“Back to school” can be synonymous with “back to the doctor.” There are vaccines and physicals to get in before heading back to class or the field, and with more activity comes the risk of unexpected injuries and illnesses. Having quality care that’s easily accessible (not to mention affordable) is crucial for kids. We love that Brave Care has it all covered in one place, from check-ups or immunizations you need right away (like, today!) to care for unexpected sprains or breaks, with same-day primary care AND urgent care for kids. Read on five reasons why Brave Care is the only care center you need, from birth to graduation.

Book your visit with Brave Care today!

1. There When You Need Them

Unlike other doctors’ offices with standard business hours, Brave Care offers primary and same-day urgent care appointments from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year. And their pediatric experts, not an answering service, answer the phone 24 hours a day. (Because injuries and illnesses don’t care if it’s a Sunday at 11 p.m. or a holiday…)

 

2. One-Stop-Shop

It can be tough to juggle all of the care visits that kids require (not to mention your own!). Families can schedule their kiddos’ check-ups, flu-shots, vaccine appointments, sports or summer camp physicals, in-house labs and more. Their clinics have on-site x-rays and over-the-counter medicines, so you don’t need to make multiple appointments at different offices or have extra errands to run.

 

3. Same-Day Primary Care

That’s right: Same-day primary care bookings are available (this blew us away!). Now you can quickly get the care they need when it’s most urgent (and not two weeks from now). Brave Care exists to guarantee parents and caregivers have a safe, reliable and local practice readily available to them—thank you, Brave Care!

 

4. Affordable Expert Emergency Care

With kids, accidents are bound to happen—worrying about how much that emergency room visit will cost shouldn’t. Their providers offer the same expert care as the ER at a tenth of the cost. Same-day urgent care appointments are available for injuries requiring immediate attention (like broken bones, lacerations, foreign objects in ears/noses, stitches) and non-life-threatening conditions—from rashes to fevers and stomach aches.

 

5. Comfort & Safety

Brave Care clinics are designed with families in mind. Their physical spaces are built to make every parent and child feel welcome, comfortable and safe. You can expect inclusive and welcoming care with providers they have specifically chosen to uphold that mission.

Brave Care is here for your family 24/7—book your visit today!

 

 

—Jamie Aderski

 

 

The first day of anything can be anxiety-inducing, no matter your age. Being a young child, fears and “what-ifs” that surround the unknown can be even tougher for them to verbalize and manage. Though it may be tricky to navigate all of the emotions associated with starting child care for the first time, this story has a happy ending and help is on the way. We’ve rounded up five ways to make the transition to daycare easier, with fewer tears and less stress for both of you!

Learn more about Bright Horizons®, the leading provider of child care in NYC, offering programs for children 6 weeks to 5 years old.

1. Get Them Psyched!

There is so much to look forward to, like making new friends, learning new skills, getting to know their new teachers and more—yes, there is a lot of “new” in there, which can be nerve-wracking at any age, but the trick is to play up the positive, and there is plenty of that!

An excellent way to help pump them up for this new adventure is to get them involved in preparing for their first day. Let them pick out a backpack they love, maybe even a new outfit and choose a favorite stuffed snuggle buddy for the day. Pack their favorites in their lunch bag, an extra treat (or two) and maybe even include a family photo in their backpack so they can share a little bit of home with their teacher and new friends.

Learn more about Bright Horizons®, the leading provider of child care in NYC, offering programs for children 6 weeks to 5 years old.

 

2. Send a Stuffie

Nothing says comfort to a tiny human like a favorite stuffed animal! Many preschools and daycare teachers recommend bringing a favorite soft toy or blanket from home. Beyond a stuffed animal’s cuteness, they act as support through emotional ups and downs, and we know at this age, there are plenty of big emotions to handle. Having a “friend” with them to brave the first day of child care is ideal, since much like a parent and child, their love is unconditional, too, no matter what this exciting new day brings! Just don’t forget to bring their stuffed friend home with you at the end of the day to avoid them missing them at bedtime.

 

3. Do Your Homework

What should you look for? A vetted child care center. You want to choose a place with tons of experience with all types of families and kids and makes you and your child feel comfortable. Bottom line: You want to be able to walk out the door each day knowing that your child is safe, cared for, loved and supported by skilled teachers, and motivated to unleash their curiosity and learn everything they need to be ready for the next big step—a place where you feel confident in your decision to trust them with the care of your kids. 

If you are looking for child care that goes well beyond babysitting, providing an educational foundation to give your kid a head start, consider Bright Horizons®. They have built a reputation for excellence, with more than 30 years of expertise operating child care centers worldwide. Why are these child care centers so coveted? They provide the highest-quality care and learning that delivers both the solution working parents need and the classroom experiences kids need to get ready for school and become enthusiastic learners for life. The environment and curriculum Bright Horizons® provides are not only educational; they are crafted with the joy of little learners in mind. Bright Horizons® also has the know-how to develop each child's growth and development—not a one-size-fits-all education.

Learn more about Bright Horizons®, the leading provider of child care in NYC, offering programs for children 6 weeks to 5 years old.

 

4. Reassure Them That You Are Coming Back 

It seems simple enough to understand that you will be back for them, but it’s much harder to digest this truth as a small child. Leaving your child for what may be the first time can be anxiety-inducing for both of you. So, how can you ease your child’s worries? Assure them you will be back to take them home and get a little back up from a character they know and love—a handful of kids shows have great episodes about adjusting to daycare!

 

5. Resist the Urge to Linger

This one is for you, moms and dads (and we’re not saying it’s easy!). Once you say goodbye, leave and don’t look back, even if you hear them cry. Much like sleep training, if you keep coming back in the room once you’ve said your goodbyes, it could take longer to soothe them. Also, keep in mind you want to leave confidently (try to hold back those tears the first few times, mama!) and again, let them know you will see them soon, at the end of the day. Kids can smell fear, well, maybe not literally, but if they see you are upset, they will be, too.

This is when it’s really important to have a child care provider that knows their stuff. You’ve done your homework finding the right child care, and that includes being able to take the reigns during drop-off. Trust that they will be able to comfort your child and put the focus on the fun of what’s going on in the classroom—experienced daycares like Bright Horizons® have this down to a science!

Learn more about Bright Horizons®, the leading provider of child care in NYC, offering programs for children 6 weeks to 5 years old.

—Jamie Aderski

When your child needs emergency care, you want the best care possible.  Luckily for Bay Area parents, world-class care is available 24/7 at the pediatric emergency department at Stanford Medicine.

The Pediatric Emergency Department is located on the Stanford campus and is connected to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. It provides comprehensive 24-hour emergency care and is the only emergency department in the area uniquely prepared for pediatric emergencies—with technology and innovative treatment designed specifically with kids in mind. 

The emergency department can be stressful for anyone, but the pediatric ED staff at Stanford are specially trained in caring for children, providing an environment and atmosphere that’s calming to tiny humans. Plus, the pediatric ED is connected to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, so your little patient can access world-class Stanford specialists and experts, if needed.

We spoke with Dr. Jason Lowe, DO, from the pediatric ED to learn more about how the pediatric emergency department at Stanford Medicine is different from a regular emergency department and why it matters.

Just for Kids

FamVeld via Shutterstock

Unlike other emergency departments, the pediatric emergency department at Stanford Medicine is completely separate from the adult ED and the only department in the area solely focused on pediatric emergency care. The pediatric ED at Stanford is designed just for kids, with specially trained staff, child-specific equipment and a kid-friendly environment with colorful, kid-approved artwork.

In addition to physicians and nurses who are certified in pediatric emergency medicine, the department also includes Child Life specialists, who are trained to communicate with children in age-specific ways. They take the "ouch" out of care with developmentally appropriate distraction, non-pharmacological pain management techniques and provide entertainment and comfort during your family's visit. 

Care for Kids by Kid Experts

While Dr. Lowe attests to the excellent work traditional ED's do for kids and adults alike, he shares that there are differences in training:

"Someone who wants to work specifically in a pediatric emergency department like Stanford has decided to go through another two to three years of additional pediatric emergency medicine training."

And it's not just the doctors; it's the nurses, too. They also go through additional training to obtain a pediatric emergency nursing certification. This training is essential, since nurses are forward-facing with their young patients even more so than the doctors.

"Nurses are the main point of contact between the hospital and emergency department and the patients and their parents. And so it's super important to have well-trained nurses who are comfortable seeing pediatric patients all day and every day."

Why it Matters

Because the staff is specifically trained and working with children around the clock, they are more comfortable with them. Dr. Lowe shares that research has found someone with less experience with children is more likely to order additional tests, such as blood work or X-rays. This matters, even more, when it comes to unnecessary radiation and your child.

"Community hospitals will order more CT scans than a pediatric emergency department, between 30 to 40 percent more. The (use of) radiation is serious because it can increase the risk of cancer, so we try to minimize radiation use," says Dr. Lowe.

"We do an MRI for head injuries, which has no radiation. We are one of the first pediatric emergency departments in the nation that has studied this and results have shown that it's just as conclusive as CT scans are without the use of radiation."

When To Come In

Visiva Studio via Shutterstock

When your child is sick or has an injury, it's important to not delay care and to get in touch with a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Dr. Lowe mentions that calling your pediatrician before coming into the ED is a good idea in many cases: 

"I think the biggest thing we would ask (prior to coming into the ED) is talking to your doctor. Talk to your pediatrician, give them a call. Most pediatricians' offices have an advice line, and you can get their recommendation."

"If the patient is in an extreme amount of pain, if they're having trouble breathing or vomiting a lot, or they're just kind of mentally out of it or super sleepy, then you should come to the emergency department right away."

Safety

The pediatric ED at Stanford Medicine is dedicated to providing safe emergency care for kids, especially during COVID. Here are some of the ways they're ensuring safe and quality care:

  • Adult and pediatric patients are in separate buildings, with separate entrances for staff.
  • Screening all staff, patients, and family members for COVID-19 symptoms prior to entering.
  • Designated waiting areas with social distancing.
  • Universal masking.
  • Care teams with personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Infection control protocols are in place, including robust air filtration and disinfecting exam rooms after each patient.
  • Use of telemedicine devices, when clinically appropriate, to reduce direct staff and patient contact

Learn more about the Pediatric Emergency Department at Standford Medicine here.

 

 

 —Jamie Aderski

 

It’s fair to say that 2020 has possibly not been the best of times, but it’s equally fair to say that you don’t have to look too hard to find the helpers out there, throwing kindness around like confetti. We’ve selected 11 local moms and dads who remind us that it only takes one good idea and some gumption to make a big difference in the lives of others. Read on to discover Atlanta parents who are making a difference every day.

Fran & Mary, Tiny Activists

Tiny Activists Atlanta

What They Did: Moved by George Floyd's cry to his mother during the last moments of his life, Atlanta moms Fran Carroll and Mary Williams formed Tiny Activists as as way for families with young children to learn how to safely speak out to support others and feel empowered to do it again, and again. While there were protests all over Atlanta over the summer, Covid-19 and the threat of violence near the sites of planned marches made it hard to navigate a traditional protest or march. However, an estimated thousand people attended Tiny Activists first planned march, proving that young families felt the need to get involved, include their small children, but it had to be a safe environment.

How They Helped: Tiny Activists gives children the tools to organize and stand up for what they believe, so that when they grow up, they can be the leaders that create change. Tiny Activists create opportunities for young people to get involved, learn how to use their voice, and be leaders. They hope that by training kids today, they will train their kids, and the cycle will continue. It has to start somewhere, so Tiny Activists is a good place to begin.

What Comes Next: After hundreds of people joined Tiny Activists on Facebook, and continued to reach out, saying, “What’s next?,” they decided to create a community where they could teach small people how to find their voice and stand up for people who are needing help. One of the most difficult things for Tiny Activists to manage has been Covid-19, so until infection count declines, they've turned to creating a non-profit to gather funds to build and broaden the Tiny Activists message. They're still brewing ideas and plan to move forward, and hope to keep the momentum alive.

Find Them Here:
facebook.com/tinyactivistsatl
#tinyactivistsatl

Breanna, Good Samaritan Center

Good Samaritan Health Center

What She Did: Breanna Lathrop is the COO and Family Nurse Practitioner at Good Samaritan Center. She’s also a wife and mother of small children. Breanna helped launch a helpline that has taken over 11,000 calls since March, providing accurate information on COVID-19, consultations for callers with symptoms, and scheduling testing both at Good Sam and throughout the metro area. She also worked with Good Sam to forge a partnership with CVS Health, and  opened a rapid COVID-19 testing center in the Good Sam health pavilion, currently testing 100-130 people each day. Additionally, she helped Good Sam create an isolated triage room to see patients with symptoms of COVID-19. Every single person who came to their doors seeking care and advice regarding COVID-19 was been seen by a health care provider.

