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Single Mothers: 6 Tips to Raise Happy, Healthy and Loving Children

November 19, 2019 by Mandy

Let’s start with this: being a single mom is tough. But as the old saying goes, tough times don’t last: tough people do! With this in mind, here are six tips to help you raise happy, healthy and loving children — and stay sane and strong in the process:

Don’t try and be Wonder Woman. Yes, there’s plenty that you’ll need to do on your own. But you also need to build a support system around you. If you need to build or expand your network, connect with other single mothers in your area. Many community centers and faith groups have clubs. If possible, reach out to your neighbors as well.
Get professional help. Find an experienced counselor or therapist who will help you unpack any emotional baggage you’re carrying and empower you to move on. Holding on to resentment (or more aptly, allowing resentment to hold onto you) will damage your life, and also negatively impact your children’s development and future.
Create a structured routine. Admittedly, the words “structured routing” sound kind of, well, boring. However, given the emotional roller coaster you’ve been on for a while (and might still be on now), boring is your friend. Of course, it’s fine to deviate from the plan every now and then.
Praise and encourage your children — but don’t spoil them. Many single mothers are reluctant, or outright terrified of disciplining their children, because they want to make life as easy and enjoyable for them as possible; and also, frankly, because they feel guilty (which they shouldn’t, but feelings don’t typically ask permission if they can pay an extended visit or not). It’s vital to keep in mind that children need reasonable rules and guidelines, which includes appropriate punishments for transgressions. At the same time, it’s also just as important to praise and encourage children, and remind them that they are loved for who they are.
Augment your income. There are many ways that you can boost your income, without forcing you to pick-up a second (or maybe a third) job. For example, you can participate in online market research studies, help search engines index the web, let advertisers put car wraps and graphics on your car, or take advantage of many other legitimate opportunities that you can do in your spare time. And while you’re paying attention to your finances, take a glance at your credit report and, if necessary, clean up any discrepancies (for guidance on how to do this on your own, check out this article).
Don’t neglect self-care. Last but certainly not least: single moms often devote so much of their time and attention in raising their children, that they neglect their own health and well-being. Eating well, exercising, and getting quality sleep are all essential. Think of it like a car. Driving it non-stop without regular maintenance is invariably going to lead to a costly and inconvenient breakdown.

The Bottom Line

As mentioned, being a single mom is tough. But since you’re tough — and probably much tougher than you give yourself credit for — you’ll make it through this. Just take it one day at a time, and remember that all of your friends here at SerendipityMommy.com believe in you!

How to Stop Allergies Immediately for Your Children

November 18, 2019 by Mandy

Parenthood is often a double-edged sword. The love we have for our children is like nothing else, but that love comes with other side effects: fear and worry about their well-being. Seeing your child suffer through allergies is fun for no mother or father.

That’s why so many parents are curious about how to stop allergies immediately. No one wants to have to see their child fight through irritating symptoms for a moment longer than they need to. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to help cut allergies out of your child’s life.

Not all will work for every child, but all the tips below are worth trying out. Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know.

Block out the Allergens

It may sound too simple to be true, but it’s really the best way: keep the allergens away. The more you keep your kids around access to whatever their allergy may be to, the more chance they’ll have to suffer through the consequences.

That means shutting your windows during pollen season, not going to that friend’s house with the dog, or keeping that certain kind of vegetable out of the home.

There’s a lot you can do around the house to help stop the spread of allergens and keep them out of your home. Turn your air conditioner to recycle mode so that it filters just the air that is already indoors around. This will keep pollen and outside allergens out.

You should also clear your air filters as much as possible. Dust and all sorts of potential allergy issues get caught in here, and leaving them uncleaned can create dirty, problematic air. You can even invest in a humidifier for allergies if you want to ensure the air in your home remains clean.

Investing in air purifiers and keeping away from strongly scented detergents and cleaners also can help to make your child more comfortable during an allergy flare-up. Creating a strong and pure environment at home is really one of the best things you can do.

Do Laundry More Frequently

Allergens can stick to our clothes. This is an important fact to understand if you really want to prevent allergies in your child. That means when you go for a walk or spend some time doing activities outside, you are interacting with allergens.

