Plum Organics is recalling its apple- and carrot-flavored baby food for fear of botulism poisoning. The California-based company announced the recall Tuesday morning, saying the product did not meet FDA requirements.

Botulism is a rare, serious paralytic illness. So far, no illnesses have been reported.

The baby food is sold in Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores. The recalled product is 4.22-ounce pouches, with a “best by” date of May 21, 2010. The UPC is 890180001221.

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Chase and Yakini enjoying The Baby Show in Manhattan

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending The Baby Show NYC.  It was an awesome experience!  At nine months Chase is becoming more mobile and curious by the day, and I’m constantly thinking about fun and creative ways to keep him stimulated (and safe!) in our home. The Baby Show showcased many wonderful products and services that were perfect for my husband and I as we transition into parents to a tot.

I just knew the show would be a high-energy, family-friendly good time, so I brought Chase along to enjoy the event with me.  There were so many great exhibits we spent hours just walking slowly throughout the showroom and making sure I’d met and mingled with each representative.  It was so cool to check out the top “must-have” baby products and services, from test-driving top of the line strollers to receiving a personalized lesson from Christine Poppy of MAM Baby about tooth and gum care for Chase as his little teeth come in.  The icing on the cake was receiving a cute training toothbrush for Chase in azure blue along with the new MAM Anti-Colic Bottle!

There were free seminars throughout the day given by leading baby experts – my favorite presentation was Green Baby 101 by Inhabitots.  My husband and I strive to raise Chase in the most natural and eco-friendly way possible, so this was right up our alley!  I was also super excited to receive a brochure from Sarah Merian Photography, as we’ve been on the hunt for a good studio to take Chase’s one year portraits when the time comes.  I spent some time browsing through their portfolio – their work is simply gorgeous!  Oh, and just for signing up to be on their mailing list I received a $100 voucher toward our first photo session – how cool is that!

One of my favorite tables to visit were the great ladies of Moms Like Me.  I was so impressed with their warm reception and presentation I immediately signed up to become a part of their online community.  They even had a giveaway bag filled with their press kit and other wonderful baby/mommy items- and who doesn’t love free goodies?

Claudia Heilbrunn is a Certified Life Coach (CTA) for new moms – she had such a sweet, kind energy.  She was so comfortable and easy to talk to, we spent a while just chatting about her mission and how she helps women find a fulfilled, balanced and vibrant life with their new baby.  Boy, do I wish I’d had Claudia when Chase was a newborn.  With my mom and aunts out of state it would have been really wonderful to have the support of a new mommy life coach – I didn’t even know such a thing existed!

I think it’s safe to say that Chase’s favorite part of the day was when we visited the Kids’ Korner, sponsored by NYC Citibabes.  This fun play area showcased games, activities and songs from their Power Baby programs, which is a series of physical play classes for infants.

I spent some time chatting with Lisa, a teacher at NYC Citibabes, and she explained to me that each level of Power Baby promotes strength and confidence through developmentally appropriate motor play, music, dance and social bonding.

Chase had a grand old time singing and playing with Lisa and also doing some baby yoga, bouncing, rolling, and rocking on his new friend, Mr. Elephant.  He was sad when it was time to leave. However, I made sure to take a brochure from the Citibabes table- I definitely plan to enroll Chase and I in a Mommy and Me class there – and I”ll be using the coupon I received for one free session!

The Baby Show NYC was truly a celebration of all things baby!  It was an exciting, fun-filled event that I’m so glad to say I was a part of.  This event was created in response to New York parents in our search for the best products and practices for our babies and young toddlers – and I must say the showcase far exceeded my expectations.  I can’t wait until The Baby Show 2010.

Dr. Yakini Etheridge is a clinical psychologist and mom blogger living in NYC.  She loves being a wife and mother to a boisterous baby boy, and blogs about her experiences as a new mom at The Prissy Mommy Chronicles.

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As your child’s first teacher, you play a vital role in their education.  It’s important for you to create connections from your home to your child’s school, and to consider yourself a partner in your child’s academic success.

Schools recognize this and they want to support your involvement.  Here are 5 ways you can help:

1.   Reach Out to the Teacher

Ask your child’s teacher how you can participate in the classroom.  For example, the teacher might want you to help tutor other students or volunteer for classroom activities.

2.  Keep the Teacher Updated

Communicate with your child’s teacher or other school staff throughout the year, not just during parent-teacher conferences.  Call the teacher directly, write, send email or meet with the teacher and school staff about any concerns you have and about what your child does well.

