Finding the Magic Sleep Window
Contributed by Joanna Winograd of Wee Sleep Solutions: Certified Infant and Child Sleep Consultants
If you’re having a hard time figuring out the optimal times that your baby should be going down for sleep you are not alone! As pediatric sleep specialists, we often see parents struggling to find their baby’s natural sleep window.
10 Tips for Exercising and Breastfeeding
Contributed by Brittany Citron is a pre/postnatal exercise specialist, and certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and founder of PROnatal Fitness.
If you’ve been nervous about resuming exercise post-baby due to concerns of how it may impact your milk supply, you can relax! It is a myth that exercise decreases milk production. Studies have shown absolutely no difference in milk production or nutrient composition between mothers who exercise, and those who do not. Moreover, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that “regular aerobic exercise in lactating mothers has been shown to increase cardiovascular fitness without affecting milk production, composition, or infant growth.” That said, it’s good idea to follow the 10 tips below to ensure both you and your little one have the best experience possible with nursing.
Fertile Ground: A Holistic Guide to Conception
Did you know that nutritional deficiencies of Zinc and Omega 3s in men can lead to problems in sperm maturity and count, and that natural light can help reduce depression in pregnant women?
Picking Your Dream Doula
Contributed by BirthFocus, a popular and well-respected center for doula services in the New York City area.
First thing’s first… What is a doula?
A doula is a professional who is trained in childbirth and provides continuous support to a mother before, during and just after birth. Doula comes from a Greek word that means “a woman who serves” or “handmaiden”.
This post will focus on prepartum doulas. Stay tuned for a future Mummy Scoop to learn how a postpartum doula can guide you through the next stage to parenting peace.
How should I choose a doula?
It seems like a basic straightforward question; just figure out your price range and hire someone who costs about that much. This would be great advice if you were hiring a landscaper, but this person will be with you in one of the most intimate moments of your life. Childbirth, by design I believe, strips us down to the most essential pieces of who we are. It is the gateway to fulfilling one of the highest callings a human can have. Being a parent. It’s beautiful, painful, and real in ways few things are and every birth is as unique as you and your partner are.
What You Need to Know About the Zika Virus
If you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, you are probably paying close attention to all of the news out there about Zika. And if you are like most of us, you probably have questions. While it is not a new virus, Zika has been getting a lot of attention in the press lately and new information is being reported in the news almost every day, so it is easy to get confused or feel overwhelmed.
For the most up-to-date information look to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC is on the ground in Brazil working to get the most accurate information and share it with the public on their site.
Bringing Up Baby...in the ‘Burbs
Contributed by Suburban Jungle Realty Group. Suburban Jungle Realty Group has offices in NYC, L.A., Miami, Chicago and San Francisco.
The city has some obvious pluses when it comes to child-rearing and, chances are, it’s the same aspects that attracted you to NYC in those pre-kid years. The arts, the culture, the food, the 24/7 access and the overall hum of an urban existence. It’s intoxicating whether you’re 22, 42 or 2.
But in the infant and young childhood years countless families pack it up and head to the suburbs to seek some unique advantages. What are the most common we hear? A backyard, great public schools and, above all, space, space, space. Many parents we work with want their kids to have a childhood that’s more similar to the ones they had -- and, chances are, that was a suburban upbringing.
So how does suburbia stack up to city life? Here are some side-by-sides we’ve discovered in moving our broods outside of city limits…
Choking Prevention – What You Need to Know
Contributed by Pamela Brawer, R.N., CCE, certified American Heart Instructor and Certified Childbirth Instructor, and founder of Save-A-Tot.
Last week’s post from Pamela focusing on Infant/Child CPR was so well received that we asked her to do a follow up specifically about choking.
The threat of choking is something that worries almost all parents. Understandably - choking is a very common cause of unintentional injury or death in children under age one, and the danger remains significant until the age of five. You must be particularly watchful when children around the age of one are sampling new foods that must be chewed with a grinding motion. Children don't master that kind of chewing until age four. And remember, all children learn at different rates. Take your time. Make it a fun experience.
The danger signs of choking are:
The Bra Fitting Guide
Contributed by Janina Rodriguez, Assistant Yummy Mummy Store Manager and Expert Bra Fitter
Proper support in a bra is just as important as it is for a pair of shoes or a best friend. This is especially true when you are pregnant or nursing. So I wanted to share some tips on finding the right bra that is comfortable, fashionable and most importantly, makes you feel good.
What to look for when trying on a bra:
Infant/Child CPR – What You Need to Know
Contributed by Pamela Brawer, R.N., CCE, certified American Heart Instructor, Certified Childbirth Instructor, and founder of Save-A-Tot.
Anyone caring for a baby or child should take a class in Infant/Child CPR. That includes you, your husband, and any caregivers like grandparents or nannies. The stark truth is that unintentional choking and accidents are the leading causes of all injuries and deaths from birth to 5 years old. Then comes drowning and illness. It’s all about prevention but we are not machines and we are not perfect. That is why they are called accidents. But if something does happen, you and whoever is caring for your child should know what to do. I always say…. Can you answer this question? “IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY BABY WILL I KNOW WHAT TO DO”
Simple Things to Do with Baby in the ‘Burbs
Contributed by Suburban Jungle Realty Group. Suburban Jungle Realty Group has offices in NYC, L.A., Miami, Chicago and San Francisco.
Simple Things to Do with Baby in the ‘Burbs
There’s so much to do with infants and babies in the city that -- bonus! -- require little or no planning at all. At a moment’s notice you can pop your fussy newborn into her stroller for a quick cruise around the block or to hang at the park. Even in the winter there are museums to wander through, indoor playscapes to explore, kids clubs to navigate and mom-and-me activities to join from infant yoga to swimming for tiny tots. But what happens when you leave the city for (gulp!) the ‘burbs? Don’t panic -- there’s loads for new moms to do in suburbia! And, like the city, it’s all within stroller distance…
