TIP: (The dreaded) Nut Allergy and PTPA Winner I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter

April 7, 2011 in Advice, Feeding/Eating, Health and Safety, Products/Supplies, PTPA | No comments

So unfortunately we’ve joined the “KEEP PEANUTS AWAY FROM MY CHILD!” club. We made this discovery a few weeks after Leah turned 1 year old.  I knew that the books recommended waiting until after the age of 1 to introduce peanuts so a few weeks after Leah’s first birthday, I thought it would be okay to let her taste my peanut butter toast when she showed interest in it one morning. She touched the peanut butter and tasted it, but didn’t seem to particularly like it. Before I could wash her hands, she got some on her face and started rubbing her eyes. Her eyes got red and swollen and then she developed hives on her face. She started scratching her body and hives appeared on her arms. Thankfully she didn’t seem to have any problems breathing, she was just whining from the itchiness. I gave her a dose of Children’s Benadryl (thank you First Aid course!) to delay and minimize the symptoms and we gave her a quick bath to remove all traces of the peanut butter. The hives subsided and the swelling went down. Leah was still a bit irritable but after speaking to a pediatrician friend, I felt it wasn’t necessary to take her to emergency.

In retrospect, this wasn’t Leah’s first allergic reaction to peanuts but it was definitely the most severe and traceable. I suspect she had her first allergic reaction at 6 months old when she was exposed to peanut butter cookies from a playdate with a mommy friend and her toddler. Leah was crawling at the time and though she didn’t eat any of the cookies, she seemed to show mild allergy symptoms (itchy eyes and skin rash) after the visit. We washed the playmats and vacuumed the house thoroughly and the symptoms didn’t return. The second allergic reaction which was more severe, occurred when Leah was at a playdate at the park with another mommy friend and her child. Her daughter was eating peanut butter on bread but Leah didn’t have any. After playing on a picnic blanket together, Leah experienced a significant eczema flare up. She couldn’t (and wouldn’t) stop scratching her arms and legs and was incredibly irritable and cranky. After the third allergic reaction at 1 year old, I realized that the other two incidents should have clued me into Leah’s sensitivity to peanuts. Upon speaking to my pediatrician friend, I also learned that I should have delayed introducing peanut butter since she had eczema (making her more susceptible to other allergies and sensitivities). Darn.

When Leah had her next doctor’s appointment, we told the Doctor about her allergic reaction to eating peanut butter and we asked him if she should take an allergy test or get an epi-pen. Surprisingly, he advised against both. He said that since Leah reacted within 5 minutes of eating the peanut butter, her reaction would be categorized as severe and he wouldn’t recommend that she eat peanut butter regardless of the allergy test. Since the test is unpleasant to go through, there’s really no point in subjecting Leah to it to confirm what is pretty obvious. With the epi-pen, he said that as long as we had access to EMS services, he felt that the risk of potentially using the pen incorrectly was significant enough that he would recommend against it. Instead, he suggested that we keep Benadryl close at hand to help in the case of another reaction.

Now that Leah is eating more table food and dining out more often, we really do have to be quite vigilant about what she is eating and exposed to. We removed all traces of peanut butter from our home (I was so sad) and we had to avoid eating at Thai restaurants when Leah was with us. Thankfully (?), peanut allergies are so common nowadays that most restaurants, schools and theme parks are peanut-free. Even more amazing is the number of great peanut butter substitutes available like PTPA winner I.M. Health SoyNut Butter. I was so happy to receive this in the mail and was really looking forward to Leah finally being able to enjoy something like peanut butter. At that time we were really struggling to come up with ideas for what to feed her for breakfast so it was perfect timing. It’s easy to spread, tastes great, is totally healthy and the best thing is, we can all enjoy it without worrying about about Leah having a reaction. With the frequency of nut allergies out there these days, I totally recommend it to all parents, regardless of whether or not your child has a nut allergy.

Learn more about this PTPA Winner here.

Visit the product website here.

