When I was pregnant with my first child, I was very fortunate to have a circle of friends to support me who had already travelled the path of parenthood. The best advice that another mom gave me, and that I still use today, is to always “trust your instincts.”
My friend’s story
My friend’s story begins at the 35 weeks of pregnancy mark when she began experiencing severe and unusual back pain: Continue reading
One of the most common questions I hear as a public health nurse who works with families of young children is if it’s ok to speak another language to your child. Parents often worry that if their child speaks their home language they may become language-confused and disadvantaged when starting school.
My response to parents is always a reassuring “Yes! It’s a great idea to speak your home language to your child.” In doing so you are actually providing several advantages to your child. Continue reading
Recently, experts from Health Canada, the Canadian Paediatric Society, Dietitians of Canada, and the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada released new evidence-based guidelines about starting your baby on solids.
A few weeks ago I blogged about “Introducing solids to your baby: myths vs. facts” with my goal being to sort out any confusion around this exciting new stage. Starting solids is such a popular topic with so many different dimensions that I received a great response. In today’s blog I want to share new information and dispel some myths about food allergies/safety when introducing solids to your baby: Continue reading
So your child had their first dental visit and things went well…yay! Or maybe things didn’t go that well and now it’s time for their next appointment. Whether it’s for a routine check-up, cleaning or a filling, a visit to the dentist can make your child anxious. But don’t worry, there are many ways to help your child reduce their anxiety with some simple pre-visit preparation:
Tip #1 – Talk to your child about what to expect at the dentist
Children cope better when they know what to expect. Continue reading
My 13 year old son recently had his yearly routine physical. Now that he’s in grade 8, I was asked to remain in the waiting area (yet another sign that he’s growing up!). The doctor still invited me in afterwards to go over a few things.
She recommended that boys be vaccinated against HPV (human papillomavirus), and that my son is at the right age to get the vaccine.
I was aware of the importance of the HPV vaccine in protecting girls against cervical cancer, but what I didn’t know was the full extent of how Gardasil also protects boys and men. In males, HPV can cause cancers of the anus, mouth/throat (oropharyngeal cancer), and penis. The vaccine also helps prevent most cases of genital warts. Continue reading
Andrea Scott RN
Carolyn Wilkie, RN
Cynthia Lindsay RN
Halton guest blogger
HaltonRegion
Dr. Hamidah Meghani
Karen Hay, RN
Tamara Kraszewski, RN
Maureen Harris, RN
Nicole O'Donnell, RN
Sarah Flynn RN
Tanya Melykuty, RN, MSW
Heather Van Laare RN
HaltonParents 