The Simplest Presents are the Most Cherished

Since my boys were born, we have searched for the perfect educational gifts to keep them entertained while they learn. After almost five years, we are continually surprised by how the simplest gifts are the ones they adore the most.

Today, my three and four year old watch the Nightmare Before Christmas while drawing with their new $.99 sharpie pens, which they are totally enamored with. So, for all of you new and seasoned mommies out there, here is my list of top 5 presents that my kids have receives that are cheap and easy to find.

5. Their own drawer of wooden spoons, whisks, towels, and spatulas in the kitchen.

4. A step stool, to help wash the dishes and cook dinner.

3. Dry erase boards with a 'special' eraser.

2. A mini broom and dust pan

1. Photo album that they have helped make.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! Thanks for keeping up with the Sanity Spot. I look forward to offering more advice for the new mom in the new year.

How do I know if my baby is feeding well?

As a lactation consultant, I get asked this question all of the time..."How do I know if my baby is feeding well?" First of all, it all depends on the age of the baby because feeding and weight gain patterns change as the baby grows and gets older.

For a 1 day old to 14 day old newborn:

How do I know things are going well?

• Your baby nurses 8 or more times in 24 hours and is vigorous for at least 20 minutes of each feeding.
• Your baby’s urine and stool output increases daily, and by 1 week of age he/she is urinating 6 or more times and has yellow stools 4 or more times in 24 hours.
• Your breasts start to feel full 3-5 days after your baby was born.
• Your baby settles after most feedings.
• Your breasts may be tender, but it is not painful to breastfeed.
• Your baby regains his/her birth weight by 10-14 days old.

How do I know that I need to meet with a lactation consultant?

• Your baby nurses less than 8 times a day (during the first few months)
• Your baby seems hungry all of the time, yet consistently eats for a few minutes and then falls asleep at breast.
• Your baby has not regained his/her birth weight by 10-14 days old or has very slow weight gain.
• You have very sore and/or cracked nipples and it is painful to breastfeed.
• You are worried that you do not enough milk.
• Your baby is increasingly getting yellow from jaundice.

References: Counseling the Nursing Mother by Lauwers and Swisher

Kellymom website

Infant Massage Rubs San Diego Babies the Right Way

Infant Massage Rubs San Diego Babies the Right Way

Rachel Rainbolt, M.A., CEIM, ICI

San Diego parents are catching on; research shows that infant massage makes your baby smarter, stronger, healthier, and happier. While most parents are lured to infant massage by benefits like improved sleep patterns and relief from gastrointestinal distress, many find the most rewarding benefit to be the bond that is fostered in their new relationship with their baby.

Are you a new parent? Do you want to give your baby every advantage? Do you want something that makes parenting life easier along the way? Infant massage can give your baby a significant physical, intellectual, emotional, and social advantage that lasts a lifetime.

"Infant Massage promotes an infant’s physiological and neurological development and function, helps soothe common discomforts, promotes restful sleep and increases healthy attachment and bonding," says Infant Massage USA Trainer and Ramona resident, Suzanne P. Reese.

Infant massage stimulates digestion, healthy weight gain, intellectual development, circulation and natural healing. It promotes relaxation, sleep, self regulation, and reduces stress hormones. It relieves gastrointestinal discomfort/pain, tension, and colic. Research shows that infants who are massaged sleep longer and cry less. Even with all these benefits, parents are finding that what they treasure most from their infant massage experience is the strong, close, and healthy attachment that is fostered.

"Our new family bonded through these classes and we found massage to be a very valuable tool for getting to know our son. We loved it and looked forward to it every week!” says Carmel Mountain Ranch mom, Elizabeth Cooper-Shultz.

Infant massage promotes parent-child interaction. Parents and babies learn to read and respond sensitively to each others’ cues. Love, empathy, and respect for each other are cultivated. Infant massage enhances verbal and nonverbal communication, provides interaction through all the senses and communicates your love through nurturing and compassionate touch. Secure attachments are formed which grow into healthy relationships based on trust and security that last a lifetime.

"I would highly recommend this class to new moms and dads. My husband and I really enjoyed the class and were disappointed when it ended. When my daughter got constipated after the classes ended I knew how to make her feel better and the same thing was true when she got a cold. It’s nice and comforting to know how to make your child feel better. Massage is now a part of our bedtime routine. Since massaging in the evenings I’ve found that Reagan sleeps more soundly and longer too! I’d suggest taking the class early so you can take advantage of the colic and calming routines. An awesome experience!” says San Marcos mom, Stacy Reazor.

The short version: if you’re a new parent who is a fan of sleeping longer and less crying, then this is the class for you. The numerous benefits of infant massage are researched and well documented. If you brought a child into this world with hopes of a healthy, happy, attached family, then enroll today. As I go through my night-night routine with my baby, I will follow our bath with a massage and we will both fall asleep with the potential for tomorrow, peace for today, and harmony with each other.

At Ohana Wellness our mission is to enhance the well-being of families, ohanas. We promote health, happiness and growth while fostering attachment between parent and baby. We offer classes in Infant Massage, Babywearing and Baby Sign Language, an informative newsletter, a comprehensive resource list, and a complete line of Baby Signs products. It is our honor to touch your lives, making the transition of birth a harmonious one, easing your job as a parent, and contributing to the formation of a beautiful bond that will last a lifetime.

Rachel Rainbolt, a mother of two with eleven years of experience working with young children and parents has a Master’s Degree in Family Therapy and is featured as a Parenting Expert on KUSI’s “Inside San Diego.” She works passionately to nurture the loving bond between parent and child to foster happy, healthy families. Rachel is a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM), trained and certified by Infant Massage USA and a Baby Signs® Independent Certified Instructor (ICI).

Crock pot recipe #2

My friend, Jess, is a wonderful cook. She is also a mother of two toddlers, which means that she is always finding ways to put her crock pot to use....just makes life easier. Here is her recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup for the crock pot. It is so delicious, incredibly easy, and stores beautifully in the freezer (if you happen to have leftovers.)

Enjoy!

Jess's Chicken Tortilla Soup

4 chicken breast halves
2 15-oz cans black beans, undrained
2 15-oz cans stewed tomatoes
1 cup salsa
4-oz can chopped green chilies
14- oz can tomato sauce

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cover

ADD:
1 clove garlic
1 can chicken broth
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1-3 tsp. chili powder
salt & pepper to taste

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cover.
2. Cover. Cook on low for 8 hours.
3. Just before serving, remove chicken and shred into pieces, stir into soup.

To serve-
I slice fresh avocado and place on top along with shredded Mexican cheese and tortillas chips.