Latest news with #babycare
Globe and Mail
15-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
The Honest Company Launches New and Improved Clean Conscious Diapers®: Built for Performance at Every Stage
LOS ANGELES, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Honest Company, a personal care company dedicated to creating cleanly-formulated and sustainably-designed products, is proud to announce the next generation of diapering: the new and improved Clean Conscious Diapers®. A trusted brand for baby's delicate skin, Honest listened to parents' feedback and redesigned their beloved diapers, now offering better leak protection and enhanced features for each age and stage. The Honest Company understands that small changes are a big deal, and these latest product enhancements will improve the performance of the Clean Conscious Diapers people love today. Honest is committed to making careful, thoughtful decisions about every ingredient and material update. With the new and improved Clean Conscious Diapers, The Honest Company is introducing enhanced leak protection and comfort. Meticulously redesigned from the bottom up, these diapers deliver up to 100% Leak Protection with Comfort Dry Technology. They are designed to protect delicate skin with a plant-based inner liner for gentle skin contact where it matters most. A breathable outer layer helps promote healthy-looking skin and helps reduce irritation from wetness, while a softer backsheet is designed for baby's comfort. With rigorous third-party testing for over 350 harmful chemicals (OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 Certified), Honest gives parents peace of mind with every change. Honest is dedicated to creating safe, effective, and high-quality products guided by the strict Honest Standard—a set of principles that shape every step of product innovation and development to help ensure all products meet the Company's high standards for safety and quality. 'This is more than a diaper upgrade—it's a testament to Honest's commitment to creating a diaper you can trust,' said Erin Thoensen, Vice President, Baby at The Honest Company. 'Maintaining the clean, safe standards parents rely on is non-negotiable for us. But we're always listening, and what we heard was the need for better leak protection and comfort. So, we redesigned our diapers to meet those needs and deliver our best diaper yet.' This top-of-the-line diaper offers: Up to 100% Leak Protection with Comfort Dry Technology Plant-based inner liner & softer backsheet Tested for 350+ harmful chemicals (OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 Certified), dermatologist-tested, and made with FSC®-certified fluff pulp and other controlled material Hypoallergenic & Fragrance Free Made without elemental chlorine, parabens, and natural rubber latex This 'every stage' diaper is built for performance and designed to grow with your baby. Thoughtful, stage-specific features include a belly button cutout in Newborn and Size 1, double poo pockets for Sizes 1-2, and super stretchy and soft sides for active toddlers in Sizes 3–7. Movement and comfort are further supported with flexible stretch wings and snug-fit leg cuffs. The new diapers will be available nationwide on July 15, 2025 starting at $12.99 to $49.99, online at and at leading retailers across the U.S. About The Honest Company The Honest Company (NASDAQ: HNST) is a personal care company dedicated to creating cleanly-formulated and sustainably-designed products spanning categories across diapers, wipes, baby personal care, beauty, apparel, household care and wellness. Launched in 2012, the Company is on a mission to challenge ingredients, ideals, and industries through the power of the Honest brand, the Honest team, and the Honest Standard. For more information about the Honest Standard and the Company, please visit
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kristen Doute's Firm Rules for Visiting Her Newborn Are a Good Lesson for All New Parents
When a baby is born, parents should be able to focus on bonding together as a new family, but that's rarely the case. Instead, the new parents are often forced to navigate all sorts of outside conflict—from baby name drama to expectations around who can visit the baby and when. Oftentimes those conversations can be tense, especially when it comes to balancing pressure from family to be welcoming while also adjusting to life as an exhausted new parent. But Vanderpump Rules star Kristen Doute avoided all that uncertainty by laying out exactly what the rules are for visiting her new baby—and she didn't hold back. In June 2025, Doute and her fiancé welcomed baby girl Kaia Lily. Earlier this week, a post on her Instagram Threads account revealed what she tells family and friends before they are allowed to meet her baby. First of all, there is no kissing or touching of her face allowed. That seems perfectly reasonable given that babies are vulnerable to germs and us adults are carrying loads of them around with us, whether we know it or not. The next item on the list might prove just a touch more controversial. She writes, 'If you were out of town, at a party, have even a tickle in your throat—don't come over.' Family members who like to socialize or travel or who are less worried about illness might consider this stance paranoid or overly cautious, and even accuse the new parents of trying to intentionally keep the baby away from family. Yes, we know it doesn't sound like a reasonable response, but given some of the things we've read on Reddit, people aren't reasonable when it comes to new babies. Then she lets people know another rule: 'If I'm cool with you holding her, I'll let you know so please don't ask and make it weird.' This one might cause the most people to bristle, but frankly I agree with her stance. Way too many people are comfortable taking a baby out of a new parent's arms without their permission, as though they are entitled to hold the baby, rather than volunteering to help the family with dishes or fold laundry, or simply asking how the new parents are holding up. She adds a reassuring postscript to her note that other moms and new parents might be grateful for: 'Moms–you're not crazy. Babies are small and germs are big.' There are too many new parents out there who report feeling pressured to give in to family members' demands when it comes to the excitement of meeting a new baby. But if you don't feel comfortable letting just anyone interact with your child, that's your call—and it should be respected no matter what. Setting out a clear list of rules from the beginning just like Doute did to create expectations and boundaries might ruffle some feathers, but it can also dispel confusion and prevent miscommunication. You might get some push back, but as all new parents know, your number one priority is to protect your child and minimize your stress. If your friends and family aren't willing to help you on the path, then you might need to revisit letting them visit your baby anyway. Read the original article on Parents
Health Line
08-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Why Is Your Baby Arching Their Back?
Babies arch their backs for many reasons. Back or spine arching, like a bow or doing the cat pose in yoga, is common in babies. Babies arch their backs. Sometimes, this indicates pain, and other times, it's just a way for them to move. In some cases, an arched back, along with other symptoms, can signal a health condition. If your baby arches their back without any other symptoms, chances are they're just a natural at yoga. Let your baby's pediatrician know about the back arching, just to be on the safe side. Here's what to look for and what your baby might be trying to tell you. What may cause a baby to arch their back? There are many things that can cause a baby to arch their back, including discomfort, pain, or upset. Here are a few more common causes: Gassiness Gas can be a painful and common occurrence for babies. Your baby might arch their back when they have gas or an upset stomach. This could be because arching the back stretches the stomach a bit and might make them feel a little better. You might notice that your baby arches their back after feeding, when trying to poop, and even while lying down. Colic Some babies experience bouts of fussiness that last for several days or weeks. This is sometimes labeled generically as colic. Colic can start when your baby is only 4 to 6 weeks old and cause crying for hours at a time. Your baby may arch their back and cry out. Babies usually outgrow colic by the time they're 4 months old. Baby reflux Reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux, is common in babies right from birth to around 12 months to 18 months old. Reflux happens in babies because the round muscles that pinch both ends of the stomach closed don't yet work properly in these new little humans. If your baby is premature, they might have more reflux. A healthy baby can have reflux several times a day. But sometimes, if your baby is spitting up and seems to have other symptoms, they may also arch their back. Similar to when babies have colic, they might arch their backs because it helps reduce the pain of reflux. You might notice this during and after feeding, while your baby is lying down, and even while they're fast asleep. Body language Sometimes your baby might arch their back because they don't want to be held or fed. This kind of body stiffening could be a sign to put them down or change their position. Some babies have strong back muscles, and this may be the easiest way — other than crying — for their body to tell you what they want. Your little independent one may use the 'back arch method' to get out of unwanted cuddles up to the age of 2 years. Startle reflex Most babies have a startle reflex (also called the Moro reflex) when they hear a sudden or loud noise. It might also happen if they feel like they're falling or if they're moved suddenly. Startling may cause a baby to suddenly straighten its legs forward and throw back its arms. The baby's head may also jerk backward, causing its back to