Again from Registered Dietician Robin Kaiden: Summer is just around the corner.  That means the kids are out of school, and you will be traveling via trains, planes, automobiles, or even boats to vacation this season.  Eating healthy often takes a back seat during family trips, but it doesn’t have to.  Of course all treats are nice in moderation:  It wouldn’t be summer without an ice cream cone or two.  However, that doesn’t mean everyone should indulge in two cones a day each and every day on vacation on top of pizza and hot dogs.  Follow my below five tips for fun food during your trips.

1. Food From Home:  You can’t count on airplanes or airports to have healthy options.  Nor do you know how long traffic or security lines will hold you up.  The last thing you want is hunger from your little or big kids adding stress.  Try bringing simple items such as turkey, cheese, almond or peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread.  Grab some apples, applesauce, bananas, peaches, plums, or grapes.  You can do yogurt, as well as sliced vegetables and hummus or guacamole.  All are simple, healthy items that pack easy and travel well.  If you are short on time, prepare the day before, or order for delivery or pick up at a nearby restaurant or store.  These are also nice options for the beach if you have a cooler.
2. Go for Groceries:  Whether you are vacationing in a home with a full kitchen and outdoor grill, or a hotel room without even a mini fridge, a great first stop is the grocery store, local deli, or even the nearest 7-11.   (You can do some research before you arrive to see what is near by.)  Stock up on healthy staples such as bottled water, milk, oatmeal or cereal, fruit, vegetables, nuts, popcorn, all-natural corn chips, yogurt, hummus, salsa, guacamole, baby carrots, celery, peppers, etc.  Healthy meal and snack options that are in reach can prevent eating bagels/donuts for breakfast and ice cream for daily post-beach snacks. 
3. Baby Basics:  If you have an infant and you are using formula, there are a few options.  Bring from home, or do your homework before you arrive to make sure the local drug or grocery store has what you need.   With the amazing website Diapers.com, you can not only send ahead diapers, you can ship your formula, baby food and all your other baby needs to your destination.  If you are already shopping for the family and bigger kids, remember that items such as bananas, avocados, baked and sweet potatoes, and other well-boiled fruits and vegetables (broccoli, peaches, etc) can be mashed up for the little one.
4. Great Gear:  Having the right on-the-go gear for your kids makes it easier to travel with healthy meal and snack options.  Try Themos’ insulated sippy cups and food jars to keep foods cool on warm days.   Zoli sippy cups and formula/snack cups come with me everywhere all year long. Eco Vessel's stainless snack cups are a fun way to keep your little ones busy with some Cheerios or whole grain pretzels. And if you are really serious about continuing homemade food on the road, take your Beaba Babycook with you in its travel bag.   Don’t be shy about bringing a to-go food container to a restaurant.  The employees and other diners will be glad that your little one is happy and content with his or her own familiar food.   If you are going to a seafood restaurant and don’t want your fish-fearing child to end up just eating French fries, then bring along an insulted bag with a sandwich or other healthy option.
5. Heat-Safe Snacks:  What can we bring to the beach, park, or boat that will survive the heat and humidity?  Try the below ideas:

• Dried fruit:  There are many great options.  Just make sure there is not added sugar or hydrogenated oil.  Eden Organic is a great brand that uses apple juice and sunflower oil as healthy alternatives.  Try raisins, cranberries, cherries, mango, pineapple, banana, apple, apricots, dates, figs, or others.
• Nuts: Aim for plain options without added oil and sodium.
• Fruit:  Apples, bananas, pears, peaches, plums, grapes.  A lot of these travel well in the heat, at least for the short term.
• Chips:  Choose those with all natural ingredients (such as olive or canola oil and salt): potato, corn, black bean, taro, sweet potato, or vegetable chips.  Rice cakes, rice crackers, all-natural popcorn and whole grain pretzels or crackers can work too.
• Sandwiches:  Nut butters (peanut, almond, cashew) and all natural fruit preserves on whole grain bread or crackers/rice cakes can stand up in the heat.  Cheese, turkey, chicken, ham etc. can work but don’t last as long in the heat. 
• Bars:  Some of my favorite brands are Larabar, Pure Organic, and Gnu for the taste and health factors.
• Go Bites:  Check out http://www.gobites.com (and use discount code RBK50) to sample these delicious dried fruit/nut/granola/cracker treats.  They are all delicious, portion-controlled, and organic.
• Water:  You must keep hydrated in the heat.  When it gets really hot, try coconut water (even for the little ones) to add some electrolytes.            

I wish you all happy, healthy, and safe travels this summer!

