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Bouncing Back After Baby

Allison — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:38:35 +0000

A word from our sponsor BeFit-Mom:

In fact, exercises like crunches may do more harm than good in the initial postpartum period.

One of the problems with crunches, and its’ cousin, oblique curls, is that these exercises primarily work the external layers of the abdominal wall. (The muscles that flex the spine to the front and side.)

After pregnancy these muscles easily overpower the relatively weaker internal abdominal muscle—the Transverse Abdominis, or TvA—during traditional exercises like crunches. This causes the abdominal wall to bulge out, (Yikes!) which is exactly what you don’t want to happen after you’ve had a baby.

The secret to flattening the abs after pregnancy is to recondition from the inside out—by building strength and control in your TvA first. This muscle compresses the abdominal wall, draws the belly button closer to the spine, and is the body’s most important core stabilizer.

Here’s a terrific postnatal TvA exercise that is safe to do right after pregnancy, even if you’ve had a “C.”

Postpartum Belly Buster

1. Lie on your side with a small pillow under your head, knees bent, hips stacked, spine neutral. Relax your abdominal wall and allow it to expand. (Don’t panic—everyone’s tummy lies next to them after childbirth!)

2. Inhale deeply, then exhale slowly, hissing forcefully through you teeth. As you hiss, tighten your abdomen, pulling your belly up away from the floor, and into
your body as much as you can. Keep your torso completely still, maintain the neutral position.

3. Hold the contraction for a few moments, breathing naturally. Take care that you don’t release your abs you breathe, keep them tight.

4. Inhale deeply, repeat the hiss/exhalation and try to increase the intensity of the abdominal compression. Maintain the abdominal contraction, breathing naturally.

5. Repeat the exhalation/hiss with abdominal compression a third time, trying to increase the intensity of the contraction even more. Once again, hold the
contraction and breathe naturally.

6. Exhale, relax your abdominal wall allowing it to soften and expand naturally. (Don’t push it outward.)

7. Perform 4 repetitions to complete one set. Perform two or more sets daily.

After this muscle has become strong again, (in about three weeks or so) you can progressively add in exercises that work the external layers, while maintaining a flat abdominal profile. Using this method, you’ll not only whittle your waist and flatten your tummy, but just as importantly, develop deep core strength and spine stability.

Training Tips

If you have difficulty breathing, it is because you are “sucking up” your diaphragm. Try to isolate the contractions below your belly button.
Remember, the TvA does not move bone. Keep you spine—particularly your upper body—completely still.
Use mental imagery. Imagine that you have on an old fashioned corset, that is getting tighter and tighter as you compress your abdominal wall.

Author Bio
Helene Byrne, founder of BeFit-Mom, is a pre and postnatal exercise specialist, and author of the award winning “Bounce Back Fast! Post Natal Core Conditioning” DVD and book, “Exercise after Pregnancy: How to Look and Feel Your Best”.

Kindergarten Applications

Allison — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:19:41 +0000

Erin from SkinnyScoop is one of my favorite bloggers of all time. Check out this piece on the trials and tribulations of the dreaded Kindergarten application process. I’m sure there are high school guidance counselors out there not man (or woman) enough to brave these waters … eek!

Kindergarten Craziness

October 5, 2011

Family & Kids, Our “Deep” Thoughts

by Erin

Depending on where you live, the strength of your public school system and a host of other factors, you may have the pleasure of going through the private school kindergarten application process. Among the highlights are:

The School Tour. During my tour, one mom eagerly raised her hand and, in front of everyone, asked: “How do you handle gifted children?” Really? I was just about to ask “Will my child be able to find the bathroom? How do you handle kids who can’t get there in time?”

Interview / Group Playdate. Picture the most important interview you’ve ever had. Now picture your four year old answering the questions instead of you. Not a pretty picture? It was there that my friend Eden (aka SkinnyScoop CEO) watched through a one way mirror as they asked her son “what does your mother do?” Answer: “She tells secrets to other moms.” Awesome.

In my case, the “independent” child I talked about in my written application found this interview to be quite unbearable if i wasn’t there to cling to, and by the time they called me to come to the rescue, my number one son had melted into a puddle.

Q: “What does your mother do?” A: “She tells secrets to other moms.” Awesome.

Self Portrait. At some point in the process, your child will likely be asked to draw a self portrait (see image). My child does not actually have ears on his cheeks, nor is he a vampire. However, I’m sure the “graders” passed over these small anatomical flaws once they saw his real genius – writing his name in mirror image, which is harder to do than you might think. I’m not kidding, try it.

Bribes. In your efforts to have your child behave, you will resort to bribery, even though you read somewhere that this is not a preferred parenting practice. You tell your wee applicant that if he can keep it together, you will take her out for ice cream afterwards. This is great, except that when you go to pick her up, she says, in front of the head of school, “Mom, can we go get my ice cream now? You promised!”

The process can be incredibly time consuming, not to mention confusing and intimidating. Kind of makes your college application seem as easy as a BMG Music Club form (11 CDs for $1.00). Check out Eden’s list of tips, do’s and don’ts to make the experience more pleasurable (or at least less stressful.) Good luck!

Activities for Young Toddlers?

Allison — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:56:18 +0000

Check out this post from www.askananny.com for ideas on staying sane with those early walkers:

Dear Stef,

What do I do with my 16 month old!? He started walking at 13 months, and now he is nonstop! Can you suggest some activities that I can do with him outside of our house to burn some of this new energy? Thanks!

Dear San Francisco Mom,

Lol, I know what you mean! Once they start walking, they want to run and run and go, go, go! In this process they begin to slim down and take on less of a baby look, and before you know it they are toddlers! The more things you start doing with him now, the better, especially if your goal is one good quality nap and 12 hours of sleep a night!

At 16 months a typical toddler is self-centered, demanding, into everything, moody, and pushing for independence. I always think of the time between 15 months and 28 months as a preview for the teenage years. This is also when we learn how to evaluate which of our parenting skills are working, and which need adjustment for surviving the years to come.

When your son is out, it will be typical for him to just play inside his own little bubble, leaving you to explore and play, but coming back to recharge, only to break away again. Don’t expect him to play with other kids yet, as he is too involved in his own expanding universe to notice others, unless they interrupt his focus. Also, don’t expect him to share at this age; it is not natural and can’t be taught yet. In fact, if you can, I would suggest buying two of any toy you plan on taking to the park. What you can do at this age is teach “gentle hands” and model kindness.

I know you asked for ideas outside of the house, but I know there are times when you are home that he will need to burn some of this extra energy too, so first here are some ideas for inside!

I would definitely check out my recent post on what toys are great for 12 month olds; these toys were chosen to grow with your toddler during their second year, so they aren’t just for one year olds! In addition to the toys listed, I would buy a tunnel for inside. A tunnel provides a great place to hide as well as roll and be silly! You can roll balls through it, put it under your dining table, or add it to a pillow-and-couch-cushion obstacle course!

To go with the tunnel, get a pop up play tent. There are so many out there to chose from, but my favorites are the ones that aren’t plastered with television characters. A simple tent in the shape of a castle or circus bigtop is gender neutral and will grow with your child while encouraging him to use his own imagination. Now you can use the tunnel as an entrance to the castle! A tent is a great hiding place as well as a wonderful place to cuddle up and read a book. Use this tent inside, outside, or when you go to the beach!

The last thing I always tell parents to buy for younger toddlers that are just starting to walk and climb is an indoor climber. This will be an extremely valuable piece of play equipment for you as well as your son! It will offer an appropriate outlet for the excessive energy your toddler has, and encourage muscle development. Some toddlers are born “climbers,” and some are not, but they ALL will, at some point, try to climb on precarious household objects. To help distract and redirect this behavior, a climber offers a safe option for your toddler that is all his own! (Add a slide and you’re set for hours!)

When it comes to San Francisco, we are blessed with almost a whole year of weather in which we can play outside. Here is a list of AskaNanny favorite playgrounds for ages 12 – 24 months, as well as some other activities from around the city for those rainier months!

“Where have all the babies gone?”

Playgrounds in San Francisco appropriate for 12 – 24 month olds:

I think a great playground for a young toddler consists of a few attributes: not too many big kids or babies, lots of sand, a good size area just for running around, and an appropriate climbing structure.

(Click on each name for maps and more details from GGMG.org)

The Moscone Recreation Center or the Marina Playground: (Chestnut Street btw Webster & Buchanan)

If you go to this playground before the end of the school day, it’s all toddlers, all over! The climbing structure is nautical themed and may seem a bit tall, but there are many entrances and exits that work with each age and ability level. There are four bucket swings which are great, but its best feature is loads of sand!!! Just to get to it you need to climb into a pit, which on its own is a wonderful challenge! I also like that there are varied ground covers: concrete, safety rubber surfacing, sand, and grass. Located behind the park is an enormous playing field just perfect for running and kicking balls around. Another bonus to this park is it is directly connected to the library which has one of the best Toddler Tales in the city (but more on that later!).

