I Heart Lansinoh

I would like to put in a quick plug for Lansinoh products. For those of you not familiar with the company, they provide products for breastfeeding mothers - their lanolin ointment is recognized as the best on the market, but they also have nursing pads, breastmilk storage bags, and diaper rash ointment. As a breastfeeding mom who is now pumping three times a day at work, I am a frequent user of their breast milk storage bags. Here's a recent exchange I had with the Lansinoh company:

To Whom It May Concern:

First, let me say that I am a huge fan of Lansinoh products. Your lanolin ointment got me through the difficult early days of breastfeeding all three of my children, your nursing pads are by far the best on the market and your breast milk storage bags have played a role in allowing me to continue breastfeeding while working full time.

It is the latter product, however, with which I have had recent disappointment. After pumping for the second time today, I went to grab a fresh storage bag from the “tissue box” dispenser bag. There was a strange mark on the bottom of the bag in what looked like black permanent marker. After ensuring that the mark was on the outside of the bag, and the bag was still sealed, I went ahead and began to fill it. To my dismay, my precious pumped milk started to leak right out of the bottom corner of the bag! Luckily, I quickly put the storage bottle underneath the bag and caught most of it back in the bottle.

There was a small slip of paper in the dispenser bag when I first opened it saying that it had passed inspection, but my impression is that this bag was to have been removed and it was overlooked.

I am certain this is a very rare instance in a company that has had, with me anyway, a long history of stellar products. For that reason, I thought you would want to know about my experience and take the opportunity to secure a long-time and loyal customer. I look forward to hearing from you.

Ashlie Hand
Mom of three
Thomas – breastfed for 10 months
Andrew – breastfed for 12.5 months
Madeline – born 6.6.08 and exclusively breastfed

Ashlie,
First I would like to extend my sincerest apology to you for the unpleasant experience you are having with our Milk Storage Bags. Thank you very much
for notifying us of this problem. I can only imagine how frustrating and disappointing this must have been for you. This company was founded over 20 years ago by a breastfeeding mothers for the sole purpose of supporting breastfeeding and I am so sorry that one of our products has not only failed to make things easier for you but has created quite the opposite. It takes an enormous commitment to breastfeed, even more of a commitment to provide breastmilk in your absence. To know that a product of ours has challenged you even further is a terrible thing for you and for all of us here at Lansinoh.

Do you by chance still have the inspection code that would have been included inside the white pouch? It looks very much like a fortune that you would find in a fortune cookie. Also, do you still have the defective bags? If so, I would like to send you a self-addressed stamped envelope to return the defective bags so that we may forward them to our manufacturer. This problem surely occurred during manufacturing and the bag should not have been placed in the package.

I would like to send you an additional supply of bags to use going forward, or if you prefer, a refund. Please forward your mailing address and phone number for shipping purposes.

Again, I am sorry for the trouble this has caused and if you have any questions or if I could be of any further assistance please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Danielle B.
Lansinoh Laboratories
Consumer Relations Department

Danielle,
Thank you for your prompt response. It only reinforces what I already know about what a great company Lansinoh is. I do still have the defective bag, but since it was several bags into the package, and I opened the package several days ago, I think I have already thrown away the inspection slip you mentioned (and I know exactly what you’re talking about). I will search my trash at home to make sure it isn’t still floating around somewhere, but can definitely send you the defective bag.

This particular package was part of a 50 count box which I’m sure you know includes two white pouches…would the inspection slip for both pouches be the same? I haven’t opened the second pouch yet so could send you that inspection slip. Just let me know if that would be helpful.

Your response was all I was really looking for, but I would appreciate and definitely use an additional supply of bags. I still have faith in the product and would love to continue using them.

Thank you Ashlie. I will process a shipment for you to receive the additional bags. No need to worry about looking through your garbage for the inspection tag, if we can get the defective bag back that will be better. I will send the SASE along with the bags so you can just place the defective bag in there and send it back to us. Thanks again for being patient and understanding. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to assist you.

Take care,

Danielle B.
Lansinoh Laboratories
Consumer Relations Department

I wish more companies had this kind of stellar customer service. Thanks again, Danielle!

Childhood Memories

I've been told that I have a pretty good memory. And honestly, I have vivid memories that go back as far as age 2. Since becoming a parent, I really try to draw on those memories to help myself relate to and better understand my kids. I've been drawing on those memories a lot lately...

I try to remember what I can about being 4: This is the first birthday party I vividly remember - I got my first bike, had my first "real" birthday party with friends from my preschool (it was a clown theme) and we played a game where we had to sit on a balloon to pop it and get a message hidden inside. I used to sleep at the top of the stairs with my blanket and pillow, eating saltine crackers - I can remember just wanting to be closer to my parents and not miss out on anything that went on after I went to bed. I remember riding my bike all over the townhome complex where we lived (Gateway Gardens in CR) - shocking to me when I think of Andrew riding a bike all over our neighborhood without me knowing EXACTLY where he is at all times! I was scared of the older kids at the complex. I remember "mean Sue" and "nice Sue," my two babysitters that year. I remember the "oily road" we had to drive on to get to my preschool (Kindercare). I remember how embarrassed I was when I'd have an accident during nap time at preschool. I remember my first Christmas recital at the preschool when we sang for our parents at a local mall.

Ah, the list could really go on. I think age 4 was when I really started to realize that I was my own person and that I was growing up. I try to think about what it would have been like if my little brother had come along that year, rather than nearly two years later.

I read some great advice recently from a woman that taught third grade for a long time and has a book out about "behavior charts." I haven't downloaded the book yet, but just in her intro alone, I found a great idea. Create a "gratitude journal" in which at the end of each day, you make a list of five things you appreciate about your child, or that you liked about how your child behaved that day. Here's an example from my day yesterday:

Andrew
I loved when you laughed like Sponge Bob and sounded JUST like him!
I loved when you calmed down and just want in the playroom to play.
I loved it when you spooned tuna noodles onto your plate even though you thought you wouldn’t like it.
I loved it when you got yourself dressed this morning.
I loved it when you leaned down and talked to Madeline in her carseat and made her smile.

Thomas
I loved it when you answered the phone and asked me how my day was at work.
I loved it that you said the corn and broccoli was your favorite vegetables then served yourself.
I loved it when you told me all of the things you did in gym class – especially the “crab walk”
I loved it when you gave me a huge kiss on the lips at bedtime
I loved it when you said “Hi Maddy!” and made her smile.

Fun stuff...