Playground for Parents

Energizer Mummy

1.  Unlike her big sister (who in my distorted memory was the "perfect baby"), Munchkin does not consistently sleep through the night.  It is particularly traumatizing right now because she's sick AGAIN (please don't get me started on daycare cooties) and is coughing and snotting and whining every hour while I try unsuccessfully to hide inside my mattress. 

 

2.  I'm addicted to chocolate. I eat it daily. Duh. You already knew that about me. What you don't know is that it make me feel like taking a nap immediately.  There is no burst of energy followed by a crash. I crash right after having that cupcake, before I even get to eating that second cupcake minutes later.

 

3.  I go to bed too late.  I'm up until midnight watching "Real Housewives of New York" dictating reports for work. Yep, I'm a working mom now - a frazzled, overwhelmed, ambitious, working mama, who can't seem to get to bed early.  If I went to bed early, I couldn't get everything done. And I may miss an important update from one of my Facebook friends, like what song they are listening to at that very moment. And look, they've attached a youtube link so I can listen to it too.

 

4.  I don't exercise and I eat like crap.  I exercised everyday when I was pregnant with Munchkin. But, pushing her out was the last time I exerted extra muscle.  It's a shame that I haven't been disciplined or motivated enough to work out since then. Thank God breastfeeding seemed to have sucked that maternity weight off me.

 

There you go. My top four reasons for why I am extraordinarily sleepy right now. The kind of sleepy that makes you envision crawling under your desk at work and curling up into a little ball.  I started drinking green tea, and taking B12 along with fish oil. I know there's plenty more I should be doing. I'll ponder this more after I take a nap...

 

In the meantime, check out this information I received from Whole Foods today about boosting our energy:

 

As parents one thing we all face, is keeping our energy levels up, as we keep up with our children. This month Whole Foods Market current podcast series suggests tips and action steps to support our energy levels naturally and safely.  For a great list of energy supporting herbs, and to listen to these podcasts please visit:  http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/category/whole-body-podcast/

 

FREE Personalized Video Message From Santa!

Here's a great MUST-SEE website for all the little Santa-believers out there! Quickly type in your kid's name, their desired gift, upload a photo, and voila ~ a personalized video directly from Santa!  My favorite part (besides that it's free):  you get to select a behavior they've done recently that puts them on the nice list. Between you and me, doing well in school was too easy. I chose a behavior that she actually needs to work on: "taking a bath when told."  Hey, I figure if she thinks Santa is watching and expecting her to take baths without drama, then maybe we'll have a little less complaining around here.  At least until December 25th.

 

This came just in time - my kid is 8, and I figure I don't have much longer.  Just the other day, she told me that she wasn't going to ask me for anything for Christmas because she "didn't want me to spend my own money."  She'd ask Santa for everything instead.  Is that just the most considerate thing ever?!  Oh, kid, if only private school tuition could be paid with such innocence.

 

My daughter was beyond tickled when she watched it.  Even by the 10th time it was played. Back to back.  She did repeatedly ask if I created the video. And she said Santa's beard looked fake.  Hopefully, I was believable as I lied through my teeth.

 

Each year seems to bring more creativity on the web with these personalized Christmas animations - from the dancing elf with a photo of your big head attached to it, to the Christmas countdown that tracks Santa's progress as he crosses the globe. This one sets the bar even higher.

 

A little nervous about putting your kid's name and age on a website? I completely understand. I was a bit apprehensive too. But the site isn't invasive, and I suggest you use your kid's nickname if that makes you feel better. But, really, check it out. It's themed for teen and adult recipients too. I'll be creating one for my husband. Except he will be on the naughty list.

 

Come back and let me know what you thought! 

 

http://portablenorthpole.tv.

 

 

Big thanks to my friend, Gina, for passing this one along. She goes on the "nice" list for sure this year.  It was a bit questionable before now.

 

SIDS: Reduce the Risk by Using a Fan, and Breastfeeding

 

All of us moms have experienced that awful scare - our baby sleeps longer than normal, and instead of fully enjoying the peace and quiet, we're tip-toeing to their crib to make sure they're still breathing.  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is that catastrophic killer that pounces without warning, and makes us wait eagerly for the one year mark, when the risk of it occurring is significantly reduced.

 

My own fear of SIDS has recently increased, now that Munchkin is six months old, and rolling onto her belly the minute her body touches her crib. Thankfully, I've been a bit reassured by two medical studies I read recently.  One study reports that using a fan can reduce SIDS risk by up to 72%. The other study indicates that breastfeeding may decrease SIDS risk by 50%.

I have the breastfeeding part covered.  Needless to say, a fan is now a permanent fixture in Munchkin's nursery.

 

Are you past the stage of cribs and nighttime nursing?  Stop gloating long enough to forward this important info to a mommy with a new baby.  If you're like me, it's probably not the first time you've given them unsolicited, but useful, advice.  

 

 

 

USING A FAN DURING SLEEP MAY REDUCT INFANTS' SIDS RISK,

KAISER PERMANENTE STUDY SHOWS

 

Infants who slept in a bedroom with a fan ventilating the air had a 72 percent lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome compared to infants who slept in a bedroom without a fan, according to a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. The study appears in the October issue of the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.

