Florida Baby Magazine - 2021 Issue

M AG A Z I N E 2021 ISSUE

BEAUTIFUL BABY PHOTO WINNERS SLEEP STRATEGIES FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS

WHEN TO CALL A PHYSICIAN – BABIES AND TODDLERS

HOW TO DISCIPLINE TODDLERS

PUBLISHED BY

This issue of

is provided courtesy of

Little hearts need BIG expertise.

Nationally recognized Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville has taken care of little hearts for decades. Our highly skilled Terry Heart Institute team is dedicated to providing the most advanced cardiac care to our patients. We have all the needed specialists to diagnose, treat, manage and study congenital and acquired heart conditions.

Our pediatric heart team: ♥

♥

♥

Provides comprehensive care for common and highly complex heart conditions in children of all ages Takes part in cardiovascular research to improve patient outcomes Offers medical, social and emotional support for patients and families

Find out more about our expertise with Little Hearts: Visit wolfsonchildrens.com/LittleHearts, email wolfsonheart@bmcjax.com or call 904.202.8550.

© Baptist Health 2021

Specializing in: ♥

General, interventional and preventive cardiology

♥

Comprehensive fetal cardiac imaging

♥

Electrophysiology

♥

Treatment of acquired heart conditions (i.e., Kawasaki disease and cardiomyopathy)

♥

Full range of cardiothoracic surgical procedures

The safest place to have your baby just got safer Area’s only Level III Neonatal ICU Since 1928, families in our community have chosen Halifax Health to bring their babies into the world.

Halifax Health houses the area’s only OB Emergency Department; the area’s only Pediatric ICU; and the area’s only Pediatric Emergency Department fully staffed with pediatricians 24/7. In addition, Halifax Health is the area's only Level III Neonatal ICU, providing Florida's highest level of care to neonatal babies.

As the only Level III Neonatal ICU in Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns, Brevard, Lake and Seminole counties, we’re ready and equipped to care for you and your baby. Halifax Health - Center for Women and Infant Health is able to care for premature babies born earlier than 26 weeks and smaller than two pounds, or 1,000 grams, as well as full-term babies who need more focused care.

Our goal is – and has always been – to provide the highest quality of care close to home because that’s exactly where you and your baby belong.

halifaxhealth.org

CONTENTS

2 0 21

in each issue

03 FROM THE EDITOR

features 4

MONITORING MILESTONE

6

TAKE IT EASY MAMA

8

WHEN TO CALL A PHYSICIAN

10 BEAUTIFUL BABY PHOTO WINNERS

12 SCREEN TIME FOR KIDS: NEW RECOMMENDATIONS

13 HALIFAX HEALTH:

10

HEALTHY 386

17 PROS AND CONS OF MAKING YOUR OWN BABY FOOD

18 HOW TO DISCIPLINE TODDLERS

20 PARENTING BOOKS

RECOMMENDED FOR PARENTS, BY PARENTS

22 SLEEP STRATEGIES FOR

BABIES AND TODDLERS

24 BABY PRODUCTS

2 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

4

18

26 THE TOY BOX:

EDUCATIONAL TOYS FOR YOUR BABY AND TODDLER

28 TOILETING FOR TODDLERS

FRO M T H E E D ITO R MAGAZINE

W

elcome to our second Annual Florida Baby!

We are delighted to be able to provide you with this information. We also have additional Baby content on our website, so be sure to check out our website and subscribe for Florida Baby content year round.

Having a baby is such an exciting time, but children don’t come with instruction booklets.

We have put together a list of books that parents have told us that they cannot live without. We also have a list of podcasts on our website that contain helpful information.

Our health partners have provided information on milestones and tips for nursing and potty training. We have given you some toy ideas (all with an educational slant) and a list of some baby products that parents identified as winners in their world.

One of the biggest subjects of discussion with new parents is sleep!

Having had a little person come into my household that liked the night life, it was crucial to get her on a regular sleep schedule I could live with. Luckily, some great advice from my pediatrician helped us do just that. Hopefully, this issue will also help you!

As we met with new parents, one of the hot topics was discipline.

Rachel Ehmke of the Child Mind Institute shares her wisdom on the subject.

We congratulate you on this journey you have undertaken.

Parenthood is one of the hardest, most rewarding jobs there is. Thank you for letting us be a small part of it.

Florida Baby is published by TouchPoint Innovative Solutions.

PUBLISHER Howard M. Holley Sr. EDITOR Dr. Barbara C. Holley MANAGING EDITOR Jeanne Coates EDITORIAL SUPPORT Rebecca Heath ART DIRECTOR Leslie Proctor SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR Jeanne Coates SALES AND MARKETING SUPPORT Derick Michaux EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Alicia Allen Chelsea Barney Michaelyn Ruth Pitts Brei Larmoyeux INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? If you would like to advertise in Florida Baby or Parent Magazine, please call 386.449.8353 or email us at jeanne@touchpointis.com IDEAS FOR ARTICLES? Send your article ideas or provide feedback to barbara@touchpointis.com

Sign up for Parent Magazines Florida monthly issues on our website to continue to get more parenting information as your child grows!

Here’s to Healthy, Happy Babies and Parents!

CONTACT US DR. BARBARA C. HOLLEY EDITOR, PARENT MAGAZINES

www.ParentMagazinesFlorida.com @ ParentMagazinesFlorida @ ParentMagazinesFlorida

PO Box 350682 Palm Coast, FL 32135 All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without the express written consent of the publisher. TouchPoint Innovative Solutions assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. © 2021 TouchPoint Innovative Solutions. All rights reserved.

Information contained in these materials are neither sponsored or endorsed by TouchPoint Innovative Solutions, its agents or its employees.

F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E | 3

Monitoring Milestones

Tracking your baby’s development, from a few days to 4 years old.

By Wolfson Children’s Hospital

N

ew parents keep close watch for baby’s big moments, like the first smile, but other milestones, like visually tracking an object, may go totally unnoticed. Here’s everything to look for (and look forward to) over the first four years of your child’s development.

•

Makes gurgling sounds

•

Interacts with caregivers by smiling, calming when they speak and moving arms and legs in excitement

Year 1: The building blocks

•

Reaches up and bats at toys while on his or her back

•

Brings knees to chest and hands to feet

•

Rolls from back to belly

•

Pushes up and holds head high while reaching forward for toys

•

May pivot while on his or her belly to explore the environment

•

May begin to push up onto hands and knees and rock back and forth, getting ready to crawl

•

Can prop or “tripod” sit, using hands to hold up the upper body while in a seated position

•

Notices more about his or her surroundings, like when people come in and out of the room

•

Responds to his or her name

•

Looks between caregiver and an activity, like a book or toy

•

Coos while interacting with parents, pets and toys

From making eye contact and moving his or her hands, to crawling and uttering that highly anticipated first word, your little one’s going to be very busy this year.

Your child’s pediatrician will examine your baby and ask about his or her physical and cognitive development at routine checkups. Physical therapist Ann Losak, PT, and speech-language pathologist Sarina Tarantino, CCC-SLP, who work with children to meet milestones at Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation, say these are the major milestones they expect to see in a baby’s first year.

0 to 2 months: •

Kicks both legs and moves both arms equally while on his or her back and turns head to both sides

•

Lifts and turns head to both sides while on his or her belly

4 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

3 to 6 months:

6 to 9 months:

Year 3: A hop, skip and jump

•

Rolls from back to belly and belly to back

•

Begins to crawl, crawling independently by 9 months

•

Sits independently, and gets in and out of the sitting position

With another year of practice, that sometimes-clumsy 2-year-old will become a coordinated and well-spoken child.

And the more you chat with them, the more they’ll learn.

•

Makes different consonant and vowel sounds

•

Anticipates your actions

•

Bangs objects together to make loud sounds

9 to 12 months: •

Crawls

•

Pulls to stand

•

Begins to cruise

•

Attempts to stand without support

•

May walk, though many walk later

•

Uses gestures like pointing to involve you in their routines, interests and requests

•

Babbles with intonations similar to an adult’s speech patterns

•

Imitates simple, familiar words

•

Takes turns while playing

•

Follows simple directions when used with gestures

Year 2: Taking it all in stride

Once you have a toddler, physical milestones become less about rolling and sitting and more about, well, toddling.

“From 13 to 14 months old, most kids are walking, but not all,” said Losak. “They can crawl up stairs, squat and pick up a toy, and they are learning to stand up from the floor without help. At 15 to 18 months, little ones can crawl down the stairs, run, and start to kick a ball forward.”

By the time your child is 2, your little explorer should have an easy time walking with few falls and a more mature gait (meaning they don’t rock back and forth while stepping). He or she can also jump in place and kick a ball with either foot.

As for communication, Tarantino said by 18 months, she hopes to see children using at least 10 words.

“This can include things they want, like ‘cookie,’ object names, like ‘cup’ or ‘car,’ and descriptions, like ‘hot.’

Toddlers should be able to wait for a snack to be prepared, show you what they want if you don’t understand their request, and begin to play pretend.”

The age 2 milestone for words is 60, but most kids will know more than 100 and will be stringing together phrases and making requests.

“A 2-to-3-year-old is expected to be about 50% intelligible,” said Tarantino. “We try to encourage parents to sit or lay on the floor with their child and play, read and be silly.”

When playing, it’s important to talk about the interaction rather than “quiz” the child during play. This helps build a stronger language connection. An example would be, “Wow! You put the block on top!” instead of, “Where is the block?”

“At 3, children can balance on one foot for a few seconds at a time and jump forward 10 to 12 inches. They can catch a large ball, so they’re getting some hand-eye coordination, and they’re starting to ride those little tricycles. In fact, they’re pretty good at most things,” said Losak.

Year 4: Well on their way By age 4, your kiddo will be running, jumping and climbing like a champ. In fact, kids this age should be proficient at most movements, but there’s one last milestone to check for: being able to hop on one foot.

“If parents are watching their child struggle with balance and coordination activities like kicking or hopping, they should mention it to their pediatrician,” Losak said.

Same goes for if your little one is difficult to understand more often than not.

“We would expect 75% intelligibility by age 4,” Tarantino said. “By the time a child is 5, you should be able to understand everything he or she is saying.”

What if milestones aren’t met?

Every child is different, and so too are their developmental journeys. Your child’s pediatrician will check for milestone developments at routine appointments, which are scheduled frequently throughout the first year. If your child hasn’t met a milestone on time, don’t worry too much — just keep an eye on your little one, and mention it at their next checkup.

