Teething Signs and Relief

A baby’s teeth begin to develop before most women know they are expecting. Tooth buds start forming in the fetus around five to six weeks of development. They won’t become a problem for baby until the first teeth start coming through the gums at about six months of age. The first set of teeth can start to come in anytime as early as three months or as late as twelve months. The most common first set of teeth are the two bottom front teeth. The teeth will continue to come in sets of two. The most painful teeth children get are the first set of molars and canine teeth. These teeth usually arrive at about 13-19 months of age. By age three, children should have a full set of 20 teeth. Here’s some advice on how to recognize the signs of teething and how to soothe the pain.

When babies start teething they can have multiple symptoms.



 Extra cranky

 Chin rash

 Ear pulling

 Not sleeping well at night

 Low grade fever

 Swollen gums

 Excessive drooling

 Biting and chewing



Not all these symptoms may be present and not all the symptoms represent teething. You should contact your pediatrician if you suspect your child is bothered by more than just teething. There are plenty of ways to soothe baby’s sore gums. Some ways to help your child soothe the pain from teething include:



 Teething rings

 Cold or frozen washcloth

 Rubbing gums with finger

 Cold drink

 Cold food

 Baby Orajel

 Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen

 Chilled soft-tip baby spoon to chew on





You can add extra effectiveness to teething rings and toys if you put them in the fridge for a while. The coldness calms the inflammation and helps numb the pain. When using any medications to soothe baby’s teething pain use medication as directed or consult your pediatrician.



Once teeth arrive, just like adult teeth, they are susceptible to plaque build-up and decay. As soon as the first tooth pokes through the gums you should begin brushing your baby’s teeth. This can be done with a small soft toothbrush and water or baby toothpaste at least twice a day, morning and bedtime. You can also use a clean, wet washcloth or gauze pad to wipe teeth and gums after meals. It is important to take care of temporary baby teeth because this will promote healthy gums and future adult teeth.



There’s no telling how each child will react to teething but hopefully these tips will be helpful.

Melissa K



Sources: www.babycenter.com

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

By:  Tina 

Wow! Where did the time go? It seems like only yesterday that your son or daughter was a toddler and you were preparing for kindergarten. Now they are 18 years old, a high school senior and preparing for college. Parents, are you ready for this? Are you ready to accept that your child is facing the next four years of their life away from home, away from the safe-haven of mom and dad? Brace yourself parents because it can not only be an emotional rollercoaster, but a financial one as well. Preparing your child for college takes proper planning that begins early in the high school years.

It is a good idea to begin preparing for college during the freshman year of high school. Here are some ideas:

• Start by making sure your teen is taking courses that will challenge learning.
• Ask about an Advanced Placement test that can offer college level courses during high school. 
• Make sure your teen is practicing independent study habits while being responsible and organized with their homework.  This will help prepare them for the college setting. 
• Along with your teen, explore college majors and colleges of interest. 
• Stay in touch with the high school guidance counselor.
• By the time your teen is a senior, the choice of colleges should be narrowed to three.
• Make sure your teen is preparing to take entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT Assessment. These tests are usually given at the high school and can be taken several times in an effort to score higher.   

I recently interviewed a high school guidance counselor asking her questions that will keep students on track for college. She did not want to be identified so I will refer to her as Mrs. C. Take a look at our interview below.
 

Q: In regard to course selection during high school, what is the biggest mistake students make?
Mrs. C: “The biggest mistake that students make is listening to their friends. They are misinformed, and they think that they really have the knowledge.”

Q: What advice do you offer for getting students interested in their own futures?
Mrs. C: “I think its constant communication with the student in the classroom, sending newsletters home, and bringing in guest speakers”.

Q: How can a counselor anticipate and then respond to students’ changing interests?
Mrs. C: “The last time I saw, 60% percent of high school students will check “undecided” on their college application. I feel the more knowledge they have about themselves when they graduate high school, the more informed and better choice they will have for college. In the long run, this can save them money, because then they are not transferring from college to college or continually changing their major. That’s why I meet with students individually every year.”

