What Goes Into Making a Good......Breastpump

By Joanne G. Sujansky, VP, Consumer Business, Medela, Inc

Everyone knows that "breast is best." Breastfeeding is an intimate experience that develops a special bond between mother and baby with benefits for both. Health authorities such as the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Academy of Pediatrics agree that breast milk offers superior infant nutrition by stimulating general health, growth, and development in infants while preventing allergies and infections. Mothers who breastfeed return to their pre-pregnancy weight sooner and have a reduced risk of contracting certain cancers.

Some nursing mothers find breastfeeding easy and uncomplicated, while others find it more challenging. Regardless, all mothers breastfeed better with the support of family and friends, and often with the help of a quality breast pump. A pump can ease the nursing experience by allowing mothers to return to work, stimulating and maintaining milk production and letting others help with feeding.

Many mothers who plan to breastfeed choose a breast pump before their baby is born, often during the third trimester, so they can avoid last-minute shopping trips with a newborn. Others may wait until after baby arrives, so they can see how breastfeeding progresses with their little one. Either way, when your customer comes to you for breast pump advice, congratulate her on making the best choice for herself and her baby.

Focus on Customer Need
A variety of pumps are available for moms to choose from; you can help customers make the best choice by focusing on their breastfeeding and breast pumping needs.

Be sure to encourage moms to look for manufacturers that focus on research-based development in designing their pumps. Research shows breast pumps that mimic a baby's nursing rhythm are more comfortable for mom, leading to faster let-down and milk flow and a more efficient pumping experience. The three types of breast pumps are hospital-grade electric, personal-use electric, and manual.

A hospital-grade electric pump is designed to help build and maintain mom's milk supply. These pumps are generally recommended for women who have difficulty nursing because of medical reasons, such as mothers of low birth weight, premature infants who may have trouble latching on to the breast. Hospital-grade pumps are available on a rental basis from a variety of sources, including hospitals, lactation consultants, pharmacies, and some specialty retail stores.

Personal-Use Electric Pumps
Personal-use electric pumps are often faster and more effective at removing breast milk than manual pumps. They are ideal for working moms who pump throughout the day to maintain their milk supply.

New moms who return to work often hit a wall of exhaustion and frustration with their manic schedules, and they may experience a sense of guilt from leaving their babies behind. Using a personal-use electric breast pump at work will maintain milk supply so they can continue to breastfeed mornings, evenings and on weekends. Urge your customers to use that nursing time to relax and reconnect with their baby.

A double electric pump can cut pumping time to 15 minutes by emptying both breasts simultaneously. These pumps are easy to carry to the office and come with all the necessary attachments, including removable cooler carrier and cooling element, battery pack, AC adapter, and collection containers, lids, and stands.

A high quality double electric pump will retail between $250 and $350. Encourage your customers to look for these features in a double electric pump:

Two-Mode Pumping Pattern: A baby's natural sucking pattern begins with rapid, high frequency sucking and changes to a slower, suck/swallow pattern following milk ejection. Breast pumps that mimic this rhythm are designed to feel more like baby, leading to faster milk flow.

Adjustable speed and vacuum levels: Customized pumping allows mom to set the levels at what is most comfortable for her.

Portable convenience: A good-looking, easy-to-carry case for discreet pumping makes mom more comfortable while at work or traveling.

Battery-Pak: With the battery pak, mom can pump anytime, anywhere.

Manual Pumps
Manual pumps are small, light-weight and easily portable. They are best for stay-at-home moms who will only miss the occasional feeding due to sore nipples or plugged milk ducts, or because of a night out with dad.

A high quality manual pump is an affordable option at $35, and should include a breast shield, containers, lids and bottle stands. The best manual pumps will include these features:

Two-Mode Pumping Pattern: Just like the best double electric pumps, the best manual pumps allow mom to mimic her baby's natural sucking pattern. By starting with rapid, high frequency pumping and switching to slower, deeper pumping at let-down, mom's pumping session will feel more authentic and comfortable, leading to faster milk flow.

Ergonomic swivel handle: Allows maximum comfort and flexibility.

Ease of cleaning: The parts should disassemble easily for quick washing and sanitizing.

Compatible with most standard baby bottles.

Remind your customers that they should never buy or share a used personal-use pump. Breast milk can transmit bacteria from person to person (but usually not to baby) and personal pumps cannot be fully sterilized. Hospital-grade and rental pumps are specifically designed with barriers and filters that prohibit milk from entering the motor, thereby preventing cross contamination.

Breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience for mom and baby, with benefits that last long after nursing has ended. Your support and advice on choosing the right breast pump can help your customers get a great start on their breastfeeding experience.

...Baby Carrier

By Annika Sander, Communications Manager, BABYBJÖRN

For on-the-go parents who want to bond with their little one as often as possible, a high-quality baby carrier is a "must-have." Baby carriers enable parents to move around freely with baby nestled next to their chest, while leaving their hands free to carry bags, pick up around the house, or hold the hand of an older child. According to Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top five pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, a front-wearing baby carrier can ease stress for parent and baby, and the natural movements of a parent's stride can help calm down a little one when he or she is fussy.

The benefits of "wearing baby" are well-known to many new parents. But once they decide to buy a baby carrier they can feel a bit overwhelmed by the wealth of options on the market. So when you see a customer staring at a carrier display with a lost look in their eyes, help them refocus by highlighting the four key elements of the perfect carrier: safety, practicality, comfort and style.

Baby Safety: The Top Priority
A baby carrier holds the most precious kind of cargo, so it's imperative that it is safe for baby. Choose carriers that have straps that adjust to ensure a snug fit for parent and baby. Also advise customers that they might want to select a baby carrier that provides good neck support for a smaller baby. Some carriers offer flexible neck rests that help babies under three months feel more comfortable and secure.

Before your customer puts the carrier on, have them read the manufacturer's instructions carefully and make sure their baby is within the recommended weight limits for that carrier. Encourage mom and dad to try the carrier on in the store. You can help them learn how to put a carrier on correctly and ensure that they find the right fit and size. Once on, have the customers give the straps a gentle tug so they know to make sure everything is completely snapped in and secure.

Because babies gum and chew on most things in sight, the carrier's fabric should be designated as safe, non-toxic and free of health risks. You can trust that materials are safe for children if they are Oeko-Tex certified. One of the most influential safety certification systems in the West, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 guarantees that materials do not contain more than the accepted levels of certain heavy metals, carcinogenic and allergenic substances known to pose a health risk to infants.

And when in doubt, look to the experts. A parent can rest assured they have chosen a safe carrier that facilitates an optimal infant-parent bond if it has been endorsed by a well-known pediatric institution or health professional.

Practicality for Parents
Once you've netted out whether the carrier you're looking at is safe, you need to look at whether it will be practical for the parents. Because mom and dad will need to put the carrier on alone, it's important to find a carrier that can easily go on and off without assistance. A carrier that can be adjusted from the front often works best, as mom or dad can easily see what they're doing.

Waking a sleeping infant is often disruptive to both baby and a tired parent, so look for a carrier that allows mom or dad to gently transfer baby from carrier to crib. Other features to look for include machine washable fabric and the use of lightweight, flexible materials to make for easy travel.

Snug as a Bug
A carrier is no good to anyone unless it's comfortable for mom, dad and baby. Because mom and dad will likely share the carrier make sure they choose a design that easily adjusts for various body types. This means a carrier that allows for personalized size adjustments, instead of simply being a small, medium or large. And make sure it can adjust to comfortably accommodate baby. Carriers that allow baby to face mom and dad as a newborn, and then face away as they grow, work best. An older baby loves to look out at the world around her.

Once they find the correct size, active parents may prefer carriers with padded straps and added lumbar support. Parents should also take into consideration when and where they'll be using the carrier. If they plan to use it in warm climates they may want a carrier that uses breathable mesh fabrics — or they may prefer such a carrier in all four seasons. To make it work year-round they can purchase a carrier cover for cold weather.

Baby-wearing in Style
As you may have seen in various celebrity-focused magazines, baby carriers are more than a mode of tot transportation — they are a fashion statement. If mom and dad will share the carrier it's critical to find a style on which they both agree. There are plenty of color combinations and patterns that look great on mom and dad. Gender-neutral solids like black, navy and green or understated patterns like pinstripes are easy winners. For a more adventurous look there are many vibrant colors and patterns available, some of which are limited editions for one season or one year.

By discussing your customers' basic needs and tailoring their choice to fit their personal sense of comfort and style, you will not only make a sale — you will make a lasting impression. After all, the right carrier will help make the first year or more of a baby's life extra enjoyable for the whole family.

...Baby Hammock

By Gregory Hannah, Owner/Designer, Miyo

In this modern era where parents are increasingly choosing more natural ways of rearing their children, it is no surprise that they are turning to items that put them in as natural a setting as possible, This is one of the many reasons parents are discovering baby hammocks as a viable alternative to the typical crib or bassinet. Parents and professionals alike are finding their numerous benefits make hammocks a must have for infants. Some of the health benefits hammocks offer an infant are:

• Proper spinal alignment to encourage correct spinal posture development
• Reduces risk of SIDS
• Soothes colic and reflux
• Quickly soothes babies and puts them to sleep
• Prevents flat head syndrome
  

Once parents decide they would like to purchase a hammock there are key things they should be looking for, as not all hammocks are created equally. Simple differences between hammocks may affect the health benefits for newborns and their usefulness as opposed to a crib or bassinet.

Materials
The ideal hammock should be made of a soft material that will cocoon the baby in a womb like setting. Natural cotton is ideal as it is breathable, easy to wash if the baby has an accident or spits up, and contains no harmful chemicals. It is also important that the mattress and bedding are washable. The soft materials which will curve to the babies' body will prevent flat head syndrome and hold them as if they are being held by a parent.

Additionally the hammock should be equipped with a spring. This spring should allow for the hammock to gently sway and bounce as the infant kicks its legs. It will also allow parents to gently rock their baby.

Safety
Any hammock that is going to be used for a baby should be made of non-toxic, durable materials. It should also be safety tested and certified. Any certification the product has should be clearly displayed on the box it comes in. If you are unsure of the certification you can call the local distributor. The hammock itself should not cover the baby completely. There should be space between where the baby lays and where the hammock is pulled together so air can circulate. Fabric which is loose or hanging too low could become a suffocation hazard.

Making sure that a baby hammock has been endorsed and used by birthing professionals and chiropractors is also important. The right shape of the hammock promotes a healthy spine and takes the pressure off the top and bottom of the spine.

Look also for a lengthy warranty of at least five years. A quality baby hammock should outlast at least one family of three children, although the mattress and bedding should be replaced for each newborn.

Elevation
A slight elevation of the head relieves colic and reflux. Spit up will automatically move away from the baby's face unlike being in a bassinet or crib.

Transportable
A hammock needs to be fully transportable so that parents can move it from room to room or travel with it. A baby hammock that can be hung in numerous locations is ideal, as it is more versatile than any other sleeping equipment on the market. A variety of hanging options is beneficial so that parents are comfortable moving the hammock into various rooms without trouble. Look for features in the hammock stand that allow it to slide under a bed, allowing baby to rest near their parent should they choose.

Comfort
One of the most important factors is the comfort of the newborn and their parents' peace of mind knowing that their child will be safe an d comfortable. After nine months in the safety of their mothers' womb, coming into our world can be a hard transition. A baby hammock is a great transition tool, to help the baby rest in a familiar way while introducing him to the big world. As his bones grow stronger and spine straightens out he will be ready to sleep in a crib.

A newborn has a natural curve in its spine; its bones and skull also remain soft for a period after birth. A baby hammock will allow for the curved spine position and have no flat shape that could mold the head oddly.

Baby hammocks should be comfortable and convenient for the parent or caregiver as well. Every time the baby goes to bed an adult has to put him in and take him out making height adjustability a big feature to look for. Eliminating the strain on the adults back is important, especially as the baby gets bigger.

Sleep
The hammock should hold the baby comfortably on its back not allowing it to roll over, reducing the risk of SIDS. The hammock should also offer a gentle bouncing and swaying motion caused by the movements of the baby. This helps sooth the baby quickly and easily. A hammock is also a great alternative to co-sleeping. Parents who are uncomfortable with co-sleeping can put the hammock next to their bed so that they are close to their baby.

Safety and comfort will be the most important factors a parent considers when purchasing a hammock. The most important thing to do before making a purchase is to make sure you have researched and compared many hammocks. You will be able to make an educated decision about what is right for yourself and your new baby.