Mar 08

A new study has possibly linked cognitive and motor delays with ‘flat head syndrome” in young babies, however, researchers caution parents and caregivers not to be alarmed; more study needed to determine if delays are persistent and significant. As with anything, take the following information with a grain of salt until more concrete findings are available. The best policy is to research, research, research and then take your questions and concerns to your doctor.

Video: Watch 5 min. video of study author discussing findings, including tips for parents and caregivers:

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/videos/positional-plagiocephaly-developmental-delay/

Tips for parents and caregivers:

* Flat spots in a young baby’s head can be quite common, and by itself they are not a cause for alarm. Ask your baby’s doctor about it.
* If your baby is diagnosed with plagiocephaly, ask the doctor to screen for developmental delays in both motor and cognitive skills. Talk about the results.
* Remember that babies develop at different times, and at different rates. What is “normal” for your baby may be ahead of or
behind what is normal for another baby. Babies who start out slower often catch up later.
* Always place babies to sleep on their backs: this remains the safest way to sleep. Place your baby’s head at one end of the crib and switch to the other end the next night.
* Encourage active “tummy time” when babies are awake: find ways to for baby to engage, play and move while on their tummy, several times each day. Watch your baby during tummy time.
* Choose different positions and ways for babies to play and be held: variety of stimulation is important. Switch the arm you use to cradle your baby each feeding session; right one time, left the next.
* Use strollers, car seats, infant seats, bassinets, cribs and play pens when necessary, but remember that babies need frequent lap time, cuddling, active play times and chances to move that aren’t limited to being in stationary positions.
* Develop motor skills: play with babies to get them moving. Encourage crawling, rolling, reaching, pushing, pulling, holding,
grasping.
* Develop cognitive skills: play with babies to get them thinking and talking. Encourage interactions with their environment, looking, listening, imitating, babbling, singing, talking, reading.

Speltz’s study collaborators included Brent R. Collett, PhD; Marni Stott-Miller; Jacqueline R. Starr, PhD; Carrie Heike, MD, MS; Antigone M. Wolfram-Aduan; Darcy King, ARNP; and Michael L. Cunningham, MD, PhD.

About Seattle Children’s Research Institute

At the forefront of pediatric medical research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute is
setting new standards in pediatric care and finding new cures for childhood diseases. Internationally recognized scientists and physicians at the Research Institute are advancing new discoveries in cancer, genetics, immunology, pathology, infectious disease, injury prevention and bioethics. With Seattle Children’s Hospital and Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Research Institute brings together the best minds in pediatric research to provide patients with the best care possible. Children’s serves as the primary teaching, clinical and research site for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine, which consistently ranks as one of the best pediatric departments in the country. For more information visit http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research.

For information on the national Back-to-Sleep campaign and the ongoing importance of babies sleeping on their backs, visit:

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/
http://www.healthychildcare.org/sids.html
http://pediatrics.about.com/library/blbacktosleep.htm.

For information on positional plagiocephaly, visit:

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/medical-conditions/chromosomal-genetic-conditions/positional-plagiocephaly/

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/positional_plagiocephaly.cfm



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Mar 05

5 Tools to Help Kids Visualize Sports Success

Posted on: March 05, 2010 @ 8:04 am     2 Comments »

By Charlotte Reznick PhD

Adapted from The Power of Your Child’s Imagination

Sometimes anxiety can stop kids from enjoying activities they used to adore. Love of a sport can create unrealistic expectations and negative attitudes–I’ll never be perfect, or I’m afraid I’ll let my teammates down.

If you’re puzzled because your happy child who used to love skating or basketball has been replaced by a child who no longer wants to participate in sports, here are five imagination tools that can help. These visualization tools are also great for kids who love athletic activities, but want to improve their skills.

Act out a slow-motion picture. Have your child close her eyes and tell you, frame by frame, each part of the action he or she wants to accomplish–say, a skating twirl. Keep slowing down her movie–drawing attention to small details, such as the feel of the air in the ice rink, the sound of the blade, and swishing of her ponytail. The longer you can draw it out, the more vivid the entire action becomes. Her body can “learn” great mechanics just by imagining them.

