocadotony on Flickr.