-Robin

Robin Barrie Kaiden is renowned for helping people of all ages embrace a healthier lifestyle through nutrition and fitness counseling.  As a Licensed Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer, her smart and sensible approach to pediatrics, weight loss, sports nutrition, allergies, cardiovascular health, pre/post natal, and other areas of clinical and lifestyle nutrition has resonated with hundreds of people across the United States.  In addition to her private Manhattan-based practice for adults, children and families, she maintains a national presence as a blogger, columnist, guest speaker, and consultant.  A recognized expert on healthy eating, Robin is a trusted resource for print, television, and online media.  She appears regularly in various news, lifestyle, and entertainment stories for CBS, NBC, ABC, Parenting, Golf Fitness, Forbes.com, and other media outlets.  Robin received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Nutrition and Exercise Science from Cornell and Columbia Universities.  For more information, visit http://www.robinbarrie.com<./p>

At Sprout, we strongly believe that if there is one item you should have be organic in your nursery, it should be your crib mattress. Babies can spend 16 hours a day in their cribs, and traditional mattresses can release potentially toxic chemicals into the air and your baby’s lungs. Mattresses are usually made of polyurethane foam which can break down and release VOCs. This foam is also highly flammable, so it is usually sprayed with flame retardant chemicals that you may not want your infant exposed to. Organic mattresses are made of cotton instead of foam and are made flame retardant using wool, latex, or baking soda. The great news is that there are a wide range of organic options for any budget and preference of firmness or materials. Here we help you sort through the options available to for you:

These are the options you will need to consider…

1. Plastic – Many of our mattresses use a food grade plastic (with no BPA, PVC, or phthalates) to make the mattress waterproof. The Naturepedic Classic series is covered with a layer of this plastic. Slightly more expensive is the Naturepedic Ultra series which is covered in organic cotton, brushed with a layer of food grade plastic. If you would like to avoid plastic altogether, the Naturepedic quilted mattress and the Nook Pebble do not contain any plastic.
2. Allergens – Some people are allergic to wool and latex. If you are fearful of these allergies, you may want to opt for a Naturepedic mattress which uses baking soda instead of wool and latex, as its flame retardant.
3. Firmness – SIDS guidelines warn parents to have their babies sleep on a firm surface. The Naturepedic 150 coil mattresses are very firm, but for an extra level of firmness, choose a Naturepedic mattress with 252 coils instead.
4. Seams – Some of our mattresses have seams around the edges, however you may want to opt for a seamless mattress from Naturepedic or Nook. Without seams, there will be less of an opportunity for the mattress to collect dust and allergens.
5. Two sided – If you believe you will convert your crib into a toddler bed and use your mattress for a number of years, you may want to opt for a dual sided mattress, with the firmer side used for an infant and a less firm or even quilted side used to provide greater comfort to a toddler.

Here are 3 of are most suggested mattresses to help narrow it down. If…

You are shopping on a budget:

We understand how expensive preparing for a baby is. If you are on a strict budget our most recommended mattress option is the Naturepedic Classic 150 Coil Waterproof Mattress.
With 150 metal coils it is firm enough for baby yet cozy enough for toddler. This mattress' ingredients consist of metal coils, organic cotton, polyethylene food grade plastic (used for the waterproofing), baking soda and hydrated silica used as the natural flame retardant. The seamless version of this mattress is our best seller.

You want an adult-like and cozy baby mattress:

The 2 in 1 Waterproof and Quilted Organic Crib Mattress is for the parents who would like both a firm mattress for their infant and a mattress for the toddler stage that is more similar to the quilted mattress they sleep on. Also made by Naturepedic, this mattress has all of the same ingredients as the 150 coil classic, but has a higher coil count and less plastic. Use the firm, waterproof side for the infant, and then flip it over to the quilted, non-waterproof side for a toddler.

You prefer waterproof without any plastic:

If you are looking for an all organic mattress and would prefer to not have any plastic coating, the Nook Pebble Pure is the mattress for you. This mattress uses a coconut and latex core rather than metal coils as the springs. Also, instead of using the food grade plastic for water proofing, the Nook mattress uses fibers with nano-technology that prevent liquids from seeping into the mattress for easy-wipe clean up and the option to machine wash the cover. The pebble wrap acts as the mattress pad protector and has pebble like cushions, which help create air flow.

All Options (arranged by price - low to high): $259-$399

Organic Cotton Classic 150 Coils Traditional Edge – covered in 100% polyethylene food grade plastic.

Organic Cotton Classic 150 Coils Seamless - covered in 100% polyethylene food grade plastic.

Organic Cotton Classic Seamless Dual Firmness - covered in 100% polyethylene food grade plastic and firmer on one side than the other.

Organic Cotton Classic 252 Coils Traditional Edge - covered in 100% polyethylene food grade plastic and firmer on both sides.

Organic Cotton Ultra 252 Coils Traditional Edge – covered in organic cotton with brush painted polyethylene for less of a plastic feel.

Organic Cotton Ultra 252 Coils Seamless - covered in organic cotton with brush painted polyethylene for less of a plastic feel.

Organic Cotton Ultra Seamless Dual Firmness - covered in organic cotton with brush painted polyethylene for less of a plastic feel and firmer on one side than the other.