Be a spectator. Tell your child to imagine he is sitting on the bleachers, watching himself go up to bat. Now have him describe how he looks, smiling at the team and nodding to the coach, getting into a great stance, focusing on the ball, and smashing it into the outfield. Tell him to run all around the bases. Such a grand start-to-finish act imprints on his mind as success.

Engage all the senses. Ask your child to visualize her accomplishment using as many senses as she can. Let’s say she’s sinking a foul shot. What does the leathery basketball feel like? What sounds does she hear? What’s the taste in her mouth? Are there distinctive smells in the gym? What is she seeing all around her? Involving the senses is a great way to make the sports action come to life. Her body will remember exactly what it feels like to sink that ball next time she’s at the free-throw line.

Jump to success. After your child has practiced different ways of visualizing, don’t forget to have him see success while he’s doing the activity. When he goes up to bat, remind him to see himself smacking that ball. Just before she goes out on the ice, have her see herself doing the spin effortlessly. All great athletes have learned how to visualize in the moment–the puck going into the goal, or nailing the landing on a big ski jump–and this kind of visualization is the secret of their success.

Use positive language. In visualization, perspective doesn’t matter–he can feel himself inside the experience or watch it like a movie. But language does matter. Help him use affirmations in his performance images. The creative brain can’t register negative instructions, such as “Don’t miss that ball.” Change the statement into, “I can hit that ball!”

* * * * *

Charlotte Reznick PhD is a child educational psychologist, an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at UCLA, and author of the LA Times bestselling book The Power of Your Child’s Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success (Perigee/Penguin). In addition to her private practice, she creates therapeutic relaxation CDs for children, teens, and parents, and teaches workshops internationally on the healing power of children’s imagination. You can find out more about her at www.imageryforkids.com.



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Mar 03

Red Market Salon Stylist, David Cotteblanche, who is in the business of turning every day hair into hot Hollywood styles has some tips for us on how to get Hollywood hair.



3 Quick Tips on How to Get Hollywood Hair:

1.) Take a 1.5 inch curling iron, grab large sections, wrap around outside of barrel away from your face. Add hair spray, flip your head and you are done!

2.) High twisted bun. Flip your head, create a twisted high pony tail, right about your crown. Come back up, twist your hair into a bun. Don’t make it slicked, it should be lose, but it is sexy to show off your neck. Spray hair spray and secure with regular size bobby pins.

3.) A slicked back pony tail is always an easy celebrity look. Flat iron your ends and smooth back. Have some hair gel, brush hair back slick, secure with a hair tie. Rub hair gel into your hands like lotion and then carefully put on your head securing any flyaways for a slick chic look.
Trick: You can also put a little gel on the ends of your pony tail.

About Red Market:

Red Market Salon is the go-to late hair salon in New York City for celebrities. In January they obtained a coveted spot in the Meat Packing District of New York City, which is known for its restaurants and designer stores. Red Market Salon was created by two Parisian stylists David Cotteblanche and Reynald Recard, who always dreamed of opening a salon. The Meat Packing District was the perfect place for them to settle in their fifth year of business, as its cobblestone streets remind them of a European spa. In February, they opened an additional salon in chic Bal Harbor district in Miami, Florida.



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Feb 28

Top 5 Tips New Parents Need to Know from BornFree

Posted on: February 28, 2010 @ 8:00 am     No Comments »

Having a first child can be overwhelming – with the new bundle of joy comes the new lifestyle, new responsibilities, new sleep schedule, etc. An alarming amount of parents can get overwhelmed, particularly in the first few weeks of bringing the baby home. This could be a lot less of a stressful experience knowing some tips from the experts beforehand. BornFree, the leading chemical and BPA-free baby product manufacturer has provided some tips below to guide first time parents in ensuring a
more pleasant experience for mom, dad, and baby.

Top 5 Tips New Parents Need to Know from BornFree:

*BornFree is the leading chemical free/BPA-free baby bottle line

1. Get your home in order before the baby arrives: Clean, organize, and find a place to store all baby products, so they can be easily accessible.

2. Find the places that are open all night and who will deliver to your home – keep a running and accessible list of nearby pharmacies, grocery stores, etc. and have these numbers readily available.