When you come back to the home, you are bringing these allergens in with you. If you want to avoid allergies, it can be best then to toss your clothing off immediately into the laundry hamper. Put new clothes on.

This will be true for both you and your child’s clothing. Everyone has the possibility of bringing allergens into the home, so it will need to be a team effort to keep these allergens out. You might not be able to maintain this system year-round, but it’s something you should keep in mind at least during the highs of allergy season.

When you do wash your clothes, consider doing it at a high temperature. Research has shown that high temperatures can destroy nearly all allergens.

By the same token, if you have pets that live both indoors and outdoors, you’ll need to better monitor their behavior during allergy season. They can easily bring allergens into the home, so you should keep them out of your bedroom and off the furniture.

See a Doctor

Modern medicine has come a long way, and if your child is suffering from allergies, there may be a medical solution. If you haven’t ID’d your child’s triggers, that’s the first step. If you don’t know what’s causing allergic reactions, you won’t know how to best prevent them.

That being said, you probably have already taken that first step forward and you may have already had medication prescribed. This medication isn’t intended to remove allergies as much as it is there to help dull symptoms.

However, it might be worth checking in with your doctor and seeing if the medication you’re using is still the best option. You may be using an over-the-counter medication when something prescribed would be better, or vice versa.

The most important thing is that your child takes the allergy medication as suggested by a doctor, and not just when they begin to experience symptoms. Doing so can really limit its effectiveness.

If pills aren’t doing the trick, there may be a nasal spray that could be better. Veramyst and Nasonex are two examples of nasal steroid spray that have been very popular in those who suffer from seasonal allergies.

Last but not least, if your child suffers from allergies year-round, it might be worth seeing if there are more extreme measures that can be taken. You can look into immunotherapy, where an allergy specialist administers shots over the course of several months.

This can be quite expensive and often painful for small children. Your child would likely not be too excited at the prospect of constant shots. But if their allergy symptoms are very severe and show no signs of fading, this might be the only option available to you.

How to Stop Allergies Immediately

If you see your child suffering, you want to do anything you can to stop it. Knowing how to stop allergies immediately is as simple as reading and implementing the above information into your everyday life.

Need more parental advice, tips, and tricks? Check out the rest of our blog for more information.

What Baby Essentials Can Help Keep Your Baby Safe At Night

October 21, 2019 by Mandy

Babies need a great deal of sleep to facilitate the rapid development of the infant years. Making sure that your baby sleeps soundly and safely each time is essential for their physical and mental well-being. Conditions like Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS and other hazards present a rare but serious potential risk to your child. Taking the necessary steps to keep your baby safe at night can help you to avoid these disturbing scenarios.

The best practices for ensuring the safety of your sleeping baby are well-established. The biggest thing to remember is to avoid situations where your baby’s breathing could be obstructed by having their nose or mouth covered or having your baby overly constricted where their neck might be pressed against a hard surface. Having some baby essentials on hand will also aid in providing for your baby’s well-being.

To provide you with some specific pieces of advice, let’s look at what baby essentials and practices can help keep your baby safe at night.

Proper Positioning

Make sure to put your baby to sleep on their back. Young infants will likely remain in this position throughout the night, though as your baby grows and becomes increasingly mobile, they will likely roll around. Do not let this concern you, however, as once your child can roll around they will be able to free themselves from any positions that interfere with their breathing.

Putting your baby to sleep on a firm surface is best for ensuring a safe sleep. Bulky blankets and pillows in a baby’s crib, as well as stuffed animals, all present a hazard and should be avoided.

Using a fitted sheet for your baby’s bed is also important for ensuring that it does not become displaced during the night. Bunched up bedding presents a potential breathing hazard for very young babies.

Set The Stage

Keep a warm and comfortable temperature in your baby’s room to ensure that they are not disturbed by an overly hot or cold environment. An inappropriate temperature in the room will increase the chances that your baby will wake up during their sleep leading to a disturbance of your sleep as well. Beyond that, it is important to remember that babies cannot regulate their internal temperature as effectively as adults. As the person responsible for your baby, make sure that they sleep in an environment that will not disturb their natural equilibrium temperature.

