So….on February 11th Nannies on the Go is partnering with Cook Children’s Hospital to bring you current information regarding inoculations. Dr. Jason Terk is a public policy advocate, especially where vaccines are concerned, and will speak about the controversy surrounding vaccinations as well as who needs them now. Allison Oster will also teach us about the steps that are necessary to get your child on a healthy sleep schedule. For all of you with challenging newborns and toddlers, this is a must.

If you are interested, we would love to have parents join us next Saturday morning at Timarron Country Club. The event is complimentary and refreshments will be served. The lectures are hosted by recognized experts who have extensive backgrounds in research and the newest approaches to soothing children.

Seating is limited, so call or e-mail to reserve your spot.

Hope to see you there!

Sharon
817.442.0225

If getting kids back in the groove after the holidays has you about to tear your hair out, you’re not alone. U.S. News contributor Nancy Shute took heart from David Palmiter, a clinical psychologist and father of three children in Clarks Summit, Pa., whose new book, Working Parents, Thriving Families: 10 Strategies that Make a Difference (Sunrise River Press, $16.95), focuses on how hectic parents with limited time and energy can do better by their kids in 2011.

Palmiter emphasizes parenting strategies that have been scientifically tested and proven effective. He tells U.S. News that the biggest is “one-on-one time with the kids. It’s not ‘quality time.’ It’s really paying attention to your child, and praising him or her. It’s the difference between bowling and spending an hour looking your child in the eyes and telling her why she is important to you.” But that’s not all parents can do to keep their family glued together. “One of the best gifts you can give your children is your own peacefulness,” Palmiter says. “It’s incredibly important in terms of promoting kids’ wellness. And it’s also very hard for many parents to pull off, because they’re so stressed about work, the economy, and jobs.” [Read more: How to Be a Better Parent in 2011.]

After all, in today’s world, it seems like kids more and more are subject to rigorous schedules, especially when they are involved in activities like sports, the arts, after-school programs and more. While activities are undoubtedly a good thing when it comes to mental, physical and social development, there also might also be something to allowing kids time for self-discovery and a degree of freedom.

Adding to the problem, according to reporter Sharon Jayson, is the fact that due to rising concerns of safety, many parents have to be extra-protective and constantly worry about their kids’ whereabouts at all times.

“Many parents rarely let their kids roam the neighborhood, use public transportation or walk to school alone,” Jayson writes. “Play and sports are organized into play dates and teams, and extracurricular activities eat up kids’ free time.”

A recent report from Dr. William Bird of the conservation organization Natural England detailed how children over the years have lost the “right to roam.” In the report, Bird documents how kids four generations ago were allowed to walk around and explore areas far away from their homes, while children today are often not even allowed to leave their own property without permission.

This inability to explore the outdoors may have an adverse impact on children’s mental health, Bird warns, and as a result kids today may be lacking some of the stimulation they need for their brains to fully develop. It also may increase stress and the prevalence of health issues like depression or anxiety.

So why has there been such a huge shift in the ability of kids to roam around? For one, parents today are much more aware of the potential hazards that may be out there, and rightfully want to keep their kids safe. After all, the world today seems to be a much more dangerous place than it was just a few decades ago, and parents need to be extra careful.

But is the world really that less safe? Perhaps not, says historian Paula Fass, who is quoted in the USA Today article. She argues that it might be an increased awareness and the heightened perception of danger that is driving the change.

“It’s not that (kids’) lives are more hazardous, but perceptions of the hazards have increased a lot. When that happens, we close down on the children and make it less possible for them to act informally, and worry that we need to have somebody watching over them,” Fass says.

So what’s the solution? The answer may be in striking a balance between allowing a certain amount of freedom for children, while still being aware and taking measures to prevent common hazards and dangers.

“Children need manageable opportunities to experience risk and responsibility in their lives,” says Michael Unger, a professor of social work. “If we take away all these opportunities to suffer natural consequences, then where are they going to learn the skills they need to become well-functioning adults?”

There are many different options in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and a number of organizations that offer outstanding camps for kids of all ages. The following are some of the more popular summer camps in our area:

If you’re kids are particularly interested in art, then Bounce U may be a great option for your family. Organized for kids ages 4-12, this camp features a variety of arts and crafts projects that range from working with clay to creating canvas paintings. However, kids will also be able to get out and play, as the camp offers a number of structured physical activities, as well.