Q: Is there any other advice you would like to add?
Mrs. C: “I think it is important for counselors to get out there and take the first step to meet with students. Students may feel intimidated to visit the Guidance Office so I get out there and show the students that I am here for them. Also, I tell parents when students are in their freshman year of high school to start talking to their child about college and their future.”

From a financial standpoint, parents should be familiar with the FAFSA form. The FAFSA form is available online January 1st of every year. This is the first application you will need to complete. The FAFSA is the application most colleges use to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs. To be considered for federal financial aid, you must submit a completed FAFSA form on time. Information can be found at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. The high school guidance counselor can also assist with other scholarship applications and deadlines. Remember, the “Early bird gets the worm!” There is only so much money out there that is available to college students, so the earlier you start the process, the better.

What's for Lunch?

By: Christina C
Toddlers are attempting to gain independence from the start. One way they try to do this is through their eating habits. Toddlers learn to eat healthy by what you as a parent serve them. If they are only offered unhealthy things then that is what they will continue to select as a choice for themselves. Picky eaters do not have to skip out on nutrition because they will not try something. Toddlers gain knowledge of nutrition by watching the parent and by trying new things. Lunchtime can be a fun, entertaining way to incorporate different foods. Creativity is key not only at lunchtime but at any meal time.




A large majority of toddlers love pizza and not all pizza is healthy. A fun, healthy way to serve pizza is to prepare it on a whole grain English muffin. Vegetables can be placed on the pizza with cheese and sauce. If a picky eater will not eat pizza because there are “those gross green things” on there, try putting the vegetables under the cheese. Another way is to chop the vegetables until in can be mixed in with the sauce.



Hot dogs seem to be the go to for a lunch option. Hot dogs can be cut up in bite size pieces then wrapped in a crescent roll and baked. Cheese can be added inside the roll or inside the sliced hotdog. Vegetables can be also finely chopped and baked in crescent roll or in the hot dog.



Sandwiches are great for on the go. To make sandwiches just a little different, avocado, hummus or cream cheese can be used as a spread. Bread can be shaped into a toddler’s favorite character by using a cookie cutter. If a parent does not want to use deli meat for a sandwich, try spreading cream cheese on the bread and adding sliced cucumbers. Peanut butter and jelly is an all time favorite sandwich for children of any age. If you as a parent are tired of making them add something to them. Bacon, lettuce, tomato or honey can be added for a different flavor.



Macaroni and cheese is a great staple food because it is easy to eat. Frozen or canned vegetables can be mixed in to the macaroni and cheese making it an all around good meal.



When toddlers learn to dip there seems to be no stopping them. They want to dip everything into something. There are many different things that fruit or vegetables can be dipped into. Yogurt or a salad dressing can be used for vegetables. Yogurt or whole fruit dip can be used for fresh fruit. Peanut butter, hummus, cream cheese or avocado can be used for either fruit or vegetables.



Pumpkin, banana or zucchini bread can be a great alternative to regular bread for different sandwiches. These types of breads are a good source of vitamin A. They can also just be served alone with butter spread on and fruit or vegetable as a side.



The key to any toddler meal or snack is being creative enough to get the toddler to eat it. Try it more than once you may get a positive reaction the second time around.











Different recipes ideas can be found at:

http://www.wholesometoddlerfood.com/toddlerlunch.htm



Work Cited:



Healthy and Easy Lunches for Toddlers

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/58377/healthy_and_easy_lunches_for_toddlers_pg2.html?cat=25

Cited: 2011 Retrieved: April 4, 2011



Lunch Ideas for Toddlers

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/lunch-ideas-for-toddlers.html

Cited: 2011 Retrieved: April 4, 2011



Lunch Recipes For Toddlers

http://www.essortment.com/lunch-recipes-toddlers-56352.html

Cited: 2010 Retrieved: April 4, 2011



Six Easy Healthy Recipes for a Toddlers Lunch

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/273494/6_easy_healthy_toddler_lunch_ideas_pg2.html?cat=22

Cited: 2011 Retrieved: April 4, 2011

Should I buy organic foods?

