Before purchasing back-to-school supplies for their children, parents can check the Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies on the The Center for Health, Environment and Justice website. The guide lists safer PVC-free school products such as backpacks, lunchboxes, and binders. Our Bumkins waterproof art smock is listed on page 7. All our Bumkins waterproof products are PVC, phthalate, and BPA free.

We have been researching diaper creams and we would love to hear from our cloth diapering parents.

1. Do you use diaper creams with your cloth diapers?
2. If you do, what ones do you like and not like?
3. Have you had problems with the creams staining the diapers or coating the diapers?
4. How do you get rid of the stains or the coating?
5. Do you use liners with the diaper creams?

We will randomly choose one of our wonderful responders to receive a free pack of diaper liners and a Bumkins all in one cloth diaper.

The current issue of Time magazine has a very interesting article about how parents’ experience early in their lives might somehow alter the traits their offspring inherit. The article deals with a new science called epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene activity, brought about by environmental factors, which get passed down to the next generation. A great read for parents interested in how their diet, stress, and prenatal nutrition can make an imprint on their children’s genes.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a wonderful website providing a wide variety of information about seafood issues. Because of the emphasis to add seafood to our diet to increase our intake of the essential omega 3 fatty acids, the consumer has found themselves adrift in conflicting information about the safety of seafood choices. This website offers many educational tools to help you make sustainable and safe seafood choices.

Eating out in today’s world requires planning and the ability to choose carefully from the menu. A few tips help keep your caloric intake within a healthy range and improve the nutrition content of your meals:

• Keep your portions small: choose from the child’s menu; split the meal with your dining partner; ask for a take home container and put half the meal into the container before you start eating.
• Watch the freebies: ask the server not to bring fried tortilla chips, breads and butter, and oils for dipping.
• Avoid high calorie ingredients: request salad dressing on the side and dip the salad ingredients; skip the cheese, oils, creamy sauces, and fatty meats like pepperoni; watch for words like “fried” and “crispy.”
• Don’t drink your calories: free soda refills add hundreds of extra calories; coffee creamers and flavorings, smoothies, and sweetened teas are all calorie rich.
• Plan ahead: check out the menu on line and choose your meal before you leave home; eat at restaurants at which you know the menu and know you can order healthy food happily; stick to your choice when you order and congratulate yourself on your wise choice.