Father's Day Parade

By Bruce Tyson

New York City is famous for its parades, and Park Avenue is the perfect place for a Father's Day parade. Haven’t heard of that one? Well, it's a bit on the understated side. It’s not televised, and there are no Snoopy balloons, but you would never forget the day if you’d been there.

I was there just once, twenty-three years ago.

On that sunny Sunday morning, I got up early, and put two-month-old Juliana into a baby-backpack. We headed out to the grocery store – some twelve blocks away – to get supplies for the apartment. We walked to Park Avenue to take the scenic route, passing the uniformed doormen and the green awnings at each stately apartment building. People were enjoying the morning – on their way to breakfast or church or out for a jog. It was early enough in the day that pedestrians were still individuals, not yet part of a throng. As they saw Juliana's little head bobbing behind my own, each person we passed on the sidewalk and each doorman at his post could see that this occasion was something new and wonderful for us. One after another, they greeted Juliana and me with a smile and a salutation, “Happy Father’s Day.” As it turns out, we were the parade.

Two decades later, that morning remains vivid to me. Some of the older doormen, fathers themselves, wanted to make note of my new fatherhood, and in their smiles I read a further message, “Welcome to the journey begun.” This was one of those wonderful moments in life when very little is said, yet so much is expressed.

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On that first Father’s Day we celebrated with a parade; as Juliana grew older, other traditions evolved. One year, Juliana asked what gift I would like for Father's Day. In addressing her question, I said to her that a father would like to be honored and appreciated in a personal way. It is the expression of care and love for a child that makes a man a father, and that kindness returned becomes the most appropriate gift. Translated, that meant her dad, like most men, can discover a wellspring of love in homemade desserts. We agreed on Chocolate Cream Pie.

Along the way, there were lessons learned from Chocolate Cream Pie. This dessert became Juliana’s first “specialty” in matters of the kitchen. She shares it with others, and, of course, sharing with others is an essential ingredient in a life well-lived.

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Father’s Day Chocolate Cream Pie
Ingredients:

• 1 box (5 oz.) of Jell-O brand “cook & serve” Chocolate Fudge pudding mix (The chocolate fudge is much better than the plain “Chocolate”, but more difficult to find. If only plain Chocolate is available, add two tablespoons of good unsweetened cocoa powder to the mix.)


• 3 cups of low-fat milk (skim milk is fine, too; it will offset the cholesterol in the whipped cream)


• Use one-and-a-quarter of the three packages inside a one-pound box of Graham Crackers (Low-fat graham crackers are preferred, as Dad will consume at least half the pie. If Dad cannot be allocated at least half a pie, then make two pies. Don’t forget that Dad will be having pie for breakfast the next morning.) Do not use the pre-made crusts as they have certain similarities to cardboard. (We use the 14.4 oz box of Nabisco Honey Maid low fat graham crackers.)


• One-eighth cup of sugar (There is already sugar in the graham crackers and in the pudding mix, so not much additional sugar is needed.)


• 6 tablespoons of butter


• Whipping cream (one cup)
  Amaretto liqueur (vanilla extract will also work.) (2 to 3 tablespoons)


• (optional) 1 heaping teaspoon of instant coffee (to give the pie a mocha flavor)

The Pie Crust:Place the Graham crackers inside a large zip-lock plastic bag. Zip tight and then crush the graham crackers with a rolling pin. (If you don't have a rolling pin, use the bottom of a wine bottle.) This zip-lock technique should keep the rogue graham cracker crumbs in check. Melt the butter in the microwave in 10-second intervals; it will take two or three tries. (Cover the butter dish in the microwave with a paper towel, or you will be scraping butter off the walls.) Mix thoroughly with a whisk the graham cracker crumbs, the sugar, and the melted butter in a large bowl. Pour the crumb mixture into a 9-inch pie pan and fashion a crust. (This can be made easier by using the bottom of another pie pan to shape the crumbs more evenly.) Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and then bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust appears slightly browned.

