More than 2.1 million drop-side cribs by Stork Craft Manufacturing of Canada are being recalled following reports of four infant suffocations. This recall involves 1.2 million cribs in the United States and almost 1 million in Canada, where Stork Craft is based. In an insane twist, this recalled crib has been in production since 1993 which I’m sure is thrilling news to all you parents out there. According to msnbc, “The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission conceded Tuesday the agency “hasn’t been acting as quickly as it should” on crib safety problems.” Oh really!? Good lord.

This recall involves Stork Craft drop-side cribs and Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. This recall does not involve any cribs that do not have a drop-side. This recall does not involve any cribs with metal rod drop-side hardware. It involves only those cribs with plastic trigger and one-hand-system drop-side hardware.

This recall includes Stork Craft cribs with manufacturing and distribution dates between January 1993 and October 2009. This recall also includes Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo that have manufacturing dates between October 1997 and December 2004.

Earlier today I tried to access the the Stork Craft recall site but it was loading in record slow time. I’m guessing they’re being over-hit with parents. You can also call 1-877-274-0277 to learn more.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:

Parents are advised to get rid of this crib or to order a plastic kit from the manufacturer to immobilize crib sides. However, you should also know that these Stork Craft cribs also have had problems with their hardware, which can break, deform or become missing after years. AND there can also be problems with assembly mistakes by the crib owner. These problems can cause the drop-side to detach, creating a dangerous space between the drop-side and the crib mattress, where a child can become trapped. I’d skip the silly plastic kit, and try to return the crib and get your money back. This is not just a safety issue, but a major consumer issue. There’s been talk of them being unsafe for how long? AND parents are just getting this recall info – that is a crime.

The cribs, which were manufactured and distributed between January 1993 and October 2009, were sold at major retailers including BJ’s Wholesale Club, Sears and Wal-Mart stores and online through Target and Costco. They sold for between $100 and $400, and were made in Canada, China and Indonesia.

Read the full recall report.

[image via CPSC]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Never tell anyone your baby’s gender-to-be.

Start an emergency fund asap, I mean the second you find out your expecting, if you haven’t already.

Borrow most of your baby items. Regardless of what you may hear, it’s safe to do so.

Talk with an expert about the big issues. A good tax accountant should be able to help you plan for college, get the most tax returns on that baby, and help you plan for future needs.

Skip the baby life insurance, but review your own coverage and your partners to make sure your family is covered if the worst should happen.

Budget smartly for baby toys – this is basically one non-essential that’s money wasted if you go nuts.

Breastfeed – not only is it a HUGE money saver but it’s green too.

Plan ahead (WAY ahead) for maternity leave. Most Americans can’t afford to even take a decent amount of maternity leave, but if you plan you’ll be ahead of the curve.

What else can you think of?

[image via stock.xchng]

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• Borrow baby items
• Don’t tell anyone the gender
• Don’t buy useless items

IF YOU DO WANT TO LOOK FOR FREEBIES:

It’s hard to find actual free baby items on the Internet but not impossible. Sometimes a company will offer something as free and then re-direct you to another much more annoying website where you have to fill out a million obnoxious forms. That wastes time and in my opinion, is not really free.

In my experience when you order baby freebies the company will send extra email to your in-box (no matter what the website says otherwise); sometimes a company will send useful email and coupons but sometimes not. Sometimes it’s a spam nightmare.

THE BEST ADVICE: If you’re going to order baby freebies online set up a specific ‘baby freebie’ email account for yourself. You can use this email for ordering free gear, all spam will be sent there, and your real email account will stay free and clear.

Here’s a few less spammy baby freebies below. As of today, all the links shown below are current but the Internet changes quickly so I’d act fast.

• Free subscription to Babytalk magazine.
• Free subscription to American Baby Magazine. Once you click the link scroll down the page a bit to subscribe.
• FREE Guide to Your Child’s Nutrition : Age-by-age guide to healthy eating or FREE Juicy Juice Water Bottle when you sign up to be part of the Juicy Juice community.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Clean laundry: Clean laundry engages all your baby’s senses for FREE. I mean you have to fold it anyhow, so toss a warm load right over that baby while you sort and fold. Laundry is warm, smells nice, and is full of textures and colors giving your baby a full on fun experience. My son loved clean laundry as a baby (not as much as the basket, but a lot) and it kept him busy while I folded.