How She Helped: Breanna's commitment to quality care for all resulted in—and continues to impact—the overall health of Atlantans. Regardless of income, patients who go to Good Sam are treated. Breanna helped navigate this already lofty expectation through a pandemic that placed even more strain—and importance—on the efforts being made to provide high quality medical, dental, mental health, specialty, and health education services to individuals and families in Atlanta that could not otherwise afford it.

What Comes Next: Breanna's work at Good Sam will continue, and they are encouraged by the constant support from individuals, corporations, Churches, families, and grants that help them fulfill their mission.

Check It Out: 
goodsamatlanta.org

Isabel & Lisa, Compassion Kitchen

The Compassion Kitchen Project

What They Did: Lisa Blanco and Isabel Rice, mothers and founders of The Compassion Kitchen Project, saw an opportunity to help both those suffering from food insecurity as well as restaurant industry workers by simplifying the process of connecting the two. The Compassion Kitchen was created to connect the food needs in our community with locally-owned restaurants. They use tax deductible donations to pay restaurants to make meals for non-profits—and for those suffering from food insecurity—providing both income for restaurant employees and much-needed support for nonprofits that serve the homeless and others in crisis.

How They Helped: In its first 16 weeks, The Compassion Kitchen Project raised over $140,000, engaged over 100 volunteers to help deliver meals, prepared over 1,000 “Compassion To-Go” bags (created for people living on the streets, in cars and in transient housing) with non-perishable food items and delivered 44,021 healthy meals. In the first 3 weeks of Together We Eat—a program where they've partnered with some of Atlanta’s private schools to pick up and deliver their extra school lunches to those most in need—they have delivered over 3,000 meals.

What Comes Next: When Lisa and Isabel first started this project, it was going to be a 4-6 week effort to provide relief during the pandemic. Realizing this pandemic is going to be with us longer than any of us had hoped, the duo plan to operate The Compassion Kitchen Project as long as there is a need, and they have the funding to provide more meals through partnerships and collaboration.

Find Them Here:
facebook.com

 

 

Jessi & Ashley, Signs of Change

Jessie Carr

What They Did: Friends Ashley Cocchi-Miller and Jessi Carr wanted to find a visual way to show solidarity with their Black neighbors after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbury. Starting by posting a message about ordering signs in Neighbor, they hoped to get enough interest in order to place a bulk order for 50 signs from a local Black-owned print shop, Best Print and Design in Decatur. Within four days, they received close to 450 neighbors reaching out to order signs, quickly ordering another 500—and more, since then—after the news spread and more community members wanted to purchase signs for their yards. They reached out in conversation with neighbors, and cite the most impactful as the ones with neighbors of color, Carr's husband included, who shared how meaningful it was to see white neighbors expressing the sentiment that Black lives are important and worth fighting for. It symbolized that they are welcome, valuable members of the community.

How They Helped: Posting a Black Lives Matter sign became a way voice support and solidarity with Black neighbors—especially during quarantine—and to speak out against police brutality and other injustices faced by Black people in the United States. The duo funnels all the proceeds into national organizations working on a macro-level for racial justice, having donated $17,000 already with plans to keep the momentum going until at least November 3.

What Comes Next: "For ATL Signs of Change, I know we will continue to be involved in the fight for social and racial justice. We refuse to look the other way or be silenced—we will continue to use our privilege to speak out against oppression and lead our community in healing the wrongs of our culture and government."

Find Them Here:
facebook.com/ATLSignsofChange
@atlsignsofchange

Tamara Gonzalez, Front Steps Project

Tamara Gonzalez

What She Did: Tamara Gonzalez, a professional photographer and mom, offered free 5-minute photo sessions of families on their front steps in exchange for a donation directly to Piedmont Hospital. Families were given one digital download image. These were socially-distanced portraits taken with a telephoto lens, often from across the street, or across clients yards in bushes to get the shot. The majority of funds that families contributed went to the Piedmont Healthcare COVID-19 Infrastructure Fund. that was set up for critical need areas such as: Drive-Thru Testing Sites, Reconfiguring Labs for On-Site COVID-19 Testing, Hospital Modifications to increase ICU capacity, and Equipment, Technology and Operating Costs (including ventilator purchases, PPE, and all associated support). Together, more than 30 families participated in the Front Steps Project Atlanta, raising over $3,000 for Piedmont Hospital.

How She Helped: "The goal for the Front Steps Project Atlanta was my way to help the frontline workers at Piedmont Hospital, while also helping families maintain some semblance of connection and positivity while we were in lockdown." Tamara raised over $3,000 through the photos she captured for more than 30 families for Piedmont Hospital, earmarked for critical need areas such as: Drive-Thru Testing Sites, Reconfiguring Labs for On-Site COVID-19 Testing, Hospital Modifications to increase ICU capacity, and Equipment, and Technology and Operating Costs (including ventilator purchases, PPE, and all associated support).

What Comes Next: Families whose pictures were taken by Tamara will have a forever imprint of what they looked like during this at-home period in their lives. She continues to take family photographs, though less frequently from the neighbor's landscaping bed.

Find Her Here:
tkgphotography.com
facebook.com/tamaragpics
@tamaragpics

Sgt. Paxson, Atlanta Police Department

APD

What He Did: Sgt. Paxson is a 10-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department and a father of 3 who currently serves as the director of Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta, which offers cash rewards for tips on crimes. This year, Crime Stoppers helped solve the case of Secoriea Turner—an 8 year-old who was shot and killed on the Fourth of July as she rode in her mother's car. He is also the most tenured person on the Civil Disturbance Unit.

How He Helps: As part of Crime Stoppers, he takes a hands-on approach to getting to know the community, purchasing gifts for kids during the holidays and bringing ice-cream on hot summer days. And as a supervisor, he makes sure that officers know they have a duty to intervene and stop any abuse of power they see.

What Comes Next: According to Sgt. Paxson, one of the things we need in Atlanta "is for the community to come forward and help us. We need good police officers who can become great police officers of all races. We need police officers who represent the City of Atlanta, and be the change they want to see."

Find Him Here:
facebook.com/AtlantaPoliceDpt

Michelle & Hallie, Operation Feed

Hallie Olsen

What They Did: Michelle Martin and Hallie Olsen are Atlanta Public School moms who pulled together a crack team of parents and teachers at E. Rivers Elementary School who refused to let any child in their school community go without food. What began as outreach to those in their school has expanded to now impact schools throughout the North Atlanta cluster. 

How They Helped: With an unexpected and extended closure of school beginning in March, 2020, Michelle and Hallie began to worry about the impact—beyond the A, B, and C's—of the pandemic on families in their school community who might be facing food insecurity. Since then, they've set up 8 distributions to residents in a targeted neighborhood, along with delivering boxes of food to 20 offsite locations. Boxes are filled with either produce, canned goods, snacks, home care items, or with basic cooking staples, in addition to other delivered items, such as cereal, detergent, soups, bread, and tortillas.

What Comes Next: Operation Feed is currently applying for its 501(c)(3) status as Hallie, Michelle, and their team of parent and teacher volunteers intend for it to be a long term partner to APS schools, beginning with those in the North Atlanta cluster. They plan to work with stakeholders in each school to help identify needs that might exist well beyond the closure of the pandemic.

Find Them Here:
operationfeedatl.org
facebook.com/OperationFeedATL

 

—Shelley Massey

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Photo: Britannica for Parents

As stay-at-home orders are lifted, many working parents are returning to their jobs, and many child care programs are reopening. Here are 5 tips to help families with young children transition back to their child care routines.

1. Pay your bill. Parents, you were probably asked to pay at least a portion of your fees while your child care program was closed. While it may seem unfair to pay for care while your child is home with you, charging fees to reserve a child’s space is standard practice for child care centers, and it is essential for keeping programs running. The center’s expenses continue even when children are not present. Facility costs like mortgage or rent payments must still be met. Most importantly, staff must be paid. Retaining skilled and experienced teachers and caregivers is one of the biggest challenges in the field of early childhood care and education. Paying your child care fees while your center is closed will help ensure that the staff will be there to welcome your child when they return.

If your family is not yet ready to return to child care and you have an opportunity to pay to hold your spot, do it. The current economic crisis means many child care centers are closing permanently, and it will likely only get harder for families to access early childhood care and education in the future. Do what you can now to retain your family’s relationship with a quality child care program. If your financial situation makes it difficult to pay your fees, contact the director of the program and explain your situation. They may be able to refer you to assistance programs in your community.

2. Practice wearing masks at home. Child care centers are now adapting their health and safety practices to provide as much protection as possible against the spread of COVID-19. In most centers, the staff and parents will be required to wear masks, at least during drop-off and pickup. In some centers, children over the age of two will also be required to wear masks. Seeing people in masks and wearing a mask may be difficult for many young children. You can help your child adjust to this new normal by practicing wearing masks at home.

First, offer your child a simple explanation for why people wear masks. For example, “A mask is something people wear that covers their nose and mouth. Wearing a mask helps keep people from getting sick.” Let your child touch and hold your mask before you put it on. Children learn through play, so include masks in silly “peek-a-boo” games or in pretend play. Make little paper masks for your child’s stuffed animals or dolls. Allow your child to pick out or decorate their own masks and let them practice putting them on and taking them off all by themselves.

3. Prep extra supplies. Most child care centers will now have stricter rules for keeping children’s supplies clean. This means that parents can anticipate the need to bring more items from home to the center each day, as well as the need to bring those items home and wash them more frequently. Check with your child care center to find out what new guidelines are in place, but keep in mind that you will likely need to prep individual meals and snacks, to provide more changes of clothing and extra diapers and wipes, and to more frequently swap out and wash blankets and nap items.

4. Contact your legislators. To ensure that quality care and education are available to all young children, make sure your legislators are making child care a top priority. Advocacy organizations like the National Association for the Education of Young Children and Zero to Three provide guidance for reaching out to legislators and speaking up about the importance of investing in child care and other early childhood services. You can also support the Child Care Is Essential Act, a bill that would provide $50 billion in emergency funding to stabilize child care and support programs to reopen safely.

5. Thank your child care teachers and staff. Professionals working in early childhood care and education were already underpaid and overlooked before the COVID-19 pandemic. While some policymakers and leaders are now recognizing the importance of child care services in rebuilding our economy, your child’s teachers and caregivers have not received the recognition and appreciation they deserve. Be sure to take a moment to tell them how much they mean to your family, and thank them every day for their commitment to your child.

Sources

Barnett, Steven, “Now Is the Time to Invest in Preschool Education. Here’s Why,” 2020 CDC, “Guidance for Child Care Centers that Remain Open,” 2020 Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, “Why Do Parents Pay So Much for Child Care When Educators Earn So Little?” 2020 Danley, Lucy, “New Analysis: COVID-19 Crisis Could Lead to Permanent Loss of Nearly 4.5 Million Child Care Slots Nationwide,” 2020 Fields, Samantha, “Do Parents Still Pay When Daycare Is Closed for Weeks, or Months, Because of COVID-19?” 2020 NAEYC, “Be a Proactive Early Learning Advocate,” [n.d.] Whitebook, Marci, and Sakai, Laura, “Turnover Begets Turnover: An Examination of Job and Occupational Instability Among Child Care Center Staff,” 2003 Zero to Three, “Advocacy Action Center: Infants and Toddlers Don’t Have a Voice in the Public Policy Process, but You Do!” [n.d.]

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This post originally appeared on Britannica for Parents.
Britannica For Parents
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

We’re living in a time when it’s nearly impossible to distinguish fact from fiction. Parents need information they trust to help them make good decisions about raising their curious learners. Britannica for Parents provides safe and credible resources to empower all kids and parents and inspire curiosity for generations to come.

We sat down with Raquel Nieves, MD, of Stanford Children’s Health and Bayside Medical Group to talk about special needs children in her practice, including those with Down syndrome. As a medical professional and mom to a special-needs child, Dr. Nieves has a unique perspective. Read on to hear her take on what to look for in a pediatrician, how her daughter has informed her practice and what parents of special needs kids can do to best advocate for their children.

From your experience, what different skills might a parent look for when choosing a pediatrician for his or her child with special needs?

Dr. Nieves: Essentially, a pediatrician who’s willing to listen, who’s open minded and who has an attitude to serve others. In addition, you need to find a doctor that fits your personality since this will hopefully be a long-term relationship. The doctor also should be knowledgeable about children with special needs or, more importantly, be willing to learn from others who are more experienced.

 

I know that you have a personal interest in special needs children. Can you tell us a little bit about your daughter Anna and her special needs?

Dr. Nieves: We knew when I was 14 weeks pregnant that she was going to have Down syndrome. The whole first year for me was a big blur since she had three surgeries and five hospitalizations all within the first year of life. I felt like I was living in the hospital, and it was a rough time because I also had two others to care for, her older sister and brother. Now, (at age 4), Anna continues to have multiple appointments and therapies that we manage five times a week to include speech, occupational and physical therapies. Additionally, she participates in extracurricular activities that build her core strength and balance such as swimming and horseback riding. It all keeps me very busy, however, seeing her progress brings me such joy and that is what keeps me motivated.

How do you feel raising Anna has changed how you practice medicine?

Dr. Nieves: It has definitely made me more patient in general and much more compassionate toward families with children with special needs. Now that I’ve been on the patient end of things, I feel like I can truly relate to parents. I can understand the frustrations. I want to know what each individual parent or caregiver is dealing with in regards to their special needs child. Being in the unique position of understanding the medical side as well, I look for opportunities to identify the barriers that our families face and try to fix them with the goal of making our medical system better equipped to help our families.

What lessons have you learned as a physician raising a child with special needs?

Dr. Nieves: What we say as doctors truly matters. Parents are listening and we need to be very careful with our communication. The other lesson that I learned is that the parent of a child with special needs should be an advocate for his or her child. As long as you advocate in a respectful manner, then everyone benefits and this is because the doctors who are delivering the care also care about your child. Ultimately, we all have the same goal in mind as the caregivers: to do what’s in the best interest of our children.

What has Anna taught the rest of the family?

Dr. Nieves: Anna has taught our family so many lessons, to include love and compassion for all. Her friendly demeanor wherever we go spreads cheer and joy to all who are around her. She has taught our family about compassion in a way that is beyond learning it in a book. You can say, “be kind to people,” but it’s different when you have to live it day in and day out. My children, whether they wanted to or not, had to learn to give and sacrifice for another. They had to learn early on that life is not just about them, but about loving, helping, and serving others. They learn so much from Anna and they, too, teach so much to Anna.

How can parents advocate for their child with special needs, especially when it comes to health care?

Dr. Nieves: The best way to advocate is to speak up. If something bothers you, speak up about it. You are your child’s voice. Another thing that I feel very passionate about is to advocate for your child, not only in the medical setting, but in every setting, especially in an educational setting as well. I am a strong advocate for inclusion in schools. Done correctly, everyone, including the children without special needs, benefits with more cooperation, better behaviors, a sense of purpose, and higher test scores. I really feel that this is what humanity is all about. A final thought: we need to be expecting a lot out of our children, no matter what the disability is and no matter how severe. It doesn’t matter what IQ or what special needs a child has, all children have the ability to learn and progress, and it is our job as caregivers and medical providers to try to move them forward one step at a time.

Raquel Nieves, MD, is a board certified pediatrician and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University and received her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Travis Air Force Base, and served our United States Air Force for eight years. In addition to her general pediatrics practice in the military, Dr. Nieves was the Medical Director at Dover Air Force Base as well as a certified allergy extender. She is fluent in Japanese and speaks basic Spanish. She holds a special interest in caring for children with Down syndrome. She is married with three children. Her goal is to deliver the highest quality care to children in the most compassionate way.

photos: Stanford Children’s Health

Child care costs can be a major financial burden for many American families, but the Child Care for Working Families Act could take some of the strain off your wallet when it comes to balancing work and family life.

According to a recent survey by Care.com, one out of three U.S. families pays 20 percent or more of their household income on child care. The Child Care for Working Families bill—recently reintroduced into Congress—would put a 7 percent cap on how much working families in the United States spend on childcare.

photo: Seila800 via Pixabay

“[The Child Care for Working Families Act] will ensure that no parent has to pay more than they can afford on child care, at most middle class parents would pay 7 percent of their income on childcare, but parents who make less, pay less. In fact, some parents will pay nothing at all,” Senator Patty Murray, one of the bill’s authors, explained at a press conference. “Our bill helps expand options for childcare in the summer and during nontraditional hours when quality care is even harder to find.”