It is commonly advised that you share a room with your very young baby but be sure not to share a bed. Having them in the room with you will allow you to respond to their needs throughout the night. Providing them with their own crib will ensure that they are not disturbed or crushed throughout the night as well.

Use Your Common Sense

While medical professionals are uncertain about the true cause of SIDS, it is best for your baby’s health to avoid smoking in or near their sleeping environment. Some evidence suggests that residual smoke from cigarettes may be linked to SIDS. Beyond that, however, it is not good for your newborn baby’s lungs to be exposed to second-hand smoke. If you are a new parent, then consider giving up the habit to ensure that you will be around for many years to come to care for your child.

Safe Sleep For A Happy And Healthy Baby

Taking these measures to ensure that your baby is safe at every sleep time will allow them to develop in a healthy way. It will also allow you to rest assured that your baby is secure while you take some time to sleep as well.

4 Reasons You Should Consider Formula Feeding For Your Toddler

October 21, 2019 by Mandy

Baby formula has been around for quite some time now and it has been a huge support to parents all over the world. In times gone by, before you could order online from MumStore or just pick formula up at your local supermarket you had to rely on breastmilk alone as a source of nutrition for your little one. There are various reasons why some babies are not able to consume or digest breastmilk, so formula really was a breakthrough for parents.

Breastmilk has been the only thing that mothers could provide for their young for as long as mammals have been around. While it has been proven that breast milk is best most of the time, having a formula that is engineered for the health of your baby can be a godsend in certain situations. There are many reasons why you might choose baby formula over breast milk.

Keep reading for some reasons why baby formula may be a wise choice for your little one.

You Are In Need Of More Time

Any busy parent will be thrilled to have something that can save them time during the day. Breastfeeding can be a very time-consuming process, not to mention a painful one, and the modern parent could really use a break sometimes. If you are strapped for time on a regular basis consider switching to a toddler formula for your little one. It is going to provide just about everything they need to thrive as well as giving you back a considerable amount of time in your day.

Your Toddler Cannot Drink Breastmilk

This is a very real concern for any new parent, as it will change the way you provide nourishment for your child. It is fairly common these days to find children with various degrees of intolerance or allergies to breast milk. This is one of the main reasons baby and toddler formulas were first created, to help those young ones who were struggling with their diet. Regardless of why a toddler cannot consume regular breastmilk, you can be assured there are alternatives to keep them fed.

You Are Concerned About Extra Nutrition

While breast milk is the natural way to feed your child it is going to be difficult to determine the exact nutritional content without getting expensive testing done all the time. If you are a parent who is hyper concerned with the nutrition your children get, formula will be right up your alley as you are guaranteed of its quality and nutritional content every single time.

You Have Breast Milk Related Issues

There are a variety of issues a mother can run into when it comes to her breast milk after birth. Some women are not able to produce enough breast milk to keep their children fed properly and they need other options. You can choose to go with a variety of different toddler formulas to make sure your toddler gets the nutrition they require. Some mothers can still breastfeed but just rely on the formula to give their child added nutrition, especially at the toddler stage.

You Are Fine With Formula

Every parent is going to have a slightly different stance on breastfeeding versus formula feeding, but the only thing that really matters is the health of your child. Baby and toddler formula has been researched and worked on meticulously for a long time so your child will certainly benefit from it. Whether you cannot breastfeed, your child has allergies, or you just need a break sometimes, baby and toddler formulas are available for a reason.

How to Know If Your Child Has Autism: The Early Warning Signs

October 4, 2019 by Mandy

Source: Unsplash | Hal Gatewood

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), around one in 59 kids have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The sooner a child is properly diagnosed, the sooner they can get the help they need to have healthy, productive lives.

And child autism behavioral signs can begin emerging when a child is only six to 12 months old. However, it’s important to note that most autism specialists won’t attempt making a definitive diagnosis until your child is at least 18 months old.

That’s because until 24 months autism symptoms can emerge and fade away. After that, child autism symptoms tend to become stable.

If you’re wondering how to know if your child has autism, keep reading. We’re sharing the early warning signs to look for.

