An incredible new tool known as the pacifier-activated lullaby (PAL) device could significantly shorten the need for preemies to stay in the NICU. And it’s all thanks to the power of music. Read on to see how this amazing innovation works.
The device, which plays parents’ recorded lullabies whenever a baby sucks on the pacifier is already being successfully test by researchers at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Their study has shown that 70 percent of babies who use a PAL device improve their proficiency using a pacifier, which plays a role in developing feeding skills. This translates into shorter stays in the NICU after delivery.
“Babies born before 34 weeks gestation often struggle to feed orally because they have not yet developed the reflex to suck, breathe and swallow,’’ Shelly Frisco, a nurse in the NICU at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, says. “With the PAL device, babies learn to feed faster and gain weight because they want to keep hearing their parents’ voices.”
Music therapists help parents record themselves singing a lullaby of their choosing. The recorded song then plays when the infants suck on their pacifiers, stopping only when they stop sucking.
Jenna Bollard, an expressive arts therapies manager at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital explains, “Giving parents a way to be part of their babies’ treatment helps them feel more bonded with their baby and gives them a very important role in their health and development.”
—Shahrzad Warkentin
All photos: Courtesy of UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital
I’m no therapist, counselor or psychologist. However, I am a woman, mother and wife and I have and still am experiencing the growing pains of having a beautifully blended family. I speak from the perspective of experience.
About 9 years ago, I made the tough decision to leave a marriage that had been unhealthy for a number of reasons. Due to legal issues and other heartbreaking details, his time with the children was very limited. I spent about a year as a newly single woman, since the age of 17. I was single with two bright little boys depending on me. Imagine the whole new scary world of dating!
Thankfully, it didn’t take too many toads to find my prince. I met my now husband through a mutual friend, I literally realized he was the man I wanted on the top of mountain, while hiking with friends, odd yet kind of sweet.
We fell for each other immediately, we loved each other. I made it clear that loving me met loving and caring for my children as well. My poor soon to be husband, was like a fish out of water. As a man who spent all his life caring for himself and no one else, not having to share space, food, money, resources or even sharing to woman he loved he was in for a heck of a ride.
He was stepping into established relationships; in essence, he was a stranger. He had to find a way to make his stamp on his new family and his new-found responsibility. He was stepping into their territory, this was going to be a huge test. He had to step up and I don’t speculate he was ready for the whirlwind that is blended parenting.
The boys loved him, however they didn’t like listening to a man who “wasn’t their dad,” that’s a hard pill to swallow for all parties involved. Their new step-father was new to this game and he didn’t have the fatherly companionship they needed. He spent most of his time unknowingly being a stickler for all the wrong reasons, the bed wasn’t made, someone spilled juice during dinner, there was a toy left in the living room, things only a man who never lived with children would stress over.
This stress seemed to make us all walk on eggshells. He felt unwanted in the family and all we wanted was understanding. Looking back, it was us against him, he didn’t understand us and I took no time to try to understand him. He was struggling with his new role and more than a few times we wanted to throw in the towel.
I struggled with letting go and allowing him to help me parent (within reason of course). I am still working on breaking that toxic habit, I too am still a work in progress. I think the children struggled with feeling as if they were betraying or forgetting about their biological father. There were so many emotions tied to this one thing we all had in common, love. We loved one another to no end. That was a fact, but love doesn’t compensate for all. We had to learn how to make this work. Looking back, we had to focus on three key points to make this work.
When in doubt, over-communicate.
Communication is key to understanding one another. We had to learn HOW to communicate, how to challenge to emotions that made us want to rip each other’s heads off and learn how to breath and talk.
I remember being particularly upset with my husband, because I didn’t feel as if he took the struggles the children faced in school in to consideration. He thought “a bad grade was just a kid not trying hard enough.” We know that’s not always the case, the boys faced many struggles in school and they shouldn’t have to face them at home. We blew up at each other over it, we weren’t effectively communicating. I needed him to understand their struggles, I needed him to get that this wasn’t a matter of laziness, but a matter of learning disabilities and struggles.
It took more than one fight, but we began to learn each other, we learned our “trigger” words and we learned when to say “I think we need to stop and trace back to when this went wrong.” We also had to learn how to communicate with the boys, communicating with children, especially boys, isn’t as easy as it seems. We had to learn what type of communication worked best for them, we had to learn how we could get the most out of them, without being too pushy.
The step-parent is not a replacement.
We made it particularly clear from the beginning that he was not here to replace their biological father. It was important to us that they didn’t feel they were being placed in this new family unit, sans their Father. We needed them to understand that we loved them unconditionally and that meant loving every part of them. Their father was a part of them.
Trust is always at the heart.
This is a tough one, still to this day. We had to learn how to trust each other. I had to learn and trust that my new partner was in this to win it and that he had our best interest at heart. The boys had to trust that he truly loved and cared for them. They had to know that he was there for them, no matter what and that he would make the time to love and bond with them, like his own. We are still building trust till this very day, but our hearts and minds are open to building this unbreakable bond.
There is nothing easy about blending families. Resilience is key, to battling to many challenges. We have had a heck of ride! We recently decided to add a third little one to this mixed up bunch. The decision was to add to our little blended world, was a carefully thought out decision. We wanted to be sure that our boys knew how important they were to us and how this would only add to our beautifully blended family.
There is no magic wand or secret formula, that keeps this blended machine going. If all parties involved are open to continuous growth, the hurdles, are just that, a temporary obstacle.
I am just regular mom of three wonderful boys and a married to the love of my life! I hope to reach people through writing and expressing my true experiences. My goal is to help a parent realize that no matter the struggle, they are not alone in the journey!
So, let’s say your tot decides to chow down on some teeny tiny plastic LEGO bricks—hey, it could happen. But what happens if your kid swallows a LEGO piece? First, don’t panic. Second, call your pediatrician. While the LEGO will most likely pass through their system, it could cause internal damage. And that requires a call—and probably a trip—to the doctor’s office or local hospital.
If the doc tells you that the LEGO will pass, your next question is probably, “Um, how long will that take?” A study recently published in The Journal of Paediatrics and Child Healthfigured out exactly how long it takes for a LEGO mini-figure head to pass through the human body by swallowing LEGO pieces—and sorting through poop—for science!
The researchers asked six pediatric health-care professionals from the medical blog Don’t Forget the Bubbles to swallow LEGO heads. The creatively genius researcher minds behind this study came up with some “interesting” scales to measure their results, to say the least.
Their pre-LEGO diet poop was measured against a “Stool Hardness And Transit” score. (Go ahead, make an acronym out of that one—you’ll giggle.) The researchers also named their post-LEGO swallowing measure the “Found And Retrieved Time”. Yep, that’s FART for short.
We've finally answered the burning question – how long does it take for an ingested lego head to pass?
So how long did it take the LEGO head to make a reappearance? The average FART score was 1.71 days. And now you know—not that you ever thought you’d need to, but there it is. Science!
You don’t have to watch the news for very long to see or hear about some tragedy involving a child. Many accidents can be avoided with better education and supervision. True, parents cannot be with their children every waking minute and accidents do happen. However, take the time to familiarize yourself with some of the less-than-obvious, or not, ways kids get hurt while playing. As a parent, do your best to teach your kids to play safely and always know where your kids are playing. Be sure your childcare provider is aware of dangerous play. Here are 8 ways kids think they’re having fun, but someone’s likely to be injured:
1. The “How much can you fit in your mouth?” Game – never heard of this one? Well it goes like this: kids put foreign objects (such as a backpack string, plastic balls, marshmallows or other food) into their mouth to see who can fit the most. Here’s the problem: it stops their ability to breath. Lots of kids, including mine, think they will still be able to breath through the nose. Not true. Kids need to breath. Teach kids not to put things in their mouth that are not food and only take as much as they can chew and swallow comfortably.
