Picture this, moms: You’re making your weekly (or however often) grocery trip. Your kids are behaving for once, and things are going smoothly. You even have a cart with wheels that don’t grind, wobble, or squeak! Then…it happens. Your shopping cart reminds you that your favorite cereal is high in sugar.

Excuse me?

That’s not some kind of sci-fi reality show - it is reality. So-called smart carts already exist!

This intelligent grocery cart will contain an interactive screen which will be able to tell shoppers just about anything they want to know about the food they’re purchasing.

This means that it could alert diabetics or those with peanut allergies that a product might harm their health, and could also tell the weight conscious, by flashing a red warning, that they’re about to buy something that’s high in fat or sugar.

While many are heralding this shopping cart as an innovation that will help consumers make smarter purchases for their families, I have to draw the line at my grocery cart telling me what to eat (even if I did control the parameters). Are we really so bad at comprehending the existing nutrition labels on our food that we need further help? If I put a package of cookies in my cart, trust me - I know it’s going to blow my diet for the week! Shut up, cart, and let me have my Oreos in peace.

Thoughts?

Posted by Sunshine.

In a motion today, a judge in California granted Kevin Federline full custody of their two sons “until further notice of the court”.

What took them so long?

Some of the issues she has had (with lots of photographic evidence from the paparazzi) includes: lots of late night partying, even though a few weeks ago judges ruled that both parents had some tough restrictions to curb their partying lifestyle and were to attend parenting classes; the alleged misuse of alcohol and drugs; and most recently Britney’s citation for driving without a license.

An AOL poll shows that 90% of the 90,000 respondents feel that Kevin should have been granted custody.

One thing that also somewhat peeved me was the allegation that Britney has been using the paparazzi to keep her pictures in the tabloids. Yes, you read that right. Crazy huh?

I try not to judge other people’s lives, but I have to say that in this case I think the judge was spot on, and that Britney needs to make some major changes to her life to prove that she is a responsible parent capable of raising young children. It’s not as though she hasn’t been given many opportunities recently to demonstrate that… what went wrong?

So, what do you think? Did the judge make the right decision? Join us on the MomSquawk boards and let us know your opinion.

Posted by Meganlux

Sophie Currier, a Harvard student who has been in the news recently for her lawsuit to gain extra break time during her licensing exam in order to breastfeed, has finally won her appeal and will be granted the extra time she says she needs - 60 minutes added onto the standard 45 minute breaks.

As a mom with 27 months of nursing under my belt, I am definitely in the pro-breastfeeding club. But in this case I have to admit I am a bit skeptical. Why? Firstly I am not quite convinced that feeding her child is her main concern here. She already has been granted a special exception to take the test over two nine hour days instead of the normal one, because of her dyslexia and ADHD. How many exceptions should she be granted? (She failed the test the last time she took it about four months ago). Also, there have been other nursing mothers who have taken the test successfully without the extra time that Ms. Currier claims to need - so are they being disadvantaged from this?

This is, after all, a medical exam. Aren’t doctors are supposed to have a strong character to excel in stressful situations, not be constantly looking for excuses? I honestly can’t see why her problem is so big - especially that she felt the need to sue to receive additional special privileges.

As a working mother, I have also been in many situations where it has not been convenient for me to breastfeed. I have been in day-long client meetings where I have had to slip out for 5 minutes to pump briefly, only to express enough milk to release the pressure and provide me some comfort. (And I was forward-thinking enough to freeze extra feedings, so my babies were just fine at those times.)

To me, it comes down to personal choice. There most certainly ARE ways to be creative about breastfeeding, especially for a career-driven mother, which Ms. Currier appears to be. In our cases, it is all about the balance… and yes, there are times when the career might need to take a bit of priority, but with planning there really is no negative impact to mother or child.

While I am 100% for the right for women to breastfeed whenever/wherever they need to, I wonder if a high-profile case such as this could actually result in a set-back for the cause if she is insincere and using this as an excuse to further her own personal agenda. And in this case, I am really not convinced that her situation merited the special arrangements.

Does Ms. Currier deserve the extra time, or is she looking for excuses to give herself the extra edge she needs to pass her exam?  What do you think?

Posted by Meganlux

Cholesterol screening: British researchers are proposing that all children get screened for familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol levels and increases risk of early death from heart disease. The test is done with a simple blood test and would be done at a child’s regular 15 month well visit. As for changing current practices in the U.S.? Says one doctor, the study alone “is not enough to change our current practice…a decision about doing this in the United States must involve a lot more thinking and a lot more economic analysis, because it involves a huge screening program.”

Low male sex drive: A new study suggests that erecitile dysfunction in men over 30 is often caused by low testosterone levels. The study showed that 1 in 4 men suffer from this condition. “Low testosterone can indicate androgen deficiency if it is accompanied by low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis or fracture, and two or more of the following: sleep disturbance, depressed mood, lethargy or diminished physical performance.”

