The over scheduled child … saw this on face book this morning and had to share ….

BOOKS

The over -Scheduled child – http://www.amazon.com/The-Over-Scheduled-Child-Avoiding-Hyper-Parenting/dp/0312263392/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340728800&sr=1-1&keywords=the+over-scheduled+child

The hurried child – http://www.amazon.com/The-Hurried-Child-25th-Anniversary-Edition/dp/073821082X/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Crazy Busy - http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Busy-Hallowell-Edward-M/dp/B000ME71GK/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340729416&sr=1-2&keywords=crazy+busy

Trees make the best mobiles - http://www.amazon.com/Trees-Make-Best-Mobiles-Complex/dp/0312303254/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340730344&sr=1-1&keywords=trees+make+the+best+mobiles

PLEASE Don’t judge … something to ponder ….

Ladies , Ladies , Ladies … come on now … As we all know parenting is hard enough as it is without all the judgements from others.

I can’t tell you how many women I work with who have come to me with tears in their eyes because their friends and peers have made them feel awful about the way they are choosing to raise their child .  I even see it in pregnancy when others poo poo a persons birth choice . JUST BECAUSE A PERSON IS CHOOSING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY THEN THE WAY YOU MIGHT DO IT OR HAVE DONE IT , DOESN’T MEAN THAT IT IS WRONG . Something that I pride myself on doing when working with clients is to help them find their truth in what FEELS right for them and supporting them in that choice . I once worked with a girl that couldn’t breastfeed , she tried everything before stopping . She was lectured by her doctor , her friends and even her mother , finally she spoke to me about it . I remember saying , ” I am proud of you for trying ,and now lets research what the best formulas out there are” . She looked at me and burst into tears , thanking me for being the first person that didn’t judge her . She told me that she started lying to others, saying she was still breastfeeding just so she didn’t have to hear others projections that made her feel worse then she was already feeling. Another person didn’t want to get an epidural in labor because her mom and yoga teacher said it was bad and they didn’t have one.  She couldn’t handle the pain ( as we all have a different pain tolerance  ) and needed the epidural then cried the whole labor feeling she let them down and did something wrong . It shouldn’t be this way !! We all ( us women) need to come together  and support one another by empowering each other and be supportive of others in their choices . Think before you judge another or push your views and opinions on to others , Nobody is perfect including yourself . You have no idea what it’s like for the person you are judging . Who they are , what they are capable of , what it is like to be them or even what their path has been ……  No two people are alike and no two children are alike , what might be right for you might not be right for another . So PLEASE think , feel and pull up  some compassion and empathy  from with in before condoning another just because they are choosing to do it differently then the way you think it should be .

Vitamin C in second half of pregnancy

Taking a bit extra Vitamin C in the second half of pregnancy has been proven to help strengthen the amniotic sac and to help avoid pre term labor .

Some foods high in Vitamin C are :

All citrus fruits
Orang juice
sweet potatoes
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Red peppers
Broccoli
Kiwi
Mangos
rasberries

Do not exceed 1,000 Mgs if taking as a non food base .

NYC parenting group Seedlingsgroup comes to LA

NYC parenting group Seedlingsgroup comes to LA

Last week I had the pleasure to meet with Co-founder Aliza Pressman of the Seedlingsgroup . Aliza recently moved to LA and not only brought her fabulous self and awesome family but she also brought her booming NYC baby group (seedlingsgroup)  here as well .

Aliza Pressman received her M.A. in human development from teacher’s college and her PH.D. from Columbia university.  Aliza is on faculty at Mount Sinai School of Medicine as a clinical instructor in the Department Of Pediatrics where she teaches Pediatric Residents Child Development and Parent Education and runs parenting groups for at-risk mothers.  for the past few years, she was a research fellow at the National center for children and families, which informs the policy, education and development of children, and their families. Aliza presents at professional conferences and has published chapters on child development.  She teaches a course on infant development at Columbia University.  Aliza is certified to teach parent management training from the Yale parenting center, certified to train parents she can problem solve and raising a thinking child program by Dr. Myrnashure.  She is also the mother of vivian and penelope

I know there are tons of baby groups here in LA; but what I love about this one is it is done at your house , you can gather your friends together or she will place you with like minded people that live in the same area as you , I love this !! Aliza was also telling me that she offers not only mommy and me groups but mommy , daddy and child groups as well , Which I thought was pretty awesome ! Most mommy and me groups go til age 2 this one keeps going as both you and your children grow . I am a HUGE fan of this – Aliza doesn’t believe there is only one way to parent your child ( as no two parents/children  are the same ) , she really takes a look at who you are , your lifestyle , who your child is and builds from there . Aliza also works privately one on one with clients and I personally know a bunch people who she has helped tremendously with their children . I love this girl and highly recommend her group as well as working with her privately .

I asked Aliza to tell me a bit more about Seedlingsgroup and this is what she had to say -

whether you want to learn about what you can expect with prenatal
sleep preparation or get some tips on establishing healthy routines
during the first few months, we’ll help you set the tone for helping
your child learn how to sleep through the night in a way that makes
sense for your baby and your family. we will work with you in your
home or through phone consultations to help you and your child sleep
well! we won’t preach one type of sleeping location or style is more
right than another. we work with each family, weather co-sleeping or
independent sleeping, breastfeeding on demand or more schedule
oriented to help you help your baby get the sleep she needs.we offer a six-week and ongoing group devoted to empowering new moms
to become parenting experts.  topics include anything from
breastfeeding, sleep (or the lack of), and in-laws, to choosing toys
and materials, nurturing child development, responsive parenting, and
the emotional wear and tear of the newbie period.  bring your baby,
relax, and meet other new moms in a comfortable and nurturing
environment.  already have a group of mom friends? we’ll come to your
home and provide a customized new mom’s group to discuss topics that
concern you (and new things to consider!). discussions continue
throughout the first years and groups can be customized to accommodate
any age and stage.we offer a multi-visit program designed to help your caregiver better
understand and nurture the cognitive and social emotional development
of your infant or toddler and to facilitate increased communication
regarding your child’s development and your expectations.providing safe, fun, and developmentally appropriate toys isn’t as
easy as it sounds.  there is so much to choose from and many concerns
about what’s out there and what benefits or detriments toys can have
on child development.  let us help ease your concerns and the hassle
of finding the right toys and materials for your child’s ages and
stages.  we will send you safe, and developmentally appropriate toys,
plus ideas for fun activities at every developmental stage. we will
help you set up a playroom, bedroom or home that helps your child’s
growth. we are committed to finding toys that are made in europe or
the usa, and that are considered healthy for the planet and for your
baby. of course, we are  even more committed to finding toys out of
natural materials in and around your home, that don’t need to be
purchased.through individualized sessions, we provide specific, useful, and
research-based information to prepare you for the range of normal
developmental challenges from temper tantrums to separation anxiety,
being bullied to being the bully, handling non-negotiable issues
versus negotiable ones, as well as various others including, feeding
issues, getting your baby to sleep through the night or your child to
stop biting, to name a few.  our mission is to help you develop highly
effective ways to nurture your babies’ growing mind, emotional
well-being, and social relationships.  we’ll be there to provide you
with cutting edge research on any child-related topic that concerns
you.

For more info  on Seedlingsgroup click on the above link at top

or you can email Aliza directly at Aliza@seedlingsgroup.com

Those stickers on fruits and vegetables … Some important information

My friend Michele just emailed me this info . I always try and buy organic when I can and always suggest for my clients to do the same . I had no idea about this … thought is was important information to share with you all !!
Those stickers on fruits and veggies tell you quite a bit! 4 numbers mean they were conventionally grown. 5 numbers starting with number 8 means they are genetically modified (GMO). And 5 numbers starting with 9 means they were organically grown.

PLEASE EXCUSE THE MESS THE CHILDREN ARE MAKING MEMORIES !!

LOVE IT !!!

How to introduce your dog to your new baby – By the famously fabulous Tamar Geller

How to introduce your dog to your new baby – By the famously fabulous Tamar Geller

A question I get asked over and over again by clients and friends is – ” How should I introduce my dog to my new baby? ” I am no dog expert, but  just so happen to be friends with one of the best dog trainers in the world !! TamarGeller, who Oprah calls ” the life coach for dogs and their people “, has been so kind to take the time out her her busy schedule to answer a few questions about this . 

I first met Tamar a few years back through mutual friends and we immediately hit it off . Tamar has such a deep love , passion and understanding for dogs . I have watched her work and it was amazing to see how she got through to them and within seconds understood what was going on them. She trained my dog BOO so well that when I sneeze (I kid you not) he brings me a tissue (which I must admit comes in handy with all the dog hair he and his brother Stanley have . This New York Times best selling author has some great books that I highly recommend and have devoured from cover to cover: ” The Loved Dog ” and ” 30 Days to a Well – Mannered Dog ” ( I need to re – read for my new puppy Stanley). She also started, from a deep passion, a non profit organization called ” Hero’s and Hounds “, where she takes post traumatic stressed war veterans and shelter dogs, placing them together and through her training they both begin to help heal and rehabilitate  each other . My dogs LOVE going to her center, The Loved Dog … they seriously think it’s Disneyland for dogs ! Whether it’s to go play for the day or to board them while I travel , once they figure out where they are going, they cry for joy the whole way there !! 

For more on the fabulous Tamar Geller click on the link highlighted in red at top of this post to check out her website . 

I copied and pasted below the questions I asked and Tamar’s answers -

Are there things I can do when pregnant to better Prepare my dog for the new baby ? 

Yes! Planning in advance will make you feel less stressed about all the changes, at least when it comes to your dog. It’s a good idea to think about all the changes that will take place in your life: the baby sleeping in your room, you being tired and sleep deprived, having much less time.

If your dog is sharing your bed or bedroom with you and you think you would want it to change once your baby arrives, make the change as soon as possible, as far away as possible from the baby’s arrival. You don’t want the dog to think “gosh, since that creature arrived, my quality of life detiorated. I hate this creature”. That also means that if you will be too tired to take your dog on a walk or to his daily doggie park romp, sign him up ASAP to a doggie daycare or hire someone who would continue his routine. Make the change before the baby’s arrival.

Also, since you will have guests coming over, work with your dog on his manners – how to greet them and how to interact with them. Remind him or coach him what Sit is, and what Leave It is. Also work on hand signals if you think there will be times when you would not want to talk, like when the baby finally fell asleep.

What is the best way to  first introduce my  dog to our new new  baby ?

Forget about the nonsense of bringing a doll home. A doll is just like any other toy and it doesn’t have a meaning. But, Your partner can bring home from the hospital a blanket with the baby’s smell on it, let the dog smell it and feed him very special “Gold level” treats while saying your baby’s name. The idea is to associate your baby with immense amounts of PLEASURE in your dog’s mind. Every time he sees, smell, or hear your baby, you want him to think happy thoughts.

One mistake you want to avoid is correcting your dog if he’s growling. It will only make matters worse! You want to address the reason the dog is growling (99% of the time is due to fear or discomfort) and not stop the alarm sound that your dog is giving you. How to do it? the next Q&A will address it. 

Are there things I can do to  make the transition easier by not having my dog get sad or jealous ? 

Make it fun!!!! No one like changes that reduce their quality if their life. But they would love it if it will mean a really pleasurable experience. You want to make a list of all the different activities, perks, and toys that your dog loves, like being on the bed with you, going for a walk, getting his meal, getting a treat, invited on the couch, etc. From the moment you bring the baby’s blanket or the baby home, he could get any of these things ONLY when the baby is around. You want your dog to look forward to your baby’s presence. Don’t wait to put your baby to sleep so you could take your dog on a walk, because the message that the dog is getting is “life is better when the creature is gone”. You want to put the leash on him while the baby is there and have someone else take him for a walk, or someone else put the baby down for a nap.

Also, start “BABY PROOFING” your dog – pull lightly on his ear, and give him a treat. Also give it a name like “courage”. Pull on his other ear, his tail. Pretend like you are falling on him and grab onto her fur to stand up. Basically, doing all the things your baby will do once s/he  is starting to be more mobile. You want your dog to be use to it by then and not be alarmed by the first time your baby will pull on her nose/snout. You want to have that special word that you could say from the other side of the room that will relax your doggie letting her know that it’s only “courage” and that “courage” always getting her a treat.

Are you getting enough water in that pregnant body of yours ???

Are you tired , fatigued , Constipated, Swollen ????? These are just a few signals that your body may be giving  you  to up your water intake .

Yes I know ….  drinking enough water can be a royal pain in the ass !  It’s bad enough having to pee while pregnant every 10 minutes with out the water let alone every 5 when drinking it ; but it does do your body and baby good .

Drink water helps flush toxins and waste from your body , baby and cells . It combats dry itchy skin , constipation , fatigue and swelling . Drinking  water also prevents bladder infections , hemorrhoids , pre term labor , preeclampsia and miscarriage . Staying hydrated  aids with your increased blood supply and baby’s amniotic fluid as well as helps increase breast milk production when breastfeeding .

To stay plenty hydrated try for 8-12 oz glasses 8 x per day – A good way that some of my clients stay hydrated is to drink one 12 oz  glass every hour throughout the day . Also I have been drinking Alkaline water with a higher PH such as Qure for better absorption .

Some tricks to make the water a bit more interesting …

Water and lemon

Water with some pomegranate juice

my summer favorite  .. Water , fresh lemon , mint and cucumber slices

water and mint

water with grapefruit

Water with orange and mint

Water with frozen mixed berries

http://www.rootedforlife.com 

Expecting 411 – pregnancy book

Expecting 411 – pregnancy book

It’s nerve racking and worrisome enough just being pregnant ; let alone when most of the popular pregnancy books out there are fear based . The world doesn’t need another pregnancy book explaining everything that can go wrong when you are already freaking out about all the things that could . Reading those kinds of books is like pouring salt in a wound . These days too many people out there are trying to be their own doctors and if you look hard enough , you will always find something to worry about .

I have been searching the market for years , reading all the basic pregnancy books out there and I love” Expecting 411 “. The format is quick and easy , it’s light and fun , there is more about what can go right instead of what can go wrong and I am CRAZY about the OB/GYN Dr. Michele Hakakha that wrote the book !! Dr. Hakakha is an amazing OB/ GYN in Beverly Hills and someone I refer clients too . She has wonderful energy , smarts and humor that all are expressed authentically in the pages of her book .  So if you are looking for a non fear producing basic pregnancy book I highly suggest you check this book out !!! There are also the books Baby 411 and Toddler 411 for down the road.

For more on Dr Hakakha -

http://www.Michelehakakhamd.com

Holistic remedies for baby acne

 

A client of mine asked me for a few holistic remedies for baby acne the other day .. wanted to share with you all . Baby acne is a very common thing that happens a few weeks after the birth . Its caused by the left over hormones that the baby received by its mommy at the end of pregnancy . Baby acne is also caused by irritated skin so its important to keep your baby’s sensitive skin clean and away from any  fragrant soaps or dyes or harsh cleaning chemicals found in some laundry detergents .

Apply breast milk for 15 min then wipe off .. Repeat a few times a day …

Exposé your baby to fresh air 

1tsp of honey mixed w 1 tsp of lemon juice .. Apply mixture to affected area leave on for 1/2 hour wash  off with warm water . 

Make sure all your laundry soap you and your baby use are dye and fragrant free 

Mix 1 cup of water and 1 tsp of baking soda apply mixture to affected area the dab dry 

Don’t eat any oily foods 

Drink lots of fresh fruit juice 

No oily lotions of any kind  at all on baby’s face 

Keep face clean .. If friends come and hold baby wash face after ( it has been found laundry soap on people’s clothes can irritate baby acne ) 

It will go away on its on in time ..