The strainer: Strainers create magical rain drops that most babies adore. In the tub or outside in the grass. You do waste a little water, but it’s all in the name of fun.

The library: The library is free, full of nice books, different people, and most have cool hands on toys that babies like in the kids section.

Bembo’s Zoo: This site is the most awesome free Internet fun for babes. Once you hit the site, you click on the various alphabet letters which morphs into an animal word, then morphs a second time into an animal made out of that word. It’s amazingly simple, yet educational free fun for a tiny tot.

Milk carton blocks: Save your old milk cartons. Wash well. Stuff with recycled newspaper or old shredded mail. Tape the open side down and you’ve got some quick and free blocks. These are perfectly lightweight for babies too. If you want to splurge cover them with old piece of wallpaper (ask for free scraps at a home improvement store).

You: You are hands down your baby’s favorite toy, activity, and friend all rolled into one.Your time when your little one is young is all this costs you. Dance, sing, take him on a walk.

Tell me your best free baby fun activities.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Baby items you can safely borrow:

• Baby clothing
• Blankets, burp cloths, and other baby textiles.
• Cloth diapers. If washed and dried these are perfectly safe and clean, even used.
• Baby toys, books, and other baby play items.
• Strollers.
• Slings and carriers.
• Baby furniture; cribs, changing table, etc.

When you borrow a baby item make sure: With any of the above items first check the item over. For example, a stroller should still roll smoothly and have no missing parts. Furniture should be splinter free and in perfect working order unless you’re willing to fix it. You should also check and make sure nothing has been recalled before accepting it.

Maybe you can also safely borrow:

Baby bottles and nipples: If they’re BPA free and not too grungy or cracked.

A breast pump, which some people are against when it comes to single user pumps but you can buy new tubing for some single user pumps which makes the pump perfectly safe. Pumps purchased from hospitals, from lactation consultants, and from professional grade pump companies use “closed pump systems” which means your milk never comes into contact with any of the pump machinery so borrowing is perfectly fine. Discuss this with your health care provider, but I’ll just toss out there that the likelihood of you catching something from a breast pump that’s been washed is seriously slim.

Borrowing cuts your baby gear costs considerably so it’s nice to know that used baby gear can be safe. What baby items have you borrowed?

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Genine Compton of Ohio was arrested at the beginning of the month for driving, breast feeding, and talking on the  phone.  Now, I am a proponent of all 3 but not at the same time.  There has to be another side of this story.  Anybody know it?  Because I am not getting it?!?!?!

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So was I cheap or frugal?  I want to hear from you.

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

So here is what I am trying and I hope it will help you as well to be mindful of keeping fluids in your sick kids:
* Use Pedialite freezer pops. Turkey Butt thinks they are ice pops and I am hoping she will eat them.
* Find a favorite color. Of course, I let Turkey Butt pick out her Gatorade and she picked pink. I’m trying everything.
* My LEAST FAVE IDEA – I let her go to bed with a cup of ice water. I will take any fluid any time I can get it down her.
* Use fun straws and cups they aren’t normally allowed to drink out of.
* Take them shopping for a new cup or water bottle.
* If they like pop cycles, then freeze their favorite juice in ice trays, cover with saran wrap and stick a toothpick in it.
* Make a smoothie with ice instead of milk and add fruit to the juice. This is very healthy and full of water.
* Let her pick out a fun kind of drink package like the healthy juice boxes and bags. Not the best thing to do to your pocket book, but it is very fun for them.
* Save a fun bottle and mix tang. My aunt does this and we call it special juice. My daughter will drink it like it is going out of style because of the packaging. This works great in the summer time for Turkey Butt.
* If they aren’t stomach sick, just not drinking, offer strawberry or chocolate flavoring to their milk. At least it’s fluid down the tummy.

I hope these ideas help you keep your kids hydrated during the summer and when they are sick. I am trying just about all of them right now. Wish us luck! Will update you tomorrow wither from home or the hospital.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy