New Mom? Need Advice? Ask the Experts. Pensacola Moms. Created for moms and by moms, MomsLikeMe. com is where moms who live near you hang out – and let it all out. New moms. Working moms. Stay-at-home moms. Where you can share stories, swap advice, make friends and even make plans to meet up live.
Pensacola.
• Ask questions, offer advice and swap stories with other local moms. • Plan fun activities with your children that are convenient to where you live. • Submit your family photos and enjoy pictures taken at local events. • Hear about news, events and activities that enhance your full, active lifestyle as a mother and woman. Email Pensacola@momslikeme.com today for more information
Teresa Zwierzchowski Mom to Payton and Editor of Pensacola.momslikeme.com
Join online today at Pensacola.momslikeme.com ON-PNJ 0000252676
Wendy Smith
Pensacola resident and full-time Mom of baby Daniel
I AM A NEW MOTHER, AND BAPTIST MADE IT SPECIAL. The Baptist Mother Baby Care Center knows the birth of a baby is a very special time for your family. They provide you with the most personalized experience by offering educational programs before and after baby arrives, private rooms for your birth experience, amenities such as wireless fetal monitors and whirlpool tubs, and of course the quality, compassionate and personalized care that adds so much to the experience. What a difference that makes. 0000252668
To learn more about the Mother Baby Care Center at Baptist or for a physician referral, visit eBaptistHealthCare.org or call 877.469.7500 and press option 3.
INSIDE BELLA BABY
Cover Baby Winner:
Blakely
This premiere Bella Baby magazine is a showcase for the winners of our 2010 Cover Baby contest, a fundraiser for Pensacola News Journal Newspapers in Education program. We offer many thanks to everyone who donated votes to our baby gallery during the 2010 Cover Baby contest. Your support of the PNJ Newspapers in Education program means you are helping prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges. The proceeds from this fundraiser will support this literacy program. Congratulations to our cover baby winner, Blakely, featured on the centerspread, to our top 12 babies with the most votes featured on full pages toward the center of the magazine, and to our 69 babies who all received 150 votes or more featured throughout this publication. We would also like to thank and recognize our premier sponsor for this contest, Baptist Health Care and Kay Brown Photography for our beautiful winners’ photos. — Carol Thomas, Newspaper in Education Manager Pensacola News Journal
PHOTO BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
FEATURES
FEATURES
Installing Child Safety Car Seats. .. . .. . .. . .. . ..6 Postponing Motherhood . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . ..8 Parenthood In A Nutshell . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 11 Quality Time For Family .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 11 Toting Around a Tot? Cool Baby Gear . .. . .. . 12 Parenting: An Equal Opportunity Experience . .. . 14 Preventing Disease with Vaccination .. . .. . .. . 15 Developmental Milestones .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 16 Bella Baby Contest Winners. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 18-31 Building A Better Bedtime. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 32
Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?.. . .. . .. . 33 Kids’ Fashion With Flair .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 34 Work Those Mommy Muscles .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 36 Search for Baby Sitter Isn’t Child’s Play .. . .. . 38 Keeping Kids Busy . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 40 Multiple Births Brings Multiple Joy. . .. . .. . .. . 41 Help Kids Eat Healthy. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 42 Boost Kids’ Nutrition With Sweet Potatoes .. . 43 The Nursery Gets Back to Basics .. . .. . .. . .. . 44 The Land of Make-Believe: Perfect Playroom .. . 46
ON THE COVER: Blakely, photographed by Kay Brown Photography/Special to Bella Baby
www.BellaMagazine.com MANAGING EDITOR FOR SPECIALITY PUBLICATIONS AND BELLA BABY EDITOR * Cindy Hall, (850) 202-2246 ART DIRECTOR * Tracee Neese ADVERTISING DIRECTOR * Bobby Rice ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER * Bob White, (850) 435-8631 ADVERTISING LAYOUT * Tara Rittenhouse CONTRIBUTING WRITERS * Sloane Stephens Cox, Heather Culpepper, Beth Ramirez de Arellano SUBSCRIPTION & DELIVERY INQUIRIES * Mark Everett, (850) 435-8629 PUBLISHER * Kevin T. Doyle EXECUTIVE EDITOR * Richard A. Schneider MARKETING DIRECTOR * Rebecca Boles
Welcome to the premiere edition of Bella Baby magazine! Bella Baby magazine was designed for the “Bella Mom” who isn’t giving up herself for motherhood, but incorporating all of her fabulous traits, talents and experiences into raising a healthy, happy child. This magazine is focused on the basics of things you need to know with a new baby in the house, style articles for clothing and decorating, life experience stories from other moms, and even how to get Dad involved with the diapering. This premiere edition is also a showcase for the winners of our Bella Baby Cover Baby photo contest, a fundraiser for Newspapers in Education. There is so much to know and remember as a new mom, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. In those overwhelming times, it is nice to know you can log on to Pensacola.MomsLikeMe.com at any time of the day — or night — to get answers to all your parenting questions from how to cope with a colicky baby to potty training to balancing life and parenthood to saving for college. The site includes moms from all walks of life — new moms, moms of many, single moms, moms of teens, stay-at-home moms, working moms, older moms, adoptive moms — if you have a question, there is someone who has some advice or an answer for you. Not only that, if you would like to get even more opinions, you can quickly link to our national site and poll moms from all over the country. But connecting with other moms Teresa and Payton isn’t the only thing Zwierzchowski Pensacola.MomsLikeMe.com editor you can do, you also can upload photos, join groups that share your interest and more. Looking for something to do? Moms on the site are constantly planning play dates as well as planning events for themselves such as Moms Night out and more. So join the fun, log on to Pensacola.MomsLikeMe.com today .... where Pensacola area Moms meet. Enjoy reading Bella Baby, enjoy your baby, and enjoy being a mom!
For subscription and distribution inquiries, call 435-8629. Send editorial inquiries to news@BellaMagazine.com. Bella is a publication of Gannett Inc., and copyrighted by Bella, 101 E. Romana St., Pensacola, FL 32502. Bella is published the third Monday of each month and distributed free throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the editor.
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Bella Baby 2010
BellaMagazine.com
Jenny Allen Certified Nurse Midwife
at Baptist Health Care
I AM A MIDWIFE, AND I WORK AT BAPTIST HEALTH CARE. You and your baby are in good hands at Baptist. With a seasoned, dedicated perinatologist and neonatologist, the Baptist Mother Baby Care Center handles everything from routine births to complex obstetrical needs. The availability of talented and compassionate physicians, midwives and nurses makes Baptist the region’s choice for babies, and their mommies.
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To learn more about the Mother Baby Care Center at Baptist or for a physician referral, visit eBaptistHealthCare.org or call 877.469.7500 and press option 3.
• PROVIDED BY THE USAA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION •
Installing child safety seats: Child safety seats are required by law in every state because they provide the best protection for infants and young children. However, correctly installing a child safety seat can be challenging, especially with the wide variety of restraint systems, vehicle belt systems and passenger vehicles available on the market today.
child safety seat over 6 years old. • New child safety seats have a registration card. Register your child’s safety seat with the manufacturer so you can be notified of any recall. To register, mail your registration card to the manufacturer, or register on the manufacturer’s Web site.
SELECTING AND INSTALLING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. It is important to remember these guidelines: • It must be appropriate for your child’s age, height and weight. • It must fit tightly into your vehicle. The back seat is the best place for the child safety seat. • Always refer to the child safety seat instructions and vehicle manufacturer’s instructions for weight limits, proper use and installation. • Avoid seats that are too old. All manufacturers are required to include the model number and manufacture date on each seat they produce. It can be found on a label attached to the restraint usually on the bottom or the side of the seat. Most manufacturers recommend replacing any
RESOURCES • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rates child safety seats on how easy they are to properly install. For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov. Go to “Child Passenger Safety.” Then go to “Child Seat Ratings.” • A certified child passenger safety technician can check the installation of your child safety seat and answer questions. To find a technician or an inspection station near you, go to www. nhtsa.gov. Go to “Child Passenger Safety.” Then go to “Seat inspection stations.” • If your child’s safety seat has been in a vehicle that was involved in a crash, check your child safety seat manufacturer’s recommendations
for replacement, or call the toll-free number on the side of the child safety seat. Most child safety seat instruction booklets as of May 2004 continue to recommend that child safety seats be replaced if they have been involved in a vehicle crash. For more information, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at www.nhtsa.gov. • For information on state child restraint laws/child passenger safety recommendations, visit the following Web sites. • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) www.nhtsa.gov/ people/injury/airbags/OccupantProtectionFacts/ appendixc.htm • The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) www.iihs.org/laws/state_ laws/restrain2.html Source: Information from the publication provided free of charge by USAA Educational Foundation. The publication is not medical, safety, legal, tax, or investment advice. It is only a general overview of the subject presented.
CHILD RESTRAINT RECOMMENDATIONS INFANTS WEIGHT AND AGE
• Until at least 1 year old • Until at least
TODDLERS Over 1 year old AND over 20 pounds, up to approximately 40 pounds.
OLDER CHILDREN Over 40 pounds, until at least 8 years old, unless 4 feet 9 inches tall.
• 4 feet 9 inches
AND at least 20 pounds. If a child reaches 20 pounds before his first birthday, it is recommended the child remain rear-facing until he turns 1 year old.
1 year old.
TYPE OF SEAT
Infant seat only or rear-facing convertible seat.
Rear-facing convertible seat designed for heavier infants.
Convertible/ Vehicle seat belt forward-facing/ high-back booster with harness.
Belt-positioning booster (high-back or no-back).
Vehicle seat belt.
SEAT POSITION
Rear-facing position only.
Rear-facing position only.
Forward-facing position.
Forward-facing position.
Forward-facing position.
MAKE SURE
Harness straps are at, or below, shoulder level.
Harness straps are at, or below, shoulder level.
Harness straps are at, or below, shoulder level.
Use belt-positioning booster seats with lap/shoulder belt combination only.
Use lap and shoulder belt.
REMEMBER
Do not place infants in the front seat of vehicles with air bags.
Do not place infants in the front seat of vehicles with air bags.
5-point harnesses provide the best protection.
Make sure the lap belt portion fits tight across the child’s upper thighs to avoid abdominal injuries and the shoulder belt is snug across the chest.
The child’s back should be straight against the back of the vehicle seat with knees bent comfortably at the edge of the seat.
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• More than 20 pounds
and less than 35 pounds.
or taller.
• Children under age 13 are safest when properly restrained in the back seat.
