Breastfeeding

By Sharon Rose

     It is World Breastfeeding Week 2020, August 1 - 7th, and we are talking about understanding breastfeeding, and its benefits.  Mothers, I breastfed my 3 children, and to my surprise, I needed guidance in how to breastfeed successfully.  I learned that it is most beneficial to your baby and yourself, to be patient, understand the changes to your body, and find support, as your milk comes in.  Milk production starts while you are pregnant. Your body will start to produce a nutrient-rich, syrupy, pre-milk, Colostrum, while you are pregnant. You will notice your breast starting to increase in size at the halfway point of your pregnancy, about 16 to 22 weeks. This is due to the increased hormonal levels stimulating the production of colostrum. Your baby will need this yellow to whitish color miracle milk, colostrum, in its first few days of life. Colostrum includes proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and proteins (antibodies) that will fight disease-causing agents such as bacteria and viruses.

     During pregnancy, you may or may not have some leaking of colostrum from your breast.  If you should, you can use nursing pads to tuck in your bra to protect your clothing, so keep some handy.  If you don’t have any leaking, don’t take this as an indication that you won’t be successful with breastfeeding.

    Once your baby is born, if you are a first-time mother, your breast milk will take 3 to 4 days, and possibly up to 7 days to come in.  As a first-time mother, my milk came in after 4 days.  If you have had a child before, it may take less time.  Be patient, because the time frame varies from one mother to another.  You will notice that your breasts will become more firm once your milk comes in.  I learned that breastfeeding is natural, but not easy, as I had expected it to be. Your obstetrician may offer the support services of a Lactation Consultant during your prenatal visits.  If not, ask for information on working with a Lactation Consultant before your baby is born.  Most hospitals, after you give birth, provide this support service.  A Lactation Consultant is helpful in dispelling any myths, preparing you for what to expect, and how to have a happy, healthy breastfeeding experience, for you and your baby.

Copyright, Breastfeeding, Sharon Rose, Parents Want to Know 101, August 2, 2020.  All rights reserved. 

Great Books for Children Around the World (Ages 0 - 8)

By Sharon Rose

Here are fun books, all with their own purpose, that your child will learn from and enjoy.

1.   Good Night Moon, by Margaret Wise
      Brown
2.   The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
3.   Please, Baby, Please, by Spike Lee &
      Tonya Lewis Lee
4.   Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill
      Martin, Jr.
5.   Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed,
       by Ellen Christelow
6.  Touch, Think, Learn: ABC; Touch, Think, Learn: Farm;
    Touch, Think, Learn: Vehicles; series by Xavier
     Deneux
7.  Whose Toes Are Those, by Jabari Asim
8.  Whose Knees Are These, by Jabari Asim
9.  First 100 Words, by Roger Priddy
10.  Baby Goes to Market, by Atinuke
11.  Of Thee I Sing, by Barack Obama
12.  Bahay Kabo, Hermès Alegre
13.  Dragons Love Tacos, by Adam Rubin
14.  Peekaboo Morning; Peekaboo Bedtime; Uh-Oh;
       I Just Want to Say Good Night; Caribbean Dreams;
       books by Rachel Isadora
15.  Mon Petit Busy Day, by Annette
       Tamarkin
16.   Daniel Goes to the Potty; Daniel Tiger’s
        Neighborhood (Daniel Book Series)
17.   The King of Kindergarten, by Derrick Barnes
18.   I See the Sun in India (Book Series: I
        See the Sun in U.S.A., Mexico, China,
        Nepal, etc., (travel books for kids) by Dedie King
19.   Grandma and the Great Gourd: A Bengali Folktale,
        by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
20.   Peek-a-Who, by Nina Laden
21.  Anna Carries Water, by Oliver Senior
22.  Babies Around the World, by Puck
23.  Corduroy, by Don Freeman
24.  No Mirrors In My Nana’s House, with
       song CD, by Ysaye M. Barwell
25.  Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever,
        by Richard Scarry

26.  My Friend Mis Amigos, by Taro Gomi
27.  (Edgar and the Sausage Inspector, by
       Jan Fearnley
28.  The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats
29.  Rufus the Bat Who Loved Colors, by
       Toni Ungerer
30.  A Chair for My Mother, by Vera B. Williams
31.  I Love You Through and Through, by Bernadette
       Rossetti-Shustak
32.  Amazing Grace, by Mary Hoffman
33.  Jabari Jumps, by Gaia Cornwall
34.  Escargot, by Dashka Slater
35.  Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel
        Silverstein  (Poetry)
36.  Say Zoop, by Herve Tullet
37.  The Berenstain Bears: and The Trouble with
       Grown-Ups, (and series) by Stan & Jan Berenstain
38.  Matilda, by Roald Dahl
39.  Baby Faces, by DK Publishing
40.  Baby's Book of the Body, by DK Publishing
41.  Alligators All Around (ABC Book), by Maurice Sendak
42.  Put Me in the Zoo, by Robert Lopshire
43.  Black Bird Yellow Sun, by Steve Light
44.  Imagine! (a wordless book) by Raul Colon
45.  What’s Under My Bed? by James
        Stevenson
46.   The Pout-Pout Fish, by Deborah Diesen
47.  Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, by Mem Fox
48.  Thread of Love, by Kabir Sehgal
49.  Thai Children's Favorite Stories, by Marian D. Toth
50.  Ocean Meets Sky, by the Fan Brothers

51.  The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew
       Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
52.  I Am Human; I Am Love; I Am Peace: series by
       Susan Verde
53.  Sally at the Farm, by Stephen Huneck
54.  The Little Engine that Could, by Watty
        Piper
55.   Little Gorilla, by Ruth Bornstein
56.  The Wonderful Things You Will Be, Emily
       Winfield Martin
57.  Winnie the Pooh, by A. A. Milne
58.  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl
59.  The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix
        Potter
60.  Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You
       See?  by Bill Martin, Jr. & Eric Carle
61.  Are You My Mother, by P. D. Eastman
62.  Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible,
        No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith
        Viorst
63.   Green Eggs and Ham; The Cat in the Hat; Horton
        Hears a Who!; One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish;
       Hop on Pop; Dr. Seuss's Book of Colors; books by Dr. Seuss
64.   It’s the Clever Spider, Retold by Susan Lin
65.   One Duck Stuck, by Phyllis Root






Copyright, Great Books for Children Around the World, Sharon Rose, Parents Want to Know 101, August 23, 2019.  All rights reserved.

Starting Baby on Solid Food

By Sharon Rose

      Starting your baby on solid food is a big step.  It is the milestone that will lay the foundation for healthy eating habits. Always consult with your pediatrician before you start your baby on solid food. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting babies on solid food at 6 months of age.  Parents Want to Know 101 feels the best way to determine if your baby is ready for solid food is to go by the milestones your baby has accomplished and not by the calendar age of the baby.

Signs of Readiness for Solid Food:

1. Baby can hold head up.  Baby needs to swallow solid food well.
2. Baby sits well in a high chair. 
3. Baby makes chewing motions.
4. Baby has significant weight gain; at least, double birth weight.
5. Baby shows an interest in food; such as, grabbing at your food.
6. Baby is teething.
7. Baby can close mouth around a spoon.
8. The tongue reflex that would push food out of mouth is no longer
    present

      Another way to determine if you should start solid food, and what solid foods should be started, has to do with how allergy prone the baby may be.  Look at factors, such as: history of allergy in the family, and has the child already had an allergy indicator like eczema.  If there is a strong history of allergy in the family you may want to wait longer to introduce solid food, and be cautious and informed on what foods to introduce, and what foods to avoid until the baby is older.

     Most babies start a cereal first; usually iron fortified rice cereal.  When served it should be well diluted with the milk the baby is on; one teaspoon of cereal to 4 to 5 teaspoons of baby’s milk. However, it is okay to start a fruit first, such as banana, a fruit babies tend to be least allergic to. Introduce foods one at a time, at least, 4 days between each one to make sure your baby is not allergic. 

      There is no 'one' way, right way, or best time to start your baby on solid food.  It has more to do with your baby’s development, which is likely different from another baby’s.  To find out more on how to introduce solid foods and dairy to your baby’s diet go to the American Academy of Pediatrics website, www.healthychildren.org.

      Remember, always consult with your pediatrician, first, before starting your baby on solid food, and go from there.  

Copyright, Starting Baby on Solid Food, Sharon Rose, Parents Want to Know 101, February 4, 2020.  All rights reserved.