Thursday, January 30, 2014

Friday's Kids is Expanding!

When I first started at Help Me Grow Utah, I had NO idea what respite care was. I knew what the word "respite" meant (to take a break from something) but what did that have to do with child care? From the calls I started to take, I soon learned that this is a very frequently requested resource. If you're a parent with a child with special needs, you know how important good respite resources are. One such resource is Friday's Kids.

From their website: Friday's Kids Respite was co-founded in 2001 by Diane McNeill and Kimber Dower. Diane McNeill's second child was born in 1990 with Down syndrome. Diane’s son had multiple surgeries during his early years, so Diane was aware of the stress many families of children with special needs experience.  After her son gained his strength, Diane searched in the community for recreational programs that her son could participate in, but found none because he needed one-on-one supervision.  While researching programs, Diane met Kimber over the phone.

In 2001, Kimber Dower was employed as an occupational therapist at The Utah Valley Pediatric Rehabilitation Center in Orem, and witnessed first-hand the extensive stress families of children with special needs were experiencing. Kimber, in the past, had interned at a respite service in Texas and suggested the two collaborate to offer a similar relief service in Utah County. Friday's Kids was born in 2001 with the goal to provide relief to families and, at the same time, provide a safe, fun recreational environment for the children.

Since 2001, they have expanded to Orem, Lehi, Salem and St. George Utah.  Their new site in St. George is opening in February!! if you know any families in that area who need to know about this service, let them know! Visit their website to find out more about their location!

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Eliminating the Nighttime Bottle: It Can Be Done!

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I did it. I’ve passed the point of no return.

Why didn’t anyone tell me I was supposed to stop giving a nighttime bottle when my baby was 9-12 months old? (She is now 18 months old…)

I can’t be alone in this dilemma, and I certainly hope I’m not the only mama out there who remains oblivious to these milestones. I just happened to Google when nighttime bottle weaning should take place (because I was starting to wonder when I should finally take away that nightly source of comfort) when I found articles that said things like, "if your toddler is still taking a bedtime bottle at his first birthday, this would definitely be the time to get rid of it" because "toddlers are more likely to get attached to things between 15 and 18 months" (Source). 

Oh boy. I have got some work to do! But there is still hope for me and my 18 month old! There are ways to wean your baby from the nighttime bottle whether or not it seems too late. We will get through this together!

Here are some tips to *hopefully* make a smooth transition to a bottle-less bedtime routine:
  • Start sooner rather than later. I am already past this point, but if you have a little one who is between 9 and 12 months old, you can start now to gradually reduce the amount of milk given in the bottle at bedtime by 1-2 ounces every 2 days or so. So, if you are currently giving baby 6 ounces of milk/formula at night, cut it down to 4 or 5 ounces. After a couple days, cut it down to 3 or 4 ounces, and so on.
  • Feed baby an adequate dinner. Try making sure baby gets enough to eat about 2 hours before bedtime. The more baby's tummy is satisfied by food provided at dinner, the less likely she will want a bottle to sate the munchies at bedtime. 
  • Maintain a bedtime routine. Sticking with baby's bedtime routine (minus the bottle) can be just as comforting and relaxing as giving her a bottle. Give baby a nice warm bath, read her a book, cuddle, and sing to her (even if you're not a singer, babies love to hear their parents' voice). It may take a bit of time for baby to adjust to the routine without the bottle, but eventually she will no longer rely on the bottle for extra comfort. If you are not ready to eliminate the bottle from the routine altogether, try giving the bottle at the beginning of the routine and gradually reduce the number of ounces given (see the "Start sooner rather than later" tip).
  • Provide an alternative object of comfort. Try replacing the bottle with a big, stuffed bear or a soft blanket (or "blankie" as my baby fondly refers to it). 
Well, I believe it is time for me to start the weaning process. I am a little late at getting to it but with these tips, I am confident that my baby (and myself!) will survive without her nighttime bottle. 

What tips or tricks have worked for you when weaning baby off the nighttime bottle? 

Additional Resources:

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

What happens at parenting class, stays at parenting class....

photo from: http://www.henry4school.fr/feb13P3.htm



Just kidding- we love to share! We just had our first Aspire Parent Group and Ready to Learn parenting workshop of the year and we wanted to pass on what we learned!

First we made parenting resolutions for 2014 which included:
-Having a set dinner time throughout the week
-Preparing an activity list to have on hand when the kids get restless
-When two or more people are sitting at the table, no books, newspapers, phones or computers are allowed
-Making a week long or month long dinner idea list to keep dinnertime less chaotic and more planned.

We also came up with a list of future discussion topics that everyone can look forward to:
- Inexpensive date night ideas
- Ways to keep cool when crazy things happen
- Making routines that are realistic and manageable
- Sharing parental responsibilities between mom and dad
- How to prepare for multiple children or better known as, how not to feel outnumbered
- and Strengthening Families

 The Aspire and Ready to Learn group happens on the third Wednesday of each month. It is a chance to share stories or vent frustrations with other parents who are in your same circumstance. We provide the pizza and a lesson and you bring the children and discussion! Hope to see you there next month!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Strong Happy Families: The Strengthening Families Approach

In 2001, The Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) began studying how education programs and early child care across the country could prevent child abuse and neglect and build healthy, happy families.  They came up with an approach called Strengthening Families.

After spending years researching and learning from exemplary programs across the nation, the CSSP moved Strengthening Families into a pilot phase.  Several states then began implementing the Strengthening Families foundation into the policies and practices of their early childhood, child abuse prevention, and child protective services departments. Since its pilot phase, Strengthening Families has grown to be fully active in 35 states, with 5 more implementing at least some level of the Strengthening Families approach.       

The foundation of the Strengthening Families approach is the Protective Factors Framework.   

The five protective factors are the foundation of the Strengthening Families strategy.  Research studies have shown that when the Protective Factors are in place the likelihood of child abuse and neglect decreases significantly! Research has ALSO shown that the Protective Factors build an environment that promotes optimal child development! 

The 5 Protective Factors are:  

1. Parental Resilience

      Resilience is the ability to manage the stress that will most definitely come while parenting and bounce back from the everyday struggles of raising children.  Look for ways to manage your stress and get help when you need it!  

     2.  Social Connections
      
      Social connections help parents receive emotional support, solve problems, and find advice and concrete aid.  Family, friends, and Help Me Grow are great ways to help parents stay connected and receive the help they need!

     3. Concrete Support in Time of Need
  
      For families to succeed, they need tangible help in times of need. This can be anything from food and shelter to health care and treatment.   

    4.  Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development

      Understanding a child’s development will help with viewing them in a positive light and being able to celebrate important milestones with them.  Education on child development can come from so many sources, such as the internet, family members, or Help Me Grow!  

    5. Social and Emotional Competence of Children

      How children interact with those around them plays a huge role in their relationships with their parents and peers.  If you notice your child has difficulties communicating or interacting positively with friends or family, it is important to connect with any available resources to improve those behaviors early on.

Implementing the Protective Factors into your family is a great way to build on relationships that are already strong and improve on those that are struggling. To learn more about them check out these Protective Factors One Pagers.  They can also help families you know get through difficult times or just build a more stable foundation for their children!

So share this information with your loved ones and friends!


Also check out the partner organizations that support Strengthening Families here! And keep up on how Strengthening Families is changing your community here! 

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Time to Immunize!

Out with the old, in with the new! We live in a world blessed by the miracle of modern medicine. Growing up I wasn't plagued by fear of contracting polio as were the children of the 1940s and 1950s, or subjected to the panic surrounding diphtheria during the 1920s. My parents were given the opportunity to protect me from these terrors. I grew up receiving regular immunizations. As the New Year begins it’s time to take a look at your children’s immunization records! 
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Keeping your child’s immunizations up to date is an important way to protect them from potentially harmful diseases. A pregnant mother helps protect her child by passing on antibodies. These antibodies provide temporary immunization through the placenta, and then later through breast milk. However, after breastfeeding stops they no longer have this wonderful protection from mom. This is where immunizations come in! 

So what is an immunization? Immunizations are microbes (bacteria or viruses) that have been killed or weakened so that they don't cause disease. Instead, they act as a switch that turns on your immune system and helps you create the appropriate antibodies so that when the real thing comes along, you'll be ready! According to the World Health Organization, every year immunizations are estimated to prevent almost 6 million deaths world wide! Here in the United States we have seen a 99% decrease in the incidence of diseases for which immunizations are recommended. 

Remembering dates, schedules, and details of your child's immunizations can be tricky! An easy to follow guide for parents can be found here, as well as a printable worksheet for tracking and recording your child’s immunizations. If you have any questions or concerns they should be brought up with your child's pediatrician. If your child hasn't received immunizations and you are considering it now, remember that it's never too late! Start this year by giving your children them their best "shot" possible!