The Pie Filling: Follow the instructions on the Jell-O box. This means emptying the dry pudding mix into a large saucepan (and perhaps the optional instant coffee and/or cocoa powder), adding 3 cups of milk, and cooking at “medium” heat. Stir continually (especially along the bottom of the pan) for about 10-15 minutes until the pudding thickens and begins to bubble. Turn off the heat and let the pudding cool for 5 minutes. Then pour the pudding mixture into the cooled pie-crust and place in the refrigerator for at least three hours.

The Whipped Cream: Pour the cup of whipping cream into a mixing bowl. Add the Amaretto. Whip the cream until it begins to thicken. When lifting the mixing blades out of the cream, they should leave little soft peaks of whipped cream. Avoid mixing too long and letting the peaks get too firm, otherwise, you will have made Amaretto-flavored butter. The whipped cream should be added to the top of the pie just minutes before serving.

Serving the Pie
Make sure Dad gets the first and biggest slice.

Additional serving suggestions !!!
The pie can also be served on other occasions throughout the year, including times when Dad helps out with homework, chauffeurs everyone all over town, and picks up that thing needed for school tomorrow on his way home from work.
© 2008

No More Mr. Mom Guy

by Alek Lev

I think the reason that people keep their placenta is because they think there might be some kind of instruction manual in there. Or a nanny. Or cash. Anything to help them through the first, say, 18 years or so of parenting.

As time passes, however, the problem is not a paucity of information but an abundance. And avalanche. A Diaper Dekor full. The problem, then, is sifting through it all. And for what it's worth, after my first year of fatherhood, I have developed a little rule I'd like to share:

Avoid labels. Avoid negativity. Avoid anything that begins: “Just wait until…”

You're taking care of the kid? Aren't you a regular Mr. Mom!
No. If I'm “Mr. Mom,” then is my wife, who works a full time job, “Ms. Dad”? If I'm a “stay at home dad,” then what am I doing with this $300 stroller? And this sun tan?

It just goes by so fast!
No, it doesn't. Not if you're paying attention. Every moment is so full that time just expands. (Of course, I'm also waking up three hours earlier than I used to, which could account for the phenomenon. But I also take two naps, so it's all balanced out.)

Just wait until he starts walking, then you'll be in trouble!
No, I won't be. And I'm not. He's walking. He's not walking on hot coals. Yes, he gets into everything, pulls things off the shelves, and threatens to break many breakable things, including himself. But isn't he supposed to? It's he… what's it called… learning?

Just wait until they start talking back to you.
It's so nice when they can't.No, it's not. Actually, this is the advice that makes me think to call Child Protective Services. What are you saying to your kids to which you don't want a response? “I might have killed someone today. Don't tell anyone. Wait – you can't! Hahaha!”

Just wait until he gets older. Then we can talk.
No. No thanks.

To have a healthy child is to win a lottery with longer odds than people realize, and it's a lottery that I am lucky enough to win every day. We're not big on holiday celebrations in our house. No flowers on Mothers Day, and no ties on Fathers Day. Instead, we'll spend both days like every other – appreciating each other, our son, and our outrageous luck.

Just wait until he goes to high school.
Okay. That one scares me.

Father of twins

by Wanton Davis

On March 12, 2008, my wife and I were blessed with the arrival of twins, a boy and a girl – the newest additions to our expanded family. We also have a two and a half year old daughter. Needless to say, there is never a dull moment in our household. There are many occasions where all three children are in tears and this gives a new meaning to the word “multitasking”. Even though things can get a bit chaotic, I wouldn’t trade this situation for the world.