Organic Cotton Quilted Deluxe - All organic cotton with 252 coils and not waterproof. The most adult-like mattress we offer without any polyethylene coating for waterproofing. We recommend customers use a waterproof pad with this mattress. The perfect option if you would like only organic cotton and metal coils in your mattress.

2 in 1 Waterproof and Quilted - This mattress features a firm and waterproof side for infants with a cover made of 100% organic cotton and brushed with the polyethylene waterproof coating. The softer side for toddlers features a quilted organic cotton cover for a more mature mattress surface resembling a conventional adult mattress. Please note that this side is not waterproof and we recommend using a waterproof pad.

Pebble Organic- This organic mattress is manufactured by Nook. They use eucalyptus fibers, an all-natural latex core, and organic wool as the flame retardant. The Pebble Wrap uses nanotechnology to make it water resistant, and the baby can lay directly on it. Its surface is specially designed to increase airflow.

To see all Sprout’s mattress options, click here or contact your local store where we will be happy to walk you through this.

When Ashley Murphy, the founder of NEAT Method (a home organizing service), came to Sprout for help in designing her healthy nursery, we could not have been more excited. Ashley knew she wanted a Vintage Sports theme with a neutral color pallet. (neutral, a Sprout favorite!) One challenge we were working with was space.  Ashley, the organizational guru she is,  decided that maximizing storage was ideal and she wanted to go with functional and transitional pieces. Here was our thought process:

Map out your floor plan- We find it most helpful to clear the entire room you are working with and measure out each piece of furniture being considered for the space. For Ashley's nursery, we were working with a very tight space and found it most helpful to use thick cotton ribbon in the furniture dimensions to give us a better idea of what the room would look like when finished.

Choosing the furniture- With the room mapped out and measured, it was time to pick out the furniture! We went with Newport Cottages, another Sprout favorite. Their furniture is made of solid wood with low VOC paints and manufactured in the US. They offer a classic American look with the option to choose a custom color and distress finish, which is exactly what we did. Foggy Coast by Mythic paint is a warm taupe/grey color I found and thought it was perfect for the neutral and vintage feel. We chose the Parker panel crib for it's clean lines and the Taylor 6 drawer dresser to help solve the storage issue. Newport built a custom changing tray for this so Ashley could maximize storage and use the dresser as a changing table too! Last, we went with the Serena and Lily Presidio glider (not just because we left our hearts in San Francisco where the company is from) but also for it's sleek yet traditional design. It's one of their smaller gliders so it worked perfectly in our small space.

Paint Colors- We had our furniture paint color Foggy Coast picked out and loved it so we stuck with Mythic Paints and chose my personal favorite white, America's Cup. It is such a classic white, not too bright and not too creamy. Ashley had a great idea of taking Foggy Coast a shade lighter and painting it on the ceiling and interior of her built in shelves.

Bedding- Our biggest challenge at Sprout is finding cute bedding in organic fabrics. Luckily we have tapped into an amazing resource now offering beautiful, soft organic fabrics by the yard. We also have Frances, a very talented Manager in our Chicago store, who now makes custom bedding. Ashley helped choose her fabrics and Frances then made a crib skirt, sheets, and changing pad covers to match perfectly in her nursery. We went with Navy as the accent color of the room so the bedding had navy, tan, grey and taupe.

Accessorizing (the fun part!)- Ashley registered for most of the accessories and kept them clean and to the vintage sports theme. We love what she chose! Also available at Sprout, and perfect for a budget, are large letters made of solid wood, perfect for initials in any room. We choose a navy "B" to hang and add a pop of color. When accessorizing, I think it is easy to go over board, so remember to access what you have so you don't end up going over the top or the room can start to look too cluttered.  And let's face it, there will be enough unwanted clutter with little ones and everything you start to accumulate!

We are so happy with the results and couldn't have been happier when Bennett Murphy was welcomed into the world! He is very lucky to have an organized Mom to keep his room looking so clean and NEAT! For more on tips to organizing your nursery read Ashley's blog, Neat Nursery style.

Hallie Rich, a friend of Sprout's who has spent years in the vitamin industry, passed on these helpful tips for finding the right multi-vitamin.

We’re all busy.  From the time the alarm clock goes off in the morning until lights out at night, there is hardly a moment to spare.  Sacrifices are always made and battles are often surrendered, especially when it comes to food.   And even though it’s well documented that good health is supported by a nutrient-rich, healthy diet, it’s not always possible or plausible.

Organic food tends to be more expensive  and not always available, our children tend to be picky eaters, and quick & easy snacks and meals prevail most of the time, despite their level of nutritional benefits.  Many kids also do not receive a varied diet, preferring the same foods over and over again and trying to get them to try something new and different is a hassle at best. 

This is why many parents chose to give their children a daily multivitamin as an insurance policy to fill in the gaps that their diet may be lacking, as well as providing the nutrients a limited diet cannot offer.  But which one?

Many pediatric dentists try to steer you away from gummies because of their sugar content and the fact that they may stick to your children’s teeth.  Pediatricians tell you to avoid formulas that are lacking or missing essential nutrients.  So, where does that leave you?

First, it’s always best to look for one that is a complete product, meaning that it contains both vitamins and minerals.   If the label does not mention the word ‘mineral’, it is very possible the product does not contain essential nutrients, like calcium, magnesium and zinc.  Without these minerals, the formula is considered by many to be incomplete.

Choosing a good vitamin for your child should also take into account what is NOT in the product as much as what is.  Many are full of sugar, allergens or artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives, so read the labels carefully.  These ingredients will often be found listed under “additional ingredients”, so pay specific attention to that area.

While you’re looking at the label, be sure to look at the serving size when it comes to nutritional content.  Some vitamins are one per day and some require a child to take many a day so make sure to take note.  Additionally, some companies get sneaky and only tell you what is in one tablet/gummy even though the serving calls for many per dose.  For example, a serving may be 4 gummies but the caloric and sugar content may be listed per gummy. 

The last consideration, when talking about a children’s vitamin is always taste and texture, because, no matter how great the vitamin, they’ll do no good if your child won’t take them. 

By taking all of this into account, you should be able to finding a multi that works for both you and your child which will help foster healthy habits for a lifetime.

Learn more about Hallie and her favorite supplements here.

Robin Barrie Kaiden is renowned for helping people of all ages embrace a healthier lifestyle through nutrition and fitness counseling.  As a Licensed Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer, her smart and sensible approach to pediatrics, weight loss, sports nutrition, allergies, cardiovascular health, pre/post natal, and other areas of clinical and lifestyle nutrition has resonated with hundreds of people across the United States.  In addition to her private Manhattan-based practice for adults, children and families, she maintains a national presence as a blogger, columnist, guest speaker, and consultant.  A recognized expert on healthy eating, Robin is a trusted resource for print, television, and online media.  She appears regularly in various news, lifestyle, and entertainment stories for CBS, NBC, ABC, Parenting, Golf Fitness, Forbes.com, and other media outlets.  Robin received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Nutrition and Exercise Science from Cornell and Columbia Universities.  For more information, visit www.robinbarrie.com.

Below, she shares her advice on how to deal with children who are picky eaters. I found it extremely informative and will keep these tips in mind with my 3 year old...

Don’t panic with picky eaters!  Although this can be very frustrating, it is crucial to have patience.  As children are introduced to new foods, tastes, and flavors, there are a variety of factors that influence acceptance and refusal.  One important concept to remember is that “familiarity breeds liking”.  In fact, it can take up to 50 plus exposures to an item for true acceptance to occur.  “Exposures” may include touching, smelling, tasting, eating, playing with the food, or even just allowing it to sit untouched on your child’s plate. 

Most children accept a large array of foods up until age 2, but may have phases or food “jags” that can last until age 4 or 5.  At 2 they are walking and talking and exploring all that the exciting world has to offer (hence the term “terrible two’s”), so they are less interested in food.  This is also when their taste buds begin to evolve and likes and dislikes (some which may be genetically determined, according to research) develop.  Environmental cues also play a role here.  If exposures have been frequent, the food has been consumed and enjoyed for an extended period of time, and then is suddenly refused, one or more of the below factors may be at play.  Your child:

• May have noticed that a parent, sibling, or friend dislikes this particular food.
• Could have had one or more bad experiences after eating a food or foods (for example a stomach ache, an illness/cold/flu following consumption).
• May have developed a food allergy or sensitivity to a certain food or food group.
• Could have developed sensory issues, meaning that he or she will not tolerate certain food textures.
• May use food refusal as a behavioral ploy, noting that NOT eating this food attracts extra caregiver attention.

If medical conditions (food allergies/sensitivities or sensory issues) are suspected, contact your Pediatrician or Registered Dietitian.  If mere picky eating appears to be the culprit, remember the parent-child division of responsibility in feeding:  The PARENT determines the types of food offered and at what time and where, while the CHILD decides which foods to eat and how much.  Ensure that the whole family eats the same food, and avoid becoming a “short-order cook”.  Also try the below tips.

• Picky or limited eaters may require vitamin or mineral supplements.
• “Calorie Boosters”, such as oils, butter, cheese, avocado, nuts and nut butters, added to foods will increase calories and protein in the diet.
• Foods can be hidden (veggies in spaghetti sauce, proteins blended into soups, fruit in baked goods) while repeated exposures continue.
• Keep junk food out of the house, and make sure the fridge is stocked with healthy options.
• Make food fun:  involve kids in food shopping and preparation, and use fun shapes/colors/cookie cutters.
• Be a good role model:  Choose healthy balanced meals and join kids for family meals.
• Keep your own food aversions to yourself while allowing children to taste all foods.
• Allow 30-45 minutes for meal times, and do not focus on or punish uneaten or untouched foods. 
• Observe kids’ hunger cues, and note that the un-clean plate is okay.
• Avoid labeling foods as “good” or “bad”, and remember that moderation is key.
• Use non-food items for eating rewards, not dessert or other favorite foods. 

