A team of psychologists and graduate students at the New School are running a study about mother-infant attachment. The aim of this study is to learn more about children’s early relationship to their parents and their later psychological adjustment. They are interested in understanding parental care, child temperament, early child-parent communication, emotional bonding, and other factors associated with later adjustment.They are inviting 200 parent-child dyads into the study and will follow the children from early infancy through to age 5.  You can find out more information about the New School University’s Mother-Child Attachment Research Project on their website. It appears that they are seeking expecting mothers and new mothers of 0-4 month olds.

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I met Hilary Waterous, founder of Pride & Joy many months ago at a local park. Pride & Joy is a children’s personal shopping and gift buying service, designed to relieve parents of the stress and time consuming job of shopping for gifts, baby gear and clothing for their children.

“All parents, especially those raising their children in New York City, wish they had more free time,” says Hilary Waterous, founder of Pride & Joy. “We combine our knowledge of the best children’s boutiques in New York and our extensive experience caring and shopping for children, to ensure that busy parents are purchasing the best clothing and gifts, with none of the legwork.”

During her years as a professional nanny in some of Manhattan’s most high-profile and affluent homes, Waterous noticed many busy parents could not devote the time to finding the perfect gifts for the endless baby shower and birthday party invites. “I can’t tell you how much time I save by using Pride & Joy to buy presents for all the birthday parties my kids attend,” says Elissa Federman, a mother of two in Chelsea. “And I get the best compliments on the great gifts she picks out!”

By employing the services of Pride & Joy, parents eliminate the hassle of running from store to store between Little Maestros, naps and play dates. Pride & Joys incorporates the input of parents and children during a free consultation to assess their style and needs. Pride & Joy frequents a range of the best shops from uptown’s Spring Flowers and Bonne Nuit to downtown’s Yoya and Estella. “Pride & Joy always comes back with the clothing I described I wanted for my kids, only better,” says Laura Connolly, a mother of three in Rye. “Not to mention they are from the cutest shops I never would have found on my own.”

Pride & Joy is a children’s personal shopping and gift buying service located in New York’s Upper East Side. Pride & Joy’s services include; children’s clothing, gifts, baby gear consulting, off-season shopping, specialty items and party favors. Their services are available at hourly, day or retainer rates.

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If you have this product - throw it away. If you are using it, stop immediately. A friend and new mother shared the May 29, 2008 post from the FDA informing consumers to neither use nor purchase Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream.  Here is what the FDA said:

The product contains potentially harmful ingredients that may cause respiratory distress or vomiting and diarrhea in infants. The product is promoted to nursing mothers to help soothe and heal dry or cracked nipples. Potentially harmful ingredients in the product are chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol. Chlorphenesin relaxes skeletal muscle and can depress the central nervous system and cause slow or shallow breathing in infants. Phenoxyenthanol, a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and medications, can also depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants. Mothers and caregivers should seek immediate medical attention if their child shows signs and symptoms of decreases in appetite, difficulty in awakening, limpness of extremities or a decrease in an infant’s strength of grip and a change in skin color.

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I recently attended a talk given by Dr. Robert Sears, author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child. He is part of the Sears family and has made vaccines his area of pediatric specialty. What I liked about his presentation is that he spoke from a place of balance, neither overstating nor understanding the importance of vaccines. He gave parents all the latitude necessary to make informed decisions for their child and family. He was clear about what science has learned and where there are shortcomings. In his book, he offers information about each vaccination, children’s risks for each disease and a vaccine schedule that he follows in his practice. A good, comprehensive read if you are searching for information to help you make a vaccination choice.

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The Yahoo Group, Bowery Babes, has taken their concern and curiosity about vaccinations to bring Dr Robert Sears, author of The Vaccine Book, to NYC to discuss his views. They organized a forum at an intimate venue here in the city, small enough that everyone can ask their questions. They have a few seats left. Please see the details below:

Date: Saturday, June 7th, 2008

Time: 4pm to 6pm

Place: Tribeca Screening Room, 375 Greenwich St., Manhattan

Cost: $65, due no later than Friday, May 28th.

RSVP: Immediately to Mayra Vazquez at myraonfyra@mac.com
and we will send you an invoice from PayPal.

Maximum 3 tickets per person.

