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4moms Origami Power-Folding Stroller Unveiled at CES
CNN's Katie Linendoll reveals a stroller that breaks down with a touch of a button. The 4moms Origami stroller can also expand with the touch of a button. 4moms says the stroller is also a "cell phone-charging, mileage-counting, LCD-sporting stroller, with generators in the rear wheels that charge it as you walk." The first clip is from CNN and the second clip is a promotional video from 4moms. Take a look:
Embrace Baby Warmer Could Save the Lives of Many Babies in Poor Countries
ABC Newsreports that four Stanford students have designed a low-cost device, the Embrace infant warmer, which could help save thousands of lives. The Embrace functions as a low tech incubator. Embrace resembles a miniature sleeping bag. It contains a compartment in the back where a plastic pouch filled with wax and water is kept. When this pouch is heated it can keep a baby comfortable and warm. You can read more about how Embrace works here. It is a very clever device.
The students plan to bring Embrace to India, which has the highest number of premature and LBW babies in the world. Take a look:
New Census Report Shows White Babies Now the Minority in U.S.
The demographics of the U.S. continue to change. A report from the U.S. Census Bureau says white babies are now the minority. New census figures show minority babies now outnumber white babies. There is much diversity on America's playgrounds. Take a look:
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The Department of Agriculture has released its annual report, Expenditures on Children by Families. The report found that a middle-income family with a child born in 2010 can expect to spend about $226,920 ($286,860 if projected inflation costs are factored in) for food, shelter, and other necessities to raise that child over the next 17 years. This is a 2% increase from 2009 according to the USDA.
The estimates do not include costs associated with pregnancy or the cost of a college education. Costs of college tuition have also been rising over the past several years.
The full report can be found here. The USDA also provides a Cost of Raising a Child Calculator, which is available here.
Little Molly thinks it is hysterical when Bennie the dog jumps and bites bubbles. The poster of the YouTube video writes:
On a lazy day I decided to try blowing bubbles for my daughter, Molly. At first, she didn't think they were "all that," but then Bennie, the dog, showed Molly how much fun bubbles can be. Molly thought Bennie's bubble popping was the funniest thing she has seen in her 9-1/2 months!
Smartphones can be a very helfpul tool, but experts say many parents have become dependent on the smartphones. Parents argue the smartphones make parenting and life easier. The smartphones and all the apps do save lots of time, but parents have to make sure they don't get so distracted that they aren't aware of what is going on around them. Take a look:
Washington D.C. is anticipating a baby boom now that it is closing in on nine months after the big blizzard last winter. Doctors say the baby boom is blizzard related. Take a look:
Hallmark and What to Expect.com have launched an online baby bump photo contest. You can find the contest here. New and expectant moms can submit photos of themselves during their pregnancy as well as photos from earlier pregnancies for a chance to win must-have itesm for new moms, such as new Personalized Baby Announcements from Hallmark.com.
Each week until November 24, people can visit the site and vote on weekly winners, whose photos will be posted on WhatToExpect.com. Visitors can then vote on their favorite weekly winner for the grand prize award winner to be announced on December 6. The grand prize winner will win a $1,000 gift certificate from Diapers.com, a $200 Hallmark.com gift card, and a signed copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting from Heidi Murkoff.
Duke Study Finds Mother's Affection is Good for Babies
An unsurprising study by researchers at Duke University has found that a mother's affection is good for child development. The study followed 482 babies into adulthood. It found that babies with mothers that were the most affectionate had the lowest levels of stress and anxiety as adults.
The authors found that mothers who were most affectionate at the 8-month assessment were associated with adult offspring who showed significantly lower levels of distress, anxiety and hostility. The strongest association was with the anxiety subscale. This pattern was seen across all the various elements: the higher the mother’s warmth, the lower the adult’s distress.
Update 8-10-10: Here is a brief video about the study: Take a look:
Drop-side cribs continue to cause injuries and deaths. At least 30 babies have been killed because of drop-side cribs over the past decade. Susan Koeppen reports that a federal ban on drop-side cribs is possible. Many of the cribs sold in the U.S. (about 1/5) are drop-side cribs. Take a look:
An Australian man held his baby in his arms and shielded it from an incoming out-of-control car. The baby was uninjured but the man suffered a broken leg. Take a look:
Japan Will Pay Money to Couples Who Have More Kids
Japan is now paying money to couples who have more kids. The plan is an attempt to solve Japan's rapidly again population. The government will pay $150 per child per month. Take a look:
Supermodel Claudia Schiffer Has Yet to Select Baby Name
Supermodel Claudia Schiffer says she is super excited ahead of the birth of her third child. She does not have a name picked out yet. She says she always leaves it to the last minute. It is a girl. Take a look:
