Making Physical Activity a Part of a Child’s Life

What can I do to get – and keep – my child active?

As a parent, you can help shape your child’s attitudes and behaviors toward physical activity.  Throughout their lives, encourage young people to be physically active for one hour or more each day, with activities ranging from informal, active play to organized sports.  Here are some ways you can do this:

*Set a positive example by leading an active lifestyle yourself.

*Make physical activity part of your family’s daily routine by    taking family walks or playing active games together.

*Give your children equiptment that encourages physical activity.

*Take young people to places where they can be active, such as public parks, community baseball fields or basketball courts.

*Be positive about the physical activities in which your child participates and encourage them to be interested in new activities.

*Make physical activity fun.  Fun activities can be anything your child enjoys, either structured or non-structured.  Activities can range from team sports or individual sports to recreational activities such as walking, running, skating, bicycling, swimming, playground activities or free-time play.

*Instead of watching television after dinner, encourage your child to find fun activities to do on their own or with friends and family, such as walking, playing chase or riding bikes.

*Be safe!  Always provide protective equiptment such as helmets, wrist pads or knee pads and ensure that activity is age-appropriate.   

What if my child has a disability?

Physical activity is important for all children.  It’s best to talk with a health care provider before your child begins a physical activity routine.  Try to get advice from a professional with experience in physical activity and disability.  They can tell you more about the amounts and types of physical activity that are appropriate for your child’s abilities. 

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/getactive/children.html

The following information was compiled and shared by the National Council on Folic Acid

Folic Acid Awareness Week – 2012

January 8-14th is National Folic Acid Awareness Week.  Adequate folic acid intake is important for the prevention of birth defects.

For all women of childbearing age:

Folic acid is a vitamin that can help prevent birth defects.  Women of childbearing age need an extra 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid each day.  Check out CDC’s http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/index.html

Women can get the recommended 400 mcg of folic acid by taking a daily multivitamin or by eating fortified foods.  Check the label of your favorite cereal to see if it has 100% DV (daily value) of folic acid.  See http://www.cdc.gov/features/FolicAcid/

Important growth of the baby happens very early in pregnancy, before most women know they are pregnant.  Folic acid can prevent birth defects of the baby’s brain or spine if a woman takes it before and during pregnancy.  See http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/pregnancy/a/folicacidearlyp.htm

If you are pregnant remember to take a prenatal vitamin with iron and folic acid every day.  Visit www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/factsheet/folic-acid.cfm

More than half of all pregnancies are unplanned.  Talk to your health care provider about a reproductive life plan.  Check out the website http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/getready.html

If you are planning a pregnacy or are pregnant, do NOT drink alcohol.  No amount of alcohol is safe for the unborn baby.  See www.notasingledrop.org for more N.O. FAS http://www.nofas.org/family/pregnant.aspx or information and resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) like “Effects of Alcohol on a Fetus” at http://fascenter.samhsa.gov/documents/WYNK_Effects_Fetus.pdf

Talk with your doctor or midwife about newborn screening before your baby is born. See the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS webpage NBS at http://www.babysfirsttest.org/ from HRSA

Every woman should talk to their doctor about their and their partner’s family health history.  Sharing your Family Health History can help your doctor identify diseases for which you may be at increased risk.  See the CDC information at http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/famhistory/

Sharing your Family Health History can help your doctor identify changes you can make to reduce your risk and your children’s risk of developing disease.  See http://www.nim.nih.gov/medlineplus/familyhistory.html for additional information. 

Nutritional habits

Although all enriched cereals and grain products in the U.S. are fortified with the B-vitamin folic acid, only one-third of U.S. women of childbearing age consume the recommended amount from their diet.  Taking a multivitamin with folic acid every day is a key way that women can get the recommended amount of 400 mcg. 

Be prepared before pregnancy

Women need folic acid, even if not planning to become pregnant, since 50% of all pregnancies are unplanned.  Taking folic acid before pregnancy reduces the rick of birth defects of the brain and spine, called neural tube defects (NTD), by up to 70%.

For the the Hispanic community

Hispanic babies are 1.5 to 2 times more likely than others in the U.S. to be born with an NTD.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that Latinas in the U.S. consume the least amount of folic acid and have the least knowledge about folic acid among racial or ethic groups. 

National Council on Folic Acid Mission Statement

The mission of the National Council on Folic Acid (NCFA) is to improve healthby promoting the benefits and consumption of folic acid. 

Source http://www.folicacidinfo.org/

  Get the most for your budget!  There are many ways to save money on the foods that you eat.  The three main steps are: planning before you shop, purchasing the items at the best price and preparing meals that stretch your food dollars!

1.  plan, plan, plan!  Before you head to the grocery store, plan your meals for the week.  Include meals like stews, casseroles or stir-fries, which “stretch” expensive items into more portions.  Check to see what foods you already have and make a list for what you need to buy.

2.  get the best price  Check the local newspaper, online and at the store for sales and coupons.  Ask about a loyalty card for extra savings at stores where you shop.  Look for specials or sales on meat and seafood – often the most expensive items on your list.

3.  compare and contrast  Locate the “Unit Price” on the shelf directly below the product.  Use it to compare different brands and different sizes of the same brand to determine which is more economical. 

4.  buy in bulk  It is almost always cheaper to buy foods in bulk.  Smart choices are family packs of chicken, steak or fish, and larger bags of potatoes and frozen vegetables.  Before you shop, remember to check if you have enough freezer space. 

5.  buy in season  Buying fruits and vegetables in season can lower the cost and add to the freshness!  If you are not going to use them right away, buy some that still need time to ripen. 

6.  convenience costs… go back to the basics  Convenience foods like frozen dinners, pre-cut vegetables and instant rice, oatmeal or grits will cost you more than if you were to make them from scratch yourself.  Take the time to prepare your own – and save!

7.  easy on your wallet  Certain foods are typically low-cost options all year round.  Try beans for a less expensive protein food.  For vegetables, buy carrots, greens or potatoes.  As for fruits, apples and bananas are good choices. 

8.  cook once… eat all week!  Prepare a large batch of favorite recipes on your day off (double or triple the recipe).  Freeze in individual containers.  Use them throughout the week and you won’t have to spend money on take-out meals. 

9.  get your creative juices flowing  Spice up your leftovers – use them in new ways.  For example, try leftover chicken in a stir-fry or over a garden salad, or to make chicken chili.  Remember, throwing away food is throwing away your money! 

10. eating out  Restaurants can be expensive.  Save money by getting the early bird special, going out for lunch instead of dinner or looking for “2 for 1″ deals.  Stick to water instead of ordering other beverages, which add to the bill. 

Source: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/downloads/TenTips/DGTipsheet16EatingBetterOnABudget.pdf

Local Cornell Cooperative Extensions are a wealth of information for eating better.  Following is a listing of phone numbers and websites for area extensions:

Jefferson County: 315-788-8450

http://www.cce.cornell.edu/jefferson

Lewis County: 315-376-5270

http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/lewis/

St. Lawrence County: 315-379-9192

http://blogs.cce.cornell.edu/st_lawrence /home/

Meeting The Special Needs Of Pregnant Women & Infants:

Six Key Elements For Every Disaster Plan -

1: Designated Shelters For Pregnant Women & Families With Infant(s)

* Medical services for pregnant women and infants provided at the shelter

* Furniture and equiptment – cots and chairs for pregnant women, cribs

* Health and hygiene needs for mothers and infants and pregnant women

* Area for bottle washing or method for bottle exchange

* Identification of women and children via ID bracelets

* Location near a hospital

* Educational materials for pregnant women and families with infants

2: Basic Supplies & Equiptment For Pregnant Women & Infants

* Medical supplies – disposable medical supplies

* Health and hygiene needs for mothers and infants – ready to feed formula, diapers (including preemie diapers), infant and preemie pacifiers, infant clothes, breast pumps, breast pads, feminine hygiene products

* Furniture and equiptment – cribs, car seats, strollers

3: A Plan To Provide Prenatal Care & Well Baby Services In The Aftermath Of A Disaster

* Plan to advise public on where to get prenatal care and well baby services

* Information on availability of Disaster Medicaid and information on various health insurance plans and what coverage is provided

* Prenatal care and well baby services for women living in shelters and temporary housing

* Transportation to get women and infants to prenatal care and well baby services

4: A Plan To Ensure That All Women Have Access To Safe Environments To Deliver Babies

