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Getting Ready for Flu Season

Getting Ready for Flu Season

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Moms came to TheMotherhood today to talk about a very timely, seasonal topic – the importance of getting your flu shot.  Heather Bryant, a Doctor of Pharmacy and Walgreens pharmacy manager in Chicago, provided great advice and information, and five lucky moms won Walgreens flu shot gift cards to get immunized this flu season.  Read on for ways to protect yourself and your family from the flu!

 

– Who Should Be Immunized: Unless they are allergic to eggs, anyone over the age of six months is eligible for a flu shot.  It’s especially important for anyone with a chronic medical issue (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, asthma, etc.) to be immunized against the flu. It’s estimated that between 15 and 60 million cases of the flu occur yearly in the U.S., leading to about 24,000 deaths.

 

– Vaccinating Kids: Keep in mind that if you have a little one who has never received the vaccination before, they will get the dose over two separate visits, a few weeks apart. The mist is only available if children are over two years old. Walgreens Take Care Clinics are able to vaccinate children over the age of two years.

 

– Flu Shot v. Flu Mist: Both the shot and “mist” (nasal spray) are effective forms of immunization. Some people prefer the nasal spray in order to avoid needles. The shot is an inactive form of the flu strains, and the mist contains live flu viruses. People with compromised immune systems should not get the mist form of the flu vaccine. It takes about 2 weeks to develop immunity after being vaccinated.

 

– This Year’s Flu Shot: It’s not too late to be vaccinated.  This year’s flu shot protects you for the whole year, not just the season, and most of the flu shots are a combined dose of the standard flu vaccine and H1N1 vaccine. There are no additional side effects compared to previous years’ shots.

 

– Dealing with Flu Shot Soreness: It is common to experience some tenderness at the injection site, along with some arm/muscle soreness, but use your arm instead of treating it gingerly just because you received a shot. The more you use the muscle, the less likely it is to hurt for more than a day or so.

 

– How We Get the Flu: The flu can be spread through the air from up to six feet away, or picked up on surfaces.

 

– Use Disinfectant on Surfaces: Depending on the surface, germs can remain “living” on surfaces for 48 hours or more. Think about all the “dirty” surfaces we touch on a daily basis – keyboards, doorknobs, telephones. Wipe those items down with alcohol to prevent spreading germs.

 

– The Myth of Vitamin C: Studies do not really support the use of high dose vitamin C for preventing or shortening the duration of a cold/flu. It is more important to rest and stay hydrated.

 

In addition to the accumulated wisdom of the Talk, here are some additional suggestions for flu prevention from our expert mom bloggers’ reader communities:

 

– Get Some Shut-eye: Experts recommend sleeping for 7-8 hours each night for a reason – regularly getting enough sleep at night keeps your immune system healthy and functioning properly.

 

– Avoid Cabin Fever: When it starts getting cold outside, people tend to spend more time indoors in close quarters, where germs can spread quickly.  Take opportunities to leave the house, school, office and other enclosed spaces whenever possible.

 

– Dust Off the Treadmill: Aerobic exercise helps to increase the body’s natural virus-killing cells.  Hibernating during the winter doesn’t mean you can’t be active!

 

– Stay Clean: Wash your hands frequently, try not to touch your face unless you know your hands are clean, and carry hand sanitizer for on-the-go.

 

– Take a Deep Breath: Excessive stress can suppress your immune system.  Find a way to calm down, whether it’s reading a book, enjoying a hot bath, yoga or deep breathing.

 

– Practice Safe Sneezing: Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, but don’t use your hands, which will spread the bacteria to other surfaces when you touch them.  Instead, carry a packet of face tissues, or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.

 

– A Pound of Cure: Getting a flu shot will minimize your chances of getting sick, but stock up on chicken soup and medicine in case you do.  The last thing you want to do when you have the flu is get out of bed and go to the store.

 

 

A special thanks to Walgreens, Heather and all of our mom experts!!  The awesome mom bloggers who co-hosted this Talk are:

 

Angie, My Four Monkeys

Caryn Bailey, Rockin Mama

Christina, Mommy Story

Connie Roberts, Brain Foggles

Elizabeth, Busy Mom

Ellen Christian, Confessions of an Overworked Mom

Jodi Grundig, Multitasking Mommy

Shannon, The Mommy Files

Stefany, To Be Thode

Suzanne Chan, Mom Confessionals

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62090

MOTRIN #MyUnstoppableMom Twitter Party Rules

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­Sweepstakes Rules:

No Purchase Necessary TO ENTER OR WIN.