For information on state child restraint laws/child passenger safety recommendations, visit the following Web sites: • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/airbags/OccupantProtectionFacts/appendixc.htm • The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) www.iihs.org/laws/state_laws/restrain2.html
Bella Baby 2010
THE REGION’S CHOICE FOR MOTHER BABY CARE. The Baptist Mother Baby Care Center knows the birth of a baby is a very special time for your family. We provide you with the most personalized experience with spacious private rooms, amenities such as wireless fetal monitors and whirlpool tubs, and of course quality, compassionate nursing care that makes your experience special. We want you to feel confident as you welcome your special delivery into the world. Baptist offers pre- and post-natal educational programs such as Infant Care, Breastfeeding, Infant Massage, and even classes for older siblings and daddies. Our online retail store also offers a full line of breast pumps, nursing bras, clothing, even educational CDs and DVDs. You and your baby are in good hands at Baptist. With a seasoned, dedicated perinatologist and neonatologist, the Baptist Mother Baby Care Center handles everything from routine births to complex obstetrical needs. The availability of talented and compassionate physicians, midwives and nurses makes Baptist the region’s choice for babies, and their mommies. Most of all, Baptist offers a caring loving environment focused on you and your baby to help keep your experience as personal as it should be. We’re with you every step of the way. At Baptist, you can count on us to do our best for you – every day, in every way.
Our talented, compassionate Obstetrics and Gynecology Active Medical Staff: Jenny Allen, Certified Nurse Midwife Robert Andrews, M.D. Lornetta Epps, M.D. Vicky Griffin, D.O. Paul LaRose, M.D. James Maher, M.D., Maternal-Fetal Medicine Nicholas Sholty, M.D. James Sims, M.D., Neonatologist Tracey Thomas-Doyle, M.D. Elisabeth Tucker, M.D.
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To learn more about the Mother Baby Care Center at Baptist or for a physician referral, visit eBaptistHealthCare.org or call 877.469.7500 and press option 3.
Postponing
Motherhood
Blakely
A growing number of women becoming moms after 35
SLOANE STEPHENS COX scox@pnj.com
Catheryne
Macy
Noah
Brooklyn
Hannah 8
Dr. Lisa Tucker hit the snooze button on her biological clock. Finishing her residency and establishing her private practice meant putting motherhood on hold. By the time she gave birth to her first child, she was older than 35 — which the obstetrical world dubs “AMA” (advanced maternal age). And she was nearly 40 when she Dr. Lisa Tucker became a mother again. “Some people asked me if I was the grandmother,” said the obstetrician/gynecologist at Ladies First in Pensacola. “The first few times that happened, it kind of shocked me a bit. But it was usually older people who asked, and they probably were used to seeing mothers 10 or 15 years younger than I was.” Tucker is part of a growing demographic — women who postpone motherhood until after age 35. In the past four decades, the number of first-time mothers age 35 and older increased nearly eight fold, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The reasons for waiting are many. Some women, such as Dr. Tucker, spend the majority of their childbearing years pursuing advanced degrees and getting their careers on track. Some are being forced to reenter the workplace due to the recession, and others are simply taking advantage of medical advances, including in vitro fertilization. Many moms tout the advantages of delaying childbirth. “I’m willing to sacrifice everything for my child at this age,” said 39year-old Tammy Manse. The pregnant mother of a toddler is a stay-at-home mom in Pensacola. “I’ve worked and traveled, and I’m financially stable,” she said. “Most of the time, my schedule is more flexible. I feel very healthy, and I’ve taken good care of myself.” Nevertheless, she said she worries about being an older mother. “When I see ‘AMA’ on my medical charts, it makes me nervous,” she said. “When I think of myself, I don’t feel that way. I feel young.” CHALLENGES LATER IN LIFE While most mothers over the age of 35 have healthy babies, mothers in that age group are more likely to have a preexisting medical condition, such as heart disease or diabetes, which can complicate the pregnancy. Also, they have an increased risk of gestational diabetes, miscarriages and stillbirths, and of having babies with chromosomal disorders. Often, they have trouble getting pregnant in the first place. And the downsides don’t necessarily end after the birth of a healthy baby.
Bella Baby 2010
Nancy London can attest to that. Now a 65-year-old Santa Fe, N.M. resident, she gave birth to her daughter when she was almost 44. “I hit a wall when my daughter was about 6 years old, tired, irritable, wondering what I did wrong,” she said. “All the books in the bookstores were either written for older women with grown kids and tons of time to explore hydroponic gardening, or they were written for younger mothers with endless stores of perky good cheer.” Nancy London Searching for women who understood her plight, she put a classified in the paper and formed a support group for first-time mothers over the age of 40 who wanted to get together to talk about the joys and challenges of having children later in life. She was deluged with calls for weeks. “When the first group assembled, I came, like a good therapist, with ice-breaking exercises,” she said, “but the dozen women were already off and running, talking about crawling to bed in flannel PJs at 8 a.m., flagging libidos, feelings of inadequacy, as tempers flared and the longing for solitude and silence grew. These women were desperate to have what they were experiencing normalized, and that’s exactly what the group did.” That experience drove London to write the book “Hot Flashes, Warm Bottles: First-Time Mothers Over Forty” (visit www.mothersoverforty.com), a guidebook for confronting the challenges that first-time moms over 40 face. For starters, most women enter perimenopause in their 40s, a time when many older mothers are either giving birth or dealing with toddlers. “Hormones are beginning their wild ride, very much like puberty,” London said. “Throw a toddler into this equation, and you have what I call ‘The Clash of the Titans,’ two very different developmental imperatives — a child’s need for its mother, and the mother’s need for herself. I would say this spawns much of the challenges, physically and mentally.” Another drawback is older mothers’ tendency to compare themselves to younger mothers. “We end up at preschools with mothers who most often are significantly younger than we are,” London said. “They are the ones who love pushing the swing and baking the dozen cookies, and they look great in spandex. We can either surrender to this difference or compete. Competing means plastic surgery for some of the mothers I interviewed. The contrast with younger moms is too painful.
And it may mean denying the real level of fatigue we feel in favor of keeping up the appearance of a vitality we do not feel.” CAUGHT BETWEEN GENERATIONS Older mothers often have to face the downside of being sandwiched between two generations that are growing farther apart: “Having kids later in life usually means that our own parents will not only be too old to help raise and nurture our children, they will probably need us to help them,” London said. And then there is the career dilemma: “Young mothers take time off and effortlessly reenter the workforce,” London said. “Older mothers may become obsolete after six months away from their field. So what do you do? Hire a nanny and get back to work as soon as possible? Some mothers do that; others find that option ridiculous. We waited decades to have a child. Now we’re going to hire someone to raise him or her?” Dr. Tucker is one of the fortunate ones: She said she never struggled with what to do about her career after becoming a mom. “I was working for so many years before kids, and going back to work was never a question,” she said. “I couldn’t wait to get
back. Maternity leave drove me crazy, and I found myself going in to the office.” Fortunately, she said, her children fell in love with the nanny she hired 16 years ago. “They call her Mama, and I’m Mommy,” she said. “I even hired her as personnel director in my office. She’s great. She’s a part of the family.” TIPS FOR OLDER MOMS For anyone struggling with the drawbacks of being an older mother, London offers the following coping tips: • Lower your expectations. “Pushing ourselves beyond our limit is really common,” London said. “We want to be everything to our child that we have dreamed of being. Big rules — no TV, no junk food, no Disney videos (a lifesaver, in my opinion). But, if we could admit that we are older, more tired, we would find more adaptive strategies. Play card games, watch videos together. My daughter and I still share some hilarious private jokes that arose from watching this crap together.” • Accept the fact that you’re older. “My daughter, Sasha, had a best friend with a very young mother,” she said.
THE ALL-NIGHTER Just when you’re approaching middle age, and college all-nighters have become a distant memory, you’re experiencing another kind of all-nighter — caring for a baby or toddler. And this go-round, no amount of caffeine seems to cut it. What can you do to stay healthy so you can keep up with your kid? Whether you’re 25, 35 or even 45, the key is eating well and exercising, said Dr. Lisa Tucker, an obstetrician/ gynecologist at Ladies First in Pensacola. She also advises taking an omega 3 supplement for heart health. “Heart disease is killing more and more women, so it’s important to prevent that so you can be there for your kids,” she said.
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Holden
“We traded child care often. When it was my turn, the girls did pretty sedentary things. When Laure, the mom, took them out one day, Sasha came home reporting on their activities — an amusement park, a skating rink, out for pizza and a pillow fight. ‘That’s more than we do in a month,’ she noted. So I can either fret over this or accept it. I vote for acceptance, because if I fight it, I end up even more tired, stressed and irritable. And that irritability, which almost all older moms report, is the most devastating of all. We wait to have our children, then wish they would vaporize so that we can rest.” • “Have a self-esteem check-up and do some personal work around the issues of aging and our culture’s obsession with youth and beauty,” she said. “Otherwise, it can be a rough ride. Around pre-puberty, kids
John
Nathanael
Bella & Tucker
• Stephanie Kress, a stay-at-home mom in Pensacola. “Life took me through a long path. I got married at 33 and waited until 37 to have my son. Something I really appreciate about being an older mom is that I feel like I am more established both personally and financially. I feel like I am more confident in myself and who Stephanie Kress I am so that I can better focus on being a mom. On a lighter note, a definite con is that at times it is really tough to continually get up and down from the floor to play with my son. I often find myself asking him ‘Why don’t we just stay down here for a bit?’ And on a serious note, as an older mom, I do worry about the future. The idea that I might not see my grandchildren is a scary thought.” • Paige Beall, a stay-at-home mom in Pensacola. “I had my first child at 33 and my second at 36. Having a child at 36 was a lot more exhausting. I just don’t have the energy I had when I was 24. Keeping up with your kids and driving all over town wears me out, but maybe if I were 20, it wouldn’t. Do I think I Paige Beall made the right decision? Yes, for us it was. Financially, it was the right thing to do. Also, I got married at 29, and we wanted to be a couple for a few years before we had children. Having that time was one of the best things we could do for our marriage.”
Chloe 10
• “Taking serious time to nurture ourselves, to rest and recharge is the absolute best advice I can give,” she said. “Schedule it just as you would the dry cleaning. We stay glued to these precious children, many of whom cost their parents their entire life savings in IVF treatments. So how could we hire a baby sitter and go to a spa for the day? So we stick around, get cranky, end up blowing up, and then feel really bad about ourselves and our parenting. After all I went through, to want time for myself seems selfish. But it isn’t; it’s critical, vital, and will make all the difference.”
SOME LOCAL MOMS SPEAK OUT Here’s what some Pensacola Bay Area moms say about the ups and downs of motherhood after age 35:
Hailee
begin to develop the brain part that can make comparisons. Up until then, we’ve been Goddess Mama. Suddenly, we are older than other mothers, more tired, and with many more physical limitations (I personally would not ski with my daughter.)”
Bella Baby 2010
• Liz Hamrick, a Pensacola resident and the owner of Bizzy Lizzy bags (www.bizzylizzybags.com). “I’m absolutely glad I waited to have kids. My life was much calmer, and I was more confident. I was able to have a career, and I was able to travel and do exactly what I wanted to do. If I had had them younger, maybe I would have felt regretful, resentful. As a mom, I feel like Liz Hamrick I’m more involved in my kids’ lives, and I enjoy it more because I waited so long for it. They keep me young.”
• Terrie Grammer, a stay-at-home mom in Pensacola. “The reason I waited was that I met my husband at 31, and I wanted to pursue a career, travel and be on my own. I wanted to wait to have a family until I could give them the best of what I wanted them to have. Terrie Grammer The drawback to being an older parent is that we may not have as much grandparent time. Still, I wouldn’t change things if I could because we waited until we were ready. I think that we are better parents than we would have been when we were younger because we were more focused on ourselves and our careers then. As an older mom, I think we have to cherish every little moment that we can.”
Parenting
In A Nutshell:
Use free time for meaningful pursuits DOREEN NAGLE Gannett
Pennsylvania State University researchers found that children who spend free time in meaningful pursuits are less likely to be depressed or behave badly and is more likely to do well in school. What are some valuable ways for your children to spend their free time? • Exercise: Sports gets your children moving as well as improving motor skills, but what if your children don’t want to join a team? One doesn’t need a team to get benefits from playing sports. Steer children outside to throw the ball for no reason other than it’s a fun thing to do. If your child is old enough, inquire about a gym membership or working with a personal trainer. Choose an activity that is right for your child’s stage of development. • Family time: Does your family pursue board games, family hikes, Sunday afternoon movies complete with popcorn, talking to each other in front of the fireplace, watching the sun go down in the backyard together — or none of the above? Turn off the TV, unplug the computer and avoid those video games that don’t involve the whole family. Start a family bowling league (either virtual or literal), drag out the art supplies and paint each other’s portraits, have an in-house spelling bee. Most importantly, laugh together and don’t be judgmental of one another. • Spiritual growth: Use free time to talk about your values, ethics and spiritual outlook with your children. Instilling positive principles into your child will lessen their confusion and fear when dealing with life’s inevitable disappointments and crossroads. • In the community: Get outside to explore your community. If your child is young enough to be in a stroller, pack up some snacks and drive a few miles away to a neighborhood you rarely visit. Take a walk around to see what you can see:
are the houses different than those in your neighborhood? Are there any parks or play spaces to explore? Talk to your child as you notice things. Encourage an older child to give back to the community by volunteering service in age appropriate capacity i.e. pulling weeds in a community garden (wear work gloves!); cleaning up litter (ditto); helping a trusted elderly neighbor (ditto once more). • Hobbies: Enjoying a fulfilling hobby — and having time for it — is an unalienable right. When passion calls your child, encourage the hobby habit: music, art, singing, watching birds fly or the clouds go by. This is where creativity and passion lives. • Reading for fun: Reading something “just because” is one of life’s greatest pleasures. If your child is being assigned books that must be read but not necessarily found to be enjoyable by your child, watch for possible signs of loss of interest in reading for pleasure. This loss can come as a shock to parents whose children used to love to read. Take heart. If your child is reticent to read, it might take you longer to find the right combination of reading material (don’t overlook special interest magazines) that will light his fire. A child is never too old to be read to; reading to your child is a wonderful bonding experience for both of you at any age. • Tip from the parenting trenches: The respect we have for unstructured down time (relaxation with no particular outcome in mind) has unfortunately diminished. In an era when many people brag about their overscheduled lives as a status symbol, down time has become something to be avoided. It shouldn’t be. This is when the spirit gets renewed; with a renewed spirit, anything is possible. Start a movement to bring down time back into your family’s life. Doreen Nagle is author of “But I Don’t Feel Too Old to Be a Mommy” (HCI, $12.95). She welcomes your parenting tips and concerns at doreennagle@yahoo.com.
Looking for the right doctor for your family?
Health Source 2010 is your guide to health care services in the Gulf Coast area. It includes an up-to-date description of nearly 250 local doctors – allowing you to feel more comfortable with your medical choices.
Pick up your copy at the Pensacola News Journal. Or go online to www.pnj.com/healthsource.
ADV-PNJ
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Toting tot?
Stave off the whining while you’re dining! Keep kids busy with Bella Tunno Designer Diner, a posh placemat that becomes a chalk board when flipped over. Chalk included. $24, Celebrations.
around a
Kaleigh
SLOANE STEPHENS COX scox@pnj.com
Babies need a few basics beyond bottles and blankets. Stock up on posh, practical gear like this to sail through the first few years in style.
Madison Baggies, be gone! Separate the wet stuff from the dry stuff in style with Wet Happened Designer Wet Bags by Itzy Ritzy. $9.99, Pizzaz.
Don’t knock that noggin! Make bath time safe with the Skip Hop Moby bathspout cover. $12.99, Storkland.
Holding paci will be her favorite pastime – especially if it’s attached to a WubbaNub. The plush animal makes grabbing and manipulating the pacifier easy for Baby. $12.99 (0 to 6 months) and $14.99, Storkland.
WHERE TO SHOP? • Artesana, 242 W. Garden St., 433-4001.
Chappell
• Celebrations, 717 N. 12th Ave., 433-2022. • Linen Corner, 698 W. Garden St., 438-9887.
Samantha
Addison
Stop your little squirt from doing damage during diaper changes. The Sozo WeeBlock is a cup-like, machinewashable covering that keeps your clothing and furniture out of the line of fire. $12, Linen Corner.
In a clutch? Grab this diaperbag-in-disguise and go. The Petunia Pickle Bottom “Cake Cameo” clutch comes with a changing pad and wipes holder. $130, Wild Child.
Vera 12
Bella Baby 2010
Store small stuff in this Trend Lab Pod Pack. It’s perfect for pacis or binkies, your cell phone or keys, for example. Simply clip it to your diaper bag. $6.50, Celebrations.
• Pirouettes, 101 S. Jefferson St., 434-7577. • Pizzaz Personalized Gifts, 832 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., 934-3436. • Storkland, 8585 N. Davis Hwy., 478-2633. • Ty & KC, 823 E. Gadsden St., 332-6171. • Wild Child, 1105 N. 9th Ave., 434-8885.
Snack Happened reusable and washable snack bags by Itzy Ritzy. They’re FDA-approved, the zipper is lead-free, and the PVC-free lining is waterproof. $9.95, www.itzyritzy.com. Beware the bobble head! During nap time, keep her head from flopping around with the Maison Chic knitted travel pillow. $19.99, Pizzaz and the Linen Corner.
Perfect as a pillow or for playtime, the reversible, slipcovered Boppy puts baby in a comfortable position for feeding. As your baby grows, he can use it for tummy time and later as a spot to practice sitting. $38, Storkland.
Sophia
Cambridge
This best friend becomes a blanket and a pillow. Great for travel, Zoobies come in an assortment of animals. $35.99, Pizzaz.
Be dapper during diaper duty. Diapees & Wipees are designed to hold a travel pack of wipes and two to four diapers. $14.99, Storkland.
Protect Baby from grocery-cart germs while hitting the aisles in style. Simply throw the Chic Clean Shopper over your shopping cart. $35.99, Storkland.
Zella
William
Here’s a fun find that does double duty. You can use it as a changing pad or floor mat. It’s by Mullin Square. $53, Wild Child.
Show off your haute hair accessories with this monogrammed bow holder. It hangs on your wall. $15 (bows not included), Ty & KC.
Bailey
Store your snacks in your sippy cup. Just unscrew the bottom of this cup, the Sip & Munch by Mud Pie, and you’ll find a “secret” container for small snacks. $16, Artesana.
Noah Bella Baby 2010
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• PROVIDED BY BAPTIST HEALTH CARE •
Parenting: An Equal Opportunity
Experience
Welcoming a new baby to your family is very exciting. It can also be an uncertain time for many first-time parents. While baby and mom are often the focus of this life-changing event, dad can fall to the wayside feeling like a third wheel. The Mother Baby Care Center at Baptist Hospital has a parenting class just for dads. MAKING NEW TRADITIONS In the past, moms were considered the primary caregiver, while dad followed her lead, but not in the 21st century. We now have stay-at-home dads, deployed moms and 50/50 caring partnerships between both parents. “After Baby Comes 4Dads” is a class series that offers an educational and support opportunity for both parents and their babies, six-months-old and younger, to learn and grow together through this wonderful life experience. The class creates a comfortable, well-informed childbirth experience for parents. Fathers are taught about diaper changing, swaddling and preparing for mom and baby when they come home from the hospital. The class focuses on helping dad’s become more involved with their newborns and bond with their new baby. Each class includes a topic of discussion that relates to raising a child in a positive, nurturing environment. Guest speakers also are invited to share useful information on topics such as life insurance, preparing for college and drafting a will. Open discussion is always welcome and appreciated.
“Many new fathers have never had experience with an infant,” said Hannum. “Parents come into the hospital as a couple and leave as a family with a whole new set of responsibilities.” WHAT NEW DADS ARE SAYING Fathers not only bond with their new baby, but also with other new fathers. From football coaches to construction workers, professions are left at the door, while numerous dads accept guidance from Hannum and enjoy camaraderie with fellow fathers. New father Bryan Gibb said the class provided him, “His first opportunity to be in charge without mom around.” “All day I am focused on work and then I come home and worry about the baby and my wife,” said first-time father Lee Smith. “This class helps me to refocus on my family and put my energy into caring for my baby.” “This is the only class we have found that offers real solutions and comfort in the trying times of caring for an infant,” said new dad Chip Posey. “The major thing about this class is that we aren’t alone. There are other dads here with the same questions and concerns.”
