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Blankies and Binkies: Is there a difference?

My first son was a blanky baby. I ran all over town looking for his little,...

Posted by Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

My first son was a blanky baby. I ran all over town looking for his little, blue, satin, discontinued blanket. I can't even remember who gave us the first one, but he loved it, and it went everywhere with us. We even turned around after driving 30 miles on a trip to grandma's house because I forgot to pack it. Although shredded and faded, "Blanky" stayed with him for years.

A comfort item or transitional object, also known as a "lovey" is a good idea to help a baby self-soothe and transition from needing Mommy and Daddy 24/7. A little blanky or a small stuffed animal can be introduced to your child when they're around 6 to 8 months old. It can be kept as long as your child desires, although it usually remains at home after a child turns 2 or 3 years old.

My second son was a pacifier (aka "binky" or "paci") baby. He was fussy, and like many babies, he soothed himself by sucking. This was also the year that the American Academy of Pediatrics suggested offering a pacifier to infants when they are placed down for naps or sleep to decrease the risk of SIDS. We let him suck and soothe, and suck and sleep, and life was good.

When he became a toddler, we had to decide when to pull the plug. His dad wasn't quite on board, so one weekend, when he was out of town, I tossed the pacifier. It went much better than I would have thought. My toddler cried and fussed for a bit, but I held strong, and he was pacifier-free by the time my husband returned home.

A pacifier is not meant to be a transitional object. Unfortunately, many toddlers quickly become accustomed to the pacifier, which may increase the frequency of ear infections and other illness (they put everything in their mouth) and abnormalities to your baby's teeth. If possible, begin weaning at 1 year old, and replace the pacifier with another lovey.

What type of blanky, pacifier or other type of lovey does your child like? Share your blanky, pacifier or other lovey experiences with parents in the community.View Thread

Posted byTanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Blankies and Binkies: Is there a difference? My first son was a blanky baby. I ran all over town looking for his little,...

Helping Your Child Overcome Homesickness

If your child is headed to a sleepover or summer camp, it's perfectly...

Posted by Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Helping Your Child Overcome Homesickness If your child is headed to a sleepover or summer camp, it's perfectly...

Do You Parent Like Your Mom & Dad?

Do the phrases "Because I SAID SO!" "Don't' talk with your mouth full,"...

Posted by Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

Do the phrases "Because I SAID SO!" "Don't' talk with your mouth full," "You'll poke someone's eye out!" or the dreaded, "Just wait until your father gets home" sound familiar? No matter how much we try to avoid it, most of us end up using parenting methods and styles similar to the ones used on us when we were children. Now that we're parents, we say things that we SWORE we would never say to our own children.

A lot of what we say and do as parents is behavior that has been programmed into us through our past experiences. These experiences inevitably influence the development of our parenting skill and style. In many cases, our parents' influence can be a great thing, but also be aware that the way they parented is not the only option for you and your child.

As parents, we can pick and choose what parenting techniques and values we'd like to emulate -- and which we'd rather not. Make a list of what your parents did that helped you become the person you are today. Did your parents make you confident and secure? Did they lovingly encourage you to become your best self?

In addition to the positive aspects of your parents' abilities, write down their shortcomings as parental figures. List how you would have acted differently than your parents. Did they discipline you in a way that you feel is inappropriate for your children? Did you not always get the love and attention you desired? If this is the case, know that as an adult, you can choose to create a new parenting path for yourself and your child. Take the best of what you learned and incorporate those skills into your own plan for being a better parent. Don't forget to discuss parenting methods with your partner or spouse and make sure you are both on the same page.

The fact that you are reading this means that there were probably a few things your parents may have done right. Perhaps the phrase, "Just wait until you have kids!" now rings true. Becoming a parent yourself may help you to better understand the reasoning your parents used when you were a child. In some cases, there may be things they did as parents that you still disagree with, or want to do differently with your own kids. That's ok. You get to make those decisions and hope that someday, your kids will understand the choices you're making for them today.

As long as we're on the subject, you just may want to call your parents to apologize for a thing or two you did as a kid!

Now that you have children, how does your parenting style compare to that of your parents? Share what you've learned as a parent with the community.View Thread

Posted byTanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Do You Parent Like Your Mom & Dad? Do the phrases "Because I SAID SO!" "Don't' talk with your mouth full,"...

Time for a timeout?

Whether you're at home or out in public, there are many times when the best...

Posted by Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Time for a timeout? Whether you're at home or out in public, there are many times when the best...

Kids and Germs

Day care, school, birthday parties -- anywhere kids spend time together,...

Posted by Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Kids and Germs Day care, school, birthday parties -- anywhere kids spend time together,...

Outside Play on Rainy or Cold Days

"Rain, rain, go away, come again another day!" Even though that saying is...

Posted by Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Outside Play on Rainy or Cold Days "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day!" Even though that saying is...

Summer Fun: Family Activities

Many families and children look forward to summer - sunny days, less...

Posted by Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

Many families and children look forward to summer - sunny days, less homework, family vacations and more time to relax. But with so many summer activities available for children - camp, swim lessons, summer school, vacation time, music or sports - how do you choose summer activities and still leave your child some time to rest and recharge their batteries before the next school year begins? Before making a summer activity schedule, think about what various activities have to offer and considerations to make when choosing them for your child.

Camp: Whether daytime only or sleep away, camp is often the highlight of many children's summer vacation. Before you send your child to camp, make sure your child is physically and emotionally ready to be away from home and excited to attend. Let your child help select the camp, depending on their interests, such as a general activity camp or a specialty camp geared towards music or sports.

Swim Lessons: Research suggests that children ages 1 to 4 may be at a lower risk of drowning if they have had formal swimming instruction. Swimming is a fun summer activity and a great form of exercise for all ages. IMPORTANT: All swimming pools should be surrounded by a 4-sided pool fence, and children should be constantly supervised by an adult who knows how to swim, perform a rescue, perform CPR and call for help.

Family Vacations: Whether your family heads to a far away destination or stays close to home, a vacation can give your family much needed time to reconnect and enjoy being together. Your travel plan may depend on the ages of your children and their interests. Remember, that a vacation should be vacation, so don't over schedule your vacation days, or you may end up feeling like you need another vacation when you get home.

Summer School: Summer school is beneficial for all ages, and can supplement classroom subjects where your child may require a little more help, such as math or English. Summer school classes can also help prepare your child or teen for the upcoming year, or lighten their future class load.

Staying Home: A "staycation" without specific scheduled activities is the way many families like to spend their summer. Sleeping in, spontaneous day trips, visits to the beach, a museum, library story time, or play dates with friends can be unscheduled fun for kids and parents. A reminder - don't over schedule - one of the best parts of summer is waking up and not having a plan.

Have you started thinking about summer activities? What do your family and children have planned for summer? What are your ideas, thoughts and tips for summer activities? Share your childhood summer memories and tell what made summer special for you and your family.View Thread

Posted byTanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Summer Fun: Family Activities Many families and children look forward to summer - sunny days, less...

Kids and Money – Time for an Allowance?

"When do I get an allowance?" my kindergartener asked. "All of my friends...

Posted by Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

"When do I get an allowance?" my kindergartener asked. "All of my friends get an allowance."

Well, I doubt they all do. But most experts agree that starting to teach children about money at a young age -- maybe as soon as your preschooler or kindergartner says, "I want that!" -- is the best approach.

Experts don't all agree on how allowances should be given, whether for chores, good behavior, good grades, or simply as a set amount on a regular basis. I prefer a combination -- a set amount every week that cannot be taken away, plus extra for working hard at school or helping out at home. As parents, you can decide what you think is important.

My own financial philosophy came from my upbringing. My parents were not big on allowance. Although we were often rewarded for doing well in school, they stressed that we should never buy anything that couldn't be paid off in full (future home excluded). In today's credit card world, where our children see us swipe multiple times a day for groceries and gas, spending and saving are very important concepts that need explaining.

Here are a few age appropriate guidelines for teaching children about money matters at different stages:

• Preschool: It's fun to get a piggy bank and start depositing a few coins here and there. Around age 4, many children can learn to recognize different coins and how much they are worth. Start with coins and work up to dollars.
• Elementary School: Children can now learn about saving, spending, and donating. You can create separate "banks" for what children want to do, including savings for the future, or a coveted toy; donating to teach the importance of giving back to the community and helping others; and funds for immediate spending.
• Tweens: At this age, you may want to add a fourth container so they can divide savings into short term and long term. You may decide to increase their allowance and let them pay for certain items on their own, such as clothing, video games, or hobbies. Supervise their spending and continue to teach them the importance of saving and donating.

Do you have any tips for teaching children the value of money? Any allowance stories to share about your kids, or even from your own childhood?View Thread

Posted byTanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Kids and Money – Time for an Allowance? "When do I get an allowance?" my kindergartener asked. "All of my friends...

Sleep: Does Your Child Get Enough?

"Thirty minutes until bedtime," is called out, and the routine in my house...

Posted by Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Sleep: Does Your Child Get Enough? "Thirty minutes until bedtime," is called out, and the routine in my house...

Healthy Food Victories!

After a few minutes -- or even a few hours -- in the kitchen creating a...

Posted by Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

After a few minutes -- or even a few hours -- in the kitchen creating a healthy delicious snack or meal, it's always a great victory when your child eats it up and says, "Yumm!"

Getting youngsters to enjoy foods that are good for them isn't always easy. But these tips can help you create healthy food victories, and help your kids look forward to trying new foods. Here are some tried and true tips for developing healthy food victories:

• Take your kids (well, maybe not all of them at the same time) to the market. Grocery shopping provides plenty of opportunities to teach children and get them excited about healthy foods. Allow your child to pick a colorful vegetable as an ingredient for your next meal.
• Encourage children to help prepare meals at home. Give them age appropriate tasks such as tearing lettuce, tossing pre-cut veggies into the mix, or stirring ingredients. Sharing what they helped make with the rest of the family will usually ensure a food victory.
• Name a dish after your child. Instead of plain old "lasagna," try calling it "Micah's Colorful Lasagna," or let your child make up a silly name like "Super Duper Frittata" to motivate them to try it.
• Create a new house rule: "Everyone has to take one bite." You're allowed to say "No, thank you," and be done. It'll turn mealtime into a fun game. At least you'll get your child to take that one bite. Maybe they'll realize they like it and want more.

Here are some examples of my own favorite food victories that you might want to try.

Breakfast
• Old-fashioned oats sprinkled with oat bran, cinnamon, and raisins -- cooked or micro waved with non-fat milk and a touch of honey
• Scrambled eggs with tiny pieces of broccoli, gives new meaning to "green eggs"
Snacks
• Low-fat vanilla yogurt, drizzled over fresh cut fruit or berries
• Fresh or frozen fruit, blended with yogurt or non-fat milk and ice to make a smoothie
• Steamed carrots and broccoli, dipped in ranch dressing
Dinner
• Frittatas with extra egg whites and fresh veggies, topped with shredded cheese

Let your kids toss the cut-up veggies into the egg mix. Pour the mix into a non-stick frying pan, cook until firm, and then bake if needed. Cut into slices.

Don't forget that it can take several tries for a child to learn to like a new item. So keep at it. Be a good role model yourself and keep exposing your kids to healthy options. Last week, one of my boys decided he wanted to try my salmon for dinner. He loved it! Victory!

Do you have any mealtime victories to share? What healthy foods have you gotten your children to try -- and enjoy?View Thread

Posted byTanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Healthy Food Victories! After a few minutes -- or even a few hours -- in the kitchen creating a...

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