Parenting

How to get a note from the President

Blog Author — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:35:36 GMT

Regardless of your political leanings, it makes a pretty cool addition to your baby book to have a personal note from the president. You can send a baby announcement to the White House, or you can simply fill out an online request. Within a few months, you will receive a hand-addressed letter from the President. (Or maybe it is a volunteer caligrapher, and not Laura Bush, who addresses every envelope by hand)

Baby Bottle Updates

Blog Author — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:31:09 GMT

In my last post about baby bottles, I mentioned the growing concern about a chemical called BPA that is found in many plastics. We hear that the FDA will be coming out with a new report on this soon, so stay tuned for more data on the subject. In the mean time, I wanted to give my feedback about the two types of BPA-free bottles that we have tried. We have liked both the Born Free and the Sassy MAM bottles, but they each have their pros and cons.

- Born Free - Harry likes these the best. I have heard comments that the nipple tends to be too soft and collapses when the baby sucks too hard, but we ordered the variable-flow nipples and have not had any problems. These are probably a little easier to assemble than the Sassy.

- Sassy MAM - Sam likes these the best. It just figures that they would like different bottles and refuse to simplify things. The nipple is a little sturdier and is supposed to mimic the shape of a human nipple as it becomes compressed after breastfeeding. These have a valve at the base of the bottle that is supposed to minimize gas and swallowed air, but if you do not assemble the components perfectly, it can leak.

Both types of bottles are fairly slow to warm up; that BPA stuff must be a better conductor of heat! Glass bottles are another BPA-free option that heats more quickly, so if time is of the essence, you might consider glass for home use.

I predict that this is going to be a "buzzworthy" topic in the next few weeks, so I welcome your feedback and user reviews!

Enjoying the small victories in parenting

Blog Author — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:53:29 GMT

Parenting can be like the Texas weather -- if you don't like what's happening, just wait 15 minutes and things will change. Any given day can include tantrums, poopy diapers, and various battles, but it can also include moments of joy and wonder. We can't expect a perfect day, but we can certainly savor those pleasant episodes, however brief. Last night was just such a moment at my house. After dinner, I was sitting on the back porch. Walt was playing happily in the backyard, and I was feeding Sam a bottle. I could see Leigh inside, nursing Harry contentedly on the couch. The spring weather was perfect, we were listening to music, and for those 15 minutes, everything was just right. Of course, a little while later, Walt was resisting bathtime and bedtime and pitching a good fit. But I sure did enjoy those 15 minutes on the back porch. I hope you can have a few nice moments with your kids today.

Tummy Time

Blog Author — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:12:36 GMT

The "Back to Sleep" campaign has been extremely successful in reducing SIDS risk (a nearly 50% reduction in SIDS death). But it has had unintended consequences, principally a rise in positional plagiocephaly, a flattening of the back of the head. An article in the Dallas Morning News this week discusses how many of our babies' daytime activities can also contribute to these head-shape issues, and may limit their gross motor development. Bouncy seats, car seats, and exersaucers may also limit a baby's freedom of movement. Believe me, I know how easy it is to plop them into the bouncy seat so you can get a few things done. One surprising quote from the article: "If you haven't put a baby on her stomach by the time she's 5 days old, she decides she shouldn't be on her stomach," said Mary Weck, a clinical specialist and physical therapist at Children's Memorial. "They really get in the mind-set that they shouldn't have to work physically." Until now, we have not typically emphasized tummy time at such an early age. This does, of course, need to be supervised, awake tummy time. Bottom line: as much as you can, give your child freedom to move.

Our Key Parenting Tasks

Blog Author — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:56:18 GMT

As we struggle with our picky toddler who is completely disinterested in potty-training, I am reminded of a quote from some parent/parenting expert:

"There are three main jobs for parents of little ones: getting our kids to sleep well, eat well, and use the toilet. I have never met a parent who is 3-for-3."