INVOLVING DADS The unique structure of the class offers families the benefit of learning together and individually. The first part of each session includes a 30-minute “warming in” for dad, mom and baby. Then moms have the opportunity to leave class for about one hour to allow the dads time alone GETTING STARTED with baby as well as discuss their concerns “After Baby Comes 4Dads” provides an PHOTOS FROM BAPTIST HEALTH CARE/SPECIAL TO BELLA BABY about fatherhood and the needs of both opportunity for dads to grow confidence in their baby and wife. their new roles, gain wisdom on being a more compassionate partner and bond Program facilitator Susan Hannum, R.N., gently guides fathers through the with the most precious gift life has to offer. journey of early parenthood. Hannum has more than 28 years experience For a class schedule or more information, call 434-4567 or visit our Web site at in childbirth education. She also provides confidence-building tips for fathers www.eBaptistHealthCare.org/MotherBaby. helping them feel comfortable in a nurturing role for something so fragile.
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Bella Baby 2010
• PROVIDED BY BAPTIST HEALTH CARE •
Preventing Disease With
Vaccination During nine months of pregnancy, mothers take many precautions to help ensure a healthy birth for their baby. Those care steps don’t stop once the child is born, but instead the focus shifts to preventive health care for the child. One way to help to ensure good health for your child is through immunizations. “Vaccines work,” said James Sims, neonatologist, Baptist Hospital. “We know that vaccines are 90 to 99 percent effective in preventing diseases. Immunizations have been one of the greatest success stories in history with millions of lives saved from the illnesses they combat.” Vaccines are constantly monitored for safety, and the Food and Drug Administration only allows a vaccine be administered if it is proven safe and works well in children. “Despite controversy, valid scientific studies have shown that there is no valid link between vaccines and autism,” said Sims. Vaccine Hepatitis B Rotavirus
Birth HepB
1 Month
2 4 Month Month
The Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics work together to establish the age-appropriate schedule for immunizations. The following is the recommended immunization schedule for children from birth age to 6 years old. 6 Month
Hep B
12 Month
15 Month
19-23 Month
2-3 Month
4-6 Month
Hep B RV
RV
RV
DTaP
DTaP
DTaP
Haemophilus influenza type b
Hib
Hib
Hib
Hib
Pneumococcal
PCV
PCV
PCV
PCV
Inactivated Poliovirus
IPV
IPV
Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
18 Month
DTaP
DTaP
PPSV
IPV
IPV
Influenza
Influenza (Yearly)
Measles, Mumps, Rubella Varicella Hepatisis A
MMR
MMR
Varicella
Varicella
HepA (2 doses)
Hep A Series
Meningococcal
MCV Range of recommended ages for all children except high-risk groups
Range of recommended ages for certain high-risk groups Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
Bella Baby 2010
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• PROVIDED BY BAPTIST HEALTH CARE •
Developmental Catherine
Gianna
Braeden
Aston
Jude
Leilani 16
Lend
Milestones
Roadmapfor
Children are unique and special in their own way. Your nephew may have started talking before your daughter, but your daughter may have starting crawling before he did. Some children grasp objects right away while others develop a stronger sense of eye contact and emotional display. “It is important to remember that babies develop at their own pace and in their own way,” says Steve Sims, neonatologist, Baptist Hospital. “A child may do some things earlier than other infants, but may achieve some milestones later than children of the same age.” Although each child is different, there are developmental milestones that parents should recognize and understand to help support development of gross and fine motor, sensory, language and social skills. These milestones can be used as a guide to monitor your child’s health and development. Additionally, opportunities are available that you can use every day to enhance growth. “Early identification of developmental delays is critical to the well-being of children and their families,” said Sims. “Consistent visits with your primary health care provider who has watched your child grow and mature while maintaining a health record, is key to identifying problems early.” Melissa & Doug Wooden Animal nesting blocks.
Growth
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES AND EVERYDAY LEARNING BIRTH – 3 MONTHS • Raises head and chest when on stomach • Supports upper body with arms when lying on stomach • Stretches legs out and kicks when lying on stomach or back • Grasps and shakes toys • Begins to develop a social smile • Enjoys playing with people • Follows moving objects • Prefers soft to coarse sensations • Prefers sweet smells • Begins to babble • Begins to imitate some sounds • Turns head toward direction of sound
Cloud B, Sleep Sheep soft toy that plays four different soothing sounds
TALK, SING, READ AND PLAY WITH YOUR BABY Just as babies depend on their parents for basic needs such as food to help them grow, they also depend on experiences to shape and develop them. Talk, sing, read and play with your baby from the start to help encourage learning. Simple activities such as making silly faces and sounds and as well as talking to your baby are great ways to interact and stimulate your baby’s brain.
4 - 7 MONTHS • Rolls both ways • Sits with and without support of hands • Supports whole weight on legs • Reaches with one hand • Transfers object from hand to hand • Enjoys social play • Shows interest in mirror images • Responds to expression of emotions • Uses raking grasp • Finds partially hidden object • Explores with hands and mouth • Struggles to get objects out of reach
Baby’s Babyville Roly Poly Mirror Cone
PLAY WITH YOUR BABY Early exposure to simple toys will activate your baby’s imagination and help him grow. Also, your playful loving care will help you form a strong bond and secure relationship with your baby. Try helping your baby hug stuffed animals or use them to touch and tickle your baby.
PHOTOS FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND GANNETT
Bella Baby 2010
Pom pom slipper boots.
8 - 12 MONTHS • Gets to sitting position without help • Crawls forward on belly • Assumes hands-and-knees position • Gets from sitting to crawling position • Pulls self up to stand • Walks holding on to furniture • Shy or anxious with strangers • Cries when parents leave • Enjoys imitating people in play • Prefers certain people and toys • Tests parental response • Finger-feeds himself • Looks at correct picture when the image is named • Begins to use objects correctly.
Cameron
“Fifi The Poodle” jackin-the-box.
DEALING WITH ATTACHMENT During this period of development, your child will start showing a strong attachment to her primary caregiver by acting upset when that caregiver leaves and happy when he or she returns. To ease separation anxiety say “goodbye,” teaching your child that you will return; explain that you are going to leave, but that you’ll return; and, provide a comfort object that will make her feel close to you.
1 - 3 YEARS • Walks alone • Pulls toys behind when walking • Begins to run • Stands on tiptoe • Kicks a ball Playskool Step Start • Scribbles spontaneously Walk & Ride. • Might use one hand more frequently than the other • Imitates behaviors of others • Becomes aware of herself as separate from others • Shows enthusiasm about the company of other children • Says several single words (by 15 to 18 months) • Uses simple phrases (by 18 to 24 months) • Sorts by shape and color • Plays make-believe Playskool’s Super Squishy LITERACY Soccer Ball 1 to 3 years old is a period of huge growth for language skills and an opportunity for you to help your toddler along by talking and reading with her as much as you can. • Teach new words all the time. The more you speak to your toddler about what you are doing and what is around you, the more you build his vocabulary. • Expand your child’s language by adding to what he says. If he says “kitty” you can say, “Yes, the kitty is little and soft.” • Pick books that address your child’s interests like animals, trains or a new sibling. • Even if your child can’t speak yet, ask “Where’s?” and “What’s?” whenever you can while looking at pictures and reading a story. Sources: HealthyChildren.org, BornLearning.org
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR PREMATURE BABIES Infants born less than 37 weeks old are considered premature. To calculate corrected age for premature babies, take the actual age in weeks minus weeks premature and that will give you corrected age. “The corrected age should be used to select milestones if the child is more than three weeks early,” said Dr. Sims. “A child born between 36 and 37 weeks gestation is considered to be four weeks early. A child assessed at 12 weeks of age who was born four weeks early should be assessed using the average milestones of an 8-week-old infant. Healthy preterm infants usually catch up with full term infants by the time they are 2 years old.” RESOURCES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS The Mother Baby Care Center at Baptist Hospital offers you tools and education to help you better understand your child’s development and how you can create daily learning experiences. Visit our Web site at www.eBaptistHealthCare.org/MotherBaby to sign up for a free educational newsletter that will be sent to you via e-mail as your child reaches certain stages of development from birth to 5 years old. Each newsletter contains age specific education and information on health, child nurturing and safety. For more information or for physician referral, call Baptist Health Care at (850) 434-4080.
The Bugsby Reading System from Vtech.
Emily
Richard
Tyler
Morgan
Connor
Bella Baby 2010
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Catheryne 18
PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
May 2010
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Macy PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
Noah PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
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May 2010
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Brooklyn
PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
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May 2010
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Hannah PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
Holden PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
2010 Bella Cover Baby Winner
Blakely PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
Blakely PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
John
PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
Hailee
PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
Nathanael
PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
Bella & Tucker
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Chloe
PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
Kaleigh PHOTOS BY KAY BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
Building A Better
Bedtime
Making storytime helps children unwind before bed
NORTH AMERICAN PRECIS SYNDICATE
Laura
Mariah
Kaylie
Addison
Setting aside a few minutes at night to bond with your child and unwind can ease nighttime anxieties and lead to a better bedtime. MAKE BEDTIME STORY TIME Don’t make bedtime synonymous with nighttime issues like bedwetting or being afraid of the dark. Instead, make bedtime about opening your child’s imagination through the magic of storytelling. To focus on bedtime bonding, the GoodNites® brand has a new nighttime storytelling series called Bedtime Theater. The audio series of 20 five-minute bedtime stories fills each night with a new, fantastical adventure about a boy named Iggy as he embarks on wild journeys with his Wiggy Bed. The series is designed to put the focus back on what really matters at night, while teaching kids valuable life lessons. “Bedtime is an important time for parents and children to connect, and I often recommend to families that having a regular evening routine, such as sharing a bedtime story, can reduce nighttime issues and become an important step in building your child’s self-confidence,’’ said Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg, pediatrician and mother of three. The audio series can be downloaded free by visiting www.BedtimeTheater.com. It also comes in specially marked packages of GoodNites Sleep Pants. For more tips, go to GoodNites.com. TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BEDTIME Here are some tips from the GoodNites NiteLite Panel of parenting and medical experts to help parents boost their kids’ self-confidence at night: • Establish a routine and stick to it every night. Consistency can help eliminate bedtime struggles.
Brody 32
Bella Baby 2010
Nova
Daniel
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BEDTIME Here are some tips from the GoodNites NiteLite Panel of parenting and medical experts to help parents boost their kids’ self-confidence at night: • Establish a routine and stick to it every night. Consistency can help eliminate bedtime struggles. • Don’t forget to tell your kids how proud you are of their accomplishments. • Let your child know grown-ups make mistakes, too. Mistakes are an opportunity to learn. • Don’t try to solve all your children’s problems. Guide them and give advice but let them make some decisions on their own. Learning to problem-solve is an invaluable skill. • Make sure your children know bedwetting is not their fault and that learning more about bedwetting can help make them feel more comfortable until they outgrow the condition.
