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Stephanie Brown
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Stephanie's Toddlers Blog

Wordless Wednesday: 18-Month-Old Jack

Wednesday December 30, 2009

Thanks to Patti for sharing this picture of Jack.

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How to Tell You've Got a Bad Babysitter

Tuesday December 29, 2009

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For many parents, more than any other holiday or event, New Year's Eve is the time to hire a babysitter. Choosing the right babysitter can be a frustrating task, especially when you've got a toddler with limited language skills who can't let you know what's going on while you're away.

I wish I could say that I always chose the perfect sitter for my child, but that is not the case. Once, I thought I had found such a great fit for us. We decided to go to a concert and I was so excited. It was the first time I'd left my son in the care of someone that wasn't family or friends. He was 7 months old and I was a bit nervous, but he was a pretty easy baby at the time, so no worries, right? Imagine the horror when I arrived around 1 a.m. to find my son still awake and eating peanut M&Ms off the kitchen floor, I kid you not!

Hindsight tells me that Robin's Bad Babysitter Sign #2 ("Doesn't seem to care or focus on instructions provided") is spot on. While I was giving her detailed feeding instructions she was scarcely listening. I ignored my gut feeling at the time and instead wrote the instructions down for her, thinking she might have just been distracted with the other children in her care. I should have listened to my instincts instead.

What about you? Have you had a babysitter that was a total nightmare? Share your story with other parents.

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How Can I Help My Toddler Get Enough Vitamin C Without Giving Too Much Juice?

Monday December 28, 2009

Last week, I talked about getting your toddler enough Vitamin D, calcium and fats without giving her a lot of milk. This week, I want to talk about how to get your toddler enough Vitamin C without giving her too much juice. It can get a little harder in the winter. I left my grocery store this week longing for the good local fruits and veggies, but alas, even down here in Texas with our long growing season, it was slim pickings in the fruit section.

Vitamin C is important on its own (it helps with immunity, healing, healthy gums and teeth and more) but it's also an important calcium booster. And, since the body doesn't make it or store it, it's important that you make sure your toddler is getting enough each day.

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I'm happy to see that many of the parents I know are giving their kids less juice. It's really not necessary and is full of empty calories. There is one problem I see, however, and that's making sure that kids are still getting vitamin C in their diet, since parents have been able to rely on fortified juices for so long.

Our Pediatrics Guide, Dr. Iannelli, has a great list of foods that are rich in vitamin C. This is the best way to make sure your child is getting what she needs. As a last resort, use a vitamin supplement or multivitamin if you feel you're having a hard time getting enough of these foods into his diet. Keep working on it, though, because just like kids don't need lots of juice, the majority of kids who are healthy and eating well don't need a vitamin supplement either.

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