Alamo Square Playground: (Steiner Street and Grove Street)

I like this park because it has a toddler section that is fenced off from the main playground, so if you pay attention to keeping the gates closed, you can take a minute to breathe – maybe! The climbing structure is a reproduction of the Painted Ladies, which you can view while standing within it. You can find loads of sand here, too! Four bucket swings are safely located away from the structure. I also like that the playground is surrounded by trees, so it’s shaded most of the year.

Upper Noe Recreation Center: (Day Street between Sanchez Street & Church Street)

This playground is definitely great for 16 month olds because of the amount of toddlers that congregate there! Even on cool foggy days there will be a sprinkling of three or four brave caregivers and their little balls of energy! Most of the equipment at this playground is appropriate for toddlers, but big kids do show up after school, so beware! There are four bucket swings and a great wooden climber with many different entry points and a double slide that’s just the right height! There is an okay sand box, and the surfacing is mainly rubber, which can get a bit hot in the summer. For me, the best part of this playground is less the play space, and more the other areas of the recreation center encompassed within the city block. There is an indoor play area open to toddlers daily which really does help on those days the fog turns to rain. And for the sunny days their soccer field is large and fully fenced in! My favorite place to play though is the basketball court (bring lots of balls), which has high walls on three sides and benches lining the fourth, so your toddler never goes chasing a ball anywhere out of your sight!

Rossi Playground: (Inner Richmond: Edward at Arguello Boulevard)

I like Rossi Playground because the toddler section is pretty separate from the big kid section. There are two bucket swings and a great wooden climbing structure. I really love the space actually connected to the toddler playground, where there is a good sized hill of grass. You don’t find this too often, and it’s a nice feature! It’s also completely enclosed, so you can let your toddler run free with a ball and not worry too much! Rossi Playground is also part of a Recreation Center and has humungous soccer fields which are great too! This playground is last on my list because it doesn’t have sand, but the grassy hill and the beautiful tree that all the kids climb within the play area make up for that oversight! (Although I would still like to write to the city and complain – no sand?? Come on!)

“Oh great now it’s going to rain for 2 months!!”

Great indoor activities for 12 – 24 month olds in the Bay Area:

SF Library Events: Toddler Tales

There are the good and not so good versions of this weekly sing-a-long throughout the city. I give the librarians credit, as entertaining a bunch of cranky cooped-up toddlers is not easy (and some people are just better with older kids). But there are some real gems sprinkled throughout the city that all parents should know about. These are the types of programs I have spent 20-30 minutes on Muni with a toddler to get to – they are that good.

The AskaNanny favorites are:

Park – 1833 Page Street – Haight Ashbury – Tuesdays, 1030-11am

Noe Valley – 451 Jersey Street – Tuesdays, 1015-1045 or 1100-1130am

Marina – 1890 Chestnut Street – Mondays, 1015-1045am

Make sure to tell us your favorites on our Facebook page!

Habitot Children’s Discovery Museum: Berkeley, CA

I LOVE this discovery museum for toddlers. It is so appropriate! Some of it’s best features are:

It is small, which means you can do it all in a morning before nap or lunch.

Its small size makes it manageable for your toddler (and you can’t lose him if he decides today’s the day to be chased!).

They have a wide variety of creative drop-in classes.

There’s just a “you can do it” atmosphere throughout the place!

If you live in the city, it’s worth the trip over the Bay Bridge!

Muir Woods: Mill Valley, CA

Even on a foggy day, Muir Woods is perfect for an active toddler. The paths through the redwoods are paved, which means you can bring your stroller (not that you’ll use it!), and the atmosphere has a calming effect on even the most energetic toddler. Fall is the time of year I love the most to go to this beautiful national monument; the summer tourist season is just ending and it’s still warm enough that the shade of the trees is a welcome respite.

AcroSports: Toddler Play 639 Frederick Street, San Francisco, CA

AcroSports offers a great 1 hour open-play option on Thursdays from 1-2pm. I love this space because of its no-nonsense gym feel, as well as its central location! At $5 for the hour, it’s an affordable rainy day option, and a great idea for a playdate! This drop-in playtime is also a great way to get your little one excited about joining a more structured older toddler class. (Bonus: the perfect activity to ensure a night of quality sleep!!)