The bill also calls for universal preschool for three- and four-year-olds across the country, as well as pay increases for childcare workers. The new act still has to be passed into law, but it opens an important conversation about American families and one of the possible reasons why so many Millennials are putting off having kids.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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Fess up. You’d give up your credit card PIN and all your passwords before you’d pony up your favorite sitter’s digits. Guess what? Your friends feel the same way. Finding a good babysitter is hard and all the lessons we’ve learned about sharing fly out the window when it comes to this topic. Good news is there are plenty of services that make building your bench of trusted caregivers easy-peasy. . . and you don’t even need to break into your neighbor’s Rolodex. Read on to get the scoop on the most popular babysitting services for savvy Chicagoans.

Sittercity

Sittercity has been helping parents find nannies and babysitters for two decades. You post your job and review applicant profiles. It’s just that simple. You can look for coverage on a specific date or book an interview and evaluate for needs you have in the future. Need a part-time or short-term nanny? You can find one here. Bonus: They offer services nationally and offer specialty services for pet and senior care. 

Online: sittercity.com or the Sittercity app

UrbanSitter

UrbanSitter is great about using technology to connect users with sitters in their “network”, allowing searches based on local school or parent groups. You can also sync your account with social media pages so you can see what sitters your friends have already used. Get to know great sitters through video profiles, parent reviews and repeat family badges. Booking is fast and you can post one-time or recurring jobs. This is also a great site to use when looking for a tutor or virtual babysitting.

Online: urbansitter.com or the UrbanSitter app

College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors

Similar to K.Grace in that they’re a concierge-focused service, they also provide specific caregivers that specialize in after-school pickup and tutoring, as well as short notice care 24/7. 

Online: collegenanniesandtutors.com

Care.com

Care.com began in 2006 with a belief that quality care for your family is fundamental to the success of economic growth and stability. Research also suggested when seniors have quality in-home care, healthcare costs decline due to fewer hospital stays. They're still going strong 15 years later, never wavering from their commitment to family. Care.com not only offers a robust network of caregivers but payroll services for families to help track and manage costs.

Online: care.com

K Grace

K Grace is a mom-owned business and offers a strictly concierge-focused model. They specialize in last-minute and emergency care. In order to use their service, you need to be registered with them in advance and pay a subscription but they can likely accommodate any of your more unpredictable special requests—overnights, temporary nannies, hotel stays, etc. Expecting a baby and need middle-of-the-night care for your toddler for when you go into labor? They'll have you covered.


Online: kgracechildcare.net

— Maria Chambers & Christa Reed

Featured photo: publicdomainpictures via Pixabay

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All nighters ain’t what they used to be. There still might be bottles strewn everywhere, but once baby arrives, sleeping in the next day is no longer an option. When sleep deprivation gets scary, call in reinforcements from one of Atlanta’s baby nurse services. Experts in postpartum care and the excruciating art of sleep training, they can help ensure both you and baby get some much-needed rest.

Happy Baby Solutions
Happy Baby Solutions was founded by two moms who realized how hard it was to find quality care for their kids. Their professional baby nurses can ease the transition into becoming a new parent, offering advice on everything from swaddling to sleep schedules. They can also take the night shift so mama and daddy’s can catch some z’s.
404-592-2858

Rest Assured Infant Nursing
Rest Assured specializes in matching families with night nurses that are licensed RNs and certified in infant CPR. All have passed criminal background checks and are 100% insured so that you can “rest assured” your little love in is good hands.
888-277-1563

Baby Nurse To Go
Founded by Angela Buehler, Baby Nurse To Go is your one stop for Professional Baby Nurse Services , Sleep training, and newborn care and scheduling consultations.Based in Atlanta, Baby Nurse To Go founder Angela Buehler, originally hails from London. She is a multiples and preemie specialist, with over 25 years experience and offers baby nursing services that span the globe. Buehler will assist with sleep training, scheduling your baby and overall care your newest addition. She specializes in preemies and multiples, and with the special needs of apnea monitored babies, reflux, sensory integration disorder, and feeding techniques.
404.966.2661

Mothers Helping Hands
Specializing in night nurse infant care, Mothers Helping Hands also offers postpardum and newborn services to ease you and baby’s trasition home from the hospital. Their postpartum doulas take care of both baby and mom in the first days and weeks home. Best of all, their in-home night nurses will care for your infant so that you can get some sleep.
678.770.2313

How did you survive sleep deprivation with your baby? Tell us about it below!

—Phebe Wahl

All photos courtesy of Creative Commons via Flickr