My twins, Piper and Cody were born premature at 34 weeks and had to spend some time in the UCLA Santa Monica NICU. They were born healthy, but just needed a little assistance adapting to life outside the womb – “feeders and growers” is what they are called. Although we were assured that everything would be fine, nothing can describe the feeling of going home without your children. After a couple of weeks, my twins came home and the real fun began. We found out just how much attention twins get! People are constantly stopping us to ask questions: Are you getting any sleep? Was it natural or did you have help? Do twins run in your family? Are they identical? (No, a boy and girl are never identical!) While I get all of the questions, but this so quickly became just my life. Only a parent of multiples would understand a double latching or how quickly a jumbo pack of diapers can disappear.

Although they share a special bond, my wife and I have discussed the importance of not categorizing them as “The Twins”, and to encourage individuality. I know the years ahead will bring excitement to say the least, and I am thrilled to watch the unique relationships that my children will share.

“Second Time Around”

by Bruce Tyson

I am fifty–five years old and the father of a newborn. My other child, Juliana, graduated college last week.

Juliana is happy, funny, accomplished in her fields of study, and well–liked by her peers. In a word, she is flourishing.

What does that mean for Isabella, Juliana's baby sister? On the eve of Father's Day, I ponder the second time around.

The main thing is that I will worry less. Particularly about the path to college. That point was driven home when, after much hard work getting into her first-choice college in New England, Juliana chose to return to California to start her sophomore year. While I questioned the move at the time, I now see that she knew what she was doing, and she absolutely made the right decision.

So I will trust more, too – trust more readily my child's instincts. When we applied to middle schools, Juliana was accepted by two of her top three choices. At the third – the one she really wanted to attend – she got waitlisted. When I asked her, “Do you want me to call the school and try shaking the tree a bit?” No, she told me. If they couldn't see her qualities, she didn't want to go there. Big Mistake, I thought to myself. Instead, she stayed on at her parochial elementary school which continued through 8th Grade. By staying the extra two years, she became one of the “big kids” and developed her leadership skills there.

Early on, Juliana had a sense of identity – something more complete than (I'm sorry) the tired phrase “self-esteem.” As a family, I think we were successful in giving her that identity by showing a kind of tangible family history. By that, I mean history brought forward through family holidays, rituals, recipes, and healthy dialogues at the dinner table. One ritual that resonates is the Five-Mile Walk. Juliana's, and now Isabella's, grandfather Herbert grew up in the 'old country'. According to Grandfather, he walked five miles to school each day, through the snow, barefoot, and uphill in both directions. As we grow older, we know this cannot be completely true: we all know the old country is strung together by kilometers – it doesn't even have miles. But for an eight–year–old child, there is some grace in following in her grandfather's footsteps and making that five–mile walk to school. At least once. Particularly if hot chocolate and scones can be had at the 3–mile mark. And every so often, over the next 15 years and more, my child might look back at the photo album, remembering the adventure and getting a fix on Grandpa Herbert.

I can see clearly, in retrospect, that it is the home life, in tandem with the school life, that forms the child. We help the child with the homework (and, yes, practically do the science fair project for her – don’t get me started on the giant eyeball and the stinking pot of gelatin cooking on the stove). And, at the proverbial dinner table, we also talk about social parts of school – how the child interacts with teachers and other students. We talk about which battles to fight, when to stand up, and when to take one for the team.

If my first go–round will serve as my guide, I will be focused much more on the home life than the craziness of school applications and which is the “best” school. And if and when Isabella's middle school workload makes her crazy from time–to–time, we might just skip a day of school in favor of the movie theater, followed by a stop for hot chocolate and scones.

© 2008

What is That Doing in Your Diaper?

by Wendy Haldeman, MN, RN, IBCLC, Co-Founder of The Pump Station

Occasionally I will receive a frantic phone call from a mom who feels compelled to describe in graphic, agonizing detail the contents of her baby's diaper. This of course, invariably happens as I am trying to have a quick lunch at my desk while trying to catch up on paper work. Oh well. Bon appetite.

What was concerning this mother, understandably, was the apparent presence of mucous and blood. (I hope you are not trying to eat while reading this blog). I instructed her to call her pediatrician. Having done that, she begged me to take her through the possible causes and treatments.