Bounce U is located in Carrollton and offers a nine-week experience, with kids attending every Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Are your kids really into music? If so, the Creative Soul School of Modern Rock is a very unique camp, offering everything from writing original songs, performing live and forming a band of your own. In this weeklong camp in Watauga, students will receive lessons for the guitar, voice, drums, piano or bass, depending on their preference.

The best thing about the Creative Soul School is that no prior experience in music is needed. Kids ages 8-18 are invited to participate, and there’s even a mini-camp option for those who can only attend half days.

Instead of sitting in front of the TV all summer, would you like your kids to get outside and really enjoy the summer? If so, Camp Giddyup offers a terrific opportunity for kids to experience the fun of horseback riding! This four-day camp for children 8 and under includes activities like trail riding and horse care, and can be a great experience for kids who love animals.

For a more traditional summer camp, check out Camp Langston, which has been a summertime favorite since 1951. Located just an hour and a half from Dallas in Mount Pleasant, campers will engage in a number of activities that include hiking, water sports, archery, ATV riding, riflery, creative arts and much more. Camp Langston runs from June 19 to July 23, with sessions that last one week each.

For kids, camp can be a chance to meet new friends, enhance their social skills and have experiences they never would have had otherwise. This year, consider camp as a great option to allow your kids to have some truly memorable summer fun!

On March 26th Nannies On The Go will be hosting the first of a series of training programs specifically targeted for the caregivers. Actually parents may find it equally as interesting. Dr. Caron Goode will be leading the session on March 26th and is an author of over 15 books as well as as the founder of the Academy for Coaching Parents International.  In addition to her many talents, Caron manages www.InspiredParenting.com, which provides strategies for holistic approach supporting children’s physical health, emotional fluency, mental development, and spiritual enrichment. She also founded Intuitive Parenting & Intuitive Children web site, which offers specialized training for parents and parent coaches. (http://intuitiveparenting.wordpress.com/

Kay Willis will also be part of the training and is a wife, mom, and an RN with over 23 years in Women’s Services. Kay has been teaching childbirth and baby care classes since 1992 and an IBCLC (certified lactation consultant) for over 7 years. She believes that starting a family should come with a manual that meets each individuals goals and sharing realistic expectations with new parents helps them to set those goals. Kay is a dynamic speaker and loves to pass on her skills and insights. 

Nanny Network Academy for continuing education - Series One 

1) Understanding your charges Interactive Style and how to effectively get the  behavior you want. Dr. Caron Goode – ED.D. NCC, DAPA

ü      The Nature of 4 Core Interactive Styles     

ü      Factors Influencing Families Today

                 (a questionnaire must be completed by all participants prior to the training)

 2) The Professional Nanny in Demand: Gain an edge with education – Kay Willis, RN

 ü      Basic Infant Needs and Care

ü      Colic

ü      Sids and Shaken Baby Syndrome

ü      Implementing the 5 S’s and why they work

ü      Breast and Formula Feeding

ü      Safety and First Aid

 3)      Family Dynamics:

 ü      How to effectively communicate with the family every day

ü      Best strategies for discussing difficult behavior in a child with the parents

ü      Honoring family values

ü      Understanding and respecting boundaries

ü      Providing Solutions – you are an expert!

        4)    Group Session: Sharing challenges and solutions 

                                              Fee: $75.00 per person – non-refundable

                                Location: Hotel Mandalay Bay – Las Colinas

                                Time: 1:00pm – 5:30pm

                                Refreshments will be served throughout the day

Call Nannies On The Go 817.442.0225  for reservations

Sitting down to a meal can be daunting for an expectant mother weighing conflicting recommendations about which foods are good for her unborn child — and which might subject that child to long-term ills like allergies to peanuts and other foods. 

But just as dietary advice for weight loss changes as new scientific information becomes available, so, too, does dietary advice for moms-to-be about how their eating shapes their future sons’ and daughters’ health.

The advice has been particularly tricky with respect to peanut allergy, a potentially fatal condition that affects an estimated 1 percent to 2 percent of children. The incidence has gone up in the last decade, although scientists can’t say why.

