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Healthy Sleep? It Really IS Possible for New Parents, Kids, Families

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While many adults already deal with problems sleeping, along comes a pregnancy and things get even worse!

Getting to sleep, staying asleep and getting quality sleep are all challenges made even more difficult by being pregnant, or being a new parent.  And these problems don’t just affect mom.  Her partner can be just as affected.

Despite the fact that interruptions to sleep routines will happen, it helps to understand what’s happening and keep certain tips in mind that can alleviate some of the stress and improve the sleep you do get.

The Sleep Help Institute has put together some excellent guides to help this happen.

Healthy Sleep for New and Expecting Parents

A look at how pregnancy can affect sleep.  The Sleep Help Institute covers each trimester with information on what to expect, best practices and tips.  There are notes on the best sleep positions for moms – and positions to avoid.  You’ll learn the benefits of exercise, eating right and helping your partner get better sleep.

Children’s Sleep Guide

If they don’t get enough sleep, children suffer.  It can make them irritable, lethargic and affect their learning and attitudes.  The Institute’s article has a helpful Sleep Guide, tips for creating a healthy sleep routine and info about choosing the best mattress.  Learn how to deal with nightmares, night terrors, snoring and sleep walking.

How To Manage Screen Time and Bed Time

Did you know that according to the National Sleep Foundation, at least 90% of us use technology during the hour before we go to bed?  This can often affect the time it takes us to fall asleep and the quality of sleep we get.  It’s a problem that every parent deals with when it comes to kids, but it can be just as detrimental to adults.  The Sleep Help Institute has some great ideas on minimizing the effect of technology on sleep, changing your light settings and creating a better bedtime routine.

Here’s hoping you and your family are getting better sleep soon.

And thanks to the Sleep Help Institute!

 

Georgia Mom Warns Others After Son Contracts Rare Disease From Tick Bite

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A mom in Georgia is warning others to take care after her son contracted a rare disease following a tick bite.

Mason McNair was staying with relatives in LaGrange, Georgia when then noticed a tick near his belly button.  The tick was quickly removed, but the area got red and infected.

Mom Danielle McNair took her son to the doctor who prescribed antibiotics, but Mason’s condition worsened and he eventually broke out in a rash from head to toe, as seen in Danielle’s Facebook post below.

Doctors investigated further and found that Mason had Rocky Mountain spotted fever.  A bacterial infection that can lead to amputation, hearing loss, paralysis and mental disabilities.

After doctors changed his treatment to include the correct antibiotic, Danielle was happy to report that he was now “completely healthy.”

“Please be aware of ticks and make sure to check yourself and your kids every time when coming from outside! Especially in wooded areas, by lakes, tall grasses,” said McNair.

Podcast: Why Mommy Drinks, Reason #26: Pink Eye

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Dana is one half of the duo Dana & Jayson in the Morning on ALT 949 in San Diego.

Time for another in the series of 'Why Mommy Drinks'!

An infected child is a dangerous situation, especially if you’re Dana.

When she isn’t holding down mornings with Jayson on Alt 949, she’s the mom to three daughters under the age of 10. As you can imagine, this leads to some pretty hilarious situations, even if they’re only funny to us.

Find out the latest reason her children are driving her to the bottle with another edition of Why Mommy Drinks with Dana & Jayson on Alt 949.

Do you have a Dad Bod? Well…Get Strong!

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Kids, a job, a mortgage, tons of bills to pay and your wife says…”what happened to your body?” Like many men, back in college we were in great shape, ripped up, playing football, baseball, basketball etc. You could drink a 12 pack of beer and be burning it off as you were drinking it. Those were the days right?  Then like a brick wall it hits you in the face – RESPONSIBILITIES! Now your a husband, father and wage earner and the time you used to spend exercising is far and few in between.

This is why Dr. Travis Jewett has created Dad Strong, a simple program for busy guys like him. The cool part about this is that it gets your kids involved too. The program takes just a few minutes a day. Dr Jwewtt says, “I think that many parents make the assumption that teachers and coaches who run their kids’ teams and programs are paying attention to whether the children are moving correctly. While I admire the work these people do, often they’re oblivious to that part of it. So I wanted to educate parents about how to move safely so they could not only improve their own performance but also help their kids move well.” 

One thing to remember is proper nutrition plays a huge factor. It is very important to learn how to cook real food. You and your wife may both be working parents, with 4 kids, all in different activities, but it’s a good thing to make an effort to sit down at the table together with good, nutritious food. You and your wife should be splitting the cooking duties. There is no need to spend all of your money on supplements but you can get everything you need from real food.

If your worried about your Dad bod, and don’t want your kids to develop one at an early age, get in the gym, in the garage…anyway you  can get your heart rate up for at a minimum of 30 minutes a day…do it! It’s never too early to get your kids involved either.

To read more go to theinertia.com. 

 

Parenting Things You Don’t Realize You’re Doing Because You Had A Toxic Mother

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Just because you have become a mother, that doesn’t mean you stop being someone’s child. The effects of an abusive, toxic, or damaging mother can be passed down through generations without you even knowing it. New mothers hoping to take their parenting down another, non-toxic direction have a tough road to travel.

Kathryn Smerling, Ph.D., LCSW, a family therapy professional who practices in Manhattan states, “There is an axiom in family therapy known as repeat and repair; you either repeat the same mistakes or repair them. Either you mindlessly keep the same cycle going that you experienced as a child or you decide to be the one to make the change. To stop a hurtful cycle in its tracks, you have to understand what about your childhood worked, and what didn’t. You can educate yourself about healthy parenting practices, and put your knowledge to work each day as you endeavor to break the cycle.”

Try hard not to let the past creep up on the present. These damaged roots influence just about everything in our lives — and go much deeper than you realize. The past is a part of you. The way you were raised influences psychological and emotional development. It can hinder your ability to move on in this world with purpose and comfort.

One thing we often do when trying to change patterns is overcompensation.  Keep in mind though that trying to be the perfect parent all the time is incredibly stressful, and sadly, usually doomed to fail. You’re not Supergirl and shouldn’t try to pretend to be. Relax, take lots of deep breaths and be aware of your actions and what you’re trying to overcome.

Possibly one of the most important things to remember is to not forget about self-care. It’s so vitally important to remember to make time for self-care. Yoga classes, therapy, artistic pursuits, and hobbies. Remember what they tell you on a commercial airline flight – secure your own oxygen mask before helping others. It translates into many facets of life – you are no good to others if you can’t function properly yourself.

Don’t give up and DON’T GIVE INTO ANGER. Once you give in to anger and frustration you have lost. Stay on course, taking time for yourself when you feel overwhelmed. Talk to your spouse, friends and family for support.

To read more about this topic, go to romper.com

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