Information for Parents

Infant Massage

2006-05-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

Angela Patient
Training: The International Association of Infant Massage; AMI Montessori Institute of San Diego for teacher training in Assistants to Infancy (0-3yrs.) & Casa (3-6yrs.)

Infant Massage has physiological and psychological benefits for babies and their caregivers.

Benefits can be generally divided into four categories:
Stimulation (which includes stimulation of all the physiological systems)
*Supports organization of nervous system.
*Stimulates circulatory and gastrointestinal systems.
*Weight gain as it helps to regulate metabolism.
*Helps brain development, enhanced mylination.
*Facilitates differentiation of body.

Relaxation
*Helps baby handle input while in a relaxed state.
*Helps baby sleep longer and deeper.
*Relaxation for parent and baby.
*Helps with emotional control.
*Helps baby increase threshold for stimulation of touch.

Relief
*May enable a pattern of stress relief.
*Aids in the relief of colic or gassy spells.
*It helps to relax tight muscles (good for new crawlers & walkers)

Interaction – gentle handling improves stability of the nervous system and resistance to disease.
*It empowers you as a parent.
*Provides individual focus time.
*Helps baby be heard and acknowledged.
*Provides a deeper understanding of baby’s cues and needs.
*Baby’s trust.

Why massage your baby?
*It helps you bond with your baby and is a great way to ‘tune in’ to your baby’s cues.
*Attachment for baby with the parent who gives the massage.
*Baby starts to become calm, as he/she knows what to expect when massage is done at a certain time of day, beginning with the baby’s permission and always starting with the same routine.
*It gives parents permission to touch in a nurturing, tender way.
*Increases parents’ confidence and self-esteem.
*May assist parents in the transition into shared parenting and may nourish their relationship as a couple.

When should I massage my baby?
*Anytime of the day when the baby is in a quiet alert state.

A Quiet alert state means that the baby should be attentive, with a bright shiny face, eyes open bright & wide and there should be little movement. So try to think of when your babe is in this state. Is it before bed, after a bath, when he/she wakes up from a mid morning nap? It is important to see when the massage is going to be best received and once you find a good time that works for both of you, make it a routine and watch your baby flourish. Non verbal communication takes on a beautiful meaning.

Important ~ Always ask the baby’s permission before you begin, maintain eye contact and offer relaxing verbal stimulation. Always stay consistent so as baby knows what to expect. Start with the legs and when working on the abdomen and always work in a clockwise direction. This is a great opportunity to introduce language by softly naming body parts, for example ‘may I massage your other leg?’ or by counting fingers and toes. The repetition is excellent in the reinforcement of language on a daily basis and is also an excellent time for rhymes and soft lullabies.

It is important to take a class or workshop for so many reasons and if this is something that you cannot afford to do, please do your research. There is an excellent book you can sign out from the library by Vimala McClure; Infant Massage, A Handbook for Loving Parents my certification is based on her life-long work.

If you would like to learn more about infant massage or are interested in upcoming classes, please feel free to contact me at patient_hands@yahoo.ca

First Birthday Celebrations

2006-03-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

It seems hard to believe that a whole year has passed since the day you welcomed your little one into the world … where has the time gone? Celebrating your baby’s "Firsts" is what your life has been about these days … so their first birthday should be a special celebration that your family will remember fondly. It is important to remember that the key to success may be in the simplicity of the festivities and not in putting on the party of the century!

Tips on Who to Invite
Your one-year-old's social network may be limited at this stage to other babies from the community or relatives. Hosting an intimate affair with a select few will make the event all the more enjoyable for everyone! If you have a large social circle as well as lots of family, you may decide, for simplicity’s (and sanity’s) sake, to host separate parties. Make sure that the camera is ready to go and that the batteries on the camcorder have been charged – you won’t want to miss this most important FIRST! Remember, recorded images will be the only way your baby will know what his/her first birthday was like!

Timing is Everything!
By now, baby's daily schedule is pretty much set. Try to plan the party so as not to interfere with naptime. This way, you can get last minute things accomplished while he sleeps and your little one will be fresh and rested for the excitement. Keep the party brief — an hour or two is quite long enough at this age.

Party Games and Activities
Young children love music, so why not plan your activities around some familiar songs. Circle time with songs and nursery rhymes allows for adult and child participation and helps keep the mood light and entertaining. Make sure you plan some activities for older children to participate in, like playing hide and seek, dress-up, board games, and have some crafts ready to keep little hands and minds busy. Maybe plan a mini treasure/scavenger hunt with clues and prizes! Who doesn’t love searching for treasures?

