The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Magus Industry Co today announced a voluntary recall of about 84,000 Children’s Storage Bins because surface paint on the storage bins could contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

The recalled storage bins are wooden with scalloped edges and were sold in pastel green or pink. Item number 226782 (pastel green storage bin) or 226781 (pink storage bin) is located on the bottom of the storage bin. No other storage bins or colors are included in this recall.

Parents are being asked to take the recalled storage bins away from children and return them to any Lowe’s store for a full refund.

For additional information, contact L G Sourcing toll-free at (866) 493-6563 anytime, or visit www.lowes.com

When Louise Manning, 39, announced she was expecting she was warned that she would “never be the same again” and that the BMW company car she has had would be replaced with a “run-around”.

Her managing director, Nick Medlam, went on to send her a memo saying: “Feel betrayed . . . Tempted to dismiss and take the consequences.”

He then cancelled the training that she needed to join the board of directors, referring to her maternity leave as her period of confinement.

Louise, who left her $110,000-a-year job in October last year, was awarded close to $120,000 after a tribunal found that Nick sexually discriminated against her 24 times after learning about her pregnancy.

The company was ordered to pay Louise three fifths of the total damages award – $70,000 and Nick Medlam must pay the rest of the award – $46,000.

This looks good on this pompous gerk. I hope it teaches companies that they can think what they want about their expectant employees, but saying it aloud will cost them $$$.

The last thing a mom to be needs is to be berated while at work, especially when it is well documented that stress during pregnancy can cause premature labor or Cerebral Palsy in infants.

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Jessica is due to deliver her first baby, a girl, at the beginning of June.

Despite her current shape, Jessica has been voted sexiest woman in the world by the Australian edition of FHM magazine.

PHOTOCREDIT: Alex Calderon/BuzzFoto.com VIA USMAGAZINE

This set of two storage bags are perfect for all sorts of items, including socks, hair ribbons, headbands, Legos, doll clothes, stuffed animals, art/craft supplies, school supplies, games, photos, belts. . .the list goes on and on! The bottom storage (Chocolate) zips closed. Sewn onto this is a draw string bag (Icing) that closes with a cute cherry button. The smaller cupcake can easily fit inside the larger cupcake. Available at Kangaroom for $19.99

VIA OHDEEOH

A newly released US Government report finds that breast-feeding in the US is at its highest mark in at least 20 years with more than three-quarters of new moms nursing their infants.

About 77 percent of new mothers breast-feed, at least briefly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Experts attributed the rise to education campaigns that emphasize that breast milk is better than formula at protecting babies against disease and childhood obesity. A changing culture that accommodates nursing mothers may also be a factor.

The CDC provided a racial breakdown stating:

• The percentage of black infants who were ever breast-fed rose most dramatically, to 65 percent. Only 36 percent were ever breast-fed in 1993-1994, the new study found.
• For whites, the figure rose to 79 percent, from 62 percent. For Mexican-Americans, it increased to 80 percent, from 67 percent.

At least three types of CDC surveys have shown breast-feeding rates moving upward since the early 1990s, officials said.

The latest CDC report found rates of breast-feeding were also lowest among women who are unmarried, poor, rural, younger than 20, and have a high school education or less.

It’s nice to see that moms are open minded about breast feeding. Even if they don’t continue for a long period at least the baby got the initial benefit.

Related Articles:

• Nursing Moms Protest New York State Museum
• How Long Would You Breast Feed For?

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Thinking that the house would be like a hostel, I politely turned her down saying I would commute (45 mins each way).

Both my mom and my husband asked me to at least tour the house before I said no and I am glad I did.

Continue Reading…

After seeing this, I started to look through my garage and decided to call my local consignment shop to see what my baby gear was worth.

At Christmas time my full size stroller crapped out on me. I called the manufacturer and they sent me one that they said was comparable. I only used this thing twice because I am not fond of it - at ALL. The wheels shake, it folds weird, the handle bars are too low, my son sits in it funny and it’s way to big (travelsystem).

Knowing that I had only used it twice, I called the shop and explained this to the girl. Initially she wasn’t willing to price the stroller over the phone, but after a bit of coaxing she told me that regardless of its pristine condition, they would only give me a quarter of it’s retail price. This comes up to $37.50. Not kidding. My brand new stroller that doesn’t even have dirt on the tires is only worth $37.50 at the consignment store. They then mark it up 100% and sell it for half of its retail value.

After hearing this I started to wonder why someone wouldn’t list the items at kijiji or their local paper first.

I guess parents who consign their gear must want an immediate solution to a clutter problem.

Those who are looking for some goods deals are the ones that definitely benefit from these stores.

Consignment Tips:

Buyers

• Check your recalls - Buying second hand baby products is a tricky thing because many products are recalled every year without parents even knowing it. Like any second hand store, not all consignment shops check their merchandise for recalls. All product recalls are listed at the CPSC and Health Canada.
• Know your prices - have an idea what you are looking for a what it’s worth. It makes no sense to pay $60 for a used Bjorn if you can get a new one for $90.
• Go often - Good baby gear doesn’t last. If you are looking for something in particular visit the store on a regular basis or put your name on a waiting list to be called if one comes in.

Sellers

• Know your prices - know what your product is worth and don’t be afraid to speak up if the shop isn’t offering you a fair price.
• Call before your go - while many shops won’t give you a price for clothing or toys, they will have a ballpark figure for the bigger stuff (strollers, playpens, highchairs).
• It’s all about presentation - Makes sure the items you are hoping to consign are clean with all of their accessories. Your items could be worth considerably less their value if they are not presentable or are missing pieces. Toys should be sorted and bagged accordingly or else there may be a fee to do this for you.
• Brand Name and Trendy Clothes - Many consignment shops don’t want department store generic labels or hand me downs from your sister’s 10 year old kids. They are looking for bigger name products like Gymboree, Baby Gap, Ralph Lauren and Old Navy that are cleaned, pressed and neatly packaged.

The new mom looked so fresh and fabulous, it was like she hadn’t given birth at all. She definitely had the internet buzzing.

While it had appeared that Halle had shed her baby weight - quickly, new pictures taken yesterday show that she is a real mom.

Unlike most celebrities who won’t be seen in public with even an ounce of post-baby podge, after almost two months out of the limelight with new baby Nahla, down to earth Halle was seen in a skimpy T-shirt dress which revealed she still has her post-baby tummy.

Clearly Halle is not fazed by the fact that she has not yet shed all her baby weight, as she made no attempt to cover up or hide away her figure.

I love her curves! She reminds me of Salma Hayek in this picture. SOURCE