Birth Noted In Diverse Ways

Mon., April 17, 2000

Tina Carey Staff writer

We hand out cigars and send out announcements but other cultures around the world celebrate the birth of a baby in different ways. A new book, “Everything Else You Need to Know When You’re Expecting: The New Etiquette for the New Mom” lists some other baby traditions:

* flying a kite (Japan)

* tossing colored confetti (Mexico)

* planting a tree, apple for girls, nut for boys (Switzerland)

* opening a bottle of rum (Jamaica)

* serving red-dyed eggs (China)

* dressing the newborn in clothes of the opposite sex (Great Britain)

* New Book: “First Aid & Safety For Dummies” (IDG Books Worldwide) is now available at bookstores nationwide. The book offers advice and tips for everything from bug bites to broken bones, bodily injuries to burns and shock.

It also offers advice on making your home accident-proof and includes fire, electrical and automobile safety tips.

* Do you own a Baby Jogger? The makers of Baby Jogger are conducting a “Why I Love My Stroller” essay contest. The winner will receive a decorative quilt and the winning story will be featured on the company’s Web site, www.babyjogger.com.

Send your story about why you love your Baby Jogger or any other Baby Jogger Company stroller to The Baby Jogger Company, P.O. Box 2189, Yakima, WA 98907, or via e-mail to contest@babyjogger.com. Deadline is Sept. 1. You must own one of their strollers to enter.

* Gerber News: According to Gerber, babies lose 20 percent of their total body water every day while adults lose only 5 percent.

Half of children develop gum disease by age 2, and parents change an average of 10,000 diapers before their baby is toilet trained.

Gerber’s new line of products aims to counter some of these problems and includes diaper rash ointment and lotion, gas drops, vitamin drops, tooth and gum cleaners, baby wash, vapor bath, baby lotion, baby shampoo, baby powder and baby oil.

Gerber has a toll-free consumer help line to answer your questions about caring for your baby 24-hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 443-7237. A Web site at www.gerber.com can also provide more information.

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