Australian Toy ‘Bindeez Beads’ Recalled After Found Containing GHB

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Australia’s Toy of the Year ‘Bindeez Beads’ has announced an immediate voluntary recall after it was found to contain a chemical that converts into a dangerous drug when eaten.

Three children have been taken to hospital in the past two weeks after eating the beads, which have been found to contain a chemical that breaks down into the potentially fatal drug fantasy, also known as GHB or GBH.

Distributor Moose Enterprise said today that parents and carers of children should immediately remove the product.

“The company has advised that if the product has been swallowed, parents should seek immediate medical attention, even if the child is not showing any adverse symptoms,” the company said.

Named as Australia’s 2007 Toy of the Year, the Bindeez range of craft toys has been pulled from shelves nationwide after Victoria today joined the other states in imposing a formal ban on its sale.

The company said the safety of children is its first priority.

“In order to best protect the safety of children who have, or may, come into contact with the toy, the company has voluntarily recalled the product and is fully co-operating with health and consumer affairs organisations,” the company said.

It said the toys were made by internationally approved manufacturers in China and were subject to world-standard independent testing.

“Moose Enterprise has not experienced any safety concerns with its products since the company was purchased by its current management team six years ago,” the company said.

I am not sure if this toy was sold in North America? Probably just through Ebay…
SOURCE

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UPDATE: Toddler With Eight Limbs Surgery A Success

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I am happy to report that the toddler I wrote about yesterday with the 8 limbs has had a successful surgery.The almost 24 hour operation required a team of more than 30 physicians to remove Lakshmi’s extra limbs, salvaged her organs, and rebuilt her pelvis area, Dr. Sharan Patil said from a hospital in the southern Indian city of Bangalore.

The strong little girl was born joined to a “parasitic twin” that stopped developing in her mother’s womb. The surviving fetus absorbed limbs, kidneys and other body parts of the undeveloped fetus.

“Beyond our expectations, the reconstruction worked wonderfully well,” said Patil, the lead orthopedic surgeon during the operation.

The complications for Lakshmi’s surgery were myriad: She was born with four kidneys, entangled nerves, two stomach cavities and two chest cavities. She has not been able stand up or walk.

The surgery also included separating the fused spines, Patil said. “Every step was successful. There was no setback whatsoever.”

Physicians had anticipated an especially difficult challenge would be rebuilding Lakshmi’s pelvis, but that went smoothly also.

“We were able to bring the pelvic bones together successfully, which takes away the need for another procedure,” Patil said.

The little girl has been called a the goddess

Vishnu, a mythical figure that is thought to be the master of and beyond the past, present and future, the creator and destroyer of all existences, one who supports, sustains and governs the Universe and originates and develops all elements within.

The good news is that the hospital’s foundation paid for the operation because the family could not afford the bills.

SOURCE

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Green to Grow BPA Free Bottles

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I have written extensively about BPA (Biosphenol – A) chemicals leaching into bottles and the effects that it could have on our children’s health.

Many companies have stepped up and are now creating bottles that will not put our kids health at risk.

Green to Grow is the latest to release a bottle that is free of phthalates and free of bisphenol A – a suspected hormone-disrupting chemical.

The bottles are:

• Bottles are tested in the U.S. to ensure they meet the highest standards for quality and safety

• Free of lead and PVC
• Includes a Beginner (slow flow, 0-3 months) nitrosamine-free silicone nipple
• 100% recycled packaging
• Dishwasher safe (top rack)

They are created with a soft colour pattern that is appealing to most children and have fruit smiley faces on the front. Reasonably priced at $10 for 10oz and $8 for 5oz.

Related Articles:

California Bans The Sale Of Toys Made With Phthalates
Choosing a bottle: Some Biosphenol A Free Choices
Baby 411 Authors Take Aim At Plastic Bottles

SOURCE: GREENTOGROW via APARTMENTTHERAPY

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Jennifer Lopez Relaxes In Florida

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Even though Jennifer Lopez has yet to confirm that she is expecting, her bump seems to say everything.

Enjoying a few days off as her hectic US tour draws to a close, Lopez clapped and cheered as husband Marc Anthony took part in a charity baseball game in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“She was really enjoying herself,” said one on-looker.

“Every time the wind blew her dress, everyone could clearly see her bump but she didn’t seem to care.

PHOTOCREDIT:SPLASHNEWSONLINE via YAHOO

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Study: Breast Feeding Makes Babies Smarter

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The findings on this subject go back and forth. Last October The Medical Research Council and University of Edinburgh conducted a study and found that:

Breastfed babies are smarter because their mothers are clever in the first place, not because of any advantage of breastfeeding itself.

Today, a study was published that looked at 3,000 children in the US and UK.

It found that breast fed babies who shared the genetic variant outscored bottle-fed peers in intelligence tests, researchers said. The variant to the FADS2 gene, involved in processing fatty acids, is found in about 90 percent of people, they added.

“For 100 years, the intelligence quotient has been at the heart of scientific and public debates about nature versus nurture,” Terrie Moffitt of Kings College London and colleagues wrote in their report, published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“Evidence that nature and nurture work together drives a nail in the coffin of the nature-versus-nurture debate.”

Some other advantages for breast fed children include reducing infections, respiratory illnesses and diarrhea, earlier research has shown. A study presented at an American Heart Association meeting earlier this week added healthier blood cholesterol levels to that list.

Although scientists have been looking at potential links between breast-feeding and intelligence for decades, the direct relationship has not always been clear.

The researchers studied the FADS2 gene involved in processing omega 3 fatty acids found in foods such as salmon, nuts and avocados and turning them into nutrients for the brain.

In both countries, breast-fed children had a higher IQ by about 6 to 7 points, but only if they had a variant that made the gene more efficiently process fatty acids.

Related Articles: Choosing A Breast Pump
Benefits Of Initiating Breastfeeding Within The First Hour After Birth
Study: Breast Feeding Doesn’t Cause Saggy Breasts
Breastmilk For Sale: Would You Buy?

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RECALL: Fisher Price Laugh N Learn Kitchen

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Fisher Price, today announced a voluntary recall of about 155,000 Laugh n Learn Kitchens.

There have been 48 reports of small parts separating from the toys, including two reports of children gagging on pieces, one report of a child who started choking on a piece and one report of a child who choked on a piece.

The recall involves a play kitchen learning toy with a pretend refrigerator, range and sink. The product�s item number L5067 is stamped in several locations on the toy and printed on the product�s packaging above the UPC.

The kitchens were sold in stores nationwide from May 2007 through October 2007 for about $70.

Parents are being asked to take the recalled toys away from children and contact Fisher-Price for a free repair kit.

For additional information, contact Fisher-Price toll-free at (888) 812-7187 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Saturday, or visit the firm�s Web site at www.service.mattel.com

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Violet is a Little Piggy

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Jennifer Garner takes daughter Violet out in NYC.

Jennifer’s former Alias costar Victor Garber told US that Ben and Jen’s little darling — who turns 2 next month — is now singing the Disney classic “When You Wish Upon Star.”

And that’s not all!

“Violet is the most verbal child. She’s not even 2, and her vocabulary is daunting,” he said “She can talk about animals, giraffes, and she mentions where she’s been.”

“Honestly, that child is so inquisitive and so full of life — it’s all Jennifer and Ben!” Garber said. “I have to say, he’s an amazing dad and together, she’s a very fortunate little girl to be in that family!”

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