Cameron
Caden
• PROVIDED BY BAPTIST HEALTH CARE •
Is Your Child
Getting Enough Healthy
Sleep?
According to recent research by The American Academy of Sleep Medicine one in four children may be under-diagnosed with sleep disorders. Undiagnosed disorders, such as insomnia, sleep apnea, night terrors, sleepwalking, snoring, grinding teeth and bedwetting can impact a child’s learning, growth and development. According to Wayne Peacock, R.P.S.G.T., sleep disorders manager at Baptist Hospital, children who have mood or school performance changes, fall asleep during the day, snore loudly or wake up repeatedly throughout the night may have sleep disorders. “Undiagnosed sleep disorders in children can have a significant impact,” said Peacock. “Children are in the critical stages of development, and
without proper sleep, more serious conditions can develop.” Peacock suggests parents who are concerned their child may have a sleep disorder keep personal records of the child’s behavior and sleeping habits and first consult their pediatrician. A sleep study and referral to a sleep disorders center may be recommended.
Signs and Symptoms: NIGHT • Teeth grinding • Difficulty waking in the morning • Frequent awakenings • Difficulty falling asleep • “Unusual” sleep behaviors (walking, talking, etc.) • Enuresis (bed-wetting)
DAY • Falling asleep in class • Poor concentration • Hyperactivity • Irritability • Growth or development delays • Mood changes • Increased accidents/injuries • Behavior problems
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SLEEP TIPS FOR KIDS
1. Go to bed at the same time each night. 2. Try to get at least 10 hours of sleep each night. 3. Limit caffeine; avoid after lunch time. 4. Eat a light snack before bed. Try not to have “heavy” meals right before bedtime. 5. Avoid television and video games just before going to bed. Allow relaxation time. Books are a good way to unwind. 6. A comfortable room is best for sleeping. Not too bright, noisy, hot or cold. For more information or for a physician referral, call Baptist Health Care at (850) 434-4080 or visit eBaptistHealthCare.org/SleepCenter to take our online sleep assessment. Bella Baby 2010
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Kids’ Fashion with
flair
SLOANE STEPHENS COX scox@pnj.com
Dress your little darling in clothes almost as cute as they are!
Cotton boys’ onesie with bib (matching hanger included), $36, the Linen Corner.
The Bailey Boys blue-and-white duck swim trunk for boys, $50, and one-piece swimsuit for girls, $38.95, Pirouettes.
The Baby Bunch Lollipop onesie, $10.50, Pirouettes.
Zatano Itzy Bitzy dress in Pink Sugarblossoms, $20, Pirouettes.
Jamie Rae girls’ headbands, $20, Ty & KC, and Jamie Rae boys’ and girls’ hats, $22.99 and up, Ty & KC and Pizzaz.
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Bella Baby 2010
WHERE TO SHOP? • Artesana, 242 W. Garden St., 433-4001. • The Linen Corner, 698 W. Garden St., 438-9887. • Pirouettes, 101 S. Jefferson St., 434-7577. • Pizzaz, 832 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., 934-3436. • Sassafras Stationery & Gifts, 900 E. Moreno St., 435-7797. • Storkland, 8585 N. Davis Hwy., 478-2633. • Ty & KC, 823 E. Gadsden St., 332-6171. • Wild Child, 1105 N. Ninth Ave., 434-8885.
Mud Pie golf bubble for boys, $24.99, Storkland.
Heelarious soft crib shoes for children 0 to 6 months old, $39.95, www.chitchatbaby.com.
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Kissey Kissey terrycloth sandcastle playsuit for boys, $30, and bubble for girls, $28. Kissey Kissey sandcastle hat, $15, Artesana. Custom dresses by KC, $38 to $72, Ty & KC.
Tutu, $34, Ty & KC.
Baby Legs leg warmers, $12, Ty & KC.
Pizzaz knit dress, $40 (includes personalization), Pizzaz.
Bed Bugs pajamas, $38, Pizzaz.
Cachcach for baby bubble onesie in pink leopard, $60, Wild Child. Kidorable raincoats (matching hanger included), $38, Wild Child, and $36, Sassafras.
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Work Mommy
those
Muscles
Sybella
The benefits of working out, and fitness routines that include your little one SLOANE STEPHENS COX scox@pnj.com
Kailey
Isabella
Mackinnley
Cheyenne
Gerald 36
Keeping an active “ankle biter” away from household hazards is a workout in itself, but it won’t necessarily bring back your pre-baby body. If it’s “hot mama” you’re after, you may have to squeeze some extra exercise into an already exhausting routine. Apart from improving aesthetics, exercises – namely cardiovascular and strengthbuilding workouts – can relieve stress, elevate your mood, boost your immune system, and increase your energy level. “It’s important to strengthen the muscles you need to survive motherhood,” said Addie Martindale, instructor for StrollerFit and Restore the Core classes. “For example, constantly holding a baby pulls your shoulders and back out of whack. Exercise helps you battle the fatigue of being up all night with an infant or toddler. It can make you more alert and even a better mom.” Finding a fitness routine doesn’t always mean finding a babysitter: Many gyms have day cares, and some workouts even involve your little one. Here’s just a sampling of local mommybaby classes that can help you get into shape: • BABY WEIGHT CLASS AT PERFORMANCE FITNESS: Cordova Square, Suite 16 A, 4400 Bayou Blvd. $100 for six weeks, $60 for three weeks. A 50-percent down payment is due to reserve your spot. Space is limited. Details: Emily Morgan, 485-2885. • Type of class: Strength training plus some cardiovascular exercise. Weather permitting, parts of the class are conducted outdoors. • Details: Participants use their babies as barbells for presses, curls, squats, lunges, ab work, and more. Unlike the
Bella Baby 2010
iron you may have pumped in the past, your little bundle of flesh gets heavier each week. • Intensity level: Medium. “You’re not going to burn 500 calories because you have a child with you,” and that slows you down some, Morgan said. “The goal is to lose that extra couple of pounds, and for moms or dads to meet other parents. It’s as much for the socialization of kids and parents as it is for exercising. The point is to meet and have fun.” • You’ll need: Sturdy stroller (“umbrella” strollers are fine), comfortable clothing, water, tennis or running shoes with supportive soles, and anything you need for your baby (sunblock, food, diapers, bottles, etc.) • Who class is for: Parents — especially moms — with a child between the ages of 6 weeks and 2 years. • STROLLERFIT CLASS AT BAYVIEW PARK AND COMMUNITY CENTER: $45 for unlimited classes (24 classes per month), $40 for two classes a week, $25 for one class a week. Classes are 9:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 5:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. Details: Addie Martindale, 970-980-7810. • Type of class: Strength training and cardiovascular. • Details: Participants do a circuit workout that begins with cardio and then transitions to strength training and then abs. Children stay in their strollers until the end of class. “You’re constantly moving, and parents and children are
interacting with one another the whole time,” Martindale said. “We sing songs, do nursery rhymes, count in different languages — anything to keep the kids interested. The kids have playgroup during class, and lots of play dates and friendships come out of this class. There’s no better way to get back in shape after a baby than to do it with friends who understand and support you.” • Intensity level: All levels, “from pregnant women to fit moms,” Martindale said. “We burn about 400 calories each class.” • You’ll need: A basic stroller (“You need one that’s better than an ‘umbrella’ stroller,” Martindale said), comfortable clothing, water, tennis or running shoes with supportive soles, and anything you need for your baby or toddler (sunblock, food, diapers, bottles, etc.) • Who class is for: Parents — and especially moms — with children between the ages of 6 weeks and 4 years. • RESTORE THE CORE: Classes are 7 p.m. Tuesdays. $45 for a six-week session. Space is limited. Details: Addie Martindale, 970-980-7810. • You’ll need: A mat, comfortable clothing, water and anything you need for your baby (food, diapers, bottles, etc.) • Type of class: Pilates-based core workout. • Intensity level: All levels. • Details: “Stabilize, mobilize and energize — that’s our goal,” Martindale said. “We also focus on holding our poses and breathing.” Babies (specifically pre-crawlers) are welcome, though they’re not used in the class as weights. • Who class is for: Women of all ages.
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w w w. b e l l a m a g a z i n e . c o m
Search for
Baby Sitter Isn’t Child’s
Shelby
GANNETT NEWS SERVICE
Savannah
Play
Nowadays baby-sitting is serious business. Potential candidates from neighborhood teen to child-care professional come bearing certificates and resumes that boast expertise in everything from fixing meals to first aid. And they can earn $5 or as much as $20 an hour, depending on their qualifications and how much you want the help. So how do you find someone who can get dinner on the table, diaper like a pro, help with homework, handle any emergency and play games with your child instead of parking him in front of the television? The best way to find a good sitter is through a reputable organization or word of mouth, parents and pros say. But in your eagerness to dine out on your anniversary, don’t let your guard down — even with teens. Before you invite anyone into your home to work, ask for multiple references and check them out. PHOTO FROM GANNETT
Arm your sitter with information
Cooper
Kayla
Taylor
Robert 38
Baby sitters, no matter what age, need concrete directions in case your child gets hurt or the power goes out. What you should provide before you walk out the door: • Write down cell phone and landline numbers as well as addresses where you can be reached for the evening. Never leave for another destination without informing the sitter. Remember to leave the cell phone on throughout the evening. • Leave an emergency contact number other than your own. • Make sure your sitter has a list of emergency numbers — doctor, fire, police — as well as details about your child’s medical needs. • Show the sitter where to find the first-aid kit. • Let your sitter know approximately when you plan to return. Call if you are running late.
Bella Baby 2010
Choosing A Sitter Once you’ve discovered a potential baby sitter — preteen, teen or adult — a job interview is the next step: • Have a list of questions prepared. Ask about experience, qualifications, references. • Make sure you and the sitter have similar philosophies concerning discipline. • Tour the house with the sitter. • Ask about experience with first aid. • Watch how the baby sitter interacts with your child. • Meet a sitter’s parents during the interview if the child is a minor. • Consider hiring the sitter first as a mother’s helper, working while you are at home, to see how she handles your child, especially if she is young and inexperienced. • Check references before making a decision. PHOTO SPECIAL TO BELLA BABY • Settle details of payment.