One the celeb front: Trista Sutter of “The Bachelorette” revealed that she suffered from gestational diabetes and had HELPP Syndrome during her pregnancy. “This occurs in about 10 percent of women with preeclampsia or eclampsia, and includes early breakdown of red blood cells, low platelet count and elevated liver enzymes. Severe cases of HELLP can be life-threatening to both mother and baby.” She was induced at 36 weeks, and ultimately delivered her baby boy via c-section. Maxwell Alston was hospitalized for 10 days for not breastfeeding consistently and because his lungs weren’t fully developed.

Posted by Pager12.

When less is more: A new study shows that smaller women who get a breast reduction of less than 500 grams see improvement in neck, back and shoulder pain. They also experience a greater quality of life because they are able to exercise more, play sports and choose from a greater variety of clothing. Currently insurance companies typically do not reimburse women for breast reduction surgery, saying it is a cosmetic procedure. Studies like this one may help insurance companies see that large breasts affect a woman’s well-being, and may want to reconsider their reimbursement policies.

Idiot Proof: Paris Hilton took it upon herself to publicly announce to a crowd at Club LAX in Las Vegas that Christina Aguilera is pregnant. Although Aguilera probably would have preferred making the announcement herself, we still wish her all the best.

Posted by Pager12.

Pop those pills: According to one of the largest studies ever done on the subject, women who take the pill reduce their risk of getting cancer later in life. The good news only applies to those that took the pill for less than eight years, where their risk of cancer was reduced by 12 percent. Those who took the pill longer than eight years increased their risk of developing cancer later in life by 22 percent. “The risk of developing bowel and rectal, uterine and ovarian cancers was most reduced.”

Give me a D: A new study reveals that taking a Vitamin D supplement every day could increase your life span by 1 or 2 years. Produced by the skin in response to sunlight, Vitamin D keeps cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis at bay, and also plays a role in reducing heart disease and preventing pre-eclampsia in pregnant women.

Posted by Pager12.

ADHD linked to poorest families: Scottish government figures show that in the least deprived areas 13 people in 100,000 consulted a doctor about ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), as opposed to 37 people in 100,000 in the most deprived areas. Doctors say this proves that there is more than genetics to consider when evaluating a child for ADHD. Environmental factors such as poor diet, a lack of playing in green outdoor places, late bedtimes, lack of routine and family breakdown can all contribute to symptoms of ADHD. All these factors are more likely to be found in poorer families and must be considered by doctors when evaulating a child.

Breathe easier: Research shows that expectant mothers and their offspring who eat diets rich in fish and “fruity” vegetables, such as tomatoes and aubergines (a fancy name for eggplants…I had to look it up too), can help reduce asthma and allergies in the children. It is not known what it is in these foods that provide the protective effects, but researchers believe that the foods reduce inflammation associated with asthma and allergies.

Posted by Pager12.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (and certainly if you read our blog), you’re already aware of several massive recalls of toys made in China because the paint may contain lead, which can harm your child.

Well, now perhaps you should be checking the label of your child’s clothing as well.

WorldNetDaily reports that at least some children’s clothing coming from China may contain dangerous amounts of the embalming chemical formaldehyde.

According to a report in the Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday Star Times, an investigative team from the city’s TV3 Target program has detailed how scientists found formaldehyde, a chemical preservative, in wool and cotton clothing at levels hundreds of times higher than levels considered safe.

(The World Health Organization sets the safe limit at 20 parts per million - some of the clothing tested reportedly had levels as high as 18,000 ppm!)

What’s the danger?

Formaldehyde exposure beyond 20 ppm can trigger asthma attacks, skin, nasal, and eye irritation, and cancer. In the industrial world, it is used to keep “permanent press” garments properly creased. It is also found in composite wood products and foam padding.

A spokeswoman at China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, told the Associated Press the agency, China’s watchdog over product safety, wasn’t aware of the problem.

Why am I not surprised?

Posted by Sunshine.

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, a sucking marathon is planned for tomorrow.

The Nurturers of the Earth in the Philippines has organized the first Guinness World Record for Simultaneous Breastfeeding in multiple sites. They have gathered more than 20,000 women in 400 countries to participate in this event, which will take place at 10:00 am your local time on Wednesday August 8.

This same group broke the Guinness Record for simultaneous breastfeeding in a single site when they were able to gather 3,451 nursing moms all together.

The worldwide event will kick off in New Zealand with hundreds of women breastfeeding simultaneously and will finish 23 hours later at the dateline in Samoa. Every mom who attends her local event will be counted by two people, and at least 25 moms need to be in attendance for the location to count.

We all know the benefits breastfeeding holds, but for many different reasons, some women choose to not or cannot breastfeed their babies. In the US, breastfeeding is at a record high with 74% of mothers breastfeeding their infants for some period of time. Compared to the 24% in 1971, these are great trends!

If you wish to participate in this world record, check your local papers or contact your country’s coordinator to find the closest location for you.

Posted by Mally