The Children’s MOTRIN® My Unstoppable Mom #MyUnstoppableMom Twitter Party starts December 15, 2015 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on December 15, 2015 at 12:30 PM Eastern Time (“Twitter Party”).

ELIGIBILITY: SWEEPSTAKES ARE Open Only to Legal Residents OF THE fifty (50) UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, who are at least 18 years of age.  Void Where Prohibited.  Employees (and their immediate families (parent, child, spouse or sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those living in their same households, whether or not related) of Sponsor, The Motherhood, the participating bloggers, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies are not eligible to enter or win.  By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, participating blog and/or judges, which are binding and final on matters relating to this Sweepstakes.  Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.

To enter: To enter, follow the directions provided in the Sweepstakes Posting on the participating blog to RSVP and enter (vite.io/TheMotherhoodChats) prior to the Twitter Party.  All entries must be received by the date and time stated in the Sweepstakes Posting to be eligible.  Limit one (1) entry per person/email address.  Entries received from any person or e-mail address in excess of the stated limitation will be void.  Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means or by any means which subvert the entry process are void.  All entries become the property of the Participating Blog and will not be acknowledged or returned.

Drawing:  Potential winner(s) will be selected in random drawing(s) held during the Twitter Party from all eligible entries received.  Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Potential winner(s) will be notified by a tweet from @TMChatHost during the Twitter Party and may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release and, where lawful, a publicity release within seven (7) days of date of issuance. If such documents are not returned within the specified time period, prize notification is returned as undeliverable, or a potential winner is not in compliance with these rules, prize will be forfeited and, at Sponsor’s discretion, an alternate winner selected.  If a potential winner is at least 18 but still considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, prize may be awarded in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian who will be responsible for fulfilling all requirements imposed on winners set forth herein. Winners will be required to Direct Message their mailing address to @TMChatHost in order for The Motherhood to fulfill prizes. Failure to do may result in forfeiture of prize and, at Sponsor’s discretion, prize may be awarded to an alternate winner.

Prize(s): The prize(s) and their approximate retail value(s) will be set forth during the Twitter Party.  Gift card(s), if awarded as a prize, are subject to terms and conditions specified by issuer. Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied.  Prizes may not substituted, assigned or transferred or redeemed for cash, however Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value.  Winners are responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided.  All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Limit one (1) prize per household.  If gift cards are awarded as prizes, terms and conditions of issuer applies. Prizes will be shipped within two weeks of the end of the Twitter Party. There will be three winners selected at random during the Twitter Party. Each winner will receive a gift card in the amount of $50.

General Conditions: Released Parties (as defined below) are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, inaccurate, stolen, misdirected, undelivered or garbled entries, Tweets, @mentions or email; or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), website, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties, or other errors or difficulties of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic, computer, network, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Sweepstakes, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Sweepstakes, the processing of entries, the announcement of the prize(s) or in any Sweepstakes-related materials.  Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes.  Released Parties are not responsible for injury or damage to participants’ or to any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in this Sweepstakes or downloading materials from or use of the website.  Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Sweepstakes or any website or blog or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void.  Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Sweepstakes at any time and for any reason, including, but not limited to, should any portion of the Sweepstakes be, in Sponsor’s sole opinion, compromised by virus, worms, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of entries, and, if terminated, at its discretion, select the potential winner(s) from all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to action taken or as otherwise deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor. Entrants, by participating, agree that Sponsor, The Motherhood, Participating Bloggers, Twitter, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies and all of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents (collectively, “Released Parties”) will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by entrants against, any liability, for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind, including death, to persons, or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in this Sweepstakes.  In the event of a dispute regarding entries received from multiple users having the same e-mail account, the authorized subscriber of the e-mail account at the time of entry will be deemed to be the entrant and must comply with these rules.  Authorized account subscriber is the natural person who is assigned the e-mail address by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), on-line service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses.

Winners’ LIST: The names of the winners will be announced by @TMChatHost during the Twitter Party immediately following the drawing(s).

Sponsor: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division 7050 Camp Hill Road, Fort Washington, PA 19034.

This Sweepstakes is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Twitter.

Kids, School and Food

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Moms talked food in TheMotherhood today, sharing ideas and solutions on the topic of school lunches, weeknight dinners, creating nutritious meals with variety, and finding time for it all!  If you find yourself seeking inspiration for creating new and different meals on a weekly basis, keep reading.

 

– Meal Ruts: It’s easy to feel like you’re in a rut, making the same meals over and over again, but realize that your kids have their favorites and it’s okay to include a mix of those favorites in your meal rotation each week. Weekly meals can be a nice blend of favorites and new meal ideas.

 

 

– Think Outside the Sandwich: Great lunch choices include quesadillas, mini pizzas on whole wheat English muffins, and grilled or ungrilled peanut butter sandwiches with honey and fruit (apples, bananas, peaches, etc.). And don’t forget, sandwiches don’t have to include traditional sliced bread. Tortilla wraps, crepes and even waffles are fun to use for a different take on sandwiches.

 

You can find ideas for school lunches here:

 

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/best-school-lunch-ideas-for-kids/

 

http://onehungrymama.com/2010/08/recipe-parenting-the-only-back-to-school-lunch-post-youll-need/

 

 

– Doing Double Duty: Using dinner leftovers is a great way to make school lunches for your kids.  Here are a few recipes that are quick and easy for dinner, and the leftovers make for a great packed lunch too.
http://www.relishmag.com/article/39701.html
http://www.relishmag.com/article/41830.html
http://www.relishmag.com/article/40849.html

 

 

– Use Creative Containers: For school lunches, Americanized bento-style lunch boxes can help you get creative, instead of always sending sandwiches with your kids.  LunchSkins instead of plastic baggies are also a great option – reusable, dishwasher safe, and they don’t get grimy.

 

http://www.laptoplunches.com/

 

http://www.lunchskins.com/

 

 

– Find Cooking Inspiration: Our co-hosts’ blogs are a great source of recipes and advice, along with these books and sites:

 

http://www.recipezaar.com

http://www.cooks.com

http://www.allrecipes.com

http://www.babble.com – Family Kitchen blog

bon appétit – fast, easy, fresh (cookbook)

How to Cook Everything (cookbook)

 

 

– Meal Planning: Try using a week-based template with columns (e.g., dinners, kids’ lunches, work lunches). Fill in the meals and, to help create your grocery list for the week, bold the ones that require a trip to the grocery store for ingredients. By keeping a record electronically, you can cut and paste certain meals from previous weeks to make the planning easier.

 

 

– Handling Picky Eaters: Deal with it like a politician – with marketing words (princess fish instead of salmon) and familiar flavorings (bacon, honey and cheese). But the most important thing is to serve them with an enthusiastic smile instead of a defensive response to their negativity. You could also try to make meals fun – vegetables with dip or veggie skewers, sandwiches cut out in fun shapes with cookie cutters, etc.

 

 

Thank you to our awesome foodie mom blogger co-hosts:

 

Jennifer Perillo, In Jennie’s Kitchen
Jennifer Leal, Savoring the Thyme
Julie Mastbrook, Mommie Cooks
One Hungry Mama
Robin Sue, Big Red Kitchen
Vanessa Druckman, ChefDruck Musings
Zareen, Cooking with Z
See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62089

How to Unspoil Your Child Fast

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Today in TheMotherhood, moms gathered to “bring spoiling out of the closet” and discuss ways to unspoil kids – or avoid spoiling them in the first place!  Led by host Richard Bromfield, Ph.D. and author of How to Unspoil Your Child Fast, the chat was insightful and interesting and provided some good guidelines for getting started.  Check out the highlights below to learn more!

 

– Definition of Spoiling: Spoiling means to harm the character of a child by being too lenient or indulgent. Though, at its worst, spoiling can harm character, in milder forms, it can rob children of opportunities to learn life skills that will help them survive and thrive as teens and adults in a world that – unlike your loving homes – won’t coddle, indulge, and rescue them.

 

– Your Kids Might Be Spoiled: If they frequently whine or demand. If you spend a lot of time yelling, cajoling, bribing, paying for every ounce of cooperation. If they routinely ignore you. If you have lots of moments when you dislike them or wonder why you became a parent.

 

– Why We Spoil: A majority of parents see their own children as spoiled (and also feel handcuffed to do anything about it). It has been a creeping process that has been fueled mostly by the influence of advertising and media, making everyone want and need more. Previous generations indulged less (or differently), but it can’t be that those parents were good and we are not. We are up against huge and powerful forces that lead us to indulge.

 

– Don’t Confuse Showing Love with Spoiling: NEVER mix up “showing love” with “spoiling.”  My kids can be in “trouble” and getting a consequence, but I will ALWAYS hug them and tell them I love them, even if I don’t like what they did and they get a consequence.

 

– How to Handle Saying Sorry: In our house, sorry is a must. But it doesn’t replace the hurt, anger, etc., the person you have wronged may be feeling. And if you’ve lied, saying sorry doesn’t automatically restore my trust in you.  That said, saying sorry is a huge step forward and so I always thank the child for saying sorry, and if it’s a situation that allows it, I explain that although they apologized, I’m still hurt, angry, etc., and it will take time for me to work through it. For me, it’s similar to what we try to teach them about please. Saying please doesn’t ensure the person will do whatever you added please to, but it’s a nice gesture and shows that you care about the person you are requesting something from.

 

– Ways to Unspoil: Commit to it. Easier said than done. But without that, parents are cooked.  Give less and do less.  Refuse to negotiate.  Stop bribing.  Give up idle threats.  Again, these are all, “so what else is new.”  But for lots of good reasons, loving parents seem unable to do them (even when they want to).  Richard’s book, rather than presenting anything parents don’t know, is meant to give a way of implementing it that cannot fail.

 

– Thoughts on Negotiating: Explain to your kids that when they negotiate on everything, you have no way to know what’s important to them and what’s not.  When your kids approach you to negotiate only on issues they feel are really important, you can be more open to considering their point, because you know they feel strongly about it.

 

– Thoughts on Bribing: Bribing is fine when your child is facing a challenging medical procedure or needs to be brought out of a dangerous situation, perhaps. But otherwise, it is a slippery endeavor that teaches children to be paid for cooperation, effort, consideration, and so on. Not a great lesson.

 

– Asking Kids to Pitch In: Here’s what I tell my twins when they complain about their ‘jobs’ around the house: “Mommy and Daddy have jobs around the house (laundry, cleaning, etc.), and these are your jobs. Are you a part of this family? Then you have jobs too.”

 

– How to Respond to, “But My Friends’ Parents Got Them…!”: You have to get reacquainted with your own judgment. Obviously, because other kids get it or because your friends buy it for their kids isn’t a good reason. (Even though it pressures us.) Think too, what more precious gifts are your children losing because they get too much. If they always get something and get it fast, they cannot learn patience and self-contentment. Many of today’s children feel truly devastated and unloved every time they do not get a demand met.

 

When we have babies, we do not envision raising indulged children. We have nobler images of raising children fit for the world. Watch Animal Planet, and you see that every animal seems to grasp that their job is to raise children who can survive in a world without them. Today’s parents have forgotten that purpose, perhaps, because we want our children to need us a lot and forever. But what is the price of that?

 

Thank you to Richard Bromfield and our awesome co-hosts:

 

Felicia Carter, Go Graham Go

Janine, Twincident

Julie Pippert, Using My Words

Kim Daboo, ClumberKim

Liz Thompson, This Full House

Sky Seery, Seeryus Mama

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62088

 

Heading Home with Your Newborn

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In The Motherhood today, 21 women came together to talk about caring for newborns.  We have gathered highlights of their collective wisdom in this post, but the entire Talk is chock full of great tips and newborn knowledge!

 

– How to Deal with Too Much Advice: “Eat the watermelon and spit out the seeds.” Take it all in, and choose what sounds best to you, then discard the rest. Every mother’s experience is different.

 

– Being Pregnant in a Noisy Environment: Although a baby’s hearing is developed by 28 weeks of age, they are protected from outside noise by your uterus, placenta, body, etc. The noise from your blood vessels is thought to be moderately loud and would also drown things out, so noise is not a problem before the baby is born.

 

– If You Have Pets: Be sure to have the dog get used to the baby’s blanket scent after baby is born. Keep baby and dog separated or supervised at all times in the first few days. As baby gets older, make sure he/she doesn’t get into the dog’s food or toys -they could be a choking hazard or create a fight for territory. Most dogs, however, are very protective of a new baby.

 

– When to Start Babies on Solid Food: At 4-6 months. Sooner than 4 months can be a choking hazard and may increase the risk of allergies. Much later than 6 months, and baby may reject new textures. Here is a great link with a readiness checklist about starting solid foods: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-when.html

 

– How to Get Newborns to Sleep: Try not to take “no” too soon as an answer from the new baby. If he cries when you put him down in his crib/bassinet, that doesn’t mean you have to pick him up right away and hold him for the next three hours. Pick him up for a minute and keep putting him back down until he falls asleep. This investment will be well worth it.