A Dozen Suggestions For Locating Sitters Baby sitters can range from the neighborhood teen to professional sitter service, but finding the right child care for an afternoon outing or a date with your spouse is often the most challenging task for a parent. Here are ideas for you in your quest for the perfect baby sitter, and don’t forget to scrutinize your prospective hires: • Family. If grandparents are nearby, this is often a parent’s first thought. Parents’ siblings also can be good choices, especially if they have children close in age. The cost is often free, and you can build goodwill if you offer your own sitting services in the future or other means of thanks like a home-cooked meal or handyman help. • Moms in play group. The moms and dads you talk to at the playground or day care can become an informal baby-sitting network — and support group — if you plan a little. Develop a system so no one will feel as if they’re shouldering the baby-sitting burden, perhaps coupons for hours of baby-sitting and maybe a small monthly or annual fee. • Children of friends. You know their parents, and more important; you know how they handle their younger brothers and sisters. You can offer the first taste of outside-the-home responsibility for your friends’ children. • Friends’ sitters. Some moms guard their baby-sitting sources like gold. But if you promise not to lay claim to baby-sitting’s prime time, Friday nights and Saturdays, with the lure of more money or perks, you sometimes can get good friends to share their successful sitters. • Neighborhood kids. As you watch the children in your neighborhood grow up, you could be the first to discover a budding baby sitter. If you decide to offer a teen or preteen his or her first job, do a tryout as a mother’s helper. Stay home and get some things done around the house while the new sitter manages your child in another part of the house. • Church. The teen who handles the nursery at your church, synagogue or mosque already has valuable experience keeping multiple children happy. Ask if she takes on other jobs. • Schools. Some day care centers, kindergartens and elementary schools keep lists of sitters who are looking for work. Sometimes teachers at the schools, whom your children already know, look to sitting to supplement their income. • University students. The benefits of posting a listing at a nearby community college or university is that you’ll often get responses from professionals in training — nursing or early childhood education majors looking for money to help make ends meet. Be sure to ask for references from professors and other adults. • Community centers. As at schools, some community centers have lists of sitters to help parents seeking care. Some counselors and teens who use the center also may be looking to help.
• Group offering certification classes. Local Red Cross chapters, volunteer fire departments and other community groups keep lists of students who have passed their baby-sitting safety courses, which often combine first aid with tips on toys and games to play with kids. • Nonprofit child-care agencies. While most of these local agencies won’t hook you up with baby-sitting candidates, they have lists of businesses that offer child care. Some of those businesses also sell services for special occasion sitters in addition to regularly scheduled day care. • Professional services. While parents’ minds turn to professionals when they think of nannies and day care, for-profit companies have responded to the demand for sitters. Some act as a referral service, linking parents and potential sitters, for a registration fee. Others, often companies that offer elder care as well as child care, investigate and bond their sitters.
Ways To Keep Best Sitters
Rhys
Kendall
Your kids are expected to behave when the baby sitter comes, but what about you? With more retail and fast-food outlets wooing them into the workplace, conscientious, child-loving teens have become the boss of you. Here are ways to improve your chances of getting the baby sitter you want on Saturday night, your anniversary, or New Year’s Eve. • Straighten up the house before your sitter arrives. She and the kids deserve a comfortable and safe place in which to play and relax. • Carry out a safety check. Do the smoke detectors work? Are the electrical outlets plugged? Are barriers to off-limits areas up? Doors locked? • Write down your cell phone numbers, plus that of a trusted neighbor, as well as the pediatrician’s number and other emergency contact information. If attending a game, concert or play, leave the seat numbers, too, in case of emergency. • Stock the fridge with healthy snacks for the kids and put a few of the sitter’s favorites in there, too. • Set up a special “baby-sitting box” to be opened only by the sitter. Toss in some games, crayons and craft supplies that only get used when she’s there. • Be home when you say you will. If it’s unavoidable that you’re late, call home. But being tardy should be the exception. • Ask how the evening went when you get home, if any problems occurred and if she has any concerns. • Pay the agreed-upon rate, and when necessary, round up, not down. • Walk her home afterward. Be sober if you’re driving. Otherwise, call a taxi. (This is a special series from Gannett News Service. Information compiled by: Christine Facciolo, The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal; Janie Magruder, The Arizona Republic; Matt Schoch, Lansing (Mich.) State Journal; Jennifer Larson, The (Palm Springs, Calif.) Desert Sun; Linda Dono, GNS.)
Zyaila
Addison
Marley
Samantha
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Gracen
Keeping Kids BUSY At the park, museum or storytime, there’s plenty to do for all ages
PHOTO FROM FAMILY FEATURES HEATHER CULPEPPER
Kailee
Samantha
Cordelia
Paul
Micah 40
Remember the episode of “Sponge Bob Square Pants’’ where Sponge Bob’s Boss, Mr. Krabs, decides to build an amusement park for children? It was a disaster. There were no swings, and everything was falling apart. We’ve all had days like that with our children. Sometimes, trying to entertain our toddlers can turn into such a nightmare. To avoid those days, I’ve put together a guide for moms to get the most enjoyment out of spending time with their tots. TAKE THEM TO THE PARK Kids love to go outside and play in the sunshine. Pensacola has dozens of parks where kids can run and play until their hearts are content. “The Bayview Kelly Ferreira. Park has a brand new smaller kids’ area that is perfect for my toddler, and she loves it. My 4-year-old loves it, too,” said Kelly Ferreira, mother of two girls. Bayview Park is an 28-acre recreational area at 20th Avenue and Blount Street in the East Hill neighborhood in Pensacola. It features covered shelter, a boat launch, a dog park and picnic tables, along with plenty of playground equipment for kids of all shapes and sizes. There are clean restrooms located at a central locations, and the park is very easy to get to, with plenty of parking. STORY TIME COMES ALIVE Every Wednesday and Saturday at 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble features Storytime. This is
Bella Baby 2010
an excellent time to take them to meet other children and for you to meet other moms. Throughout the year, Barnes & Noble hosts more than 25,000 storytimes. These are wonderful opportunities for children and their parents to hear new and old favorite picture books read by a bookseller, author or illustrator. Join in activities as books are read by some of your children’s favorite characters, such Curious George, Clifford and Winnie the Pooh. TAKE THEM TO THE MUSEUM Kelly Ferrerira takes her two girls to the T.T. Wentworth Museum sometimes. “They have a small village with a ship on a dock, an Indian trading post, a fort, a kitchen and a house. The kids can play and pretend there for hours,” Ferrerira said. Another great place to take kids said Nicki Smith, mother of Duke, age 3, is the National Museum of Naval Aviation. “They recently added a little indoor playground and it’s the perfect place to go when the weather doesn’t allow a beach day or a visit to an outdoor park,” Smith said. Nicki Smith. FEED THEM Smith also suggests taking them to Chik-Fil-A. Kids always love to eat. That is, until they get distracted by something. A great place for them to eat and play is at Chik-Fil-A. The Bayou Boulevard location has a great children’s area where they can play for hours and meet other children. You never know: You might make a lifelong friend.
TAKE PICTURES WITH THEM Let me warn you: Taking great pictures is easier said than done. Kids are often squirmy and unpredictable. Taking great photos of newborns is relatively easy, though, since they don’t move around a lot. But for the older tots, you’ll want to remember these key points: 1. The most important tip I can give you is this — stop asking your kids to smile. What happens when you ask them to smile? They usually do the opposite, right? So, just go with the flow, and photograph them behaving naturally. 2. Stay natural — photograph your kids while they are playing (and while they are not paying attention to what you are doing.) This will give your photograph a real life feel that the pros get. 3. Get them used to the camera at an early age. This way, they will be used to you taking lots and lots of pictures. 4. Lighting — I cannot emphasize lighting enough, moms. Taking outdoor photos is fun, but can result in overdeveloped photos if taken midday. Try taking photos early in the morning and later in the evening. This will result in better colors and sharper images. It also eliminates many of the shadows the sun produces. 5. And finally, shoot, shoot, shoot. Take as many pictures as you possibly can. One thing I’ve learned as a photographer is that it sometimes takes hundreds of frames in order to get one or two really great photos. The key ingredient to having fun with your kids is to open up and be a kid yourself. ON THE WEB: • For more ideas from area moms, go to www.MomsLikeMe.com. • www.playpensacola.com is the official site of Pensacola Parks and Recreation.
Multiple births bring
Multiple JOYS
BETH RAMIREZ DE ARELLANO
that you just can’t get any other way.” And, she points out, in the long run, it’s easier to breast feed, because there’s no bottle preparation. “I’m very relaxed,” she said. “I panicked terribly with the first one, if she just sneezed — this time I’m not stressed out.”
