Parenting in the Loop Weekend

Parenting in the Loop Weekend

Parenting in the Loop Weekend

Feeding Baby…”no judgement”

As a grandma I am amazed at the amount of parenting advice is at the touch of today’s parent’s fingertips. Although it is awesome to have so many answers to every question, it can also be overwhelming.

I am well aware of many websites that offer advice from “must have” products to ease raising a happy, healthy child.

Since my granddaughter was born nine years ago I have a renewed interest in the world of mommies and daddies. The twenty-five year gap since I was the parent of a baby was the impetus for this blog.

I now have a two year old grandson and things keep changing exponentially.

In a effort to be true to my own background as a mother/baby nurse and clinical social worker I have focused on child safety, food allergies and parenting skills from a few select people.  On my Facebook page I curate products, recalls, and parenting guidance. Very infrequently am I involved in sponsored posts which inadvertently, could color my opinions. I advocate for kids with food allergies and kids safety especially in cars.

Here are a few of my favorite connections:

 

Here’s the deal: We have never had so much information at our fingertips in the history of parenting. Data, studies, websites, books, podcasts, articles, blogs, columns (ahem), classes, therapists, coaches (again, ahem). There is a never-ending list of ways that parents can get advice and instruction and information. Yet we have never been more anxious and insecure about our roles. Are we good enough? Are we providing the best opportunities for our children? Are we too lenient? Too strict? Too absent? Too present? For every question we have, we can sit at the computer and search and search, giving our brain unending fodder for worry and uncertainty. For every study we find, another will disprove it.

Source: Parenting books won’t end your anxiety. Here’s what to do instead. – The Washington Post

I hope you have an enjoyable weekend. They are always too short!

Week in Review….ParentingintheLoop!

Summer Solstice… NYC

 

Healthy Child Healthy World is one of my favorite sites for excellent information…this week has been a long one for me but I would love to share these wonderful articles that as so apropos for summer.

Have a great weekend!

See you all next week…hopefully!

  • The dog days of summer have arrived early at Chez Sorensen and my girls are practically living in the pool. I love that they’re spending oodles of time outdoors, but we’re going through copious amounts of sunscreen and my kids aren’t exactly fond of the laborious effort it takes to slather their bodies repeatedly throughout the day.

via 3 Sunscreen Safety Tips You Probably Don’t Know, But Definitely Should | Healthy Child Healthy World.

  • Dr. Harvey Karp is a legend at Healthy Child Healthy World. Dr. Karp is a founding board member and a driving force behind the work we do every day.

via Dr. Harvey Karp, America’s #1 Pediatrician, Makes a Housecall | Healthy Child Healthy World.

  • Vegetarian PestoFresh and flavorful! Check out this recipe for a versatile and vegetarian pesto that you can use all summer!

via Vegetarian Pesto | Healthy Child Healthy World.

Chicago Bean at Sunrise

Photos of “my two Cities”… via Flickr…

 

Temper Tantrums…new info…

Simply put, I could not wait to share this post from NPR ….temper tantrums are so exhausting for the child, parents, grandparents and anyone else around.

This is great information with some scientific background.

Another recommendation of mine for dealing with “meltdowns” is found in “The Happiest Toddler on the Block” by Dr. Harvey Karp.

Good Luck…hope it helps.

Temper Tantrums (video)

The trick in getting a tantrum to end as soon as possible, Potegal said, was to get the child past the peaks of anger. Once the child was past being angry, what was left was sadness, and sad children reach out for comfort. The quickest way past the anger, the scientists said, was to do nothing. Of course, that isnt easy for parents or caregivers to do.

via Whats Behind A Temper Tantrum? Scientists Deconstruct The Screams : Shots – Health Blog : NPR.

Spanking not allowed…

I do not believe in spanking.

Plenty of people out there that agree but there are also many who still believe in “spare the rod…spoil the child”.

There are so many ways to deal with discipline…one of my favorite books is…Dr. Harvey Karp’s The Happiest Toddler on the Block .  It is a easy read and full of information that is extremely helpful.

“Sendek says spanking can lead to physical-abuse cases, when a parent loses control. She points out the ways to win cooperation and solve problems by using consequences with your children, but first warns it’s important for parents to take a time-out when they feel heated.

“Then you can say to your child, ‘You know, I feel bad you don’t have your bike but that’s the consequence; you made the choice for your behavior, and now this is the consequence of it’, and you don’t have to feel guilty about the discipline.”

Sendek adds that studies show spanking can make children aggressive as well as cause low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.

SpankOut Day USA, which falls on April 30, the last day of Child Abuse Prevention Month, was initiated in 1998 to raise awareness about the need to end physical punishment of children and to promote non-violent ways of disciplining. Informational events will be held throughout the state this week, and on April 30, all caregivers are encouraged to refrain from hitting children and look for alternative methods of discipline.

via Public News Service.