 

– Where Babies Should Be Sleeping: Recent research suggests that it may not be safe to allow babies to sleep in non-crib/bassinet areas such as a swing or car seat for extended periods (more than about 30 min.) because the positioning may be awkward and lowers the oxygen they breathe in. Car seats/swings have not been tested for long-term sleep safety so the jury is still out, but it’s important to be cautious.

 

– Giving Baths: Babies only need to be bathed about once or twice a week – you can sponge-bathe problem areas such as the face, hands and diaper region at least once a day. Same goes for 2 year olds, 20 year olds, etc…. Unless there’s broken skin on the body, it’s unlikely that germs or dirt will cause major problems.

 

– Routinely Replacing Car Seats: Plastic really does break down. Since car seats are mostly plastic, they do expire and should be replaced periodically. Most people say they should be replaced every 7 years, but sun speeds up the breakdown process, so keep that in mind.

 

– Keeping Everything in Perspective: When you’re feeling overwhelmed, just remember that in five years, you won’t be able to tell who was given a pacifier or not, who co-slept or not … and so on. Every kid is different, and you just try things … what really matters is that care and love you will definitely know how to give!

 

A BIG thanks to Dr. Jennifer Shu and the fabulous Talk co-hosts:

 

AmberLynn

Beth Feldman, Role Mommy

Felicia Carter, Go Graham Go

Gwen Jimmere, The Gwen Show

Jessica McFadden, A Parent in Silver Spring

Joey Fortman, Real Mom in the Media

MommyB, MommyB Knows Best

Stephanie, The Blue Zoo

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62082

The Top 20 Tips for New and Expecting Moms

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To help guide women through the joyful and exciting process of becoming a mom for the first time, Philips AVENT asked themotherhood.com, an online network of moms, to give their best advice for new and expecting parents. Moms came through with a virtual baby shower of tips. Here are the Top Twenty:

Pregnancy
1. Keep a journal or take weekly photos to capture the magical moments of your pregnancy. Philips AVENT has launched a Facebook application that will help you do this – check it out here!
2. Take naps, rest, and be OK with the fact that you might not be able to do as much as you normally would.
3. If this is your second pregnancy, know that it might not be the same as your first. Every pregnancy is unique!
4. Make a list and pack a bag for the hospital. Don’t forget less obvious items like a phone list of people you want to notify when the baby is born, change for the vending machines and baby’s first outfit!
5. Buy a baby memory book and ask the nurse at the hospital to put your newborn’s footprints and hospital bracelet in the book.

 

Preparing for Baby’s Arrival
6. Take a mom with you when you register for baby items so you know you’re requesting items you’ll really use, like baby bottles and pacifiers.
7. Make and freeze meals for yourself and your family before you’re due to give birth.
8. Put a small refrigerator in your bedroom and fill it with milk, snacks and water so you’ll have those items close at hand once your baby has arrived.
9. Stock up on diapers – you’ll need lots – as you won’t always have the energy to get more later on. You can spread out the cost by buying one package of diapers for each trip to the grocery store.
10. Look into local mom groups ahead of time – they can be a great source of advice, support, and even meals!
Caring for Your Newborn
11. You can NEVER love your baby too much! It’s okay to give him or her lots of affection.
12. Ask family and friends for recommendations on finding the right pediatrician shortly after your baby is born. A good pediatrician is like a parenting partner.
13. Read your baby, not the books. Trust your instincts and focus on your child’s needs.
14. When you need to put your baby down somewhere, put him/her on the floor. He/she can’t fall off the floor.
15. Don’t take on the entire process of caring for your child. Relinquish control once in a while, and let your partner help you.

 

Caring for Yourself
16. Be clear about visitation parameters. Everyone will want to see you and the new baby, but you need time to rest.
17. If you need something, ask for it! You aren’t superhuman, and people want to help.
18. Take a little guilt-free “me” time for yourself every day.
19. If someone asks how they can help you, ask them to bring food. The more meals you have stocked in the freezer, the less time and energy you have to spend making dinner.
20. Let go of perfection. When your baby is sleeping, you should sleep too – don’t use the time to clean the house or run errands.
For more than 25 years, Philips AVENT, the number one bottle brand in the world, has been a trusted partner from pregnancy through toddlerhood, giving parents the confidence to choose the products that support their baby’s developing needs. Learn more at http://www.philips.us/avent or visit Philips AVENT’s new Facebook page for more tips and advice.