Mothercare launches innovative feeding range

MANILA, Philippines - Mothercare’s new feeding range Innosense is a carefully researched and expertly developed range of feeding products that include 31 completely new lines to help parents find everything they need to feed their baby, in the way that comes most naturally to them.

Created with three years of expert insight, vision and passion, and in collaboration with renowned industrial designer, Daniel Weil, the innovative range has 21 design registrations and five patents pending.  Part of this innovation is the unique bottle with an off-center teat designed for better eye contact for bonding between parent and baby while minimizing air ingestion.

Paul Walker, Mothercare head of design, says, “Over the years bottle shape has evolved in the search for the perfect bottle but each has had its pros and cons.  We’ve worked closely with industry experts and mums, and gathered all our innovative know-how to produce this new and unique Innosense range.”

In independent two-week user trials of 210 babies using the new Innosense bottle, 84 percent of parents found the off-center teat helped to reduce burping and winding, 90 percent of parents stated the bottle was “easy” or “very easy” to use and 84 percent of parents found the bottle was “as good” or “better than” their current bottle.

The new Innosense range is available exclusively at all Mothercare stores in Bonifacio High Street, Greenbelt 5, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Magnolia, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, SM Masinag, Trinoma, Abreeza Mall Davao, Centrio Mall Cagayan de Oro and Harbor Point Subic.

source: philstar.com

This baby stroller is engineered for total safety and ultimate childcare

Buying a stroller is not just for taking the baby on a sweet and smooth ride apparently, but also ensuring the stroller itself is built according to the child’s development. The latest buzz on strollers is the all-new Aprica Karoon Plus stroller that has been upgraded with science-based features and functions that doesn’t just ensure complete protection but is also built to properly pace with your baby’s natural growth and development.

It’s all in the stroller’s “8-5-8 Principle,” which is found in every Aprica product’s design and function. Manufacturers claim they have identified 8 childcare factors to help ward off 5 dangerous risks that can threaten its young rider’s health: oxygen desaturization, shaken baby syndrome, sudden infant death syndrome, sleep disturbance, and risk from increased walking disorders that may interfere with the child’s development and adversely affect his growth.

The eight childcare factors, on the other hand, are: the baby’s head and neck with delicate bones that have yet to merge and be given full protection; the cervical vertebra that babies aren’t able to support on their own yet; the spine that remains vital to function, form and life even into late adulthood; and the lower limbs and hip joints that need extra care during the first years of life. Other factors include the skin, which is very fragile; baby’s respiratory-connected breathing and posture; heart regulation; and lastly, the baby’s biorhythms. Karoon Plus’ double-thermo medical system is said to address these problems. It provides heat protection and a 3D suspension that ensures proper ventilation and smooth movement.

All Aprica products fill the eight essential Key Points of baby care, namely: laying your baby in the supine-flat position, ensuring freedom of respiration with proper posture, regulation of body temperature, protection of feet and hip joints, protection of your baby’s head, neck and spine, ensuring natural sleep patterns, protection from direct sunlight, and having correct gait and posture.

Another handy feature is that it’s lightweight and can be carried by an adult by one hand.

Aprica’s products are available in leading baby stores and department stores in the Philippines.

source: interaksyon.com

2013 Child Tax Credit Drops to $500. Better Get that December C-Section or Inducement Scheduled Now!

A close friend of mine is expecting the birth of their first child towards the end of this year. His wife has an estimated due date of Dec. 29. My advice to them? If you were planning on scheduling a December c-section or inducement, better schedule it now before all of the appointment slots get booked!

Why?

The difference between a December 31, 2012 birth and a January 1, 2013 birth could cost them $1,000 of additional tax liability. And since the child tax credit is scheduled to drop from $1,000 to $500 in 2013, they may never see a $1,000 credit again.





Here’s a bit of history on why this is happening.

The Child Tax Credit Drops in 2013

As part of the Obama tax cut deal reached with Republicans, the previous Bush tax cuts that raised the Child Tax Credit to $1,000 from $500 were extended through 2011 and 2012.

Without further extension (an agreement seems unlikely at this point, but you never know), the child tax credit drops back down to $500 in 2013.

  
What is the Child Tax Credit?

 For those looking for a little more background, the Child Tax Credit allows you to claim a maximum $1,000 per qualified child (as noted, that drops in 2013 to $500).

This is a non-refundable income tax credit, meaning that if your credit exceeds your income tax liability, then you won’t get a check for the difference.

Still, non-refundable credits are great, because they represent a subtraction from your actual tax liability, which is much more valuable than a deduction (which is only a subtraction from your taxable income).

However, if your income is below a certain threshold, you can also claim the ‘Additional Child Tax Credit‘, which allows you to get a refund for the difference if your credit exceeds your tax liability.

Can you Claim the Child Tax Credit in the Year the Child was Born?

What if the child was born in the second half of the year, or even the last day? Can you still claim the child tax credit for that year?

In short, yes. Publication 972 lists this as one of the exceptions in which you can claim the credit.

Child Tax Credit Income Levels & Qualifying Criteria

The Child Tax Credit is limited if your MAGI is above a certain amount. The amount at which this phase-out begins varies depending on your filing status. For married taxpayers filing a joint return, the credit phase-out begins at $110,000. For married taxpayers filing a separate return, it’s at $55,000. For all other taxpayers, the phase-out begins at $75,000.

According to the IRS Child Tax Credit FAQ, a qualifying child for this credit is someone who must also meet the qualifying criteria of six tests: age, relationship, support, dependent, citizenship, and residence. So you’ll want to double-check that your child qualifies before filing for the credit.

There are also tax credits for child care you may want to look in to.

Deep Thoughts by G.E. Handy

So, let me first state that I would not recommend anybody schedule an early inducement or c-section for a January estimated due date just to be able to shave off $1,000 in tax liability. But for those due in mid or late December, holding off until January could cost you $1,000! And that’s why I’d expect a near record number of births the last week of this year, moreso than previous years.

And to that point, it got me thinking some crazy thoughts…

You would have to assume those that are aware of this special tax scenario are on top of their finances. And they are probably fairly intelligent, or well educated on top of that. Which makes me wonder:

    

Do babies born in the last week of December have a higher average IQ than those born in other weeks of the year?

What is the average income of the households they are born into vs. other weeks of the year?

Ponder those deep thoughts for a moment…

source: 20somethingfinance.com

Mexican woman pregnant with nine babies: report

(Reuters) - A Mexican woman is pregnant with nine babies - six girls and three boys - the country's main broadcaster Televisa reported on Thursday night.

The woman was identified as Karla Vanessa Perez of the northeastern state of Coahuila, which borders Texas. She is currently being treated at a hospital in the state capital Saltillo, the broadcaster said in the report.

Perez, whose age was not given, had fertility treatment leading to the multiple pregnancy, it said.

State-owned news agency Notimex also reported the pregnancy, saying Perez was due to give birth on May 20.

"It's very early to think of names for the babies," Perez told Notimex. "First I hope that everything goes well."

The successful delivery of nonuplets would be one of the highest multiple births ever recorded.

In 2009, a woman in California gave birth to octuplets, sparking worldwide media attention.

source: mb.com.ph