Pediatric therapists offer treatment for developmental delays, fine or gross motor challenges, and more. If your child is having difficulty with any physical, cognitive, occupational, speech or feeding tasks, call 904.202.4200 or visit wolfsonchildrens.com/ rehab to learn more about Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation.

F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E | 5

Take It Easy Mama:

Setting Reasonable Goals for Weight Loss After Giving Birth

By Jan Pierce

F

rom the moment you learned the good news, you’ve had the weight issue in the back of your mind. You were thrilled to be giving birth but a little worried about losing the weight afterward. And if this was your first pregnancy, there are a few more questions about how it all happens.

The truth is, many women do stay a few pounds heavier after birth. The entire birth process affects every part of your body and some long-term body changes are normal. The good news is you can lose most of the weight and get back to tip-top fitness.

Take It Easy The first six weeks after giving birth are days to rest, enjoy, learn to know the new member of the family and let your body gain strength. After all, you’ve been busy for nine months creating a whole new person!

Post-partum fitness expert, Renee M Jeffreys says, “Most women’s bodies aren’t ready for serious exercise until six weeks after birth, and more if they underwent a Cesarean section.” No you won’t just be sitting around eating bonbons, you’ll be tending baby fulltime, missing nighttime sleep and looking for opportunities to nap when baby does.

If you’re breastfeeding you can take encouragement from the fact that although you need to eat more to maintain your breast milk, you’ll also burn 600-800 calories a day just breastfeeding. Many women begin to lose pregnancy weight through breastfeeding alone. Once you stop breastfeeding you’ll need to adjust your calorie intake.

Another way to take care of your post-partum body is through healthy diet. Avoid those empty calorie sodas and chips and take in plenty of fiber by eating healthy snacks such as whole grain crackers, veggies and lean proteins. This is not a time to say “anything goes” diet-wise. Get off to a good start on your return to a target weight.

6 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

Step It Up

Patience and Persistence

After the first six weeks you’re ready to begin a moderate exercise program. Aim for thirty minutes a day, five times a week. You may want to break that up into ten-minute segments at first. You’ll want to include walking, cycling or swimming in your regimen. Walking with baby in a stroller is the ideal exercise in these early months of baby’s life. It’s good for both of you to get out of doors and enjoy a change of scenery.

The early months with a new baby are ones of intense joy and many challenges. You’re tired much of the time. So be patient with yourself and readjust your goals if necessary. But don’t give up. Do what you can each day, take joy in each new milestone of the journey and before you know it, you’ll be wearing those skinny jeans again.

Set goals to increase your speed and distance. Using a pedometer or Fitbit to measure your steps is a good motivator. A reasonable goal is walking at a mile every fifteen minutes. If you’re able to join a postnatal exercise group, that’s a wonderful way to share your new baby experiences and get in a good exercise session at the same time. Most of these classes allow you to bring baby along.

If you’re unable to get to a formal exercise class, consider buying a postnatal exercise DVD. Be sure the program is doctor approved, such as postnatal Pilates, and enjoy at your leisure.

Resources Books 10 Steps to Getting Back into Shape After Giving Birth by Carrie Delvaux.

Body After Baby: A Simple, Healthy Plan to Lose Your Baby Weight Fast by Jackie Keller.

I’ve Just Had a Baby by Alison Bourne.

Tips for How to Lose the Baby Weight by Suz Redfearn.

F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E | 7

When to Call a Physician Babies and Toddlers Compiled by Jeanne Coates

O

ne of the biggest questions new parents have is when should they call the doctor.

We have compiled some guidelines for you, but remember that pediatricians are a resource for you, and if you feel things are not right, be sure to call your pediatrician or an ask a nurse hotline so that you get answers. As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else, and you should follow your instincts when it comes to the medical care of your little one.

I recommend that you start a medical notebook for your child and start recording information after their birth. What tests were done in the hospital, when were shots administered, what are your child’s habits and actions when healthy (eating, attention, sleep and voiding). When you call the doctor, be prepared with information. What are your baby’s symptoms and what are your concerns? What is your baby’s medical history?

What changes have you observed in your child’s eating, drinking, wetting and bowel movements? Does the baby have a temperature? What treatments have you tried? Has your child been around anyone who is ill? Keep your notebook handy to write down any advice the doctor may give you. Be prepared with your pharmacy information and any allergies also.

8 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

Here are some guidelines on when to seek medical assistance.

RASH

FEVER

þ If it is a rash with a fever

þ If the rash lasts more than three days

Call a doctor if:

þ A rash that oozes or weeps

þ In a baby under 2 months old, a rectal temperature of

þ A blistery or bubbly rash

100.4 F or higher is an emergency. Take the baby to the emergency room or an urgent care immediately if your doctor is not available to see them.

þ You have an infant under 3 months old and they run any fever.

þ You have an infant ages 3-6 months and they have a rectal temperature over 101 degrees F or higher.

þ You have a child over 6 months old and they have a rectal temperature over 103 degrees F or higher.

þ If the fever lasts more than 3 days, regardless of the age of the child.