3. Keeping your baby safe is the most important. Products that are BPA and chemical free are essential.

4. Try and lock down a sleep schedule ahead of time to adjust to both your needs and your baby needs. Taking turns between parents is a great way to ensure both parties are tending to the baby while taking care of their own health as well and getting as much rest as they possibly can.

5. Read up beforehand and don’t be afraid to ask your pediatrician questions before the baby even arrives in your home such as what to expect for feeding, sleeping and general care of your child.

About Born Free (www.newbornfree.com)

BornFree(tm) has developed a range of products baby bottles, cups and accessories that is totally free of the potentially dangerous chemicals Bisphenol-A (BPA), Phthalates and PVC. BPA is a known estrogen mimicker that is used in the production of polycarbonate plastic. According to researchers, BPA may cause developmental and neurological problems if it leaches from plastic. Reports suggest that small amounts of BPA may leach into food or beverages stored in polycarbonate containers,
especially when the contents are heated. In addition, BornFree(tm)’s cups and bottles feature the unique BornFree(tm) venting system, designed to reduce colic and ear infections.



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Feb 26

Dr’s Tips: Prevent & Reduce Childhood Obesity

Posted on: February 26, 2010 @ 8:00 am     1 Comment »

Childhood obesity has been in the forefront of the news and remains a growing concern for many parents. Since the 1970’s, childhood and adolescent obesity has increased three- to six-fold, such that nearly 20% of 2- to 19-year-old children and adolescents are obese.

Not only does obesity in this age group significantly affect self-esteem (which usually worsens with age), it is also a serious medical condition that can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes – all risk factors for early heart disease. Dr. Margaret Lewin, Medical Director at Cinergy Health www.cinergyhealth.com, provides tips to reduce and prevent childhood obesity.

Proactive Steps Children Can Take to Reduce Weight:

First and foremost: get help! It’s extremely difficult to make long-term, substantial changes in life-style alone without guidance and ongoing support and encouragement. Steps include:

* Increase physical activity. Even if not athletically inclined, young people can always find physical activities within their capabilities that are fun. These activities are best done within a supervised group, where there is constant encouragement, other people to cheer them on, and a sense of obligation to participate on a regular
basis.

* Severely limit the time spent on solitary, sedentary activities other than schoolwork. For example, set a daily limit on electronic games, watching television, surfing the internet, texting, etc.

* Increase social time not centered on food. For example,participate in more after-school activities.

* Learn what a healthy diet is! Then take steps to replace unhealthy foods with those which offer better nutrition and lower calories. Eat the healthier, low-calories foods first, dampening the appetite for other foods. Find socially acceptable substitutes for what your friends are eating: for example, cut-up vegetables (instead of chips) with dips, fruit instead of high-fat, high calorie desserts. Limit portion size by using smaller plates and sharing off-diet foods with friends. Replace colas with seltzer flavored with lemon, lime or even some cocoa.

* Educate and encourage families to shop more wisely, learn to prepare tasty, healthy alternatives to fattening foods, and keep healthy, low-calorie snacks readily available.

Tips to Prevent Childhood Obesity:

The community must get involved in solving this problem. For examples:

* Safe neighborhood playgrounds and other facilities for after-school activities

* Organized athletic leagues for children, with role models leading them

* Good (and required) physical education programs in schools

* Nutritious meals and low-calorie, healthy snacks in school cafeterias

* Hands-on, fun lessons (for students and parents) on shopping for and preparing nutritious meals

* Fresh fruits and vegetables (preferably straight from the farm) and healthy carbohydrates at affordable prices must be made available

* Intensive community programs such as the ones below


Available Programs:

School-Based

* CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) is a school health program designed to promote physical activity and healthy food choices. The program is implemented in over 7,500 schools and after-school programs across the U.S. and Canada.

* Middle-School Physical Activity and Nutrition (M-SPAN) is an intervention designed to increase physical activity, encourage healthy eating, and decrease body mass in boys and girls in middle school.

Community-Based

* Shaping America’s Youth encourages community programs across the country focused on childhood physical activity or nutrition to become part of the SAY national registry of programs www.shapingamericasyouth.org/Page.aspx?nid=44 (The SAY Network). To date, more than 1500 organizations, corporations, and communities, representing every sector of the US, have provided information about their efforts to reverse the health crisis of overweight and inactivity in young people.

