Big Bad Rash

My middle son came down with a strange rash in mid-January and as of a week ago, we were STILL trying to figure it out. It was the kind of thing that started out small, concentrated to one area (on his rear end, unfortunately), and then spread like crazy. It became infected, and then it just spread and spread until he covered his whole body. It was itchy and painful, and I have no idea how he handled it with as much grace as he did. We went to the doctor SEVEN times over the evolution of the rash. SEVEN. The curious thing was that as it ran its course, the most stubborn part was (so embarrassing) in the shape of a toilet seat on his backside. It just wouldn't go away and it was blisters on top of blisters.

Finally, last week, the dermatologist (by the way, did you know it's almost impossible to get a kid in to see a dermatologist???) decided we should do patch testing to see if he had any skin allergies. Over the weekend, he had to wear this series of little patches (all stuck to medical tape) on his back, then after 48 hours, we could remove them and see if he had any reactions. It turned out, he had a pretty big reaction to something called methylisothiazolinone (abbreviated MI). It is an anti-microbial chemical found in SO MANY THINGS. SO MANY THINGS. After three days, he still has a red square on his back where that patch was. (Incidentally, the doctor ruled the Q15 reaction an "irritant" and not an allergy - probably should avoid that too, and it goes by literally 12 different names in products.)

What seems to have happened is that when he got the rash, I was worried it might be contagious, so I started furiously cleaning all bathroom surfaces frequently to keep the other kids from getting it. The Clorox (well, Kirkland) wipes I was using had this allergen in them and it was actually intensifying the problem. I ended up having to replace the kid-toilet-seat-topper (the one we had was kind of a spongey material that was potentially porous -ick) with a hard-plastic one and change my cleaning routine. The rash began to retreat almost immediately. This allergy also explained why he had had such horrible rashes as a baby when we used ordinary diapers and wipes. We had to move him to very organic stuff early on in life. Only a few brands didn't irritate him. Turns out those brands didn't contain MI. Through the years we have inadvertently shielded him from MI in most things just due to thinking he had sensitive skin and the desire to use organic/natural baby skin products on all of our children - mostly to avoid phthalates, actually. And I also went through and eliminated all triclosan-containing products from our house a few years ago too (scary stuff, it's even in toothpaste).
After the test results, and confirmation of the allergy by the doctor, my research and label-reading began. I thought I would post what I learned here in case there are others out there who learn of an MI allergy. Obviously, it is probably healthiest to make as many cleaners at home from known ingredients like vinegar and peroxide, but I just don't have time for a lot of that right now - life is particularly stressful at the moment, so I needed to be able to purchase things quickly to get us by for awhile.
Here are a few quick things to start with:
1) MI is found in all sorts of soaps, detergents, and skin products mostly.
2) MI is found in a lot of "natural" products, and there isn't a certain brand that I could find that is exclusively free of them - you have to pick and choose and read a lot of labels. Honest Co., for example, is currently being sued for being less than honest about what is in some of its products. I did find, though, that a lot of their stuff is MI-free - in fact, the only dish soap I could find at Target that was MI-free (include Seventh Generation, and Method) was Honest Co.
I spent quite awhile reading labels at Target this morning in the "natural" section and most of this stuff contains MI! So sad!

3) As far as detergents go, powders tend to less-frequently contain MI than liquids.
4) "Sensitive skin" and "fragrance free" products are less likely to contain MI, but not always a guarantee.
5) Sprays tend to be MI-free while lotions tend to contain it.
6) I learned that a lot of cleaning products are very vague as to what is actually in them. They are not required to list their ingredients on labels, so a lot of them don't, or they only list "active" ingredients. Greenworks is a particularly bad offender at false-advertisement. They do list ingredients, but in vague ways that don't actually let you know what chemicals their products contain.
7) Just because it says "plant-based" doesn't mean it is totally safe. My beloved Aveda products (I am so addicted to their smell) have MI in them, I sadly discovered.

I also discovered that quite a few - perhaps MOST - Mrs. Meyers products contain MI. I was surprised and disappointed to see that.