****If the pickiness still has you in a panic, you can always consult your Pediatrician or Registered Dietitian.

For any questions or more information, please contact me!
Robin Barrie Kaiden, MS, RD, CDN, CSSD
Robin Barrie™
Nutrition Counseling / Personal Training
Email:  rkaiden@robinbarrie.com
Website:  www.robinbarrie.com
Phone:   917-648-1421

Robin Barrie Kaiden is renowned for helping people of all ages embrace a healthier lifestyle through nutrition and fitness counseling.  As a Licensed Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer, her smart and sensible approach to pediatrics, weight loss, sports nutrition, allergies, cardiovascular health, pre/post natal, and other areas of clinical and lifestyle nutrition has resonated with hundreds of people across the United States.  In addition to her private Manhattan-based practice for adults, children and families, she maintains a national presence as a blogger, columnist, guest speaker, and consultant.  A recognized expert on healthy eating, Robin is a trusted resource for print, television, and online media.  She appears regularly in various news, lifestyle, and entertainment stories for CBS, NBC, ABC, Parenting, Golf Fitness, Forbes.com, and other media outlets.  Robin received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Nutrition and Exercise Science from Cornell and Columbia Universities.  For more information, visit www.robinbarrie.com.

I am reading this wonderful book called “Anti Cancer: A new way of life”, written by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, a neuroscientist who recovered from brain cancer and then sought to find proven ways that changing his life and his environment could help to prevent a relapse. One of the MANY very interesting things I learned from this book is that there is a real benefit to our health to eating organic meat and dairy. The main benefit seems to be from eating grass fed animals, but I do find  often when you buy organic, the animals are also grass fed. This is not a guarantee but a good starting point.

I am going to try to summarize this section of the book, but I highly recommend reading the whole thing. Here it is:

Cows and Chickens and what they eat
Omega-3s provide many health benefits we have all heard about. They help to develop the nervous system, reducing inflammation and regulating cell growth (and we know that unchecked cell growth is what leads to tumors). Omega-3s also limit the production of fat cells. However, omega-6s, which are not spoken of as often, help stock fats, promote inflammation, and increase cell growth, leading to the spread of cancer and tumor growth. Read more about omega-3s vs. omega-6s from another source here.

At a traditional farm, cows eat grass, an especially rich source of omega-3 fatty acids; these fatty acids are therefore concentrated in the milk from cows raised in pastures and in the milk’s derivatives –butter, cream, yogurt, and cheese. Omega-3s are likewise found in beef from grass-fed cattle and in eggs from free-range chickens fed with forage (rather than grain).

Starting in the fifties, the demand for milk products and beef went up so much that farmers had to look for shortcuts in the natural cycle of milk production and reduce the grazing area needed to feed a cow. Pastures were abandoned and replaced by corn, soy, and wheat, which have become the principal diet for cattle. This feed contains practically no omega-3 fatty acids and are rich in omega-6s.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are called “essential” because the human body cannot make them. Therefore, the quantity in our body is a direct result of what the cows and chickens we eat have consumed. If they eat grass, then the meat, milk, and eggs that result have a balance close to 1/1 of omega-3s and omega-6s. If they eat corn and soy, the imbalance in our bodies become 1/15 or can even be 1/40. Eggs are also affected. Eggs from chickens raised on corn contain 20 times more Omega-3s than Omega-6s. 

This means that non-organic meat, dairy, and eggs are all creating an imbalance in our bodies of many more omega 6 fatty acids than omega 3s. This imbalance puts us all at higher risk of weight gain and cancer.

Therefore, if you can, stick to organic meats and dairy, and especially grass fed beef and free range chicken and eggs. And don’t be shy to ask. If restaurants and grocery stores hear more demand for these types of products, they will start to stock more of them.

Janeen Hayward founded Swellbeing, a parenting consultancy, shortly after the birth of her first daughter in 2006. As a child development professional with a master's degree in clinical psychology, Janeen helps parents navigate the difficult terrain around sleep and offers advice and support on a host of other developmental issues including potty training, positive discipline and sibling preparation.  In short, she helps parents nurture healthy and happy children. Outside of work, Janeen has the delight of raising two young daughters with her husband.

She was kind enough to share some of her advice below.

You have an extensive background with clinical psychology, how did your work here lead you to the start of Swellbeing?

After working for a few years in a couple Chicago public schools, my husband and I were relocated to NYC. I worked in a public school in NYC for a year before starting to work for a parenting organization in the city. In my first new parent support group I knew I had found my niche! I loved talking with families about their changing identities as they grew into their new roles as mother and father, as well as talking with them about their young child’s development. It was a perfect fit for me!

