HaltonParents

Are you contributing to mealtime mania?

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Maureen Harris, RN

I recently delivered a presentation to a group of parents with young children on ‘mealtime mania’–the name says it all. Parents were worried that their toddlers were not eating enough, were refusing to try new foods, or were a picky eater. There are many tips on helping toddlers and preschoolers eat well, but I wanted to share one simple tip that really worked for me.

I too struggled at mealtimes with my kids. What should be an enjoyable family experience became something I dreaded, usually ending in a power struggle. That being said, I didn’t repeat how I was raised, telling my kids “You’re not leaving the table until you clean your plate.” But I did hover over them as they ate, carefully watching what their next bite would be. This often ended with them refusing to eat, only eating one thing on their plate, or having a complete meltdown. Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Children & Tweens, Feeding Your Baby in the First Year, Healthy Eating for Toddlers & Preschoolers, Healthy Eating for Your Child/Tween, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged division of responsibility, eat, eating, father, grandparents, how much, mother, new foods, parents, Physical Health, picky eaters, what kids eat | 2 Comments

Car seat shopping tips new parents need to know

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Carolyn Wilkie, RN

It’s the night before your big purchase. How exciting! A brand new car seat for your baby-to-be! Before you start matching the seat’s fabric colour to your car’s interior, remember: Car seats are one of the most important pieces of safety equipment you will buy. According to the Infant & Toddler Safety Association (ITSA), 75% of all crash-related deaths and serious injuries can be prevented by using car seats correctly. Keeping your baby safe is a must, and we’re here to help!

Newborns need to travel in a rear-facing seat. The different seat options for this style of seat are:

infant-only car seat
infant-child car seat
3-in-1 car seat

Continue reading →

Posted in Keeping Your Baby Safe, Parenting, Pregnancy, Prenatal Health | Tagged baby car seat, car seat safety, car seat shopping, car seat tips, how to install a car seat, infant car seat, new car seats, rear-facing car seats, what to look for in car seats | Leave a comment

Top 5 Secrets to Parenting Bliss

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Paula D'Orazio

Got your attention, huh? LOL 🙂

Ahhhh – the ever elusive blissful parenting experience. After almost 20 years of nursing, over a decade as a parent and the better part of that decade devoted to parenting and related care and services, I can tell you this with certainty: I have no idea what bliss looks like and probably never will. And guess what? I’m glad.

My father often tells me “you never learn anything from being right” and the older I get, the more I realize that this little pearl of wisdom is entirely true. The journey in parenting and in life is one without a destination. The highlights of that journey are the times when things are the hardest and require the most time and attention. Feelings of victory and accomplishment can only come from one having lived through and moved beyond great challenges and even hard-fought defeats. Continue reading →

Posted in Babies, Children & Tweens, Parenting, Parenting Your Baby, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Parenting Your Toddler & Preschooler, Play, Growth & Development, Play, Growth & Development for Babies, Teens, Toddlers & Preschoolers | Tagged benefits of play, family play time, family time, grandparents, happy child, happy parent, Mental Health, parenting bliss, play is important, Play together, play with your kids, special needs, the importance of play | 4 Comments

Eating Disorders: It starts earlier than you think. Learn 10 simple tips to promote a healthy body image.

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Cynthia Lindsay RN

To help raise awareness I want to start talking about eating disorders. Did you know that most kids who develop an eating disorder do so between the ages of 11-14? Although it can start as early as age 5! Five! What a frightening thought.

Eating disorders are very complicated. They are a group of mental illnesses that affect the way you feel about food AND the way you feel about your body and yourself. There is no single cause for eating disorders. However it’s effects are overwhelming to a person’s physical health AND their identity, self- worth, and self-esteem. Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Teen, Healthy Eating for Your Child/Tween, Healthy Eating for your Teen, Keeping Your Child/Tween Safe, Keeping Your Teen Safe, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Teen Brain, Teens | Tagged anorexia, body image, bulemia, Bullying, children, eating disorders, family, Feeding Your Baby in the First Year, healthy, healthy body image, Mental Health, parents, physical activity, Physical Health, prevetion, school health, tips | 3 Comments

Family Matters: Relationships are key!

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Cynthia Lindsay RN

Family matters. It’s simple, the key is to develop a positive relationship with your children. Start early, this will BE one of their greatest protective factors in life. There are no secret ingredients, no gimmicks, no quick fixes. It’s about relationships.

I’m not talking about being your child’s best friend, although friendship can be part of it. I’m talking about THAT relationship that will keep your kids coming back to you for guidance no matter what. Even in the teen years when friends are so important to them. Continue reading →