Meghan Scaringi

Every trip to the grocery store costs more and more, and I seem to have purchased less and less! Deciding how to spend my grocery dollars has become a real dilemma. I want my daughter to have wholesome fresh food, this usually costs more than packaged processed items, but I am also concerned about having pure food. More and more organic food is appearing in the groceries, and there is more discussion about the necessity of eliminating foods with hormones and pesticides. Still many organic foods cost almost 50% more than conventionally grown foods. Is it really necessary to buy organic food for my toddler?

What is organic food?
Organic foods are those that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives this definition is found in the business of food: encyclopedia of the food and drink industries by Allen and Albala.

Labeling

The USDA ORGANIC labeling requirements are based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product.  Products labeled as “100 percent organic” must contain (excluding water and salt) only organically
produced ingredients and processing aids.Products labeled “organic” must consist of at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt). Any remaining product ingredients must consist of nonagricultural substances approved on the National List including specific non-organically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form.


The advantages of organic food
The choice does not have to be will I buy organic or not. The choice can be will I reduce the amount of chemicals in the food I serve my toddler. Chemical is more of a worry for babies and toddlers than adults. Alan Greene, MD, pediatrician and author of Raising Baby Green, says “Babies eat more than adults, pound or pound, and are more vulnerable to environmental toxins.” Choosing to start with a few foods that your family eats regularly can be a good way to start cutting back on the amount of chemicals in the food your baby or toddler eats. In the Parents Magazine article, "What Should I Buy Organic,”
Greene suggests if you are going to make only one organic purchase it should be milk. Conventional milk has artificial hormones as well as chemicals. Other organic foods to consider are:
• Potatoes - they are on the Dirty Dozen list put out by the EWG (Environmental Working Group) page=9 means it is one of the worst for pesticides. There are still chemicals after the potatoes are washed and pealed.
• Peanut butter – pesticides used on peanut butter are extremely toxic.
• Baby Food - "Our body and brain grow faster from birth to age 3 than at any other time," Dr. Greene says, adding that if “you're going to pick only one time to go organic it should be from conception to age three.”
• Ketchup – children eat tons of it, it is super healthy and organic does not have sugar or artificial colors.
• Apples – second on the dirty dozen list organic apples are more notorious.
• Beef – hormones are used to grow beef. Some of them can get into the human system.

There are many things to consider when trying to decide if buying organic food is the right choice for your family – cost, age, amount of food used, extra health benefits, extra nutritional value. The fact that the result of this choice will only be known many years from now makes it very difficult. It is something I have thought about since my daughter was born. Going completely organic is not a realistic option for me. Now with the USDA Organic labeling, the Dirty Dozen list from EWG and the recommendations from Dr, Greene There is a reasonable place to start – one step at a time.

Sibling Rivalry

Once upon a time I had a daughter, and for the first 2 years of her life, she was an only child. She was, in the least, spoiled rotten by mommy, daddy, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. At age 2 years and 1 month to be precise, she was no longer an only child. Parents of 2+ children know how hard it is to deal with a newborn and all of the lovely things that go with it. Such as all 6 of the middle of the night feedings (don’t forget the 30 minutes later diaper changes), figuring out what is wrong when they cry, feeding burping changing feeding burping changing and cuddling. In the midst of this there are a few naps, when you try to sleep as well, but the older child needs love and attention too. Unfortunately and luckily life is not what it was before the second child came along. In the process of taking care of the newest member of the family, the second child starts to feel neglected. Then the real problems start, I can remember when my own baby brother came along…when mommy wasn’t looking you better believe I was biting, pinching, and smacking him! So it shouldn’t have been a surprise to me when my daughter started doing these things to my son, but it was. The problem wasn’t too bad in the beginning…but once Derek started to sit on his own, crawl, and walk and he was getting praise for these milestones Madi started getting revenge for his “attention stealing”.