I also spent 20 minutes at Whole Foods reading the labels of all their cleaning products and most of them contain MI, sadly. I think this one makes me the most angry. Look at the claims this container of wet wipes makes, but it still contains MI!

Here are a bunch of products I either purchased today, or had hanging around our house that do NOT contain MI. Note that I am not suggesting that all of these are pure and natural (though a lot are), just that these do not contain this one allergen that bothers my son and many other people out there. This is a pretty broad range of products that are not too expensive and get most of the job of cleaning self and house done.

 L to R: Aveeno Baby Lotion (unscented), BabyGanics unscented bubble bath, Trader Joe's handsoap, Honest Co. dishsoap, Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes, Neutrogena Naturals face soaps, Method glass cleaner (in a refreshing mint scent), Method surface cleaner (but note that other Method products like hand soap and dish soap do contain MI), Aquaphor, Trader Joe's plant-based laundry detergent (only has three ingredients!), Dr. Baronne's Castille soap (the lavender stuff smells amazing - I am totally into lavender in the shower right now), Everyone Soap for Every Kid (LOVE the wonderful orangey smell of this stuff), Curel unscented lotion (note that only unscented doesn't contain MI).

L to R: Coppertone Pure & Simple sunscreen, Aveeno face sunscreen (though I don't like this stuff because of some other chemicals it contains), Target's Up & Up baby wash, Babies R Us vapor bath (great stuff for head colds), Johnson's baby shampoo, Kandoo sensitive skin flushable wipes (only the unscented kind), Biokleen bac-out carpet cleaner (Folex and Resolve do not list ingredients), Fizzy Tub color tabs (hey, what can I say, we went through a phase where that was the only way one of my kids would set foot in a tub without a tantrum), Cetaphil cleanser (awesome stuff anyway, even better that it has no MI).
And here's to many years ahead of obsessive label-reading!

Baby Bugs

We have two sick munchkins in our house, prompting me to suggest a couple of near-miracle products that we have fallen in love with.  I have mentioned Boogie Wipes in a previous post - they are another valuable addition to the arsenal for child-cold-fighting.

1) Vapor Bath.  I actually bought the generic Target-brand, which I'm sure is equally good.  It smells great and for better or worse, makes the little noses run - a good thing if the little one is congested.  It's nice and bubbly and has a comforting lavender-menthol kind of smell.  If I had a head cold, I'd want to sit in a bathtub full of this stuff too.

2) Similisan.  This is homeopathic cough syrup that can be used with children as young as two.  It works wonderfully and has saved many nights of sleep for us.  It comes in a mixture for dry coughs and one for wet coughs.  We've found the wet-cough medicine works better, but both are pretty effective.  My husband has even used it himself with success.

3) Little Noses.  This is a nasal decongestant also for children over aged two.  Although our son freaks out when we use it because he doesn't want anything put in his nose, he always concedes afterward that he feels MUCH better.  The Little Noses product that contains saline drops and a "snot sucker" (I don't know what those things are called so pardon my crass description) is also AWESOME for young babies.  That stuff got the baby through colds last winter.




So, if you happen to have a little one who is suffering, like we do, here are a few more things to try...
(...and of course, as stated to the right, I am an architect, not a doctor.  I'm just passing along suggestions for products that work well in our household.  If your kid is really sick, take him/her to the doctor.)

Best 10 Baby Must-Haves Under $5

I'm putting off a little mandatory sewing project tonight (need to sew extra elastic into my skinny childrens' pants) and so am once again giving this somewhat-neglected blog my attention...
Awhile ago, I was gathering some things to send to my sister-in-law for her new baby (who is set to arrive at any time - we are excited!). I sent her a bunch of our favorite baby things and it occurred to me that this might make a pretty helpful blog post for anyone out there who is either expecting a first child or needs to give a useful (but inexpensive) gift. There are a bunch of what I consider to be can't-live-without baby items that cost less than $5 and can make life so much easier. So, without further ado, here is my list of 10 great baby must-haves that cost around or under $5, in no particular order.

