Saturday, March 8, 2008

NURTURING PATHWAYS FOR BABIES

Alicia talked about this class in PEPS: http://kirklandparks.net/eConnect/Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp?cid=22052
Registration begins March 20th and there are only 12 total spots.

Friday, March 7, 2008

More language options

The Sponge School comes highly recommended, and they just opened up a location on Gilman in Issaquah:

http://www.spongeschool.com/

They have classes for newborns - I guess it's never too early!

Tips for traveling with baby

Hi everyone! Brandon and I recently flew with Ryan from Seattle to both Chicago and LA. Both trips were quite good, and I wanted to share some tips...
- Borrow as much as you can from the people you are visiting. My mom is a teacher and was able to get a bunch from her colleagues, so literally it was just Ryan in the Baby Bjorn. This was MUCH easier than having to bring carseat, stroller, etc... However, even if you do have to bring all that stuff, I still recommend using some type of Bjorn type carrier in the airport
- I never had to take Ryan out of the Bjorn in security. They didn't wand me either.
- If you are traveling with someone, try and book seats so that one of you has a window and the other person an aisle, with the middle seat open. This increases your chances of having the row to yourself, and even if someone ends up taking the middle seat they certainly won't mind trading you for a window or aisle!
- Always ask at the gate if you can have your own aisle. You might get a sympathetic gate agent!
- I highly recommend the bulkhead if you can get it. It makes it easier to stand up and move with your baby.
- I didn't travel with a Boppy. Instead, for feeding on the plane I brought my own blanket and used the airplane pillows and blankets to prop my arm up on the armrest more comfortably.
- Ryan has feed on most takeoffs and landings, but also slept through a couple. His ears never seemed to be bothered. Our doctor told us that a recent study came out that said that sucking vs. no sucking on takeoff and landing didn't make much of a difference.
- I brought kids Tylenol just in case, but didn't need it.
- There are changing tables on the plane in at least one bathroom above the toilets. It's cramped, but not impossible - Ryan likes being changed so I did it once or twice just to keep him happy.
- It can be tough to entertain a baby in such a confined space. The white noise may put your baby to sleep - it didn't work too much for mine! So clip a couple of his/her favorite (but small) toys onto your diaper bag.

I hope this is helpful! If you have any questions specific about traveling with baby that I didn't answer, feel free to ask!

Signing with your Infant

Sign Language:
www.hoptosignaroo (local)
www.sign2me.com

"Sign About" books by Anthony Lewis are available on Amazon.com & they're a nice, easy way to introduce signing to your baby. If you're interested in learning more about Language Development there'sgood info. on www.Talaris.org & also www.zerotothree.org.

Joseph Garcia developed the SIGN with your BABY program & his popular book is called Baby Signs. He also has a DVD, both are available through the King County Library System.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Postpartum changes may bring on ‘momnesia’

Coping usually takes a few adjustments — plus, a sense of humor helps!
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23501326

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Allergies: From Overlake Hospital Weekly Emails

Environmental Allergies
Recent research suggests that daily exposure to cats in the first year of life may protect a child from developing allergies. In one study, babies whose families owned a cat that was allowed in the baby's bedroom were 67% less likely than others to develop asthma and 45% less likely to develop hay fever. Another study looked at children whose parents had a history of asthma or allergies. Children exposed to higher levels of house dust had less eczema in the first year of life. Exposure to a dog in the home at 2 to 3 months of age was also linked to less eczema in the first year of life. Other studies suggest that a reasonable level of exposure to common germs and dust may protect children from developing allergies, eczema, and asthma. So try not to worry too much about keeping a healthy baby's environment sterile and germ-free. A little exposure to the world-cats, dogs, dust, and all-seems to play a role in building a strong immune system.

Peanut allergies on the rise
While no one is sure why there has been a dramatic increase in the number of children severely allergic to peanuts, one suspected culprit is skin cream that contains peanut oil. A recent study shows that children whose skin was treated with lotion or cream containing peanut oil in the first 6 months of life were more likely to develop a peanut allergy. Babies with eczema and rashes were more likely to develop the allergy than others. Before applying a lotion to soothe diaper rash or dry skin, check the label to make sure it does not include peanut oil.

Parenting Q&A
Q:“Are there things I should avoid feeding my baby during the first year of life?”
A:For the first 9 months of life, avoid feeding your baby citrus fruits and eggs, since both of these tend to cause allergic reactions. Peanuts are a major allergen and many allergists suggest not giving peanuts to children until 4 years of age or older. Finally, raw unpasteurized honey, the kind that you buy at a roadside stand, can carry botulism spores that can cause infant botulism. In general, introduce new foods to your baby one at a time. Begin with one teaspoon of food and increase to 3 or 4 teaspoons once or twice a day. If something disagrees with your baby and causes gas or an allergic reaction, you will know which foods to avoid in the future.