What do you find most helpful from your clinical psychology background when guiding new parents through the transition to parenthood?

My understanding of how the relationships we have throughout our lifetime, as well as our innate temperament traits, shape the person and parent we become.  Parenting can sometimes trigger painful or upsetting memories and feelings, but when parents are able to keep their own emotional reactions in check, they are best able to help their child to learn and grow.

We have heard you speak at the Bump Club and Beyond dinners about sleep safety/sleep tricks, why is this knowledge so important?

Through research we have learned quite a lot about how to minimize the risk factors for SIDS. If there is any tidbit of information that could spare a family that horrible tragedy, then I want to pass it along.

Furthermore, it has consistently been my experience that when parents understand the science of sleep and can answer the ‘why’ question regarding challenges they’re having, parents are empowered to make changes that have a positive impact on the entire family.

What do parents struggle with most when dealing with sleep issues?

Setting limits. Parenting is very hard work and by the time bedtime rolls around, it can be challenging to be consistent, kind and firm.  Yet, this is precisely what kids need.

Why is sleep so important to you?

I have come to understand and appreciate how important healthy sleep is for the developing brain. I know that there are significant choices parents can make in terms of their child’s sleep environment, clothing and positioning that can make a dramatic difference for the lifelong health of their child. I take my responsibility to share what I know very seriously.

Can you provide some useful tips people can try now?

#1 Keep the room cool. Children sleep best when the temperature is between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. This also reduces the risk of overheating, one of the biggest risk factors, especially in winter months.

#2 Once your baby is no longer being swaddled you can switch to a sleep sack, also called a wearable blanket. Sleep sacks are a great way to ensure your baby stays safely covered all night, plus it is a great sleep association for wee ones.

What is the one take away you can provide for a new parent that could potentially change tonight's sleep?

Learn your child’s tolerance for wakefulness. Often kids are kept up beyond the point at which their bodies are telling them it’s time for sleep and they get overtired.  Kids who are overtired and stressed produce stress hormones -- those hormones act like adrenaline and give them a burst of energy, which makes bedtime harder and often leads to night wakings/early rising. Getting your child to bed at his/her optimal time will not only lead to better sleep, but will directly impact your child’s energy level and mood tomorrow!

Since opening Sprout in 2009, we have faced a dilemma when it comes to Lavender and Tea Tree oil. Both are believed to be estrogen mimics, but they are used in many of the organic personal care products on the market, especially lavender. We decided to get to the bottom of this controversy. We sought out both the original article that introduced this concern and an explanation from an expert on children’s environmental health.

The article
”New England Journal of Medicine Prepubertal Gynecomastia Linked to Lavender and Tea Tree Oils,” by Derek V. Henley, Ph.D., Natasha Lipson, M.D., Kenneth S. Korach, Ph.D., and Clifford A. Bloch, M.D. (n engl j med 356;5 http://www.nejm.org February 1, 2007)

The article describes three young boys who grew breasts after using products with lavender and tea tree oil. The breasts disappeared after no longer using the products. The products were then tested and found to have estrogenic properties.

Here is the executive summary:

“Most cases of male prepubertal gynecomastia [the benign enlargement of breast tissue in males] are classified as idiopathic. We investigated possible causes of gynecomastia in three prepubertal boys who were otherwise healthy and had normal serum concentrations of endogenous steroids. In all three boys, gynecomastia coincided with the topical application of products that contained lavender and tea tree oils. Gynecomastia resolved in each patient shortly after the use of products containing these oils was discontinued. Furthermore, studies in human cell lines indicated that the two oils had estrogenic and antiandrogenic activities. We conclude that repeated topical exposure to lavender and tea tree oils probably caused prepubertal gynecomastia in these boys.”

Most of the personal care companies that use lavender with whom we have discussed this concern have dismissed it. They usually respond that, “It’s only been seen in one study.” This is true, but we didn’t know if that meant anything or not.

We reached out to one of the country’s most renowned experts on children’s environmental health, Dr. Philip Landrigan of Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York and the head of the Children's Environmental Health Center. We forwarded him another author’s blog post that attempts to discredit the lavender study.

Below, in italics, are Dr. Landrigan’s comments:

1. The blog states:  "Looking at the footnotes of the study, you'll notice that all of the doctors who conducted the research are sponsored by numerous drug companies. 'Nuff said."   This is not true.  In fact, only one of the four authors report receiving drug company support and this support is noted in a footnote at the end of the article.  The other three authors are staff scientists on salary at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the EPA, as  noted on page 1 of the article on the right-hand side, and legally prohibited from accepting such support.

2. The blog states that, “Product names were not provided.” This is correct with respect to the three clinical case reports.  But in the laboratory portion of the study, the authors state that they used pure lavender oil and tea tree oil, both of which they obtained from Sigma Chemical, a highly reputable supplier of chemical reagents.

3. The blog states, “None of the hormonal testing showed abnormal results, except in Patient 2, who had elevated levels of testosterone (not estrogen).”  This is true, but irrelevant.  This comment  misses the point that the authors tested the three patients for normal hormones to make sure that they were not missing a diagnosis of a pituitary tumor or other endocrine disease, which  can produce elevated serum hormone levels.  In other words, the authors performed these tests to exclude certain diagnoses and to demonstrate that there was no internal factor in the children’s bodies that could account for the effects that they observed.

4. The blog asks, “Might the patients' gynecomastia have reflected another pathophysiological process that resolved spontaneously?” That is possible, but when three separate cases of gynecomastia all resolve themselves shortly after exposure to lavender oil is removed, it seems to be stretching reality to invoke the spontaneous disappearance of some undiscovered endocrine disease in each of these three patients.  And as noted above, the investigators looked for other causes and found none.

5. The blog states, “If you look carefully at their study, you'll notice they didn't apply pure lavender or tea tree essential oil on the cells they were testing, they used a solvent to dilute the oils. The solvent is dimethylsulfoxide---which, as it turns out, is an estrogen mimicker!” This is true, but the blogger misses the point that the cellular responses increased as concentrations of lavender oil and tea tree oil increased—a classic dose-response reaction to a toxic chemical.  Unless levels of DMSO increased at the same time, DMSO is not a likely explanation for this strongly positive dose-response effect.

6. The blog states. “Traditional use and clinical trials have not suggested estrogenic effects of tea tree or lavender oil.”  Have these effects ever been sought in properly conducted clinical trials?  This is unlikely because FDA approval is not required for these products.

7. The blog asks, "Are occupational exposures to lavender and tea tree associated with estrogenic symptoms?"  This is a good question. Last year an epidemiological study of bladder cancer was conducted among pharmacists in Taiwan. Scattered case reports of bladder cancer among patients who took a Chinese herbal medication, aristolochic acid triggered this study. The study found an extremely elevated rate of bladder cancer among pharmacists who handled aristolochic acid, and this risk increased with increasing degree of contact, a positive dose-response relationship.  Aristolochic acid is a naturally occurring product derived from plants that had been used for centuries and never properly tested.  The World Health Organization has declared  aristolochic acid a “proven human carcinogen.” Natural is not necessarily safe.

My bottom line here is that I would be  cautious in using lavender oil and tea tree oil.  I would be especially careful about allowing pregnant women or small children to come into contact with these materials.  So far as I am aware, there is no information available on the possible developmental toxicity of these materials to the developing fetus.  But given the string of evidence of estrogenicity reported in this article, I am worried that prenatal exposure during windows of vulnerability in early fetal development could produce some serious effects.
Until more testing has been done and until these chemicals have been found to have no developmental toxicity, my philosophy is, “Better safe than sorry”.

Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc
Dean for Global Health
Ethel H. Wise Professor and Chairman
Department of Preventive Medicine
Professor of Pediatrics
Director, Children's Environmental Health Center
Mount Sinai School of Medicine

We at Sprout agree with Dr. Landrigan’s “better safe than sorry” approach and, as a result, we are working to eliminate lavender and tea tree oil from the personal care and cleaning products that Sprout carries.

Vivian Sonnenberg has been speaking at Sprout in San Francisco for the past four years. I am constantly running into women at the store who feel they owe her their sanity because she taught their babies to sleep. I feel the same. Three years ago, she helped my daughter Hannah sleep twelve straight hours at 3 months old. I really felt that my life got better that week. I didn’t realize though how much good she does for the babies themselves until she helped us with my second daughter last year. Amber was always overtired and cranky and wanted to be held all day and all night. She was an unhappy baby. After Vivian helped her go from awake all night to sleeping 12 straight hours within a week, we saw a side of Amber we had never seen. She was smiling and calm all the time. She became one of the happiest babies I have seen. It was then clear to me that by teaching my children to sleep, I was helping them even more than I was helping myself.

Vivian spoke again at Sprout recently and allowed us to take notes to share with you. Here are just a few key tips that stood out to us:

Sleep Training Tips from Vivian Sonnenberg

• Schedule and consistency are very important.  You need to dedicate 5 (consecutive) days to sleep training the right way.  If you have someone helping with the baby during the week, start over the weekend then train them how to help too.
• Do not let the baby fall asleep on you.
• There is no “No Cry Solution.”  That does not mean you should turn off the baby monitor, sleep and let your baby cry all night, but sometimes there will be tears.
• The younger they are the easier the training will be.  Start sleep training around 3 months old (depending on weight and health of the baby).
• If you rush in and feed the baby every time you hear them make a peep, then they will expect you to continue to do this for them.
• If you have a good nighttime sleeper then a nap in the car or stroller is okay.  If the baby is not sleeping well at night then they should be taking naps at home in their crib.
• For the city parents who have one bedroom… your best bet for sleep training is moving yourself or the baby to the living room.  It is MUCH harder to sleep train a baby if you are in the same room.

For more insight from Vivian, please see her website: http://www.viviansonnenberg.com.

For our focus on doctors, I took the time to interview my father, Dr. Dennis Styne, as he is much of my inspiration for Sprout's mission. He is a professor of pediatric endocrinology and the past chair of the department of pediatrics at the University of California at Davis. He has served on the national committee for the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Pediatric Endocrine Society and authored over 150 publication and chapters. 


What do you do?

I am a pediatric endocrinologist.  That means I have had special training to take care of disorders of the endocrine glands in childhood including such conditions as diabetes, growth disorders, thyroid disease, disorders of puberty and other problems involving hormones.

Can the environment affect the endocrine system?

Yes, endocrine disruptors are chemicals in the environment that have effects similar to hormones and can produce developmental and reproductive changes in those exposed to the disruptors. Thus in my clinical work and my research I study the effects of endocrine disruptors.  Examples of endocrine disruptors include DDT which can still exert impacts decades after it was banned from use.  For example DDT is associated with decreased sperm count and miscarriages and even premature cessation of breast-feeding.  Industrial exposures of dioxin in other countries have delayed puberty in boys and can exert other effects. More recently attention was focused on plastics including those containing bisphenol A (BPA). BPA has recently been banned nationally in baby bottles because of concern that it exerts effects on the developing prostate gland, breast, neurologic system and may even foster the development of obesity. Further, certain phases of human development such as pregnancy and fetal life may allow concentration of the substances so that there are higher exposures.  Endocrine disruptors can be found in everyday life in such locations as the lining of carbonated soda cans, water bottles, and even the receipts that we get out of ATMs or gas pumps.

How do we know that these chemicals are exerting effects?

In places where industrial accidents occur and these chemicals are released in large amounts, we have convincing proof that they affect the development of children.  When these disruptors are experienced in lower amounts in our everyday life the evidence is not as strong, but we all worry that that when exposure occurs during critical periods of development when children and fetuses are uniquely susceptible to these chemicals, the effects might be even more significant.  Presently sperm counts in areas of Scandinavia, as well as the United States, are decreasing and many are concerned that this is due to endocrine disruptors.  In Denmark boys are more frequently now found to have undescended testes (cryptorchidism) or abnormal placement of the opening where the urine exits the penis (hypospadias) and in later life a tendency towards the development of testicular cancer (called the "testicular dysgenesis syndrome").  It is postulated that these effects are due to exposure to endocrine disruptors.

What are the reasons that there are so many endocrine disruptors in our environment?

It seems that the United States requires proof that an environmental chemical causes damage before it can be investigated and eliminated.  In Norway, as an example, laws require that chemicals are proven to be safe before they can enter the environment.  We can do well to emulate these approaches.  Presently the Endocrine Society and numerous other health organizations have asked for more study of the effects of endocrine disruptors and enhanced regulation of the substances. Continual pressure on Congress to develop better regulation could be effective in demanding change.

What can a parent do to avoid these exposures?

There are certain things you can avoid, such as plastics that contain BPA. Also, while there is no proven increase in nutritional value from organic fruits and vegetables there is a decrease in the exposure to pesticides and other agricultural chemicals in organic products. We have also recently begun to study anti-bacterial soaps and found that anti-bacterial chemicals appears to exert biological effects as they are absorbed through the skin. We are not yet certain what the extent of the effects are and further studies are necessary.

As an endocrinologist you focus on obesity. Is there a link?

We currently have an epidemic of childhood obesity. In large part this is due to poor habits in many cases, such as excessive screen time and lack of activity, but some investigators believe that there might be an environmental factor as well. Many of the endocrine disruptors talked about above are linked to obesity in animals and we are currently studying the possibility that this is happening in children as well.

I have heard that girls are going through puberty earlier than in the past. Is this related?

There is no question that girls are starting puberty earlier than 20/30 years ago. The cause in many cases appears to be the obesity epidemic because excess weight advances puberty. However, the endocrine disruptors and their estrogenic effects offer another potential explanation that we are currently studying.

-Dennis Styne, MD, Professor, Chief of Pediatric Endocrinology, Director of the Newborn Screening Program and Childhood Obesity Clinic, UC Davis Children’s Hospital
Dennis M. Styne is an expert on pediatric endocrine disorders, growth and disorders of puberty, diabetes mellitus in childhood, thyroid disease, and childhood obesity. He played an integral part in establishing a new childhood and adolescent weight management program at UC Davis Medical Center. Styne has been featured in The Best Doctors in America. He is an active leader in the Obesity Affiliation Group, working to foster development of a state-of-the-art, nationally prominent pediatric obesity research and treatment center. He also has a research interest in puberty and fetal and childhood growth.