Babys First Year

Munire Recalls “Newport Rubbed Black” Cribs and Matching Furniture Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Newport Rubbed Black 4-in-1 Cribs and Matching Furniture

Units: About 3,000 Cribs and 6,000 Matching Furniture Pieces

Manufacturer: Munire Furniture Inc, of Piscataway, N.J.

Hazard: The red paint which is underneath the black finish paint on some of the cribs and matching furniture exceeds federal lead limits. If ingested by young children lead can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: Munire has received one report of a child ingesting the paint. The child was diagnosed with lead poisoning.

Description: The recalled cribs and furniture are made of wood and have a rubbed black finish. Only the “Newport Rubbed Black” cribs and matching furniture manufactured in Indonesia between April 2006 and November 2008 are included in this recall. The model number, date, and country of manufacture are printed on the label attached to the side panel of the crib and the date of manufacture is on the back panel of the furniture. Models listed below are included in the recall:

Model and Name
7900 Newport Lifetime Crib
7918 Hutch for Combo & Double Dresser
7915 Mirror
7908 Combo
7902 Nightstand
7907 Conversion Kit for Lifetime Crib
7905 5 Drawer Dresser
7929 Armoire
7975 Guardrail for Lifetime Crib
7906 Double Dresser
7914 Bookcase
7901 Newport OldeWorld Crib

Sold at: Specialty furniture stores nationwide from April 2006 through November 2008 for about $600 for the crib and the matching furniture pieces were sold between $700 and $1,000. Additional accessories were sold for about $170.

Manufactured in: Indonesia

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the products and contact Munire Furniture to receive a replacement coupon which will entitle consumers to exchange the products for another product free of charge.

Consumer Contact: For more information, call Munire Furniture toll-free at (866) 586-9639 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.munirefurniture.com

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including a picture of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09075.html

Bedtime for babies is not always easy. Many times, they will drift off to a mommy’s soothing voice, or the comfort of daddy’s hugs. But the moment mommy or daddy crosses the threshold of the room, the crying ensues.

It is not uncommon for babies and young children to have difficulty going to sleep. Many child therapists suggest creating a secure and comfortable environment so that babies and young children understand that falling asleep is a peaceful experience, not one to be feared.

Ways to do this include providing a gentle nightlight, a cozy blanket and/or a stuffed toy for company. Following are some award-winning products to help create that cozy, sleepy time feel.

miYim Organic Plush Sleepytime Collection – 12	Gund Tender Beginnings Comfy Cozy Giraffe Color: Pink	Large Cozy Baby Blanket in Monkee
Cloud b Twilight Constellation Night Light	Portable Night Light By Emphasis: Green	Munchkin Voice Activated Crib Light

Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube
by Munchkin
Average Customer Review:

Buy new: $29.99 $19.99
12 used & new from $17.99

(Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Baby list for authoritative information on this product’s current rank.)

Cloud b Twilight Turtle – Constellation Night Light
by Cloud b
Average Customer Review:

Buy new: $31.99 $21.95
47 used & new from $20.75

(Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Baby list for authoritative information on this product’s current rank.)

Lamaze Jacques the Peacock
by Learning Curve
Average Customer Review:

Buy new: $9.99 $9.75
13 used & new from $8.65

(Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Baby list for authoritative information on this product’s current rank.)

Sassy LeapFrog Baby Curious Crab Rattle
by Sassy
Average Customer Review:

Buy new: $5.99
10 used & new from $3.49

(Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Baby list for authoritative information on this product’s current rank.)

Sugar and spice, and everything nice, that’s what little girls are made of. Sunshine and rainbows, and ribbons for hair bows, that’s what little girls are made of. Tea parties, laces and baby doll faces, that’s what little girls are made of.

Listen to women as they look at baby girl outfits …”Ooooooooh how cute is that?” “That is so adorable.” “How precious.” and the like. Baby girl items seem to come with a natural sweetness. That’s what makes planning a baby girl shower so easy. How about asking each guest to bring a frilly pair of booties or hair bows?

Here’s a fun idea for a shower. If you know that the mother to be is going to have a girl, then get her a little girl baby doll. Get the doll the frilliest, laciest outfit you can find (mom will keep all these after the shower). Try to find some little lace tights and hair bows (or the elastic ‘brain squishers’). Make the doll as girlie as you possibly can.

Mom has to care for the “baby” all throughout the shower. Tell the guests ahead of time that anytime mom says “cute, adorable or precious” someone has to cry like a baby – thus causing mom to pick up the baby and check the diaper, see if she might be hungry or maybe just tired and need some rocking.

Carry on the shower festivities as planned, but mom has to do it with baby in tow. It’s fun to see if mom delegates grandma or all the other ‘aunties’ in the room to take care of the baby, or if mom tries to do it all.

Then for one of the games you can play “Baby [or insert baby's name if it has been decided]” is now in puberty” and then “Baby is in high school”. Have all the guests ask hypothetical questions – about how mom will react when … questions related to periods, boyfriends, sex, squabbling best friends, no one asking her to the dance…”

Give mom a dry run what she has to look forward to. It’s guaranteed to be a memorable shower.