COLD SYMPTOMS:

þ A rash that looks like a bull’s-eye or target þ Swollen bumps on the skin, along with trouble breathing or swelling of the face

þ A rash on a child who looks sick or isn’t acting like themselves

OTHER SYMPTOMS THAT NEED IMMEDIATE ACTION þ Trouble waking your child þ Sharp or constant belly pain þ Burning when your child pees or blood in their urine

Call the doctor if:

þ A constant need to pee

þ The child develops an earache.

þ Seizures

þ The child develops a fever over 102 degrees F.

þ Changes in appetite over a period of time (several

þ The child becomes exceptionally sleepy, cranky or fussy.

þ A skin rash develops. þ Breathing becomes rapid or labored. Your child’s nostrils flare or ribs sink in with a breath. If there is a wheeze or other noise when they try to breathe.

þ The cough becomes persistent or severe.

Call 911 right away if a bluish color appears around your child’s lips or nails. They are not getting enough oxygen and this is an emergency.

VOMITING AND DIAHREA: Call a doctor if these symptoms appear:

þ Crying but no tears þ Less pee than usual -- fewer than 6 wet diapers per day in infants

þ Dark urine þ Dry, cracked lips and mouth þ Sunken eyes þ Crankiness þ Sunken soft spot on top of the head (in babies younger than 18 months)

þ If vomiting or diarrhea last more than 24 hours If there is a a red or black color in the poop or vomit, or flecks that look like coffee grounds, these could be blood. Seek medical attention immediately.

feedings in a row)

þ If your child is floppy, crying more than usual or very hard to console.

þ Tender navel or penis, especially with redness, oozing or bleeding.

þ If your child has fewer bowel movements for a few days and seems uncomfortable.

þ If one or both eyes are leaking mucus or are unusually red and swollen.

WHEN TO SEEK EMERGENCY CARE þ Bleeding that can’t be stopped þ Poisoning þ Seizures þ Increasing difficulty breathing þ Any change in consciousness, confusion, a bad headache or vomiting several times after a head injury

þ Unconsciousness, acting strangely or becoming more withdrawn and less alert

þ Large or deep cuts or burns or smoke inhalation þ Skin or lips that look blue, purple or gray þ Increasing or severe persistent pain þ Major mouth or facial injuries þ Near drowning F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E | 9

BEAUTIFUL BABY PHOTO WINNERS

Damian Jr

Claire

10 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

Everett

Kadence

Madisyn

Photographs of Madisyn and Lorelei were taken by Photograph-E. www.photo-e.com (904) 520-0001 info@photo-e.com

Lorelei

Whitney

F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E | 11

SCREEN TIME FOR KIDS:

New Recommendations

The longtime “no screen time before 2” rule is out. Here are the latest recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

18 Months or Younger

18 Months to 2 Years

2 to 5 Years

No screens are still best.

Limit screen time and avoid solo use.

Limit screen time to an hour a day.

Choose high-quality educational programming and watch with kids to ensure understanding.

Parents should watch as well to ensure understanding and application to their world.

The exception is live video chat with family and friends.

Set family media-free times, likes meals or driving, and media-free zones like bedrooms.

Continue discussing online citizenship and safety, including treating others with respect online and offiine.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

12 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

Pros and Cons of Making Your Own Baby Food

By Jeanne Coates

T

he choice to use store bought baby food versus. making your own (or a combination of the two) is a personal choice. Either option will allow your child to get the nutrition they need, to grow and to thrive.

The best time to start with solid food is the same whether the food comes from the supermarket in a jar or as raw ingredients that you mash. When your baby is sitting up with little support, able to maintain good head control, shows an interest when you are eating and can close their mouth and turn their head when they have had enough or not interested, the baby is ready. This is usually when they are about 6 months old, but babies vary. Take your cues from your child and their doctor.

Pros of Homemade Baby Food: Saves money You control the quality Convenience Flexibility More choice in what is in the food Preservative free Environmentally friendly

Cons of Homemade Baby Food: Takes time to plan and make Organic produce can be costly

Requires freezer and/or refrigerator space Spoils quicker than store bought food You must be careful about food quality.

You may be wondering how to start. Start with simple, bland foods with a pureed consistency. Some doctors recommend that you start with vegetables instead of something sweeter like fruit. Easy to digest foods are squash, sweet potatoes, pears, avocados and bananas.

Peel the fruit or vegetable if appropriate. Remove stems, pits and seeds. You may bake, steam, roast or microwave until tender. Baby food needs no added spice, butter, salt or pepper. You can thin the item with a little water, breast milk or infant formula to help puree it or mash it to the desired consistency. It is best to add one food at a time and wait 3-5 days before introducing something new. Do not give up if your baby doesn’t instantly like it.

Put it in the rotation of foods and try again later.

After introducing several foods to your child, you can start giving her combinations. Apples and sweet potatoes, plum and pear, peas and carrots – whatever you think they would like. When your baby is ready to try meats, be sure to remove the skin, fat, bone and connective tissue, and cook fully.

As you add in new foods, strive to feed a rainbow of colors. Eventually, your baby will be able to eat what you eat diced in tiny pieces. Your doctor is a great source for answers to any feeding questions you have. Happy Feeding!

F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E | 17

How to Discipline Toddlers As they test their independence, setting and enforcing limits lays the groundwork for good behavior.

By Rachael Ehmke, Child-Mind Institute

W

hen and how should you begin to discipline toddlers?