From 1998 to 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the British Committee on Toxicology recommended that in families where parents or siblings have allergies, women avoid peanuts during pregnancy and breast-feeding. But the data for these recommendations was scant and scientific studies yielded conflicting findings: Some said early exposure might be protective, others, harmful.

In 2008, the AAP reversed its position. Similarly, the European panel reversed its recommendation to stay away from peanuts during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It now appears that in families with lots of allergies, it makes some sense for mothers-to-be to go easy on the peanuts, because of new research suggesting heavy consumption, particularly late in pregnancy, might set the stage for peanut allergies.

But for most families, doctors say there’s no evidence that pregnant moms’ peanut eating will produce an allergic baby — or that avoiding peanuts will guarantee a healthier one.

To help clarify the issues, the Consortium of Food Allergy Research studied the relationship between maternal diet and childhood allergies. The researchers, led by Dr. Scott H. Sicherer of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, followed 512 infants with food allergies to see if they became allergic to peanuts over time.

The investigators from Mount Sinai, Duke University in Durham, N.C., Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, National Jewish Health in Denver and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, also asked the mothers about their prenatal eating.

In results published online Oct. 29 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, which will appear in the December print issue, they reported that the more that a mom consumed peanuts in the third trimester of her pregnancy, the greater the chances her infant would test positive for sensitivity to peanuts.

* SOURCE: By JANE E. ALLEN, ABC News Medical Unit

New research by Mother & Baby magazine reveals some shocking statistics. Their survey shows that for the first four months of a newborns life, mothers are surviving on an average of three-and-a-half hours sleep a night with the impact appearing to be greatest on women who leave it until their late 30s to start a family.

The consequent sleep deprivation is playing havoc with their relationships and working lives. Half of those surveyed said that sleeplessness had caused rows with their partners, 13% had nearly broken up because of it and 3% had actually split up. Hardly surprising is the 83% of respondents who said that sheer exhaustion put them off sex.

The average adult needs seven to nine hours of sleep every night but when this is compromised you build up a sleep debt. A sleep debt is difficult to pay back and as a result your health can suffer. Fortunately, this sleep deprivation eases once a child begins sleeping through the night which normally begins at around 3 months old. 

But why do mothers nowadays suffer from such profound sleep deprivation? The report in the Mother & Baby magazine points to an increasing reliance on gadgetry such as baby monitors, breathing sensors, video monitors, mattresses fitted with alarms and suggests that these actually put more pressure on parents because they are less likely to relax. Editor of Mother & Baby, Elena Dalrymple, said: Just as a watched kettle never boils, so a watched baby never sleeps. 

One of the most disappointing statistics unearthed by the survey is that only 23% of dads wake up when the baby cries. This means a whopping 76% of dads enjoy blissful slumber while the mother does the hard graft (getting up on average of four times a night).

We all know how difficult it can be to function after a disturbed nights sleep so the cumulative effect of night after night of sleeplessness can be profound. It is hardly surprising that new mums vent their frustration on their partner. And when you consider that many new mums are back in full-time work by the time their baby is six months old, the pressure can be immense.

So what is the solution? It is essential for parents to work as a team so they can get through the difficult times more harmoniously. But also for new mums to know that it is OK to admit they are absolutely knackered and to grab any opportunity that comes their way to claw back some of those sleep-starved hours. Napping is a great way to reduce your sleep debt. Even 20 minutes can make a big difference for many people.

About the Author:  John Mce writes on behalf of Baby Says Hello

MORE INFO on Sleep Deprivation: See what the experts have to say. Read the Washington Post article.

October 1-3, 2010
Hours of Operation:
Friday, Oct. 1st 5-11 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 2nd 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 3rd 12-5 p.m.

This year will mark the ninth annual Oktoberfest celebration hosted by Southlake’s Chamber of Commerce! Nearly 50,000 people visit throughout the weekend festival! Attendance is completely free — there are no admission nor parking fees. There will, however, be a wide range of food, beverages, and booth items available for sale!

Come take a stroll in Southlake’s beautiful Town Square while looking at the unique, handcrafted arts and crafts booths. Great food, and live entertainment are also at your fingertips during this fun-filled event. The kids will have a great time in the excitement-packed children’s area!

Don’t forget to sign up your dog to participate in the popular wiener dog race!  We can’t forget to mention that we will be having a number of great bands that you won’t want to miss! Click here for the entertainment schedule.

Directions to Southlake