Her babies were born at Baptist Hospital only a few weeks ago, and Marie Fairchild and her husband Edward, already parents of two daughters, 20 and 12, are getting a crash course in raising twins. They are still amazed at the arrival of twin boys, Liam and Ian, on March 15 at Baptist BROTHERLY LOVE Hospital. Fast forward 37 years, and share Until last year, Marie had thought some memories — and laughs — her days of raising babies were over. with Liz Franklin, the Pensacola “We wanted to try to have another mother of adult identical twin boys. baby about seven years ago, but it was Her sons, Malcolm and Michael, were not in the cards. It just never born in 1974. happened,” she said. She had already delivered Malcolm Marie, now 41, thought that was the naturally when Michael’s arm suddenly end of it. came out, shocking the delivery room PHOTO SPECIAL TO BELLA BABY staff, who thought the birth process “Edward gave me a Shih Tsu puppy to be my ‘last baby,’’’ she jokes. “And Ian Alexander Price Fairchild and Liam Edward Anderson Fairchild. was over. nine months later, I found out I was “I was the calmest one there,” pregnant. It was a shock, because I reFranklin said, during the hour between receiver,” she said. ally thought it could never happen again.” deliveries, because they had to fly the doctor from “As far as the care, she’s the quarterback, but I play She went to the doctor to see about symptoms she Miami to Fort Pierce. a crucial role,” Edward, 37, said. “I want to be involved thought might have been due to the early arrival of “When the doctor arrived, he decided to do a in everything, bathing, changing — I’m very hands-on. menopause. After determining that Marie was C-section to deliver Michael,” she said. As far as their long-term development, they have to pregnant, the doctor did an ultrasound. Franklin quickly discovered the boys were “so into be able to look at me and see this is what a man does “He turned around from the screen and said, each other, we always had them side by side where — how the family functions, the work ethic, teaching ‘There’s two!’ I remember looking at my husband and they could touch each other, or they would go into a them what it means to be a man. For me, family is he just drained white,” she said. panic mode.” huge.” “He bounced back really quickly, and we were very As they grew, they often didn’t allow other children Liam and Ian look slightly different, their mother said. into their social realm, except for baby brother Marhappy, but it took us time to absorb it. We do have Liam has a headful of darker brown hair, and Ian’s is twins that run in both families, but just cousins and cus, and cousins. finer and more blonde. But put caps on their heads, nieces, so we just never thought about it.” “Michael being the youngest, and Malcolm being and she can no longer tell them apart. The boys’ 12-year-old sister is happy, too. the oldest, Malcolm still let Michael call all the shots,” The Fairchilds have been stocking diapers for four “Since I was 5 or 6, I’ve been asking for a baby Franklin said. “He had to get Michael’s permission to months — Marie calculates they will need as many as brother or sister,” said Caitlin, a middle-schooler. play with someone.” 184 a week. She plans on breast feeding, as she did “I can’t wait to change their outfits, and play with them Within a few weeks of their births, she made the with Caitlin. when they get older — but I don’t really want to mistake of cutting the hospital wristbands off, even “I will for one year,” she said. “To me, it helps make change their diapers.” though her mother had told her not to. After a connection, an overwhelming sense of connection Residents of Crestview, Edward Fairchild is a former bathing and changing them, she had some friends over State Department employee who spent six to see them. years in Iraq working as diplomatic security, She stepped out of the room, ADVICE FROM AN “OLD” MOM OF TWINS TO A NEW MOM: and Marie Fairchild is very grateful that he is and the women swapped the • When the twins are asleep, take a nap, no matter what time of the day it is. home now and available to help her. babies around. When she returned, “She’ll find out she needs the rest. And by all means, don’t let one sleep without “From the first, my husband said, they’re Franklin was horrified to realize the other — get them both on the same schedule right away,” Franklin said. boys — and when we confirmed it, he was that she did not remember • Join a club for parents of multiples. It will help you learn what to expect so excited,” Marie Fairchild said, “because which baby was which. from your children. he’s the last male in his family, and this will “I had to take them back to the • Don’t use disposable diapers. And if diaper rash is a problem, instead of mean the name will continue to live on.” doctor to have them identified by “My husband is a Tim Tebow fan, so their big toe prints,” she said. “It putting on ointments and creams, it’s best to leave off diapers completely and he hopes they will be Gators football was a long time before I told my let the babies go without in their playpen. Allowing their skin to get free players — a little quarterback and mother what had happened.” circulation of air is best, Franklin said, and changing the crib sheets is easy. She also suggests using warm water with a little Epsom salts to clean them. 41 Bella Baby 2010
Help kids eat healthy by letting them help you in the kitchen
children turn about two years old, they can really get into dipping and might try things they wouldn’t otherwise if they’re served with some kind of dip.” She offers some dipping suggestions like low-fat ranch dressing, mild salsa, guacamole, or hummus for dipping vegetables, or any flavor of low-fat yogurt or peanut butter for dipping fruit. Pear Ka-bobs with Strawberry Dipping Sauce and Pear Party Salsa are two fun recipes that let children dip their food. “Make sure their snacks are just as nutritious as their meals. If you’re looking for a 100-calorie snack, don’t reach for a prepackaged processed item. One medium-sized fresh pear is a portable, single serving that tops out at 100 calories with no fat, sodium or cholesterol. Fresh pears, tomatoes, and other fruits and veggies are now available all year round. Their versatility and nutritional value make them very popular with people of all ages. They’re budget friendly and good for your health.” Parents interested in tips for getting kids to eat fruits and vegetables, and delicious recipe ideas for dishes that children will willingly eat are encouraged to visit the Fruits & VeggiesMore Matters website, www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. The website also features some materials to make taking your child food shopping with you an educational experience. The Take Your Child to the Supermarket materials are available to everyone online, free of charge. Just print them out and plan a trip to the store. For more information about pears, including family-friendly recipes, tips for kids, and even online games featuring fresh USA Pears grown in Oregon and Washington, visit www.usapears. org. For information about the other ingredients featured in these recipes, visit www.florida-agriculture.com.
FAMILY FEATURES
It’s never too early to start teaching children about cooking. Involving kids in meal preparation encourages healthy eating habits and introduces them to the value and importance of nutritious, balanced meals. Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., heads Produce for Better Health Foundation, the nonprofit entity behind the Fruits & Veggies — More Matters national public health initiative. Pivonka says the kitchen can be a great place to stir up some fun while teaching healthy eating habits. As a working mother of two, Pivonka understands that getting kids to eat healthy fruits and vegetables can sometimes be a challenge. “Involving children in cooking is an important step in getting kids interested in fruits and vegetables and getting them more excited about eating them,” she says. “Kids can help by measuring, mixing or gathering ingredients while you cook. If kids help with the cooking, they are more inclined to eat what’s on the table. At my house, we make meal planning and preparation a family activity.” Let toddlers help you “cook” by using toy food, pots, pans, bowls and spoons to copy what you’re doing. Preschoolers can help by measuring ingredients and stirring. Grade school kids can make simple, no-bake recipes or use the microwave with proper supervision. Remember to use child-size tools and, if the counter is too high, use a sturdy step stool or have children sit at the kitchen table while they help. Pivonka says taking a little extra time at the grocery store to interact with kids and single out fruits and vegetables as important is another way to persuade kids to give them another try. “Kids like to have fun with their food, so one way to get them to eat something is to offer it with a dip,” Pivonka says. “Once
Pear Ka-bobs With Strawberry Dipping Sauce Preparation Time: 15 minutes Serves 6 1 4 2 2 1 2 6
cup lowfat vanilla yogurt tablespoons strawberry preserves Anjou USA Pears, cored and cut into 1-inch cubes bananas cut into 1-inch slices 8-ounce can pineapple chunks, drained cups strawberries, stems removed wooden skewers
In small bowl combine yogurt and strawberry preserves. Set aside. Thread fruits by alternating pears, bananas, pineapple and strawberries onto skewers. Serve fruit skewers with a dollop of the strawberry sauce on the side. Nutrition Information per Serving: calories: 162, total fat: <1g, saturated fat: <1g, protein: 2.6g, carbohydrates: 39g, cholesterol: 2mg, dietary fiber: 4g, sodium: 24mg
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Pear Party Salsa Preparation Time: 10 minutes Serves 4 1 Comice USA Pear, cored and finely chopped 1 apple, cored and finely chopped 2 kiwi, peeled and finely chopped 1 orange, peeled and finely chopped 2 tablespoons honey 1 teaspoon lemon juice Cinnamon graham crackers or sliced fresh fruit and veggies Combine pear, apple, kiwi and orange in a medium sized bowl. Pour honey and lemon juice over fruit and gently toss. Scoop up mouthfuls of fruit salsa using cinnamon graham crackers or sliced fresh fruit and veggies. Nutrition Information per Serving of Salsa: calories: 120, total fat: <1g, saturated fat: <1g, protein: 1g, carbohydrates: 31g, cholesterol: 0mg, dietary fiber: 4g, sodium: 1mg
Heavenly Yam Delight Makes 16 servings 1 cup all purpose flour 1/4 cup plus 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar 1/3cup chopped pecans 7 tablespoons margarine 1 8-ounce package fat free cream cheese 1 8-ounce container fat free frozen whipped topping, thawed and divided 2 15-ounce cans Louisiana yams (sweet potatoes) drained or 2 cups fresh sweet potatoes, cooked and cut into chunks 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dig In!
FAMILY FEATURES
Boost kids’ nutrition with sweet potato recipes they’ll love
It may not be as hard as you think to get kids to eat more veggies. Sweet Potatoes are naturally sweet and delicious, so you don’t have to disguise them and trick your kids into enjoying healthier foods. Sweet potatoes, sometimes called yams, are loaded with nutrition: Sweet potatoes have more vitamin A than any other vegetable. Vitamin A is necessary for strong tissues and maintaining a healthy immune system. The sweet potato is a complex carbohydrate that contains more than one-third the recommended daily requirements of vitamin C. Potassium in sweet potatoes also helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body cells, as well as normal heart and nerve functions. By adding Louisiana Sweet Potatoes (both fresh and canned) to your kids’ diet, you’re boosting their nutrition and helping them learn healthy eating habits. Because they’re available year-round, it’s easy to incorporate sweet potatoes into any meal, from breakfast to dessert. For more recipes the whole family will want to dig into, visit the Louisiana Sweet Potato Commission’s Web site, www.sweetpotato.org.
Lemon Sweet Potato Casserole Makes 10 to 12 servings 6 cups shredded peeled sweet potatoes (yams), about 3 medium 2 tablespoons margarine or butter, melted 2/3 cup sugar 1 cup skim milk 2 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 4-serving box instant lemon pudding and pie filling
PHOTOS FROM FAMILY FEATURES
Preheat oven to 325°F. Combine sweet potatoes, margarine, sugar, milk, eggs, cinnamon and pudding mix in a 2-quart oblong casserole dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake for one hour. Remove foil and continue cooking 20 to 30 minutes or until top is golden brown.
Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, pecans and margarine. Press into bottom of 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Bake 20 minutes. Set aside to cool. In mixing bowl, mix cream cheese and 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar until creamy. Fold in 3/4 cup whipped topping. Spread cream cheese mixture over cooled crust. In mixing bowl, beat sweet potatoes, sugar, and cinnamon until smooth. Spread over cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate.
Yamcakes Makes 16 pancakes 1 cup mashed sweet potatoes or 1 (15-ounce) can sweet potatoes, drained 1 1/2 cups skim milk 1 egg 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons light brown sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon In small bowl, mix sweet potatoes, milk, egg, oil and lemon juice. In another bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Stir flour mixture into sweet potato mixture, stirring only until combined. Heat a nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray over medium heat. Pour about one-fourth cup batter onto skillet and cook about 1 to 2 minutes or until bubbly. Turn to cook on other side until light brown.
Yamster the Hamster® encourages kids to learn more about sweet potatoes. To see Yamster and for recipes that kids can help prepare with adults, go to www.sweetpotato.org.
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Nursery gets back to basics
The
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Once upon a time, the ideal for a child’s room was a cozy haven filled with sturdy push-pull toys, handmade dolls and a few baskets of dress-up clothes. That was before batteries, computer programs for toddlers, and the array of stuff that talks, squawks, jangles and jolts in little hands. Some modern parents want to lower the volume on tech toys and on children’s environment as a whole. Amanda Heravi, of Larchmont, N.Y., said her toddler, Jake, and his new sister, Lilia, should drive the play experience. “Wooden puzzles, trains, blocks — whatever sounds Jake thinks should accompany the toy, I love to hear,” she said. “Then I can tell that he’s really using his imagination.” Not surprisingly, many of the designers and retailers responding to this trend are parents themselves. When Atlanta couple Jim and Erica Lancaster had their first child 14 years ago, “our house began to fill with plastic and electronic toys which neither suited us nor the environment we wanted for our kids,” Jim said. Erica, who had worked on The Nature Company’s toy development team, envisioned a collection that updated familiar classics, and Jack Rabbit Creations was born. Their jack-in-the-boxes feature characters like Fifi the poodle and Spots the bunny. There are knitted toys, big fleecy jingle balls and old fashioned tin lunchboxes. Melissa and Doug Bernstein have built a toy empire in Wilton, Conn., around that sentiment. Parents stock up on “Melissa and Doug” peg pounders, sorters, blocks and puppets toys that could have been found in a child’s room half a century ago. PHOTO FROM “We’re experiencing dramatic age ASSOCIATED PRESS compression — children aren’t children Clocks and toys with for as many years any more,” Melissa themes like Barnyard, Bernstein said. “Five year olds are Space, Ballerina and receiving iPods as gifts, and 3-year-olds Western, at www. are playing video games. Imagination and myretrobaby.com. the ability to innovate come when the brain can engage in open-ended creativity.” In this intense, strife-ridden world, she believes, many parents are eager to provide their kids with “real, simple, enriching play.” Lisa Lowe of Long Beach, Calif., puts out the SugarBooger collection, which includes closet dividers in themes like Nursery Rhyme and Campground, complete with sticker sets to help organize. Her Yummy Kitchen and Gingham melamine tray sets are charming, as is the beechwood kitty rattle.
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Above: Groovy Pink Dots crib bedding comes in a bundle, at area retailers. Left: Tin pails, clocks and toys with themes like Barnyard, Space, Ballerina and Western, at www.myretrobaby.com.
Above: Four-piece Baby Picasso baby bedding set by Lambs & Ivy, musical crib mobile, wall mobile, window valance, lamp and shade, and hanging diaper stacker, at area retailers.
Wood tool kit, at www.melissaanddoug.com. PHOTO FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 2010
Some technology suits parents fine. Californians Heather Hamda and Linda Suh of Cloud B studio developed a collection of plush toys, some with nightlights, to soothe restless babies. Gentle sounds like rain and whale song emanate from the soft bodies of giraffes, dolphins and sheep; you can set the sounds on a timer. Turtles and ladybugs project a starry sky on the ceiling, and a Labrador retriever smells like soothing lavender. The line has been popular among Hollywood celebrities. Nora Neiterman, a New York-based textile artist, creates juvenile designs for retailers such as Target, and likes her own children’s rooms “to be an extension of our overall home decor.” Her color palette runs to “white, soft green and accents of vegetable colors.” ToysRUs has launched a line of nursery decor called Little Boutique. Vintage-style switchplates, frames, wall art and storage are attractively priced, and a leafy tree decal is simple yet chic. “We connect with the past when we share it with our children,” said Deanna Campbell, who runs myretro baby.com, offering toys and decor that evoke a range of bygone decades. “In a fast-paced world, that’s calming.”
PHOTOS FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS
Above: Little Boutique switchplates, picture frames and wall art, at ToysRUs.
PHOTO FROM GANNETT
Above: Classic Sock Monkey crib bedding and nursery decor collection, at www. babybedding.com. Top left: Cotton Tale Pirate’s Cove four-piece crib bedding set, at www.sears.com and area retailers.
Safety tips For a safe nursery, there are several oncepopular items that are no longer recommended, in an effort to prevent sudden infant death syndrome and other potential injuries and death: • Place babies to sleep on their backs on a firm, tight-fitting mattress in a crib that meets current safety standards. • Remove all pillows, pillow-like bumper pads, quilts, comforters, stuffed toys and other soft items from the crib. • Consider using a sleeper as an alternative to blankets. • If using a blanket, put baby with feet at the
foot of the crib and tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as the baby’s chest. • Keep all window-blind cords and draperies away from the crib. • Make sure crib is not sitting in front of any electrical outlets, where a baby could reach. • When choosing a crib, make sure it’s certified by the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association. Slats should be no more than two and three-eighths inches apart. Many older cribs do not meet this safety standard. • On the crib, check for cracked and peeling paint. All surfaces should be covered with lead-free paint. • Ends of crib should be solid, with no
Tin pails, clocks and toys with themes like Barnyard, Space, Ballerina and Western, at www. myretrobaby.com.
decorative cutouts that could trap a baby’s head. • Mattress should fit tight into cribs so that there are no gaps to trap arms, body or legs. If you can fit two fingers between the mattress and side of the crib, it should not be used. • Do not hang crib toys, such as mobiles and crib gyms, within baby’s reach. Any hanging crib toy must be removed before a child can push up on his hands and knees, usually around 5 months of age, but sometimes sooner. • Lower crib mattress to its lowest setting before baby can stand alone. The sides should be at least 26 inches above the mattress support in its lowest position. Source: American Academy of Pediatrics Bella Baby 2010
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Land of Make-Believe: The
Designing the perfect playroom on a shoestring budget
ARACONTENT
Playrooms are ideal spaces for encouraging children’s creativity, providing them with the stimulation they crave and helping them create a connection with others. Many unused extra spaces in the home can function as playroom spaces. Whether it’s a sewing room you no longer have time for or maybe an extra bedroom that isn’t being used, make sure the space is safe and secure for the ages of children who will be playing in it. Spaces under staircases and large closets can make great play areas and give an almost fort-like feel for your child to play make-believe in. Define a goal for the room and take into account who will be using the space. “Create universal spaces that will grow with your children,” said Nancy Bohnett, academic director of Interior Design at The Art Institute of Las Vegas. “Your first child may be a 3-year-old girl who loves princesses, but she may outgrow her love for pink in a few years and gain a baby brother who will also use the space as he grows.” • Make a list of the items you’ll need and want, whether it’s an easel for your little artist, bins to store a large collection of blocks or a table for the perfect tea party. You may have many of the items you need, whether they are crammed into your child’s current space or stored in the garage. • Look into double-duty furniture, such as changing tables that convert easily into a bureau, so once a baby is out of diapers, the table can still serve a purpose in the room. • When it comes to storage, more is always better — over-plan rather than installing just enough for current belongings. Kids come with lots of stuff that seems to multiply nightly. The cabinet that can hold a few blankets and books today likely will end up stuffed with clothes, toys and collectibles even a year or two down the road. There are plenty of cost-effective and colorful storage and closet units available at a variety of home improvement retailers. • With a little TLC and some paint, any piece can make a great addition to your playroom. Refurbish hand-me-down furniture to give their rooms a new look. A beat-up, dated old armoire, bookshelf or desk can become a whimsical piece of expression in any room, not to mention handy storage for toys, clothing, books and more. Closet sweater stackers and over-the-door shoe organizers are great places for coloring books and art supplies. • When it comes to the walls, playrooms should be bright and cheerful, but there’s no need to go overboard with paint.
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“The reality is that children’s tastes change as they grow. Creating an accent wall in a favorite color is a great way to bring color to the space and save money. It can be something your kids help with, putting their handprints on the wall or something fun and can be easily changed over time,” Bohnett said. • Don’t make the mistake of thinking there are “right or wrong colors,” said Donna Schroeder, Dutch Boy color marketing and design manager. Let creativity — and your child’s tastes — be your guide. Crayola and Dutch Boy offer a 96-color palette of Crayola colors tinted in Dutch Boy Paint. • When it comes to flooring, hard and washable surfaces are ideal for these spaces. “Having floors that can withstand the rigors of childhood play is important for a parent’s sanity,” Bohnett said. “Not only do children play with many things that roll along the floor, but they also play with messy things like paints, clay and Mommy’s nail polish.” • Don’t let a small space rain on your playroom parade. “There are simple ways to make a room feel larger,” Bohnett said. “Do simple things like add a mirror to the room. It can be used for dress-up time and helps the space feel larger.” Children can also use washable markers and paints on the mirror, which can easily be cleaned once playtime is over. • Lighting for the space can be a breeze as well. Overhead lights that are already built into the space, daylight and some indirect light are all you need. Grab an old lamp from the garage and paint it to match the new scheme. It’s a great way to personalize the space and an inexpensive alternative to a custom child-themed lamp. • And don’t forget extending creativity to the finishing touches — accessories such as window treatments and novelty throw rugs. Create fanciful designs on plain, inexpensive roman shades or room-darkening blinds by decorating them with patterns from fun stencils or stamps, using paints that coordinate with the wall and trim palette. From flowers or cars to trains or fairies, the possibilities for livening up plain window treatments are endless — and far from costly. Area rugs add another bit of special personalization to a child’s bedroom. A lively, patterned rug can add a lighthearted feel to any space. • Last but not least, don’t forget that even in a kids’ space, parents need a little room. Make sure there’s a comfortable place for you to sit and supervise your children and to have the materials at hand you’ll need for the space.
PHOTO FROM ARACONTENT
TIPS FOR SAFER WINDOW AREAS
While nothing can replace the watchful eye of a parent or caregiver, there are a number of things you can do to increase safety around window areas. Budget Blinds, the leading custom window coverings franchise, encourages new parents to replace window treatments featuring looped cords with cordless or motorized options to minimize strangulation hazards. The company offers this checklist: • Replace all corded blinds, shades and draperies manufactured before 2001 with today’s safer products. • Move cribs, beds and furniture away from windows. • Install retractable cords that remain at a constant length when the shade is not being operated, making them less accessible to children and pets. • Eliminate dangling cords altogether by installing cordless or motorized window coverings. • “Cordless window coverings are now widely available and cost-efficient,’’ said Tracy Christman, director of Budget Blinds Vendor Alliance. • Cord Cleats keep cords secured against the wall and out of a curious child¹s reach. • When traveling with your kids, remember to do a safety check of your room and areas where you’ll spend time to identify hazards whether you’re staying at a hotel or a private residence. Be sure to inspect the window areas for potential risks. If cords are present, don’t permit your youngster to sleep or play near the window. Ask to reposition furniture and secure the cords during your stay. For more safety tips, visit www.budgetblinds.com/safety. Source: North American Precis Syndicate
I AM A BAPTIST HEALTH CARE BABY. The Baptist Mother Baby Care Center has everything to help welcome a new baby like me. They offer pre and post-natal classes for new parents, such as Infant Massage, Infant Care and Breastfeeding, and even classes for older siblings and daddies. Their online retail store also offers a full line of breast pumps, nursing bras, clothing, CDs and DVDs. Most of all, Baptist offers a caring loving environment focused on you and your baby to help keep your experience as personal as it should be. 0000252691
To learn more about the Mother Baby Care Center at Baptist or for a physician referral, visit eBaptistHealthCare.org or call 877.469.7500 and press option 3.