Baby Care Information & Advice

Kevin A asked:

Joint pain is the leading cause of disability across the United States. It is estimated that 48 million people suffer from debilitating joint pain due to a form of arthritis. This figure is projected to reach 67 million by the year 2030 (CDC). Retired people, people with old sports injuries and America’s rising overweight population contribute to these statistics leading to an increasing demand for joint health supplements. But by far, the chief factor that is expected to give further boost to the joint supplement industry is the aging of the baby boomers.

Every 7 seconds a baby boomer turns 55. This aging population is looking for health products that will offer them a way to delay or manage age-related diseases. Baby boomers account for 15% of the sale of special category dietary supplements. Nutritional supplement manufacturers would do well to consider gearing their products for this generation which has added double digit growth sales to the nutritional supplement industry.

Consider these convincing facts and statistics for manufacturing Joint Support product.

Joint health products containing glucosamine and chondroitin are among the top ten dietary supplements in the United States. According to the Nutrition Business Journal, annual sales in 2007, was $831 million. The total dietary supplement industry is estimated at $23.7 billion which means that revenue from supplements containing glucosamine or chondroitin accounted for about four percent of the sales.

The reasons for this could be three-fold:

More baby boomers are approaching middle age and find themselves prone to joint health disorders. Preventive health measures and self-treatment provided by the use of nutritional supplements are gaining popularity, as indicated by growing statistics. More scientific research supports the use of dietary supplements.

More Baby Boomers Are Turning to Joint Support Products

In 1995, it was evaluated that people, 50 and older, could have avoided hip fractures simply by taking a daily dose of calcium supplements. This would have saved them $2.6 billion in direct medical expenses (Adrienne Bendich et al in Clinical Therapeutics, 1999).

Joint health affects the economy as well. Loss of productivity at work due to debilitating joint pain and its related medical costs work out to an approximate $85 million loss. These statistics are on the rise and the Center for Chronic Disease (CDC) estimates that in 20 years, one-third of all arthritis patients will be in the category of 45 to 64 years. Joint pain could hinder such people from their normal daily activities unless preventive, proactive measures are taken today.

Ever since the GAIT testing in 2006 (Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial) which showed two ingredients, Glucosamine and Chondroitin, help reduce mild to severe joint pain due to osteoarthritis as against placebos, the sale of glucosamine and chondroitin has risen by 3.5 percent. In fact bone/joint health has become the second largest segment by volume, after multi-vitamins. This will grow as more baby boomers age.

Awareness of joint health issues has led baby boomers and the aged to realize that joint pain can be treated and progression of joint disease can be delayed by dietary supplements such as glucosamine sulfate, and other well-researched herbs and natural ingredients.

Joint Support Product Manufacturers

Growing consumer demand has given a big boost to the joint supplement industry. If you are thinking of manufacturing joint health supplement, take time to consider the right formula with ingredients that have been researched well.

Other factors to consider in this consumer-driven industry are ease of use or convenience of product. Consumers are more likely to choose products that are easy to take and fit in to their busy schedules. You may want to consult a quality contract manufacturer for formulation of your joint support product. Choose one who holds a high premium for integrity and quality as much as you do.

superboy 3132 asked:

No more hunting for the right baby shoes for your dear baby! At a good baby footwear store, you get the finest of kids’ shoes, leather shoes, baby shoe booties, baby apparel, toddler shoes, leather shoes, girls’ shoes and discount shoes. There are soft leather shoes for babies with different design and texture. These shoes are noted for their softness, flexibility and comfort

Baby apparel and shoes are available for small kids, toddlers and babies of various ages and sizes. They are shoes for girls, for boys, for babies between 0-24 months.   You will love some of the best variety of baby shoes such as strawberry soft soles, unicorn soft soles, sunflower soft soles, princess soft soles etc. Babies are really tender, precious and lovely to behold.  Their gurgles and smile exude a radiance and peace that cannot be described in mere words. And what more joy, than seeing your baby take her first step?  Wouldn’t you like your baby to walk cutely with little dainty steps, in a pair of colorful baby shoes?

We need to know that baby shoes come in as many varieties as do adult shoes. The purpose of baby shoes is slightly different from adult shoes. They need to keep the baby’s feet warm and protect them. And one more thing, the baby’s shoe must look cute as well! The cuteness can be amplified by the size of the shoes, or the cute designs. Things like strawberries, butterflies, and heart and baby tiny animals adorn the shoes and make it more eye-catching.