It's the first study to examine an association between better air ventilation in infants' bedrooms and reduced SIDS risk. SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants aged 1 to 12 months, and the third leading cause of overall infant mortality in the United States.

The finding is consistent with previous research that showed factors influencing a baby's sleep environment may change SIDS risk. Among those factors are sleeping on the stomach and soft bedding, both of which may limit air ventilation around an infant's breathing pathway and thus increase the chance of re-breathing exhaled carbon dioxide, said the researchers.

Researchers explained that fan use is no substitute for practices known to reduce the risk for sudden infant death syndrome, which include: always placing infants to sleep on their backs, putting infants to sleep on firm mattresses and avoiding soft bedding materials like comforters and quilts, providing a separate sleep environment, preventing infants from overheating, and not smoking around infants. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

For the complete article, and a video about the study, click SIDS Study.

 

BREAST-FEEDING MAY REDUCE RISK FOR SIDS by HALF THROUGHOUT INFANCY 

Breast-feeding reduces the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by approximately 50% at all ages throughout infancy, according to the results of a case-control study reported in the March issue of Pediatrics...

...Exclusive breast-feeding at age 1 month was associated with half the risk for SIDS. Although partial breast-feeding at age 1 month was also associated with lower risk for SIDS, this risk was not significant after adjustment...

"This study shows that breastfeeding reduced the risk of sudden infant death syndrome by ~50% at all ages throughout infancy," the study authors write. "We recommend including the advice to breastfeed through 6 months of age in sudden infant death syndrome risk-reduction messages..."

"In our study, 73% of the infants died before 6 months of age," the study authors conclude. "The implication of our findings is that breastfeeding should be continued until the infant is 6 months of age and the risk of SIDS is low. Because breastfeeding rates are low in the socially deprived sections of our population, there should be special programs to encourage mothers of low socioeconomic status to breastfeed their infants not only for the established benefits of breastfeeding for the mother and infant but also to reduce the risk of SIDS in their infants."

From www.medscape.com

 

Cooties Alert - Your Kid Is Contagious

"Don't worry. My kid isn't sick. It's just his allergies."  Really?  Even with that green mucous clumping under his nose?  How many times have you heard that comment from a mom desperate to get her sick kid back to school?  Or (gasp!) how many times have you said it yourself?  We know your kid is sick.  You know your kid is sick.  And he may still be contagious, BUT you have to return to work/run your errands/get out of the house before you go crazy from cabin fever.

 

My family made sure to have our flu shots this year because we have a new baby in the house.  And, of course, I still managed to catch the flu. Fortunately, it didn't last very long.  My oldest daughter only missed two days of school this cold season. And thankfully, Daddy and the baby have stayed insulated from the nasty cold germs.  I'll give credit to my breastmilk and our semi-diligent handwashing. The breastmilk only applies to the baby, by the way, not the husband - in case you were wondering.

 

In an effort to help get us all through the remainder of the flu and cold season, I thought I'd share an article I just read from Parents.com. Think you know all there is to know about cold bugs, considering your kid has been sick 100 times since starting daycare?  Don't dismiss this too quickly, mama.  Were you aware that your kid is contagious for as long as she's sick, and it doesn't matter whether her snot is yellow or green?  That if your kid is throwing up, she's contagious from the first symptom until she feels totally better?  That if he has diarrhea, he's contagious until his poop is formed again?  That viruses that cause fevers are contagious as long as the fever is above 100.4 degrees F?

 

Uh-oh, if enough parents learn this info, guess mom will have fewer excuses when little Johnny is wiping his nose with one hand, and digging in your kid's snack container with the other. Sounds like a Benadryl cover-up in the making.

 

 

Is My Kid Contagious?  by Sara DuMond, M.D. 

Wondering whether you need to quarantine your child when she has a cold, an ear infection, pinkeye, or another common childhood illness? Read on to find out what precautions you should take and how long these conditions are contagious, if at all.

Cold (Upper Respiratory Infection)

Each year between birth and age 5, a child gets an average of 8 to 12 colds. Telltale signs: a cough or a runny or stuffy nose.

Treatment  Keep your child comfy until the cold runs its course. Give him nasal saline drops, run a cool-mist humidifier in his room, and suction his nostrils at least once a day. This will ease congestion; if your child is still uncomfortable, you can give him diphenhydramine (Benadryl), an over-the-counter antihistamine that may help him feel less clogged up. Because colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics are ineffective, and other cough and cold meds can cause sedation and shallow breathing and impede the clearing of nasal secretions.

Contagious factor  When your child is feeling his worst (days three through five), he's most contagious. But symptoms can last for up to two weeks, and he's contagious as long as he's sick. Of course, you can't quarantine him for days. So wash your hands frequently after touching him, and keep him away from other kids during the cold's peak. And if the snot is green versus yellow? It doesn't matter. All colds are contagious regardless of mucus color.

To read the entire article, including similar information about ear infections, pink eye, strep throat and fevers, see Parents.com