3.  Check in on Homework

Review your child’s homework and discuss it with him to make sure he understands the assignment.  This will better prepare you to discuss any concerns or questions you have with the teacher.

4.  Volunteer at School

Serve as a volunteer on a local school advisory or decision-making committee, like the PTA.  This also provides a great opportunity to meet other parents.

5.  Understand Your Child’s Abilities

It’s important to recognize how your child learns.  Ask the school counselor for ways to identify your child’s special talents or any challenges they may have.

When parents are seen as supporters of their child’s school and classroom, the quality of the learning environment becomes a shared responsibility and a source of pride for everyone.

Watch this video from Illinois Parent Information Resource Center, or visit their website to learn more.

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Perfectly sized with a unique “toddler-chic” look these bags from Four Peas will be the “cool bags” of this years school season! With styles ranging from preppy to punk, Four Peas bags offer kids and parents a fresh alternative to boring “book bags”: Kids’ bags that look good. Real good. Four Peas products include school-sized backpacks, lunch bags, messenger bags, supply bags and duffle bags.

Why we love Four Peas:

• Bags are entirely PVC free
• School backpacks can now accommodate children up through 8th grade
• Backpacks are 16 inches tall, 13 inches wide, and 7.5 inches deep with plenty of room for many books and folders
• Straps are adjustable and padded and are conveniently attached to the sides of the backpack for easy on and off access
• Spacious front pocket that contains 5 slots for pens or pencils as well as a contact information tag
• 2 pockets, one on each side of the backpack, that have magnetic snaps to secure smaller items

The Four Peas brand is the brainchild of Casey Baca – a savvy mother of four who just couldn’t find the perfect bag for her kids. When her oldest daughter, Bella, was two, Casey found that trips with her toddler were much easier when Bella had her own bag full of activities. But, after years of searching, Casey concluded that the perfect toddler bag didn’t exist. Drawing on her sense of style, eye for quality and school teacher background, Casey created a line of eight toddler-sized backpacks in 2005.

Granola Bars from Vermont Nut Free Chocolates

One things moms are being faced with these days is planning for snack-time in nut-free classrooms, and the latest introduction from Vermont Nut Free Chocolates – an all-natural, nut free granola bar - is a safe, healthy and most importantly delicious snack alternative.

The granola bars from Vermont Nut Free Chocolates are ideal for snack-time or classroom parties in peanut-free schools, or as a snack for on-the-go families that live in a nut-free house. Vermont Nut Free Chocolates was started by the mother of a child with peanut allergies, and the company’s mission is to provide safe and delicious snacking alternatives for people affected by nut allergies. Products are made in Vermont from the finest ingredients in a completely nut free environment.

The granola bars are available online in boxes of 12 bars at select retailers and on the online at http://www.vermontnutfree.com

Day Planners & Accessories from momAgenda

Check out these fabulous day planners and accessories with chic NEW metallic covers from momAgenda!

Available in different sizes, the 5×7x1 is perfect for anyone and features a unique week and monthly view, space for appointments and other important dates in our life the 17-month calendar runs from August 2009 through December 2010.

Personalization is available in two fonts: print or script. Choose from three colors: gold, silver or blind-emboss. Please note: Only letters can be used for personalization, no numbers.

More great products from momAgenda:

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Your kids will be cool when they go back to school with these fun colorful and durable backpacks from Company Kids. With features like a drawstring top opening, fold over flap with velcro closure, front pocket and adjustable straps.. these backpacks are not only cool but functional as well!

Made from 100% cotton these bags, 12″ (L) x 12 1/2″ (W)  and are machine washable.

Organizational Products from MOBOS

MOBOS are a unique line of modular storage units that are great for students looking to keep their lives organized and stylish. MOBOS products include storage bins, cabinets, shelves and hooks that are used with a simple, DIY mounting

system. The result is a space-saving, decorative storage solutions for homes, outside space and apartments. In addition to their colorful, stylish aesthetic, MOBOS are made from recycled steel and non-toxic coatings, making them eco-friendly and appealing for students.

citizenpip Reusable Lunch Kits

citizenpip makes it easy to go green with products that are designed to be fun and stylish for kids, and practical and convenient for parents. The reusable lunch kits by citizenpip come with everything you need to pack a waste-free lunch.

More reasons we love citizenpip:

They’re Eco-friendly: Reusable components reduce trash and their made from recyclable material.

Muck-free: Their products are lead-free, BPA-free, PVC-free, and phthalate-free

They’re Practical & Convenient: Flexible designs accommodates different types of containers, easy to clean and have wide mouth opening.. They’re also dishwasher-safe and easy for little hands to open and close.

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TI-Nspire

TI-Nspire is the ultimate value buy, lasting from algebra through college-level math (that’s up to 10 years!) Unlike clothes or gadgets like cell phones, you won’t have to replace it with something trendier next year… and research shows that graphing calculators help kids do better in math – which can help them get into college and ultimately, set them up for future success.

Benefits & Features

• 2 calculators plus computer software, all in one! Includes two interchangeable keypads that allow students to use the TI-Nspire features, or use a keypad that mimics the TI-84 Plus and TI-83 Plus calculators, the leading graphing calculators used in U.S. schools. Included computer software brings the TI-Nspire experience to a PC or Mac.

•Like a computer in your hand. The versatile graphing calculator has the computer features students demand, including a large, high-resolution screen, interactive graphing capabilities, drop down menus and a built-in cursor which help students interact with math concepts and explore problem solving strategies in real-time.

• Save and review work. Thanks to electronic document capabilities and built-in 20MB of storage, students can create, save and edit their work similar to the word processing and file storage of a computer.

• Allowed on the SAT.* Also permitted on the ACT and AP* tests and many state math exams. With the purchase of the TI-Nspire, students can download free test prep questions from The Princeton Review.

• Free homework help. Stuck on a problem? Free online access to math tutors from Tutor.com is included with the purchase of the TI-Nspire.

Check out www.ti-nspire.com to see where this item can be purchased or to see the TI-Nspire CAS (Computer Algebra System).

Check out the Count Me In! Pledge from Texas Instruments (TI):

The Count Me In! Pledge is where teens can sign the pledge, challenging themselves to take higher-level math courses to broaden their college and career options and commit to tell others why math education is so important to the future of their world – all while entering to win cool prizes to get them ready to hit the math books again this year. The pledge runs through October 15.

Toshiba Satellite Series Laptops

Heading back to class? The Toshiba Satellite® line of notebooks is ready when you are, with power and connectivity to help you study and stay in touch―on and off campus, along with a variety of screen sizes: 16”, 17.3” or 18.4” for broader learning and entertainment, or 13.3” and 14” for more mobile productivity.

Toshiba focused on incorporating premium new features and style elements at price points that make sense for students:

• Satellite L Series – designed for budget-smart consumers and back-to-school shoppers, starting at just $549.99
• Satellite M Series – for the more mobile student, the line offers students a perfect balance of performance, mobility, size and cost starting at just $699.99.

Visit http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite for more info.

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Until recently, the only options for liquidating an underperforming or unneeded policy was to let it lapse, sell it back to the original insurer for its current net cash surrender value, or to exercise a non-forfeiture option. In a life settlement, the sale price is less than the policy’s face value, but is higher than the policy’s net cash surrender value. The price can range as low as 3% to as high as 30% of the face value of the policy (death benefit), but usually averages to about 15% of your policy’s face value. The value in the life settlement transaction is determined by a number of factors including: your age and medical condition, the type of insurance, the amount of premium payments, and the status of loans on the policy.

There are many reasons you may no longer need or desire a life insurance policy:
• loss of a loved one
• need to pay for long term care or medical costs
• premiums have become unaffordable
• divorce
• beneficiaries no longer need the death benefit
• financial hardship
• your estate got smaller
• a key executive retired
• sale of a business
• loan repayment
• policy underperforming your expectations
• your level term life’s conversion period is expiring
• estate tax law revisions mean your heirs no longer face a hefty tax bill at your death

Who can qualify?
A potential candidate for a life settlement is typically aged 65 or older; has a life insurance policy with a face amount of at least $250,000, and has a life expectancy greater than 2 years.

What type of insurance policy can be sold?
Most types of life insurance policies can qualify as long as they’ve been in existence for more than 2 years. However the most common are Universal Life, Whole Life, Variable Life, Survivorship Life, and convertible Term Life.

What happens to my policy?
A life settlement transfers ownership of your policy to a third party investor that only has a financial rather than an insurable interest in your life. In other words, the death benefit will eventually be paid to the new owner. Once you sell your policy you give up all rights and obligation to the investor in exchange for the sale price. The buyers are usually institutional investors such as pension funds, charitable endowments, universities, and hedge funds.

