11 Books On My Bookshelf

Posted on October 28, 2018

One morning, I shared a photo of my morning Wheat Grass shot with my friends on Twitter and Instagram. In the background was my very full and messy bookshelf. I realized that many of the leisure books were gifted to me from others. Thought it would be fun to share some of those books that I return to time and time again:

1. How to Form a Nonfprofit Corporation, 8th Edition by Attorney Anthony Mancuso – Because I have helped a few friends, family and clients set up their non profits and 501(c)3 organizations, I purchased this book to get a handy resource guide. It’s an excellent resource guide for professionals and the everyday lay person. Recommend for those who cannot afford the usual $2,000 that many lawyers will charge to set up a 501(c)3.

2. Making Babies Book by Shosanna Easling – I am reviewing this book and giving away a copy which includes a DVD to one of my readers on my pregnancy blog, Bellyitch. I will review it this week, but so far, I love the imagery in the book and it seems like it was written from a nice place. It is based on organic, holistic, all natural principles. Good for the earthy mother types.

3. The Soul of a New Cuisine, A discovery of the foods and flavors of Africa by Marcus Samuelsson – I once did PR for the man who photographed many of the vibrant images in this book Gediyon Kifle, a phenomenal photographer who was the official MLK Memorial photographer and also captured my maternity portraits for my last kid. Samuelsson, who won Top Chef Masters on Bravo TV does a wonderful job capturing international cuisine from the mother land.

4. Enchantment, The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and actions by Guy Kawasaki – I once sat on a panel with a Hollywood agent in Kingston, Jamaica. We were talking radio and cable piracy. When we were done, the agent gave me this book as a favor to Guy who asked him to spread the word about his book to influencers. Love it. Very insightful book. Great for thought leaders. If you are in the business of needing to build a brand or sway audiences, this book is a must read!

5. The Warrior Method: A Parents’ Guide to Rearing Healthy Black Boys by Raymond A. Winbush, PhD – A blogger friend of mine who once authored the very popular and award winning Ebonymommy.com for years before abandoning it a couple years ago, gave me this book as a gift as I have two black boys, my sons, that I am raising and she thought this would help. Good advice. Worth a read. Easy to get through. It is very focused on African American boys though as I have to blend it in with some West Indian and African sensibilities since those kids are of mixed national heritage.

6. Home Comforts, The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson – A friend gifted this to me and my husband when we purchased our first home 11 years ago. Wonderful resource book for anyone and any home. It’s pretty lengthy and there is lots of type and not much images to distract but the information in it is priceless and great for those who did not grow up in a home where the parents stressed housekeeping details. Perfect for ME!

7. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to The Bible by James. S. Bell Jr. and Stan Campbell. – I purchased this book because I wanted an easy to understand, simple book that broke down the bible. It’s great and very very easy to get through. You understand the entire bible in a way the puts it all in one big perspective for you.

8. The 4-Hour Work Week, by Timothy Ferriss – A friend of mine suggested this book at least a year ago to me and she was able to put the principles in place and actually quit her job as an attorney and has developed a successful career doing what she loves, being a travel photographer and working 4 hours a week. The advice in it is immeasurable. I’m enjoying combing through it still.

9. A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ismael Beah – I picked this book at one of my second homes, Starbucks, mainly because it is authored by one of my native country mates from Sierra Leone about his experiences being a soldier in Sierra Leone’s decades long civil war in the 90s. It’s a sobering story but quite informative while captivating.

10. Ancestor Stones by Aminiata Forna – My husband got this book for me as a Christmas present because it is written by a Sierra Leonean woman. It is a novel that provides a nice look inside the life of a Westernized woman (like me) who returns to her native land and discovers much about her roots. Love it!

11. The Writer Got Screwed, A Guide to the Legal and Business Practices of writing for the Entertainment Industry by Brooke A. Wharton – Because I once practiced entertainment law, I picked up this book to get some insights on helping my clients who were song and script writers. I recently rediscovered it as I am now looking into become a ghost writer for celebrities. I think if you are in the industry, this is a worthwhile read to avoid mistakes others have done and to know what to expect when you negotiate a deal

That’s it! I rarely find make time to read much anyway, but when I do, it is usually one of these 11 I like to return to often.

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Parenting

The 5 Ways Sugar Sneaks Into Your Child’s Diet

Posted on October 28, 2018

Ask 10 parents how much added sugar their child consumes each day and there’s a good chance that at least 9 of them will have no clue or will underestimate it. In fact, research published in the International Journal of Obesity reported that 92 percent of the parents surveyed in the study underestimated the added sugar content in foods and beverages. The study also showed that kids are more likely to be overweight when their parents are misinformed about sugar in their kids’ diet. Since sugar intake is associated with an increased risk of being overweight and parents are a child’s nutritional gatekeeper, it essential that they know the ins and outs of sugar.

“Added sugars have infiltrated our lives in a pervasive way, making it crucial that parents know how to identify it and how much is too much,” says Dr. Nimali Fernando, a Fredericksburg, Virginia-based pediatrician who founded The Doctor Yum Project. “Without solid information regarding sugar intake, we may be setting our children up for possible health problems later.”

According to the American Heart Association, children should consume less than 25 grams of added sugar per day, which is equivalent to 6 teaspoons, and that children under the age of 2 should not have any sugar-added foods or beverages. They report that eating foods high in added sugar throughout childhood is linked to a higher risk of developing such diseases in adulthood as heart disease. It’s also linked to obesity and elevated blood pressure in both children and adults.

Childhood obesity has become a hot-button issue in recent years, as the number of children considered overweight and obese continues to rise, particularly among children age 2-5. According to a recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine, 57 percent of today’s children are predicted to be obese by age 35.

Parents are often confused when it comes to sugar intake with their children. Sugar that comes in the form of whole fruit is generally good, while added sugar is what parents need to really watch. Added sugars are those sugars that have been used by the food industry to enhance a food’s flavor. While a piece of fruit is a good choice, “fruit snacks” (the kind that come look like soft candy, for example) may not be, because of the added sugars. Even some foods that seem healthy may contain “hidden” added sugars, making it important for parents to get to know the terms and become label readers.

Here are 5 ways for parents to become savvy about the sneaky ways food companies add sugar to foods:

Confusing food labels. Figuring out how many added teaspoons are in a recipe is not straightforward. First, food labels report sugar in grams. So remember this equation the next time you look at a label: 4 grams of sugar = 1 teaspoon of sugar. To further complicate things, food labels historically did not break down added sugar with naturally occurring sugar. So when we look at a label on a sweetened fruit yogurt, it’s often unclear how much of the sugar comes from natural milk sugars and fruit versus how much extra sugar the food company has added. Luckily, by the end of 2018 most food labels will be updated to break down total vs added sugar which will make reading a label more straightforward.
Small portion sizes. A favorite food may not look like it has much sugar per serving, but if you look closely you may notice that the serving size is much smaller than what you may actually eat. Take the example of cereal. A typical serving size for cereal may be a half a cup or less than a cup per serving, which is much smaller than most people will actually eat (especially if it’s really sweet, because you are likely to eat more). If there are two teaspoons of sugar in a serving, but you can eat three servings, that 2 teaspoons quickly multiplies to 6 teaspoons, the recommended daily limit for a child.
Sweetening with “healthier” sugars. Sweeteners like honey, agave and maple syrup may make a food appear healthier, but that doesn’t mean they actually are. While they may be more natural than refined sugar, manufacturers are still adding sugar to a food that may not need extra sweetness. Don’t be fooled by healthier sounding added sweetener ingredients.
Using sneaky names for sugar. Sometime it can be hard to spot sugar in an ingredient list because there are so many code names. One nutrition source reports that sugar can be spotted with as many as 61 different names. Sugar’s many code names include: rice syrup, dextrose, maltose and barley malt, and high-fructose corn syrup. This is a great tactic, as companies are required to list foods by weight in decreasing order. By listing sugar with more than one name, companies may be able to bury sugar further down on the list, making it seem like there is less.
Know the sneakiest foods. There are some foods that seem to have hidden sugars in them more often than others. Be aware of and read the labels carefully on such foods as granola bars, breakfast cereals, yogurt, fruit snacks, and juice. Juice is trickier because technically the sugar in juice is considered naturally occurring. However, it’s more like a processed food. There is nothing natural about a child drinking the equivalent of 5 apples worth of sugar. And when we drink apple juice, there is no fiber to help slow down the absorption the way there is when we eat an apple. Skip the juice and stick with water for hydration and whole fruit for fiber and nutrients instead.

“Childhood is where many of our food habits are formed, making it that much more important that we help our children learn to sensibly navigate the nutritional landscape,” added Heidi DiEugenio, director of the Doctor Yum Project. “The more we can help them learn better and healthier food habits now, the more they will benefit from those choices and habits into the future.”

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Parenting

Mix and Match Kids’ Wardrobe for Colder Temps

Posted on October 27, 2018

Winter is a great time to reassess and clean out the kids’ wardrobe and cycle out cool weather clothes and make sure the closet is It’s also the perfect time to clean out the closets and make room for warmer clothes, and cycle out clothes that no longer fit.

To get some longevity out of your child’s wardrobe, before you invest in new clothes, though, take inventory of what your child still has that fits. Either take pictures of these pieces or make yourself a list prior to going shopping so you don’t double up on the same items. To maximize her wardrobe, you will want to buy pieces that coordinate with the ones that she already has.

Jeans are a must. Jeans are a wardrobe staple that match just about everything, so having a few pairs on hand is never a bad thing. Colored jeans are all the rage right now, so make sure to pick up at least one pair of those. Stick to a few pairs of basic blue jeans as well so that they can be mixed and matched with tops.
Leggings are great for girls. For girls, leggings are a must wear item. They can be paired with a cute dress or a long shirt, or they can be worn under a shorter skirt. Choose basic colors like navy, black, and white when buying leggings so that you can mix and match them easily.
A basic white shirt goes with everything. For both boys and girls, buying a basic white shirt is a closet staple. The white shirt doesn’t have to be a plain t-shirt though, and you can buy girls a pretty blouse and boys a white button-down or polo. Make sure to use bleach when you wash these because a bright white shirt looks great, but a dingy gray one does not.
Underwear and socks are very important. As kids grow it’s often overlooked if they need bigger underwear or new socks. See how your child’s are fitting and assess if she needs some new ones.
A jacket or hoodie will allow kids to layer. Fall is an especially tricky time to dress for the weather since it frequently changes throughout the day, so putting your kids in layers will help them stay comfortable all day long. Winter definitely requires layers. If it’s a little cool in the morning when he walks to school a jacket or hoodie will keep him warm, but you don’t want to dress him in a sweatshirt because by afternoon it will have warmed up and he will be hot. Sometimes the air conditioning in schools can seem too cold to some so having a way to keep the chill off will make your child more comfortable.
Tennis shoes are a must for gym class. Kids don’t necessarily need the latest and greatest brand name shoes, but they do need shoes that fit well and allow them to move quickly with ease. Whatever your budget, it’s important that the shoes fit and support her growing feet.
Boys will need a pair of nicer slacks. Sometimes schools will take the kids on a field trip to see a play or musical and ask that they dress up for the event. Having a pair of dress slacks that can be paired with the basic white shirt that you’ve already bought will give them an easy option when they need to look a little nicer.
Girls may need a dress. This dress does not have to be overly frilly and full of ruffles, but it shouldn’t be too casual either. Find something comfortable that would be age appropriate for your girl.
Dress shoes are needed. To go with the boys’ dress pants and with the girls’ dress a pair of dress shoes is needed. Unlike the tennis shoes that will most likely be worn almost every day, the dress shoes can be inexpensive if they aren’t going to be worn frequently. Buy something very basic, like a black or brown shoe that can be worn with most colors.
A winter coat is a must in most climates. Some areas of the country will use this more often than others, but most areas will need a winter coat at some point during the year. How heavy the coat is will be determined by where you live. If you have almost six months of winter, like in the Midwest and Northern states, you will want to get a coat that is heavy or has several separate layers. Warmer climates may only need a light parka.

Buying clothes in basic colors can extend her wardrobe and increase her ability to mix and match her clothes. Adding a hoodie to an outfit will change the entire look of an outfit. Having shirts that can be worn with jeans, leggings, or a skirt will give her the versatility to make different looks throughout the year. While these are just the basics, you should also plan to pick up a few special items for picture day or other times when she wants to look especially nice.

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Parenting

Frustrated New Parents: Try My Natural Colic Treatment

Posted on October 26, 2018

They tell moms who breastfeed that there is no need to supplement a newborn or infant with water because they get all the water they need in the milk.

My mother begs to differ. she and I fought because for my first kid, I only listened to the docs and what i read in books. she and i butt heads on traditional, holistic, natural and native remedies and home cures based on how she raised her four children and what was in vogue 20-30 years ago. i thought i knew it all and was convinced these new and tested ways of raising a child trumped those old fashioned views from her era.

I was stubborn. I didn’t listen. however, by the time i was on child two, of course, as with most once neurotic, obsessive and psycho first time moms i relaxed a bit. against the suggestions of the books and doctors, i gave my second water and other of mom’s “old fashioned” remedies which surprise surprise worked! the second kid was a mellow baby who was not fussy and rarely cried or exhibited signs of colic.

It’s with that lesson that I chose to treat my daughter’s then recent bout of late night colic like crying with some water treatment.

First, I cleaned her tongue of that film of milk that has been accumulating for the past 4 weeks. i brushed it off with the infant toothbrush thing that fits over your finger. then, i sterilized the Svent infant bottle and fed her an ounce of warm spring water. she drank the water and even breathed a sigh of relief as she drank. soon after, i massaged her belly, walked with her and she pooped. i think a lot of her discomfort had to do with an upset tummy and the water may have been a much needed break and relief from milk.

After her diaper change, she slept for 4 hours straight and didn’t wake up until later. so far so good…:D

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Steps to Having Date Nights Like the Happiest Couples

Posted on October 25, 2018

With children in the house, romance is often one of the last things on a parent’s mind. From running errands, picking up the kids at school or daycare and balancing everything else on your agenda, there’s not much time left at the end of the day for your significant other. Date night’s aren’t always an option, so instead, consider these three ideas to rekindle the romance.

Sleepover at Grandma’s House

Is there ever a time where you get to relax at home without the kids anymore? Not likely. The home used to be a place where you could have solace, peace and quiet — but that idea went out the window when you had kids. Next time you’re thinking about date night, instead of dining out or catching a movie, stay in. Give the babysitter the night off and send the kids over to grandma’s for a sleepover. Just think about how nice it will be to have the home to yourself with your spouse. No tucking the kids in for bedtime, no nighttime routines and certainly no early morning wakeup calls from the kiddos. Just wine, Netflix and if you’re lucky, breakfast in bed. Quality time is key to some people’s Love Language. It’s all about giving the other person your undivided attention.

Consider doing this every few months as a way to maintain romance with your spouse, talk about something other than the kids and relax. Scheduling time away from the kids is especially important for new parents. Once you’re comfortable leaving your kids with a trusted caretaker, consider giving yourself more time away from your children, like a weekend getaway or staycation.

Meet for Lunch

Parents with full-time jobs know that time away from work is sparse and time away from the kids is more so. For parents who work outside of the home and either drop off the kids at daycare or school each day, meeting for lunch is a great way to reconnect and catch up without the little ones tugging at your clothes or getting fussy because dinner isn’t ready yet. An hour is just the right amount of time to have a little dose of quality time.

Make time each week around your lunch hours to meet at your favorite lunch spot for a picnic or plan to get together at a new restaurant. Choose locations that are close to your job sites and be sure to switch up the locations each week so that the commute to lunch doesn’t fall on the same person each week. This doesn’t have to have a “date” feel. Whether you’re grabbing lunch for $5 or $50, it’s the time spent together that matters. Check out Groupon for new lunch places.

Give Something Special

There are a variety of different Love Languages, including the aforementioned “quality time.” All are valid. For some, receiving gifts is what makes them feel most loved. If you know that this is true of your spouse or significant other, be sure to treat them to something special once in a awhile.

When giving, your gifts don’t have to be expensive. Small, thoughtful items are just as meaningful when given from the heart. A simple bouquet of beautiful roses can communicate your love. Show your spouse that you are thinking about them with a sexy note or thoughtful card to go along with your gift.

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Parenting

How to Engage Your Child Through Play

Posted on October 23, 2018

When it comes to spending time with children, do you spend your time engaging them, entertaining them or doing a little of both? Before you can fully answer that question, you may need to explore the difference between the two.

When caregivers engage children their time is spent being actively involved with the kids. Engaging children requires active participation from both the caregiver and the child. When caregivers actively play with children, they are engaging them. Caregivers might engage children by playing blocks with them, dancing with them, playing a game with them, or being involved in dramatic play with them.

When caregivers entertain children their time is spent passively involved with the children. Entertaining children is not interactive. In fact, it’s mostly one-sided with the child fulfilling the role of audience. Entertainment requires observation. When caregivers take the children to the movies or put on a television show for them to watch, they are entertaining them.

The purpose of engaging children is to help focus their attention so that learning can happen. The purpose of entertaining is to create a pleasurable experience. Engagement involves children being creative and solving problems, while entertainment involves children watching others be creative and solve problems. While some entertainment can be educational, that’s not its primary purpose.

For many caregivers, given the integration of technology in everyday life, it often requires some entertaining to get the children interested before you transition to engaging them. And while some learning may come from entertainment, when children are engaged, real and lasting learning occurs.

As you consider how you spend time with the children in your care, ask yourself:

Am I actively interacting with the children?
How does the entertainment I offer deepen or enhance their learning experience?
Is the activity the children are doing designed to benefit them or me?
Am I nurturing the children’s sense of curiosity about themselves and their world?
Am I providing tools for hands-on learning?
Is technology trumping your relationship?
Are we going places more than doing things together?

If your answers lead you to believe the children would benefit from more engagement and less entertainment, consider spending more time engaging the children by:

Playing play-dough
Building blocks
Doing arts and crafts together
Playing board games
Having a tea party
Rolling a ball back and forth
Taking part in fantasy play
Playing outside
Putting on a puppet show
Baking cookies.

While having fun is certainly important, providing opportunities for interaction, hands-on learning and problem solving can create an environment that promotes active learning, which will yield lasting results.

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How to Prevent Diaper Rash

Posted on October 22, 2018

New parents are subjected to a veritable flood of information over the first few years of their child’s life, mostly through advice of the unsolicited variety from family members and friends. This advice usually covers every subject from parenting skills to preventing diaper rashes, and many times the advices changes as quickly as the people who give it do. Despite the onslaught of contradicting information, frequent changes, wipes, and ointments are all part of the diapering process for most parents as standard preventative measures, but even the most carefully-monitored baby can contract diaper rash.

A form of dermatitis, diaper rash most commonly occurs as a result of moisture trapped inside a diaper that irritates the skin and causes inflammation. Rashes can range from mild to quite severe, and some babies have skin that’s more sensitive and thus more susceptible than others. Parents should realize that a diaper rash isn’t an indicator of poor parenting or neglect; diarrhea, changes in diet, and even allergic reactions to the wipes and ointments designed to prevent such rashes can cause them. Additionally, urine isn’t the only source of potentially irritating moisture; even sweat can be trapped inside a diaper after a particularly vigorous play session and cause the delicate skin to become red and irritated.

Frequent Diaper Changes Are Your Friend

The most common cause of diaper rash is a soiled diaper that’s left on for too long, so the most effective way of preventing most rashes is to simply change your baby’s diaper every time it’s soiled, as soon after as possible. The same holds true for any time your child becomes sweaty after exerting himself, or gets damp from spills or other contact with fluids. By changing your baby’s diaper often you can also combat the spread of inflammation-causing bacteria carried by eliminatory waste. During a diaper change, be sure that you pat your baby’s bottom dry rather than rubbing it, which can further irritate already inflamed skin or cause inflammation to healthy skin.

Avoid Irritating Chemicals

Unfortunately, the fact that a product is marketed towards new parents for use in their baby’s care doesn’t automatically mean that it’s free of chemicals, fragrances, and dyes that can be irritating to his sensitive skin. If you’ve been vigilant about diaper changes and still find that you’re battling frequent diaper rash, it may be time to take a closer look at the wipes, ointments, and even the diapers themselves. Alcohol can burn his skin, and products containing propylene glycol may be responsible for spreading bacteria around the diaper area, rather than keeping it at bay. Look for brands that are specifically marked “fragrance free” and do not contain dyes or other coloring agents. Parents that opt for cloth diapers need not worry about the diapers themselves containing the same deodorizing chemicals as their disposable brethren, but should make sure that those diapers are laundered with detergents formulated specially for use with newborn and infant clothing items. Adding a half-cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle for cloth diapers can also reduce the alkalinity of the fabric, which may afford further protection.

Allow Air Flow

No one wants to deal with a leaky diaper, but swaddling your baby’s behind too tightly can cause a diaper rash quickly. Whenever possible, allow your baby to go without a diaper for short periods of time to promote drying and healing through natural air circulation. Using a plastic or rubber sheet to protect his crib mattress and letting him nap sans diaper on occasion is also an effective method for both prevention and treatment, though it can be relatively messy, especially as baby’s age.

Diet Can Contribute to Diaper Rash

Another powerful weapon in the diaper rash prevention arsenal is to breastfeed your baby for as long as you possibly can. The World Health Organization suggests that babies be breastfed for the first year of life, but any period of breastfeeding is better than none. The immune system boost that he gets from breast milk can help him avoid a prescription for antibiotics, which often cause diaper rash and even yeast infections in infants. Be prepared for irritation during the transition to solid food, and make sure to check and change his diaper more frequently than normal as his body adjusts.

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8 Things to Do When Your Newborn Rejects The Bottle

Posted on October 21, 2018

After several months of breastfeeding, many babies are understandably reluctant to change. Breastfeeding is warm and comforting, it brings mother and baby close together, and it comes easily and naturally. So when it comes time to introduce the bottle and your baby does not take to it right away, do not be frustrated. The plastic nipple takes some getting used to, and the temperature of the milk in the bottle can be difficult to regulate. Plus, if you are introducing formula at the same time, this adds another element of difficulty.

If you are considering introducing your baby to the bottle or have already started but cannot seem to make it work, here are some tips to try.

1 Introduce the bottle early. It may be too late for this, depending on your situation. But it is a good idea to introduce the bottle long before the baby will have to get used to using it all or most of the time. Have dad (or someone else) feed the baby with the bottle so there is no confusion, and introduce it for one feeding per day at first. Soon the baby will have the hang of the bottle, but the breast will still be available should problems arise.

2. Get mother out of the room. As already mentioned, it is a good idea to have someone other than the mother be the principal bottle-feeder at first. But going even further than that, it is often best if the mother is not in the room at all. Seeing mom may just make the baby think of the breast, which might make the bottle seem extra unsatisfying.

3. Wait for the baby to be hungry. The baby will be less discriminating about what she drinks when she is more hungry. So when introducing the bottle, wait until a time when the baby is likely to have an empty stomach-for example, after a long nap.

4. Try it when the baby is not so hungry. Of course, every baby is different. Some take the bottle best when they are very hungry, and some will feel betrayed when they are desperate for the breast and receive a bottle instead. So try introducing the bottle halfway through a feeding or when your baby is not fully hungry but still potentially ready to be fed.

5. Do not force it. Instead of sitting the baby on your lap and immediately trying to make him drink, act casual about it. Think of it as just you and the baby hanging out together with the bottle. If he seems curious about the bottle, put it to his lips and see if he tries to take a sip. And if he rejects the bottle, do not force it, as this might just make him extra mad.

6. Try different temperatures. Use a bottle warmer to try to approximate the temperature of mother’s milk. Of course, be careful not to make it too hot. And if that does not work, trying feeding room-temperature milk. Some babies, especially when in the teething stage, actually enjoy cool milk.

7. Start with expressed milk. If you plan to switch to formula, you might want to wait until after making the transition to the bottle. At first, feed the baby only expressed milk. If you do not have enough, mix expressed milk with formula. And remember that mother’s milk changes over the months to accommodate the baby’s needs throughout her development, so fresh milk often tastes best to the baby. There is nothing wrong with older milk that has been frozen, but you might want to save it till after your baby is comfortable with the bottle.

8. Feed when the baby is sleeping. If your baby is waking up from a nap and you know she will be hungry, try slipping a bottle of warmed milk into her mouth as she wakes. This way, she will not have a chance to realize that there is something unusual going on, and once she starts drinking, she may find she likes it quite well.

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4 Natural Ways to Cure Common Nursing Problems

Posted on October 21, 2018

Nursing a newborn is not as simple as it may seem. Veteran moms are usually able to make it look easy by the time they get to their third or fourth child, but for new mothers, the simple fact is that breastfeeding can be challenging in numerous ways. Remember, it is not just the mother who is learning this new feeding method; it is also new to the baby, who of course cannot read books or take instructions from lactation consultants. This makes learning doubly difficult. But it is important to remember that most new mothers experience difficulties initially, and most soon get the hang of it.

Fortunately, many of the common nursing problems that new mothers face have simple solutions. Let us look at a few of them.

1. Poor latch

The most important aspect of breastfeeding is how your baby latches on to the nipple. For a proper latch, the baby should open her mouth widely to encompass both the nipple and the areola. While the milk mostly comes from the nipple itself, it is important for the baby’s latch to be wider so she can get proper suction and stimulate the flow of milk.

There are several methods for getting a baby to form a proper latch, but the most common one involves these steps: (1) Hold the baby in a feeding position. (2) Compress the end of the breast to give it a more bottle-like shape. (3) Tickle the baby’s cheek with the nipple. She most likely will instinctively turn her head and latch on. (4) If the baby’s nose and chin are touching the skin of the breast, it is a good latch. Another sign of a good latch is that only very little milk runs down the baby’s cheek as she drinks.

2. Slow milk supply

Milk production starts out slow, but the good news is that babies do not get very hungry during the first couple days of life. The colostrum (the clear, milk-like substance new mothers produce until the milk comes in) is usually enough to satisfy all the baby’s nutritional needs for three to four days. After that, milk supply depends on demand. If the baby feeds often and the breasts are frequently drained, more milk will come.

You will know your milk supply is good if the baby creates wet and soiled diapers several times a day and is able to sleep long stretches without waking and becoming fussy. If you suspect your supply is low, there are a few tricks, including:encourage a proper latch;

drain both breasts at each feeding;

feed whenever the baby shows signs of hunger (it is not possible to spoil her at this age);

if she falls asleep while feeding, move her around frequently;

avoid formula, pacifiers, and bottles, which can interrupt the baby’s learning process;

try pumping after and between feedings to stimulate abundant milk production;

eat well (400 to 500 more calories per day than before you were pregnant), sleep as much as possible, and drink plenty of water.

3. Sore and engorged breasts

There is no way around it: New mothers’ breasts become large, hard, and often sore. This is a necessary part of the process. The good news is that your body will adjust. While engorgement will continue until you are no longer breastfeeding, it will become less painful (and the milk leakage, another common issue for breastfeeding mothers, will more or less come under control).

To deal with engorgement, the best solution is to breastfeed as often as your baby asks to be fed. And if engorgement becomes an issue while the baby is sleeping or just not hungry, use a breast pump to express the excess milk. For soreness, make sure the baby is getting a proper latch, and use ice packs and warm compresses between feedings to ease any swelling.

4. Plugged ducts

Milk is produced not in one location, but in numerous ducts located in the nipple. When one of these ducts gets clogged, it causes a soft lump and can lead to backup in the milk supply. Untreated, these clogs can lead to infection, but they are usually relatively easy to clear. The key is to drain the breast as much as possible, massage it and apply warm compresses, and wear loose clothing (or no clothing) around the breast as much as possible. Continue breastfeeding even if the clog is a little painful, and call your doctor if it does not go away after a couple of days.

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Halloween: Signs Your Child is Overdosing on Candy

Posted on October 20, 2018

With Halloween just two weeks away, kids will be eating all the candy they can find and sugar levels will be through the roof. But how much sugar is too much, and what are the signs your child is sugar overdosing?

Dr. Christopher Calapai D.O., a New York-based Osteopathic Physician board-certified in family and anti-aging medicine, gives the rundown on sugar intake and what you need to know to keep your child out of a sugar coma.

How Much Sugar Is Too Much?

For children, it depends on their age and their calorie intake, but 12-25 grams a day is just enough.

What Are the Signs of Too Much Sugar?

#1: Sugar High

A sugar high happens when there are extremely high levels of blood sugar, which results in high energy and shaking of the hands. The candy equivalent is three Butterfingers, which is 30 grams.

#2: Sugar Crash

A sugar crash usually happens within an hour, and glucose levels in the body will drop, causing energy to decline as well. During a crash, you’ll most likely be fatigued, hungry, and may also have a headache. To get rid of a crash, your child’s best bet is to eat an apple or banana.

#3: Your Child is Craving More

Sugary foods release dopamine, which is the same chemical released during drug use. Once your child starts eating more sugary foods, such as those Halloween treats, the craving for more will continue. Pears are a great alternative, since it has almost 14 grams of sugar and reduces the risk of heart disease.

#4: Sleeping is Almost Impossible

Serotonin is released, which is our relaxation hormone, and is needed for a child to have a good night’s sleep. If insomnia issues arise, it’s time to reduce sugar intake.

Good luck parent

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