2. Truth or Dare (should be called Truth or Dumb), the Cinnamon Challenge and other stupid stunts – Thanks to the invention of YouTube, and cable shows like Jackass and Funniest Home Videos, kids have no shortage of fools and foolish stunts to try and copy, not to mention whatever stupid things they can think of all by themselves. While the truth can hurt, daring stunts can break bones and even end a life. Teach your kids to value their bodies and their good health. Just as our mothers warned us against friends who tell us to jump off bridges, we must warn our children against copying viral videos.
3. Playing in or around dangerous places, like dumpsters, parking lots, water – Kids never think it will be them. They’re never going to get hurt. Unfortunately, we know better. Kids should never be allowed to play in or around parking lots, dumpsters or open water. We have a small pond on our property and my poor youngest child probably thought that life jacket was a part of him until he could swim. Even now (and the water is only a couple feet deep at the edge) I do not let them play near the pond alone or without an adult outside with them.
4. Playing with objects not intended as toys or for children at all, like bags, hammers, electricity – Kids will play with anything and sometimes that’s great. Sometimes it can be deadly. My son and a neighbor boy had been playing together, eating a bag of popcorn on my porch. Next thing we knew they were pretending the empty plastic bag was a hat and before we could say, “Throw that away,” my son had the bag stuck down over his face and my father-in-law was frantically tearing it apart so Joseph could breath. It literally happened that fast and we were all right there. Never let kids play with bags or with objects that can hurt them.
5. Hide and Seek (should be called Hide Where You Can Breath) – Kids just don’t think sometimes. Hide and Seek or ManHunt can be a lot of fun. Remind your kids to never hide in anything with a sealing lid or cover, like a duffelbag, chest, trunk or old fridge. Warn kids of the danger of suffocation from automobile fumes, blankets or hiding in containers or bags. Kids who play ManHunt need to wear eye protection and be warned about dangers of outside wells, moving vehicles and staying in-bounds. No matter where my kids play hide and seek, I walk through the potential dangers and safe places to hide, plus detail the boundaries of the game.
6. If it has wheels, it’s gonna hurt – Ask an emergency room doctor. Kids who ride skateboards, bikes, roller blades, four wheelers and motorcycles get hurt more often and the injuries can be serious. If your kid rides something, be sure he or she has the proper gear, such as helmet, elbow and knee pads, eye and chest protection and footwear. Then make sure he or she wears it! It is best for beginners to practice in a protected area or on a softer surface, but everybody knows those wheels need smooth asphalt to really spin. Encourage your kid to push to the edge, but also know his or her limits.
7. Unsupervised or out of sight – When I can’t hear my kids, I start to worry. Whenever you cannot see or hear kids, they are probably getting into something they shouldn’t. My little ones think they’re funny when they hide on me or try to avoid being seen, or worse, hide under the clothes rack in a store. The moment I walk away and they are left there lost in the big, bad world, it’s a whole different ball game. When in public, kids need to stick close to their family. At home or in the neighborhood, kids think they’re safe. Hopefully they are, but when you can’t see them, you might worry. Your instincts might be right. Moms (and Dads) have a little voice that tells them if something is wrong, so listen up! Trust your gut, pay attention to where your kids are and teach them there are rules for playing safely.
Mom to six great kids, educator and writer, I earned my BS at RI College and MEd at Providence College. My hats: educator, Go Au Pair Local Area Rep, tutor and writer of local blog for families and Au Pairs. Baking, gardening, reading and relaxing on the porch are hobbies.
With a shiny, new meal delivery service popping up nearly every week, family dinnertime hassles should be a thing of the past, right? But if your family eschews meat, gluten, peanuts or other specific ingredients, knowing that your meals are delivered right to your doorstep and safe from allergens and cross-contamination can be a hard pill to swallow. So we’ve rounded up the best services that accommodate every type of special dietary need for you and your gang to try, so you can find healthy and delicious family meal delivery services to suit your lifestyle. Click through to see them all!