Kids begin knowing what “no” means at around seven months on average, and, once they can speak, many go through a stage where it becomes their favorite word to use. Unfortunately, parents can also count on kids going through a stage where they gleefully ignore when mom or dad says no and other attempts and discipline. That’s because it is natural for them to start pushing boundaries — testing their independence and trying to explore the world on their own terms.

Why discipline is important A big part of discipline in the early years is simply keeping kids safe. We don’t touch the oven. We don’t pull on the cat’s tail. We don’t run into the street. But by setting consistent limits early, parents are also laying the groundwork for good behavior in the future.

Setting limits has other benefits, too. Telling children which behaviors you do — and don’t — want to see actually makes kids feel more secure, because it reminds them that you’re in charge and guides them to the areas where they should be developing their skills and independence (such as playing with the plastic tea set and not trying to touch the real one).

Rules are also a way to help kids begin to consider the perspective of others or at least set the stage for empathy.

Two-year-olds might be too egocentric to comprehend how others feel, but they can begin to learn that sharing is a nice thing to do and practice handing grandma a toy.

But how should parents share rules with children, and how can those rules be enforced — particularly when children are very young and might not understand the concept of consequences?

Setting routines Kristin Carothers, a clinical psychologist, says that parents are probably already setting limits without realizing it.

“One of the most naturalistic ways to create boundaries is around having set routines for your kids,” says Dr. Carothers. “They might not know what time it is, but they know the bedtime routine — we have our bath, we read our book, we go sleep in our own bed.” By creating a familiar routine, parents are teaching children what to expect next, so there are no unpleasant surprises, while also establishing a clear boundary about when the bedtime begins.

Discipline toddlers in the moment Of course, much of life isn’t planned for, so parents need strategies for how to correct behavior and reinforce boundaries in the moment. “If there’s a rule you want 18 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

followed, like not hitting, then that is something you have to correct in the moment when you see it,” says Dr. Carothers. But how you correct it matters.

Parents often say, “Don’t do that” or “No,” but Dr. Carothers says that it is actually more helpful to tell children what you do want them to do, instead. “Kids know what ‘no’ means, but they don’t necessarily know what to do next after we say no, so you always want to make sure that you have an alternative for them,” she explains. Saying, “Keep your hands to yourself” or “Use gentle hands” makes that clear.

For children around three years old, parents might have the child do a time out for something like aggressive behavior. Dr. Carothers explains time out as being “time out from your positive attention.” So you might say, “We keep our hands to ourselves. You hit your brother, so now you have to sit in this chair.” For kids who are young, time out shouldn’t be longer than three minutes. Then, after the time out is finished, you can tell the child what he should do next: “You can ask your brother for the toy” or “You can touch your brother gently.”

Parents can also start setting natural consequences for a child’s misbehavior. For example, if a child jumps on the couch, a natural consequence could be having her practice sitting calmly on the couch. If she writes on the wall, then you could have her wash the wall. Of course she might not actually get the wall clean, but just the act of trying to wash the wall reinforces your rules.

Keeping expectations realistic For some situations, relying on your ability to respond in the moment might not be enough. For example, toddlers will run into the street if they see something interesting and not realize the potential danger. “We can’t expect a toddler to set that limit for himself,” explains Dr. Carothers, “so you as a parent need to do the intervention on the opposite side.”

For walking on the sidewalk, that means you need to hold your toddler’s hand at all times to keep him safe. Dr. Carothers also encourages parents to say something like, “Good job holding mommy’s hand! Thank you for staying close to me,” which lets your child know that these are the types of behaviors that you like to see.

F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E | 19

PARENTING BOOKS RECOMMENDED FOR PARENTS,

BY PARENTS Recommendations from The Florida Baby Editorial Advisory Board

PARENTING WITH LOVE & LOGIC: TEACHING CHILDREN RESPONSIBILITY

by Cline Foster and Jim Fay

MOM’S ON CALL SERIES

by Laura Hunter & Jennifer Walker

Advice from two pediatric nurse moms with over 20 years of experience and eight children between them (including two sets of twins). Who says that babies don’t come with instructions? They do now!

Everything that modern parents need to know about caring for babies and toddlers.

NO DRAMA DISCIPLINE

by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

Highlighting the fascinating link between a child’s neurological development and the way a parent reacts to misbehavior, No-Drama Discipline provides an effective, compassionate road map for dealing with tantrums, tensions, and tears— without causing a scene.

20 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

When they reach their teens, many kids seem to have no clue about making wise decisions - so they make bad ones. How can you raise mature, responsible kids? Foster Cline and Jim Fay show you how to parent “with love and logic.” Once you learn to establish effective controls without resorting to anger and threats, your kids will learn to deal with the real world by solving their own problems.

And you’ll build a rewarding relationship built on love, trust and fun.

SHEPHERDING A CHILD’S HEART

by Tedd Tripp

Many parenting books are based on hit-or-miss theories steeped in secular thinking. This one draws from Pastor Tripp’s seasoned experience as a father-and from God’s Holy Word. Grounded in the Bible’s divine plan for parenting, this guide defines your goals as a parent and provides the Scriptural methods for accomplishing them.