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TIP: Mommy Self-Image

March 13, 2011 in Breastfeeding, Confession, Fashionable or Frumpy, Mommy Maintenance, Postpartum, Pregnancy | 2 comments

Photo credit: Tim Chin Photography (www.timchin.com)

The journey of being a new mom has really challenged my sense of self-image. To say it has been a roller-coaster would be an understatement. When I was pregnant, I really enjoyed my new body. Physically, I felt great most of the time and mentally, I found it liberating to dismiss my insecurities about not being skinny enough and instead, to celebrate my growing belly. I actually found that I had more wardrobe options with my baby belly (I could now wear items that fit more snugly around the tummy area) and had fun adapting my clothes to my new new shape. It helped that I often received compliments on how I looked from my friends and co-workers which boosted my self-esteem. My positive self-image reached its peak when I gave birth to Leah naturally like I had hoped and planned. I was in such awe of what my God-given body could accomplish and the miracle that was created in my womb. But once that high passed, the roller-coaster started its steep descent.

The first blow to my self-image was the soreness and pain I felt “down below”. Every time I sat up to breastfeed or walked over to the bathroom to pee, I felt like I would never be the same down there (don’t even talk to me about sex!). Not only that, I quickly realized that I  wasn’t just dealing with an issue of comfort but also control! I was shocked to find that I had trouble controlling my pee which was both distressing and embarrassing. My boobs were painfully engorged, my nipples were sore and incredibly sensitive and the whole breastfeeding thing, while amazing, was hard to mentally adjust to.

Next, postpartum PUPPPS brought on massive hives all over my legs, belly and arms that could not be controlled despite my best efforts. This angry, red rash was unbelievably itchy and my relentless scratching resulted in bleeding, scabs, and awful stretch marks. Oh yeah, the stretch marks! Now that my belly was gone, I could see my stretch marks clearly and what a sight they were. I was prepared to throw out all my bikinis and secretly wondered if I would ever hit the beach again.

In terms of losing my belly bump (belly flab), it was a very long process… year long to be exact. While I knew that it wouldn’t happen right away, I still felt so frustrated when I found myself wearing maternity pants for many months after Leah was born (they really should call them maternity AND postpartum clothes)! Yoga pants, sweatshirts and hoodies were my wardrobe staples. I thought that the breastfeeding would help things but I wasn’t seeing the results that I had hoped for. I was even more frustrated with myself when I saw the mommies in my Mommy Group shedding the pounds and back to their normal wardrobe far quicker than I was.

A good mommy friend of mine warned me not to try on my pre-maternity jeans before Leah turned one, but I ignored her good advice and tried to stuff myself into them. At the six month mark, they weren’t even close to fitting, and at the eight month mark, still no luck. Another major beating to my self esteem. I knew I had to do something to help me feel better about myself and I couldn’t find the time to go to yoga class with Leah exclusively breastfeeding. I decided to finally invest in a few pairs of regular pants that fit my new body instead of waiting for my body magically return to its pre-pregnancy state.

Before returning to work, I also decided to start wearing my contacts more often and to spend a bit of time on myself in terms of putting on makeup and refreshing my work wardrobe. By accepting the reality that my body had changed and embracing my new shape, I finally found some peace and happiness in my new look. The extra effort seemed to pay off and with every comment and compliment (I treasured each one immensely), my positive sense of self slowly started to return. Now don’t get me wrong, I know that my identity is a whole lot more than just how I look physically, but I have to confess that the journey of my physical body from pregnancy to postpartum also made a significant impression on my mental sense of self. Being a parent ushers you into many new experiences, a new understanding of yourself, and taking stock of your physical self is a natural part of that process.

I think my positive self-image finally came full circle when I stopped breastfeeding. Leah was 1.5 years old and we were finally able to wean her to my great relief. As much as I loved breastfeeding and spending that quiet time with her, I was relieved to have my body back. I have to admit, I’ll never think of my boobs the same way again, but at least for now, I don’t have to share them with anybody else. Clayton, stay away, these girls are mine! :)

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TIP: Valentine’s Day Ideas for New Parents

February 10, 2011 in Advice, Managing Relationships, Mommy Maintenance | No comments

1. Spend time with your partner - Even if you’re in the first year of parenthood and still adjusting to the craziness of it all, make the time for your spouse. You can find a babysitter and go for a nice dinner together, order your favourite take-out to enjoy at home by candlelight or indulge in your favourite dessert together in bed once the baby is fast asleep. Spending that time as a couple will re-invigorate your relationship and give yourself some well-deserved pampering.