The presence of mucous in the stool may indicate that the infant's gut is inflamed due to an allergic reaction to something that the mother is eating. The most common culprit is dairy, with soy as a close second. Other possibilities include eggs, fish, shell fish, corn, wheat, citrus, chocolate, and/or tree nuts. Blood in the stool can be due to breastfeeding on a nipple that is cracked, an allergic reaction to something in the mother’s diet, or the infant could have a small anal fissure.

When blood in the stool is thought to be due to an allergic reaction, the treatment plan varies. Some pediatricians will advise the mom to place herself on a restrictive diet and see if the problem resolves. Other doctors have instructed the mother to stop breastfeeding altogether and place the infant on a hypoallergenic formula. Another plan of action is to refer the baby to a pediatric gastroenterologist.

My experience has been that the problem often resolves itself when the mother is able to eliminate problematic foods from her diet. Occasionally, we have had thriving, healthy infants continue to pass small amounts of blood in their stools. The pediatric gastroenterologist has encouraged the mother to continue to breastfeed. Interesting to note is that despite the small amount of bleeding, these babies have not developed anemia.

Discovering foreign “stuff” in your baby's diaper can be anxiety provoking. Please try to remember that the causes are often correctable and mothers are able to continue to breastfeed without any negative consequences to the baby. Finally, please try not to call me when I am eating!

To Sleep or Not to Sleep with Your Baby—that is the Question

by Corky Harvey MS, RN, IBCLC, Co–Founder of the Pump Station

Several weeks ago the LA Times had an article that warned parents against sleeping with their babies. I suppose the newspaper’s job was just to report the statement made by the LA County Officials, but I was so frustrated reading it because the co-sleeping issue has come up repeatedly, with the same recommendation—don’t sleep with your baby. There is so much information available today that disagrees with this statement. Dr Robert Sears was the only authority who was quoted as saying “that some co-sleeping can be unsafe” but, he disagreed with the blanket statement that the practice is unsafe all the time. Dr Sears co-authored The Baby Sleep Book with his father and brother (all 3 are Pediatricians) and his mother an RN/Lactation Consultant. The Sears are strong supporters of sleeping with your child, but only when done in a safe way.

It would have been so helpful to parents if the newspaper had referenced the leading expert in the field of Sudden Infant Death and co-sleeping, Dr James McKenna (Claremont McKenna College is named for him). McKenna is currently a researcher at The University of Notre Dame, and has dedicated his lifework to the subject of infant sleep. He has authored a very important book, Sleeping with Your Baby. Its subtitle says a lot: “Whether you do it occasionally or every night, do it safely.” This book should be required reading for all expectant/new parents and any health care providers who work with parents and babies. It is an easy read that is filled with evidence-based information which allows each family to make correct and safe choices for themselves. It answers all the questions about bedsharing that parents NEED to know, taking the pressure, guilt and angst off their shoulders. In the book Dr McKenna gives his recommendations for every sleeping situation and addresses cultural bias and myth as versus the scientific evidence. In the introduction McKenna states: “This book is designed to describe the present scientific status and medical and social controversies in the field of co-sleeping, and why there is no consensus on the issue of bedsharing. It is intended to educate parents about safe and unsafe sleeping environments according to all lines of scientific evidence, and to let parents of healthy, full-term infants know how to best avoid recognized adverse conditions that can make forms of co-sleeping and bedsharing dangerous.” Dr McKenna goes on to say that the book is not intended to advocate any one form of sleeping arrangement, but to clarify the importance of matching the best sleeping arrangement to each family and inform parents about the potential benefits of sleeping close to the baby when safe conditions can be met.

It would have been beneficial if the newspaper article had said that each parent needs to be well informed and make an educated choice about where their baby will sleep? We have fearful, sleep deprived families who may do dangerous things because they don’t know differently. The article tells of a father sleeping with his baby in a recliner. The baby slipped between dad and the arm of the chair and suffocated. The article also mentions that “some of deaths were connected with parents who were under the influence”. Both these situations are known to be unsafe.

