Strollerderby : similac

7 Things You'll Find in the Nursery of the Future

editors — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:33:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, Babble went to the future. And you were there! And you! Okay, no, you weren't there, but Ty Pennington was, as he is the official childless spokesperson of the (admittedly really handy) new Similac Simplepac. What else did we see in the Nursery of the Future?

1. Lots of formula.

Because in the future, universal health care will cover breast augmentation, leaving all women unable to nurse. And also because The Nursery of the Future is sponsored by Similac.

2. Ty Pennington.

In the future, Ty Pennington will come standard with all nursery furniture. Skip Hop actually has a prototype Ty Pennington in the works now, which will be available next Christmas in Celery, Chocolate, and Burnt Orange (shown here).

3. Ty Pennington's Belt Buckle

Sold separately.

4. The HAL 9000 of cribs

This robotic crib features climate control, adjustable rocking speeds and automated height adjustment. The cute Britishness of the inventor (pictured, imagine with accent) does nothing to deter us from the belief that it is somehow evil.

5. Wall Decals

In the future, everybody is really fickle. Put down that paintbrush! You might change your mind!

6. Oddly shaped furniture

Is it just us, or does the Nursery of the Future somewhat resemble the Bachelor Pad of the 70s?

7. Things that turn into other things

This prototype bassinet turns into a kid-sized chair & table, then into a toy bin & bookshelf. We also saw a diaper bag that folds out into a changing table, and a tiny-baby bathtub that flips over to reveal a bigger-baby bathtub. This is the part of the future we're most looking forward to, because we wish every piece of furniture in our house was secretly a Transformer. More than meets the eye! -- Gwynne Watkins

Is It Wrong for Hospitals to Give Formula to Breastfeeders?

Jen Chaney — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:58:00 GMT

It happened to me, and maybe it happened to you. As I prepared to leave the hospital with my newborn, nurses handed me -- a still recuperating mom clearly attempting to breastfeed -- a goody bag that contained free samples of infant formula. A button sporting the Similac teddy bear even hung from the bag's handles.

According to new information published in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, and mentioned in this Chicago Tribune story, my hospital isn't the only one. After surveying close to 1,300 medical facilities on the East Coast, researchers found that 94 percent of them disseminate formula samples even while encouraging mothers to nurse.

Some say the samples are nothing more than freebies intended to be used as back-up if breastfeeding issues arise. Others insist they send a mixed message and imply that it's okay to bail on the whole boob thing. Or, to put it in the extreme terms attributed to the chairwoman of the Chicago Area Breastfeeding Coalition: "Handing bags of free formula, even formula advertising, is like handing out Big Macs on the cardiac floor."

In the words of Robert Downey, Jr. in "Tropic Thunder": "Pump your brakes, kid." I understand why the formula and all the nursing advocacy seem to be at odds with each other. But the Big Mac analogy is a little ridiculous. Eating a greasy, fat-laden burger after a heart attack is taking a serious health risk. Giving a baby a free sample of formula may not be as solid a choice as giving him breastmilk, but it's not going to give him high cholesterol and put him back in the E.R.

I'm not sure that it's a good idea to give out those samples. I think on more than one occasion, I may have used them as a crutch. At the same time, the hospital also loaned me a highgrade breast pump (yes, for a fee, but still) and made sure I had all the information I needed about lactation consultants, which I also took advantage of. In the end, while there may be a mixed message inherent in all this, I think we mothers make our own choices about how to nurture our children. If we're super-committed to breastfeeding and aren't having major problems with it, all we have to do is chuck the samples, or pass them on to another mom who might use them. Voila. We don't have them anymore. Case closed. And if we're struggling, well, at least we have the option to try them on our fifth consecutive night with sore nipples and no sleep.

Did anyone else get free formula samples in the hospital? I'm curious to know how accurate those survey numbers are. And also, while you're up, can you get me a burger? All this talk of Big Macs is making me hungry.

How To Pick A Fight, in Five Easy Steps

Adrienne Martini — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Step 1: Write a story about Similac Organic Formula and how it contains sucrose, which is, essentially, cane sugar. Mention, too, that most formulas use milk sugar, which is far less sweet than cane sugar.

Step 2: Quote pediatricians who are concern that sucrose early in life may be connected with obesity, cavities and countless other undesirable conditions.

Step 3: Fail to mention breastfeeding and how it is the best thing since sliced bread, electricity and orgasms combined.

Step 4: Open comments.

Step 5: Watch fur fly.

Photo credit: Peter DaSilva for The New York Times

Things Fall Apart: Preemie Baby Formula Recalled

Karen Murphy — Mon, 28 May 2007 18:04:00 GMT

Yikes. It's scary when it turns out that what you're feeding your baby could possibly be harmful. If your baby is a preemie and you feed special prescription formula, you need this information: Similac "special care 24 calorie ready-to-feed premature infant formula with iron" is being recalled. Turns out? It doesn't actually have iron, at least not as much as it states it does on the label, and babies fed this for more than a month run the risk of becoming anemic.

About 5000 cases of formula, which comes in two-ounce ready-to-feed bottles, are involved in the recall, which is limited to some lot numbers included in stock code of 59582. If you have any questions you can contact the manufacturer, Abbott Labs, at 1-888-899-9182

Similac Releases Two New Formula Flavors: Mayan Chocolate and Vanilla Chai Spice

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 15:14:00 GMT

Similac is tapping into the flavored beverage trend by introducing two new versions of its best-selling baby formulas, Mayan Chocolate (made with real dark chocolate and hints of mild chipotle chile and cinnamon) and a Vanilla Chai Spice with heady Indian spices like cardamon and cloves. These new flavored formulas have all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients of regular formula, and are available in powder or ready-mixed bottles.

Similac spokesperson John Cocktoston points out:

Parents today are exposed to exotic, ethnic foods that weren't readily available to previous generations. Similac recognizes this and is updating our own formulations as a reflection of the times. Our job is to offer parents a variety of choices when it comes to feeding their babies.

Worldly parents are apparently demanding more variety in their formula choices, and Similac, one of America's most trusted brands, appears to be delighted to meet that need. Also in the works are limited-availability seasonal flavors like Pumpkin Pie Spice and Egg Nog which will be available in the Fall.

Would you buy these flavored formulas or will you stick to plain? Please let us know!