Baby shoes are just the right kind to add an element of cuteness, fun and beauty in your baby’s walk.  If your baby is adventurous and playful, you can let him enjoy with soccer soft soles or if your baby is a future catwalk queen, you can make her walk in princess soft soles or strawberry soft soles. These are just some opinions; you are free to take your pick from the varied list of exciting baby products and baby shoes.

Enjoy different designs and different shades of baby personality in some of the best baby shoes and baby apparel online. The delivery of the baby shoes are fast and dispatched within just 2 days after receipt of payment.  Go ahead and choose the ones that suit well for your lovely, dear baby.

For the growing baby, there is a need to keep it warm in a pair of soft soled shoes.  These can give the child the ‘feeling’ of having shoes on their feet. You can call these the baby’s first step towards wearing formal footwear.  It is preferable for the baby to wear leather soft-soled shoes than hard shoes. These can be used by the baby to master their movements. It is not good to take the ones with hard soles because those can hurt the movement of the child. The style, size and the cuteness of the shoes add to the comfort level and cute factor of the baby’s footwear.

Mischelle Weedman Davis asked:

Understanding your market is critical. As early as possible, before you launch your business, I encourage you to survey moms in your area to learn about their values, buying habits, and infant feeding rituals. An easy way to do this is to use an online survey tool (there are dozens out there) to create your survey. Then send an email to all the moms you know, post a notice on a local mommy message board, or send an email to an online Yahoo! Groups community that is targeted to parents.

Not only will this help you learn about your target market but it will give you valuable data that you can use when discussing your business with the local media.

Here are some of the questions and answer options that we used for the first Sprouts Baby Food survey years ago.

How old is your baby?

Which of the following best describes you?

Stay-at-home mom

Working mom

If you are a working mom, which of the following best describes your childcare support?

n/a

in-home childcare/nanny

daycare center

family member

Are you concerned about food allergies?

Yes

No

Does your baby have any food allergies?

Yes

No

FEEDING YOUR BABY

Did you breastfeed your baby?

Yes

No

How long did/do you plan to breast feed your baby?

0-3 months

4-6 months

7-9 months

10-12 months

13-18 months

19-24 months

2+ years

How old was your baby when you began feeding him/her solid foods?

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

12 months

Older

Why did you begin your baby on solids?

Advice from doctor

Advice from book

Advise from website/web forum

Advice from family member

Advice from another mom

Baby seemed ready

Other

Which of the following is most often your source for feeding and childcare information?

doctor

book

website/web forum

family member

other moms

Did your doctor give you enough information to help you feel confident about making feeding decisions for your baby?

Yes

No

What is the most frustrating thing about introducing new foods to your baby?

WHAT YOU FEED YOUR BABY

Which best describes the food that you most frequently give your baby?

Home-made baby food

Traditional store-bought baby food (jarred)

Organic store-bought baby food (jarred)

Organic store-bought baby food (frozen)

Pureed table foods

Catered baby food (such as Sprouts)

Do you regularly give your baby formula?

Yes

No

Never

Which of the following baby food brands do you most frequently use (please check all that apply).

n/a ‘ I don’t give my baby commercial baby food

Gerber Baby Food

Heinz Baby Food

Beech Nut Baby Food

Earth’s Best

Gerber Organic

Organic Baby

Homemade Baby

Bohemian Baby

Happy Baby

TotPots

Mom Made

Evie’s Organic Edibles

Plum Organics

Healthy Times

Bright Beginnings

If you DO NOT make your own baby food, please give us the reasons why. (check all that apply)

n/a ‘ I make my own baby food.

I think store-bought food is as good as what I could make at home.

I would like to make my own baby food but I don’t have the time.

If you DO make your own baby food, please give us the reasons why. (check all that apply)

I think that fresh is the best.

I like to choose my own ingredients.

I think that store-bought baby food contains a lot of sugars, starches, and fillers.

I don’t like that store-bought food is made to sit on store shelves for 2+ years.

Store-bought food lacks variety.

Is price a factor when feeding your baby?

No ‘ I want the best for my baby, no matter what the cost.

Not really ‘ I’ll pay more for better quality foods.

Kind of ‘ It depends. Sometimes.

Yes ‘ We are on a budget and can’t afford to spend a great deal of baby food.

Yes ‘ I just don’t believe in paying a lot for baby food.

Do you read the ingredient labels on baby food in the store?

n/a ‘ I make my own baby food.

No

Yes, always

Yes, but only for baby food

If yes, what are you looking for on the labels?

On average, how much do you pay for baby food (per jar)?

$.10 – $.49

$.50 – $.99

$1.00 – $1.49

$1.50 – $1.99

$2.00 – $2.49

$2.50 – $2.99

$3.00 ‘ more

How much would you pay for quality, freshly-made, organic baby food?

$.10 – $.49

$.50 – $.99

$1.00 – $1.49

$1.50 – $1.99

$2.00 – $2.49

$2.50 – $2.99

$3.00 ‘ more

On average, how many jars of baby food do you purchase each week?

0-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

21-25

More

RESTURANTS

Before having a baby, how many times did you eat out per month?

3-5 times per month

1-2 times per month

Once every 2 months

Other

After having a baby, how many times do you eat out per month?

3-5 times per month

1-2 times per month

Once every 2 months

Other

Since having a baby, is “kid friendliness” (kid menu, high chars, toys, etc. ) a key factor when choosing a restaurant?

Yes

No

Would you be more likely to frequent a good restaurant that had healthy, organic menu selections for your baby?

Yes

No

When dining out at a restaurant do you…..?

Bring baby food along

Feed the baby off of your plate (mashing something up)

Order something off the menu for the baby (then mash it up)

Other

Additional comments on dining out with your baby.

sumit tiwari asked:

Keeping your baby safe at all times is one of your greatest concerns and responsibilities. There is so much to consider and it is very easy to overlook something that might be fairly obvious to some but escape others.

 

Q. What is the best way to approach baby-proofing our home?

The best way is to see your home from the eyes of your child. It is recommended that you get down on your hands and knees and crawl around your home. This will enable you to see hazards you might not have recognized at your full height. Are electrical outlets in baby’s reach or are there electric cords hanging down that your baby can pull on or get tangled in? Does your furniture have sharp corners? Are there precious items at your baby’s level that should be put up out of reach?

Q. What is the most hazardous situation for my baby?

Any situation that places your baby in harm’s way is the worst situation for your baby. The most hazardous situation for your baby is choking or anything that might cause him to stop breathing. The most hazardous situation for you baby is one that caused an injury that could have been prevented.

Q. What are some things I need to consider when I am baby-proofing our home?

There are many things to consider. Your baby is a quick mover so it is never safe to leave him unattended if at all possible. Consider putting up all valuables and breakable items out of reach of your baby’s. Anything that is small enough to fit in his mouth should be removed. If in doubt as to whether any one item is small  enough to fit in your baby’s mouth and pose a choking hazard take an empty toilet paper roll. If it fits inside the tube, it goes in his mouth and possibly harm him.

Q. Why do I need baby safety gates?

Baby safety gates can be placed in doorways or at the top and bottom of staircases. The gates can prevent your baby from getting into the kitchen or bathroom. They can also prevent your baby from tumbling down the stairs or climbing the stairs and falling. The mesh or the holes in the gate should not be large enough for your baby to put his toes through to climb the gate. Gates now are being made to operate hands-free or one handed. There are gates being made with the bars going vertical instead of horizontal reducing the chances of your baby being able to climb the gate.

Q. What are electric outlet covers or locks?

Electric outlet covers look like plastic plugs when they are inserted and prevent your baby from sticking his fingers or something else in the outlet and getting a serious shock. Electric outlet lock plates can replace typical outlets and in order to insert anything into the outlet the plug has to be inserted and turned.

Q. It was suggested to me that I have motion alarms on our doors and windows, why would I need them?

Some kids are very active and able to do things you would be very surprise about. Children have been known to open windows and fall through screens and become seriously injured. There are many news stories where toddlers have gotten up in the night and unbeknownst to their parents open the door and go outside. Some are found wandering around and others are not so lucky. Some windows now come with a mechanism to prevent the window from being opened more than an inch or two. The alarms will alert you to the door opening and you can intervene before something tragic happens.

Q. What kind of baby-proofing products are available?

There all kinds of baby products available and most are reasonably priced. There are motion sensors, corner cushions for sharp corners on furniture. There are electric outlet covers, cabinet and drawer locks of different types and cord retractors for window blinds.

Q. Is there anything available to protect my baby from getting in between banister posts?

There is netting available that can be attached with screws that will prevent your baby from getting between the banister posts. This product is similar to the deck netting available for outdoor decks.

Q. Are there baby proofing checklists available?

Yes, there are baby-proofing checklists available. You can locate them online and they are printable. Specialty stores, hospitals, and pediatricians are all possible sources for such checklists.

