written by Renee Mandala, M.A. CD(DONA) C.L.C. Expectant families are rightly, more frequently being advised by their medical providers to breastfeed their babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least 6 months of exclusive nursing, and continued nursing through at least the first year with the addition of complimentary solids. They also recommend nursing beyond...
written by Carol Castanon, Parent Consultant Sleep is important to parents and children. Parents often become obsessed with sleep, because sleep deprivation deeply affects our mental and emotional state. Parents might even feel panic around loss of sleep. Night parenting is often the hardest time to parent. Every family will develop their own ways getting children...
written by Carol Castanon, Parent Consultant Babies begin to communicate who they are, and are becoming in those first moments after birth and beyond. As adults, we come into these new relationships with joy, worry and expectation. As the baby’s grown-up, there are times in the baby relationship when we are simply providing the basics of...
written by Carol Castanon, Parent Consultant Infants tell their caregivers when they are hungry, wet, tired, or not feeling quite right. They cry, they wiggle and they sometimes struggle to get to sleep. They’ll reach for the nipple and then sometimes pull away, and then seem to reach back again. They’ll find your loving gaze and...
written by Brenda Murrow, Practicum Student Article Summary: At Secure Beginnings, our classes encourage time for uninterrupted play. Interacting with children in this way may be unfamiliar because play is often more structured and initiated by adults. This article explains what uninterrupted play is and why it is important to development, from a psychological perspective. One...