Baby’s transition to solid foods can be a source of stress for parents – or the most natural thing in the world.
The key: Don’t force it. Instead, allow baby choices and a fun introduction to food, said Sara Fausett, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Intermountain Cedar City Hospital.
Jade Elliott spoke with Sara Fausett about introducing foods to your baby.
“Eating is a continuum, and food is an experience,” Fausett said. “Allowing babies to explore food in a way that makes them feel safe helps them create a healthy relationship with food, which makes feeding easier for them — and for mom and dad.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC recommend introducing solid foods at age 6 months. That’s the time when breastmilk or formula alone no longer provides the number of calories and protein babies need, Fausett said.
But babies who express interest in foods mom or dad eat can be allowed to explore foods a little earlier.
“The expectation is not to perform, but to have a safe exposure to food anytime earlier than 6 months of age” Fausett said. “If you feed babies too early and they don’t know what to do with solid food, they will resist you as long as possible because it’s a safety issue for them.”
At six months, babies should be introduced to solid foods, even if they don’t seem interested, Fausett said. Parents could serve thinned rice cereal with several spoons to encourage exploration and play.
Parents should continue to provide breastmilk or formula when introducing foods, Fausett said. Other milks from legumes or animals and protein shakes should be avoided.
Here are some additional tips for introducing foods:
6 months: Introduce cereal if baby is showing signs of readiness (sitting up, looking at you, able to tongue thrust, and turn head away)
6-8 months: Start strained or pureed foods. Introduce one new food per week.
Add thickness, lumps, or chunks as baby’s ability to eat thinner purees or liquids improves.
Offer firm large foods as an experience, so long as they cannot choke baby (whole celery or carrots are good options).
Progressively offer foods that you eat at home as part of your healthy diet.
Remember, babies have a clean-slate palate, and this is good time to introduce fruits and vegetables, Fausett said.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
What happens during prenatal visits is different depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy. You should schedule your first prenatal visit around 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy (2-4 weeks after a missed period). Early and regular prenatal visits help your midwife or doctor will check your health and the growth of the fetus.
Jade Elliott spoke with Emily Hart Hayes, a certified nurse midwife and women’s health nurse practitioner with Intermountain Healthcare, about what you can expect at these prenatal appointments.
1. Your first prenatal visit will be one of your longest, so be sure to allow plenty of time. During the visit, you can expect your midwife or doctor to:
Answer your questions. This is a great time to ask questions and share any concerns you may have.
Check your urine sample for infection and to confirm your pregnancy.
Check your blood pressure, weight, and height.
Calculate your due date based on your last menstrual cycle or ultrasound exam.
Perform tests to check for blood type, do a blood count, and check for infections that can affect pregnancy including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, rubella, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.
Ask about your health, including medical conditions, surgeries, and previous pregnancies.
Ask about your family health and genetic history.
Ask about your lifestyle, including whether you smoke, drink, or take drugs.
Ask about your home environment and safety.
Discuss exercise and diet.
Discuss immunizations and recommend a flu or COVID vaccine if you haven’t already received these.
Do a complete physical exam, which may include a pelvic exam.
Do a Pap test or test for human papillomavirus (HPV) or both to screen for cervical cancer risk if you are due for this screening.
Do an ultrasound, depending on the week of pregnancy.
Offer genetic testing: screening for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities, cystic fibrosis, other specialized testing depending on history.
2. If your pregnancy is healthy, your health care provider will set up a regular schedule for visits that will include a visit every month during the first and second trimesters, and every 2 weeks from 28 to 36 weeks, and weekly from 36 weeks until your birth.
3. As your pregnancy progresses, your prenatal visits will vary greatly. During most visits, you can expect your health care provider to check your blood pressure, measure your weight gain, measure your abdomen (“fundal height”) to check your baby’s growth once you are about halfway through your pregnancy. Your provider will also check the fetal heart rate, feel your abdomen to find the fetus’s position (later in pregnancy), and possibly do tests, such as blood tests or an ultrasound exam.
4. Later in your pregnancy, some of your visits will include tests to check for gestational diabetes (usually between 24 and 28 weeks) and other conditions, depending on your age and family history. In addition, pregnant women should receive a booster of whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
5. After your baby is born, your midwife or doctor will have you set up postpartum appointments, usually at 2 and 6 weeks postpartum. At these visits, your provider will check your blood pressure and do a physical exam to ensure your postpartum recovery is normal. They will also do screening for postpartum mood disorders, such as postpartum depression or anxiety, help you with breastfeeding, and discuss birth control (contraception) and family planning.
To listen to the Group B Strep episode mentioned in this podcast, click here.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
There’s a whole range of emotions that women experience when they decide to do a home pregnancy test and it comes back positive. Women may feel nervous, surprised, excited, relieved, afraid, happy, overwhelmed or any combination of those all at once. You might not know what to do first!
Jade Elliott spoke with Emily Hart Hayes, CNM, DNP, Intermountain Healthcare, about what you need to do.
After sharing the news with your partner, what should you do to help ensure you have a healthy pregnancy?
1. Schedule an appointment with your midwife, OB/Gyn, or primary care provider.
Studies show that good prenatal care helps ensure healthier pregnancies, safer labor and deliveries, and stronger babies. Your first prenatal visit should happen between 6 and 8 weeks of pregnancy (when your menstrual period is 2 to 4 weeks late).
At your appointment, your provider will do another pregnancy test or blood test to confirm the positive results. They will also order routine blood tests and may do an ultrasound to confirm your due date. At this visit, you can discuss any questions or concerns you have and learn of the importance of going to prenatal visits throughout your pregnancy.
2. Check with your doctor if you are taking any prescription or over the counter medications to find out if you should continue taking them.
If you can’t get to see your provider right away, call or send a message to your provider about any current medications you’re taking.
3. Don’t smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or use marijuana or illegal drugs, they are harmful to your baby. If you need help quitting any of these, talk to your midwife or doctor and they can help you with resources.
There’s no “safe” number of cigarettes or drinks, and many common medications can harm your developing baby.
Pregnant women are at a higher risk for developing severe complications from COVID-19, and there is preliminary evidence that severe disease from COVID can cause pregnancy complications, too.. Wear a mask, practice social distancing and good hand hygiene.
5. Start taking prenatal vitamins.
Prenatal vitamins are available over the counter. Look for prenatal vitamins with at least 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folic acid. Taking folic acid before and during a pregnancy can reduce the risk of a child born with serious birth defects of the spinal cord or brain.
6. Get enough sleep and exercise.
Balancing activity and rest will help you nurture your developing baby – and will help you feel good, too. Both rest and exercise help you cope with the mood swings of pregnancy, ease aches and pains, and manage morning sickness. Talk with your provider if you have any questions about exercise and what’s safe for you and your baby.
7. Eat nutritious meals and stay hydrated
What you eat can affect the health of your growing baby. So, make every bite count. Limit high-sugar and high-fat foods (like sodas and ice-cream and other desserts, and fatty meats like sausage or fried chicken). Instead, eat more fruits and vegetables. Choose whole-grain foods like whole-wheat bread and brown rice. Go for low-fat protein foods like low-fat milk, skinless chicken or turkey, and beans. Avoid fish that contains mercury. Drink eight glasses of water every day.
8. Wear a seatbelt.
It may not always feel comfortable around your growing waistline, but right now a seatbelt may save two lives. And if you want a head start on a safety seat for your baby, check out this car seat safety information from Intermountain’s Primary Children’s Medical Center.
9. Be informed. Learn about pregnancy, childbirth, recovery, parenting, etc. Intermountainhealthcare.org has many patient education resources for pregnant women.
10. Be aware of any mood changes, depression or anxiety during pregnancy or after childbirth and talk with your provider about your concerns.
Your provider can refer you to a behavioral health provider if needed.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
Toddlers and tantrums go hand in hand. As children grow, however, some tantrums teeter into aggressive behavior.
“Parents often wonder how they can address a toddler’s biting or hitting, or help calm severe emotional outbursts,” said Dr. Peter Lindgren, a pediatrician with Intermountain Healthcare. “A good starting point is to address the specific behavior, help children calm themselves, and when they’re behaving, praise them.”
Jade Elliott spoke with Dr. Lindgren about tantrums and aggressive behavior and how to address them on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
Here are four tips to address aggressive behaviors:
Teach children to say how they feel. Parents can say things, like, “Mommy is feeling really frustrated right now.” They also can observe their child may be feeling, such as, “It looks like you’re feeling sad.”