RAISING YOUR SPIRITED CHILD

by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

The spirited child—often called “difficult” or “strong-willed”— possesses traits we value in adults yet find challenging in children.

Research shows that spirited kids are wired to be “more”—by temperament, they are more intense, sensitive, perceptive, persistent, and uncomfortable with change than the average child.

In this award-winning classic, voted one of the top twenty books for parents, Dr. Mary provides a refreshingly positive viewpoint and a plan for success with a simple four-step program.

Podcast and App Recommendations for New Parents PREGNANCY PODCAST The Pregnancy Podcast is a resource to help you make informed decisions about your pregnancy and your baby, and a place where you can rest assured that you’ll find real solutions that are in line with your family and your lifestyle.

THE BIRTH HOUR The Birth Hour helps pregnant women achieve an empowering birth experience through sharing authentic birth stories so they are informed going into pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

• Discover the power of positive—rather than negative— labels

The Birth Hour is not only a place for sharing birth stories but also pregnancy and postpartum struggles, triumphs and resources. The Birth Hour’s signature online childbirth course, Know Your Options, is the #1 evidence-based online course to prepare you for childbirth, postpartum and breastfeeding.

• Cope with the tantrums and power struggles when they do occur

PREGNANCY CONFIDENTIAL

• Develop strategies for handling mealtimes, sibling rivalry, bedtimes, holidays, and school, among other situations

Host: Dana Points Number of Episodes: 32

In this book, you will find ways to: • Understand your child’s—and your own—temperamental traits

YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH

RESPECTFUL PARENTING: JANET LANSBURY UNRUFFLED

Emergencies:

Host: Janet Lansbury Number of Episodes: 199 and counting

by Barton Schmitt

› when to call your child’s physician immediately › what to do in case of burns, bites, stings, poisoning, choking and injuries Common Illnesses: › when it’s safe to treat your child at home › step-by-step instructions on dealing with fever, infections, allergies, rashes, earaches, croup and other common ailments Behavior Problems: › proven strategies for colic, sleep disturbances, toilet training problems, thumbsucking and the video game craze › no-nonsense discipline techniques for biting, temper tantrums, sibling fighting and school refusal Health Promotion: From Birth Through Adolescence: › essential advice on newborn baby care, nutrition, cholesterol testing, immunizations and sex education › ways of preventing spoiled children, picky eaters, overeating, tooth decay, accidents and homework problems

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS PODCAST Love your career? Love your family? Best of Both Worlds is the show for you! Hosts Laura Vanderkam, author of I Know How She Does It and a mom of four, and Sarah Hart-Unger, a practicing physician, blogger, and mom of three, discuss work/ life balance, career development, parenting, time management, productivity and making time for fun. Tune in each week for strategies to help you thrive in all spheres of life.

THE BOOB GROUP The Boob Group supports families who are passionate about providing breast milk to their babies. Each week, a group of experienced moms openly discuss their success, their struggles and society’s impact on how they feed their babies. The show helps guide listeners by providing an honest, natural and judgment-free approach to breastfeeding, pumping, milk sharing and more.

Want to see more?

Check out our digital only content on www.parentmagazinesflorida.com/florida-baby F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E | 21

Sleep Strategies for Babies and Toddlers

H

By Jeanne Coates

ow is the baby sleeping? How are you sleeping?

I remember being asked this question over and over again as I ventured down the path of new motherhood

same room, same routine – different children. We have some recommended strategies for you to try to help you on your way to a good night’s sleep.

things venture into a baby’s ability to sleep for longer

HOW MUCH SLEEP DO BABIES AND TODDLERS NEED?

periods of time. My 10 lb. newborn had her days and

Newborns need 16-20 hours/day. They are awake an hour

nights mixed up when we brought her home, and the

or two between periods of sleep.

and then again with a newborn and a toddler. So many

first week one of us stayed up until 2 or 3 am with her.

Once we got her schedule switched, she slept through the night at 3 weeks. Her 7 lb. little sister only wanted to

Infants need between 13 and 15 hours per day. This sleep is with morning and afternoon naps, and nighttime sleep.

sleep while being bundled in a blanket and held, and she

Toddlers need around 12 hours of sleep, accomplished

never went to bed or stayed in bed easily. Same parents,

with an afternoon nap and nighttime sleep.

22 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

WAYS TO IMPROVE THE SUCCESS OF GETTING YOUR CHILD TO SLEEP • Feed your baby right before bedtime so they are not hungry when you put them down.

• Put child in bed when sleepy but not asleep. This way they will learn to fall asleep on their own.

• Place babies under one on their back.

• Maintain a nighttime routine, such as feeding, bath, story, etc. and stick to it as closely as you can.

• Put the baby to bed at the same time every night.

• Limit daytime naps to no more than 3 hours.

• If you have an infant, put the baby to nap in places where there is noise and movement, so they don’t get used to complete silence with every nap.

• Do not put a bottle or cup in bed with your baby or toddler.

• Consider the use of a pacifier, but only after your child has become an established breast feeder, if you are breastfeeding.

SIGNS OF TIREDNESS If your child is exhibiting these signs of tiredness, they may need additional soothing (rocking, singing, a quiet story, a backrub) before going to sleep. The signs of tiredness in children of various ages include: • Newborns – staring, jerky movements of the arms and legs, clenched fists, frowning, yawning, irritated behavior including crying.

• Older babies – loss of interest in toys or playing, fretfulness, yawning, separation anxiety, irritated behavior including crying, eye rubbing, a change in physical activity.

• Toddlers – clumsy physical movements, tasks take longer to perform, irritated behavior including crying, emotional tension.

WHY SOME CHILDREN RESIST SLEEP Some of the reasons why older babies and toddlers may not want to take a nap include: • They don’t want to be by themselves.

• They don’t want to miss out on any activity.

• They are too excited, restless or anxious and can’t relax.

• Their daytime routine doesn’t always include naps.

• They are hungry or thirsty or have some other physical discomfort.

SUGGESTIONS FOR DAYTIME NAPS Suggestions to help your child settle for a nap include: • Make sure your child has plenty of fresh air and physical activity.

• Establish a routine so your child expects to have a nap at certain times.

• Give your child time to relax beforehand with gentle activities.

• Make sure they are comfortable, fed and wearing a fresh diaper.

• If your child is a toddler or mobile, put them in a place that is quiet and dark.

• Provide your child with an opportunity to settle themselves. Then, if they are anxious without you, stay in the room for a few minutes.

• After 12 months some children may be comforted by a special object or toy. However, first check recommendations for safe sleeping and avoiding SUID (sudden unexpected infant death).

• Leave their bedroom door open so they can hear you moving around the house.

• Even if they do not sleep, the rest and quiet time alone is still beneficial.

F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E | 23

The Hottest Baby Products

Willow Breast Pump

Mory June Moses Bag

The ultimate mobility breast pump.

The all-in-one baby bag.

willowpump.com

moryjune.com

Nuna Baby - Strollers nunababy.com

24 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

The Teething Egg theteethingegg.com

Esembly Baby Diapers Reusable esemblybaby.com

Babybjorn – Harmony Carrier babybjorn.com

4moms – Mamaroo Infant Seat

Stokke - Tripp Trapp Highchair

4moms.com

stokke.com

Little Seeds Baby Closet

PUJ Snug Faucet Spout Cover

littleseedskids.com/product/ little-seeds-grow-withme-adjustable-kids-closetorganizer-system

Baby Brezza The advanced way to make a warm formula bottle.

babybrezza.com

shop-thewild.com

Graco® 4Ever® DLX 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat gracobaby.com

F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E | 25

The Toy Box:

Educational Toys For Your Baby and Toddler Recommendations from our Readers

Klickity by Fat Brain Toys

Baby Astronaut/Oceanographer and Botanist Board Books

by Laura Hunter & Jennifer Walker These three board books tell stories of science-based careers with colorful pictures. Sturdy enough for little hands, with simple language and interesting facts and adventures. For all ages.

Boon Building Bath Pipes For children 12 months +. These pipes suction to your bathtub and can be used individually or put together to make a chain for water to flow through. Hours of fun!

26 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

Play & Grow Freddie the Firefly For ages 0+. This toy has a lot of sensory features in one bug-shaped package. There’s a squeaker, clinking rings, a textured ladybug teether, and knotted antennae to touch and mouth. The wings have mirrors, soft shapes, textures to explore, while the tummy is made of soft velour. The firefly has black and white patterns on its back and bright colors on the front—the high contrast patterns help stimulate your baby’s vision, while bold, solid colors give the baby’s eyes a place to rest. The big eyes encourage your baby to practice focused looking as well. A clip the top lets you attach it to strollers, carriers, and diaper bags.

Perfect for ages 12 months to 2 years. Encourages sensory exploration; helps teach causeand-effect; strengthens fine motor skills and coordination skills; sounds, movements, and bright colors stimulate the eyes and ears.

Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog For Toddlers 18 months +. Colorful quills help kids build color recognition, sorting, and counting skills through fine motor skill games. Spike is also a great toy for visually impaired children!

Activity Cube Bright and cheerful solid wooden activity cube with five sides of fun, curvy wirer rides, peek a boo doors, spin and match animals, turn and learn ABC word tiles, and racing rollers. Recommended for children 1 year old and older.

Manhattan Toy Skwish Classic Rattle and Teether Grasping Activity Toy The wooden beads produce a muted, pleasant sound when rattled - loud enough for babies to explore auditory cause and effect, but never annoying for caregivers. With no repetitive, distracting electronic chirps and beeps, everybody loves Skwish.

Recommended for babies 6 months and up.

First Years Stacking Cups When building baby’s toy collection, start with these classics! Nesting cups are popular for offering simple-yet-fun ways to play. Children love to fit them together, stack them up, turn them over and hide things underneath.

These eight colorful toy cups have large numbers embossed on the base so an older child can practice counting and begin building number recognition skills. Each cup has unique holes in the bottom for water play fun.

Fill them up and watch the water trickle out of the bottom!

Hape Pound and Tap Bench This award-winning toy was the winner of the 2018 Cribsie Award of favorite first musical toy suitable for ages 12 months to 3 years. It is a fun xylophone that can be played in a variety of ways. Promotes dexterity, hand eye coordination, manipulation, arm movement, cause and effect, and encourages musical development and exploration and audio recognition.

Melissa and Doug Magnetic Animal Puzzle For Toddlers 2-4. Easily packed up for on the go, these pieces can be used to make stories, explore animal sounds and talk about what each animal does.