What can the money be used for?
You can spend the money on whatever you like. Some people use it to fund other investments, make charitable donations, fund a relative’s education, or even purchase replacement life insurance.

Actual Cases
From LISA, Life Insurance Settlement Association
Case 1: Policy seller: 70 Male
Policy type: 20 year term policy
Policy value: $1,000,000
Net Settlement paid to seller: $156,000 (15.60% of death benefit)

Case 2: Policy seller: 69 Male
Policy type: Universal Life policy
Policy value: $500,000
Cash surrender value (CSV): $10,335 ( 4.01% of death benefit)
Net Settlement paid to seller: $210,000 (42% of death benefit)
Settlement vs. CSV ratio yield: 1047.6%

Case 3: Policy seller: 80 Female
Policy value: $2,000,000.00
Cash surrender value (CSV): $9,897.65 (0.49% death benefit)
Net Settlement paid to seller: $330,000.00 (16.50% of death benefit)
Settlement vs. CSV ratio yield: 3334.12%

What are the fees?
Be aware that the commissions on life settlements can be as high as 33%. These commissions are negotiated between the advisor and the purchasing company, but are not always disclosed to the client. Make sure your advisor clearly states their cut. Most commissions hover around 8% of the net death benefit or 30% of the offer price, whichever is less.

Other than commission there is no other fee. You can put your policy out for bids and decide whether or not you will accept a bid or turn it down. The whole process takes about 4 months.

Do I have to take a bid if I don’t like it?
Never! There is absolutely never any obligation or fees if you don’t want to accept the bids for your policy. It is free to put your life insurance policy out for bid just to see what it’s worth in the life settlement market.

What are the tax implications?
A life settlement is generally a taxable event.
• The portion of the policy owner’s investment (premiums paid) will be received tax-free.
• The difference between the premiums paid and the net cash surrender value will be taxed as ordinary income.
• The portion exceeding the net cash surrender value will be a gain, in most circumstances a capital gain.
Since every situation is different it is important that you consult with your tax advisor when contemplating selling your life insurance. Life settlement brokers are not tax consultants.

Important Considerations
Life settlements can be a wonderful source of funds. But they are not for everyone. You must consider whether your parents still have a need for continued coverage. If their premiums are too expensive they may be able to lower the amount of coverage and keep the current policy by exercising a non-forfeiture option. If after the life settlement, your parents plan to replace their existing policy with another policy there may not be any other availability or comparable coverage for less cost. You must assess their circumstances, including financial need, investment objectives, tax consequences, and other relevant implications of selling a policy.

If you have a specific question about your situation or would like more information give me a call or email at wgoldband@gmail.com.

Wendy Goldband, MSW, is a Registered Representative and Insurance Producer with an expertise in long term care planning.  She is the former Senior Marketing Manager for Crump Insurance Services, the largest life insurance brokerage in the nation, and the webmaster for http://lifeinsurancenoexam.biz.   Author of Breaking Autism’s Barriers and Dangerous Encounters:Avoiding Perilous Situations with Autism, she also helps families with special needs plan their financial futures.

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The Britax Parkway SG

Safety is something that all parents take very seriously.  Some of the most preventable injuries occur from using child automobile restraints improperly.  I was very fortunate recently to speak with Dr. Laura Jana regarding booster and child restraint safety.  Dr Jana is passionate about child safety, as she is both a pediatrician and has three children of her own.  Dr. Jana is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as a nationally certified child passenger safety instructor.  She is also actively involved in promoting early childhood literacy and high-quality child care. 

It became clear early in my conversation with Dr. Jana that even when you ‘think’ you are being safe, there is probably more that you can do to better protect your children.  Connected with my conversation, I am doing a two part series on the child restraints, specifically the Britax Parkway SG booster seat. 

Dr. Jana and I discussed some common areas of concern that parents have when transitioning toddlers into a booster style restraint.  Her answers should significantly help when it is time to make that transition.

• How do parents know when it’s time to switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?   

Graduate your child from a car seat to a booster seat at the last possible second.  It is safest for children to stay in a 5 point restraint as long as possible.  Always switch when your child has reached the upper limit of their current car seat (check your manual for weight and height guidelines).  There is often overlap between the car seat limits and the introduction point for booster seats.  If a child fits the minimum for a booster seat but still fits in his car seat, keep him in the car seat until he needs to transition to a booster.

• What is the best seatbelt configuration for my child?  Do I need a 5-point or a shoulder strap? 

• What features should parents look for in a booster seat?

Booster seats are crash tested and tested as much as any other car seat.  The belt positioner on the Britax Parkway SG will help the seat belt to stay in the correct position.  It is important that the seat belt fit where the force from an impact would be applied.  If the shoulder or lap belts are in the wrong place, the force will be applied to the wrong place, potentially harming the child.  You should also look for side impact protection.  If you have a booster seat without back and side protection, the child will not have extra defense for their head, neck, back and torso. 

• What if parents have a compact car or more than one car seat that needs to fit? 

This really is car and family specific.  There are so many different variations to number of children, car, and any other special needs.  To best determine the safest restraint arrangements for your car and family, visit http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm.  This site will help you locate the nearest child safety check point. 

• Should parents continue to use the booster seat after my child passes state guidelines? 

State guidelines represent the bare minimum of eight years.  The law of physics suggests that you should protect your child longer; up to 10-12 years depending upon weight and height (again, see your manufacturer’s guidelines). 

• What information can you share about car crashes and booster seat protection (and why parents should take this into consideration when making a purchase decision)? 

The most common cause of death in a child under the age of 14 is due to motor vehicle crashes.  The most preventable cause is improper restraint use.  Dr. Jana stressed the importance of using newer car seats with improved safety features.  She likened that to replacing a ten year old computer.  Most of us wouldn’t hesitate to replace a ten year old computer.  Replacing old car seats is a matter of safety.  New features have been designed and numerous tests have been done to protect children from vehicular accidents.  Older seats may not offer enough protection.  Since, many vehicular injuries result from incorrect seat belt usage; it is important to have the belt positioned correctly and also to ensure that your children do not put their belts behind their bodies.

• What other details can you share regarding the design and testing of this product that makes it unique? 

Britax has its own testing center.  They analyze crash tests in microseconds, and they do not change any features until they have been thoroughly tested and analyzed.  There is currently no US standard for side impact crash protection.  Britax is working with the government to establish side impact laws for booster seats as well as standards for head and neck protection.  Britax also works with special needs families to ensure every child is safe.  Dr. Jana has held Britax in high regard long before their professional relationship was established.  She and her fellow doctors sought out Britax car seats for themselves because they are known as an industry leader in safety.

For more information about the Britax Parkway SG and booster seat safety visit, www.britaxusa.com.

Stay tuned for Part Two of this story next Monday, August 24^th.

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Your baby’s first birthday should be a day more about fun and celebration and less about stress for Mom, so we’re going to give you a few ideas to create affordable, unique, once-in-a-lifetime party memories in a snap – and free-up more time to clean-up the mountainous piles of diapers, wipes tubs, toys, and peas splattered on the wall next to the high chair before your guests arrive!

Picture/video montage

Chances are you went and purchased a digital camera sometime ‘round week 13. Admit it – you have a ton of pictures on your camera that you haven’t yet uploaded, right? Now is the time!

• Check the software that came with your camera;
• Use pictures from birth to present;
• Add your favorite tear-jerker songs and let it run during the party on your PC!
• Or a create a DVD for playing on your television!

If you want to get really ambitious use some cute font from your word processing software, insert your favorite picture, and print out “CD covers” to create additional CDs or DVD’s for your guests to take home. If you need help a quick Google search will give you some great pointers.

Framed “Guest Book”

Let your guests write “guest book” entries on a canvas and create a piece of art your baby can keep for a lifetime. Any craft store will sell art canvases (those for acrylic paints work best) you can use for this project. The same store will usually have open wooden frames (no glass) that fit the canvas size you choose.

• Decide on your color scheme: dark blue and silver, dark red and gold, or light pink and purple, for example.
• For the background, choose any of the multitude of acrylic paints (Hint: The most expensive isn’t necessarily the best; you shouldn’t pay more than $5 per tube for this project, and one larger tube will paint a large canvas.).
• Select one or more paint pens and choose colors that will show up well against the background.
• Allow your guests to write a message to the baby with the paint pens on the canvas as they arrive.

After the party, use the wooden wedges provided with the canvas, place the canvas in the frame, and with a few whacks with a hammer you have professional looking framed art!

Life Predictions Scrapbook

At the same craft store, go to the scrap booking section. Before you do this however remember that you could seriously go nuts, so unless you want to spend a chunk of Junior’s college fund we suggest picking a theme and keeping it to a couple items.

• Choose some great looking card stock paper and a blank scrapbook (Hint: You may be able to find cheaper scrapbooks at the dollar store and make sure you check out the clearance section at the craft store.).
• You can get some additional decorating accessories in this section if you want to jazz up the pages a bit.
• You’ll need scissors and Tacky Glue later.
• Cut the paper into note card sized pieces and hand them out to your guests. (Hint: Use the paint pens but make sure they have something underneath the paper when they’re writing.)
• Ask your guests to predict what the baby will be later in life, either their personality, job, anything they want to say.
• Encourage them to have fun with it – and make sure they sign their names!

After the party, glue the notes into the scrapbook. It will be a blast to go back and read the notes 17 years later!

First Birthday Time Capsule

A final idea is to ask each of your guests to bring one inexpensive item to add to a time capsule to be opened on baby’s 18th birthday. Allow them to choose anything they want and only place the restriction that it can fit in a sandwich-sized Ziploc baggie – you’ll be happily surprised at what they come up with! Use some of the leftover card stock and label each of the items, seal them up and place them in a sealed box.

Remember, this day is about fun and celebration, so don’t knock yourself out creating a 5 course spread for 100 people. Invite your closest family and friends, fire-up the BBQ, toss the little tyke in a walker with their own cake to destroy (patio & hose work best for clean-up – both the patio and the baby), have fun, and don’t forget the camera! Using the suggestions above you can create lasting memories of this day – and a yearly tradition – with fun items you can go back to reminiscence with year after year.

About the Author:

Jennifer Kirkpatrick is a mom turned entrepreneur who creates and sells unique items for kids of all ages. Visit her online store Pipsqueak Boutique for unique first birthday gifts. And check out her new clothing line, Define*Me Clothing for fun first birthday shirts.

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Photo Credit

From the moment a mother becomes aware that she is eating for two, it is vital that she assess her usual diet to determine that all of the important vitamins, nutrients, and minerals needed for her baby’s development are being obtained in some manner. Eating a well-balanced diet is a great beginning, but in the case of mothers eating a diet which limits certain foods, because of health problems or moral choices, getting the needed nutrition for a growing foetus or breastfeeding infant may require adding supplements to the diet.

In recent years, research has found that omega-3 fatty acids are extremely important both to the foetus and to an infant obtaining all of his or her nutrition through breastfeeding. One of these fatty acids, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is vital to brain development and visual acuity. In fact, DHA is key to the development of the cells necessary for good eyesight and cognitive processing. Babies and children, then, who do not receive enough of this basic omega-3 fatty acid may have significant developmental problems.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in high quantities in fish, fish oil, and meats. A breastfeeding mother whose diet limits these foods may be unknowingly withholding some of the most valuable ingredients in her baby’s diet. Some informed mothers try to make up for a lack of DHA by adding flax seed or flax seed oil to their daily fare, knowing that these natural substances contain a-Linolenic acid (ALA). While it is true that the body converts ALA into DHA, the process by which this is done is more complicated than it sounds.

ALA must first be changed into Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which the body uses first. Only the amount of EPA left over is available for the body to form DHA, and according to new scientific evidence, this is not adequate production for a mother who is breastfeeding an infant. Both ALA and EPA help with the creation of DHA, but this process is not sufficient for producing breast milk with the required amount of essential fatty acids. Studies have shown that depending on the body to convert ALA and EPA to DHA does not result in breast milk with an acceptable level of HDA. Flax seed products, while helpful, may not be the final solution to a breastfeeding mother’s dilemma in obtaining enough of this omega-3 fatty acid.

What is a concerned mother to do when she realizes that her diet may be lacking in those elements most needed for a child’s optimum development? The easiest way to be certain that one is actually obtaining enough omega-3 fatty acids for breastfeeding is through incorporating supplements that contain preformed DHA. These are supplements which are manufactured straight from the organic plants, such as algae, where they are formed in nature. By taking preformed DHA capsules, mothers do not have to be concerned with contamination that may have entered other DHA sources because of pollution.

Breastfeeding mothers who supplement their diets with a source of preformed DHA can feel confident that they have done everything scientifically known, at this time, to provide the necessary omega-3 fatty acids to their diets. Even vegetarian mothers can rest assured that all of the bases have been covered, and they have added one of the most important building blocks for their infant’s future health and development.

Guest post provided by V-Pure: Specialists in vegetarian omega 3 and vegan supplements. Read the original study on the effects of DHA & EPA through breastfeeding for more information and resources.

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