* Plan to provide alternative locations for safe deliveries in the event that existing facilities are not available

* Plan to provide medical personnel for deliveries in alternative locations

* Plan to advise the public on accessing alternative locations

* Information on availability of Disaster Medicaid and information on various health insurance plans and what coverage is provided

* Method to provide women with their own digital prenatal health records

5: A Plan To Keep Families & Infants Together & Reconnect Families With Infants

* Hospitals should have a plan in place outlining where infants will be evacuated to in an emergency

*Method to keep digital health records with patients during a disaster when possible

* Duplicate methods to get in touch with family members including out-of-state contacts provided for all infants such as a website (specific to moms and babies), hotline, and direct contact information for the hospital

6: Educational Materials For Pregnant Women & Families With Infants

* Educational materials on disaster preparedness and recovery

* Educational materials on all maternal and child health issues

*Public information about how to access prenatal and well baby services

* A way to reach women in rural and hard to reach areas

* A way to reach women when traditional methods are not available

March of Dimes (2006)

Below are some additonal resources to utilize when preparing for disaster -

http://www.redcross.org/preparedness/cdc_english/foodwater-3.asp from the American Red Cross

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/pregnant.asp from the Center for Disease Control

http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/outreach/specialpopulationsanddisasters.html from US Department of Health and Human Services

http://www.womenshealth.gov/emergency-preparedness/ from US Department of Health and Human Services

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More than a half million babies in the United States—that’s 1 in every 8—are born premature each year. Learn more about premature birth, risk factors, consequences, and opportunities for prevention:

SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants aged 1–12 months, and is the third leading cause overall of infant mortality in the United States. Although the overall rate of SIDS in the United States has declined by more than 50% since 1990, rates for non-Hispanic black and American Indian/Alaska Native infants remain disproportionately higher than the rest of the population. Preventing SIDS remains an important public health priority. (http://www.cdc.gov/sids/)

Many infants die during sleep from unsafe sleep environments. Some of these deaths are from entrapment, suffocation, and strangulation. Some infants die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, there are ways for parents to keep their sleeping baby safe.

Read on for more information from the American Academy of Pediatrics on how parents can create a safe sleep environment for their babies. This information should also be shared with anyone who cares for babies, including grandparents, family, friends, babysitters, and child care centers.

What you can do

• Place your baby to sleep on his back for every sleep. Babies up to 1 year of age should always be placed on their backs to sleep during naps and at night. However, if your baby has rolled from his back to his side or stomach on his own, he can be left in that position if he is already able to roll from tummy to back and back to tummy. If your baby falls asleep in a car safety seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier, or infant sling he should be moved to a firm sleep surface as soon as possible.
• Place your baby to sleep on a firm sleep surface. The crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard should meet current safety standards. Check to make sure the product has not been recalled. Do not use a crib that is broken or missing parts, or has drop-side rails. Cover the mattress that comes with the product with a fitted sheet. Do not put blankets or pillows between the mattress and the fitted sheet. Never put your baby to sleep on a chair, sofa, water bed, cushion, or sheepskin. For more information about crib safety standards, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
• Keep soft objects, loose bedding, or any objects that could increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation out of the crib. Pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, bumper pads, and stuffed toys can cause your baby to suffocate. Note: Research has not shown us when it’s 100% safe to have these objects in the crib; however, most experts agree that after 12 months of age these objects pose little risk to healthy babies.
• Place your baby to sleep in the same room where you sleep but not the same bed. Keep the crib or bassinet within an arm’s reach of your bed. You can easily watch or breastfeed your baby by having your baby nearby. Babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents are at risk of SIDS, suffocation, or strangulation. Parents can roll onto babies during sleep or babies can get tangled in the sheets or blankets.
• Breastfeed your baby if possible. Studies show that breastfeeding your baby can help reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Schedule and go to all well-child visits. Your baby will receive important immunizations. Recent evidence suggests that immunizations may have a protective effect against SIDS.
• Keep your baby away from smokers and places where people smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. However, until you can quit, keep your car and home smoke-free. Don’t smoke inside your home or car and don’t smoke anywhere near your baby, even if you are outside.
• Do not let your baby get too hot. Keep the room where your baby sleeps at a comfortable temperature. In general, dress your baby in no more than one extra layer than you would wear. Your baby may be too hot if she is sweating or if her chest feels hot. If you are worried that your baby is cold, infant sleep clothing designed to keep babies warm without the risk of covering their heads can be used.
• Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime. This helps to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you are breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is going well before offering a pacifier. This usually takes 3 to 4 weeks. It’s OK if your baby doesn’t want to use a pacifier. You can try offering a pacifier again, but some babies don’t like to use pacifiers. If your baby takes the pacifier and it falls out after he falls asleep, you don’t have to put it back in.
• Do not use home cardiorespiratory monitors to help reduce the risk of SIDS. Home cardiorespiratory monitors can be helpful for babies with breathing or heart problems but they have not been found to reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Do not use products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS. Products such as wedges, positioners, special mattresses, and specialized sleep surfaces have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. In addition, some infants have suffocated while using these products.

What expectant moms can do

• Schedule and go to all prenatal doctor visits.
• Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs while pregnant and after birth. Stay away from smokers and places where people smoke.

Remember Tummy Time

Give your baby plenty of “tummy time” when she is awake. This will help strengthen neck muscles and avoid flat spots on the head. Always stay with your baby during tummy time and make sure she is awake. (http://www.healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/baby/sleep/pages/Preventing-SIDS.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese.  The CDC also claims that since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled.  The CDC cites increasing portion sizes, lack of breastfeeding support and limited access to healthy affordable foods as some of the factors that contribute to obesity.  Additionally, the CDC says that obese children are more likely to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes and sleep apnea and asthma (among other problems).  Click on the link for more information: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a healthy Active Living for Families Fact Sheet: http://www.aap.org/obesity/pdf/Fact%20Sheet-%20Healthy%20Active%20Living%20for%20Families.pdf, as well as additional resources: http://www.aap.org/obesity/families_at_home.html?technology=1

In the Tri County (Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties) Region, County Cooperative Extension Sites offer breastfeeding support, information on local foods, and nutrition programs.  Most of these programs are provided at no cost to the family or individual.  The area Cooperative Extension Sites can be contacted as follows:

Jefferson County: 315-788-8450 and/or http://www.cce.cornell.edu/jefferson

Lewis County: 315-376-5270 and/or http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/lewis/

St. Lawrence County: 315-379-9192 and/or http://blogs.cce.cornell.edu/st_lawrence/home/

http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/2011/2011-08-15_new_yorkers_guard_against_mosquitoes.htm

DOH recommends that New Yorkers should protect themselves when outdoors by using an effective mosquito repellent and wearing long pants and long sleeves. DOH and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend applying insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

Insect repellants containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3, and products containing DEET should not be used on infants under two months. For children older than 2 months, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends products containing 10 percent to 30 percent DEET. Ten percent DEET provides protection for about 2 hours and 30 percent protects for about 5 hours. Choose the lowest concentration that will provide the required length of coverage. It is important to always follow the label directions when using insect repellent.

When indoors, New Yorkers are advised to keep doors closed and ensure that window screens are in place to prevent mosquitoes from infecting homes.

People are also advised to take steps to reduce the number of mosquitoes around a home or property, eliminate standing water in yards, and make sure all windows and doors have screens that are in good repair. In addition, New Yorkers are urged to:

• Dispose of used tires, tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar containers in which water collects.
• Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors. Make sure roof gutters drain properly and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
• Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use, and change the water in bird baths twice a week.
• Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs.
• Drain water from pool covers.

Also from the DOH Website:

Eatern Equine Encephalitis Fact Sheet:

http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/eastern_equine_encephalitis/fact_sheet.htm

West Nile Virus Fact Sheet:

http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/west_nile_virus/fact_sheet.htm

Over 170 Countries Worldwide Celebrate!

http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/

The experience of breastfeeding is special for so many reasons – the joyful bonding with your baby, the cost savings, and the health benefits for both mother and baby. Read on for tips and suggestions to help you successfully breastfeed:

http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/

For local resources, please visit the North Country Prenatal Perinatal Council Directory of Services: http://www.ncppc.org/directory-search-results?limitstart4=0&resetfilters=1&fabrik_table_filter_all=Breastfeeding&search-mode-advanced=all, or call: 315-788-8533 or 1-800-279-8679