January 2008
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Vol 1, Issue 4
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Baby Hugs
Monthly Newsletter |
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| Greetings! |
Happy New Year!
Well, its the beginning of a new year and we wish each and every one of our loyal customers, a healthy and happy 2008.
We continue to scour the markets and trade shows for the latest in specialty lines and items; and we always welcome your input. If you see something that we don't carry, please let us know and we'll be happy to research it for you.
We are also proud of our reputation in the community. Our business continues to grow, no small feat in the competitive marketplace of today... and we must take the time to thank all of our customers who have made our business a success.
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Your First Pediatric Office Visit
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What can I expect during the first few visits with my new baby's doctor?
You will probably see your baby's doctor more during the first year of her life than at any other time. The baby's first exam will take place immediately after she is born. After that, she'll visit her doctor monthly or bi-monthly until her first birthday (but do keep in mind that your child's physician may do things on a slightly different calendar). Here's what your child's physician should do at these routine visits:
·Administer immunizations (at specific intervals)
·Measure your baby's height, weight and head circumference
·Evaluate your baby's vision and hearing
·Evaluate your baby's physical, motor and cognitive development (this includes asking you questions about her activities)
·Discuss your baby's diet and sleeping habits
·Ask you about any special concerns you may have.
Get the most out of your new little one's first pediatrician appointment with these simple tips.
Having a baby can be overwhelming at times, and the first visit to the pediatrician's office is no exception. With all of the questions new parents have and the mountains of information they are faced with, even the simplest decisions can be a challenge. Add to that the effects of sleep deprivation and it's easy feel like you're in over your head. Get the most out of your baby's first pediatrician appointment with these tips.
Leave the House Early
Just because your appointment is in a half hour and you live five minutes away doesn't mean you have plenty of time to get there. Babies can make anyone take longer to get out of the house. Be sure to arrange for ample time to leave the house, and to make any pit stops you might need along the way to change diapers, feed, or just check on baby as well.
Don't Dress up
This goes for both you and your baby. If you have to go straight from the office and have no time to change, fine, but otherwise you should wear comfortable, everyday clothes. Don't bother dressing your baby in his or her finest either - most likely the only ones to see his or her snazzy ensemble are the receptionist and anyone who might be in the waiting room. Once you enter the examining room, the nurse will ask you to undress the baby and he or she will most likely be in nothing but a diaper for the duration of the appointment.
Arrive Early
You will most likely need to fill out paperwork before the appointment begins, so make sure to leave plenty of time for it. You might also want to bring written copies or notes on the health histories of both you the baby's other parent.
Be Prepared
Bring a list of questions you want to ask or topics or concerns you want to discuss. Don't be shy - they've probably heard it all before.
Bring Examples
If you're not sure about what something is for or how to use it, if it's feasible, bring it with you. If you aren't completely comfortable with using a bulb nose aspirator, for example, bring it with you to that first pediatrician appointment and ask the doctor to demonstrate using it on your baby's nose. Then, when you need it, you'll know how to do it. Or, take a picture and bring that with you to ask the doctor about.
Ask Questions
That's what you're there for - and your baby's pediatrician is the expert. Don't be afraid to ask - remember that the only "stupid" question is the one that isn't asked.
Listen
Make sure to pay attention. Take notes or, if you're not a note taker, bring a small tape recorder. This way, you can go back over the appointment and re-check anything you weren't sure about. Or if your partner wasn't able to attend the appointment, he or she can be get up to speed on what was covered.
Being a new parent is difficult, and it's easy to be overwhelmed by all the new responsibility. Follow these tips to help get the most out of your baby's first pediatrician appointment.
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Potty Training Tips - When are they ready to be trained?
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 So, you are thinking about potty training your toddler and you want to make sure that your child is ready.
If this is the case, then you are reading the right article!!
Listed below are the potty training readiness signals that will help you determine if your child is ready for potty training.
1) Physiological readiness signals for potty training are (Bladder & Bowel Control) :
- Childs awareness of the need to go - demonstrated by squatting, grunting, hiding when child feels need to eliminate.
- No BM's through the night
- Dry Diaper for long periods of time i.e. from long naps and/or in the morning
- Urinate a lot at one time (vs. a little through out the day)
- Some regularity of bowel movements.
2) Motor Skills readiness signals for potty training are:
- Is your child able to undress him/herself?
- Is your child able to pull his/her underpants down?
- Is your child able to pull his/her pants down?
3) Verbal and Cognitive readiness signals for potty training are:
- Your child can follow instructions - from simple instruction such as show me your nose, to more complex instructions such as putting away toys where they belong.
- Has the vocabulary required to follow your instructions - i.e. understands words such as potty, toilet, wet, dry, underwear, "big girl" etc.
- Is able to imitate behavior.
4) Emotional growth and social awareness readiness signals for potty training are:
- Desire to master one's own body and environment - manifested by "I can do it" or "I am a big boy/girl now"
- Child's desire for parental approval
- Child's desire to imitate and desire to be like others
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Biscuits Chicken ala King
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This recipe is traditionally served over toast, but we think you'll love this variation featuring tender, flaky biscuits.
