PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE

Hi Friends,

We at Summer for Kids know that it has been a rough and stressful year on everyone. Between the economy and fires, our local community has been hit hard. We’d like to just say thank you for your continued support through these hard times and remind yourself of all the positive things in your life when the times are feeling rough.

Child abuse cases are on the rise, in part because of the stress parents are incurring in this economy. Not only is the number of cases rising, but the severity as well. Please don’t let your children be a part of this statistic!

Though their footprints may be small, their dreams are big and every day that their parents are happy, and optimistic, so are they. Remember in these stressful times that you are raising little ones that get their outlook on life from you. So try to remember the most important things in life: THEM. And when the going gets tough, reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors and get through it as a team. Your children are counting on you.
Please don’t let this sad story become their reality:

http://www.cbsne
ws.com/stories/2009/05/20/business/childofrecession/main5029133.shtml

If you need help please do reach out to CALM 805.965.2376 http://www.calm4kids.org/
or contact Summer For Kids and we will try to give you more resources.

Child abuse has long been recognized as the greatest threat to a child’s healthy development. Physical,
sexual and verbal abuse, as well as neglect, can result in serious problems in social, emotional, and intellectual development, and has been linked to a wide range of problems in mental health,
substance abuse, school success, and criminal involvement. 

Please do Not abuse and do Not let others
abuse our Children!

Summer Dreaming

www.summerforkids.com

ORGANIC AND NATURAL MATTRESS

Why we carry Natural Mat mattresses

Better Sleep: New parents all over are deprived of sleep during the first year of their children’s lives, but it shouldn’t be due to worry over the bedding and materials their angels are sleeping on. An easy way help increase sleep and decrease worry for parents when their little one’s will actually sleep, buy organic.

Mattresses made of man-made materials have chemicals in their make up that can create allergen problems and issues with immunity development and reproductive systems. These mattresses are also covered in secondary chemicals to decrease their flammability. These chemicals have been linked to the increase in hyperactivity and neurobehavioral alterations in children. Babies spend hours with lying on there, breathing in these poisons and increasing the chances of permanent problems. The baby’s bed, the place where they will spend 12- 16 hours of everyday is a perfect place to start. The use of organic cotton and wool work to decrease dust mites, contain a resistance to bacteria and are more flame retardant.

100% ORGANIC - Natural Mat doesnt use any glues or bonding agents and you will not find any chemicals or synthetic materials whosoever in your mattress.

NON- ALLERGENIC & ANTI DUST MITE - 100% hypoallergenic and offers complete protection from house dust mites. Every Natural Mat has a removable pure cotton outer cover that can be machine washed at 60 degrees C (dust mites are killed at 57 degrees) which offers further allergy protection.

NATURALLY FIRE RETARDANT - Natural Mat passes all fire regulations without the use of chemical or unnatural treatments in any part of the mattress. All mattresses are covered in two unbleached, undyed 100% cotton covers that have no FR additives. All mattresses comply to the new federal 16 CFR 1633 requirements.

LONG LASTING SUPERIOR SUPPORT - durable naturally sprung mattress cores provide superior and longer lasting level of support than any other synthetic foam or metal spring. They use wool batting rather than cotton, it is a far more resilient fiber with better ventilation and insulation properties.

100% RENEWABLE - All the raw materials come from 100% renewable and sustainable sources that complay with Fair Trade policies.

ECO PACKAGING - All packaging used for Natural Mat mattresses is 100% biodegradable and 100% recyclable. Their carton is made from a mixture of recycled and renewable paper resources from FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) managed forests.

Natural Mat organic mattresses are handmade from the finest materials in the world to provide your baby with the most comfortable and safest sleeping environment possible for those important first years of life.

http://www.summerforkids.com/

BREAST FEEDING AND BABIES

WHY BABIES NEED TO BE BREASTFED!

Give your baby the best care you can. And one of the best things that only you can do is to breastfeed for as long as possible.

BENEFITS FOR BABY:
A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for baby's growth and development. Breast milk has agents called antibodies (proteins made by certain white blood cells in response to a foreign substance (antigen). Antibodies neutralize or destroy antigens) in it to help protect infants from bacteria and viruses and to help them fight off infection and disease.

Therefore Breastfed babies have fewer illnesses. About 80% of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Breastfed babies are protected in varying degrees from a number of illnesses including, pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to whatever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight diseases their babies are exposed to as well.

Formula does not provide any of the disease-protective factors present in human milk. Infants artificially fed infants are generally sicker and sick more often. They are three to four times more likely to have an ear infection or diarrhea and ten times more likely to be admitted to a hospital for bacterial infections.

Breastfeeding reduces or even eliminates food allergies & eczema.
Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile. Breast Milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. Breast milk is free!

Babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula. Human milk is the perfect food for a sick infant. When a formula fed baby gets a gastrointestinal ailment they are usually put on an artificial electrolyte solution because formula is too hard for them to digest. Breast milk, however, is easily digested, and soothing to the intestines, so there is no need for artificial and expensive electrolyte solutions. If a baby gets a respiratory illness, formula may cause even more mucus. In contrast, breast milk contains antibodies to these ailments, as well as being highly digestible and not contributing to excess mucous formation.

Breastfeeding satisfies baby's emotional needs and increases bonding between mother and baby. All babies need to be held. There is no more comforting feeling for an infant of any age than being held close and cuddled while breastfeeding. In fact, studies have shown that premature babies are more likely to die if they are not held or stroked. Breastfeeding stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother's body. It is now well established that oxytocin, as well as stimulating uterine contractions and milk ejection, promotes the development of maternal behavior and also bonding between mother and offspring.

Breastfed infants grow exactly the way they should. They tend to gain less unnecessary weight and to be leaner. This may result in being less overweight later in life. Premature babies do better when breast-fed.

Breastfed babies are slightly higher in IQ tests, especially babies who were born pre-maturely.
Failure to breastfeed is also one of the risk factors believed to contribute to

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and increases the risk for some immune-system diseases in adulthood. American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be breastfed for at least one year.

Breast milk provides natural pain relief for baby
Breast milk actually contains chemicals that suppress pain (endorphins). Aside from this, the comfort a baby derives from being held close and suckling is remarkable. Many a bruise or scrape has been soothed away almost instantly by a few moments of nursing. If you choose to have your child vaccinated, it is a good idea to nurse immediately after he/she receives a vaccination. This soothes the hurt, as well as enhancing the vaccine's effectiveness.

BENEFITS FOR MOM:
Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.

Breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding (no supplementing with formula), delays the return of normal ovulation and menstrual cycles. (However, you should still talk with your doctor or nurse about birth control choices.)

Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.

A mother can give her baby immediate satisfaction by providing her breast milk when her baby is hungry.

Breastfeeding requires a mother to take some quiet relaxed time for herself and her baby.

Breastfeeding helps a mother to bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and helps them feel more secure, warm and comforted.

Mothers who artificially feed are at greater risk of excessive bleeding after birth, ovarian cancer and premenopausal

breast cancer. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing endometrial cancer. 
A World Health Organization study has shown that the longer a woman breastfeeds, the less likely she is to get endometrial cancer.

http://www.summerforkids.com/

http://www.lalecheleague.org/

http://www.kellymom.com/

SOMETHING ABOUT PLASTIC AND SAFETY

BPA
(Bisphenol A)
BPA is a chemical found in polycarbonate plastics and the linings of food and beverage containers. It leeches into the food and beverages it comes into contact with, and is linked to breast and prostate cancer, as well as problems with the neurological development of fetuses, and babies. BPA leaching is greater in polycarbonate that is scratched, cloudy or exhibits other signs of wear. BPA leaching is also accelerated by heat. Hot and fatty foods or liquids may dissolve traces of BPA. It makes sense to AVOID BPA. Plastic labeled with #7 is polycarbonate (which leaches BPA).

PVC
(Polyvinyl Chloride)
Detection of chlorine in a toy component indicates the likely use of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or vinyl, a widely used type of plastic that is of concern to the environment and public health during all phases of its life cycle.
Because PVC is an inherently brittle material, it requires additives to make it flexible and to impart other properties. Another group of additives commonly found in PVC products are phthalates. Phthalates are used in many plastics, especially PVC products, as a softening agent to make the plastic flexible. Over 90% of all phthalates are used in PVC products.

Phthalates
Phthalates are a group of chemicals, some of which have endocrine-disrupting properties, meaning that they can disturb normal hormonal processes, often at low levels of exposure. (IEPA 2000).Exposure to phthalates is linked to birth defects of the genitals and altered levels of reproductive hormones in baby boys.
Plastic provides a good amount of affordable convenience. Some petroleum-based plastics leach harmful chemical into foods and drinks, especially when plastic comes in contact with oily or fatty foods, during heating and micro waving, as a result of harsh cleaners, and when exposed to excessive moisture.
Choose smart and safe plastics and avoid putting them in the microwave (where they can release dangerous chemicals when heated) or the dishwasher (where they can degrade in the heat and excessive moisture)

www.summerforkids.com

BAMBOO FABRIC

Luxuriously soft, hypo-allergenic, anti-microbial, environmentally friendly, bacteriostatic, odor free, superb absorption

Bamboo is perfect for babies delicate skin because it is naturally hypo-allergenic, and anti-bacterial, preventing odor, allergies and skin irritations. In addition, Bamboo is thermal regulating, which is important since babies have a hard time regulating body temperature when first born. It will keep baby warmer than cotton in cool weather and two to three degrees cooler than cotton in hot weather. Bamboo also wicks moisture away and has double the absorbency of cotton. It doesn't need help from pesticides or insecticides and usually grows on rain water alone. Since bamboo grows so fast (sometimes three feet in a day) it is an alternative to widespread clear cutting, making it the most sustainable textile on the market.

www.summerforkids.com