American Baby’s Baby Booty: Win a Diaper Dude Boba Baby Carrier!

June 1, 2012 at 11:11 am , by Jessica Hartshorn

June brings us Father’s Day, which leads us to…gear that guys love! That’s the specialty of Diaper Dude, a company founded by a dad, Chris Pegula, in LA (that’s him below!). He’s got three kids, and didn’t want to carry a diaper bag with, say, flowers or bears on it. When he began selling his cool, more manly diaper bags, he got a lot of gratitude from fathers everywhere. Celebrity dads, including Brad Pitt, have been photographed with his designs.

This month brings an exciting partnership between Diaper Dude and Boba, the baby-carrier company. They’ve created a Special Edition Diaper Dude Boba Carrier that will have Dad still looking like a dude when he carries around his little one. It’s a limited edition, so to get the word out, and to help get someone a cool Father’s Day gift, they’ll give away one $125 camo carrier to someone who posts a comment here. You have until the end of the day on Wednesday, June 6th to tell us what makes the dad in your life so cool! For the full rules, check here. And if you’re looking to buy the camo carrier, it goes on sale June 11th at Bobafamily.com and at some select retailers. Goody luck!

PS after you leave a comment for this giveaway, check out our other huge contest: Poshtots is giving away a $10,000 shopping spree here! 

Parents Daily News Roundup

June 1, 2012 at 10:18 am , by April Rueb

House Rejects Bill to Ban Sex-Selective Abortions
The bill sought to impose fines and prison terms on doctors who perform abortions on women who are trying to select the gender of their offspring.

Hundreds of Salmonella Cases Tied to Chicks
Those cute mail-order chicks that wind up in children’s Easter baskets and backyard farms have been linked to more than 300 cases of salmonella in the U.S. – mostly in youngsters – since 2004.

Doctors Stop Medicating Argentine ‘Miracle’ Baby
Doctors have withdrawn medications and begun palliative care for a premature baby who survived hours in a morgue refrigerator in Argentina, state media reported.

San Diego Eighth Grader Wins National Spelling Bee With ‘Guetapens’
Snigdha Nandipati, a 14-year-old eighth grader from San Diego, won the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday by correctly spelling “guetapens,” a French word for an ambush.

No New Name for High Fructose Corn Syrup

May 31, 2012 at 2:59 pm , by Jessica Hester

Savvy shoppers know to scour nutrition labels. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done. Labels are already pretty tricky to decipher— it’s difficult to make sense of ingredients like xanthan gum, datem, and disodium phosphate. Nutrition information could have gotten even more confusing, thanks to a suggestion from the Corn Refiners Association.

In 2010, the CRA petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to change the term “high fructose corn syrup” to “corn sugar” on nutritional labels. Yesterday, the FDA denied the request, suggesting that the name change would have inaccurately portrayed the ingredient as “natural.”  The sweetener is widely used in snack foods, condiments, and other pantry staples. (And sugar is in more foods than you might think.)

In order to make thoughtful decisions about what to feed their families, shoppers need to be able to understand the ingredients, and recognize those that they want to avoid. Here’s hoping that keeping the term “high fructose corn syrup” will empower consumers to shop smart.

Parents Daily News Roundup

May 31, 2012 at 10:53 am , by April Rueb

Unruly 3-Year-Old Child Kicked Off Alaska Airlines Flight
Alaska Airlines ordered a screaming, squirming toddler off a plane over Memorial Day weekend when he would not stay buckled in his seat.

Youngest Speller Trips Up on ‘Ingluvies’ at National Spelling Bee
Lori Anne Madison, the 6-year-old who became the youngest-ever competitor in the National Spelling Bee, did not qualify for the semifinals but still made history.

More Questions on Antidepressants During Pregnancy
When moms-to-be use antidepressants, their babies may be more likely to be born early or have a seizure soon after birth, a large U.S. study suggests.

Military Mom ‘Proud’ of Breast-Feeding in Uniform, Despite Criticism
National pride, or disgrace? A photo gone viral of two servicewomen breast-feeding their children while in uniform has added a new layer to the debate over nursing in public.

Fighting US’s Worst Teen Pregnancy Rate in Mississippi
Mississippi’s teen birth rate declined modestly over the past decade as rates around the country fell. But Mississippi still has 55 births per 1,000 15- to 19-year-old girls, compared to a national average of 34.3, according to the most recent figures from the federal government’s National Center for Health Statistics.

8-Week-Old Baby Sickened by Dry Dog Food, Lawsuit Claims
A New Jersey father who claims his 8-week-old son was sickened by salmonella-tainted dry dog food is suing the maker of the recalled product and Costco, the store that sold it.

Parents Daily News Roundup

May 30, 2012 at 10:46 am , by April Rueb

Wasting Time Is New Divide in Digital Era
As access to devices has spread, children in poorer families are spending considerably more time using them for purposes other than for education.

Waivers for 8 More States From ‘No Child Left Behind’
The move brought to 19 the number of states granted waivers this year, and Arne Duncan, the education secretary, said that more states would soon qualify for them.

Infant ‘Smarts’ Similar With Different Types of Formula: Study
Babies who are fed soy formula do as well as babies drinking cow’s milk formula on tests of mental ability in the first year of life, a new study finds. But breast-fed babies score slightly higher than infants on either type of formula, the researchers say.

Genetic Cause of Stunted Growth in Babies Discovered
The genetic cause of a syndrome that causes stunted growth in babies has eluded scientists since it was discovered 20 years ago. Now, a gene mutation thought to be linked to large stature has been pinpointed as the culprit of the so-called IMAGe syndrome.

‘Blissful’ Mom Jessica Simpson Shares First Look at Baby Maxwell
Just weeks after giving birth to her first child, entertainer-turned-entrepreneur-turned-new-mom Jessica Simpson is giving the world its first glimpse of her baby girl.

Are You Raising the Next Coppertone Girl?

May 29, 2012 at 5:01 pm , by April Rueb

Does your daughter beg to play outside from sunrise to sunset? Then she just might be the next Coppertone girl.

Coppertone is looking for a real girl to personify the spirit of their iconic cartoon girl. According to Coppertone: “Our little girl symbolizes summer. She is outgoing, energetic, wholesome, charming, and full of optimism.”

If this sounds like your daughter, submit a photo of her enjoying the sun on Coppertone’s Facebook page by June 22. One lucky girl will win a spot in a future Coppertone print advertisement and a dream family vacation!

Click here for more information and the official contest rules.

Read more about sun safety on Parents.com:

• The Scoop on SPF
• 9 Best Sunscreens for Kids
• The Basics of Sun Safety for Kids

Parents Daily News Roundup

May 29, 2012 at 10:24 am , by April Rueb

Marvel Team Creates Deaf Superhero Called Blue Ear in Honor of Boy
Marvel usually gets mail from die-hard fans asking extremely detailed questions about their favorite characters, but one request from a desperate mother led staffers to put their thinking caps on and come up with a brand new superhero.

A Baby Made in India: A Couple’s Dream Comes True
More American couples are turning to overseas surrogates.

9-Year-Old Food Blogger Takes On School Lunch
Martha Payne, age 9, was dissatisfied with the lunches served by her primary school in Scotland, so she began documenting her school meals online — with photos and ratings — prompting worldwide attention for her healthy-lunch campaign.

The Upside of Peer Pressure: Social Networks Help Kids Exercise More
A new study finds that the single biggest influence on kids’ physical activity levels is the exercise habits of their closest friends.

Babies’ Hunger to Learn Has a ‘Goldilocks Effect’
Infants are constantly trying to make sense of the world around them, and they do this by seeking out situations that are neither too simple nor too complex.

Drug for Adults Is Popular as Children’s Remedy
Parents are questioning the long-term effects of the often-used laxative, Miralax, which has become a staple in many American households since it was first introduced 13 years ago.

Parents Daily News Roundup

May 25, 2012 at 11:54 am , by April Rueb

More Kids Eating Detergent Packs, Docs Report
Miniature laundry detergent packets arrived on store shelves in recent months as an alternative to bulky bottles and messy spills. But doctors across the country say children are confusing the tiny, brightly colored packets with candy and swallowing them.

Childhood Cancer Effects May Linger in Adults
Survivors of childhood cancers have an increased risk of disfigurement and persistent hair loss later in life, and for some that may lead to long-term emotional distress, suggests a new study.

Study Links Obesity to C-Section Births
Elizabeth Cohen discusses a study linking babies born via C-section to obesity.

Supreme Court Rules Against Benefits for Posthumously Conceived Kids
Karen Capato used her deceased husband’s frozen sperm to conceive twins. The Supreme Court has ruled the kids aren’t eligible for federal benefits because of their posthumous conception.

9-Ounce Newborn May Leave the Hospital
Kenna Moore was born at a wee nine ounces, perhaps one of the smallest babies in the world to survive.

School Plans Condom Giveaway for Prom
Bedford-Stuyvesant Preparatory High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. will make 500 condoms available at the school’s June 7 prom.