How to Know If Your Child Has Autism

If you’re wondering, “does my child have autism,” the first thing you should do is understand what autism is. Once you know it’s definition, it’s easier to understand and get the help you need if you do in fact have an autism child.

What Autism Is

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is actually a broad range of conditions. Often a child with autism struggles with the following:

Social skills
Repetitive behaviors
Speech
Nonverbal communication

There is also not one specific type of autism, but rather, many subtypes. There is also no known cause of autism but most medical professionals believe that both environmental and genetic factors contribute to an ASD diagnosis.

Other Health Issues Often Accompany Autism

Often, it’s not just autism that the child and parents have to deal with. Other sensory sensitivities and medical issues come into play such as:

Seizures
Sleep disorders
Gastrointestinal disorders (GI)

There are also mental health challenges that often accompany autism such as attention issues, anxiety, and depression. However, it’s also important to note that each child with autism will have their own set of strengths and challenges so teaching autism child will differ depending on their symptoms and the severity of ASD.

Symptoms and Severity Differs Greatly Between Individuals

Some people with autism are highly skilled while others are severely challenged. Some may need less support and can even live independently while others may always require significant support in their daily lives.

Getting the right help as soon as your child is diagnosed with autism will also make a huge difference in their quality of life and capabilities. Visit Blue Sprig Autism to learn more about what types of help and services are available.

Also, it’s important to note that not all children with autism will experience the exact same or all of the symptoms listed here.

Symptoms of ASD

As your baby begins to grow older, there are certain developmental stages they should reach. However, in children with autism, there will be signs that they aren’t reaching those stages in a timely manner or even at all.

By Six Months

By six months your infant should be smiling socially. You should also notice other types of engaging expressions.

A sign of child autism children this age exhibit is limited or no eye contact.

By Nine Months

By nine months an autism child tends to exhibit little or no sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions with others.

They may not respond to sounds, voices or even the sound of their own name.

By 12 Months

At 12 months, a child with autism may not be babbling or pointing. They also often struggle with showing, reaching or waving as other children should be doing by this point.

By 16 Months

By 16 months, an autistic child will have learned very few or no words. They may also not be showing items or sharing interests.

It’s also not unusual for them to exhibit an unusual attachment a particular object or toy.

By 24 Months

By 24 months, most children can speak two-word phrases. Children with autism often can’t unless they’re imitating or repeating what they’ve heard.

You may even notice that in place of communicating verbally, they replace those language skills with acting out such as crying or screaming to express their needs.

If you notice a loss of skills in your child, it may be a sign they have autism.

Other Signs of Autism

Another sign of child autism is not playing socially with other children. They may also exhibit a lack of empathy for others along and withdraw from social situations.

A child with autism may also exhibit the following signs:

Unusual body posturing or facial expressions
Use an unusual tone of voice
Avoid eye contact or have poor eye contact with others
Experience behavioral disturbances
Have a lower level of language comprehension than other kids their age
Learning to speak is delayed
Speak in a flat or monotonous tone of voice
Socially interact in inappropriate ways
Struggle with picking up on social cues
Struggle with a learning disability
Be preoccupied with specific topics
Repeatedly use the same words or phrases
Have difficulty with two-way conversations
Have odd reactions when in social settings

An autism child also may show self-abusive behaviors such as banging their head against a wall or repeating the same movements.

What To Do If You Suspect Your Child Has Autism

The earlier a child is diagnosed with autism, the more quickly they can receive help for their symptoms. If you feel your child exhibits some or many of these symptoms, the first step is to have your child’s doctor evaluate them for ASD.

If you see symptoms before six months, see your child’s pediatrician. Even if they’re still too young to be diagnosed, they can still be evaluated for developmental delays.

If your pediatrician suspects autism they can refer you to a developmental pediatrician or a psychologist specializing in ASD. Always trust your instincts since parents are known to be good at picking up on early signs of autism.

Keep Learning and Get Support

Learning how to know if your child has autism starts by educating yourself. The next step is to get the right support system in place.

Find doctors you trust and respect. Search for communities of other parents who have autistic children and learn from them.

We can help. Our site has an open discussion available to talk about the joys and struggles of parenting. Keep coming back to share your thoughts and learn more.