Olivia Leon

Choking Prevention – What You Need to Know

Contributed by Pamela Brawer, R.N., CCE, certified American Heart Instructor and Certified Childbirth Instructor, and founder of Save-A-Tot.

Last week’s post from Pamela focusing on Infant/Child CPR was so well received that we asked her to do a follow up specifically about choking.

The threat of choking is something that worries almost all parents. Understandably - choking is a very common cause of unintentional injury or death in children under age one, and the danger remains significant until the age of five. You must be particularly watchful when children around the age of one are sampling new foods that must be chewed with a grinding motion. Children don't master that kind of chewing until age four. And remember, all children learn at different rates. Take your time. Make it a fun experience.

The danger signs of choking are:

For both nutritional and developmental reasons, it is uncommon for babies to wean on their own before the one-year mark. In fact, most babies won't wean before 18-24 months unless it is encouraged by the mother. Familiarizing yourself with the different ways of weaning can be helpful when deciding how to approach this stage:
http://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/considering-weaning/how_weaning_happens/

Sharen Medrano, IBCLC (www.nycbreastfeeding.com)

The Bra Fitting Guide

Contributed by Janina Rodriguez, Assistant Yummy Mummy Store Manager and Expert Bra Fitter

Proper support in a bra is just as important as it is for a pair of shoes or a best friend. This is especially true when you are pregnant or nursing. So I wanted to share some tips on finding the right bra that is comfortable, fashionable and most importantly, makes you feel good.

What to look for when trying on a bra:

Infant/Child CPR – What You Need to Know

Contributed by Pamela Brawer, R.N., CCE, certified American Heart Instructor, Certified Childbirth Instructor, and founder of Save-A-Tot.

Anyone caring for a baby or child should take a class in Infant/Child CPR. That includes you, your husband, and any caregivers like grandparents or nannies. The stark truth is that unintentional choking and accidents are the leading causes of all injuries and deaths from birth to 5 years old. Then comes drowning and illness. It’s all about prevention but we are not machines and we are not perfect. That is why they are called accidents. But if something does happen, you and whoever is caring for your child should know what to do. I always say…. Can you answer this question? “IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY BABY WILL I KNOW WHAT TO DO”

Simple Things to Do with Baby in the ‘Burbs

Contributed by Suburban Jungle Realty Group. Suburban Jungle Realty Group has offices in NYC, L.A., Miami, Chicago and San Francisco.

Simple Things to Do with Baby in the ‘Burbs

There’s so much to do with infants and babies in the city that -- bonus! -- require little or no planning at all. At a moment’s notice you can pop your fussy newborn into her stroller for a quick cruise around the block or to hang at the park. Even in the winter there are museums to wander through, indoor playscapes to explore, kids clubs to navigate and mom-and-me activities to join from infant yoga to swimming for tiny tots. But what happens when you leave the city for (gulp!) the ‘burbs? Don’t panic -- there’s loads for new moms to do in suburbia! And, like the city, it’s all within stroller distance…

Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving with Baby

Contributed by Olivia Leon, Yummy Mummy Marketing Director and Party Planning Enthusiast.

My husband and I have always loved to entertain friends and family. Before we had our baby we would throw dinner parties and brunches on the weekends. We always volunteered to host family occasions and holiday parties. We thought we wouldn’t have the time or energy to keep doing this after our son was born, but that wasn’t the case at all. We just had to change our approach a bit and let some of the details go. Here are seven helpful hints to survive hosting Thanksgiving dinner with a little one.

How to Have a Safe and Festive Halloween

Contributed by Pamela Brawer, R.N., CCE, certified American Heart Instructor and Certified Childbirth Instructor, and founder of Save-A-Tot.

It’s that time of year again when the weather gets cold, pumpkin lattes pop up everywhere and houses are decked with black bats, cobwebs and witches hats. It must be Halloween! As parents we are always excited for baby’s first anything. First words, first steps, and the first Halloween is no exception. Even though your baby will be too young to trick or treat, it is still a great opportunity to create memories. So attend a party or throw your own, take lots of pics and be sure to read some helpful tips from Pamela Brawer about keeping everyone happy and safe this Halloween:

When to Start Pumping After Having A Baby

Contributed by Elina S. Arulraj, MSPT, IBCLC

Elina leads a weekly breastfeeding support group at the Yummy Mummy Store in NYC every Tuesday at 10am.

If your baby has been nursing exclusively and gaining weight well and you are feeling ready for a break here and there after 3-4 weeks of exclusive breastfeeding it is safe to begin giving your baby 1 bottle every or every other day without it impacting the baby's ability to breastfeed.

The best way to do this is either one of the following ways:

Five Prenatal Exercise Myths Debunked

Contributed by Brittany Citron, Founder of PROnatal Fitness. Brittany is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer and a Specialist in Training the Pregnant and Postpartum Client as well as a Specialist in Prenatal and Postpartum Exercise Design.

Over the past three decades, research has shown an overwhelming number of benefits from exercise during pregnancy.  Unfortunately, when it comes to the specifics of exactly what type of exercise is safe or beneficial, the myths seem equally as overwhelming.  Here are some of the biggest myths explained to help you feel more confident about your ability to exercise for two!

The Five Things People Tell Us They Wish They Had Asked An Employer BEFORE Maternity Leave

Contributed by Julia Beck who is the founder of the It's Working Project by Forty Weeks

We’ve all seen the checklists for the baby registry, the nursery, and the hospital bag, but what about the checklist for your maternity leave? When you’re getting ready for maternity leave or even thinking about pregnancy, HR is a great clearinghouse of information. But the guiding details that can often make the biggest difference in working parents’ leave and return to work don’t come from a manual, they come from real life experiences.

This is where the sisterhood of motherhood comes in.  

Here at the It’s Working Project, we’ve talked to moms (and dads!) about their back-to-work experience: what they’ve learned, what they wished they’d known, and what insights they have for other parents.  The conversations are candid, honest, and sometimes not always easy. The biggest takeaway? Many wished they’d spoken up sooner about taking leave.

Over 200 parents have shared their stories with us at the Portrait Project. Many have done so because they want to see one another succeed. We know that sharing stories with other working parents in the private sector can spark a conversation and support positive change in real time.

Here are the top five things contributors to the Portrait Project wished they had asked their employer before going on maternity leave: