ParentsCanada me & mom - 2017 by ParentsCanada

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ParentsCanada

2017

contents

ASK THE EXPERTS Brushing teeth and eating dirt. page 6

JAR WARS Are you having trouble moving on from pureed food? page 8 SHY GUYS Being an introvert isn’t a bad thing. page 12 p.

RELUCTANT MOM Becoming a mom takes some adjustment. page 14 CATHERINE REITMAN The producer, director and star of Workin’ Moms opens up about motherhood. page 16 MOM FAILS Don’t let the guilt take over. page 20

survival guide BELLY UP Infant reflux symptoms and fixes. page 24

NEED IT, WANT IT, GOTTA HAVE IT The latest products for mom and kid. page 28

SICK LITTLES Here are seven symptoms you should never ignore. page 26

TODDLER MELTDOWNS What is going on in their heads, anyway? We take a guess. page 30

COVER: Shutterstcock.com/© By Carlush

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Editor’s Message ParentsCanada

EDITOR Amy Bielby ART DIRECTOR Catherine McKenny CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTOR S. Dale Vokey

GROUP VICE PRESIDENT Jane Bradley NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Lori Dickson SALES CO-ORDINATOR AND ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT Starlene Courts-Hedd CONTROLLER Carol Fagan V.P., DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND INTERNET DEVELOPMENT David Baker

Say Cheese

2017

SENIOR WEB STRATEGIST Matt Dorris ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER Angela Rotundo VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCTION Patrick McCormick OPERATIONS MANAGER Trevor Baker PRESIDENT Donald G. Swinburne SENIOR V.P./CORPORATE EDITOR Bettie Bradley

Scarlet Lens Photography

Every picture I have of my toddler resembles a mug shot. She looks like the most unhappy child in the world. Sitting on a swing? No smile. Petting a puppy? Straight-faced. Eating ice cream? Just leave her alone and let her eat the ice cream. Eventually, she mastered the “say cheese”, but rather than show off her adorable, teeny teeth in a warm smile, she always appears to be in pain or possibly some kind of evil mastermind. When I skim through photos, I wonder, was this child ever happy? Because my goal in life is that this kid is happy every moment of every day. I know this isn’t possible. Any parent dealing with terrible twos or a threenager will agree. But, I do my best. Is she spoiled? Probably. She has me wrapped around her little finger – and I am fine with it. Sure, I lay down the law once in a while, but for the most part, she has the run of the household (she’s an only child, what can I say?). As a parent, I make mistakes all the time, but I never let the mom guilt drag me down. As long as she is happy (and attempting a smile), I will consider my parenting journey a success. – Amy Bielby, Editor

Me&Mom is a controlled circulation publication distributed annually in August. Approximately 90,000 copies are distributed through outlets (doctors' offices, hospitals, public health clinics) across Canada. ParentsCanada and its logotype is a registered trade name of Family Communications/Communications Famille Inc. The publication is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced by any means without permission of the publisher. Published by Family Communications Inc., 65 The East Mall, Toronto, Ont., M8Z 5W3 416-537-2604 No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. ©2017

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Ask the Experts

QUESTION

ASK THE EXPERTS

QUESTION

iStockphoto.com/© Sokolova Maryna

When do I start brushing my baby’s teeth? ANSWER Believe it or not, you can start cleaning your baby’s mouth as early as a few weeks after birth. Use a clean, damp washcloth to gently wipe the gums. Do not use toothpaste until your child has teeth. Once teeth have begun to appear, use a very soft-bristled child-size toothbrush with a smear of toothpaste twice a day; if teeth are touching, then make sure you also gently floss on a daily basis. Be sure to follow these tips: › Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk, formula or juice. While these drinks may be healthy, they contain natural sugars that are still sugars that will stick to your child’s teeth and increase the chance of a cavity forming. › Don’t leave a bottle in your child’s mouth for a long period of time, especially if he or she is not feeding from it. Remember: baby teeth preserve the spacing for permanent teeth, and if not cared for properly, they can decay and lead to gingivitis, which can affect the spacing of the permanent teeth. -ANAIDA DETI, REGISTERED HYGENIST 6

2017

My son ate dirt in the garden. Should I be on the lookout for any serious health consequences? ANSWER This is pretty common behaviour for children under three and is fueled by curiosity. In fact, in Canada and the U.S., it is estimated that 20 percent of kids eat up to a teaspoon of soil on many occasions. There is a rare eating disorder where dirt is consumed, but for the average child in their backyard, it is surprising that more harm does not come from eating dirt. In fact our hygiene hypothesis suggests that early exposure to bacteria will reduce allergies and other immune diseases as well as improve resistance to disease. For the most part, soil in backyards and playgrounds is not unhealthy, but some soil can be contaminated with lead and arsenic. Lead is a toxin that can damage young children. Lead levels are lower in Canada than in the U.S., likely due to differences in the paint industry. There can also be other chemical contamination, harmful bacteria from sewage or manure, parasites and roundworm from pets. Roundworm, if ingested, survives in a child’s stomach and hatches in the intestine. Toxocara worms live in dogs and cats and can also be ingested from soil. Make sure that pets are dewormed and animal feces are always removed. -DR. MARLA SHAPIRO

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T H E

F O R K

A W A K E N S

With both my kids, transitioning from pureed baby food to regular table food was a battle of intergalactic proportions. Call it a Rebellion or a Resistance – they weren’t having any of it. My older son (let’s call him Rogue One) seemed to object entirely to the simple act of chewing. Four years later, the saga of feeding his younger brother – my own personal Episode II, Attack of the Clones – was equally doomed.

2017

Shutterstock.com/© margouillat photo

A short time ago, in a high chair not far away…

Shutterstock.com/© Syda Productions

Both of them adamantly rejected anything that didn’t have the consistency of applesauce. Any cut-up pieces of food I presented were received with a reception so chilly, I thought I’d entered the Hoth system. I grew weary of buying jars with smiling babies on them. Why did my toddlers find “real” food so repulsive? Was it the texture? You never hear Wookiees complaining that something is

too Chewie. My oldest would scrunch up his face as if he were the Emperor and I had offended his Palpatine palette. My youngest once looked at me serenely and said: “I don’t need to have chicken if I don’t.” What kind of philosophical Jedi mumbojumbo was this? I tried to be positive, showering them with praise any time they took a nibble of anything, but that backfired quicker than a starship .com 9

be doing it Solo. Soon enough, spaghetti and meatballs were added to his (very) short list of go-to foods. Just my luck that he decided to embrace two of the messiest and stickiest dishes on the planet. Well played, my young apprentice. Any time he lifted a forkful of actual food to his mouth, I felt irrepressible glee, but I forced my face into an impassive Darth Vader mask. I acted instead like this happened all

S OL I D advice › Eat together as a family, with the same menu for everyone (as appropriate). Positive role modelling helps kids become more adventurous with food.

› Add texture to familiar foods by mashing them with a fork instead of blending. Serve finger sized pieces of soft, cooked vegetables like sweet potato, squash and carrots.

the time – after all, nothing shocks a Sith. “You ate some burger? Ho hum. The Death Star blew up? Whatever.” Ironically, this Luke-warm response seemed to work. My own builtup tension was apparently The Phantom Menace that had been impeding our progress. So, to all the parents of reluctant eaters out there, try to keep things light and avoid any Dark Side dishes. Good luck – and may the forks be with you.

Alexis Williams*, a registered dietitian and mom of two children under three in Burlington, Ont., shares these tips about introducing table foods: › Offer iron-rich foods with each meal, such as scrambled eggs, meatballs, pulled chicken (or pork), tofu sticks, beans or legumes.

› Keep offering new foods even if your child has refused them before. Don’t restrict yourself to cooking only things they like, but do always have at least one food on the table that they will eat.

*no relation to Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian in Star Wars Episodes V and VI. 10

2017

› Avoid choking hazards such as hot dogs, nuts, seeds, hard candy, popcorn and thick globs of nut butter. If serving grapes, slice them lengthwise into four wedges (from top to bottom, not across the middle).

Shutterstock.com/© By Natalia Deriabina

without a hyperdrive. As Yoda would say: highly frustrating, it was. My blood boiled as I retrieved mashed-up bits of food from the crevices of the high chair. I gritted my teeth as I made the walk of shame to the sink to dispose of the nowunrecognizable food that I had so optimistically prepared. Forget the Millennium Falcon; I felt like a Millennium Failure. I seethed inside with disappointment and rage worthy of a Kylo Ren audition. (In one of his memorable scenes, Kylo receives unwelcome news and proceeds to angrily slash away at a control-room wall with his red lightsaber. If I’d owned a similar device, I shudder at what might have become of my kitchen cabinets.) Over time, though, A New Hope did emerge. In the case of my youngest, the eventual hero was not Rey, Finn or Poe Dameron. It was Aunt Jemima. We introduced French toast and showed him how to poke it with his fork and dip it in maple syrup. It didn’t take long for him to

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At six months of age, your baby is ready for solid foods, so what’s your plan? Did you know?

At 6 months of age your baby's iron reserves are low so foods that have iron are needed. That's why Health Canada* now recommends that iron-rich foods like meat or meat alternates be introduced as Baby's FIRST solid foods. Think: pork, beef, chicken, ﬁsh, tofu, pulses and eggs. Iron-rich foods are essential to Baby's growth and development.

For more information, visit ThinkBeef.ca and cpc-ccp.com

*Health Canada joint statements (2015) www.hc-sc.gc.ca, Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants: Recommendations from Six to 24 Months.

√

BY TANYA ENBERG

SHY

Guys Being introverted isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 12

2017

There is a squawking parrot perched on the woman’s shoulder. She is in charge of the birthday entertainment, a portable zoo of sorts, and the bird is directing its curled beak toward a group of giggling toddlers. My son is among them. Sort of. Actually, he’s the kid in the back clinging to my husband’s leg. “Who wants to hold him?” the woman asks. A girl with a topping of white-blond hair thrusts her hand in the air. “Wow, you’re brave!” says the animal handler, setting the creature on the little girl’s forearm. I cringe. It’s a familiar message: The kid who jumps right in is brave, the kid who doesn’t is not.

NURTURING INTROVERTED KIDS Help your little one feel more comfortable. • Identify quiet role models in society. • Provide quiet time between social demands. • Boost comfort by arriving to events early to beat the crowd. • Respect solitude. This is where creative inner worlds flourish and deep introspection takes place. • Don’t push. • Understand that being introverted is not a character flaw.

iStockphoto.com/ © logoboom

Soon she approaches my son. “How about you?” He shakes his head no, though his saucerwide eyes suggest he’s curious and stamping every detail to memory. “Oh, you’re shy,” she chimes and quickly returns to the flock of rambunctious partygoers. This is nothing new. My child has long been an introvert amid a sea of rowdy, pintsized extroverts. At infant music class as other moms bounced smiling babies on their laps, mine wailed inconsolably. At toddler soccer he walked off the field each week complaining about the noise. Suddenly it all makes sense In her latest book, Quiet: The Secret Strengths of Introverts, author Susan Cain argues that introversion is a powerful trait linked to sensitivity, creativity and innovation. She believes introversion is something to be nurtured, not cured. Susan grew up in a pleasant, book-loving household, yet the message she received from outsiders was that one must be bold and gregarious to succeed. While research has found no link between being the best talker and having the best ideas, extroversion is perceived as the coveted golden ticket. Susan hopes to flip that thinking on its head. “I think for a lot of happy and successful introverts, life is pretty good,” she says. “But I think many of them navigated periods in their childhood when they felt uncomfortable with who they were, and that’s so unnecessary. Often people are introverted and they have a preference to be alone or be

more quiet, but they’re not feeling anxious at all.” For shy and introverted kids, it is important to validate them in a “loving, nonjudgemental way”. “Until you name it, the child may not understand it all,” Susan explains.“They may feel vaguely like they’re not measuring up and they don’t really know why. The key is to tell them that the way they are feeling is normal and natural.” This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t “stretch” kids beyond their comfort zones. “Ask yourself: is this a situation for your child that’s unequivocally good for them? Let’s say swimming. They should really learn how to swim, but in what format should they do that? If they’re uncomfortable in a noisy pool full of kids then you should find a time that’s quieter so they can ease themselves into swimming in a more quiet way,” says Susan. A key distinction separating introversion from extroversion resides in the body. Whereas extroverts are energized by social situations and sensory experiences, the nervous systems of introverts react more intensely, which means they are likely to feel recharged by peaceful settings. As for my son, I feared he was missing out on experiences. It took some time to understand he wasn’t. No, he isn’t the kid who dives right in. He prefers a close friend to a crowd, and devouring books to riding his scooter. He examines bugs instead of squashing them. He is sensitive, inquisitive and caring. Are these characteristics worth treasuring? I certainly think so. I wouldn’t change a thing.

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BY CATALINA MARGULIS

RELUCTANT

mommy

I imagine people who see me across the street, or in the grocery store, with my four kids must think, “I guess she really loves kids!” And I’m sure, often, they also think, “Wow, she’s got her hands full! I’m glad I’m not her!” 14

2017

Shutterstock.com/©124516246

WHEN MOTHERHOOD WASN’T AT THE TOP OF YOUR TO-DO LIST.

Truth is, I never set out to be a mom. I was a happily married careerist with a penchant for travel and adventure. I loved going out for dinner and drinks with my friends, and my comfortable level of disposable income. In fact, if it weren’t for my husband, whose own biological clock was ticking, I might never have had kids at all. When I had finally run out of excuses for delaying our family – school, my career, our next trip – I decided to give this parenthood thing a chance, banking on my husband’s enthusiasm and hoping my maternal instincts would eventually kick in. After all, I was never much of a babysitter, and, as a child, wasn’t really one for dolls either. Instead, I preferred to play teacher or cashier – an early indication, surely, that I was made to work, rather than play house. Even when the midwife first handed me my son, my first instinct was to shy away. Difficulties breastfeeding at first delayed our bond, and baby blues made me jealous of my husband’s attention. But when my baby first smiled at me, like really smiled, I fell in love. And I guess you could say that every child I’ve had after that, in some way, has been an effort to sustain that magic. Adjusting to mom life can be tricky for some women, even after some time has passed. When days get overwhelming, the most important thing to do is to speak up.

HELP IS ON THE WAY There’s nothing like sympathetic ears to feel less guilty about being a reluctant, or overwhelmed mom. Here are some ways to connect with other moms and get help if you need it. › Early Years Centres: They offer great mom and baby classes and workshops to bring you closer to your little one, meet other parents and find expert advice and support. Dads are welcome too, so feel free to share the love. › Lactation consultants: There’s nothing more stressful than difficulty breastfeeding – and it’s more common than you think. LCs are loaded with tips and advice to help you find the approach that’s best for you and your baby. Once a breastfeeding routine is nailed down, you might feel some stress relief. › Postpartum doula: Doulas can assist with sleep routines, breastfeeding and childcare (for all your kids). Also, meal prep and light housework isn’t out of the question. › Your village: It does take a village to raise a child, so don’t be afraid to ask for help from your family, friends and even neighbours. A kid on your block might walk your dog. And your helpful next-door neighbours won’t mind watering your gardens as they do their own. People will be happy to be included. For the most part, at my home, we manage. I cook, while my husband cleans, so it doesn’t feel like I’m slaving away in domestic chores all day long. I work while the kids are at school and the baby naps. I even manage to work out some days, and shower and dress most. I make our meals from scratch, though I take the weekends off and opt for frozen/ take-out on those days so I can catch a break. But make no mistake, I’m no Supermom. Some days are hard. Like, really hard. When the kids are late for school, and a colicky baby’s high-pitched cry wrings out your nerves, and Yoga is a great stress mounts as the emails and work pile up, way to show and the dishwasher breaks down when money yourself some is tight that month, and someone throws up in love and regain the night and you’re worried how fast whatever that is will spread through the house, and composure and you’re so tired you don’t even have the energy calm through to watch TV when you finally collapse in bed the crazy times. but you can’t sleep because your mom ears are Some centres tuned into listening for gagging/crying noises offer babysitting, so you can reach your kid before they get sick all or look for a mom over the rug – these are the moments when you and baby class just want to disappear, curl up and cry for your if sitters aren’t own mommy. an option. But then your kid, your baby, gives you that smile, that hug, that kiss, that heavenly laugh, and the worries melt away just a little. .com 15

BY NANCY FORN ASIERO

Workin’ MOM Catherine Reitman writes, produces, directs and stars in CBC’s hilarious show Workin’ Moms, proving moms really are the best multitaskers. We asked her about her creative process, parenting two toddlers and mom guilt.

2017

How did the idea for Workin’ Moms come to you? Well, the conceit of the show is the identity crisis that happens when you return to work after the trauma of becoming a mom, so it’s based quite a bit on my own real experiences.

Photos courtesy of CBC.

How about the episode where Kate, the character you play, cries at work. Did that actually happen to you? When I gave birth to my first, I went back to work too early. Jackson was just six weeks old. I was shooting a movie and hanging out with this huge group of male improv comedians on set – really funny guys – and they were giving me hell about missing my first Mother’s Day. Objectively their sarcastic wisecracks were really funny, but I couldn’t take it. I cracked. The tears just started flowing. It was humiliating for me because up to that moment I had projected a pretty tough, smart, hip image. Now I’m much more honest and vulnerable. What else in the show is personal? Well for starters, Nathan, Kate’s husband, is played by Phillip, my real-life husband. And each of the three other main characters (Anne, Frankie, Jenny) has a personality trait or issue that’s connected to some part of myself. For example, I had post-partum depression with both of my babies and that’s something Frankie deals with on the show.

In what ways is Catherine Reitman like Kate? Kate is a great example of a younger version of me. There was a time when I wasn’t willing to compromise anything. I just wanted it all and I didn’t believe that I needed to compromise. Now I understand that you do have to make those sacrifices and compromises if you want to have something at least close to “it all”. Kate’s a bit of a control freak. Does that mirror your own personality at all? Yes! I’m definitely controlling, but I think to do my job well, I have to be to an extent. What about your parenting style? Is it controlling, too? I feel like when I’m with my kids, especially my second son, Liam, I’m pretty relaxed. Well, poor Liam… now that I

think about it, it’s a wonder he’s alive. With my first I was much more hands-on because I had so much guilt about working. I would overcompensate by always trying to get down to his level and talk everything out, or by doing every single character voice in every storybook. With my second son, I’m more like, “Hey, you’re good, right?” Guilt comes up a lot in Workin’ Moms. Did you ever worry about adding stress to your viewers who may be feeling too much guilt already? That’s a really good question. We absolutely address working-mom guilt in the show because I wanted it to ring true for my audience, but I knew there would need to be a balance. Being a mom is hard work, for working moms and stay-at-home moms, so although I wanted the show

Catherine Reitman’s character, Kate, on CBC’s Workin’ Moms, shows us that moms don’t have to be perfect.

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to be realistic, I also felt a responsibility to offer viewers something fun. Your characters are all so multidimensional, sometimes even a little unlikeable. Were you trying to bust up the perfect TV mom stereotype? Sure. And I’d be lying if I said that gender politics doesn’t enter into it as well. Our show isn’t traditional. It’s not a multi-camera sitcom; it has more in common with premium cable shows. Being a huge consumer of those shows, I noticed that we all root for the male leads even though they’re allowed to be very imperfect. Think of Walter White or Tony Soprano or Don Draper… these are wonderful, highly flawed, complicated characters. So it got me thinking. “I’m one 18

2017

kind of mom, but what if I were more of a ‘selfish mom?’ What if I wanted to explore my sexuality?” For me, that’s a more interesting place to tell stories from. Congrats on being picked up for Season 2. Does that mean feedback from viewers has been positive? Yes! You know, when I initially wrapped the show I was told by a lot of people before it aired that Canada would have a hard time accepting a show like this. It made me sad because I believed that if women had a show like this it might help generate conversation around what it means to be a mom, and discussions around the challenges. So I was so surprised when it aired and people were incredibly accepting and grateful.

Your boys are three years old and 11 months, so you’ve been doing this family-workbalance thing for a few years now. Do you have any advice for our readers? I guess the largest thing would be to forgive yourself. I spent a lot of time beating myself up because I had to shoot the show with a three-month-old at home. I was gone a lot and I spent a lot of time hating myself. Later when I had more time to spend with my boys I realized how resilient they are and how totally connected I am to them despite those weeks away. They’re more durable than I imagined, and I am as well. I should have spent less time hating myself and overcompensating, and more time just showing them the joy and gratitude I feel for getting to do a job that I love.

Photo courtesy of CBC.

Workin’ Moms celebrates the ups and downs of being a new mom, while tackling some pretty serious subjects, like post-partum depression and abortion.

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FAIL! A ‘MOMMY FAIL’ MOMENT IS ALL ABOUT GIVING UP THE SUPERMOM TITLE FOR THE MORE COMFORTING STATUS OF REAL MOM.

Stephanie Millen still remembers the time she almost fed instant coffee to her newborn. “I woke up one morning and went to make him a bottle of formula while also making myself a coffee. After filling up his bottle and getting my coffee ready, I stood at the counter shaking his bottle and looking at it,” says the Toronto mom. “I couldn’t figure out why his bottled formula looked so dark. I then looked down at my mug and noticed I had put his formula in my mug and my instant coffee in his bottle. Thankfully, I realized my mistake before I gave him his bottle.” It’s comforting to know that we all have these minor fails. Like the mom who took her three-year-old, wearing a dress but no underwear, to a bouncy castle. Or the one who went to her son’s preschool concert and recorded the wrong performance. 20

2017

Shutterstock.com/©By Kenneth Man

Moms are allowed to mess up. However, when they do, they tend to take the entire blame and then add some guilt to it. Not only that, they often gnaw away at the situation to figure out how the disaster could have been averted. Stephanie is able to look back and laugh at the incident but she also remembers the exhaustion of that moment. “I remember standing at the counter and yawning, not being able to figure out this simple mix-up.” Jaina Henry, an Oakville, Ont. mother of two, found herself in the middle of a situation that became a teaching moment. “My 12-month-old son had just started daycare and it was a difficult phase for him. When I picked him up one day, he began crying. He loved playing with my car keys so I let him have them to calm him down,” she says. Thanks to a push-button ignition, he was still playing with the car keys on the trip. When Jaina eventually parked the car and got out to unbuckle him, he locked the doors with the remote. Jaina remembers standing there in shock, realizing her phone was in the car, too. “I tried to convince my one-yearold to unlock the doors by pressing the button. Of course, that was a fail. I ran inside to see if I could find someone with a phone so I could call my husband.” To make a long story short, after a 911 call and police ready to break her car window, her husband arrived with the spare set of keys.

LET GO OF THE GUILT! › Keep things in perspective. How will your mini mistake really affect your life?

“It was heartbreaking. I cried my eyes out,” says Jaina “When the doors were unlocked, I grabbed my son and hugged him. He was perfectly fine.” According to Dr Mirisse Foroughe, clinical psychologist and director of psychological services at Toronto-based Kindercare Pediatrics, many mothers feel as if they have failed when small things go wrong. “These feelings are understandable as they come from caring deeply about their children and family. Moms feel responsible to make sure that everything runs smoothly, nothing is forgotten, and people have what they need when they need it. Because of this, little mistakes or missed tasks can feel like a very big deal, and a reflection of how good they think they are as a mother.” The key for moms, says Dr. Foroughe, lies in gently reassuring the worried and guilty part of yourself that everyone makes mistakes.

› Understand that you can’t do it all. Ask for help from time to time. › Talk it out. Share your feelings, don’t keep them bottled up. Grab a coffee with friends or even sound off in an online mom group. › Take time for yourself. You deserve it.

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parentscanada.com 23

survival guide

AMY BIELBY

Bel ly UP

Infant reflux can be frustrating for mom and baby.

If your little one is overly irritable, spitting up frequently, having feeding difficulty (gagging or choking) or not gaining enough weight, GERD might be the cause. But what is the solution? › Make an appointment with your family doctor or pediatrician to confirm the diagnosis. › Feed less amounts, more frequently. Reflux tends to happen more when the stomach is too full. › Burp, burp, burp! Whether bottle feeding or breastfeeding, be sure your baby gets a good burp out after every couple ounces.

WHAT IS IT? Infant reflux, or the more serious condition gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is when the contents of the stomach flow back into the esophagus or mouth. Because the valve in the food pipe isn’t yet fully developed, food and acid can come up from the stomach, causing spit-up or sometimes vomiting. For Jennifer Eldridge of Falmouth, NS, her son’s crying was more of a tip-off than the spitting up. “Wyatt wasn’t gaining weight and nothing would console him. He was worse at night. He had colic-like crying.” 24

2017

› Try a new bottle or nipple that adjusts the flow of milk or formula. › Keep your baby upright after feeding, rather than immediately lying down. › Use a thicker milk or formula. This should only be done with your doctor’s advice and permission. Don’t experiment on your own. › Medicate. Many babies will not require medication, but speak to your physician to see if this is an option. Jennifer tried various things to help, but ultimately, medication did the trick. After a prescription from the doctor, “Wyatt did a 180. He finally gained weight, became a happy baby and started sleeping.”

When you’re a parent, a little spit-up becomes everyday life. Eventually, you barely notice the crusty residue on your clothing or that faint scent of sour milk that follows you around. But often, babies go beyond a little spit-up and suffer from infant reflux.

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AMANDA BLOYE

When little ones are sick, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to know what will pass in time and what symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor. With the help of Dr. Candice Barra, Board Certified Pediatrician, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve rounded up a list of symptoms that you should definitely keep an eye on. 26

2017

Sick 1

Is your kiddo feeling icky?

HEADACHE, ESPECIALLY AFTER INJURY If your child whacks their head, then complains of a headache or sore head beyond a bump or superficial pain, it may be time to get it checked out. If the headache is coupled with nausea, head to the emergency room or urgent care clinic as it could mean a concussion. Dr. Barra: A child does not have to lose consciousness to have a concussion. Some pain after a head injury is common, but if your child complains of dizziness or visual changes or if there is vomiting, increasing drowsiness or confusion, they should be evaluated by a medical professional.

fever. A simple urine test can help identify an infection and prevent the bacteria from spreading to the kidneys.

HAIR LOSS We all lose hair every day, but if your child’s hair is falling out faster than it’s growing in, it could be a sign of something bigger like type 1 diabetes or celiac disease. Dr. Barra: Some hair loss after a major illness or stressful life event (like being born!) can be normal. Babies (and their moms) often lose hair in the first few months after delivery. However, hair loss, especially when associated with poor growth or weight loss, can be a sign of an underlying, more serious illness.

GO WITH YOUR GUT. IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR CHILD NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION, DON’T HESITATE!

A DRY DIAPER A diaper that’s been dry for longer than four to six hours could be a sign of dehydration. Baby should have no less than four to five wet diapers in a day. Other signs of dehydration are a sunken fontanel (soft spot), extreme lethargy and a mouth that’s sticky or tacky to the touch. Dr. Barra: Wet diapers are one of our best indicators that a baby is well-hydrated. If your baby is not making wet diapers, especially if they also have poor appetite and diarrhea, see a doctor.

DIFFICULTY BREATHING If your child is wheezing, breathing fast, struggling to breathe or is taking long pauses between breaths, pick up the phone. Dr. Barra: Children often breathe harder and heavier when they have stuffy noses and fevers and some breathing issues can be improved with good suctioning of the nostrils and fever control. In younger children, signs of respiratory distress include flaring of the nostrils, sucking in at the neck and retractions (sucking in of the skin around the rib bones with each breath). Breathing should not be noisy or laboured. When in doubt, seek medical attention right away.

PAIN WHEN THEY PEE If your daughter appears to be in pain or discomfort when peeing, she may have a urinary tract infection (UTI). Though boys can get them too, UTIs are more common in girls. Dr. Barra: Common urine infection symptoms include pain with urination, frequent urination, visible blood, abdominal pain, vomiting and

HIGH OR LONG-LASTING FEVER A little one with a fever can be a scary thing for a parent, especially when temperatures spike. Dr. Barra: Although fevers can make a child miserable, they are an important, normal and usually not dangerous reaction to infection and inflammation. The method by which you obtain the temperature is important. • AXILLARY (ARMPIT) AND FOREHEAD: Fever is considered 37.5°C or above, though these readings are less accurate • RECTAL OR EAR: Fever is a temperature of 38°C or above In children older than three months of age, the way they are behaving is more important than any number the thermometer may read. However, if a fever is not improving after more than three days or if there are any associated worrisome symptoms (like lethargy, difficulty breathing, persistent vomiting or poor urine output), a child should be seen by a medical professional. Any baby less than three months old with a fever should be seen as soon as possible as they are at higher risk of a serious bacterial infection.

SOMETHING JUST ISN’T RIGHT If you see any of the above symptoms or sense in your gut that your child is sick, don’t hesitate to call your province’s health care line (e.g. TeleHealth Ontario), book an appointment with your pediatrician or head to an urgent care clinic. Dr. Barra: Parents are the best advocates for their children. If you feel that something is wrong with your child, seek help.

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2017

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survival guide

AMY BIELBY

TODDLER

meltdowns

There are two sides to every meltdown story: toddler reality versus parent reality.

There I was, enjoying Leah offered me a bite a chocolate bar (a of her chocolate bar Halloween-sized bar, so there wasn’t enough and I happily accepted. to go around) and my –SARAH, MOM OF LEAH mom leans in and bites off half of it. Come on. –LEAH, 2

Today, I was pleasantly surprised when my mom asked me, “Would you like to have some yogurt with me?” And then, just like that, she started doing something else. There was no yogurt to be had. Tease. –COLE, 2

I asked Cole if he wanted to do yoga with me. He seemed enthusiastic at first. –KATIE, MOM OF COLE

Sometimes, terrible things happen in life and lying on the floor and sobbing for 30 minutes is the only way you can truly get past the situation

Her older brother walked through the front door ahead of her. –KIM, MOM OF ROSALIE

ROSALIE, 3

My mom made special toast for herself and gave me plain old toast. No fair.

I burned my own toast and Charlotte freaked out when she couldn’t have black toast, too. –TASHA, MOM OF CHARLOTTE

2017

–CHARLOTTE, 2