2. Make V-day special for your child - Though Valentine’s Day is traditionally about romance, change it up and make it about loving your child. I remember when my parents surprised my sister and I with potted flowers for Valentine’s day. I felt so loved! :) Spend some quality time as a family making homemade Valentine cards or baking heart cookies to make the holiday special for the little one too.

3) Re-think the gift- Instead of the usual roses and chocolates for her and socks and underwear for him, consider giving her a spa day and giving him a custom photo mosaic mug of his new baby. Perhaps throw in a gift card to his favourite overpriced coffee shop to help keep him awake at work after those late nights.

Whatever you do, make a point to make the day special for your family and start some family traditions of your own!

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TIP: Raising an avid reader…

January 30, 2011 in Advice, Learning and Education | 1 comment

Family Literacy Day in Canada was this past week so I wanted to celebrate by sharing some tips for raising a reader. As a self-proclaimed bookworm, it was very natural for me to share my love of reading with my daughter Leah. Here are some tips for raising your own avid reader!

Leah with her favourite ABC board book at 6 months

1) Start early - You can start exposing your child to books before they can actually hold them or read them. The pictures are great visual stimuli and reading books aloud gives your infant the chance to hear your voice, learn words and familiarize him/herself with sounds. When Leah was a newborn, I placed books by her change table so she could look at the pictures while she was getting her diaper changed. Early on before Leah could even hold her head up on her own, Clayton and I started the tradition of family storytime before bed, with one of us holding the book and the other, the baby. When her fine motor skills improved, we gave her lift-the-flap books (which she loved!) and board books with interesting textures (check out her page turning video here).

Before long, Leah became a pro page turner, often turning the page before we could finish reading them. When playing, she would pick up books on her own to “read”. Now one of her favourite things to do is sit in our lap while we read a book with her.

Leah playing with a lift-the-flap book at 8 months

2) Build a library – Take the time to build up your child’s personal library.  Funny enough, Clayton once made the mistake of saying “I think we have enough books…” and I quickly set him straight. My rule is, you can NEVER have enough books! :) You don’t have to spend a lot of money to build up your library. Check out sites like Kijiji and Craigslist to purchase hand me down books (I scored an amazing box of Dr. Seuss and Bernstein Bears books for just $20, in perfect condition!). The clearance section of Winners (and popular bookstores too) often have great finds for just a few dollars. These clearance books might not be in pristine condition, but I figure since Leah will probably destroy them anyway, it doesn’t really matter! Warehouse sales are excellent too such as the Samko Miko Toy Warehouse (brand new books for just a few bucks, great book sets for amazing prices). Lending books from the library or book swapping with other moms is another low cost option that will help your personal library stay fresh. Need more ideas? Click here for a list of Top 100 Children’s Books from Today’s Parent.

Leah reading a cloth book with a friend

In terms of the type of books you should invest in, here are some of my suggestions. In the first three months, you can read any book to your child but I suggest something not too long (short attention span at this age) with vibrant colours or black and white patterns. From three to six months, I suggest ABC board books and fabric books like Happy Duck that your baby can safely play with and even chew on. Finger puppet books are great fun too! When the fine-motor skills start to develop, add on lift-the-flap book and textured books that your child can interact with. Include some story-telling board books and even some vocabulary or word books to start teaching your child the names of objects. I find that Leah always loved small (miniature sized) books because she could handle them so much more easily. Plus, they’re the perfect size to bring along in the diaper bag for outings.

Leah picking her favourite book at 15 months

3) Involve the whole family… and friends too!

At first it took some encouragement to get Clayton to read with Leah, but once he experienced her plopping her down in his lap with a book in hand, he was hooked. Reading with your child is such a meaningful bonding experience and one that will stay with your child forever. Encourage friends and family visitors  to spend some time reading to your child so the message is reinforced in your home.

4) Enrich the reading experience – When you’re reading to your child don’t feel you have to stick to the script. Take the time to point out interesting illustrations or to ask your child questions about the story. I would ask Leah “where is the flower?” or “where is the fish?” to teach her what these words meant. In fact, wording questions in the right way you can improve your child’s thinking skills. Participate in reading programs at your local library or Early Years Center so your child can experience fun games and activities that involve reading and literacy.

Whatever you do, have fun and enjoy the process… learning is contagious!

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TIP: Watch out for “mompetition”

January 23, 2011 in Advice, Pregnancy | 1 comment

Does your baby measure up?

One of the first things I noticed as a new mom is the atmosphere of competition that often exists among parents. It begins a few innocent comments on the size of your baby bump compared to other moms (bigger/smaller/pointier/rounder…), turns into comparing the size/weight/length of your baby, and eventually becomes endless questions on when your baby first sat up/crawled/walked/talked. It doesn’t help that we’re inundated with information on what to “expect” at different stages of baby development in books, parenting magazines, and on the Internet. How can we help but check our child’s progress against these sources and compare his/her progress with the other children we know?

I think the key thing to remember, is that these guidelines are meant to do just that– guide you. They are not meant to dictate how every child will progress. If you chose to read or refer to these guidelines, do so with caution so that you don’t become obsessed with comparing your child (and other children) against them. More than anything else in this journey of parenting I have learned that each child is unique and each family different. As such, I have no right to judge any other parent out there, nor their decision about how they chose to raise their child.

Similarly, if you chose to take a certain approach in raising your child, please don’t impose it on other parents or assume that it is the best approach for all families. Our circumstances as parents are unique, like our children, and you really should not compare one family (or child) to another. To prevent an atmosphere of competition from developing among my mommy friends, I really try to be open, accepting and supportive of other moms instead of critical and judgmental. I’ve realized that we should spend more time talking about the areas of parenting that we struggle with, rather than just bragging about our child’s accomplishments. Though important milestones should be celebrated, it’s important to recognize that sharing these can easily cause other parents to become anxious about their own child’s progress and feel like they’re not succeeding as a parent. On the other hand, sharing our struggles helps everyone! Sharing our burdens can help to lighten our load while helping others who are also struggling to realize that they are not alone. Plus, it breaks down the atmosphere of mompetition, replacing it with one of empathy and mutual support.

There’s a great video on this idea of mompetiton, if you haven’t seen it already you HAVE to watch it…check it out here: “Why I Can’t Make Mom Friends”. And if you notice that you’re starting to sound like either of those moms… let it be a warning to you to cool down the mommy-competition! ;)

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BabyHawk Mei Tei… “Mei” New Favourite Baby Carrier!

November 10, 2010 in Products/Supplies, PTPA | No comments

When I look back to my previous post on Baby Wearing, I see that there is one glaring omission–I never reviewed a “mei tei” carrier. This is a Chinese-inspired baby carrier which can directly translated into “carrying strap”. Thankfully, through my affiliation with Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA Media), I had the opportunity to evaluate the award winning BabyHawk mei tei carrier, and boy, am I glad that I did!

When I received the baby carrier in the mail, I was instantly impressed with the beautiful aesthetic of the carrier. With cherry-coloured straps and a sparkly print design, I was excited to know that I would be carrying Leah in style. It’s solid construction and high-quality fabric makes it feel reliable, sturdy and strong. With wide, padded straps and an all-important waist strap I could tell it would easy handle a weighty toddler while still keeping the wearer comfortable. An added benefit of the BabyHawk mei tei is that it is reversible, so those self-conscious spouses can wear it backwards for a simpler non-feminine look.

My friend Andrea with her husband, and her son Cole in the BabyHawk

Unlike some of the other carriers I had tried, it didn’t take an instruction manual or even a video to get started with this carrier.  Using the Baby Hawk mei tei carrier is incredibly intuitive and easy. Funny story–when I opened up the package, my mother-in-law took one look at it and immediately knew how to put it on. Instantly recognizing it as  “mei tei” carrier that she had used with her own kids, she tied a few knots and had it on before I could even open up the instruction booklet. When it was my turn, I realized it was just simple and easy as she made it look.

Now that Leah is 14 months old and an active walking toddler, I was a bit reluctant to trap her active and spirited personality in a carrier. The amazing thing is that as soon as I bundled her into the BabyHawk, she settled in and loved every moment. In the past, she disliked inward facing positions when I put her in other carriers and insisted on being able to look outwards at the world around her. But with the design of the BabyHawk, she could easily take in the sights around her and handled the inward facing position with no complaints. We even tried the back carry and after she had a chance to adjust to this new position, she seemed to really enjoy it too.

In terms of portability, the BabyHawk strikes a nice balance between the larger carriers out there and the smaller, compact sling. Even though takes up a bit more space in the diaper bag, with a few strategic folds the straps tuck in nicely and the carrier wraps right up. I also didn’t try the BabyHawk with a newborn but the structure of the carrier and the built in headrest assures me that it would be ideal for even the early months. Perhaps I’ll have a chance to try it in a few years :) For now, the BabyHawk mei tei is “mei” new favourite baby carrier!

To learn more about this PTPA winner, check out this link.

To learn more about BabyHawk baby carriers, check out this link.

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Teething, teethers and the Nuby Softees

November 4, 2010 in Advice, Breastfeeding, Feeding/Eating, Health and Safety, Postpartum, PTPA | 2 comments

Teething is one of the inevitable challenges of parenthood. Every child will experience it at different times and stages, but rarely (never…?) will a child skip it entirely.  One of the babies in my mommy group got all 8 of his teeth in the first few months of his life and another baby I know didn’t have any teeth at the age of 1. All babies are different but at some point that cranky, whinny, I-wanna-bite-chew-and-gnaw-on-everything-in-sight phase will come.

One of the interesting (but tough) things about teething is that the most uncomfortable phase of teething is actually BEFORE the teeth break through the gums. When the teeth are actually visible, the most painful period has likely already passed. This means that when your child is irritable, cranky and waking up from sleep unexpectedly, you won’t be able to immediately diagnose why. Just like many other elements of parenting, you’ll be scratching your head trying to figure out “why”? You may be able to narrow down the source of the fussy child to teething if you also notice excessive drooling, a low-grade fever, changes in eating habits and an incessant need to chew on anything and everything in sight (fingers, toys, books etc.). Alternatively, you may happen to have a child that doesn’t seem to notice teething much at all… lucky you!

Leah endured teething moderately well.  She did have some moments of difficulty but like I mentioned, it was often hard to know whether emerging teeth was actually the cause. By the time her teeth came through, I was happy that she was back to her normal self and didn’t concern myself with re-visiting the past. Besides, I usually had something new to tackle by then like Leah biting me during breastfeeding!

To help you with the teething process you can buy a teether, or two! Some are filled with fluid that you can chill to give your child relief, and others are in the shape of a pacifier. There are ring-shaped toy teethers  but one of my favourites is the Nuby Softees Super Soft Teether. This PTPA winner is a high quality teether with a really great texture to massage gums matched with a shape that is easy to hold for babies. As a bonus, it comes with a case so you keep it clean between uses and easily throw it into your diaper bag to take it out with you. Though Leah seemed to like chewing on books just as much as chewing on teethers, she did show a bit more interest in the Nuby teethers more than others.

Nuby Softees teethers are designed to soothe and comfort your baby when they start to cut their first teeth. The hard and soft textures massage and assist erupting teeth to bring comfort and relief to your baby. Nuby Softees? super soft 100% silicone teethers are ideal for middle teeth teething. The different textures provide relief for baby’s sore gums. The Softees super soft rattle teethers are ideal for back teeth teething. The different textures massage and soothe in the final stages of teething.


To learn more about this PTPA Winner, click here.

Check out the Nuby website here.

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Product Review: I’M OK! Mini First Aid Set

October 27, 2010 in Health and Safety, Products/Supplies, PTPA | No comments

Once Leah started walking around on her own, I realized I should stock up on some first aid supplies for minor falls and tumbles. When I received the I’M OK!® mini first aid set, I knew right away that  it was perfect for just that. As soon as I opened the package, I giggled in delight! :) It was obvious that the product creators had put thought and care into designing a product that would make kids feel “OK” after an injury…and parents too! The theme that I received was Pink Princess, so appropriate for my baby (princess) Leah.

