Archive for December, 2011

Baby shopping simplified

shopping for your baby

As new parents awaiting your baby’s arrival, it can be a very nerve-wracking experience with all the medical aspects and decisions surrounding the birth itself.  That should be all you have to worry about…but it isn’t… now it’s time to hit those mega baby stores and embrace your little bundle of  joy with lots and lots of stuff!

The amount of manufactured products around the whole baby business is so overwhelming, it can make your head spin.  I walked in and out of  a mega-baby product store four times before I bought anything.  The amount of choices alone paralyzed my decision making process.  Add to that  being pregnant with “baby-brain”.  I felt extremely overwhelmed.   Finally on our fourth trip, we bought a bathtub.  My husband had such a headache from the noise and lack of oxygen in those places I promised him we would do the rest online!  Soon,we became masters at finding great baby products online with free shipping!  A simple Google search along with the keyword free shipping will save you time, money and headaches.  There are also many sites that offer free coupons to most if not all baby product companies.

At a very personal and special time in one’s life, it is normal to feel overwhelmed by all this materialism.  As the due date was approaches, you are suddenly thrust into a world of shopping that you probably never new existed.  Sometimes there are certain feelings of guilt in not being overjoyed by the shopping experience.  Fortunately,  you are  not the only one who might feel this way.

Bouncers, Swings, Exer-saucers, activity play mats and on and on.  Here’s an important thing to consider: most of it is outgrown in 6 months and you are on to the next stage (with other stuff).  If you have a very active baby they won’t like to be contained in a lot of it for very long anyway.  We received a swing from our neighbor whose daughter never liked it and never used it.  It cost them $100.00.  Our daughter would enjoy it for about 15 minutes which helped us have a meal together in those early months.

So how do you get through this daunting task of decision-making and trips to the mega baby stores:  Simplify.  Go back to your sense and your choice.  Decide what YOU are going for, instead of what is available or recommended.  Before you purchase a product, think in terms of practicality and efficiency.  Research products online and read customer reviews from a variety of sources. We live in NYC where space is very limited and we knew I would be taking public transportation a lot, so we went for portability and  stealth with a reasonable price.  Almost everything we bought came with free shipping.  We went for subdued or natural colors for the larger items because when you put some much stuff in a small space that is brightly colored it can look very cluttered.  We new our daughter would get color stimulation through her toys and her environment.

If you are practicing attachment parenting, it’s really important to use a baby wearer instead of constantly placing the baby in some inanimate object for most of the day.  There have been many studies that show that their brains develop better with frequent touch.  The constant proximity to your heartbeat, your warm body and the sound of your voice is so soothing and comforting to them.  Our favorite is the Ergo Baby carrier since it distributes the baby’s weight evenly on the parent’s hips and shoulders as opposed to the shoulders only.

So, next time you find yourself lost and confused while shopping for your baby, remember there are sensible alternatives.  It’s a special time in your life that should not be overshadowed by the pressures of mass consumption.

2009 New York Spa Review

Over the last ten years I have worked in a variety of settings including Medical and Day Spas, Yoga studios, Gyms and Chiropractors offices.  This wide and varied experience has given me a very sensitive and shrewd understanding of the spa experience.  I understand what goes on behind the scenes and can spot a shotty establishment pretty quick.  My background and New York State License in Massage Therapy also makes me an extra picky consumer.  Over the next few weeks and months I will be reviewing several New York Spas and sharing my experience for those of you who live in or are visiting the New York City area.

New York City is home to a wide variety of spas with different styles from high end to downtown chic.   The Day Spa phenomena has taken off over the last ten years.  They are seen on every corner now.  New York City is an amazing and stressful place to live and work in.  This creates a never ending need for patrons.  Surprisingly many spa directors and owners (of reputable spas) have not seen a decrease in business since the current economic downturn.  This was also a concern after 9-11 within the spa and alternative health fields but Massage Therapy and other well-being professions have actually seen an increase in business.  Stress is the determining factor and with thanks to organizations like the International Spa Summit and their efforts to promote Spas not as a pampering luxury but as an essential part of well-being.    Recession angst has increased stress level and therefore the need to decompress.  Broadway had a record year in revenue last year and this is largely because of people’s need to retreat into enjoyable pastimes.

These are the criteria I will be using to assess my reviews:

Cost: Depending on session length and other factors  including add-ons such as reflexology, body scrubs etc.

Ambiance: This may include the front desk, changing room, waiting room, and the treatment room.  Observations on lighting, interior design, temperature, music, outside noise levels, comfortable seating, and privacy will be considered.

Customer Service at the front desk: This will be about the management’s graciousness or any lack of it.