Socrates, Einstein, Elvis, even Martha. Oh what’s in a name! While naming your new baby can seem to bring more stress than joy, there are a few tips to keep in mind for this momentous occasion:

• Sound & compatibility – A baby name should foremost sound very pleasing. Initial gut reactions are sometimes the best indicator of suitability. In addition, make sure the baby name is compatible with the last name. Often time, a long first and last name sound very discordant. A first name that ends with a vowel tethered with a last name beginning with a vowel should be avoided.
• Uniqueness – If your baby will already have an unusual last name, don’t exacerbate the problem by naming him “Egbert the III.” However, if he’s destined to be a Smith, a unique name can draw some flattering attention throughout life. So pick a name that’s middle of the road.

Relatives & friends – Honoring your friends and family by naming your baby after one of them will not only bring you goodwill but also serves as a ready-to-go, prescreened name pool. However, don’t get pressured into naming your precious baby after someone you don’t want to like Aunt Gertrude.

• Baggage – Naming your baby after a famous rock star or celebrity can bring unwanted baggage to your child years later. “Cute” names or puns like Holly Wood also wear out quickly.
• Tradition & heritage – Respect the culture identity of your newborn. In addition, following tradition can lead to better family harmony and pleasant memories. Just make sure you’re not falling into a one-sided deal.
• Meaning – Knowing the derivation or origin of your name (i.e. biblical figure) is not only interesting but can also provide sentimental value for your child. Hiroshito, derived from the word hero, just might grow up to be the next 007.
• Nicknames – Playground teasing can be harsh and scarring. Therefore, think of any possible twists and variations on your child’s namesake that might cause trouble in the future. A cute nickname for a formal first name can also be a practical compromise for the elitist in you.

Hiring baby sitters for your youngster can be a frightening prospect. There are hundreds of stories of caretakers who have neglected or worse yet abused the children in their care. Selecting a baby sitter does not have to be a challenging task however, and can be very safe, provided you consider a few key steps before hiring someone.

First and foremost, consider asking family members if they will consider baby sitting for short spells to give you and your partner some much needed relief in the early days or weeks after birth. Rest assured your newborn is likely safe with grandma, who has had several years experience raising children.

If you know many people with children, ask them if they have hired baby sitters in the past with any success. Better yet, see if you can begin a co-op with other parents, where you watch their kids one night in exchange for their services another.

No matter where you find someone, it is important that you leave your baby sitters with a checklist of vital information. This should include the following:

• Your cell phone number
• The number of your neighbor, close friend or family member in case your baby sitter can’t reach you
• The phone number of your baby’s pediatrician
• Contact information for your local poison control center
• 911 information
• Your address, so the baby sitter can give that information to anyone in case of an emergency
• A list of any food allergies or drug allergies your baby may have
• Feeding instructions
• The name and telephone of the restaurant you’ll be or the place where you’ll be for the evening/day/hour

Provide this information in an easy to find location should an emergency arrive. It might also be nice to provide your baby’s companion with some food to snack on and a movie or two to watch if the baby is young and likely to sleep the majority of time you are gone. If your baby is older, you might consider a children’s video and some toys.

Another great source for baby sitters is your local community center or YMCA. Consider joining one or two baby play groups. This will provide you some much needed relief, socialization and a chance to meet other parents/potential baby sitters. Many community centers also offer baby sitting services. For a small fee trained care providers will watch your little one for an hour or two while you work out.

Snips and snails, and puppy dog tails, that’s what little boys are made of….

So you’re having a boy: your little buddy, pal, your man, champ, little guy, handsome devil. Don’t you dare call him sweetheart, angel, princess, peanut, honey or baby, right? Heck no. He’s going to grow up to be a manly man.

Before the newborn son is shaving and off to college, let’s get through the baby shower first. Some obvious themes or décor for boys include sports – baseball, basketball, football, soccer; or fire trucks, policemen, robots; doggies, cowboys or super heroes.

You won’t have a lot of frilly lace or dainty bows at a shower for a baby boy. You can never go wrong with anything in the color blue – and lots of it.

Baby boy shower gift giving made easy – give outfits to dress the handsome boy up in blue, blue, and blue. Even if his little sleeper has footballs all over it, the well meaning fan won’t take the time to notice the boyish pattern. Give them bold blue to clue them in.

Back to the shower ideas – generally baby showers are a woman dominated event. Your mother-to-be may not have much experience raising a boy. You could center the games on boy things. Make a list of questions that pertain only to boys – perhaps how to change a boy diaper. What will you say when your son comes up to you and tells you … Another idea would be to play – what not to do to embarrass your son (such as lick your finger then attempt to get the toothpaste off his cheek – in front of his friends.) Or don’t shout embarrassing honey-pie comments to your son while he’s playing with his friends. Do a football quiz. Mom may need this information some day!

Guests who have sons will be able to help with this one. Raising a boy is not the same as raising a girl. Have fun but make it informative and fun for all shower attendees.