Are YOU a MOM with a NEW Baby (newborn to 6
months)? Meet other mothers (first-time or experienced) and their
babies, for weekly fun and tips to develop healthy strong bonds
between you and your new baby beginning Wednesday, September 12th,
2007, 10:00am-11:30am, at Downeast Health Services Inc., 52
Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth, ME 04605.
The best gift you can give your baby is YOU.
The love and attention you give your baby now will stay with him or
her forever and will help your baby grow into a healthier and
happier child and adult. Presented by the Hancock County Children’s
Council, “Mommy and ME” is one of the new strengthening families
initiatives introduced last Spring.
Parents today have a lot on their plates.
Juggling the demands of work, home and other responsibilities leaves
many parents feeling like they do not have enough time with their
children. Even small acts of kindness, protection, and caring – a
hug, a kiss, or a smile – make a big difference to children. Brain
development in infants is positively affected when parents work to
understand and meet their basic needs for love and affection or
provide comfort when they are hungry, bored, tired, wet or cold.
Though the ultimate rewards of motherhood are
greater than those of any other occupation, the stresses and
challenges are greater, too – particularly at the beginning. What’s
more, there’s no other job that offers as little feedback during the
first weeks to let you know how you’re doing. Even for a seasoned
pro, the postpartum period is no picnic; for a novice, it can seem
like a never-ending series of blunders, bumbles, mishaps and
misadventures. Share your worries with other new mothers, and you
will be reminded that although you are unique, your concerns as a
new mother aren’t.
Reading all the literature and consulting
experts won’t always give you all the answers. Getting to know your
baby and yourself, and learning to trust your instincts and good
sense, is often a great route to making decisions you both can live
with.
The Hancock County Children’s Council, a
program of Downeast Health Services Inc, is promoting protective
factors for protecting children and promoting healthy families.
Protective factors are conditions in families and communities that,
when present, increase the health and well-being of children and
families. They are attributes that serve as buffers, helping parents
to find resources, supports, or coping strategies that allow them to
parent effectively, even under stress.
A child’s early experience of being nurtured
and developing a bond with a caring adult affects all aspects of
behavior and development. When parents and children have strong,
warm feelings for one another, children develop trust that their
parents will provide what they need to thrive, including love,
acceptance, positive guidance and protection.
Parent-child bonding – the special intimacy
that develops between you and your child – is tremendously important
to your child’s development. For most children this relationship is
their first and will affect all their future ones. Interacting with
and enjoying your infant is critical to forming a bond. Cuddle your
baby and make interesting noises to get his or her attention; play
games in which you get your baby to focus on you. Whatever you do,
however, don’t put yourself or your baby under pressure to perform.
Play should be fun. Learning that comes with play is a bonus.
Nothing helps a baby grow and thrive as much
as being loved. Take every opportunity to talk, sing, or coo to your
baby. These casual but stimulating exchanges go further in making a
brighter baby than forcing flash cards. Your goal isn’t to “teach”
your baby, but to be involved with him or her. Any parent-baby team
can be successful at learning-playing with a little guidance. Your
baby becomes a social being through watching you, through
interacting with you and the rest of the family, and later with
others.
Please contact the Hancock County Children’s
Council to learn about other parenting classes and workshops
available in your community or visit our Parent Resource Library at
52 Christian Ridge Road, Ellsworth. You may visit our website at
www.downeasthealth.org
for additional information on child development and family
educational resources available or contact Candy Eaton at 667-5304
ext. 261 or email
children@downeasthealth.org.