* Eat for Life: A program that offers a holistic approach to healing from a nutritional point of view. The program provides a solution through education, motivation and accountability. A professional nutritionist coaches kids to success.

Dr. Margaret Lewin

Chief Medical Director of Cinergy Health

A graduate of Case Western University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Lewin’s undergraduate degree from Purdue University is in Aeronautics, Astronautics, and the Engineering Sciences and she holds an M.S. in applied mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, she is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. She is affiliated with New York-Presbyterian Hospital and The Hospital for Special Surgery.

Dr. Lewin has worked throughout her career to improve the American healthcare system. She has been on the boards of state and local medical societies and is Immediate Past President of the New York County Medical Society and Immediate Past District President of the American College of Physicians. Her decades-long volunteer work has included service to many local projects and organizations and has been enriched by her medical missions to the Third World.

Dr. Lewin has authored numerous articles in leading medical journals and lay magazines, as well as chapters for medical textbooks. Her areas of special interest and expertise include primary and preventive care, travel medicine, men’s health and women’s health.



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Feb 25

Tips on Managing Media in Children’s Lives

Posted on: February 25, 2010 @ 1:00 pm     1 Comment »

Media, technology, we can’t live with it sometimes when computers crash or any number of technological glitches occur. Yet most of us would agree that we cannot live without it either. The following is a guest article provided by our public relation rep on behalf of Dr. Eitan Schwarz, who is the author of a new book Parents, and Technology:An Instruction Manual for Young Families and Child Psychiatrist. It gives us all something to think about in this age of technology.

With the recent data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, which showed that kids 8-18 years old are consuming an average of over 7 hours of media a day, and the launch of the iPad, youth media consumption is an extremely relevant topic and it is more important that ever that parents take an active role in how much media their children are consuming.

“Younger and younger children are now in charge of how they consume media, and they are mostly consuming junk,” explains Dr. Eitan Schwarz, MD DLFAPA FAACAP, author of Kids, Parents, and Technology: An Instruction Manual for Young Families and Child Psychiatrist. “Excessive consumption can cause emotional difficulties, as well as result from existing ones. Children need the thoughtful, active and positive guidance of their parents in this amazing Wild-West tech environment. Merely restricting access is just not enough.”

Dr. Schwarz offers the following tips for parents of infants through eight-year-olds worried about their children’s current and future uses of these technologies:

* Take Charge – Have confidence and take charge. You can manage this important area of your kids’ lives. Many parents too readily take a back seat and let kids take the lead. In what other important area of life would they let that happen?

* Media are Appliances – Start thinking of media as family appliances that must have positive values. Kids treat media as toys, but they are in fact adult tools with enormous power. Would you let your unsupervised young child use the telephone or oven? Only devices with proven benefits belong in children’s hands.

* Technology is Healthy – From infancy onwards, teach kids to appreciate technology as a healthy and routine part of family life. Starting young, children will learn that using technology is collaborative and social — and not an isolating solitary activity.

* Include the Whole Family - Create a new environment around the online family computer and other media to promote mutuality, fun, respect, and development for the entire family. Moving the home computer away from the wall and arranging seating all around it will make it a popular center for family life.

* Make Media a Positive Learning Tool – Just as you already shop for healthy food, harvest the positive opportunities offered by media. For example, for every age group there are wonderful Internet sites that offer a world of learning entertainment experiences.

* Create Healthy Media Rules - Tailor healthy media diets into daily menus for each child to provide development opportunities. For example, regularly require enough online time on sites that enhance good values and education enrichment.

About Dr. Eitan Schwarz

Eitan D. Schwarz, MD FAACA DLFAPA is a doctor who knows kids, media, and families. He is board-certified in both general and child and adolescent psychiatry. During his nearly 40 years of distinguished practice and teaching in a variety of public, private, and academic settings, Dr. Schwarz has been steadily learning about the needs of children and families. Since medical school at Johns Hopkins, he has also been studying the uses of technology in health care and the practice of medicine. Currently on the faculty of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, he has recently researched the use of digital media in play therapy with children. See www.mydigitalfamily.org.

Kids, Parents, and Technology: An Instruction Manual for Young Families is now available in ebook and book form.



