From immune system rebuilding and genetic matching to regenerative medicine efforts, cord blood banking can help offer your family additional peace of mind.
Pregnancy is life-changing. Along with a rush of emotions that can range from joy and relief, to disbelief and even worry, it feels like major decisions are begging to be made at every turn. Do you want a midwife? How will you agree on a name? Have you added all the essentials to your registry (and are those really even the essentials)?
Among these decisions, one in particular stands out, which can happen right after delivery and may potentially help benefit the future of your baby and your family: cord blood banking.
Cord blood banking is the process of collecting and preserving blood from the umbilical cord (a.k.a cord blood) at birth. The preservation of this blood sample can potentially change or even save a life, as it can be used to treat over 80 conditions,1 from blood disorders and certain cancers to immune disorders and metabolic disorders.
In honor of National Cord Blood Awareness Month this July, we’ve turned to the trusted experts at Cord Blood Registry® (CBR®), the largest private newborn stem cell preservation company in the world,2 to share details every parent-to-be should know about cord blood banking.
Read on to discover seven facts about cord blood banking with CBR and how it can help your family take the steps to plan for a potentially healthy future.
1. Cord Blood is a Wealth of Stem Cell Potential
After your baby is born, a small amount of blood remains in the umbilical cord. This valuable blood (commonly called cord blood) is a rich source of newborn stem cells that have the potential to help the body heal and repair itself.
The main type of stem cell found in cord blood is hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These HSCs are blood-forming cells that can self-renew and help rebuild both blood and immune systems.
2. Cord Blood is Easy and Safe to Collect
Once your family enrolls with CBR, you’ll receive a collection kit that’s sent directly to your home with everything needed on your delivery date. As you begin to prepare your hospital bag, be sure to pack your CBR collection kit alongside your other must-need essentials.
After delivery, your healthcare provider will use this kit to collect your baby’s newborn stem cells after clamping and cutting your umbilical cord. This cord blood collection process is quick, safe and non-invasive.
Some parents choose to wait a little longer before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord, a process known as delayed cord clamping that allows more cord blood to flow back to the baby prior to collection. If your family chooses to clamp right at birth or delay clamping, the cord tissue itself is still rich in valuable newborn stem cells that may potentially be able to benefit your infant or family. So, you can collect both cord blood and cord tissue, or just collect the cord tissue.
3. Cord Blood Isn’t the Only Part of the Umbilical Cord You Can Save
The umbilical cord isn’t only made up of cord blood; it also contains a special tissue (called cord tissue) that can be collected at birth along with cord blood. Cord tissue includes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that may potentially provide more treatment options in regenerative medicine in the future.
MSCs also have the potential to reduce inflammation3 and balance the immune system to help improve autoimmune disorders.4
4. Cord Blood Has a Successful History of Saving Lives
While the awareness about cord blood banking is growing—especially with experts and celebrities spreading word about their own experiences with CBR, like cookbook author Chrissy Teigen and board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Christine Sterling5—the lifesaving potential of newborn stem cells (or cord blood stem cells) has helped families all around the world for decades.
In the last 30-plus years, cord blood has been used for stem cell transplants, which have helped rebuild blood and immune systems to treat various blood disorders, cancers, immune disorders and metabolic disorders.6
To date, cord blood has been used in more than 45,000 transplants worldwide6 and can be used to treat over 80 conditions.1
5. Cord Blood Can Potentially Provide Your Family with a Healthier Future
When you preserve your cord blood with CBR, you’re helping to provide your baby and family with the potential gift of a healthy future. Your collected newborn stem cells are safely stored in CBR’s laboratory and storage facility located in Tucson, Arizona.
Your infant is a 100% genetic match to their own stem cells, and in some cases their cord blood can treat immediate family members who are genetically compatible. Samples have a 75% chance of being at least a partial match to full siblings, and are always a partial match to biological parents.
6. Cord Blood May Potentially Help With Future Medical Challenges
Life is unpredictable, and sometimes unforeseen medical challenges can arise. Fortunately, cord blood banking can help offer you peace of mind given cord blood’s potential to help rebuild the immune system in conditions like blood disorders, certain cancers such as leukemia, immune disorders and metabolic disorders.
With CBR, the #1 choice of parents2 and the most recommended newborn stem cell preservation company by OB/GYNs,7 over 700 cord blood samples have been released, intended for use by families in stem cell transplants and investigational therapies.
7. Cord Blood Banking May Also Give You Access to Medical Advancements
Cord blood stem cells have already played a pivotal role in the treatment of various diseases, but its capabilities in helping families and providing promising results don’t end there. As science continues to advance, cord blood is playing a role in ongoing research and advancements in regenerative medicine to help expand the possibilities of new treatments.4
In fact, over 80% of the CBR families whose cord blood units were released were intended for use in experimental regenerative medicine applications, such as cerebral palsy, acquired hearing loss, and more.2
For more information on cord blood banking, visit cordblood.com.
In honor of National Cord Blood Awareness Month, CBR is also providing families the chance to win their CBR® Bundle of Joy Prize Package.* This special giveaway includes free CBR newborn stem cell processing plus one year of storage, a SNOO® Smart Sleeper and SNOObear®, and $200 cash card (a $5,000 value).
Additionally, once you enroll, you’ll be automatically entered for one of two chances to win the CBR Baby & Me Must-Haves Giveaway.* This $15,000 selection of prizes includes free cord blood and cord tissue preservation, plus lifetime storage, a SNOO® Smart Sleeper and SNOObear®, a cuddle+kind bunny, a cozy CBR blanket, and more! Drawings are held 7/16 and 8/1.
1 Mayani, H., Wagner, J.E. & Broxmeyer, H.E. Cord blood research, banking, and transplantation: achievements, challenges, and perspectives. Bone Marrow Transplant 55, 48–61 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-019-0546-9 2 CBR’s internal data on file. 3 Fan, XL., Zhang, Y., Li, X. et al. Mechanisms underlying the protective effects of mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 77, 2771–2794 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-020-03454-6. 4 Verter, F., Couto, P. S., & Bersenev, A. (2018). A dozen years of clinical trials performing advanced cell therapy with perinatal cells. Future Science OA, 4(10). doi: 10.4155/fsoa-2018-0085 5 Chrissy Teigen and Dr. Christine Sterling are paid CBR influencers. 6 Wagner JE. Cord blood 2.0: state of the art and future directions in transplant medicine. Blood Res. 2019 Mar;54(1):7-9. doi: 10.5045/br.2019.54.1.7. Epub 2019 Mar 21. PMID: 30956957; PMCID: PMC6439299. 7 Blind survey, Egg Strategy, 10/19, funded by CBR.
*No purchase necessary. The purchase of any good or service will not increase your chances of winning. Must be a US resident over 18. See official rules for further restrictions and an alternative method of entry.
The use of cord blood is determined by the treating physician and is influenced by many factors, including the patient’s medical condition, the characteristics of the sample, and whether the cord blood should come from the patient or an appropriately matched donor. Cord blood has established uses in transplant medicine; however, its use in regenerative medicine is still being researched. There is no guarantee that potential medical applications being studied in the laboratory or clinical trials will become available.
Cord tissue use is still in early research stages, and there is no guarantee that treatments using cord tissue will be available in the future. Cord tissue is stored whole. Additional processing prior to use will be required to extract and prepare any of the multiple cell types from cryopreserved cord tissue. Cbr Systems, Inc.’s activities for New York State residents are limited to collection of umbilical cord tissue and long-term storage of umbilical cord–derived stem cells. Cbr Systems, Inc.’s possession of a New York State license for such collection and long-term storage does not indicate approval or endorsement of possible future uses or future suitability of these cells.
A recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that sound machines—which parents have long used to help lull babies to sleep (and keep household noise from waking them up) may actually be harmful.
The study, published in the medical journal Pediatrics, found that babies and toddlers may not recognize when noise exposure gets to be hazardous for them, and they need to rely on adults to remove them from those situations. But personal listening devices, including sound machines, are increasingly common—and they can damage kids’ hearing when they’re exposed to high levels of noise over the long term.
“What families may not realize is that children are exposed to potentially harmful noise from infancy and that the effects are cumulative over a lifetime. The AAP recommends that parents and caregivers consider that if an environment sounds too loud for an adult, it probably is too loud for a child. ‘Too loud’ can mean having to raise your voice to speak with someone just an arm’s length away,” the AAP said in a statement.
ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton told Good Morning America that this revelation means that millions of kids may be at risk of some form of hearing loss.
“One of the reasons why is because children have smaller ear canals. That exposes them to intensification of that higher frequency sound and [makes] them at risk for damage,” Sutton explained. “The Academy of Pediatrics recommends, for example, that nurseries have a volume maximum of around 50 decibels. That’s a volume that you and I can speak at without raising our voice. Most of these machines go above that. So if you’re going to use them, turn that volume down, place it away from the bed at least seven feet, and make sure that you give limits.”
Dr. Nilong Vyas, a pediatrician at Sleepless in NOLA and medical review expert at SleepFoundation.org also weighed in on the matter: “It’s appropriate for children to use sound machines when they are first learning to sleep through the night. However, once they achieve that milestone (as early as 4-6 months), parents should consider reducing the use of sound machines and only using them when necessary, such as during loud outdoor events like thunderstorms or fireworks,” she said. “In my view, constant sound input is not a healthy habit to encourage and may have negative consequences, but parents should not be made to feel guilty about their choices.” And, honestly, we can’t stress that last point enough. Review all of the info and guidelines and then do what works best for your family.
Inclusivity can be taught from a very young age and these companies are doing their part to make the toy landscape a diverse one. From a doll that looks like your child to one that teaches about their medical condition, diverse toys can make us feel valued as humans and show us that there’s a whole world beyond our front door.
Barbie Inspiring Women Series
Showcasing women who've made the world a better place through determination and fighting for justice and equal opportunity, Barbie's Inspiring Women Series includes change makers like Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Maya Angelou, and Hellen Keller. Now the collection has a new doll: civil rights activities and women's suffragette, Ida B. Wells.
Wells co-founded the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) which fight for freedom, justice, and equal opportunity to this day. Not only does the doll pay homage to this history-making woman, but Barbie has also partnered with Girls Write Now, a non-profit organization that removes gender, race, age, and poverty barriers to mentor future writers and leaders.
Teni and Tayo Creations are excited to share a piece of Africa with young children. Omobola Imoisili founded the brand after relocating to L.A. from Nigeria and wanting to give her small daughters something representative of their heritage while they attend school. Brand mascots Feyi Fay, a superhero fairy, and Captain Nosa, a Nigerian scientist, and superhero, encourage kids to do well in school and promote a love of learning in all the brand’s offerings. From STEM toys to books and apparel, there are diverse toys available for everyone.
ISH Dolls creates diverse toys and clothing that celebrate culture and the Hindu faith. Their colorful plush dolls are designed to bring joy to children of all backgrounds and to introduce them to the avatars found in Hindu culture. This mom-owned business launched at the height of the pandemic in May 2020 with its first plush, Baby Krishna, and followed up with his companions Rahda, Durga and Baby Lakshmi.
Everything—and everyone—is awesome! Inspired by the rainbow flag of the LGBTQIA+ community, LEGO's “Everyone is Awesome” 346-piece set features 11 unique monochrome figures with individual colors and hairstyles. Once completed, it’s the perfect size for a desk or window display, to bring a colorful pop to life every day.
Qai Qai is no ordinary doll; since appearing on social media alongside Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian, and their daughter Olympia, Qai Qai has amassed thousands of followers of her own. According to Serena Williams, "When we first opened @RealQaiQai's account on Instagram two years ago, it was just supposed to be an inside joke, but we've come to realize that Qai Qai could be the beginning of a new kind of toy story, and one that we're excited to help bring to life so our daughter and millions of other children can see and play with more toys that look like them."
Your heart will melt at the cute offerings from Red & Olive. Not only are the knit ethical dolls adorable, but they also help support the artisans who handmake each one. Each fair trade doll is handmade by Peruvian artists, empowering them to provide for themselves and their families. The companion dolls come with either matching beanies or bows.
Celebrate the culture and traditions of India with Modi Toys. This family-owned small business offers plush diverse toys and gift baskets that feature Baby Ganesh, Baby Krishna, and Baby Hanuman along with books that explain their history. You can even personalize the plush toys with a baby's name—the perfect gift for a new arrival.
Diversify your child's bookshelf with the help of The Little Feminist Books Club. When you select the 7-9 age group, you will get two paperbacks or one hardcover book each month, along with a hands-on activity that goes along with the book, a discussion card, and a parent letter explaining why the book was chosen.
The Healthy Roots Doll Zoe is a life-like 18” doll with hair uniquely designed with curl power that allows it to be washed and styled, giving kids the chance to learn more about how to care for their curls by practicing on hers. The inspiration for Zoe came from Yelitsa Jean-Charles, a young woman—who like many others—never had a doll that looked like her growing up.
Kids can use real products and try out countless styles from puffs to box braids! Zoe learned to love her hair after she did the big chop with her mom. Together they learned how to love every single one of her curls. Now she’s here to help other girls learn to love their curls.
Check out these dolls for girls on a mission to change the world. Inspired by their upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, twin sisters Laken and Carlissa King sought to create dolls that spark creativity and celebrate togetherness.
Worldgirls are 18-inch dolls representing girls from around the world who are chosen to attend the top-secret school, Worldgirls Hall. Each Worldgirl is assigned 1 of 5 traits: WARRIOR, HEALER, EXPLORER, REBEL, and SCHOLAR. The company created the traits so children could connect with the dolls' unique passions rather than their looks.
When Dr. Lisa Williams, CEO & Founder of the only Black-owned major doll company, saw the psychological implications of the importance of your toy box no matter your race or ethnicity, she created the Positively Perfect Dolls for younger children. In recent years her company has created The Fresh Dolls featuring black and multicultural fashion dolls and accessories. The Fresh Dolls were intentionally created with fuller hips and thighs, and a more realistic waistline, with trendy fashion pieces. New this year is their Wakanda Forever superhero line!
If you’ve ever had the frustration of finding dolls that look like your family (or friends!), you’ll LOVE this. Multiracial families, same-sex families, single-parent families, and adoptive families can now construct dolls that capture the beautiful reality of their households. MyFamilyBuilders is a unique, educational wooden diverse toy that is stackable and magnetic to create the perfect doll.
Created by single adoptive mom Kayla Lupean, Play Maysie is a portable, customizable world in a case for the pint-sized bunch. Noted as “everything a dollhouse should be,” this diverse toy is a gender-neutral classic childhood favorite that is made for adventures. Play Maysie’s design was inspired by the nostalgia of vintage tin lunchboxes. It folds out on both sides to showcase interchangeable, magnetic rooms with fixed wooden furniture—built for frustration-free play, less mess and no more lost pieces! With an eye on teaching sustainability, each Play Maysie is made of eco-friendly, renewable materials for indoor and outdoor play either at home or on the go.
At the core of the company's mission, for every three Play Maysie cases purchased, they will donate another one to a child who is entering the foster care system. Their hope is, with an integral sense of ownership, foster youth can open their Play Maysie case at any time to create an experience where they feel safe, secure, and in control during a time where nearly everything in their world is unfamiliar.
While you might be used to seeing ribbon wands in rainbow or pastel colors, the Melanin Magic Ribbon Wands are a celebration of melanin. Kids need to see all skin tones all together all on the same toy. Each ribbon deserves a place and the rainbow would look incomplete if it were missing one. These simple toys make a wonderful gross motor skills tool for dancing, twirling, jumping, and shaking. They also make a great conversation starter for kids. Purchasing one of these diverse toys support Brown Babes Rep Too, an organization dedicated to ensuring a diverse environment in small business advertising.
Dolls with Autism, Dwarfism and Hearing Loss from Lottie Dolls
Lottie Dolls introduced a doll inspired by an autistic boy who loves astronomy. The diverse toy comes with an astronaut-in-training jumpsuit, companion dog, noise-reducing headphones, and sunglasses to reduce visual sensory overload.
Lottie Dolls offers dolls that highlight diversity, including the Mia doll, a wildlife photographer with a cochlear implant, and the Sinead doll, the world's first doll with dwarfism.
Crystal Kaye is the artist behind Kay Customz. Not only are Crystal’s custom dolls cute, but they’re also inclusive. She goes beyond creating dolls in a few different skin tones, and makes dolls with freckles (and not just the traditional two or three that are meant to look cute but don’t really represent what a normal person looks like freckles), vitiligo and albinism.
Build-a-Bear & Vermont Teddy Bear Company Amputee Bears
For kids with limb differences, Build-a-Bear and the Vermont Teddy Bear Company are there to create a bear with the same limb difference. Both offer customization that allows this treasured bear to match its owner.
Differently-Abled Dolls from Barbie's Fashionistas Line
The Barbie Fashionistas line, which already includes Barbie dolls with various body types and hairstyles, also offers two differently-abled dolls. The first doll is in a wheelchair and the second is fitted with a prosthetic leg. “As a brand, we can elevate the conversation around physical disabilities by including them into our fashion doll line to further showcase a multi-dimensional view of beauty and fashion,” Mattel said.
To encourage their daughter's interest in African culture, two parents created this doll company with different shades of skin complexions and hair textures available. They even have a buy-one-gift-one program!
Inspired by the letter from a six-year-old girl, the iconic green army men sold by BMC Toys now have an addition—women soldiers. They are available in four different military poses
The idea was inspired by Matthew Shifrin who was born blind and loved to play with LEGO bricks. As a child, he had a friend, Lilya who would painstakingly write down all of the LEGO building steps so that he could upload the written directions into a system that translated them in a Braille reader. For the first time in his life, he was able to build LEGO sets entirely on his own.
When Lilya passed away, Shifrin decided he wanted to share his experience with others like him. A friend from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology introduced him to the Creative Play Lab at LEGO Group and his wonderful idea was developed into the LEGO Audio and Braille instruction. LEGO also has LEGO Braille bricks!
With dozens and dozens of looks to choose from in the Truly Me collection, your child can bring home an American Girl doll who brings out exactly who they are. From singing to soccer to so much more, every child can find outfits and accessories to match their interests.
Kids can even have their dolls fitted with a prosthetic leg by the company A Step Ahead Prosthetics.
Lakeshore Learning's People with Differing Abilities
We all want our kids to be open-minded, but in order to understand other people's differences, it's important that kids see those differences first-hand—and talk about them. Lakeshore Learning's People with Differing Abilities include people with realistic details and adaptive equipment—from a girl in a wheelchair to a boy with leg braces. For younger kiddos, Lakeshore also has a "Soft and Safe" version of these diverse toys that feature children with various disabilities.
If you've got a superhero-loving kid who wants a doll—but not that kind of doll—Wonder Crew dolls are the perfect addition. The collection of boy dolls was designed to have the "adventure of an action figure with the emotional connection of the favorite stuffed animal." They're soft and perfect for cuddles, but they're also superheroes. What's even cooler? Each doll comes with two masks and capes: One for the doll and one for the kid who plays with it. Genius.
By taking care of Jerry's diabetes, children gain hands-on practice with counting carbs, monitoring Jerry's blood sugar and dosing Jerry with insulin. Kids care for Jerry using the virtual diabetes tools and the digital pantry in the product's app.
Follow along with Jerry's journey to train for the All-Stars Games! All 21 interactive storybooks are paired with care tasks to reinforce important diabetes lessons. The curriculum is co-designed with doctors, educators and families to create educational content that kids love.
Do you know what's not empowering? Dolls with body proportions that are impossible to have in real life. That's why the makers of Lammily Dolls decided to make a collection of dolls using proportions akin to the average 19-year-old American woman. That means everything from the hands, arms, and neck to the waist, legs, and feet are realistic. The makers hope that playing with "normal" dolls will help young girls see their own bodies more positively (because sadly, studies show girls start worrying about their looks by age five).
Diversity is the name of the game when it comes to this line of dolls. Maru and Friends dolls are making a statement, and it’s one that’s long overdue. These dolls are more than just pretty playthings. Maru and Friends tell the tale of life as an immigrant. And your child can learn Maru’s story, as well as what it’s like for her friends to grow up in America.
This line of dolls and accessories was created by Cynthia Watkins and Kathryn Burnett, a mother-daughter duo, in 2017. Different skin tones, sizes, and hair types are available and each doll is handmade with painstaking detail given to outfits with the ability to match a specific outfit if desired.
This award-winning game matches faces to countries. Twenty-four pairs of illustrated cards depict the happy faces of children from all over the world and make for a fun and educational memory game. At times challenging, the game helps sharpen recognition and memory skills. The back of the game box shows which country each child is from.
Great for multicultural arts and crafts activities. This set includes 10 sheets of each of these five colors: Manila, Salmon, Light Brown, Brown and Dark Brown.
Barbie has stepped up big time as a giant brand that focuses much of its work and press on inclusiveness. Its Barbie Diversity line centers around representing all kids of all shapes, sizes, colors, backgrounds, and disabilities—and this latest doll is no exception. The goal: letting kids see themselves represented in play.
“We are proud to introduce the first Barbie with behind-the-ear hearing aids, giving kids the chance to imagine even more amazing possibilities,” the company wrote on Instagram. This Barbie joins another 175 dolls who, in total, have 35 different skin tones, 94 hairstyles, and nine body types, according to the website. This includes Barbie with vitiligo, one who uses a wheelchair, and women with underrepresented career types.
“The power of play is shaping what we imagine to be possible—which is why it’s important that kids can play out stories with dolls that reflect themselves and the world around them!” the post concluded. Amen to that.
The brand doesn’t just produce the dolls to check a box; they actively engage with buyers to #mixupthetoybox. “Our dolls can only make a true impact if the diversity we offer on the shelves makes it into playrooms at home,” Mattel said of the program.
This will be the first toy that aims to represent the Deaf and hard of hearing community. She will join others debuting in June of this year, including a Ken doll with vitiligo. In 2021, a Black doll with an afro hairstyle sold as one of the top five most popular models in the brand’s history. The 2022 Fashionista lineup, which includes this Barbie, will be launched in Walmart, Target, and Amazon.
For this particular Barbie, the company looked to Dr. Jen Richardson, a leading practitioner in educational audiology, to help design and ensure the doll’s accuracy. Her fashionable side ponytail comes complete with a hot pink hearing aid. “As an educational audiologist with over 18 years of experience working in hearing loss advocacy, it’s inspiring to see those who experience hearing loss reflected in a doll,” Richardson said in a press release.
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A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience sheds some light on one of the most mystifying and irritating behaviors of the average teenager: their inability to hear (and let’s be honest, do) what moms tell them. Is it defiance? Hearing loss? Distraction? That freakin’ cell phone (probably)? Nope. Turns out, they’re wired to tune us out. And apparently, it’s a good thing.
According to the study, “Children’s social worlds undergo a transformation during adolescence. While socialization in young children revolves around parents and caregivers, adolescence is characterized by a shift in social orientation towards nonfamilial social partners.” Translation: When they’re little, your kids pay attention to you. When they’re teenagers, not so much.
But why? No, really. Why? Apparently, it has to do with the parts of their brains that house the motivation and reward centers. In the study, researchers took scans of kids’ brains, ages 7-16, while they listened to a series of voices. To exclude subjective meaning associated with each word they heard, the voices—which included their mom’s and other women’s—said three gibberish phrases in random order.
The scans showed that when “younger children hear their mother’s voice, reward processing regions (in the brain) show greater activity compared to when they hear nonfamilial, unfamiliar voices. Strikingly, older adolescents show the opposite effect, with increased activity for nonfamilial compared to mother’s voice.”
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Basically, listening to your mom when you’re a teenager just isn’t as rewarding as it was when you were a little kid. So what’s a mom to do? Up the ante and start tying everything they say to a reward? No parenting expert here, but that doesn’t seem like something that would end well. Instead, parents might need to accept the basic truth of raising children: In becoming more independent and able to fend for themselves, they need to turn their attention away from their parents… to a degree.
Rewards—and threats—will be everywhere as they get older, and we won’t be there to make choices for them. Tuning us out when there’s little risk involved gives them the ability to flex their decision-making skills, learning along the way what’s worth it and what’s not. So the next time you tell your teenager the same thing five times in a row, remember this: It’s not you. It’s just them developing successfully.
Heads up: there may be significant guilt associated with what we’re about to tell you. Your mom, dad, grandparents? They’re literally dying for your attention. But hang with us through the end before you speed dial your mom because there’s some serious research supporting the key takeaway—and it may change the way you plan quality time with your elderly grandparents, parents, neighbors, or friends.
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According to a study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, adding loneliness to the mix of an aging individual is akin to squirting liquid soap on a slip and slide, then turning on the hose. The symptoms associated with aging accelerate when an individual lacks quality relationships and regular socialization.
The study followed 1,600 adults, with an average age of 71. Regardless of how much money or how healthy each participant was, those who self-reported higher on the study’s “loneliness scale” had higher mortality rates. In fact, “nearly 23% of lonely participants died within six years of the study, as opposed to only 14% of those that reported adequate companionship.”
Social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes—at the same rate that rivals those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia, and loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. In fact, “loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.”
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But just how many elderly people actually feel lonely? A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) showed that “more than one-third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated.”
It makes sense, right? The older you get, the more likely you are to live alone, have suffered the loss of family or friends, or be dealing with chronic illness and hearing loss. Although it’s hard to measure social isolation and loneliness precisely, there is strong evidence that many adults aged 50 and older are socially isolated or lonely in ways that put their health at risk. Cue the guilt, right?
“The need we’ve had our entire lives—people who know us, value us, who bring us joy—that never goes away,” Barbara Moscowitz, a senior geriatric social worker at Massachusetts General Hospital, explained to The New York Times. And it’s not because older adults lack empathy, wisdom, or humor that they lack quality relationships.
Rosemary Blieszner, a professor of human development at Virginia Tech, told The New York Times “(Older adults are) pretty tolerant of friends’ imperfections and idiosyncrasies, more than young adults…You bring a lot more experience to your friendships when you’re older. You know what’s worth fighting about and not worth fighting about.”
Anyone, no matter how young, can help make the world a better place through their thoughtful actions. It’s never too early to set a good example for children by modeling simple acts of kindness. When children are encouraged to see things from another’s point of view and be shown how their actions can help uplift others, they often grow up to be more caring, responsible, and compassionate members of a global community. Books can teach children that they don’t have to perform a heroic act to make the world a better place because even the smallest acts of kindness ripple across the world in ways that no one could imagine.
Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade
Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Rulerby Margery Cuyler
Mrs. Ruler is an unconventional teacher who decides to teach her unruly students that kindness is cool. Each kindergartner must perform five acts of kindness, and while most of the kids catch on, there is one student who needs a rescue of the class gerbils to get in a last-minute act of kindness. Parents and teachers will appreciate the list of 100 acts of kindness at the back of the book to inspire kids with ways to put kindness into action.
Stick and Stoneby Beth Ferry
When Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation with a Pinecone, the pair becomes fast friends. But when Stick gets stuck, can Stone return the favor?
Written with a warm, rhyming text that includes a subtle anti-bullying message even the youngest reader will understand. New York Times bestselling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld imbues Stick and Stone with energy, emotion, and personality to spare.
Second & Third Grade
The Kindness Quiltby Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
The children in this book are inspired by Aesop’s fable The Lion and the Mouse after their teacher, Mrs. Bloom, reads the story in class. She then instructs each student to perform an act of kindness and present it to the class. Minna cannot choose just one and decides to make a quilt with all of them. Other classmates add theirs to the quilt, and it soon takes over the school. The unique cut-paper illustrations present a variety of ways in which the important lesson of kindness can be shared, and displayed.
Because Amelia Smiledby David Ezra Stein
Amelia smiles as she skips down the street, so her neighbor Mrs. Higgins smiles too, and decides to send a care package of cookies to her grandson Lionel in Mexico. The cookies give Lionel an idea, and his idea inspires a student, who in turn inspires a ballet troupe in England! And so the good feelings that started with Amelia’s smile make their way around the world, from a goodwill recital in Israel to an impromptu rumba concert in Paris, to a long-awaited marriage proposal in Italy, to a knitted scarf for a beloved niece back in New York. Putting a unique spin on “What goes around comes around,” David Ezra Stein’s charmingly illustrated story reminds us that adding even a small dose of kindness into the world is sure to spur more and more kindness, which could eventually make its way back to you!
Fourth & Fifth Grade
El Deafoby Cece Bell
After a serious illness at the age of four, CeCe discovers that she’s no longer able to hear. Hearing aids and lip-reading involve unexpected challenges, and as she goes out into the wider world she realizes how little people understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss. To succeed in school, she gets a bulky device called a Phonic Ear that allows her to hear her teachers—even when they forget she’s listening. This delightful autobiographical graphic novel provides an uplifting and humorous glimpse into the life of a hard-of-hearing child. A great novel for raising awareness and promoting understanding.
New Kidby Jerry Kraft
A wonderful choice by the 2020 Newberry Award committee as the first graphic novel to win the prestigious award. Seventh-grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. Instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds. Jordan is not really fitting into either one. This book allows readers to learn about different sides of the tensions that children and adults face every single day, yet have few opportunities to really discuss.
Middle School
Rise Up: Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Storiesby Amanda Li
From surviving a plane crash in the jungle to striking against climate change, you won’t believe the incredible stories of the challenges these brave kids from around the world have overcome! This book features 29 tales of amazing young girls and boys who have achieved the unimaginable. The stories range from triumphing over illness and injury to overcoming bullying. Entries include Sweden’s Greta Thunberg, whose youth climate activism sparked a global movement, and Pakistan’s Ayesha Farooq, who became Pakistan’s first female fighter pilot at age 25. Each section gives advice on how young people can participate in activities similar to the ones in the accompanying biography.
Pay It Forward: Young Readers Editionby Catherine Ryan Hyde
A moving and uplifting novel about Trevor McKinney, a twelve-year-old boy in a small California town who accepts his teacher’s challenge to earn extra credit by coming up with a plan to change the world. Trevor’s idea is simple: do a good deed for three people, and instead of asking them to return the favor, ask them to “pay it forward” to three others who need help. A heart-melting story of a boy who shows how each of us can make a difference. If your family enjoys this book, watch the movie together afterward.
Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California.
The Summer Olympics may have been postponed until 2021 but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have Team USA spirit. American Girl just announced an exclusive product collection launching today paying tribute to the inspirational athletes and popular summer sports in celebration with Team USA. The new collection is part of American Girl’s larger summer product unveil to encourage girls to dream, lead, grow, make a difference, and shine.
Designed to inspire girls to dream big and cheer on our country’s amazing athletes, the exclusive doll sets feature 18-inch doll-sized Team USA gear for the following six summer sports: gymnastics, soccer, swimming, track & field, softball, and beach volleyball. A Team USA Medal Ceremony Set and a girl-sized Team USA “Go for the Gold” Tee will help fans gear up for next year’s celebrations. Fun new video content, inspired by the new collection, is also available at americangirl.com/play and on the brand’s popular YouTube Kids Channel. The Team USA doll sets are available to purchase individually or as play packs as part of the customized American Girl Gift Trunk experience.
Timed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote this August, the new set—including a ballot box and sheets, a “VOTE” banner and buttons, and a recording megaphone—empowers girls to say, “Yes, we can!” Other summer items new to Truly Me include an array of high-quality playsets with themes ranging from travel to arts appreciation.
Empowering with A Smart Girl’s Guide
With nearly 6 million books sold, American Girl’s popular A Smart Girl’s Guide advice series has been a trusted go-to resource for girls (and their parents) since its debut in 2001. Available today are the following two new titles:
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Crushes helps all kids embrace and understand the emotional feelings they are having for others during puberty. Written by award-winning author Nancy Holyoke, the new guide is an update from the original title, A Smart Girl’s Guide to Boys, published in 2001. The new book has evolved to be more inclusive in its use of language and addressing questions about same-sex crushes to better reflect how kids ages 10 and up think and talk about romantic relationships today. As before, the book’s goal is to provide kids with thoughtful, age-appropriate information, while sharing real-life guidance on how to approach romance confidently and staying true to one’s self.
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Making a Difference gives girls the tools to be positive changemakers in their community and beyond. From protecting the planet and helping animals to raising funds for causes they care about, Making a Difference offers young readers plenty of ideas—big and small—to make the world a better place.
Insta-stars Leah and Ava Clements are helping girls channel their inner fashionista with the debut the new AG Fashion Show x Clements Twins Cute at Heart Collection. The new mix and match collection features several on-trend doll and girl outfits, including a gold moto jacket, a heart print dress, a summery skirt, and sparkly kimono, plus many more styles and accessories.
2020 Girl of the Year Joss Kendrick’s Beach Break
Joss Kendrick, American Girl’s 2020 Girl of the Year, is a fierce athlete born with hearing loss and a passion for surfing and competitive cheer. Given her love of the ocean, Joss’s product collection expands this summer with the release of her new Beach Jumper and Beach Grill Set, featuring a portable grill with color-change technology that “cooks” the pretend food with grill marks after being exposed to the special lighting inside. These items join the Girl of the Year’s other Southern California-inspired accessories, including Joss’s Volkswagen Surf Bus.
All of the new summer products and books, plus American Girl’s full assortment of items, are available on americangirl.com and at American Girl stores that have safely resumed business.
When the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) rescued an Atlantic dolphin off the coast of Siesta Key, Florida back in July 2019, they had no idea that he would soon become a resident of their facility forever. After being nursed back to health from a severe case of pneumonia, it was determined that the 26-year old dolphin had hearing loss and wasn’t fit to be released back into the wild.
In the months since his recovery, CMA was thrilled to offer residency in their Dolphin Terrace. Not only that, they are asking the public for help in giving him a new name!
Now through Jun. 7, anyone can send in their submission to give the 700-pound dolphin his very own name. All you have to do is visit SeeWinter.com by June 7 and submit your idea!
The soon-to-be named dolphin will join a few famous friends from the Dolphin Tale movies, Winter and Hope. Not only that, his other CMA neighbors will include nurse sharks, sea turtles, otters and pelicans.
Self-care looks different for every mom, yet sometimes we try to impose our definitions of self-care onto our Mom friends or acquaintances.
I have, admittedly, not been good with self-care. No one would run through a list of my qualities and be like, “I really admire how well she balances taking care of her family with taking care of her own sanity.”
Do I see the value in self-care? Absolutely! However, I believe every mom goes through different seasons, where something her child or family is going through asks more of her and she needs to do whatever she feels is best in those seasons of life, whether it means some days she needs more time for herself or some days she gets none.
You might hear about mom-shaming because a mother took care of herself or time out for herself, but I have lived the very opposite and it’s difficult as well.
I didn’t expect to have an out of the ordinary first time parenting experience, but when my daughter was born with a cleft palate, hearing loss, feeding difficulties, severe apnea, required oxygen and later was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and autism…I felt like what she needed from me in that time in our lives, far outweighed anything I would need or want to do for myself.
My life became about therapy around the clock, surgeries, specialists, always watching her breathe and praying she wouldn’t stop. I was an Army wife. My husband was in Afghanistan. I had no family and hardly any friends in our duty station and yet everyone I had ever known kept telling me that I needed to go out. I needed a bath. I needed a nap. I needed to get my nails done. I needed to go to a spa.
They meant well. I know they did. They were worried about me. They felt bad for the stress I was under and felt all their suggestions were helpful to me. However, it tended to make me feel even worse. For starters, I literally did not have a single soul who could help me with my daughter, so I would be able to do any of those things. I was doing the best I could alone, to keep my head above water most days. It also felt like no one understood how much the sacrifice was my choice. I wanted to help my daughter get healthier. I wanted to be the one sleeping next to her on the hospital floor. I wanted to be the first face she saw when she woke up from surgeries, scared and in pain. I wanted to learn how to do all her therapies with her, so I could give her the best shot at a good future. I wanted it to be me, as draining and soul-sucking as it was sometimes.
My husband? He understood this about me. He understood that she came first to me. He knew that no matter how many times he would encourage me to get out or take a bath, that I would choose her every time. Both he and I knew this wouldn’t last forever and that her needs outweighed ours and we lovingly did what she needed us to do in that season of her life.
Fast forward eight years and add two more kids. I just graduated from a 40-hour self-defense course. I go get the occasional pedicure. I treat myself to daily Dutch Bro’s. My husband puts the kids down for bed, so I can sit at Starbucks and write or go for a drive without being asked 5,000 questions and listening to a Blippi soundtrack.
I take care of myself better than I ever have, but it was on my terms, in the way I felt good about.
Listen Mamas: The only person who truly knows your heart is the good Lord and you! You are the only one who needs to approve of how you parent and how you take care of yourself. It is alright if that looks different than other people tell you it should.
It’s okay if it’s all too much sometimes and it’s okay to push through the tears and exhaustion. It’s okay to take a day at the spa and it’s okay if taking a shower every 2-3 days feels like a victory. It’s okay to want a night out in clothes that aren’t covered in mac n’ cheese and ketchup and it’s okay to feel like there’s no place in the world you’d rather be than curled up with your babies, listening to them breathing.
Self-care looks different to each and every one of us, at different times in our lives. At the end of the day, when you climb into bed and your soul is weary, you are the only one who has to feel content with what you gave to the day and what you gave to yourself. It was your best and it was enough.
The Redeemed Mama is a writer who had had articles published by The Today Show, Love What Matters, The Mighty, Faithit, For Every Mom, The Creative Child Magazine and more. She has 3 beautiful kids and resides in Southern Arizona and loves writing about parenting, life and growth!