Model positive ways to calm down. The American Association of Pediatrics suggests a parent frustrated about being stuck in traffic could say something like this: “Daddy is really frustrated right now. Please help me calm down by taking 10 deep breaths with me.”
Pay attention to what you pay attention to. If you direct your attention only to misbehavior, you’ll get more misbehavior, Dr. Lindgren said. Pay attention to the behaving child, and point out specific positive behaviors, such as “Good job on using your inside voice.”
Take a time-out in a safe place without toys. “It’s important that time out doesn’t become a punishment, or something you do when angry. Take a few deep breaths, remain calm, and tell the child, ‘time out – hitting,’” Dr. Lindgren said. “Once the child is calm, even for a moment, praise him and invite him to come out.”
Here are some additional ways to help children improve behavior, according to The American Academy of Pediatrics:
Build structure and routines in your children’s day, and make sure they’re getting enough sleep
Use discipline strategies to guide and teach instead of punish.
Be calm and consistent when disciplining your children.
Understand a child’s negative behaviors have benefited them in some way in the past.
Reinforce good behavior with praise and repetition.
Anticipate and plan for situations and your children’s behavior.
If things aren’t getting better, make sure you and your child are getting enough sleep. Recognize family changes, a new house, a violent event in the community may create stress in the child’s body that makes him unable to focus or control his emotions. In such cases, respond in a nurturing way instead of with discipline, and return to a routine to help him find a sense of safety and control.
“Talk to your pediatrician if behaviors continue to escalate or you have additional concerns,” Dr. Lindgren said. “We will work with children and help connect families to additional resources they may need.”
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
With school starting next month, experts are concerned that COVID-19 cases could rise among children, especially with the prevalence of the Delta variant which transmits much more easily.
While COVID vaccines are available to kids ages 12 and up, it’s not yet available to younger children.
Jade Elliott spoke with Katrina Jensen, a pediatric nurse with Intermountain Healthcare about the vaccine and keeping your kids healthy.
Pediatric experts from Intermountain Healthcare, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Utah Department of Health all agree, a layered prevention approach can minimize the impact of COVID-19 exposures and outbreaks in school settings.
“Parents can protect young children against the disease by doing what has been shown to work well: having them wear masks indoors and practice social distancing. It’s important to use every tool in our toolkit to safeguard children from COVID-19,” said Katrina Jensen, a pediatric nurse with Intermountain Healthcare.
The CDC is also recommending even vaccinated people wear masks in indoor public settings in areas of heightened transmission, so parents should model that behavior, even if they’re vaccinated. While Utah law doesn’t allow schools to require students to wear masks, parents can choose to have their children wear masks to help keep them safe.
COVID-19 can severely disrupt learning, school attendance, and involvement in extracurricular activities. Children can and do get COVID-19 and are at risk for severe illness from the virus. Even with mild illness, children can spread the virus to other people. This is why using layered prevention strategies in schools are so important.
“Elementary school-aged children did an excellent job wearing their masks last school year,” said Jensen. “Masking minimized outbreaks and the challenges that come with them, including quarantines, missed school days, and the risk of infecting younger siblings and vulnerable family members.”
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have been rising among Utah residents, including children. Children have been hospitalized with the disease, experienced long COVID lingering symptoms, and in some cases, contracted Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a severe inflammation of organs including the brain and heart that can result in death.
Here are some ways to protect young children against COVID-19:
Vaccinate family members ages 12 and up as soon as possible. Doing so can help ensure full immunity close to the time school starts, minimizing risk.
Wear masks in indoor public settings.
If you have questions about the vaccine, masking or related matters, ask your medical provider.
“Your family’s doctor or nurse practitioner knows you and your children, and is happy to have a conversation with you about your questions and concerns,” Jensen said. “Your primary care provider can provide factual information to help you make an informed decision about the vaccine, and other steps you might take to keep yourself and your children safe.”
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
Surrogate motherhood is the practice when a woman bears a child on behalf of another person who is not able to carry a baby. It typically occurs via in vitro fertilization.
Jade Elliott spoke with Dr. Barney, the OB/Gyn who delivered the baby carried by surrogate mother Brianna Bigelow for mom Jenny Lowe about surrogacy on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
Click here to hear about Brianna and Jenny’s journey.
Reasons to consider surrogate motherhood
Surrogacy may be a desirable option for women who are unable to carry a baby due to infertility, cancer or other medical conditions or health concerns that would make pregnancy impossible or very risky for the woman who wishes to have a baby. Same sex couples may also enlist a surrogate mother if they wish to have a baby.
Talking with your doctor about infertility options or surrogate motherhood
It’s important to talk with your doctor or midwife if you are struggling with infertility or have health concerns about becoming pregnant. Your provider knows your medical history and can help provide medical information and options that will help you make your decision about pregnancy or surrogacy.
Finding a surrogate mother
Some women turn to family or friends for surrogacy. Others go to a surrogacy agency which helps people find a surrogate mother. Surrogacy can be very expensive, especially if the surrogate does not have health insurance. Most experts agree a surrogate mother should:
Be at least 21 years old
Have already given birth to at least one healthy baby
Have passed a psychological screening
Sign a contract about their role and responsibilities in the pregnancy, prenatal care and after birth
Health screenings for surrogate mothers
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine says surrogates should get a medical exam to check that they are likely to have a healthy, full-term pregnancy. The organization suggests they complete a drug screening, and get tests that check for infectious diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis B and C.
Surrogates should get tests to make sure they have immunity to measles, rubella and chickenpox.
Surrogacy laws in the U.S.
Currently there is no federal law in the U.S. about surrogacy. Surrogacy laws vary from state to state, so be sure to research and understand the laws in your state.
To protect your rights as parents-to-be – and the rights of the child you’re hoping to have – it’s wise to hire an attorney who specializes in reproductive law in your state. They can write a surrogacy contract that clearly spells out what everyone needs to do.
A contract helps if legal issues come up after birth. It can also outline agreements about a variety of possible scenarios with the pregnancy, such as what happens if there are twins or triplets.
In the contract, couples working with a surrogate mother may want to address who the doctor will be who sees the surrogate mother for prenatal visits and delivers the baby. The two parties may also want to agree on who can be present at prenatal visits and for the birth and where those events might take place and when the surrogate hands over the baby.
What it’s like to help deliver a surrogate baby
“In the past twelve years since I’ve been in practice in Utah, I’ve seen about six families working with a surrogate mother. Most often it’s due to infertility. I have also seen same sex couples,” said Dr. Barney.
“I’ve seen cases where the mother is able to donate an egg for insemination and other cases where an outside egg donor is needed,” he added.
Dr. Barney says sometimes one of the parties is outside of Utah. During prenatal visits with the surrogate or the delivery, the parents might join in-person or remotely. Sometimes the mother and the other parents have developed a relationship and other times they are not as involved. Jenny and Brianna developed quite a friendship. And Jenny typically joined the appointments either in-person or on Zoom.
Emotional concerns for surrogate mothers
“The mom who is carrying the baby often has split emotions. They go into the pregnancy knowing they’ll give up the baby, but it can still be difficult, so we screen for postpartum depression or mood disorders at the follow-up visit.”
After Brianna gave birth, Jenny held the baby almost immediately afterward, skin-to-skin to promote bonding.
“It’s a really unique experience to deliver a baby from a surrogate mother. It’s amazing the journey some couples end up taking in order to have a child.”
For more information about reproductive medicine and in vitro fertilization visit intermountainhealthcare.org
To listen to our podcast about postpartum depression, click here.
To listen to the podcast on dads and postpartum depression mentioned in this episode, click here.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
Jenny Lowe is a cancer survivor who sought a surrogate mother to carry her baby following in-vitro fertilization. Brianna Bigelow is the mother of twins conceived through in-vitro fertilization and chose to serve as a surrogate mother for the Lowes who’d experienced infertility.
Jade Elliott spoke with Jenny and Brianna about the incredible journey that led them to surrogate motherhood on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
Lowe married in her 30’s and she and her husband James tried to get pregnant for six months and then began the long process of infertility treatment. In 2019 she was happy to find out in-vitro fertilization (IVF) had worked, they had one embryo. But the same day, Jenny also learned she had cancer. It was Stage 3 ovarian cancer, and she underwent chemotherapy and a full hysterectomy. Suddenly, pregnancy for Jenny was off the table.
“I don’t think there are words to describe the emotions we felt that day,” said Jenny. “We learned the news of our embryo “EmbryLowe” in the waiting room of the hospital only a few hours before I was coming out of anesthesia to the news of my cancer.”
“We’d been elated to hear the news after so much disappointment. We shared a beautiful moment in the hallway, cried and embraced one another. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted. I went into my biopsy, certain they’d not find anything. But it was impossible to hold that excitement once we learned I had cancer. It felt like a cruel twist of fate. I almost felt angry we’d been successful, because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to carry the baby, and that was a devastating reality,” she added.
Jenny’s sister-in-law agreed to be a surrogate mother and carry the baby. And then some additional bad news came, the pregnancy failed. Now she’d need an egg donor and a surrogate mother to be able to have a baby.
Jenny’s husband James, made an urgent plea on Facebook, saying they were looking for a surrogate mother to carry their baby. Briana Bigelow responded, saying she’d be willing to carry their baby.
After some serious conversations and lots of medical tests, the Lowes used a new embryo with a donor egg and the couples started a new, nontraditional, and surprisingly comfortable pregnancy together.
Weighing the options
“James and I talked about a few options, including adoption. Both options sounded like a lot of work and we knew there were risks in either path. Financially, emotionally, physically, there were things to consider with both. We were now familiar with the surrogacy process. It seemed like it would be a smoother path, rather than to change gears.”
“I worried about my ability to connect with a child that had none of my DNA and I didn’t carry. And I didn’t want to take that ability away from James. I wanted him to be able to have a child that was biologically his. I didn’t want him to suffer the same loss that I’d been forced to deal with.”
James worried if he was biologically tied to our baby, it might cause issues between them and that Jenny would feel resentful or hurt, and if he looked down and saw himself in the baby and felt happy, he’d feel guilty.
Their decision came out of mutual respect and honesty with one another, which was one of the most important things they worked to maintain through the entire process.
“I worried seeing another woman pregnant would spark some feelings of sadness or anger, but the moment Hope arrived, I felt like her mom and bonded with her so deeply,” said Jenny.
Finding a surrogate
“It was important I knew or felt really comfortable with the woman we chose. It isn’t always an option to find someone in your circle, but make sure you feel comfortable with who you choose and decide up front what things are important to you. When you find the right person, the experience is amazing to be a part of,” said Jenny.
Jenny knew she wanted to be as involved as possible with doctors visits, updates, in-person visits to feel kicks or movement, even sometimes having difficult or possibly awkward conversations and ultimately, the delivery. Some women don’t have those requirements, they just want a happy and healthy baby.
“I also tried to remind myself that Dads experience pregnancy much the same as I was faced experiencing it. They don’t carry their child, but they’re able to bond with their child.” In the moments I felt I was somehow being slighted as a woman, I’d think of that.”
Motherhood requires flexibility
“Life does not always go the way we want it to and just like in any other situation, you have to be able to adapt to and work through the unknown. Being flexible through surrogacy was no different. I think staying flexible keeps everyone as healthy and stable as possible. The last thing we wanted or needed was to add pressure to the situation and cause ourselves more heartache,” said Jenny.
Jenny says trust is also a key factor in the success of the experience. The person carrying your baby may have a different idea of what a successful pregnancy looks like, and you have to be able to trust that everyone is doing their part. I think being flexible makes you a stronger person.
With COVID restrictions, they weren’t sure how the delivery would pan out, but it ended up that all four of them were able to be in the delivery room.
The Lowes treated the pregnancy just like it was their own. They went to doctor appointments, had a gender reveal party and prepared for the birth.
In late February, baby Hope made her debut. The name was significant for the Lowes.
“It became a very recurring theme throughout my treatment and through our fertility struggle. People would give us things or say things about the concept of hope,” explained Jen.
Brianna Bigelow went to high school with Jenny’s husband James and they’d reconnected on Facebook. Briana suffered back-to-back miscarriages and then had twins through IVF.
The thought of being a surrogate mother had crossed my mind from time to time, but it wasn’t something that really hit home until we were having our own infertility struggles. I think the infertility world really opens your mind to unconventional family-building methods,” said Brianna.
Brianna’s best friend had just gotten pregnant as a surrogate a few months before and she was in awe of her story. So when Brianna saw James’ post, it felt very serendipitous.
It’s a sacrifice and a unique experience to give someone something not everyone can give
“It’s not even something I can really put into words. It’s felt like this was always part of my life story. This was just so easy and natural to help in this way that it is easy to forget how big of a deal it really is. Sometimes I tell people I just had a baby — for another couple!”
Explaining your choice to your family
Brianna’s older teenage daughter had a good understanding that not everyone has an easy time conceiving and may need to follow a different route. So when she explained she wanted to be a surrogate, she thought it was a really neat concept. But she triple verified her parents were NOT going to end up with another baby in addition to the almost three year old twins.
“It’s always been important to me to show my kids how to not live a life that only concerns themselves. I want them to take their own struggles and say, now how can I help someone else get through their struggles?. And sometimes it’s as simple as sending someone good vibes, and sometimes it’s jumping in feet first and making choices that intertwine with another person’s life,” said Brianna.
Giving up the baby
Brianna said It wasn’t hard to give up the baby, it was the most rewarding part. At delivery, she felt like a fly on the wall watching James and Jenny FINALLY hold their baby after their struggles. She was overwhelmed with peace and felt so much calm.
She knew it might be a struggle, so she was proactive and shared those fears with Jenny.
“The relationship I wanted to have with Hope post-birth was something we had talked about before the pregnancy. It was good to talk early on because this way, I could help advocate for James and Jenny in the hospital and they were able to do the same for me,” said Brianna.
If you’re considering being a surrogate mother
Briana says it’s important to have a support system. You have to be willing to have really tough and awkward conversations like who gets to be in the birthing room. And how much do you want them to see? Who gets to pick the OB/Gyn?
There isn’t really a “how to build a surrogacy relationship” guide out there so communication is key.
“I think making sure I was done building my own family made the process easier, said Brianna.
While the birth itself was easy, following delivery, Brianna was rushed back to the hospital in heart failure. As it turns out, baby Hope revealed a congenital heart condition Briana didn’t know she had. Now she knows about it and can take appropriate action to keep it in check.
The Lowes said if they never started down the road to getting pregnant, Jenny’s cancer diagnosis could have come too late. For the Bigelows, baby Hope potentially saved Brianna’s life, as well. Hope is a miracle baby indeed!
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
Since 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that infants be placed on their backs to sleep at night and during naps. The Back to Sleep and Safe Sleep campaigns have contributed to a 40 percent decrease in sudden infant death syndrome in the U.S.
Pediatric experts around the world also recommend babies spend time on their tummies – when they’re awake – to help them develop strong muscles and good motor skills. Studies show only 30 percent of parents follow these recommendations.
Jade Elliott spoke with Dr. Lindgren, a pediatrician with Intermountain Healthcare about the importance of tummy time on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
“When babies are on their tummy, they start trying to lift their neck, move their arms and legs and work their core abdominal muscles, which helps them develop motor skills and better balance,” says Peter Lindgren, a pediatrician with Intermountain Healthcare.
Spend 3-5 minutes a few times a day interacting with your baby on their tummy. Place baby on your chest to talk and play, but don’t let baby sleep there. And don’t fall asleep with baby on your chest. Place baby in a safe place on the floor where you can watch and play with your baby for a few minutes. Some babies might not like being on their tummy at first, but gradually work up to 30 minutes a day of tummy time.
Fun ways to help your baby exercise during tummy time
Place a toy just out of baby’s reach, to see if they’ll move their head or arms.
Place several toys in a circle around baby to encourage baby to roll over, scoot or crawl.
Place babies on their back to sleep until their first birthday
Babies should be placed on their backs to sleep at night and for naps until they reach their first birthday.
“Once baby can roll over both ways, from back to tummy and tummy to back, you do not need to return your baby to the back position,” says Dr. Lindgren.
“Nothing else should be in an infant’s crib. Do not put blankets, pillows, bumpers or soft toys into the crib.”
Dr. Lindgen says pacifiers are ok, but you may want to delay their use for the first two to three weeks after birth if you are breastfeeding. Make sure there is nothing that could cover a baby’s mouth or nose while sleeping.
If baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier or sling, move them to a firm sleep surface on their back as soon as possible.
Vary baby’s position to help prevent a flat spot on the back of their head
“It’s also very important to spend time holding your baby and bonding. Varying baby’s position can help reduce the risk of developing a flat spot on the back of their head. Limit the time baby spends in car seats, swings and bouncy chairs. And don’t forget to change the side you hold your baby during feeding,” added Dr. Lindgren.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
Toddlers can say the sweetest things, the most outlandish things – and things that could be considered rude. Such moments can make parents feel awkward, and maybe not know how to respond.
So how can you help teach good manners to your toddler? And what should you do when your toddler’s actions are rude?
Jade Elliott spoke with Dr. Peter Lindgren, a pediatrician with Intermountain Healthcare about improving your toddler’s manners.
“Good manners in the early years often start with children behaving in appropriate ways, such as kindness to others, sharing, or taking turns,” said Dr. Lindgren. “Modeling these behaviors, and giving children the right kind of attention and reinforcement, help to build these behaviors in young children.”
1. Model good manners. Point out good manners among adults. Example: “Daddy is sharing his treat with mommy. Good job, sharing, Daddy!”
“Children watch everyone around them, including siblings and especially, parents. So as parents, you’re in a great position to show them the behaviors you’d like them to adopt, and help them practice good manners,” Dr. Lindgren said.
Use manners in your interactions with your children and others. When giving your child directions, remember to use “please” and “thank you.”
2. Give children positive attention throughout the day. Parents can start by gently touching the child in a loving way. The AAP recommends parents give children at least 50 brief, loving touches every day, as simple as a touch on the shoulder or the back.
Another way to show positive attention is to spend quality time with children – if even a few minutes at a time.
This could be in reading a book together, or playing with your child when you return home from work. Let the child guide the play, and comment on what they’re doing, such as “You’re working hard to color that picture!” You can also use the opportunity to praise them for putting their crayons back in the box when finished.
3. Reinforce positive behaviors. Pay attention when your child is behaving, and remove attention when she’s misbehaving (except in cases when the behaviors are dangerous or will result in harm), according to the AAP.
“Often, when kids are quiet or behaving, we don’t give them much attention – until they misbehave. And rude behavior often gets adults’ attention very quickly,” Dr. Lindgren said. “But paying attention only to misbehavior can create more misbehavior.”
Pay special attention to your child when he’s behaving, and praise a specific action. For example, you might say, “Great job listening the first time” or “Good job waiting patiently for your turn” to reinforce these behaviors.
“This is a habit parents can build, and start to build at any time,” Dr. Lindgren says. “The more you practice, the better you’ll be at noticing and praising positive behavior.”
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
Families are flocking to swimming pools in the summer heat. Primary Children’s Hospital has some tips on how to keep tots safe around water.
“Bringing babies and toddlers to pools or beaches is a wonderful experience for families and children,” said Jessica Strong, community health manager at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. “These are cherished memories in the making. That’s why is so important to keep kids safe around water, and remember to remove hidden hazards around your home.”
Jade Elliott spoke with Strong about tips for keeping your children safe around water on this episode of the Baby Your Baby Podcast.
In Utah, drowning is the second leading cause of preventable injury death for children under age 14, Strong said.
A good way to protect children from tragedy is through planned supervision, Strong said.
“Have a dedicated water watcher who is solely focused on watching the children, and won’t be distracted by a phone call, text, or side conversation,” Strong said. “This is a duty that can be rotated in a group, in 15-minute shifts, for example. Some families choose to wear a lanyard with a water-watcher card as a reminder — to the water watcher and others — of who’s on shift.”
Here are some other tips to keep tots safe at the pool or lake:
Teach children to swim.
Have children wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets instead of water wings, which can deflate or fall off a child’s arms. Many public pools offer lifejackets to rent or borrow.
If you have a pool, keep a locked gate around it at all times.
If a child is missing, always check nearby water first.
Teach children to stay away from water while hiking or camping.
If a child falls into rushing water, call 911. Don’t jump in after them.
Learn CPR.
Strong also recommends parents and caretakers check their homes and yards for hidden water hazards. Kiddie pools, bathtubs, or even buckets with a little water can be hazardous.
“Toddlers are top-heavy,” Strong said. “They can fall in head-first to these containers — and may not be able to get out of the water by themselves.”
When not in use, Strong recommends draining kiddie pools and other containers and turning them upside-down to prevent injury.
The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.
