Showering Your Baby

People are shocked when I say I have been showering our baby since week 2.  Week 1 saw a bath or two and that was well and good, until he pees.  I've always loved baths for just that, bathing, lounging, being still and quiet.  But once you start adding soap and schluffed skin and body oils and bacteria...  Needless to say, showers are for cleaning.  So when my baby has a hard few days up-chucking on himself, getting sweaty screaming now and again and the obvious under the diaper situations, there's nothing like a gentle shower to cleanse him.

But here's the paradox, how can my Oxygenics high-pressure, low flow shower head not freak the little guy out; my answer, the Vortex.  The Vortex has eight flow settings, one of which is the perfect mix of light rain, modest circumference and consistent flow.  Once you've got that, I also recommend an assistant.  Prep your cloths and soap, have your baby passed to you carefully and use the patented football grip; he will lay face out, with head in the crux of your inside elbow fold and use that same hand to grip his top leg. With this hold you can get to most the bits and bobs and easily wash and rinse his hair.  Also note if he has a whizz it's no biggie, merely aim to drain. Warning though, if he hasn't had a whizz, he will soon thereafter.  It is for this reason my partner first grabs him with a diaper, then leans him onto the towel.  Again, I recommend an assistant for the exit.

Remember, it's soapy and slippery, so move mindfully and if you want to change arms, I recommend you squat and balance him/her on your leg while never relaxing your grip.

Now most the other Oxygenics showerheads have flow controls and or other settings so many products in the Oxygenics line may work, but tried, tested and true is the Vortex.

Our Top Water Saving Tips

At Oxygenics Canada, we’re always asked by our customers, ‘What else can we do to save water?’  So here’s a list of just a few of the things we’ve done with our families to save water at home.   If you do these, we’ve got more!  And consider being a water saving ambassador at work.  Changing people’s habits at work and work processes can save thousands of gallons of fresh water.  Imagine the difference you alone can make.

Habitual water saving Tips:

Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.

Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave.

Verify that your home is leak-free, because many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.

Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.

Don't let water run while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin.

When adjusting water temperatures, instead of turning water flow up, try turning it down. If the water is too hot or cold, turn the offender down rather than increasing water flow to balance the temperatures.

Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.

When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet.

Don't over water your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer and every 10 to 14 days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.

Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.

Don't water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Position your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs ... not the paved areas.

Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.

Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water. If you wash your own car, park on the grass to do so.

Create an awareness of the need for water conservation among your children. Avoid the purchase of recreational water toys which require a constant stream of water.

Mechanical water saving Tips:

Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year which will add to the cost of water and sewer utilities, or strain your septic system.

Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily installed. (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain tank.)

Check your pump. If you have a well at your home, listen to see if the pump kicks on and off while the water is not in use. If it does, you have a leak.

Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.

Never install a water-to-air heat pump or air-conditioning system. Air-to-air models are just as efficient and do not waste water.

If the toilet flush handle frequently sticks in the flush position, letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.

Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.

Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of water-efficient methods of irrigation.

Don’t Just Take Our Word For It

A customer of ours just sent us this link to a video he put up.  Trevor was very excited when three different Oxygenics showerheads arrived at his door and he quickly installed the Vortex and compared it to his American Standard low flow.  Nice job Trevor, thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSq1ixfhDZY&feature=channel_video_title

Jkman76 can be seen unboxing his SkinCare and installing it after a quick comparison, “real powerful”.  Not quite as slick as other videos but an honest account and certainly another satisfied customer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kChs3WPfFQ

Here’s a professional and positive review with no actual demonstration.  We appreciate the fancy shift focus though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zhGMZk8lKg&feature=related

Katie in the UK demonstrates a BodySpa handheld showerhead.  I included this one so you know how much they’re being gouged across the pond – 59 pounds!   Ouch, I’d have to take a shower after paying that much.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jewrtceU7V8&feature=related

This is a clip from a Canadian Home Show demonstration.  The gauge is very revealing.  Remember, saving water means saving HOT water, which means saving energy too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWtIJT9Wtuw&feature=related

This clip is really just someone turning on his SkinCare showerhead.  What I love are the comments, people have a hard time believing this much water pressure is delivered through a 1.5gpm head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uelPqOxrWTw&feature=related

Seinfeld’s Flat Hair

We get comments all the time in the low flow showerhead business, ‘did you see that Seinfeld episode?’

Yes we did.  It’s hilarious and as much as it gives low flow showerheads a bad wrap, often it’s well deserved.  As Seen On TV, many low flow showerheads are lame, like standing under a heavy drizzle.  It’s infuriating and those cheap units are still giving ‘low flow’ a bad name.

I used to have a ‘greasy hair’ look with my American Standard low volume (not even low flow) showerhead.  I’d have to crank the water to full and even then I couldn’t quite rinse all the conditioner from my flowing locks. 

Manufacturers really require innovative technology to deliver low flow and high pressure.  And only Oxygenics has patented engineered technologies and materials that really deliver, without busting the wallet.  When I made the switch to Oxygenics I began using half the volume of water and said goodbye to the grease ball look.

"The Shower Head" is the 126th episode of NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 16th episode for the 7th season. It aired on February 15, 1996

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlrtQb24Qxw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMITcQUe-9M

http://www.sonypictures.com/tv/shows/seinfeld/

http://www.nbc.com/

Storm, the gender-neutral shower head

Toronto Oxygenics laboratories have unveiled the world’s first gender-neutral low flow, high-pressure shower head.  Not wanting the stereotypes of being labeled an overbearing boy - as a result of 54 powerful spray nozzles saturating every inch of your body; conversely, not succumbing to the maternal and nurturing feminine - doing its part in conserving our planets precious water supply.  Storm has kicked up a ‘storm’ controversy from persnickety shower-goers across Canada.

Storm developers believe it unnecessary to brag about giving you 30% more water pressure compared to other rain showers and using up to 70% less water.  Nor do they want people be lulled only by the luxurious pampering nature that leaves you clean and pretty.

It’s territory pioneered by Oxygenics and the Oxygenics family of showerheads.  All proudly gender-confused. 

Man or Woman?  Boy or Girl? The debate continues and Storm is tight lipped and pleased by all the attention.  It just wants to be in your home saving you water, energy and money.  Name another child that does that?

[ With apologies to Kathy Witterick and David Stocker ]

the Toronto Star, which published the original story on Saturday

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110526/genderless-baby-storm-110526/

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/27/overheard-on-cnn-com-boy-or-girl-parents-wont-say/

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/david-ropeik/genderless-baby_b_868596.html