1) Boogie Wipes. They might seem frivolous. I certainly thought they were the first time I saw them at the store. Then my son got a really bad runny nose and his little upper-lip was all sore and red. He hated having it wiped, so I thought I'd give these a shot. They are soft cloths moistened with saline. Why do I love them? Because not only are they sensitive on nose-skin, but the saline actually helps get the goo out. They are also nice and thick so adult hands feel protected from the ooze. They come in three scents, one of which is menthol. They cost about $3.50 a package, but you can now buy them at Costco.

2) Unscented Aveeno Baby Lotion. First let me start by revealing an odd thing about me: I love the smell of unscented lotions. I am not a fan of really perfumy-smelling stuff, so that is one reason I like this stuff. The main reason is that it is really thick but non-greasy. I even like to use it on my hands. I am not big on actually putting lotion on my kids - they have always been way to squirmy - but when they have needed it, this is what I use. I love it. Aveeno makes a great unscented baby wash too that is great for sensitive skin. I prefer Burt's Bees, though, although that is well above my $5 mark. Another note on unscented products: they are more likely to be phthalate-free. This lotion costs about $4.50, I think.




3) Triple Paste Diaper Cream. Don't waste your time with any other kind. This stuff is the best, hands down, I have tried them all. Our pediatrician actually turned us on to this stuff. When my youngest was very tiny, he had serious diaper rash from regular disposable diapers and this stuff calmed his rash down over night. No joke. It was amazing. I then went and bought the 1 lb. tub of it. That costs about $17 (at Target), but the smaller travel-size costs a little under $5.








4) Orajel Teething Swabs. These are completely awesome for grumpy-teethers. The reason I like them is that unlike the tubes of gel or the spray, which is really hard to aim at the right spot and numbs your finger in the process, this is a stick that you can put in your baby's mouth RIGHT where you want it to go. Older babies can put it where they want it themselves and find it soothing to suck the medicine out of on their own. It's a great way to target the affected area without getting bitten by those razor-sharp tiny teeth. During those awful months when the first 4-8 teeth come in, I have these stashed everywhere. They come in a nice plastic case, too. They cost around $4.50 or so.

5) Waterproof Lap Pads. My mom turned me on to these precious gems and I can't thank her enough. I don't know how anyone gets through the infant-blow-out phase or the little-boy-pee-fountain phase without about 20 of these. Here's the deal: They are waterproof pads that you lay over the changing table pad. When your tiny one makes a huge mess, you just remove it and wash it and put down a fresh one (usually mid-change to hopefully save that outfit or minimize the damage), OR in those horrible moments when the baby poop/pee flows, you just lay one on top of another as the mess keeps piling up to keep the little one as clean and unscathed as possible. They also come in a larger 18"x27" size which I prefer (you know, because sometimes IT ends up all the way to the back of the neck). I can even see how these would be useful during potty training. Trust me. This is a necessity. These are a little over $5, I think, maybe closer to $6.

6) The bug comb and brush set. Both my kids have been fascinated by it. Not only is it an adorable set, but it is a great occupier of little hands at the changing table. It also makes a decent teething toy. Mostly it's just cute. It's around $4. (Amazon is showing it for about $7 but I know I didn't pay more than $4 for it at BabiesRUs.)





7) Bumkins SuperBibs. They are waterproof and wonderful. I have three. I like them because you can either wash them off in the sink or throw them in the washing machine. They are big and offer great coverage. They also fold really small into a purse for going out. They are not the cheapest bib option, but they are well worth the money and they come in really cute prints - my favorite one being the Green Eggs & Ham print. Even my three year old, who hasn't worn a bib in about a year and a half thinks these are so neat he occasionally begs to wear one. They are around $6.50 for one (but they last and last and last) - sorry, I thought it was under $5, must have gotten it on sale.




8) Gerber Bunch-a-bowls. I love these bowls. They are sort of wide and flat and come with nice-fitting lids. These work excellently for feeding baby food, taking baby food to go if you make your own, using for toddler snack bowls and also for when older babies are exploring eating out of a bowl with a spoon. I learned from an occupational therapist that wider, flatter bowls are easier for children to use and watching my younger son, it appears to be true. They are about $5 for 4 bowls. (Amazon is showing these at $6 but I think they are cheaper at Fred Meyer.)