The I’M OK! set includes:

  • Patented pocket case
  • Emergency info card
  • I’M OK! cold pack
  • 24 I’M OK! bandages
  • 6 non-sting antiseptic swabs

Now you’ve probably already learned how much I love being prepared, and this kit might seem quite minimal, but I actually love that it contains just the basics. It’s really ideal for when you’re on the road since injuries at home can easily be taken care of with the at-home medical supplies. Plus, my diaper bag is already stuffed with the day to day essentials (diapers, wipes, change of clothes, sippy cup, diaper cream, snacks, sling, etc….) so I really don’t want to carry a full first aid kit with me anyhow. I particularly love how there’s a little carrying case so that the bandages and swabs don’t get lost or crumpled in the diaper bag. So brilliant! With my little Leah tottering everywhere these days, little bumps and bruises are inevitable and the little ice pack is just the thing. It’s also convenient to keep snacks cool, like yogurt or a sippy cup of milk.

All in all, it’s a cute, useful and convenient product to use. Did I mention it’s so cute!? :)

Learn more about this PTPA winner here.

Check out the I’M OK website here.

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New PTPA Website is Live!

October 21, 2010 in PTPA | No comments

Hi all,

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I’ve been getting used to a new pace of life now that I’m back at work! The days seem to fly by now and I seem to have hardly enough time to do anything, let alone post. I have however, been really enjoying my spot on the PTPA Panel of Moms, now called the PTPA Blogoholics! If you haven’t already seen their new blog site, check it out here.

The main PTPA site is also redesigned, check it out here.

If you want to get some free products to try out, sign up as a product tester and keep an eye/ear out for new opportunities.

New posts coming soon!

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TIP: Timing of meals, milk and snacks

September 22, 2010 in Advice, Breastfeeding, Feeding/Eating, Health and Safety, Postpartum | No comments

I’ve had my fair share of challenges with Leah and her eating. She’s just not one of those babies that attack food with her mouth wide open. I suppose I should be thankful that her sleeping habits are quite good (aside from the occasional 5AM wake up mornings that I can’t seem to fix), but I would love for both her sleeping and eating to be great. Is that too much to ask? Apparently not, because in this past week her eating habits have taken a huge turn for the better! Yep, with only a few minor changes, Leah has become a mouth-wide-open eater and I am so incredibly thankful. Here’s how it happened.

After attending a Sleep Workshop with Nanny Robina, I started to think more about the timing of Leah’s meals. I had been feeding her at approximately 8am (breakfast), 12pm (lunch), 3pm (snack) and 6pm (dinner). Nanny Robina’s schedule had the mealtimes at 7am (breakfast), 11am (lunch), 2:30pm or 3pm (snack), 6pm (dinner). I started asking my other mommy friends what they had been doing and in doing so, learned this gem of a tip:

“Kids should be fed with at least 3-4 hours of time in between.  This includes milk, snacks, main meals, etc. 

The only thing kids should have in between those times is water.”

When I heard this I was like, NO WAY, are you kidding? Leah eats so little during her meals, if I can sneak a little milk (in a sippy cup) or a few Nutrios, crackers, Kamut puffs or rice cakes in there, I’m all over it (especially with the milk since I had weaned her from a few breastfeeding sessions). But in doing so, I was satiating her appetite and she wasn’t truly hungry when it was time for her meals. Breakthrough!

In the days that followed, I stopped giving her milk or any snacks between her mealtimes, only water. What a difference this made. All the sudden Leah was eating her food with her mouth wide open and actually screaming for more food! It also meant her lunchtime was falling earlier in the day (closer to 10:45am or 11am) and she was eating a substantial amount during her snack times (half an avocado most days and on this one occasion, a WHOLE avocado!). It made so much sense to me after I started doing it, and started to remember a few particularly BAD mealtime incidents and could map them back to too many pre-meal snacks/Mum Mums at the mall or on the road. It all makes sense! Once she started eating better, I felt less worried about supplementing her diet with extra milk or snacks.

Some disclaimers: During this past week, the feeding responsibility also started to switch over to my mother-in-law as I slowly started to transition back to work, but I would have expected her eating habits to worsen, not improve. I have also been slowly weaning Leah from the breast which may have made a greater impact in her improved appetite.

Regardless, I think this has been a huge breakthrough in my understanding of feeding babies and hopefully these good eating habits will continue throughout her childhood. Good luck to other moms out there!

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