Parent Coaching | A Child Grows

Help for new and expecting parents: and with a deal!

by Karen on 8/19/10 | 0 Comment(s)

I am really excited about one of our newest Directory Listings: Birth Day Presence. I’m excited because I’ve gotten to know them over the last 4 years while creating this blog and I think they are part of what makes the Brooklyn birthing community so special. They care a lot about parents- and I’ve seen [...]

Bunk beds- should you or shouldn’t you?

by Jill on 8/11/10 | 1 Comment(s)

As my daughter approached 3 (still in a crib!) and my tall son seemed to be growing in the shape of a C in his toddler bed, I had to come up with a new sleeping solution.We don’t have a bedroom big enough for them to have two twin beds. We needed a compact solution. [...]

Food Issues and Toddlers

by Karen on 8/10/10 | 1 Comment(s)

This blog’s Expert, Donna Fish, tackles food issues that most of us have had with toddlers. I would be surprised if you don’t recognize your own child’s habits in here. Keep reading for some great advice.
Food Issues and Toddlers
THE FOOD DEMANDER and THE TROUBLE TRANSITIONER
by Donna Fish
Anyone out there have a kid who now [...]

Mom, Do I look Fat?

by Karen on 7/29/10 | 2 Comment(s)

“Mom, Do I look Fat?” by Donna Fish
Anyone out there deal with this one yet? (I am writing today for those with girls in that 8 – 13, 14 year old range.)
If you have trained yourself to stop saying: “Do I look fat in this?” out loud, particularly in front of your daughter, hoping to [...]

Pregnant? Brooklyn Moms Tell All

by Karen on 7/22/10 | 0 Comment(s)

Are you pregnant or a new parent? There’s a lot to think about: birth options: a doula, midwife, which hospital, postpartum doulas, products, daycare, nannies (how to find them), best pediatricians, lactation consultants and more. Argh- it’s enough to create a minor panic attack.
So, that’s where we come in. I, Chana from babybites Brooklyn and [...]

How to start a babysitting co-op

by Karen on 7/07/10 | 7 Comment(s)

You might have heard about babysitting cooperatives only recently, but they have actually been around since the 1970’s. Back then, groups of parents figured out that babysitting co-ops were beneficial: a parent would babysit for another family’s child and, in return, they could also get a free night of babysitting from any of the families [...]

Self-run parent camp: how to make it work for all of you

by Karen on 6/10/10 | 0 Comment(s)

Parent Camp by Alice Kaltman
Ah, the lazy days of summer. No more teachers, no more books. No more lunches to pack, no more mad dash to get to pre-school or grade school on time to avoid those teachers’ dirty looks.
At first it feels great to have a more relaxed schedule, to revel in the break [...]

Ticks: how to lick ‘em!

by Jill on 5/27/10 | 2 Comment(s)

Even in NYC we need to be aware of ticks. I never have found one on the kids or myself after a weekend in the park, but I have found them on the dog, so they must be out there somewhere! Per the NYC Department Health and Mental Hygiene website, there are two kinds of [...]

Realbirth makes the news official

by Karen on 5/17/10 | 0 Comment(s)

We wrote about Realbirth closing almost 2 weeks ago. It was sad news for the devotees of the respected childbirth education center, but as we reported, there is some good news behind it. It seems a new entity is forming where a lot of the Realbirth instructors will be teaching.
Today, Realbirth sent out an official [...]

Tribeca Pediatrics announces new affiliation

by Karen on 5/13/10 | 0 Comment(s)

Tribeca Pediatrics sent out this notice today:
About a year ago, Tribeca Pediatrics was invited to affiliate with the prestigious New York-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center. Now that all our physicians have been credentialed, we are thrilled to announce that we can provide our little patients with state-of-the-art pediatric services and a 24-hour pediatric ER at [...]

RealBirth is closing

by Karen on 5/04/10 | 4 Comment(s)

I was totally surprised by the news I heard today that Realbirth, a respected New York resource for pregnancy, childbirth preparation and drop-in supportive activities, is closing. In the last year, they had paired with Tribeca Pediatrics in Williamsburg and Park Slope to bring their classes to Brooklyn.
I tried to call Realbirth multiple times [...]

Friday Giveaway: 30 minutes on the couch (without leaving it!)

by Karen on 4/30/10 | 2 Comment(s)

Are you wondering how to:
A) balance family and work
B) balance family and yourself
C) troubleshoot temper tantrums

iphones, blackberries? Why the parent in you should put them down

by Karen on 4/28/10 | 4 Comment(s)

Staying Present in the Era of Distraction. Turn Off and Tune In
by Alice Kaltman

When I get sullen, rejecting glares from my teenage daughter while my younger parent friends get unreserved affection and boundless enthusiasm from their toddlers I turn a little green with envy.
But I don’t always envy today’s younger generation of parents. I especially [...]

Changing kids eating habits

by Karen on 4/18/10 | 0 Comment(s)

One Tray at a Time
by Donna Fish
Change is a’ coming. Slowly, but I see some movement in a positive direction. I always think of the two things that are responsible for the rising rates of obesity in this country and in particular the high rate of childhood obesity: WHAT WE EAT, AND HOW MUCH WE [...]

I Love You No Matter What

by Karen on 4/01/10 | 6 Comment(s)

The other night I left Birch and Willow for 2 hours with a new babysitter. When I returned the babysitter told me that Birch had hit Willow three times. Three times! I was surprised to hear this. Yes, he used to take swipes at Willow, but he hadn’t done that in a month. We [...]

The Parenting Re’s

by Karen on 3/31/10 | 0 Comment(s)

Parenting Re’s for Springtime by Alice Kaltman

The 70 degree, sunshiny weather of a week past was just a teaser. Clearly the downpours and sub-freezing temps of more recent days are brutal reminders that March is a temperamental month. Still that early promise of spring got me thinking about motivating concepts, all coincidentally beginning with the [...]

What I really wanted to say was “Brownies!”

by Karen on 3/26/10 | 0 Comment(s)

Fellow blogger, April Peveteaux, who is at Cafemom’s blog “The Stir”, was kind enough to do a writeup about my blog. It is under the title “Baby Mama of the Week.” And though that sounds like I did something wonderful to deserve such a title, it’s essentially an interview- but a really fun one at [...]

How to help your kid have healthy self esteem

by Karen on 3/25/10 | 0 Comment(s)

How to help your kid have healthy self esteem by Donna Fish
What parent doesn’t want their kid to feel good about themselves? You know that commercial with the little kid batting the ball saying: “I am the best hitter in the world!” or , “I am the best pitcher in the world!”, with the [...]

Healthcare for Uninsured: NY has options

by Jimmy on 3/24/10 | 0 Comment(s)

There are thousands of working, uninsured adults in New York. Some of them have families. Chances are good that you know someone in this category: the guy delivering your pad thai, a friend, your nanny or maybe….you. Running around without insurance can be scary, especially if you get sick or have a major medical incident. [...]

Dear Senator….Give Us Paid Maternity Leave

by Karen on 3/23/10 | 2 Comment(s)

Ad Hoc Mom sent out an email tonight suggesting that we all band together to demand the right to paid maternity. AHM is right, we have strong voices: let’s make them heard. Tonya, one of the three founders of AHM, wrote this letter:
Dear All,
Regardless of political or religious beliefs, I think it is BEYOND important [...]

More on slings as possibly dangerous…..

by Karen on 3/12/10 | 0 Comment(s)

I wonder if this announcement today by the CPSC was prompted by the press given baby carriers by the New York Times and MSNBC in the last two days…..?
From the CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission): Infant Deaths Prompt CPSC Warning About Sling Carriers for Babies
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is [...]

The winning books that might make your Reading List

by Karen on 2/23/10 | 0 Comment(s)

Last October I was sent the above pictured 5 books with the request that I read and evaluate all of them within 2. 5 months as a judge for the Books for a Better Life Awards. You can imagine that my holidays weren’t spent going to many holiday parties, but curled up on the couch, [...]

Weaning a Toddler

by Karen on 2/11/10 | 1 Comment(s)

The End of Breastfeeding: How Weaning Happens
by Megan Davidson
Last month a mom on a local list serve asked for help with weaning her toddler. I wrote a response for her that she told me was really useful for her and I thought I would offer a longer version of that for A Child Grows in [...]

Playdates that go badly- new babies, toddlers and dogs

by Karen on 2/08/10 | 0 Comment(s)

I read and am grateful for all the parenting listserves that I am on in Brooklyn. You can hear advice, ask questions and even buy and sell kids’ items. On one of the yahoo listserves, a parent asked about aggression in toddlers. As a mother of a young baby, she wanted to know if a [...]

How to Spot ADD or ADHD