HaltonParents

The key to surviving life with a newborn

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Andrea Scott RN

The key to surviving life with a newborn is low expectations.
Lower.
Even lower.
There you go.

Remember all those things you had imagined pre-baby, you know that picture of you putting your little one down for a nap and then having lots of time to do things for yourself. Maybe you hoped to be able to take a course, learn how to knit, exercise, look for a new house or even plan a reno.

Then when your baby is here and you realise, okay, maybe it was too much. Maybe I can hold off on some of these things. That’s a good thing, because you realized it was time to lower your expectations of yourself and your baby. Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Babies with Special Needs, Breastfeeding Your Baby, Depression & Anxiety After Birth, Keeping Your Baby Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Play, Growth & Development for Babies, Pregnancy, Preparing to Breastfeed | Tagged baby, baby wants to be held, baby won't sleep, busy, expectations, how to cope, newborn, realistic expectations, reality, sleep | Leave a comment

Teens and screens: tips to help your teen reduce screen time.

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Cynthia Lindsay RN

Teens are connected all the time. Aren’t we all? I don’t think my son is any different than other teens when it comes to being on his phone, watching Netflix or even playing video games. Technology is ingrained in our everyday life. I get it. I use technology and spend most of my work day in front of a screen.

As a parent of two teens and a public health nurse, I know screen time can affect both our mental and physical health and that recreational screen time should be limited to 2hrs/day. Recreational meaning watching TV, video games, etc. it doesn’t include educational time such as doing homework. However, I also live in the real world with a 15 year old boy. Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Teen, Keeping Your Child/Tween Safe, Keeping Your Teen Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Teen Brain, Teens | Tagged Mental Health, parenting teens, Physical Health, screen time, social media, teen, teens and screens, too much screen time, tweens, video games | 3 Comments

Five easy ways to help keep your baby safe when they sleep

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Andrea Scott RN

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness month and a good time to check if your little one is as safe as can be while sleeping. Safe sleep guidelines are being updated often as researchers learn more about ways to decrease your baby’s risk for SIDS. Here are five easy ways to help keep your baby safe*: Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Keeping Your Baby Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Play, Growth & Development for Babies, Pregnancy | Tagged baby, back to sleep, cot death, crib safety, grandparents, infant, Safety, SIDS, sleep safety | Leave a comment

Books and beyond: Raising readers

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Maureen Harris, RN

Do you remember your first library card? I do. I was so excited to have my very own piece of ID – something I didn’t have to share with my brothers or sister. I used it religiously. That card opened up a world of characters, plot and imagination for me that I otherwise wouldn’t have had access to. I don’t know if my mom knew how much I loved our trips to the library, or that it would eventually lead to a lifelong love of reading. Maybe she did. Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Children & Tweens, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Play, Growth & Development for Babies, Preparing for Kindergarten, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged books, child, child development, children, early literacy, family, family time, kids, library, library program, literacy, parents, preschooler, preschoolers, read, reading, school, toddler | 1 Comment

Top five self-care tips for single parents

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Cynthia Lindsay RN

Parenting can pull you in so many different directions. One second it’s the most wonderful experience ever and the next you are pulling every last hair out of your head! Parenting is tough and, at times, can be all the more challenging when you are doing it alone.

Did you know that in 2011 for the first time in Canadian history there were more single person than couple households with children? And that one in four families is headed by one parent? No matter how you found yourself single – whether by choice or unexpected circumstances – I don’t think many would disagree that being a single parent can sometimes be difficult. Continue reading →