Baby Einstein Blog

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) had an update of their guidelines for SIDS prevention beginning last year. The cause of SIDS ordinarily is when an infant’s breathing becomes hindered. For instance, when the baby breathes again his/her own exhaled air or when his/her head has been covered; the lack of oxygen will set off a stimulation response that brings about the baby’s change of breathing or crying. Some babies have an impaired capability to awaken from sleep when they come across a possible life-threatening situation.

The risk factors include sleeping on his/her tummy; sleeping on a soft surface; maternal smoking during pregnancy; overheating; late or not prenatal care; young age of the mother; preterm birth; low birth weight; and male gender.

The summary of AAP recommendations includes placing your infant on his/her back every time he/she sleeps. The significant risk of side-sleeping is now recognized and is not considered an acceptable alternative to being fully on his/her back. Another is using a firm crib mattress covered by a sheet. Keep soft materials and loose bedding out of your baby’s crib. Also, do not smoke during pregnancy and avoid exposing your infant to secondhand smoke. Have your infant sleep in your room but not in your bed. Use a pacifier when placing your infant down to sleep throughout the first year of life. Avoid overheating or overbundling your infant. He/she should be lightly clothed for sleep and the bedroom should be kept at a temperature comfortable for a lightly-clothed adult. Furthermore, provide upright cuddle time and encourage “tummy time” when your baby is awake and being observed in order to avoid flattening of the head from back-sleeping. Regularly alternate your baby’s head position when placing him/her to sleep. In addition, do not use commercial products marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS, as none has been adequately tested for safety or effectiveness.

They say, breastfeeding is still the best for babies. It is among the most valued phase of maternity. But for some mothers, they return to their work before their infant’s first birthday, which sets a hindrance to uninterrupted breastfeeding. It is best to prepare during your maternity leave about how you would nurse your baby before you return to work.

There are some useful tips for mothers who are breastfeeding while working. For one, you can fix your alarm half an hour earlier each morning to enjoy an unhurried breastfeeding time before your busy day starts. Even though the remainder of your day may be hectic, you don’t have to start by feeling hasty. Also, put on clothes that are suitable for pumping, like tops that have buttons in front and pull up. You can bring to work a spare blouse that is neutral in color and a sweater or jacket to prevent yourself from being uncomfortable if milk seeps out onto your outer garment. While you are at work, keep in mind to drink extra liquid. Carry a sports bottle handy with you so you can have water or juice anytime. Another tip is of course trying to nurse exclusively on weekends and days off. Unhindered breastfeeding can increase your milk resource and offer emotional refilling for you and your baby. Most of all, allow your focus to be on the nursing relationship, not the amount of milk you make. Apart from the quantity of milk you produce with pumping, attempt to concentrate on being able to nurse your baby when you are with each other.

Since you are a working mother, pumping at work may be part of your plan. While some have access to day cares near their work which take care of their babies all through the workday, the majority of moms will still need to use a breast pump to press out their milk at their baby’s normal feeding times. Preferably, your pumping site should be in close proximity and have a sink and running water so you can rinse your hands and wash your utensils.

I am a special education teacher by profession. I teach children with developmental disabilities, and it’s a privelege to be used in forming a bright future to these special children. A week ago we had a seminar on how to manage children with autism at home. One parent shared a story that she says she can relate to, about her son Nath, a four year old child with ASD (Autism Spetrum Disorder).  The story struck my heart, and I’m sure the hearts of all those who heard.

Welcome to Holland
by Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability–to try to help people who have not shared this unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It’s like this…

When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip–to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. Michelangelo’s David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. the stewardess comes in and says, “Welcome to Holland.”

“Holland??” you say. “What do you mean Holland? I signed up for Italy! I’m supposed to be in Italy. All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy.”

But there’s been a change in the flight plan. They’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full of pestilence, famine, and disease. IT’s just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It’s just a different place. It’s slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you’ve been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around…And you begin to notice that Holland has windmills…and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy…and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, “Yes, that’s where I was supposed to go. That’s what I had planned.”

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away…because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss.

But…if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things…about Holland.

* * *

Emily Perl Kingsley has been writing scripts for Sesame Street for thirty years. Much of her work on the show has focused on enhancing the understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities. Emily is the mother of Jason Kingsley (1974) and served as the dictation typist for Jason’s and Mitchell Levitz’s book Count Us In: Growing Up with Down Syndrome (published by Harcourt Brace in 1994). Emily lives in Briarcliff Manor, New York. Emily’s essay has been read by parents throughout the world since it was first published in 1987.