October is here and with its arrival comes World Mental Health Day on October 10th.
Have you been curious about where to get resources for World Mental Health Day for your home or classroom? Or are you just looking for tips on how to support your child’s mental well-being?
You’re in the right place! I’ve outlined great answers to both questions below.
How Should I Feed My Infant? And Other Common Questions New Parents Have
Feeding your baby can seem incredibly complicated. There are so many breastfeeding and formula feeding charts out there. For something so basic to sustain life — it can seem impossible to keep track of it all!
Know that the first few weeks at home with your baby will likely be a tired haze. But over time, you’ll learn how to tell when your infant needs to eat, sleep, be changed or cuddled. You’ll learn your baby’s cues and settle into a routine together.
How Do I Know When my Baby Is Hungry?
Contrary to what you may think, crying is actually a late sign of hunger.(1) Other signs, such as licking their lips, sticking their tongue out, rooting, opening their mouth, sucking, putting their hand to their mouth repeatedly, or being fussy will show up first.(2)
So those cute movements your infant is making? Pay close attention to them! They may actually be your baby trying to say — feed me!
Read moreInfant Sleep: How to Help Them Fall (and Stay) Asleep
If you’re a first-time parent, you may not know a lot about infants’ sleep needs. In fact, the only thing you may know about sleep is you won’t be getting a lot of it.
If you have questions like…
Can newborns sleep too much?
Should I keep my newborn awake during the day?
Is swaddling safe?
When do I stop swaddling?
How do I sleep train my baby?
Then this blog is for you!
Infant Mental Health: What It Is and Why It's Important
When you think about managing mental health, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of a therapy couch, box of tissues, and feeling loads better after getting some things off your chest.
Or maybe you’re a big believer in a bubble bath or a long run as a form of self-care.
Whatever your mental health management routine, it probably involves taking specific action to care for and nurture yourself. After all, your life is complex. You have a job, relationships and finances to manage, family obligations, and social events to attend.
And if you’re a parent, your life is even more complex because you have the lives of other people to manage as well!
Read moreSecure Attachment with Your Infant: What It Is and How to Develop It
Whether you’re a first-time parent or have kids already, one thing is certain — you love your children and would do anything for them. But there’s a lot of noise about how to do this parenting thing “right” — so how do you determine what to tune out and what to tune into?
Tuning in to your infant’s needs is really at the core of attachment theory.
What is Attachment Theory?
An attachment is an emotional bond that forms between people.(1) We create bonds with all types of people throughout our lifetime — friends, loved ones, and family. Evolutionarily, attachment serves a purpose. An infant who stays physically close to her primary caregiver is generally more likely to survive.(2)