arch. The startle reflex usually goes away by the time the baby is 2 to 4 months old. Rollover attempts As your little one gets used to tummy time, they're also building stronger back and neck muscles. They've learned to lift their head and realize that the more they can move, the more they can look around. Your baby may arch their back during tummy time or while they're lying down on their side or back to get into a better position to explore. Some babies arch their backs when they're trying to roll over or move forward. Temper tantrums Some babies arch their backs and throw their heads back when they're upset or frustrated. This can happen while they're lying down, sitting down, standing, or even cradled in your arms. A baby in the heat of a tantrum may also cry, whine, and thrash about. Many things might set off a tantrum. They may be hungry, finished feeding, want to go play, or frustrated because they can't express their needs to you. If your little one gets into the habit of this, look for warning signs like crying or being upset first, so you might be able to stop a tantrum in the early stages. Seizure-like movements Although it sounds serious, your baby may have seizure-like movements and behaviors that might be mistaken for seizures beginning in the first week of life. At this time, your baby's nervous system is still developing, so they may have uncoordinated or jerky movements. It can happen at any time, usually when your baby is awake or just drifting off to sleep. Nerve injury during delivery Though it's rare, a baby's delicate neck and back can get sprained or strained during a difficult delivery. Sometimes, the nerves between the neck and shoulders can be injured, which is called a brachial plexus injury. This may cause back arching in your baby because they can move their back muscles and other strong muscles better than their neck muscles – especially if they are recovering from a birth injury. Cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy is a group of muscle control conditions. It usually happens when there is brain damage while your baby is still in the womb. About 1 in 345 children worldwide have a type of cerebral palsy. Signs of this condition might show up while your little one is a baby or toddler. Signs include muscle floppiness, strong reflexes, and stiffening (like arching the back). Babies with cerebral palsy may also have trouble swallowing and moving their eyes. Some babies with this condition may also be more likely to have seizures. Sandifer syndrome Sandifer syndrome is a rare movement condition almost always associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It starts in babies or small children. Once the baby is treated for GERD (or it goes away on its own), this condition goes away. Sandifer syndrome causes serious back arching in babies that can last for up to 3 minutes. It causes a frozen kind of back arching that can sometimes be mistaken for a baby seizure. Back arching from this syndrome can happen about 10 times a day, usually after your baby has eaten. During back arching, your baby will also stretch their legs out backward and be very stiff. Other symptoms of Sandifer syndrome include: tilting the head to one side nodding head movements poor feeding vomiting difficulties with eye movements Is there a link between back arching and autism? Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically show several signs. This sometimes includes repetitive motions like back arching, but remember that back arching is much more often due to other causes. Autistic children may show symptoms around the time they are a year old (or earlier), but most kids aren't diagnosed until they're 3 to 4 years old. A newborn or a baby that is only a few weeks to a few months old will likely not show signs of this condition. If your child is on the autism spectrum, they'll likely have several other signs along with back arching. By the end of the first year, an autistic baby may show characteristic traits that are more common, like: not smiling spontaneously at parents or caregivers not using eye contact to communicate not gesturing (waving or pointing) on their own Later on, your child may show other repetitive motions, such as: stiffening their arms flapping their hands walking on their toes Solutions and treatments for back arching in babies In most cases, your baby's back arching will go away on its own as they learn to roll over and control their body better, outgrow the startle reflex, and get more comfortable with people around them. If there's a health problem that's making your little one arch their back, treating the underlying condition will solve the back arching. For example, treating common baby problems like gas and acid reflux will take care of the back arching. For typical gasiness and baby reflux, you can try simple, low risk home remedies like: holding or propping your baby upright after feeding avoiding overfeeding giving smaller feeds more often using a smaller bottle and nipple size to stop air-gulping if this seems to be an issue thickening breast milk or formula with a tiny bit of infant cereal (check with your pediatrician first, as this can have risks) If your baby is throwing their head backward and arching their back in a toddler temper tantrum, gentle behavior training may help stop this. Teaching your child how to express themselves in a less dramatic way might help. Ask your pediatrician for recommendations. When to call a doctor Sometimes gassiness and fussiness can start to be accompanied by other symptoms that won't go away, and acid reflux might be a sign of a more serious health condition. Call your child's pediatrician urgently if your baby: is crying for 3 hours or longer is arching their back and showing other signs of pain throws up every time you feed them is irritable during feeding refuses to feed isn't gaining weight or has lost weight isn't wetting their diaper Look for symptoms of brain or nerve problems along with back arching. Contact your child's doctor or go to urgent or emergency care right away if your baby experiences: sudden difficulty latching or feeding weak sucking difficulty swallowing high-pitched cry seizures bulging or swollen soft spots on the head stiffness floppiness strange head or neck posture jerking movements muscle spasms »FIND CARE: Find a pediatrician in your area today. The takeaway If your baby's got back (arching), you probably don't have to worry. Babies arch their backs for many reasons — or for no reason at all. In a happy, comfortable, healthy baby, back arching likely has no cause and is just one of those things they do. This common baby movement can also be a sign of other underlying health problems — sometimes serious. If you notice your baby arching their back, look for other symptoms. Let your pediatrician know what you notice. Make sure you take your new bundle of joy to all their regular check-ups.
Independent Singapore
08-07-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
Helper's employer says, ‘Maids should not complain if they are required to take care of a family's newborn at night, even after doing their chores during the day'
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean employer lit up a domestic helper Facebook group with a bold declaration to basically say: 'Maids should not complain if they are required to take care of a family's newborn at night, even after doing their chores during the day.' The post, made in the popular group Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic Helper , was intended to call out what the employer saw as hypocrisy among helpers. Her grievance? Helpers who apply for baby care jobs often protest when asked to work night duty and can even go on to say that mothers who hire helpers to care for their newborns 'shouldn't have kids.' Photo: FB/Direct Hire Transfer Singapore Maid / Domestic helper The employer wrote: 'If you don't like the job, don't have a heart for babies, don't take it and don't talk so much,' she wrote. 'You think any mother wants to leave her child to strangers? And these people wonder why their employers say they are rude.' A few other employers jumped in, nodding in weary agreement. A second one shared her own experience: 'Yes, same problem with my helper now. Interviewed her and told her that we will have a newborn plus a toddler. She said, 'Yes, yes, able to manage.' (And then), just yesterday, she requested to be sent back home.' The employer continued, expressing frustration that her helper refused feedback and couldn't understand the financial strain employers faced. 'They think all Singaporeans are rich and can afford the agency? Some employers are barely earning enough, but they really need to hire a helper… FYI, before all those helpers comment, we are the ones taking care of the kids at night. We make sure she has enough rest, but the helper doesn't see all that.' Another employer admitted she had to extend her confinement nanny's contract just to train her helper properly: 'My helper didn't dare to bathe my newborn… she's also a mother, but her own family took care of her baby during her confinement. She said yes during the interview, but in reality, she was not confident.' 'Helpers are not robots' — The maids speak up While some employers rallied behind the original post, it didn't take long for helpers to clap back. One maid shot back with raw honesty: 'You expect your helper to take care of your kids day and night, which you yourself can't even do? Helpers are not robots. Be in helpers' shoes and be fair, please.' Another maid made a sharp comparison: 'My past expat employers never let me do night duties. They also work full-time but take over childcare after work. Why can't some local employers do that?' The debate spilled over with tales of exhaustion and impossible expectations. 'Imagine getting up at 4:30 a.m. to feed toddlers after sleeping at 2:30 a.m., because you've been minding the kids till midnight,' one helper lamented. 'Then wash dishes, handwash laundry, and clean all the shoes. Every day. Can I sleep during the day? Will you be okay with that?' One helper even shared a rare story of a balanced arrangement: 'My previous employer was a divorcee with two kids. I worked night shifts, but she allowed me to rest during the day and plan my own schedule. That's fair.' Ministry of Manpower: What does the law say? So, can you actually ask your helper to be on call 24/7 without a break? According to Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM), foreign domestic workers (FDWs) are entitled to adequate rest, and as an employer, you are responsible for the health and well-being of your FDW. It is recommended to discuss duties clearly before hiring and to be specific about expectations, particularly regarding infant care, household chores, and working hours. Crucially, night duties must be compensated with daytime rest, and helpers cannot be expected to function without sleep. So where's the middle ground? The online spat may seem like just another Facebook flame war, but it reveals deeper fault lines between expectations and reality — and between exhaustion and empathy. There are, undeniably, helpers who overpromise during interviews, often out of desperation for a job due to a lack of clarity or cultural pressure, but many also find themselves in environments where they are overworked, under-rested, and afraid to speak up. On the flip side, many employers are genuinely overwhelmed. With both parents working full-time and no extended family to lean on, they turn to helpers as lifelines — and expect a kind of superhuman endurance that even they can't match. However, as one helper wisely said: 'Everything should be give and take… It's okay to take care of the kids at night, but are you okay if the house is a little messy and not really clean? And if your helper naps during the day? If yes, then good. If not, maybe rethink your expectations.' Tired mums and tired maids are one shared struggle The truth is that both employers and helpers are tired. Both want what's best for the baby. Both are navigating motherhood — one as a parent, the other as support staff, and sometimes as fellow mum. However, helpers are not substitutes for parental bonding, and employers are not heartless overlords — most just want the house to stay upright while they hustle to provide for their family. The solution? Communication, transparency, and — as radical as it sounds — compassion. Maybe it's time to stop thinking in terms of 'boss vs. maid' and start thinking in terms of teammates. After all, the baby isn't going to sleep any faster if both of you are fighting over who's more tired. In other news, also quite recently, a concerned mother detailed her mounting frustration: 'My helper keeps asking me for a loan every few days… sometimes S$20–S$30, sometimes more than S$100. If I refuse, she gets angry and says that I am supposed to help her, not the other way around.' If that wasn't stressful enough, the employer revealed she had already lent the helper a hefty S$2,000, which had only just been repaid. Now, less than a week after receiving her July salary, the helper is once again asking for more. 'I don't want to keep giving money as it's a bad habit,' the employer wrote. 'But I don't want her to hurt my child either.' Read the rest of the story here: 'My helper keeps asking me for S$20-S$30, sometimes over S$100 loan every few days, and she even gets angry if I refuse'
National Post
02-07-2025
- Health
- National Post
This Canadian skin-care brand is made just for babies
Article content My Petite Coco is a Canadian skin-care brand that's formulated specifically for babies. Article content Founded by Toronto-based physician and formulator Dr. Erica Weste, the brand was created amid her own search as a new mom for safe, effective products suitable for the delicate skin of a baby. Article content Article content We caught up with Dr. Weste to learn more: Article content Article content A: My Petite Coco is Canada's only complete baby skin-care collection founded and formulated by a physician mom, with a deep commitment to using premium ingredients. Blending the best of nature and science, our products are intentionally crafted to meet the unique needs of a baby's delicate skin and onwards. Article content Article content Over many years in clinical practice, I noticed that countless baby skin-care products didn't consider the unique needs of all babies, in such a beautifully diverse country like Canada. While I was expecting my daughter, I decided to create a collection of fragrance-free essentials that would be used from the day she was born. Article content Article content Article content Q: Who is the target customer? Article content A: Our target customer is a thoughtful, modern parent — often a mom — who is pregnant or navigating the early months of parenthood. Article content Q: Is there a 'hero' product? Article content A: The Baby Balm is our multitasking hero due to its unique blend of cupuaçu, shea butter and squalane. It works beautifully as a diaper balm, can be used with cloth diapers — no zinc! — and is also great for soothing dry irritated patches of skin from head to toe. Article content