Luke's mantra is: It's all about helping busy people eat well. Let's face it, in a perfect world, dinner would be pre-planned and pre-prepped, and cooking and eating it would cure the day's stress, not cause it! The Mealbox is a sort of hybrid mashup between a CSA (community supported agriculture) program, personal catering, and an artisan food shop. The website is easy to use and has a handy sidebar menu so you can easily select your dietary preferences: Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, even a category for certified organic as well as Sugar Free. All Luke's meals are prepared by local chefs, all the produce comes from local farms, and the artisan items are all locally sourced (like bread or granola for snacking!). The best part? You get to choose which items go in that box for every order: pick both farmers’ market produce and enough pre-prepped meals made by local underground chefs to last your family a week.
Cost: Prepared foods range from $5 (breakfast burrito) to $75 (family meal bundle). Delivery available in San Francisco, East Bay, and South Bay for $3.99; orders over $50 receive free delivery.
Here in Hotlanta, we go hog wild for barbecue. And nothing pleases little piggies more than the winning combo of pulled pork, texas toast, mac-and-cheese and banana pudding. In honor of May as National Barbecue Month, here are the hottest spots to pig out around town.
Swallow at the Hollow
Worth the drive to Roswell, this barbecue joint will set the bar high for their understanding of quality ‘cue. In a cabin with indoor picnic tables, a canoe over the door, and vinyl records on the wall, they also offer up a killer pork sandwich.
Insider Info: There’s no doubt that the barbecue being served-up at Swallow at the Hollow is good; just know before you go that they serve wet ribs, not dry, and their mustard-based sauce hails from the Carolinas as opposed to Memphis.
Community Q
Picking a favorite barbecue joint is a lot like taking medicine: the drug has to work, first, but you really decide which one you’re going to stick with based on the side effect profile. Community Q is good medicine. The barbecue is reliable and delicious, but you’ll make this your favorite spot because of the sides (mac and cheese in particular).
Insider Info: The owner, David Roberts, was part of the Same and Dave’s BBQ team in Marietta before heading in-town to open up Community Q.
Fox Bros. Barbecue
Take the kiddos to Fox Bros. for a taste of Texas style brisket, but don’t distress! They also offer up a killer pulled pork sandwich, fried pickles and a crowd-pleasing mac-and-cheese.
Insider Info: Sneak in some veggies by ordering the fried okra, which is fried fresh instead of frozen. They’ll think you’ve just discovered a new genre of french fry!
Dave Poe’s
In Marietta, follow your nose to Dave Poe’s for some of Atlanta’s best pulled pork and killer sides. Located inconspicuously in a strip mall, this spot won’t evoke the cabin-y, folksy feeling of some of the other BBQ options in Atlanta, but your kids won’t care because they’ll be so busy chowing down on the amazing mac-and-cheese.
Insider Info: Be sure to save room for dessert as their banana pudding is slap-your-mama good.
Jim n Nicks
While this is a chain, it did originate in Birmingham where they’re rumored to know a thing or two about barbecue. Don’t expect any weird pork “fusion” dishes. They know what they know and that is some darn good barbecue. They also have a full kids menu that includes both a spare ribs plate, a barbecue slider plate, and other options for those who’ve yet to develop a palate for pork.
Insider Info: Moms, if you’re looking for something a bit more ladylike, the Pig in the Garden salad (pork or chicken) is killer.
Date Night
Date nights used to mean an expensive restaurant, heels, and maybe even a blow-out. But now that we’ve got kids, date nights are usually at the mercy of schedules, showering availability, and are driven by whether or not someone remembered to make a reservation (unlikely). Why not head out for a low-key barbecue date night at one of the following places? Leave your little piggies at home though, because these spots may be esteemed for their pork, but they don’t cater to the small set.
Heirloom Market BBQ: This spot just ITP is being lauded as Atlanta’s best BBQ, and the marriage of Korean spices with Georgia pork know-how is turning all who try it into believers. Heirloom Market BBQ, 2243 Akers Mill Rd. Atlanta, Georgia 30339
Daddy D’z: Head here to check out the scene and don’t forget to try the “que wraps,” which are what happens when a corn dog marries a barbecue sandwich and then starts a family. Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt,264 Memorial Drive, Atlanta, Georgia, 30312
Ms. Betty’s House of Ribs: Chicken or ribs, baked beans or mac and cheese: whatever you please, you’ll find it in this double-wide parked next to a smoke shed. This is a trip to make for the real BBQ aficionados out there, who know that any pork worth its sauce is smoked outside, and can be smelled well before you walk into the restaurant, dining trailer, what have you. 1281 Bouldercrest Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 404-243-8484
Where do you like to go for “que” in Atlanta? Share with us in the comments section below!
If your little one has taken to tossing his baseball across the yard with a broomstick, it may be time to think about lacrosse lessons. The sport that was traditionally known as an “East Coast thing” has become quite popular among San Diego kids. And with good reason: it’s action-packed and filled with lessons in good sportsmanship. Here’s what you need to know to get your kiddo playing on the field.
The Basics If you’re not familiar with lacrosse, it’s almost like a mix of field hockey and soccer. It’s quick, exciting and a great team sport. The goal of the game is to score by shooting the ball (approximately the size of a tennis ball) into an opponent’s goal, using the lacrosse stick to pass, catch and carry the ball.
There are a few differences between boys and girls lacrosse; the biggest being contact. In girls lacrosse, no intentional contact is allowed to the head or body. For boys, stick-to-body contact is an integral part of the game. Additionally, the girls play on a larger field and with twelve people while boys play with ten.
Check Out A League In Your Community Lacrosse used to be a hard-to-find sport to join. But now there are youth lacrosse clubs in almost every part of San Diego. The sport tends to run during the spring season, so check out one of the leagues offered at these communities throughout San Diego:
If your kiddo is interested in playing, drop the team an email and ask about trying out out a practice. Many clubs let future players try out the sport before signing up.
The Cost Registration for one season can range from $300-$400, plus $25 for each player’s required annual U.S. Lacrosse membership. The first year your kiddo plays, the cost of gear may be hard to swallow (especially for the boys), but luckily it can be used for multiple years/seasons. Be sure to try used sports stores, like Play It Again Sports, or ask around your community.
Gear for boys and girls differs slightly. Boys are required to provide their own lacrosse stick, helmet, gloves, arm pads, shoulder pads, cleats, protective cup and mouthpiece. Girls wear a little less gear than the boys, since their game is less contact. Instead of a helmet and pads, they are required to wear goggles to protect the eyes, and will also need a stick, cleats and mouthguard.
Has your sports’ enthusiast expressed interest in playing lacrosse? Where do they like to play?
We’ve seen our fair share of indulgent baby products (and may have even been tempted to buy a few), but this feeding spoon redefines extravagant! For $22,000, you can add a Platinum — yes, a hefty 250 grams spoon made of white gold — Spuni to your checkout cart. Hey, college savings funds are overrated anyway, right?
The Spuni is an ergonomically designed spoon that makes feeding birdie mouths easier, cleaner and more fun. But since this particular cutlery is made of precious metals, we’re guessing the Platinum Spuni is meant more for showing off than feeding. At least the lavish price tag includes a 3D printed (to be honest, we were expecting hand-carved) wooden collector’s box and an engraving.
Fortunately, Spuni hasn’t placed all of their eggs into the golden spoon basket quite yet. Their regular spoons for us parents who don’t have $22,000 lying around the house are non-toxic, free of phthalate, BPA, BPS and PVC, and made of the same material used for pacifiers and baby bottle nipples. They also start at an easier to swallow price of $16. Did your jaw drop when you saw the Platinum Spuni?
It’s usually pretty clear – you’re either a LEGO family or you’re not – and it all depends on how obsessed your kids are with these colorful, popular building blocks! But, the land of LEGO’S has stepped it up since you were a kid (they’ve been in the United States since the 1960s!) and just like so many brands, you can fill your entire life with LEGO gear these days – from bedding to board games to room decor to clothing and more. If they make it, you can get it in a LEGO version! Thankfully, most of these LEGO products won’t hurt your feet when you step on them in the middle of the night, as every parent has done a million times. Ouch!
For kids who love Legos and want everyone to know it, LEGO clothing is the only way to go. Crocs recently released these Crocband Kids Lego Clogs ($35) that are a hit with both kids and parents, who are happy to report that they no longer have to repeat themselves 27 times when asking their kiddos to get their shoes on!
If you’re looking for some off-beat LEGO clothing that is funkier than the average LEGO gear, head to Red Bubble, where independent artists and designers sell their cheeky, fun LEGO designs. Prices vary and most designs are available in infant through adult sizes. We guarantee your LEGO-loving kid won’t see all of his friends at school wearing these shirts!
Okay, we know that life as a parent isn’t all about us versus them, but we have to admit, these Poppin’ Pineapple Soaps with a LEGO Surprise ($7) score one point for mom and dad! What better way to trick your kids into scrubbing up than with the reward of a new LEGO figurine, that’s embedded in the middle of these soaps. Each soap is made from glycerin, Shea butter and essential oils and you can choose the figurine that is in the soap, as well as the scent. Just don’t look too smug about it when they are asking to wash their hands – you don’t want them to catch on to your trick!
Don’t say we didn’t warn you – going on to Etsy and searching for LEGO party supplies is like opening Pandora’s toy box. There is so much good stuff on there that it may, quite literally, blow your mind. Some of our favorites include these fun Personalized LEGO Cupcake Toppers ($14 for 24) that will instantly dress up some homemade cupcakes.
Or, how about this cool LEGO Head Piñata ($30) that can be custom-made with different facial expressions and colors.
And this creative LEGO Happy Birthday Banner ($30) that they’ll love hanging in their room after the party.
For the youngest of LEGO loving kids – you know, the ones who still can’t be trusted not to swallow a brick or two? – these new LEGO Duplo Read & Build sets ($13) are becoming quite the hit. East set comes with a storybook and Duplo building pieces, so that your child can build along with the story.
With this LEGO Chucky Style Coat Rack ($22), you might actually be able to get your child to hang up his coat and backpack when he gets home from school! We think it’s super cool that these are handmade by a 13-year old, Hannah, a Lego lover herself!
And to top off a LEGO-themed bedroom, these custom-made LEGO Switchplates ($48) are so unique and can be made-to-order with your child’s favorite Lego guys – from skateboarders (as pictured) to firefighters to punk rockers.
LEGO’S are hardly just for the boys anymore! Girls love LEGO’S just as much and LEGO is even taking note, designing building sets that are geared towards activities girls think are cool. We’ve found some LEGO gear that your LEGO girl will think is pretty sweet, proving once and for all that they can have it all. A hip new replacement for the classic BFF heart necklaces, this LEGO Heart Friendship Necklace ($12) is sure to win her over.
The two LEGO pieces come together to form a heart. Need to add even more LEGO accessories to her collection? Put those LEGO’S to use with these funky (and functional!) LEGO Hair Clips ($10) – they come in a set of three and you can choose your own colors – a great way to get her hair out of her face so that she can focus on building!
And, we’ve thrown a little bit of LEGO love in here for you too, mom and dad, because we all know how painful it is to step on that rogue LEGO that didn’t get picked up. Check out these two cool LEGO pick-up solutions – Swoop Bags ($48) are sturdy, canvas play mats for your Legos (or other small toys) that you can them pull up with the drawstring and rope all those little buggers up into one ready-to-go bag.
Or, if you already have a Lego storage system, check out the Toydozer ($19), which acts like a mini LEGO bulldozer to get every last block. Both products were designed by moms… surprise, surprise!
What’s your favorite LEGO gear? Bags, clips, a coat rack? Let us know!
— Katie Kavulla, Mom to two LEGO obsessed girls and one son who things LEGO’S taste delicious