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Feb 18

This was passed on to me and I thought I would at least share it with all of you since I know every parent values the safety of their children. Learn how you can protect your kids in this Kitchen Chat with Margaret McSweeney:

Haunting and truthful words posted on the website for KlaasKids.

On Friday, February 19th, Margaret McSweeney will interview Marc Klaas, father of Polly Klaas who was kidnapped and murdered in 1993. As a legacy to his daughter, Marc founded KlaasKids Foundation to help stop crimes against children. Please tune in to Kitchen Chat with Margaret McSweeney Friday at 11:00 am CST!

Here is an excerpt from Marc’s journal that is posted online:

“There is nothing that can prepare one for a murder trial. My family sits as the last few hours in Polly’s life are dissected, analyzed, de-constructed, reconstructed, cross-referenced and compartmentalized. The constant assault on our sensibilities by horrible revelations that defy the principles of civilization seem overwhelming much of the time. It is impossible to withstand or rise above the continual dehumanizing facts that are revealed in a constant, monotonous stream of revelation. There is no room for anything but the processing of nightmarish information. The killer laughs throughout the video tape and I want to shout, yet I must sit unflinching and stone-faced for fear of causing a mistrial. Every day my family is drawn into the world of murder, mayhem, rape and deprivation and there is no way out.”

Learn about effective ways to keep your children safe from harm and find out what you can do to help stop crimes against kids. Please tune in and call in with your questions for Marc this Friday 11-12 CST on Kitchen Chat.



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Feb 17

BPA Linked to Heart Disease – Thanks National Geographic

Posted on: February 17, 2010 @ 8:00 am     No Comments »

Hope you all don’t get tired of hearing about BPA, but this substance is a real concern that we really need to know more about. Today I came across another article done by National Geographic about a new study that claims to confirm that BPA is linked to Heart Disease. Another reason to change our babies bottles over to BPA-free baby bottles and our children’s sippy cups over to BPA-free cups.



Photograph by Charlie Roy, Getty Images

Here’s an excerpt from the article, but please visit National Geographic News for the complete details:

Cutting BPA Risks a No-Brainer

Bisphenol-A exposure is certainly not the only factor in heart disease, but reducing at least one possible risk is a “no brainer,” the University of Missouri’s vom Saal said.

For instance, people can limit their exposure by not microwaving polycarbonate plastic food containers (which normally have number sevens on their undersides), avoiding canned foods, and using BPA-free baby bottles, according to the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

“It’s not a pretty picture,” vom Saal added.

“This is a bad chemical, and it should not be used in the way it’s being used.”

It is too bad that it takes so long to see the long term effects of certain substances and products; I just find it all very sad.

Again, the link to the National Geographic article titled, BPA Linked to Heart Disease, Study Confirms



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Feb 11

Ok, Time to Share Some of Your Money Saving Tips for 2010!

Posted on: February 11, 2010 @ 1:00 pm     1 Comment »

It occurred to me the other day that after six months of writing for The Fashionable Bambino, I still feel like I don’t know all of you, our readers! Without you, there’d be no blog!

So, over the next couple of days, I am inviting all of you to share some things with me. I have been doing a lot of sharing over the past several months and now it’s your turn! Are you up to the challenge? Do you have ideas brewing that need to be shared? Now is your chance, so, please, everyone, let’s make this a huge group effort, okay? And if you don’t have a tip or suggestion, then feel free to share some of your favorite topics, products and news from what that we’ve passed along to you.

The first topic is going to be on Money Saving Tips for 2010. We feature a wide variety of products on TFB and they are not always cheap, so how are you planning to get those much wanted and needed items for your family this year? Or how are you working on improving your spending, budgets and saving this year? Or are you even changing anything?

I want you all to have the opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas with others, so here’s your chance! Let’s hear your Money Saving Tips for 2010!



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Feb 09

FDA Reversal on BPA

Posted on: February 09, 2010 @ 1:00 pm     2 Comments »

This article was originally published a MoldRecovery.blogspot.com by Andrea Fabry and is used with her permission.

The following article recently appeared in the Washington Post. If the government can reverse itself on something like this, it might not be long before they’re reversing their policy on mold.

The Food and Drug Administration has reversed its position on the safety of Bisphenol A, a chemical found in plastic bottles, soda cans, food containers and thousands of consumer goods, saying it now has concerns about health risks.