Q. How can I baby proof my nursery?

You can baby proof your nursery by keeping your baby’s crib away from windows and blinds cords. Put outlet protectors on all outlets. Make certain to dress your baby in sleepers rather than using blankets. When your baby begins sitting up place the mattress in the lowest position. Do not put stuffed animals or pillows in the crib with your little one, they could nestle up to them and suffocate.

Q. How can I baby proof my kitchen?

Put all cleaners or chemicals up out of reach of your baby. Make sure all drawers and cabinet doors. While cooking put all pot handles toward the rear of the stove. Do not allow electric cords to hang over counters where your baby can pull on them. Better still, if possible unless you are feeding your baby keep him out of the kitchen.

Q. How can I baby proof my car?

You can baby proof your car by making sure the car seat your baby will ride in is installed correctly and that it is the correct one for your baby. Remove all loose items that could become missiles in a crash or quick stop, and place them in the trunk.

William Pritchett asked:

good friend of mine inquired where he could obtain information about medical insurance for his out-of-state, elderly mother, I told him to try the Internet. He reported back to me about a week later, in desperation: “I am giving up, I am too confused.” He had taken on an overwhelming project with his widowed mother, living in another state. As the only child, and following the sudden death of his father, it was his responsibility to care for his mother. In this world of technology, the family unit is often living in different geographical areas and the family members are usually quite involved with their own lives, careers, and families. In addition, when both parents are alive, often one or both parents are quite independent and do not require a lot of assistance.

As time goes on things, of course, change, and sometimes change very suddenly. There can be a crisis, with regard to the health care needs of one or both aging parents. With our baby boomers facing this problem in ever increasing numbers, and with the information highway in full bloom, there is a definite need for planning. Protecting your parent’s assets and health is a huge and daunting undertaking, which requires a tremendous amount of education and practical application. Our seniors face many diverse responsibilities upon reaching age 65. To name just a few: Estate planning, taxation, Medicare, social security, wills, insurance, and various other legal and financial matters.

All of these different areas require expertise from accountants, lawyers, estate planners, insurance agents, home brokers, financial advisors, and others. The Internet is a good starting point for most people to find resources for questions and solutions for your problems. There is, however, no replacement for good solid intelligent advice from an expert. Twenty years ago, insurance for elders was sold by “senior insurance specialists,” with just a handful of companies in each state. The programs were most often Medigap or Medicare supplemental policies, which covered the expenses not covered by Medicare, including hospital and doctor deductibles, durable medical devices, and non-approved Medicare costs. Ironically these specialists did not sell a lot of nursing care policies, even though Medicare paid a national average of less than 2% of these expenses.

With the advent of “financial and estate planning” and more insurance companies entering this market, a more broad and diversified product line became available to agents, brokers, planners, and seniors. Part of this new diversification was the “home health care plan,” sold by itself, and in conjunction with senior health insurance products. The appeal of the “home health care policy” was that a senior could stay at home and still receive medical and custodial benefits, allowing a person to recuperate in the comfort of their own home. This was the answer to a huge problem. The last place an older person wanted to go was a “retirement home,” or “rest home,” or, God forbid, the “nursing home.”

It appeared that seniors could now rely on this new innovation without worry of having to move out of their home environment in the event of a health problem. As with most things,” if it is too good to be true.” … The home health care policy is no exception. The problem is, there is not enough coverage for a lengthy illness or recuperation time. The fact is, the new trend is toward an “all in one” type facility, allowing for a variety of levels of care all in one location. In other words a senior could start off with little or no health care concerns in an independent, less expensive area, and then go to an assisted living, or nursing care facility, all within the same compound. A “nursing home” requires a nurse on the premises 24 hours per day, assisted living is just eight hours.

The advantages to this are financial. The patient or senior is only charged according to the care level required during the time he or she is admitted to that facility. Another benefit is it alleviates a lot of planning because the care is delivered, as it is needed. The medical attention is available to all residents regardless of their current health. Some people are offered a lifetime package , which covers their care for the rest of their life, regardless of their current age. It also allows for social outlets to an otherwise somewhat isolated group. On-line shopping services have become a huge business. It is definitely here to stay and many insurance policies are purchased from Internet quotes and on-line applications.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of insurance agents and brokers advertising on the Internet. Most of them will provide instant on-line quotes and even applications for the potential insured. I highly discourage a layperson to purchase insurance in this fashion. A little knowledge can be dangerous. The federal government has mandated to all states through legislation, the standardized senior health insurance policy guidelines, which are governed and regulated by each state insurance department. There are plans for almost every level of health. Some are designed and priced for a less than healthy individual.