I hope you enjoy sampling the wonderful activities our city has to offer for young toddlers! Enjoy him and his energy – jump, bounce, and run along with him and you will feel like a kid again too!

Stef

Anthropologie’s Nursing Wear?

Allison — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:14:38 +0000

Anyone else sick of nursing tank tops? I’ve worn them for weeks on end and am now fairly certain the snapping of that little hook elicits a Pavlovian response in my 4-month-old. But then I stumbled upon this gem at Anthropologie last week. The gathered panels provide just about as easy an access point as one could wish for in a “nursing top”. And the fact that it’s not makes me feel like one hot and stylish mama.

Easy Access

A Murky Forecast

PPDC — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:59:33 +0000

Ugh…diaper changes. Meconium. ”Blowouts”. First poops from Solid Foods.

You never thought you’d be the person to discuss the color and consistency of poop. Until your first born came along. And then anything seemed appropriate to discuss at the dinner table.

If you ever need to know what’s “normal” this photo guide to baby poop from BabyCenter will give you a good idea of what to expect as your newborn grows, drinks breast milk or formula, and starts eating solids. You’ll find out when not to worry and when it’s wise to be concerned.

Be forewarned: The photos are real. (Moms in their First Trimester might want to avoid!)

A Bottle Warmer to Warm Your Heart

Allison — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 05:29:29 +0000

So, I have a friend of a friend of a friend who is really smart. His wife had their first baby whilst he was getting even smarter as a graduate student at MIT. When you are this smart, you don’t just grumble about things in life that irritate you — you fix them. My friend’s friend’s friend’s friend (who makes me feel smart simply by degrees of association) created a breastmilk warmer and bottle warmer that is safe, fast, and extremely easy. And affordable. And made in the US of A. And based on this sweet technology that I’m too smart to break down into layman’s terms, so I’ll just cut-and-paste below. Now, if only Mr. Smarty Pants could successfully negotiate with my 3-month-old who’s currently on a bottle strike …

breastmilk warmer & bottle warmer

We understand that your life is too busy for you to stand around waiting for a meal to be ready. We also understand that you’re not willing to compromise your little one’s safety to save a few minutes. That’s why we created kozii, which is:

As fast as steam
As safe as warm tap water
As easy as the microwave

Kozii is designed specifically to follow CDC and USDA guidelines to safely thaw and warm breastmilk using warm, flowing water.

Kozii uses a low temperature, nutrient-safe water bath that is safe for ALL bottle and bag types. The water in the warmer is about as warm as warm tap water. This allows you to warm your little one’s meal without exposing bags and bottles to dangerous steam, hot or boiling water, or the microwave. Kozii uses patent-pending technology, specifically designed to eliminate the risk of hot spots, nutrient damage, and dangerous chemicals that can be released from plastic bottles at high temperatures.

Check it out at www.kiinde.com or read this cool interview.

Who Else is Due in September?

PPDC — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:07:38 +0000

Alyssa Milano & Dave Bugliari
Their first child, a boy.

Danny McBride & Gia Ruiz
Their first child, a boy.

Guy Ritchie & Jacqui Ainsley
Their first child together, a boy. He has 2 kids with Madonna.

Jenna Fischer & Lee Kirk
Their first child.

Kimberly Stewart & Benicio del Toro
Her first child. I guess they “are not a couple”.

January Jones
Her first child. She’s not announcing who the father is.

Mary McCormack & Michael Morris
Their third child!

10 Unexpected Feelings When Your Newborn Comes Along

PPDC — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:04:30 +0000

I recently read this article and thought it did a great job of summing up the feelings you have when you have a newborn:
Life with a newborn: 10 things I didn’t expect
by Emily Achenbaum Harris1) The sentence Holy crap you’re my baby! crosses my mind every day.

2) I feel an awful lot like the same person I was before.

3) Calling her my baby or my daughter feels natural, but calling myself a mother still feels a bit like I’m talking about someone else.

4) I actively avoid talking about the baby much with people who don’t have kids (or people who don’t go out of their way to ask about her) because I’m afraid of being That Parent — we all know some.

5) I worry about money more, in a nebulous, ‘what if’ way. Me eating rice and beans? That’d be O.K. if it had to happen. But not being able to provide for her? A scary thought.

6) Weirdly, I’m more social than before. Before, if we were invited out, I’d weigh whether I felt like going, liked the other people who were going, I’m tired, it’s hot, that restaurant is too expensive, what to wear, blah blah. Now? Oh, I’m in and we are getting out of the house.