Growing scientific evidence has linked the chemical to a host of problems, including cancer, sexual dysfunction and heart disease. Federal officials said they are particularly concerned about BPA’s effect on the development of fetuses, infants and young children.

“We have some concern, which leads us to recommend reasonable steps the public can take to reduce exposure to BPA,” said Joshua Sharfstein, FDA’s deputy commissioner, in a conference call to reporters Friday.

Regulators stopped short of banning the compound or even requiring manufacturers to label products containing BPA, saying that current data are not clear enough to support a legal crackdown. FDA officials also said they were hamstrung from dealing quickly with BPA by an outdated regulatory framework.

Sharfstein said the agency is conducting “targeted” studies of BPA, part of a two-year, $30 million effort by the administration to answer key questions about the chemical that will help determine what action, if any, is necessary to protect public health. The Obama administration pledged to take a “fresh look” at the chemical.

BPA, used to harden plastics, is so prevalent that more than 90 percent of the U.S. population has traces of it in its urine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers have found that BPA leaches from containers into food and beverages, even at cold temperatures.

The FDA’s announcement came after extensive talks between federal agencies and the White House about the best approach to an issue that has become a significant concern for consumers and the chemical industry.

One administration official privy to the talks said the FDA is in a quandary. “They have new evidence that makes them worried, but they don’t have enough proof to justify pulling the stuff, so what do you do?” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “You want to warn people, but you don’t want to create panic.”

The FDA had long maintained that BPA is safe, relying largely on two studies funded by the chemical industry. The agency was faulted by its own panel of independent science advisers in 2008, which said its position on BPA was scientifically flawed because it ignored more than 100 published studies by government scientists and university laboratories that raised health concerns about BPA. Recent data found health effects even at low doses of BPA — lower than the levels considered safe by the FDA.

The chemical industry, which produces more than 6 billion tons of BPA annually and has been fighting restrictions on its use, said Friday’s announcement was good news because the agency did not tell people to stop using products containing the chemical.

“The science continues to support the safety of BPA,” said Steven Hentges of the American Chemistry Council.

In a statement, the industry group said: “Plastics made with BPA contribute safety and convenience to our daily lives because of their durability, clarity and shatter-resistance. Can liners and food-storage containers made with BPA are essential components to helping protect the safety of packaged foods. . . . ACC remains committed to consumer safety, and will continue to review new scientific studies concerning the safety of BPA.”

Bisphenol A was discovered to be a synthetic estrogen in the 1930s. By the 1950s, chemists found BPA could be used to make polycarbonate plastics, giving them a “shatterproof” quality, and the uses for the chemical exploded.

But recently, consumers have placed increasing pressure on manufacturers and retailers to migrate away from BPA. In 2008, Babies R Us and other major retailers told suppliers they would no longer stock baby bottles made with BPA. Last year, the six largest manufacturers of baby bottles announced they would voluntarily stop selling bottles made with Bisphenol A to consumers in the United States.

But BPA remains in the epoxy linings of most canned goods, including baby formula. Research has shown that it leaches from the linings into liquid formula, but not powdered formula.

Environmental groups, public health advocates and consumer organizations applauded the FDA for recognizing concern about BPA, but some said the agency didn’t go far enough.

“It’s really a shame after all of the studies out there that they didn’t do anything to protect the public health,” said Urvashi Rangan, director of technical policy at Consumers Union. “How many pieces of evidence do we need before we have enough to act?”

Canada declared BPA a toxin and banned it from baby bottles in 2008. Similar restrictions have taken root in Chicago, Minnesota, Connecticut and Suffolk County in New York. In Congress, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) have filed a bill that would block BPA from all food and drink packaging.

As it awaits additional research results, the FDA plans to change the way it classifies BPA so that it can exercise tighter controls over the chemical, Sharfstein said. Currently, BPA is approved as a “food additive,” which means manufacturers are not required to tell the government which products contain BPA and in what amounts. The agency wants to reclassify it as a “food contact material,” which would require greater disclosure from manufacturers and would allow the FDA to take fast action if it determined that the material posed a health risk.

The Department of Health and Human Services has released recommended ways for the public to reduce exposure to BPA. It can be found at http://www.hhs.gov/safety/bpa.



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