Monday, September 10, 2012

recall on products or parents?


I am a new parent I admit I don't know everything.  I gladly admit that everyday is a new learning moment for me.  The one thing I feel I do have a grasp on is when something is MY fault and when something is the fault of a poor design.  When I put my child into a product or even on a raised surface he is not alone, ever.  The reason is because he is a wiggly, moving, bouncing, rolling, drooling child. If he was as limp as a rock and had no movement what so ever I think I would be more concerned with that then why a product is designed poorly.

I give you exhibit a.  This is an ACTUAL warning label from the Bumbo which is a hard foam seat which a baby sits in.  If I could draw your attention to the fourth line which reads "NEVER LEAVE YOUR BABY UNATTENDED."  Wait maybe for a min or so?  No just don't leave your baby unattended plain and simple.  There is a recall because babies wiggled and fell out of this seat.  Let's look at the warning clearly printed on the seat itself (its actually printed in two different places) "AS THE SEAT IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE TOTALLY RESTRICTIVE AND MAY NOT PREVENT RELEASE OF YOUR BABY IN THE EVENT OF VIGOROUS MOVEMENT."  Is it not clear or is it just me?  I read this as, "Hey your baby can get out of this thing, just don't leave him unattended."
Here is an example of some definitely unsafe toys (it will take you to a clip on Hulu just so you know) Watch it, it's funny.
End of parental Rant.

Orange foods...5 months

Squash
So here he is just 5 months old and trying to use a spoon.  James is getting really big!  We have mastered 4 different green foods; peas, beans, spinach and avocado.  We moved onto orange foods and he has done really well.  We are on the third orange food and he has had no problem with the other two.  I realize they are more sweet then the green foods.  I just have a feeling that he is just loving food.  I am going to be trying new veggies as we go and not move onto fruit until we have mastered some yummy new veggies.  I really want my kid to love veggies and healthy food. I realize biologically he is not my child but I am raising him and he is my child in my heart and soul.  I want him to reach for the healthy snacks for and ask me for veggies and fruits as snacks before he asks for candy and fast food.  At times there will treats and we will get there when the time comes but I want to raise a kid who knows healthy vs non-healthy.  I was raised on garden veggies and fresh fruit and I know the difference between the two.  Whether I eat healthy that is a choice that I make everyday.  I try best I can to eat healthy maybe 90% of the time, but I slip occasionally.  I want him to know that an occasional something bad for you is okay, and it is a treat not something you eat everyday.  Well for now we will stick with pureed veggies and go from there!