Hygiene: The general hygiene of each establishment with emphasis on the treatment room and changing rooms (including bathroom).

Quality of service : Here. the massage therapist’s rapport, communication level, and ability to assess and pay attention to specific issues (i.e. tense neck) will be considered.

Products:  The product used in the session including it’s price and quality.  This may include the scent and effectiveness on the skin (absorption level/lack of absorption).

Overall impression: This will include how I felt the next day and other factors specific to particular spas.

Co-sleeping and making the right decision

Nothing brings up more controversial feelings and debate in parenting than the topic of how we sleep with our baby.  As a friend of mine puts it, “it is the lightening rod topic.”  What I find so incredible about this subject and many things about parenting in general is how invasive people can be when discussing it.  Maybe it stems from some deep-seeded tribal wisdom or consciousness that we are not attached to anymore.  A way of protecting the young.   The amount of advice offered so freely is amazing and can make even the most outspoken person’s head spin!

There have been many great and well informed articles written on the whole topic of co-sleeping and I encourage you to read the experts’ perspective on each side.  Listen and notice how you feel while you are reading their words and make a sensible choice for yourself.  This is important before you disclose your decision to relatives or even close friends so you know how you feel about it.  It is always helpful to have some expert advice backing you up when dealing with others’ opinions on what you should be doing with your child.

Once you give yourself permission to do what you feel is best, be strong in your convictions.  Try to be flexible when you need to be, of course, because  there are no absolutes.  Each family, parent and child are so different.  Remember we are individuals in a collective experience.

Many people like and swear by the Ferber method and other “Cry it out” methods.  I have a friend whose son cried once or twice while she was trying the Ferber Method and since then she simply puts him in his bed and he falls asleep on his own.  Each system must have its own merit otherwise why would they be around and used by so many different people?  A pediatrician I know uses what she calls a “modified” Ferber method in which she uses some of his techniques, but not all.  It seems reasonable to custom tailor a method to fit your and your child’s needs.  It’s a personal choice and should remain so.

In most of the world, however, co-sleeping is the norm.  There are statistics that show how there is very little colic in babies outside the western culture.  Co-sleeping also helps to support prolonged breastfeeding.  The World Health Organization recommends breast-feeding for the first two years of life.  I notice that my baby opens her eyes to see if I am there then falls back asleep.  Babies know instinctively that  they are vulnerable and they must feel safer when we are present.  Feeling safe helps them sleep better, and as a result we sleep better.  When we are pregnant, especially the last month we wake up constantly to go to the bathroom.  Perhaps this is nature’s way of training us to be aware when we are asleep!  This trains us to wake up constantly to tend to our newborn.

Personally, I get better sleep because I know the temperature in the room and I know she is not face down (a position that is not safe) because I can  see her face. I always leave enough light to be able to see her.  We use those lovely salt glow lamps that give off a warming pink glow.  We place it under the bed so it wasn’t too much light.

Some studies, on the other hand, suggest bed sharing puts children at higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome.  An article from the New York Times, lists co-sleeping as the second factor increasing the risk of SIDS after sleeping on the stomach. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns parents not to place their infants to sleep in adult beds, stating that the practice puts babies at risk of suffocation and strangulation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports this statement.  Despite all the claims, however, the data are not conclusive and some researchers say the risk is higher only if parents smoke, drink too much alcohol and fail to take proper precautions to make sure the bed is safe.

This is a highly politicized issue and and each side claims that they are safer.  There is even legislation waiting to be passed banning people from sleeping with their babies.  The purpose of this article is to remind parents to really make the decision for themselves and really listen to and hear what they feel is right.  It is how you, as a parent,  feel most comfortable and safest for your baby.  Read what you need but follow and trust your instincts because you and only you know yourself and your babies needs best.  So, once you’ve heard all  the viewpoints, think it through and tune into yourself and remember “your sense-your choice.”

A special holiday gift- Weekly podcast

If you ‘re in a rush for last minute holiday shopping or have high expectations on what gifts you  may give this year. Here’s a thought,  sometimes a meaningful gesture is worth more than a purchased gift.  Consider offering assistance to your loved ones and friends that are simple and practical, but are highly appreciated.  Your time and consideration are worth a great deal, and will be valued and remembered for a long time.  If you are strapped for cash like many people this year, this  is a less stressful way to celebrate that can deepen bonds between family members instead of always having a monetary attachment to your values!

So instead of rushing to the mall and dipping into your savings to buy the perfect gift, here are some sensible holiday gift ideas that are cost effective and helpful…[...]

Standard Podcast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download