9) Links. My husband and I don't know how anyone survives early childhood without having links. They are such a multipurpose thing to have hanging around. There are always toys that need to be hung somewhere - whether to a play gym, an exersaucer, to the carseat or stroller, I even have one dangling from the handle above the car door above my younger son's carseat at the moment. On top of all that, they make a great toy in and of themselves. They cost about $5 for 24 links.

10) Stacking cups. These are another very functional toy. They are small, they nest or stack. They can be used as a living room floor toy, in the bathtub, outside at the beach, or for snack cups. Because they are so compact, and such a favorite, I always take these with me when we travel. Such a cheap toy and for some reason, so intriguing with little ones. These cost $4.








11) Bonus! I gotta add an 11, sorry no picture since I'm done with these and they are packed away. I forgot about these... Munchkin Infant Spoons. I love these because they are cheap so if you lose one, it's not a big deal. They are also very long so that your hands can stay as far away from the baby-feeding-carnage as possible. They are also softish plastic with dull edges so if the baby gets ahold of it (like mine with an iron grip), it won't hurt him/her. They cost about $3.50 at Target for a package of 6 (?).

Have any great suggestions to add to my list? Let me know in the comments. I always love to hear about helpful baby products that will hopefully improve my life.

Baby Stuff Installment #1: Bathing the Babe

Now that I have two little ones, I am bursting with unsolicited advice to give "from the trenches." I love sharing my thoughts about stuff that works and stuff that doesn't work. So many baby things *seem* like good ideas and then turn out to not be and we the parents get suckered. And now, on to the subject of bathing which can be both fun and a serious pain.
Take a journey with me...
Bathing the newborn:
Here is my younger son just days after birth. This is the Fisher Price Ocean Wonders baby bathtub. It has this great hammock that fits inside of it and works pretty well for newborns. I have found that when the baby outgrows the hammock, though, it becomes incredibly awkward and I begin to hate it. After struggling with it for awhile with my older son, I decided that the bathroom sink was just a better alternative for bathing.

Here are both my boys at similar ages enduring the sink-bath (older on the left, younger on the right). I found this worked fairly well, but by about 4-5 months, they had both outgrown the sink. Both times at this point, I scratched my head wondering what to do next? Neither of them were old enough to sit up in a tub unassisted. I chose to go back to the baby bathtub shown above, but this time set it inside the bathtub instead of on the kitchen counter. It worked okay, but I decided there MUST be a better solution. With my older son, I chose to go the route of an inflatable baby bathtub. The duck tub was lots of fun, but almost more awkward than the baby bathtub. The good thing about it is it cost about $10 - very minor investment. The babe seemed to like it. He could splash and it supported him but as you can see in the picture, he still looks like he's ready to float away. With the duck tub, I had to be right next to him at all times because if he moved wrong, he'd slip down into the tub. I saved it for baby #2, but quickly realized that having both boys bathe together would be far more fun and far less time-consuming. So, I looked on Amazon. Between Amazon and Ebay, I can usually find whatever I am looking for and I love how it gets shipped right to my door. What I discovered was a bath seat. It is a plastic seat that has giant suction cups on the bottom and pretty much keeps the baby from floating away. My younger son loves it, loves splashing with his big brother and I love that he's fairly secure and independent. It is very easy to get him in and out, the suction cups have stayed firmly attached and the front bar also stays firmly in place.

Of course, isn't it nice of the manufacturer to throw a big raincloud on my perfect solution? Check out the giant warning label that I see every time I use this seat - I particularly enjoy the capitalized words for emphasis:If you are interested in this seat, it is sold on Amazon HERE and costs about $37. I should warn you that it seems to take about 6 weeks to ship, so plan ahead of when you might need it. It has a fairly short life of about 6 months (I'm guessing) at which point the baby will most likely no longer happily sit confined in a seat. I will keep my son in it as long as he will let me. It has plenty of comfortable grow-room.