Melissa and Doug Nesting and Sorting Garage For Ages 2-4. This Melissa & Doug stacking garage gives kids multiple ways to organize the set. The colorful garages feature counting pictures on the back walls, which inspires kids to pair the pieces by color, size, and number.

Playskool Explore ‘N Grow Busy Gears This fun toy has 11 interchangeable gears that spin, plus music, sounds, and twinkling lights. It is recommended for children 12 months and up. Press the button and make the gears swirl and whirl. And there’s a convenient carry handle for toddlers on the move. Moving and stacking the gears can help them explore spatial relationships and cause and effect.

F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E | 27

Toileting for Toddlers

By Mary Broeckling

T

hough helping your toddler transition from diapers to underwear can feel like a daunting task, it can in fact be an empowering experience that encourages confidence and independence. Use the terms “toileting” or “toilet learning” instead of “potty training,” so your child can be an active participant in the process. Toilet learning actually begins long before switching to underwear. By 18 months, children are typically able to control their bowel and bladder movements; however, signs of readiness for underwear—an interest in the bathroom, frequent dry diapers at changing time, successful urination in the toilet— may not come until much later. Rather than comparing your child to others, or going by your child’s age, look for these signs.

In the meantime, you can begin the process of toilet learning by changing diapers in the bathroom, to establish it as the place where toileting occurs. Have your child practice pulling down pants, sitting down, eliminating (or not), wiping front to back, pulling up pants, flushing if necessary, and, finally, washing hands. It can be difficult for the male child to know when to sit and when to stand, so have boys sit to start. Remind him to scoot back and push his penis down (at school, we use anatomically correct terms).

Once you introduce underwear, use it in all cases except naptime and night-time (it takes longer to learn how to control the bladder while sleeping). Refer to these as “sleeping diapers” so that your child understands they are only worn when sleeping. Going back and forth between underwear and diapers or pull-ups is confusing. After 30 consecutive days of waking up from nap dry, you can start to ditch the naptime diaper, and later, sometimes much later, the nighttime diaper.

Accidents will happen. Diapers were created to wick moisture away from the body so the child won’t feel wet or uncomfortable.

When a child wears cotton underwear, she begins to feel the sensation of being wet.

Through accidents, she can start making connections between the sensation of needing to urinate and feeling wet. Be patient; this takes time and practice.

React calmly, and never use guilt or shame. At school I say, “I see that you’re wet. Let’s get some dry clothes to change into.” I also give a gentle reminder that urine goes in the toilet. Set your child up for success: Toddlers don’t have the time or fine-motor coordination to manage 28 | F L O R I D A Baby M A G A Z I N E

things like belts, buckles, buttons and snaps. Elastic-waist pants are easy to put on and take off independently; avoid overalls and onesies. When there is a urine accident, let your child help as much as possible—allow him to wipe up and go behind him, sanitizing where needed. Encourage him to place soiled clothing in the laundry and choose dry underwear and dry pants.

At the beginning of toilet learning, I suggest reminding your child every 30 minutes. As this proves successful—she is dry and can successfully urinate in the toilet—you can lengthen this time, but never go more than 2 hours without a reminder. Always tell your child it’s time to use the toilet rather than asking (you know as well as I do that you can ask a toddler just about anything and the answer will be “no”).

Options work. Say to your child, “It’s time to use the toilet.

Would you like to use the toilet downstairs or upstairs? Do you prefer the toilet or the potty seat?” If she chooses a normal-size toilet, consider adding a step stool so her feet aren’t dangling, to provide a sense of comfort and safety.

Establish a consistent toileting schedule so you’re not interrupting your child in the middle of a fun activity. Try toileting when you wake up in the morning, before getting into the car, before lunch, before nap, just after nap, etc.

If you use the toilet too during these times, you show your child that there’s a consistent schedule for everyone. Create visual schedules that depict daily activities, including sitting on the toilet. Before outings, say, “We can go to the park (or whatever fun activity you have planned) after you sit on the toilet.” Or consider these phrases: “The clock tells me that it’s your turn to sit on the toilet.” “Would you like to use the toilet now or in 3 minutes?” “Can you do it by yourself or do I need to help your body?” There’s no reason why you can’t cash in on your child’s burgeoning independence.

Rewards and punishments aren’t necessary and often hinder toileting progress. Offering a reward sets a precedent and teaches your child that learning to use the toilet is merely for a reward instead of fostering an intrinsic desire to master toileting.

Don’t be afraid to ask your child’s teacher if any questions come up along the way.

Good luck, and happy toileting!

MARY BROECKLING is a Toddler teacher at Montessori School of Denver, in Denver, CO. She is AMS-credentialed (Infant & Toddler). Contact her at mbroeckling@ msd-co.org.

A Trusted Resource for Parents in Clay, Flagler, St. Johns and Volusia Counties!

Subscribe Today!

Babies are amazing At Florida KidCare we think their health care should be amazing too.

That’s why millions of Florida’s kids from birth through the end of age 18 get their health and dental insurance for free, or just $15 or $20 a month.

And your child can too.

Benefits include check-ups, emergencies, immunizations, and much more.

HEALTH AND DENTAL INSURANCE

Apply today at floridakidcare.org or 1-888-540-KIDS (5437)