Luckily enough for me, I am taking a “Human Growth and Development” class, where we touched based on sibling rivalry. Basically I learned that sibling rivalry actually falls back on the parents and how they treat the children. “The child who gets the less parental affection, more disapproval, or fewer material resources is likely to be resentful” (Berk, 2010). Parents don’t do this intentionally but when stress is high due to financial worries, marital conflict, or even single parenthood and a parent’s energy is drained, they become less careful about being fair to both children. I also found that rivalry increases in middle childhood, and so children will begin to participate in different activities so that they can not be compared to their siblings’ accomplishments and traits. “For same-sex siblings who are close in age, parental comparisons are more frequent, resulting in more quarreling and antagonism and poorer adjustment.” In an effort to reduce this effect parents need to recognize what they are doing and make an effort not to compare their children (Berk, 2010)

There are however, some good points to a small amount of rivalry. “As siblings strive to win recognition for their own uniqueness, they shape important aspects of each other’s development” and “Although conflict rises, school-age siblings continue to rely on each other for companionship and assistance. When researchers asked siblings about shared daily activities, children mentioned that older siblings often helped younger siblings with academic and peer challenges. And both offered each other help with family issues” (Berk, 2010).
“For siblings to reap these benefits (above paragraph), parental encouragement of warm, considerate sibling ties is vital. Providing parents with training in mediation-how to get siblings to lay down ground rules, clarify their points of disagreement and common ground, and discuss possible solutions-increases siblings’ awareness of each other’s perspectives and animosity.” When siblings are at peace the younger child “picks up on” the older child’s social and academic competence and this promotes favorable peer relations and achievements (Berk, 2010)

Sibling rivalry is not always our fault as parents. Sometimes kids will just be kids, and we need to realize that we can’t always intervene. Children need to learn to manage their conflicts on their own. For help and advice with what you can do as a parent go to:  http://www.calmerparenting.com/siblingsLandingPage.html

While I know that I have a long haul in front of me, I am glad to have realized that sometimes their fights are my fault and sometimes not. I make a conscious effort to be fair to both children, whether it be play time, mommy time, snack time, or just anytime. I think sometimes we have to take a step back from the situation and figure out why our children are acting up. Sometimes you don’t like what you see and that can be hard to accept, but catching a problem early is key to the growth and happiness of our children. Other times, we find that our kids are just different people with different likes, dislikes, and approaches to life. Ultimately “In addition to parents and friends, siblings continue to be important sources of support” (Berk, 2010), and we as parents need to try and make sure that our children know that and use each other for support and help.

Alisha O.

Sources:
Berk, L.E. (2010), Development through the lifespan. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
http://www.calmerparenting.com/

Benefits of Breastfeeding

As a mother we are given the ability to produce milk for our child and it is ultimately our own decision to decide to do so. Breastfeeding is not for everyone and is a learned skill that takes a lot of time and effort. It can be enjoyable for both mother and child. Breastfeeding is one of the most beneficial actions a mother can do for her child and for herself.

Breast milk remains the one and only natural and complete nutrition for infants. Formula does provide some of the same benefits, but no matter how many vitamins, minerals, and supplements are added it will never provide all that breast milk does. The mothers breast milk is especially made for the infant and provides just the right amount of minerals, nutrients and antibodies. It is the perfect nutrition that only a mother can provide.



These are only a few of the benefits that a baby receives from breast milk.

• Less likely to have ear infections, allergies, asthma, and juvenile diabetes.

• Enhances baby’s brain growth.

• Easier for baby to digest.

• Reduced risk of SIDS.

• Less risk of childhood obesity.

• Reduced risk of chronic constipation or colic.

• Decreased risk of tooth decay.

• Special bonding and emotional relationship with mom.

• Recover quickly from illness.

There are also many benefits that breastfeeding provides for a mother.

• 50% less likely to get pre-menopausal breast cancer.

• Lower risk for ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.

• Helps to shrink uterus back to original size.

• Helps to shed pregnancy weight at a healthy pace.

• It’s free and convenient.

Breastfeeding makes mom feel relaxed due to endorphin hormones produced while nursing. It gives mom a good excuse to sit down and have quiet time with her baby. The bond between mom and baby is much more intense when nursing. It is a wonderful feeling knowing that you are giving your child something that is produced from your own body and it’s giving them the best start in life.

There are also many other good reasons to chose to breastfeed. To find more information about breastfeeding visit www.womenshealth.gov



Melissa K





Sources:

Murkoff, Heidi, and Sharon Mazel. What to Expect When You’re Expecting. New York:Workman,2008.Print

TEENS AND ADDICTIONS

By Tina:

The teenage years are a period of growth and exploration.  It is a time when teens move out of the protected world of home and move into a larger world full of adventure.  Where there is adventure, there is also danger.  Part of the danger for teenagers is not having solid information along with peer pressure and limited experience.  All of these pieces fit together putting teens at risk of making bad choices due to ignorance.  These bad choices sometimes lead to addiction.

Hmmm, which one should I try?

So what exactly is addiction?  According to The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, New Edition, addiction is the quality or state of being addicted; compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance characterized by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal.

Teens do not set out to become addicts.  They start out seeking excitement, trying to fit in, or just looking to escape boredom.  Teenagers may try smoking marijuana because they are curious, because it feels good, or because they want to feel "grown up".  It is difficult to know which teen will only experiment with marijuana and which will develop a serious addiction.  Addiction is a dangerous problem facing parents, teenagers, and society at large.  Here are some reasons that teenagers can easily get addicted to legal or illegal drugs:

• Teenagers think that experimenting with drugs and alcohol during adolescence is common.
• Teenagers do not often see the link between their actions of today and the consequences of tomorrow.
• Teenagers have the tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience.

The six most common addictions in teenagers are:

1. Alcohol
2. Smoking
3. Prescription Medication
4. Inhalants
5. Over-the-Counter cough, cold, sleep, and diet medications
6. Marijuana

According to http://www.alcohlism-and-drug-addiction-help.com/, the following are common signs of teen addiction:

• Dip in performance levels at school.
• Dramatic and unexpected change in attitude.
• Often isolating and spending unusual amount of time alone in room.
• Becoming increasingly secretive.
• Has become lethargic and seemingly depressed, losing interest in activities previously enjoyed.
• Eyes are red or watery and/or pupils are dilated or constricted.
• Disruptive at school and in trouble often.
• Marks, sores and stains on hands and arms.
• Slurred speech and difficulty communicating.
• Goods or money have gone "missing" around the house.
• Sudden emotional outbursts and mood swings.

• New friends with little interest in old ones.

If you were to find out that your teen has an addiction, it would be emotionally devastating for your entire family.  Actually, it is a parent's worst nightmare.  The following suggestions are from http://www.byparents-forparents.com/.  These six suggestions concentrate on how to help your teen.

1. Focus on a goal which can help your teen heal rather than punishing him or her.
2. Find a good therapist or support group.
3. Help your teen build self esteem and reinforce their strengths.
4. Keep open and ongoing communication with your teen.  Stay open-minded and honest.  That is what family is all about.
5. Practice tighter parenting.
6. Let go of the blame.

It is normal for those closest to an addict to find it hard to see the problem.  If you suspect that your teen is having a problem with addiction, remember to always trust your instinct.  You are feeling that way for a reason.  Try to speak openly and freely with your teen.  Do not be judgmental or angry because your teen will probably have a defensive reaction.  Parenting your teen through the challenges of addiction will be very difficult for you, your teen, and your entire family.  With dedication and determination, you will be surrounding your teen with the essentials to help him or her fight their addiction.  Remember, the sooner you get help, the more rapidly your teenager will be able to start making positive changes.