Please include your: Full Name, Email, Telephone Number, How many tickets do you want?

We look forward to seeing/meeting you very soon!

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I have no idea what prompted me to do a search for Mr Yuk earlier today, but I’m so glad I did. In so doing, I reached way back into my childhood and connected with an icon that was plastered around our house (on the phone and toilet seat for starters). Created in 1971 (by the Pittsburg Poisen Center at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburg), and selected for being the most “loathed” by children in testing, Mr Yuk continues to be the face of danger some 37 years later!!

Mr. Yuk now bears the national, toll-free number to call in a poisoning emergency, 1-800-222-1222. Dialing the number routes the caller to the nearest poison control center anywhere in the United States.

To request a free sheet of Mr. Yuk stickers, send a self-addressed stamped business size envelope to:

Mr. Yuk
Pittsburgh Poison Center
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
3705 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2583

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Whew - this seems like an idea that took too long to be realized, doesn’t it? I have seen the cute little sandbox set at a few retailers around the city and was pleasantly surprised to learn that they are green toys. Green Toys Inc. is the company that makes a product line of toys that is now limited to four items: tea set, indoor gardening kit, sand play set, and cookware and dining set. The packaging of each toys is make up of recycled cardboard and is minimal in design (devoid of plastic, twist ties, and all those other unnecessary add ons). I sincerely hope this is a glimpse of the future of toys.

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Melissa Errico, a dear friend to Swellbeing, has poured her large and generous heart into her latest album, Wildflowers & Lullabies. Melissa has described this project as a series of love songs to her darling daughter. As a mother who is smitten with her daughter, I can wholly appreciate the power of the love behind this kind of expression. If only we all were blessed with such beautiful, perfect voices!

Melissa is a broadway actress, solo artist and founder of Bowery Babes. Bowery Babes is easily the most impressive grassroots mothers group I’ve ever had the privilege to witness. Melissa started this group in her prenatal yoga class. The Bowery Babes, originally 12 members strong, now has four ’sister’ groups/generations and 300 families. This group gets to the heart of women not feeling alone. Women making New York a sweeter place in this sweetest of times. Friendships and a shoulder to cry on, a real mothers support network.

Join me in supporting this great art coming from a pure maternal place. The album is available today at Amazon and would be beautiful background music for your Mother’s Day!

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Jo Frost will be in NYC soon at a Babies R’Us Store near you.  She is the star of ABC’s hit show “Supernanny” and author of Confident Baby Care.

Friday May 9th at 1 pm in Union Square Babies R’ Us

Saturday May 10th at 12:30 in Westbury Babies R’ Us

Saturday May 10th at 4 pm in Staten Island Babies R’ Us Store

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If you’ve been reading this blog or know me at all, then you know I’m a big fan of the Gottman Institute. They have a calendar of couples workshops coming up that are intended for all couples interested in investing in their relationship. This workshop, offered several times in 2008 and 2009, is facilitated by Drs. John and Julie Gottman.

The Art & Science of Love: A Weekend Workshop for Couples

2008 Workshop Dates
June 21-22
September 13-14
December 6-7

What You Will Learn at the Workshop
Drs. John and Julie Gottman have designed this workshop to teach you how to foster romance and harmony in your relationship. At this workshop you will learn:
*How to strengthen your friendship, the foundation of your relationship, by sharing a deeper understanding of each other’s worlds
*Ways to navigate conflict discussions with calm
*Skills to break through and resolve “gridlocked” conflict
*How to manage stressful conversations respectfullyRegistration

If you have questions or wish to register, please call Linda Wright in the Couples Department at (888) 523 - 9042 ext. 1 or visit www.gottman.com.

Research-Based Relationship Tips
1. Seek help early
2. Most couples wait six years - and live with unhappiness far too long - before seeking help with relationship problems.
3. Have high standards
4. The most successful couples are those who, even as newlyweds, address hurtful behavior from one another.
5. Take a break. If an argument gets too heated, take a 20 minute break and approach the topic again when you are both calm.
6. Soften your “start up”
7. Bring up problems gently, without blaming or criticizing your partner.
8. Do small things often. Small, considerate acts add up over time and can make a BIG difference, such as leaving your partner a love note or saying thank you.

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