Best Wood for Teething

 Most of the babies like to teeth and chew different things. It is essential to find a right toy for this purpose. It has to be safe for the little one: no choking hazard, soft enough  not to harm the young teeth but also durable enough to withstand the process.
 We usually think that teethers have to be made from a hard rubber like material but here is may be a better and more natural option. A nursing toy that is made from  wood may be a perfect teething toy.
 The next question is what kind of wood will be best for such a purpose?
 The wood needs to hold up well in water and be hard enough to endure sharp baby teeth and be non toxic and free from toxic additives. 
 For example, ash, maple and birch have the necessary qualities for a teething ring or a nursing toy. These types of wood are hard enough according to the hardness scale. The new collection of nursing necklaces with teething rings of Casa De Gato has rings that are made from unprocessed natural ash tree.
  As an opposite, pine and oak are not good. Pine is too soft and could be chewed apart too easily and oak may splinter and injure the infant's mouth.
  Another important question is whether the wood should be finished. The possible options could be natural oil and bees wax. Nut oils might be a problem, since some people are allergic. However, if the toy is sanded up really well, there is no need for a finish. It will get chewed off anyway.
 
 Next time  I will look into cleaning of wooden baby toys.

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Spring in The Desert

 Spring is a beautiful time when everything is bright, clear and new. I always liked this time of the year and wanted to see how it feels in different parts of the globe.

Flowers in the Desert

 Today I want to show you spring in one of the most arid places - Timna valley,
that is located on the western edge of the southern Arava desert, about 30 km (some 17 miles) north of Eilat, Israel. 

The desert has some green color now

 The climate in the southern Arava is extreme desert, characterized by very high temperatures in the summer, minimal precipitation (annual average of 20 mm.), intense radiation and relatively low humidity. The rain comes in short powerful bursts, leading to frequent flooding in spring and fall.

 Timna’s animal and plant life are typical to arid zones. The most common tree is the acacia, an important food source for animals.

Tiny Flowers of Acacia

I will be happy to see your photos of spring and get familiar with new places :)