It`s getting HOT and humid out there!

Babies and mothers need special attention in extremes of temperature to ensure that they are comfortable and well hydrated.

Here are some tips to Beat the Heat.

How to keep a sleeping baby cool in this weather

Remember to stay hydrated! In hot weather a thirsty baby may want to breastfeed more frequently but for shorter periods. In this way he is getting more low-fat milk and so is satisfying his thirst.

How to Sanitize Toys

To Sanitize Toys

Toys may be washed and sanitized in a mechanical dishwasher that has a sanitizing cycle.
Sanitizing toys by hand may be done by washing them with detergent and water, and then spraying with the bleach solution made up with 16-20 ml of household bleach in 1 liter of water (1 tablespoon bleach per quart of water).

Alternately, you can use a soak method, but soaking requires a more concentrated bleach solution because each toy can introduce new germs into the solution.

To use the soak method for sanitizing:

Create a solution of 190 milliliters of bleach per 4 liters of water (3/4 cup bleach per gallon of water).
Put washed and rinsed toys into a net bag.
Let soak for 5 minutes.
Rinse with clean water.
Hang the bag to air dry.

First Aid for Babies and Children

One of the best ways that new parents, grandparents, and babysitters can prepare for the unexpected is to take classes in first aid and infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Knowing what to do in the event of an emergency will help you remain calm, think quickly, and take action with confidence so that you can help your child. Here's how to handle some of the most common injuries and emergencies that affect children under a year of age.

CPR for babies

Important Tips to Remember When Buying Used Toys

Before you head out the door, check the following Websites for recalled toys or items to stay clear of:

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html

" Child Product Safety
http://www.childproductsafety.com/

" Health Canada Consumer Product Safety
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/advisories-avis/child-enfant/index_e.html

Or, visit the manufacturer of the brands you like, such as Fisher Price, Toys-R-Us, etc. for their specific brand recalls.

2) Inspect the toy or piece of equipment for lose, broken, cracked or chipped parts. The seller may tell you the toy was "hardly used" but that does not mean it is safe. Inspect every inch of the piece. Tug at the joints.


To read more, click here.

Toy swap in Tokyo for kids under 2 - give toys a new home

Are your closets and toy chests turning into an avalanche of unused toys?

And to your child, it always seems that other kids' toys are more fun than his own.
Want to introduce some new toys without spending money or adding to your already huge pile?

Well, we are having a toy swap next meeting. Bring one item to trade.

Bring your gently used toys, games and puzzles and swap them for something "new." Nothing like a little infusion of new toys to bring peace and harmony to the household, my friends. Moms will draw another child's name out of a hat and they will get to swap that item.


Now for the ground rules

Please read the following rules to keep the trade fun and fair
1. Make sure the toy is in working condition."Is it a toy you would give your own child?" - Good condition and complete items only.

2. Check the toy for pieces and cleanliness….again ask, "Is this a toy I would let my child play with?"

3. Non-breakable items (nothing made out of glass)