Others are for a person with minimal health concerns. The whole concept of insurance is to provide protection for “unanticipated” sickness or injury, especially catastrophic expenses, which would devastate a person’s net worth. The more small expenses a person is willing or able to pay (self-insure), the lower the rate. I recommend this strategy when evaluating your insurance options. Another consideration when reviewing various insurance plans is to look at the company itself. How long has the company been selling this type of insurance? Do they have a lot of complaints filed with the local department of insurance? Are the rates stable? Does it pay claims on time? Service? Most agents talk about the rating. These ratings are as follows: A+, A, A? B+, B, B? C+, C, C? or “not rated.”

Do not be fooled by rating alone. It is good to have a high rating, but it is far better to have a company that has longevity, stability, innovation, service, and expertise. The problem is that some companies enter into a market and quickly leave without explanation. This does not give security to the policyholder. The most important consideration should be a review of the profit/loss ratio for that product. This will establish stability, and longevity in the market. An insurance company with a moderate profit in a particular line of business will remain in that market. On the other hand, a company with losses will make changes and possibly even withdraw. This is information not normally available to Internet users. Before entering into an insurance contract , the senior person, the family, and other advisors must be realistic, and a careful evaluation of the entire picture must be examined. The age, the health of the senior, the financial resources, the personality and attitude of the senior, and most importantly the desires of the senior, should all be considered. Early planning is important, as qualification becomes increasingly more difficult as the applicant’s health declines. The senior health care market is complex. I will offer some words of advice to attempt to alleviate potential pitfalls.

*C hoose a well-informed, seasoned, and service oriented agent or broker to assist your decision making process. The professional can offer invaluable information, but do not be afraid to ask a lot of questions and even get a second opinion. *Do not wait until your parent or loved one is sick, or injured. Plan ahead and take the time needed to cover all the options.

*C hoose an experienced insurance company. A Company that has been in the marketplace for a significant time and has maintained a balance of rates and benefits and sound risk selection with moderate rate increases over time is your best bet.

 *T he plan should be flexible, with a broad range of options and benefit selections to the insured. There should be no tricks, or complicated language for the coverage. An incredibly low rate is a red flag for trouble in the future.

*Do not rush or be rushed by an over aggressive sales person. This policy will not be inexpensive and will need to be read and reviewed for a clear understanding of the contents. This is one advantage to the Internet. You are allowed to read indefinitely before you act. A long-term care program, with or without insurance coverage, will only work if the senior has input into the care selection process. If there are any questions about the accreditation of a facility please call the “Continuing Care Accreditation Commission at 202-783-7286. http://www.empirehealthstore.com

Chris Chew asked:

Due to health care education, more people, who are over forty, those born in 1946 to 1964, commonly known as the baby boomers, are realizing the benefits of taking up sports or exercising in a gym.

This is well and good since exercising regularly severely cut the risks of contracting aging and obesity related potentially killer diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, some forms of cancers and many other diseases.

It is indeed heartening to know that more baby boomers are taking charge of their health through regularly exercise to improve their cardiovascular health thus becoming fitter and stronger. However, with more middle aged people exercising and playing some form of sports, instances of injuries sustained from these activities have risen substantially.

In the United States, these gym or sports injuries have become the number 2 reason for people visiting the doctor’s office just behind the common cold, reported by the National Ambulatory Medical Care in 2003.

A Consumer Product Safety Commission research in 1998 found that sports related injuries to baby boomers had risen by 33 percent since 1991 and contributed to US$18.7 billion in medical costs.

Outdoor sports such as tennis, jogging and golf are very popular with people over forties. Not to be outdone, the more body conscious over forties baby boomers are also joining gym memberships in the multitudes.

Gyms all over the developed world are happily reporting booming new memberships year after year with a large pool of their members being the over forty baby boomers brigade, male or female baby boomers irrespective.

As baby boomers get older, their susceptibility to sports injuries rise proportionately. As people age, their body degenerate along with the aging process, although exercising regularly is known to slow down this very degeneration process.

This is particularly so for the risky weekend warriors who take to the running tracks or lifting weights to build their body with gusto during the weekend putting their aging bodies and joints to sudden busts of unaccustomed stressful activities, causing damages to their own bodies unknowingly.

What are the common baby boomer’s sports injuries? How to avoid them?

• Shoulder injuries – Common for those playing squash, tennis, badminton and lifting weights in the gym using wrong form and techniques.