The America Academy of Pediatrics' stand against co-sleeping was brought up in the Newspaper article. It is totally understandable why the AAP needs to make statements like one size fits all. Their recommendation for NO bedsharing could be similar to their recommendation on supplementing all infants with Vitamin D to protect against Rickets. At a recent conference I learned that the AAP didn't want to recommend how much sun exposure is safe for a baby (sun is required to activate Vitamin D in our bodies), so they recommended supplementing all infants with Vitamin D to make sure. The AAP probably doesn't want to take responsibility for saying how to bedshare safely, so they make a statement that it shouldn't be done at all.

We are so grateful to Dr. McKenna for providing his important book. I talk about it to almost every parent I meet. Recently an ER physician with a new baby read the book at my suggestion and reported that it completely changed what he thought and what he says. It changed his family’s life. His working wife had been struggling with her milk supply, but once they allowed the baby to sleep beside mom and nurse as needed during the night, her milk soared and everyone slept better. Please, please read Dr James McKenna’s book and then share it with a friend or two.

Is BPA harming our children? What’s all the fuss about?

By Jennifer Taggart, a mom, children’s environmental health advocate, attorney and former environmental engineer.

The controversy swirling over bisphenol A (BPA) has led the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) to issue not one, but two statements, on BPA and polycarbonate plastic. Both statements contend that polycarbonate plastic is safe to use. So, is it? Is polycarbonate plastic safe to use? Is the BPA debate, in fact, much ado about nothing – just another false scare? Or is BPA harming our children?

It must be awfully frustrating to most parents and caregivers. You are forced to decipher scientific jargon to determine what is safe and what is not. And it must be even more frustrating given that most parents make the decision about which baby bottles to use when they are sleep deprived, responding to the needs of a new baby. I have to admit that I find it frustrating, weeding through the scientific reports and statements, and I actually like the science side of it.

JPMA boldly asserts that polycarbonate plastic is safe. Before responding to the JPMA’s statements, let's catch up any of you new to the BPA issue. BPA is a component of polycarbonate plastic. Polycarbonate plastic is commonly used for baby bottles. However, BPA has been shown to leach out of the polycarbonate plastic and into whatever food or liquid is in the plastic container, including breast milk and formula. Leaching is greater when the food or liquid is heated, although leaching does occur at room temperature. Polycarbonate plastic, widely used for the last thirty years or more, was believed to be safe. Unfortunately, recent studies have found links between low level exposure to BPA and adverse health effects in laboratory animals, including early onset of puberty, increased risk of breast cancer, increased risk of diabetes and hyperactivity. A recently released study has associated fetal exposure to BPA with a predisposition to obesity later in life.

JPMA’s first statement, released on April 17, 2008, states that the JPMA “stands by the scientific research indicating that plastic baby bottles are safe.” JPMA goes on to say that the finding of the National Toxicology Program’s draft report “provide reassurance that consumers can continue to use products made from BPA.”

What the JPMA does not say is that the NTP draft report on BPA finds that “there is some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures. The NTP also has some concern for bisphenol A exposure in these populations based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females.”

What does this mean? JPMA uses basically a five point scale – negligible concern, minimal concern, some concern, concern and serious concern. So, the NTP effectively places the concern at a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5. I don't agree with the JPMA that the NTP’s draft report therefore provides reassurance that I can continue to use polycarbonate plastic. A rating of 3 on a scale of 1 to 5 isn't safe enough for me.

The NTP draft report goes on to state that “the scientific evidence that supports a conclusion of some concern for exposures in fetuses, infants, and children comes from a number of laboratory animal studies reporting that ‘low’ level exposure to bisphenol A during development can cause changes in behavior and the brain, prostate gland, mammary gland, and the age at which females attain puberty. These studies only provide limited evidence for adverse effects on development and more research is needed to better understand their implications for human health. However, because these effects in animals occur at bisphenol A exposure levels similar to those experienced by humans, the possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed.”

So the NTP’s draft report finds that the low level BPA exposure studies in laboratory animals cannot be dismissed. And I have to agree. The JPMA also does not explain that fetuses and infants do not have the necessary liver enzyme to metabolize BPA, while adults do. As a result, fetuses and infants may be much more susceptible to BPA. So why would you want to use a baby bottle for a potentially susceptible infant?

The JPMA also does not explain that the scientific research indicating that polycarbonate plastic is safe is primarily based upon studies funded by industry and many of which also predate the development of scientific technology capable of measuring low concentration levels at issue now. For whatever reason, it seems like the studies funded by the chemical industry don’t find health effects. An investigation by Journal Sentinel looked at 258 studies and found that four out of five found health effects. Of the studies that did not find any health effects, most were paid for or partially written by scientists funded by the chemical industry. The plastics and chemical industries have been accused of paying to manufacture doubt.

The JPMA ignores that the health effects from very small doses that only recently could be detected are just now being understood. Emerging, substantial evidence indicates that BPA can harm laboratory animals at concentrations below the daily levels to which most of us are already exposed. In fact, the Chapel Hill expert panel’s consensus statement evaluated the strength of data from more than 700 BPA studies and labeled as “confident” its assessment that BPA at low doses has had a negative effect on experimental animals. The panel concluded that BPA exposure in the womb can permanently alter genes of animals, impair organ function in ways that persist into adulthood, and trigger brain, behavioral and reproductive effects, including diminished sperm production.

JPMA’s second statement concerns Health Canada’s announcement banning polycarbonate plastic baby bottles. Again, JPMA reiterates the safety of polycarbonate plastic baby bottles.
So, even with all that, you may still be wondering whether polycarbonate plastic is safe to use. The answer remains uncertain. So, what should you do? To me, the decision was easy. Given the potential adverse health effects, and the wide variety of BPA-free baby bottles, sippy cups, etc., available, it was easy to decide to use something other than polycarbonate plastic. I decided it just wasn't worth the risk. I also am careful about canned foods and beverages. Epoxy–based resins containing BPA are used to line almost all canned foods and beverages. So, I try to use fresh, frozen, dried or jarred in glass instead.

Pearls of Wisdom I learned from Jill Stamm - Pearl #3

by Corky Harvey MS, RN, IBCLC, Co-Founder of The Pump Station

This is the last installment of 3 Pearls I learned from Jill Stamm, author of Bright from the Start.
I had never really thought too much about this next Pearl, but after hearing Dr. Stamm discuss it, it was an “Aha” moment for me. Car seats are HUGELY important for keeping a baby safe in the car, but maybe not so great for other times. Because they are so convenient and multi-purpose, many babies are spending LOTS of time in the Travel system. Here’s the problem. If a baby is deep within a car seat while awake, he/she can’t see out. They can’t see the dog that is barking and make the connection. They can’t follow mom’s eye gaze to see who she is waving at. Researchers are learning that a child’s ability to follow eye gaze and orient to sounds is important for the effective wiring of the attention system and the systems involved in social interaction. An example Jill Stamm gives: When a baby hears a doorbell, turns her head instinctively to follow the sound, but can’t see anything, she may signal distress about this frustrating lack of connection by fussing. But after this disconnect occurs over and over and over, she’s less likely to keep trying to turn her head to follow along with the situation around her. She tunes out.

Dr Stamm suggests limiting the time in the seat to car time only. If the baby is asleep when you arrive at your destination, of course let them continue to sleep in their seat. But, when the baby is awake, pop them on your hip, in a sling, a chest carrier or a back carrier so they can see what is going on. At home when you need to put a baby down, Jill suggests placing them in bouncy seats, or swings whose sides don’t restrict the range of vision. By the way, babies are less likely to develop “flat head syndrome” if they are up in your arms or in a carrier rather than lying on their backs in their car seats.

Hey People—You will learn so much from this wonderful book. You and your child will reap huge rewards.

Pearls of Wisdom I learned from Jill Stamm - Pearl #2

by Corky Harvey MS, RN, IBCLC, Co-Founder

This is the second installment of 3 Pearls I learned from Jill Stamm, The author of Bright from the Start

Dr. Stamm talked about DVD's for babies that are marketed in such a way that parents might believe that by having their babies watch these videos, they would become smarter. Oops! Research demonstrates that watching this stuff does not make kids brighter! In fact Jill shared some research that was eye opening indeed: For every hour of TV (or videos) watched per day before age 3, a child is 10% more likely to receive a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD by the age of 7. So 3 hours of TV/day — 30% increased risk. No one needs to panic here. Dr Stamm isn't talking about the occasional glance at a TV while you watch the Laker game, but rather the purposeful “plunking” of a child in front of the television set. There is new research from the University of Washington that was also shared: When babies are around TV, they are compelled to look at it. They are not interested in the content, and are not learning, they simply cannot look away. Although more research is needed, Dr Stamm felt that using a few minutes of TV a day, so mom can have a shower and dry her hair may make a huge difference in how a mom feels — therefore affecting her happiness. Happy moms make for happier babies. According to Jill this limited amount of TV probably won't be a problem. She actually put her girls in front of Mr. Rogers every day for a few minutes and I let my kids watch Sesame Street so I could fix dinner–NO GUILT–BALANCE! I still love the song Rubber Ducky.

Oh Yeah—be careful when attending the Mommy movies. Try to keep your baby facing away from the big screen. Nursing with your baby facing you or letting your baby sleep in the carrier or sling would be perfect.

Dr Stamm recommends:

• No commercial TV for babies and young children. Quick hits with lots of interruptions from commercials and scene changes are a risk to the developing attention span.
• Skipping the evening news is a good idea for young kids. It is filled with terrifying information that can cause unnecessary apprehension about bad things and bad people in this world. Kids have no concept that Iraq is far away. Heck — I can't stand the news before I go to bed either. When I was in grade school, our teacher showed us a film about the dangers of fire. I remember like it was yesterday a scene of a woman leaving her iron unattended which started a fire — the next scene is of her entire body swathed in bandages. It scared the wits out of me; I had a horrible time sleeping, and had nightmares for months afterwards.
• No TV in kid's rooms. Watching TV alone in their room pulls time away from social interaction and gives parents no control over what is watched.
• No TV in the car

By the age of 5 kids can learn from appropriate use of television.

By the age of 5 kids can learn from appropriate use of television.

Number of Babies Receiving Breastmilk at an All Time High

by Wendy Haldeman, MN, RN, IBCLC, Co-Founder of The Pump Station

According to the latest report for the Center for Disease Control, more than three-quarters of new mothers are now nursing their infants. This is the highest mark in at least 20 years. The most dramatic increase occurred among African-American women, rising from 36 percent to 65 percent. Reasons for this elevation include the rise in education campaigns claiming that breastfed infants are better protected against disease and childhood obesity than formula fed babies. Additionally, there may be a changing culture in the U.S. which supports the nursing mother.

In the spirit of our month-long celebration of mothers, I would like to propose an additional hypothesis. Time and again I have had the privilege to observe mothers generously supporting one another. During those first few weeks when a new mother is struggling with common challenges of breastfeeding, knowing that other women have successfully dealt with sore nipples and engorgement is extremely reassuring. As new mothers are often unsure of their ability to feed their babies, having a knowledgeable breastfeeding mom share her experiences and support is invaluable. The more experienced mothers we have acting as role models and continuing to lend advice and support to the new mother, the higher the breastfeeding rates will climb. A mother tutoring new mothers in the art of breastfeeding is powerful. It is profound. It is one of the things I love most about my job.