Choosing a Venue
Many locations cater to children's parties these days. Check out your neighborhood for party venues that have programs designed specifically with young children in mind. If you chose to hold your party at home, make sure that all balloons are placed high above little hands, as they can be a major chocking hazard for young children.

Food, Snacks & Cake!
Finger foods like cut up fruits and veggies, crackers and cubed cheese are always a hit. Remember kids are notorious for having picky appetites; so keep it simple, safe and fun. Finger foods also allow adults to pick at the snacks, while keeping one hand free to help the little ones. Keep in mind that with all of the birthday excitement, there are bound to be spills, so make sure you have supplies on hand – (cleaning and first aid)!
If you want the birthday child to have free access to his birthday cake, try making a smaller cake or decorating a few cupcakes. This way, you can get those messy first cake pictures and save the real birthday cake to serve to guests! Keep a close eye on the candle as little fingers may be fast to reach out and grab for the flame.

Choosing a Theme
Chose a character or a color theme that your child can relate to. Even at a year, your child will be quick to recognize her favorite character!

The Loot Bags
Party bags are tricky at this age! Loot bags are usually filled with candy and small toys that are hazardous for toddlers. Businesses specializing in loot bags can design a custom bag that would be age-appropriate for your guests and help keep your party safe! Examples of such items would be large balls, soft plush toys and board books. Save handing out the loot bags until the very end of the party as your guests are leaving. That way, you avoid having the bags opened at the party. This helps guard against children losing items from their bags or younger kids getting hold of toys from an older child’s loot bag.

Other Helpful Hints to Keep Your Party Running Smoothly

*Cameras and Camcorders should be charged and ready to go. Have spare film, tapes, or memory sticks available. Ask a friend or family member to be your personal photographer for the day. That way you can enjoy every minute of your child's special day AND be in the pictures with your precious one-year old.
*Make sure that all family pets are kept safe. The excitement, noise and food may be too much for them. Little fingers can get accidentally nibbled if an animal becomes startled, or is trying to clean up crumbs.
*Have a change station organized for quick diaper changes.
*Make sure that stairs are secured with baby gates, as many of the children will be mobile.
*Chose an assortment of toys for children to play with, making sure that there are plenty to go around. Take a moment to put away breakables and other toys that you would prefer did not be played with.
*Most of all, remember that this is your little one's FIRST BIRTHDAY. Let them set the pace and don't try to stick too rigidly to a scheduled plan. Do your best to enjoy the celebration and if you do, you’ll find that everyone else will too!

About the Authors

Kym Harris & Lesley Cushing are the owners of In Favour Loot Bags and Party Supplies. They specialize in premium quality candy-free loot bags that both children and parents will love! Their In Favour Party Packages come in many of today’s most popular themes and are delivered right to your door! For more information please visit their website at http://www.infavour.ca/ or contact them via email at info@infavour.ca.

First Time Camping With Children

2006-03-09T18:03:00.000-08:00

First, keep it simple to start out. Camp close to home, within 1-3 hours drive.
If you've never been camping, don't worry. It's far easier than you might think. Extreme backpacking gear is not necessary. An inexpensive tent, sleeping bag and small assortment of cooking utensils will suffice for an overnight stay under the stars. Simply distancing yourself from the everyday tribulations of life will become addicting.
Today, you can buy RVs, pop up trailers and fancy four room tents for your adventure in the great outdoors. It's all a matter of comfort and what you can afford. If you aren't a regular camper and don't yet own any equipment, it is best to start out with a tent which is just big enough to fit your family. You can purchase a family sized tent for less than one-hundred dollars, or two nights in a hotel room! Other basic equipment you will need for camping is a good quality gas lantern, cook stover, first aid kit, cooler for food and some good out-doors clothing which is suited to the weather you will be camping in.
Setup and try all your gear at home before heading to the campsite.
Trust me! It is better to know how to set up your gear before hand rather than trying to figure it all out at the campsite.
Maybe even set up the tent in the back yard and let the kids try it out over night.
Before heading out on your first camping trip with a child, let them take naps or spend the night in your tent at home. The claustrophobic environment takes some getting used to, and it's best for both you and the child to accustom yourselves to a tent at home rather than the outdoors where it is darker and you might bother other campers.

Involve the kids, delegate tasks and have them share in the camp chores: setting up camp, cooking, cleaning, gathering trash, and packing for the return trip, etc.

Allow plenty of extra time for everything -packing gear, getting up in the morning, cooking, setting up the tent, and hiking.Enjoy the leisure time and avoid rushing to get things done.

Prepare properly:
1. Practice tent pitching at night
Before leaving make sure you can set up your tent in the dark. The unexpected can happen. You might run into a 96 mile detour and arrive at your campsite much later than planned. The sun sets three-and-a-half times faster than normal when you're trying to set up camp.
2. Bring food supplies
The fish Dad or Mom catch, if any, may not be enough to feed the troop. Learn how to make your own campfire coffee; Seven-Elevens don't grow in the "wilderness."Bring snacks for the kidsit makes life on the road much easier.
3. Prepare for bugs and other critters. Pack your bug repellent(s). Plan for critter resistant storage.
4. Remember your pets
Speaking of critters, make arrangements for your pets' care. Some pets don't travel well.
If you are thinking about taking your dog camping,the outdoors is one of the best places to spend time with your dog. The dog loves all the new sights, sounds and smells.
5. Make a packing list. Start making your list of things to bring at least one week before departure. Check off your list as you load the car. It is usually the little necessities that get left behind like the flashlight
We camp several times every summer and have found that organization is the key to not forgetting any important items. We use several Rubbermaid tubs with lids that we keep fully stocked with our camping gear year-round.
One tub contains a dishwashing bucket, dish soap, dishcloths and towels, flashlight, spare batteries, a deck of cards, bug spray, aluminum foil, garbage bags, rope, string, first aid kit, propane and a lighter.
Another tub contains pots and pans, all cooking and eating utensils, plates and bowls, tablecloth, drink huggies, and a couple old measuring cups.
It really pays to keep your tubs fully stocked and ready for any trip. We bought cheap flatware and cooking utensils for our tub so we don't have to bring any from home or cause unnecessary garbage for landfills by using plastic.
We also keep a checklist on our computer of all the gear we need (tent, tarp, sleeping bag, grill, charcoal, etc.) that we print out prior to each trip.All we have to do when packing is grab our tubs, pack the cooler and dry food, use the checklist for other gear and we're ready to go.

Please visit The Fundamentals of Camping for more great information.

Traveling With Kids

2006-03-07T18:34:00.000-08:00

A little preparation will make a big difference in how enjoyable traveling with your kids can be. Use some of our tips and ideas below, whether you and your children are traveling by car or plane. After all, this is the time of the year when weare ready to relax and rejuvenate, not stress about how to get to our favorite vacation spot while listening to “Are we there yet?” every 10 minutes. Outlined below are some ways for you to make sure both you and your kids are comfortable while traveling.
Dress everyone in comfortable loose clothing and pack a spare outfit for everyone where you can easily reach it during your trip.

Pack a small pillow and a light blanket for each of the kids, as well as their favorite stuffed toy or doll to snuggle up with at night or during naptime. These not only work great on the plane or in the car, but will also make your kids more comfortable once you arrive at your destination.

Whether you travel by car or by plane, pack some drinks and snacks for the kids, so you don’t have to rely on rest stops, kiosks at the airport or the meals that are served on the plane. We usually give our daughter only water in the car. It’s not nearly as messy as some of the fruit juice or sports drinks if it gets spilled. To make plain water a little more interesting and to keep it cool, fix an insulated zippy cup o rsports bottle with ice water. And believe me, they will spill it sooner or later, even if the cup claims to be spill proof.

Some good choices for not-so-messy snacks are trail mix,pretzels, teddy grahams, dried fruit, fresh apple slices (drizzle them with a little lemon or lime juice to keep them from turning brown), mini marshmallows, and baby carrots. Come up with some snacks that your kids love and put them in individual zip-lock bags. The zip-lock bags also come in handy to pack up some crafts supplies like crayons, stickers, blunt scissors and glue sticks, for the artists in your family.

To keep your little one’s entertained, you may also want to pack some coloring books, picture books, or pack a child friendly novel, like the Harry Potter books to read aloud in the car. Audio books and music CDs or tapes also come in handy. For some great travel games you and your family can play, take a look at Car Travel Activities for Kids at http://www.kinderinfo.com/articles/car-travel-activities.htm.

If you are traveling by car, plan in frequent stops and let the kids run around. You may want to pack a jump robe, ball or Frisbee to make moving around more fun. If you are driving through the night, plan a longer stop an hour or two before bedtime so the kids can wear themselves out and release all this build up energy before going to sleep.

Instead of eating lunch at a fast food place or restaurant off of the interstate, try bringing a picnic. You can cater to your family members tastes and it is bound to be cheaper, better and more healthy than what you would be able to find fast foodplace. Your kids will appreciate not having to sit still again and the sunshine and fresh air will do wonders for all of you.If you are traveling by plane, bring some small toys, picturebooks, coloring books etc, to entertain your child in the seat.

Depending on your child’s age, bring some gum, hard candy, zippycup, bottle or pacifier to have them suck or chew on something during take-off and landing to equalize the pressure in their ears.

You may also want to pack a sweater for your child, sincethe air temperature in the plane can be quite chilly.

To keep your kids excited on longer trips, make up some small goodie bags for them. Collect some Kids Meal Toys for a fewweeks, or purchase some inexpensive toys at the Dollar Store and put them individually in some small brown paper bags, or even wrap them. Tell your kids that as long as they are being good, they will get a new goodie bag every 2 hours or so.You’ll be amazed how well behaved they will be, and you will keep them from being too bored on a long trip by giving themsomething new to play with.

About The Author: Susanne Myers is the founder of http://www.kinderinfo.com , the one-stop online children's resource center. Here you will find all kinds of answers to help you with your family, including information on child care options and locations, educational resources, sports and recreation, home-based activities, party and event planning,even quick and easy recipes. Sign up for our newsletter at kinderinfo.com for even more great tips and ideas to have fun with your kids this summer.

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They will deliver all the rental equipment to your accommodation for your arrival, and pick it up after you leave. They currently service the major hotels in downtown Vancouver and Toronto. They will even supply formula, baby food, diapers and wipes. If you want organic or environmentally friendly items, they can supply those too.
Their high quality baby equipment is available for long or short term rental.Their inventory is always expanding, and they're happy to accommodate your special requests. Their equipment is in like-new condition, is safety inspected, sanitized after each use and monitored for safety recalls. Visit them at www.weetravel.ca

Quick and Easy Snacks For Your Toddler

2006-03-06T19:53:00.000-08:00

Your growing toddler needs to snack quite a few times a day in addition to eating regular meals with the rest of the family. Here are a few quick and easy snack ideas that you can put together in just a few minutes. You toddler will enjoy these yummy snacks.

Ham and Cheese Crackers
Cut up some pieces of ham and cheese and serve them with some crackers. If you want to make it fun, use a cookie cutter to cut fun shapes out of the cheese.

Fruit Dip
Caution, this can get a little messy! Cut up some fruit in bite size chunks and serve with a small bowl of yogurt. Encourage your toddler to dip the fruit in the yogurt. This is an easy way to get your toddler to eat a serving of fruit, while also getting some extra calcium and protein in his/her diet from the yogurt.

Low Sugar Cereal
I always keep a box of low sugar cereal like cheerios in my pantry. They make a great snack with a little milk, or even just a bowl of dry cereal. Dry cereal also make a great take-along snack. Just throw a serving in a Ziploc bag and toss it in your purse.

Veggies and Dip
Keep some cut up veggies in the fridge. Small pieces of carrot, peeled cucumber, celery as well as small sections of broccoli and cauliflower all make great finger food for toddlers. Make sure the pieces are very small to prevent choking or steam them to soften them up. Serve with a little ranch dressing if desired.

Peanut Butter Sandwich
A PB&J has been a snack staple for ages. Mix things up by toping the peanut butter with some thin slices of apple or banana instead of the jelly. Or try smearing the peanut butter on a tortilla. Add jelly and roll it up. Cut the rolled up tortilla into strips for a fun new way to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Quick Cheese Quesadilla
Place a soft tortilla on a microwave safe plate. Top one half with cheese and fold the other half over it. Microwave 30-60 seconds or until the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and let it cool a little before serving.

Quick Smoothie
Throw half a banana or some berries in a blender along with some vanilla yogurt and a splash of milk. Add a little ice if desired and blend until smooth. Serve in a sippy cup or with a straw for a quick fruit smoothie. Your toddler will love drinking a milkshake for a snack.
Give these fast, easy and healthy snack ideas for your toddler a try. By the way, these make great snacks for everyone else in the family as well – including mom.

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Getting Ready for the Birth of Your First Baby

2006-03-07T11:14:00.000-08:00

Expert: Julia MacNeil - Doula

As you have probably already figured out…once people know you are expecting, there is a never ending stream of advice from the “experts”. Parents who have “been there, done that” are only too willing to share their “near death experiences” with you. As with advertising, one satisfied customer tells one more, but one unsatisfied customer tells ten. It seems like the negative stories get all the air time. Well, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be like that. Your birth can be a wonderful and fulfilling experience that will bring you closer together as a couple and prepare you for your new career as parents.
When should I start getting ready for birth?

Right now. It’s never too early, or too late. Click here for a general guidelines check list of when to have things done.

Is a birth plan really necessary?
Yes! It’s important that you have made your decisions in advance. If you don’t know the risks involved with a procedure, ASK! Know what you want hand how to get it. If you wait until you have been in labour for 6 hours to start thinking about things, you are going to make some decisions differently than if you make them now. They are not cast in stone, you can change your mind, but at least you have thought about them in advance. Be sure to talk it over with your health care team. They are there to help you and your baby. Make use of the resources that are available to you.

If my husband is going to be with me, why do I need a doula?
Most men are only too eager to be there to witness the birth of their baby, but many are unaware of the normal and natural course of labour is or understand the different changes that are taking place in their loved ones. It’s always good to have an experienced support person who is always there, just for you, to guide you through this day and make sure it is all it was meant to be. I can help your husband help you. There is nothing worse for a fellow than that feeling he gets when he can’t do anything. I can help him stay involved and stay helpful. That way, you will look back on this day as the best day in your relationship; the day that you both brought this new life into the world.

I know that exercise is important, but I’m too tired now.
I know you are feeling tired from all of the changes that are going on in your body and you may be experiencing some nausea throughout the day, but exercise is very important during pregnancy. For one thing, being in labour isn’t for weaklings. They don’t call it “labour” for nothing…its hard work. It takes training. You can’t run a marathon, and expect to finish, if you haven’t been training for it. The same goes for delivering a baby. You will need all of the strength you can get to push that baby out. For another thing, studies show that women who have done regular exercising during their pregnancies have shorter and easier labours. Exercise also causes your body to release endorphins…those wonderful hormones that make us feel so good.
So, tough it out and exercise regularly. You’ll not only feel better right away, but you will continue to feel great throughout your pregnancy and right into the post partum period.
Why can’t I just continue doing the same exercises that I was doing before?
Nothing stays the same now. You need to change the way you eat, sleep, and wear clothes…just about everything. Your body is changing in more ways than you can see. During the last months of pregnancy, your body will begin to secrete a hormone that will soften connective tissue to allow your pelvis to open and let the baby out, but your pelvis isn’t the only thing affected. It’s important to be doing exercises that are specifically geared to pregnancy in order to keep that in mind. You will need to be doing more gentle exercises that don’t put too much strain on the wrong areas. Prenatal yoga and aqua fit are perfect ways to keep fit; stay safe, and have fun!

What is “perineal massage” and why do I do it?
During the second stage of labour (the pushing part) the baby’s head is stretching all of your tissue to come out. The perineum (the smooth tissue between your vagina and rectum) isn’t as stretchy as the rest. This is the part that is cut during an episiotomy. Sometimes this tissue rips during the birth and needs to be repaired afterwards. Perineal massage can soften this tissue and allow it to stretch more (and there for, rip less). It’s a pretty simple thing. It can be done sitting on the toilet. Simply moisten your middle finger and thumb with olive oil and insert your thumb in your vagina and your middle finger on the outside. With gentle pulling, rub back and forth for a few minutes. If it hurts, you’re pulling too hard. This should be done once a week for the last two months of pregnancy, then 2-3 times a week during your last few weeks.

What is GBS? And what should I look for?
GBS stands for Group B Strep. Like any other form of Strep, it’s very common and seldom causes problems. Many women have GBS active in their vagina. Seldom does it develop into something that needs to be treated. Only when you are pregnant does it become a concern. During a vaginal delivery, the baby comes in contact with your normal vaginal secretions. If GBS is active, it has a higher chance of causing upper respiratory problems (like pneumonia) in your baby. Your doctor will do a routine swab at about 36 weeks pregnancy to screen you. If you are GBS positive, don’t worry. The only thing you have to keep in mind is that you will need to have IV antibiotics during your labour. The IV will be kept running during your labour to allow the nursing staff to administer the antibiotics at least every 4 hours while you labour. This doesn’t seem to slow moms down much because the IV can be worn in the shower, tub, or pushed along as you walk the halls.

If you would like to ask Julia a question, contact her by e-mail - Julia@ComfortingTouch.biz or visit her on-line at www.comfortingtouch.biz