• Elbow injuries – People who play racket games and bodybuilders.

• Back injuries – A very common occurrence in the gym amongst baby boomer bodybuilder wannabes. Also a common injury for golfers who often have to swing their spine.

• Knee injuries – For baby boomers who participate in sports with sudden movements and changes of directions such as squash and soccer.

•Ankle injuries – Usually striking the runners and joggers of long distances.

How to avoid the risks of sports injuries for the over forties?

This is largely common sense which most people know but few do it regularly as part of their exercise routine in so doing, risking injuries which can be avoided.

• Thorough warm of the muscles and joints which will be involved in the exercise or sport.

• Stretching adequately and correctly. Many people stretch in the wrong manner which then may cause even more injuries.

• Take the exercises or sports one step at a time, then as endurance and strength build up over time, you can then increase the intensity of the sport or the exercise.

• Exercise regularly. Not just over the weekend. Your body may not be able to cope with the sudden outburst each weekend.

• Hire a sports personal trainer who can tailor an exercise program suitable to your health condition and guide you safely through the exercises.

So baby boomers, don’t become a victim of your exercises. You want to be fit and healthy, not suffering from pain and despair from what could have been an enjoyable game of healthy sporting activity. Over 40s sports injuries can be avoided.

bharatbook asked:

Baby Products MA Market Assessment Report ( http://www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research-Reports/Baby-Products-MA-Market-Assessment.html ) provides the total information about the Market of Baby Products.

 

 The good news for the baby products market is that the UK is currently in the middle of a `mini baby boom’. Consequently, its end-user base — consisting of babies under 2 years — is growing. The market has also benefited from social and demographic trends, such as later parenthood, as well as a growing consumer demand for stylish and well-designed products. These factors have combined to increase the potential expenditure per child. Manufacturers and retailers have worked hard to build up the market through innovation and new product development (NPD). In addition, sophisticated marketing techniques, especially those utilising new technology, have been employed to gain and retain the loyalty of parents.

 

 The baby transport and nursery furniture sector has redefined itself to an extent during the past decade (since the late 1990s), in response to some of the social and demographic factors that have been affecting the market. This has enabled the sector to maintain value; indeed, it showed steady growth between 2003 and 2007.

 

 Both the feeding products and safety equipment subsectors have benefited from the trend for mothers to return to work when their children are under school age. For example, breastfeeding equipment (such as pumps, sterilisers and spare bottles) can help mothers to continue breastfeeding after their return to work, and many working parents of young children keep a separate set of feeding equipment at a childcare facility. Home safety equipment is required at the homes of childminders (who are now inspected by the Office for Standards in Education [Ofsted]), as well as being purchased by parents of young children.

 

 Widespread media coverage of the dangers that may face babies in their homes has led to a growing demand for items such as stairgates and child safety locks, while the baby monitors sector has developed, at least partly, in response to a need to provide reassurance for parents in the light of findings on issues such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS, more commonly known as `cot death’).

 

 The disposable nappies sector continues to be price-led, with heavy discounting and promotional activity meaning that the sector has struggled to maintain value, despite continual product developments and improvements from manufacturers. The sector has also had to respond to strong pressure from both the Government and consumers to minimise the effects of disposable nappies on the environment.

 

 There was strong agreement that `breast is best’ as far as infant feeding was concerned, with nearly three-quarters survey respondents agreeing that breastfeeding is much better for babies than bottle feeding. Nevertheless, nearly half held the view that it was possible for bottle feeding to be just as good as breastfeeding.

 

 The sample was split on the question of whether breastfeeding or bottle feeding was easier for the parents. Overall, however, the survey results were slightly in favour of bottle feeding in this respect.

 

 More than seven in ten respondents agreed that the wide range of baby equipment available could make it difficult for parents to decide which items they actually needed, and almost half complained that it was difficult to get unbiased advice about what sort of baby equipment to buy. Nearly three in ten said they wished they had done more research or had been better informed before buying equipment for their baby.

 

 Endorsement for using second-hand baby equipment was high, with nearly seven in ten respondents saying that this was perfectly acceptable as long as safety considerations were met. The current economic climate (as at early November 2008) may well mean that more parents will rely on `passed-on’ equipment in the near future.

 

 For more information please visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research/Baby-Care.html

 

 Or

 

 Contact us at:

 

 Bharat Book Bureau

 Tel: +91 22 27578668

 Fax: +91 22 27579131

 Email: info@bharatbook.com

 Website: www.bharatbook.com