7) I can get errands, cooking, cleaning, and the business of life done. House Beautiful isn’t coming here for a photo shoot or anything, but things are not a complete disaster, thank God. I’d been braced for me = BP, house = Gulf Coast. If anything, clutter, noise and dirt — that includes from the dogs — irritates me more. That’s probably not a good thing, as things are only going to get messier and louder.

8. The first three months of herlife weren’t easy, but they were less stressful than the last three months of pregnancy.

9) I’d thought breastfeeding would irritate me in a personal space way or something. It’s not nearly as big a deal as I’d expected.

10) She helps me be the person I want to be – believe it or not, a baby is helping me simplify. Simplifying your life has a lot to do with cutting out crap, and that includes unhelpful messages in our own heads: My waist is wide and I don’t know if I can lose the weight. I don’t know “where I’m headed” in life. Wow, they can afford such a big house! Before the baby, when I’d have those thoughts, I had a mental list of mantras and quotes that I’d dig up help remind myself that stuff doesn’t matter. It was an exercise of sorts. Now, I just have to look at her and I just don’t care about all those other things. Cliché. Oh well.

What hasn’t been a surprise? That I’m absolutely crazy-stupid-fierce-wild in love with her.

Local Activities for 9.5-Month Old Twins?

PPDC — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:39:20 +0000

Between the ages of 6-18 months moms look for ways to keep their kids occupied. Stef at Ask a Nanny has some solutions:

Tips for home:

I would try putting together a “cruising” obstacle course created from household objects that has varying degrees of difficulty. For example, place some large pillows on the ground in your living room for them to crawl onto or over, and make sure they are near something like the coffee table where they can grab on and pull up, or just crawl under (pad the coffee table corners of course). Help your non-crawler to pull up to the table and hold on. Prop interesting books, opened to graphic pages, on the couch to look at and cruise by. Make sure to remove any loose throw pillows that may give way if they try to use them for support. If you don’t have one already, a crawl tunnel would be a great addition also. I love this short, see-through tunnel, as it’s perfect for babies, and even has spots to attach toys or colorful scarves on each end.

Small soft stairs are excellent for pre-crawlers and crawlers alike, because they present a more attainable pulling-up option. You can help a non-crawler onto their knees and have them support themselves by their arms on the first step. This is a great way to build much needed arm strength for crawling. My son had a set of foam climbing equipment that had stairs and a ramp/slide; it was a great place to practice new skills! I know it sounds strange and a bit crazy, but a less expensive climber option would be a couple sets of those foam Doggy Steps put together, as they are the perfect height and really soft! Also,the “square chairs” from Serena and Lily are also very soft, great for cruising along, and can grow into seating for your girls when they are toddlers.

Another item I love to recommend when babies begin to pull up is a walking push toy (the kind that has added friction on the wheels). They won’t be able to walk with it at first, but the extra friction causes the wheels to move very slowly and encourages balance. I love the Wonder World Hopping Bunny Walker because it’s made from non-toxic and eco-friendly materials. Kookle Toys on Clement Street in SF carries the Bunny walker (and all the WonderWorld toys) and has a sample out to try with your girls!

Tips for out and about the neighborhood:

At the park, try more than the swings. The sandbox is really the best place to develop needed muscles for crawling and walking. If they eat the sand, you will need to decide if this is ok, or if not, find a way to distract them, such as bringing your Sofie Giraffe for them to chew, a sippy cup, or simply let them keep their pacifier in during the experience. Sand play really is a valuable experience for babies and is worth the extra effort.

Put them at the bottom of the slide, if it’s a quiet day. This part of the play equipment is always the right height for pulling up and standing (and then banging on!). Again, any play structure with stairs would be perfect, too!

Blow bubbles – chase, pop and watch them fly away.

Have them play ball, where the non-crawler rolls it and the crawler chases it (bring 3 or 4). PS – Beware of the rubber based surfacing in the warming summer months though, as it gets way too hot for little knees and hands!

My recommendations for free spots around San Francisco:

The Noe Valley Courts and Playground at Douglass and 24th Street: This playground is an infant/toddler playground. During the day there are no big kids and lots of babies!!

Cow Hollow Playground at Miley and Baker Street: This is another great playground for babies and toddlers. The big kids do show up sometimes, but there is a nicely sized area in the back just for the little ones! There is a great resource room with art activities and lots of ride on toys available during the day!

For more, head to Ask a Nanny!