4 servings
Ingredients:
1-1/2 Fresh Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, cooked and cubed
1 can Pillsbury® Grands!® Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits, 16.3 ounces
1/4 cup margarine or 1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup celery, sliced
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1-1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup Frozen Sweet Peas, thawed
1 can Mushroom Pieces and Stems, 4 ounces, drained
1 jar pimientos, 2 ounces, drained and diced
Directions:
Wash hands. Bake biscuits as directed on can.
Meanwhile, melt margarine in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper and celery; cook and stir 1 minute. Add flour, bouillon and thyme; cook and stir until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually add milk, cooking until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Stir in chicken, peas, mushrooms and pimientos. Cook until thoroughly heated.
Tips: Split warm biscuits; place bottom half of biscuit on each plate. Spoon hot chicken mixture over each. Top with remaining biscuit halves. Refrigerate leftovers. 1 1/2 cups of any fully cooked Chicken (Diced, Roasted, Canned or Pouch) may be substituted for the fresh chicken. Freeze remaining baked biscuits for a later use.
Calories: 500 Total Fat: 28g Protein: 25g Carbohydrate: 38g Cholesterol: 55mg Sodium: 1140mg
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Good Old-Fashioned Playtime
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Here's some soothing medicine for stressed-out parents and overscheduled kids: The American Academy of Pediatrics says what children really need for healthy development is more good, old-fashioned playtime.
Many parents load their children's schedules with get-smart videos, enrichment activities and lots of classes in a drive to help them excel. The efforts often begin as early as infancy.
Spontaneous, free play whether it's chasing butterflies, playing with "true toys" like blocks and dolls, or just romping on the floor with mom and dad often is sacrificed in the shuffle, a new academy report says.
Jennifer Gervasio has a 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter involved in preschool three mornings weekly, plus T-ball and ballet for each one day a week. That's a light schedule compared to her kids' friends, and Gervasio said her son in particular has trouble finding buddies who are free to come over and just play.
"There's just such a huge variety of things you can do for your kids if you have the resources, you almost feel why not," said Gervasio, of Wilmette, Ill. "There is a part of me that would worry if I don't sign my son up for some of these things, will he not be on par with the other kids."
For now, she says, she resists the pressure, instead allowing her kids plenty of time for looking for bugs, romping at the beach and other play activities they love to do.
"I truly believe that they're better off when they can just do their own thing," Gervasio said.
Numerous studies have shown that unstructured play has many benefits. It can help children become creative, discover their own passions, develop problem-solving skills, relate to others and adjust to school settings, the academy report says.
"Perhaps above all, play is a simple joy that is a cherished part of childhood," says the report, prepared by two academy committees for release Monday at the group's annual meeting in Atlanta.
A lack of spontaneous playtime can create stress for children and parents alike. If it occurs because young children are plopped in front of get-smart videos or older children lose school recess time, it can increase risks for obesity. It may even contribute to depression for many children, the report says.
Social pressures and marketing pitches about creating "super children" contribute to a lack of playtime for many families. But so does living in low-income, violence-prone neighborhoods where safe places to play are scarce, the report says.
It says enrichment tools and organized activities can be beneficial but should not be viewed as a requirement for creating successful children. Above all, they must be balanced with plenty of free play time, the report says.
"In the current environment where so many parents feel pressure to be super parents, I believe this message is an important one," said Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, the report's lead author and a pediatrician at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Noted pediatrician and author Dr. T. Berry Brazelton praised the academy's report.
"I hope it will have some effect," Brazelton said.
Children overscheduled with structured activities "are missing the chance they have to dream, to fantasize, to make their own world work the way they want it. That to me is a very important part of childhood," Brazelton said.
Make sure you check with the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) for any Toy Recalls. The link is provided in this newsletter.
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Balancing Work & Motherhood
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 "I no longer question whether I can have a family and a career, I
only question if I can successfully manage both at the same
time."
Wondering whether and how you can balance work and motherhood?
Here are some excerpts from Dr. Lawana Gladney's book "You Can't Be Sick - I
Have to Work: 50 Tips to Emotional Wellness for Working Mothers." (Copyright,
Dr. Lawana S. Gladney 2007).
Lose the Guilt: This emotion alone can weigh
you down. It is like an invisible weight that tugs at your heart. Some working
mothers feel guilty leaving their children because they have to work, while
others feel guilty leaving their kids because they want to work. In either
case, you wrestle with the fact that you may miss your baby's first steps or you
miss the school play because of a late night meeting, and heaven forbid you miss
tip off at the basketball game. Understand that guilt comes along with being a
mother. We can't be everywhere, do it all, and control all situations.
Set Your Boundaries: It is important that you let your manager, boss,
supervisor, colleagues, co-workers, know what your boundaries are. Your
boundaries should be clearly established so that others know what you can and
cannot do. Don't become overwhelmed with extra work, projects, and meetings that
will take you outside of your boundaries. If you have planned to attend open
house after work and someone desperately needs you to do something at the last
minute, have the courage to stay within your set boundaries and say
no.
Prioritize your life: If you were asked to name the top three things
that are important to you, I would be willing to assure you that family would be
number 1 or number 2 on the list. If that is the case, just how much time are
you spending on your family or your other top priorities? It is likely that your
time is not aligned with your priorities. Learn how to conscientiously allot
time to the things that are of the greatest value to you and make you the
happiest.
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We hope you enjoyed reading this issue. We appreciate and encourage any comments or questions.
We look forward to serving you.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Baby Hugs
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