Check it out! Our Operations Manager, Shari (tweet name @babybanz) has been featured this month on FaceFile as one of 4 great folks to follow in their "Who We Like Online and Why: October Edition"!

Check out the article and follow us to stay up to date with all the great info and news she has to share!

Baby Banz on A Morning Ottawa Morning Show!

Check out our Operations Manager, Shari spreading the news about Baby Banz and UV protection on Ottawa's A Morning Show last Friday!




Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5lP2aHx0Mw

New Mom Tested Reviews

Check out these new web reviews!

CLOSED: Baby Banz and SugarSweetBaby Giveaway!

Baby Banz and SugarSweetBaby October Giveaway!

SugarSweetBaby is teaming up with Baby Banz for a fabulous giveaway!

The winner receives a free Bamboo Baby Wrap from SugarSweetBaby and a swimsuit from Baby Banz!

Get an early start on eye protection with Baby Banz! You slather on the highest SPF sun block you can find to protect your little ones from UVA/ UVB rays- but do you remember to protect their EYES? Baby Banz were originally designed in Australia for one of the world’s toughest UV environments. Clinically tested by one of the world’s leading authorities on sunglasses, Baby Banz have passed the most stringent standards on sunglasses in the world! Get your child the protection they need for their eyes, without sacrificing an ounce of comfort or style.

SugarSweetBaby.com features the softest, stylish and most Eco Friendly Bamboo Baby Wraps. Our Bamboo Baby Wraps are the pain free way to babywear, babies love it because they feel secure, Moms and Dad love it because there is no more back pain! Our Wraps make the perfect gifts, as well! Whether you are a first time parent or a parent of many, you will truly enjoy the convenience of wearing your happy baby, while you are able to attend to your everyday life. Read more about what customers have to say about our wraps.

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How to enter:

Take a look around BabyBanz.com and SugarSweetBaby.com and tell us what you would choose if you won with what size and color! (2 entries)

Follow @babybanz on Twitter and let us know that you did (or already do)! (1 entry)

Follow @sugarsweetbaby on Twitter and let us know that you did (or already do)! (1 entry)

Tweet about the giveaway by using the RT button on this page OR by copying and pasting the following text-

RT @babybanz & @sugarsweetbaby Wrap and UV Swimwear Giveaway, ends 10/31, {http://bit.ly/YXBz5}

You may tweet the giveaway as many times as you like, but there is only one entry per tweet. Please leave the permalink of your tweet in your comment.

Blog about the giveaway, linking to Baby Banz and Sugar Sweet Baby. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know that you did. You must leave the direct link to your post! (5 entries)

Fan Baby Banz on FaceBook ! (1 entry)

Fan Sugar Sweet Baby on FaceBook! (1 entry)

Follow the Baby Banz Blog (publicly) (1 entry)

Follow the Sugar Sweet Baby Blog (publicly) (1 entry)

Subscribe to the Baby Banz Inc Newsletter (1 entry)

Subscribe to the Sugar Sweet Baby Newsletter (1 entry)

Make a purchase before Oct 31 from Baby Banz or SugarSweetBaby (10 entries)

Please note to get all of your entries counted, for each thing that you do you MUST leave a separate comment for each entry! Example, if you do something that gives you 3 entries you must leave three comments to get those 3 entries. If you do not leave separate comments per entry then your comment will be counted as one entry except where indicated. We do check every entry to make sure that you did what the entry required. Your entry can and will be deleted if you do not follow the entry rules listed above.

Contest open to US and Canada residents only. Must be 18 years of age to enter. Contest ends 10/31/09 at 11:59 CST. Winners will be chosen by Random.org at the end of the contest and notified via email as well as posted on our site. Please make sure that your email address is obtainable by Baby Banz Inc. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize before Baby Banz Inc chooses another winner. Family members of Baby Banz Inc and Sugar Sweet Baby are ineligible to enter in any of our contests.

Protecting Children from the Sun

Just a few serious sunburns can increase your child's risk of skin cancer later in life. Kids don't have to be at the pool, beach, or on vacation to get too much sun. Their skin needs protection from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays whenever they're outdoors.

• Seek shade. UV rays are strongest and most harmful during midday, so it's best to plan indoor activities then. If this is not possible, seek shade under a tree, an umbrella, or a pop-up tent. Use these options to prevent sunburn, not to seek relief after it's happened.
• Cover up. Clothing that covers your child's skin helps protect against UV rays. Although a long-sleeved shirt and long pants with a tight weave are best, they aren't always practical. A T-shirt, long shorts, or a beach cover-up are good choices, too—but it's wise to double up on protection by applying sunscreen or keeping your child in the shade when possible.
• Get a hat. Hats that shade the face, scalp, ears, and neck are easy to use and give great protection. Baseball caps are popular among kids, but they don't protect their ears and neck. If your child chooses a cap, be sure to protect exposed areas with sunscreen.
• Wear sunglasses. They protect your child's eyes from UV rays, which can lead to cataracts later in life. Look for sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
• Apply sunscreen. Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and UVA and UVB protection every time your child goes outside. For the best protection, apply sunscreen generously 30 minutes before going outdoors. Don't forget to protect ears, noses, lips, and the tops of feet.

Take sunscreen with you to reapply during the day, especially after your child swims or exercises. This applies to waterproof and water-resistant products as well.

Follow the directions on the package for using a sunscreen product on babies less than 6 months old. All products do not have the same ingredients; if your or your child's skin reacts badly to one product, try another one or call a doctor. Your baby's best defense against sunburn is avoiding the sun or staying in the shade.

Keep in mind, sunscreen is not meant to allow kids to spend more time in the sun than they would otherwise. Try combining sunscreen with other options to prevent UV damage.

Too Much Sun Hurts

Turning pink? Unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun's UV rays in as little as 15 minutes. Yet it can take up to 12 hours for skin to show the full effect of sun exposure. So, if your child's skin looks "a little pink" today, it may be burned tomorrow morning. To prevent further burning, get your child out of the sun.

Tan? There's no other way to say it—tanned skin is damaged skin. Any change in the color of your child's skin after time outside—whether sunburn or suntan—indicates damage from UV rays.

Cool and cloudy? Children still need protection. UV rays, not the temperature, do the damage. Clouds do not block UV rays, they filter them—and sometimes only slightly.

Oops! Kids often get sunburned when they are outdoors unprotected for longer than expected. Remember to plan ahead, and keep sun protection handy—in your car, bag, or child's backpack.

Sun Safety at School

The brochure Sun Safety at Schools: What You Can Do (PDF-245KB) explains how school administrators and staff, parents, and community healthcare service providers can promote sun safety.

View page in

• Español (Spanish)

Contact Us:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
  
• cdcinfo@cdc.gov

• Content source: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Lack of Eye Protection From UV Rays May Cause Damage Now and Later in Life

Lack of Eye Protection From UV Rays May Cause Damage Now and Later in Life

Prevent Blindness America Warns Public on Possible Immediate and Lasting Effects of UV Damage

CHICAGO (April 29, 2009) – Ultraviolet (UV) rays are well known for their damaging effects on the skin. One area of the body that sunscreen cannot protect is the eyes. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can cause “sunburns” to the eye, also known as photokeratitis. The painful condition may result in temporary loss of vision for 1-2 days. In addition, the presence of pterygium, a growth of tissue that forms on the white of the eye, is in direct correlation to the amount of UV exposure that the person has been subjected to. Without treatment, this condition may require surgical treatment.

The damaging effects of UV rays may not develop until years later. In fact, UV damage is cumulative and has been linked to cataracts and macular degeneration later in life. The delicate skin around the eye and the eyelids is also susceptible to UV damage. According to the Office of Air and Radiation at the Environmental Protection Agency, basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer to affect the eyelids and may appear on the lower lid, in the corners of the eye and under eyebrows.

Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, has declared May as UV Awareness Month to help educate the public on how to protect their eyes. Fortunately, protecting the eyes and vision is easy and does not have to be expensive. No matter what time of year it is or what the weather forecast is, sunglasses that block 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays should always be worn in conjunction with a brimmed hat. While UV-A has lower energy, it penetrates deep into the eye and may injure the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sight in the center field of vision. UV-B radiation is presumably more dangerous and is mainly absorbed by the cornea and lens of the eye and can damage those tissues.

Wrap-around sunglasses are best as they protect the eyes and the skin around the eyes. Some contact lenses may offer UV protection but they can’t protect the entire eye and the skin around it.

“When we head outside to enjoy the great outdoors, we all need to remember to protect one of our greatest gifts—our sight,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. “We adults need to be good examples for our children and encourage them to get in the habit of protecting their vision for years to come.”

According to the American Optometric Association, children are at a greater risk of UV damage because the lenses of their eyes are more transparent, which allows more short wavelength light to reach the retina. Parents looking to purchase sunglasses for their children should remember to buy sunglasses with the proper UV protection. Sunglasses without UV protection may shade the eyes but actually cause the pupils to dilate, allowing in even more harmful rays.

And, children’s glasses should be made of unbreakable polycarbonate to fit their active lifestyle. The frames should be bendable and the lenses should not pop out. The child should try the sunglasses on and make sure they shield enough of the eye above, below and on the sides.

For more information on the dangers of UV exposure and more information on how to choose the best sunglasses for adults and children, please visit preventblindness.org/uv or call (800) 331-2020.

About Prevent Blindness America

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, divisions and chapters, it's committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020.

Check out New Adventure BanZ by Baby BanZ featured in Sunglasses Magazine Sept/Oct 2009.

Hearing sense for NASCAR fans

Baby Banz has developed a line of hearing protection ear muffs just for kids! Don't think just one day at the races can cause harm? Check out this article!

Everyone knows that race cars are loud yet every week I see too many race fans with no hearing protection of any kind. Hearing is an important part of our lives, and our NASCAR passion, but many NASCAR fans are not taking good care of their ears at the track.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) a person can listen to a 90 decibel (dB) sound for 8 hours straight without any hearing damage. 90 dB is approximately as loud as a busy city street.

Adding just a few decibels cuts that safe time dramatically. At 115 dB you can only listen safely for 15 minutes.

An NASCAR Winston Cup race car at full throttle measures approximately 130 dB. And that is just one car, not a full 43 cars with their sounds echoing off of aluminum grandstands.

Taking care of your hearing

The solution is obvious, if you're going to the race you need to protect your hearing! There are a couple of different solutions depending on your budget.

If you own a scanner buy a decent headset with at least a 20dB noise reduction rating.

If you are still on the fence about whether or not you need a scanner, maybe this is reason enough to go for it. Just don't turn up the volume more than you need to.

At an absolute minimum if you are going to a NASCAR race you need to use earplugs. Even buying them at the track they can be had for $2 per pair. Buy them in advance and you can get them for half that. If you can afford tickets, parking, souvenirs, food and drinks you can certainly afford a couple bucks to protect your health.

If you're afraid that they look dorky, would you prefer to have to wear a hearing aid?

I truly love the sounds of a NASCAR race. 43 800-horsepower monsters and 150,000 screaming fans make my pulse race and puts a permanent smile on my face. However, I never go to the race track without my hearing protection. Through practice, qualifying and the race if the engines are running then my ears are covered. Yours should be too.

By Steve McCormick, About.com
http://nascar.about.com/cs/nascar101/a/hearingprotect.htm