WellPoint’s affiliated Life and Disability Companies are pleased to announce Newborn and Parenting Resources - a new service designed to help new mothers adjust to their newborn baby child care and return to work after maternity leave. Newborn and Parenting Resources are available to all new and in-force short term disability plans offered by the affiliates effective 1/1/2010.
New moms have access to Newborn and Parenting Resources once their baby arrives and their short term disability claim has been approved. Then, they will receive eight weeks of Newborn and Parenting Resources services at no cost to them. The eight weeks start on the date the new mother enrolls in the program.
Once enrolled, the new mothers are paired with highly trained and licensed professional coaches who have advanced degrees in counseling and/or child development. The coaches provide support and help mothers set goals, address concerns and identify resolutions on topics including: returning to work, adjusting to a new baby, work/life balance, issues with older siblings, health and nutrition, child development and parent well-being. The coaches are available via e-mail, instant message chat, online journal and telephone. In addition, new mothers can receive a 12-month subscription to American Baby magazine and get discounts on products to make their house safe for their newborn.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the first baby or the fifth, we know making the transition from maternity leave to working outside the house can be challenging,” said Nick Brecker, president of Life and Disability, WellPoint, Inc. “We want new mothers to know we provide more than a benefits check. We provide new mothers with resources to help ease the transition back to work after their maternity leave and help them be successful working mothers.”
It won’t be long. People are counting down the time until they can put their wintertime shoes away for the summer months. Have you been taking care of your feet? Here’s how to get the feet of young children ready to show off in this year’s cute summer sandals.Start with your own feet and repeat the procedure with your children:
If you’ve neglected your feet during the winter months, don’t despair. There’s still time to get your feet looking sexy and it won’t take forever to get them there!
Start out by taking a long look at your feet. You want to be sure there aren’t any cuts, scrapes, or torn cuticles. Since the easiest way to get your feet ready to show off is to use vinegar, salt, and lemon juice, it would hurt like crazy to get any of those in a cut! You may also want to trim and file your toenails before going any further.
Next, head to the kitchen. “The kitchen?” you ask. Yep, the kitchen! In a bowl, mash several slices of fresh lemon with 1/4 cup Epsom salt. This will make a pre-scrub to soften any rough spots you may have. Rub this mixture into your feet and then put on a pair of white socks for at least 15 minutes. While you’re waiting, crush 10 mint leaves with 1/4 cup Epsom salt and 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and set it aside.
Fill a basin with hot water (but not too hot) and 1 cup of red apple cider vinegar. Add marbles to the water to massage your feet as you soak them. Just taking the time to soak them would also work, even if a massage would make your feet feel better.
After you’ve soaked your feet long enough that the water has started to cool, you can grab the mint and Epsom salt mixture. Rub that into your feet to remove dead skin. Rinse your feet in cool water and then massage olive oil into them. Put your feet back into white socks and leave them on overnight. The longer you leave the socks on, the softer your feet will get.
Substitutions can be made for most of these steps; however, not all of them. Coarse salt, table salt, or even sugar can be used for Epsom salt. You can use mineral or canola oil in place of olive oil. The only element in all of this that you wouldn’t want to substitute is the red apple cider vinegar as it will both soften the skin and help neutralize odors. Dusting your feet with corn starch before bed and before putting on shoes will also neutralize odors.
Summertime feet which you and your children will be proud to show off are just a few short steps away. By following these steps, you can have the feet you’ve always dreamed of. It’s time to put your best foot forward.
Milk is still very important for child development - even if they are no longer babies. Sadly, children are starting to leave their milk glasses for sodas and sugary drinks so parents should step up and ensure that milk is still part of the diet of the child because it can have long term benefits to your child.
According to the Milk Processor Education Program study in the United States, calories consumed from milk (which includes flavoured milk), drop as children mature. ‘Our study found that milk is a primary source of nutrients in a child’s diet,’ said Mary Murphy, who works at the Environ Health Sciences Institute, Arlington, adding, “But milk consumption steadily declines as children grow older, which may prevent older children and teenagers from consuming the nutrients they need for growth and development.”
Here are some facts on the calories that milk provides for children over the years:
* Ages 2 to 5: 13 percent of daily calories.
* Ages 6 to 11: 9 percent.
* Ages 12 to 18: 6 to 7 percent.
So make sure to prepare a glass of milk for your child. You can join him/her drink milk while you’re at it.
You’ve heard the line breastmilk is still best for babies in television. That cliche has been up and running for a reason - it is a true nugget of wisdom. Breastfeeding allows children to get their optimum requirements for nutrients and antibodies and also give mothers more time to bond with their children during infant care.
How optimum is the nutrients in breast milk. Well, like magic, it has the right amount of fat, sugar, water and protein needed by the baby for his growth. It is also easier to digest than cow’s milk. After all, the baby is not a cow. Human breastmilk is much more easier to absorb and break down.
Apart from the nutrients, breast milk has anitbodies to provide important protection against bacteria and viruses. In today’s polluted environment, this is no laughing matter. Breastmilk can really help strengthen your child. It makes babies less susceptible to contract lower respiratory infections, ear infection, septicemia and urinary tract infections.
More importantly, for the mother, breastfeeding helps to lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. It also helps the uterus return to its normal size more quickly.
When you have a baby, it is entirely dependent upon you to feed them foods that are good for them. You are the one that determines their early eating habits. As they grow, you begin to let them make their own food choices. However, your children are prone to making bad food habits which are detrimental for child development. Here are ways to counter it.
1. When left to themselves, children often don’t eat a balanced diet, which is one bad food habit you may be able to help them change. Children would likely choose to eat more foods from the smallest portion on a standard food pyramid than they do fruits and vegetables.
What is in the pinnacle of the pyramid? Usually foods such as snack cakes, potato chips, and other high-calorie, high-fat foods. As a parent, you can choose what foods come into your home by what you purchase at the grocery store. Instead of snack foods, buy fresh produce that you can wash and have available for snacks. This will help not only your teen, but also everyone else in the home to develop better eating habits.
2. Many toddlers tend to sleep in as much as possible and then skip breakfast, which is a bad habit also. Since the body has been without food during sleep, it’s important to begin the day with a healthy breakfast. To ensure they eat a good serving of breakfast each day, make the food easily accessible so they can make breakfast quickly and eat it before leaving for school.
3. Another bad food habit is drinking too many soft drinks each day. It used to be that they would drink juice, water, or milk. Nowadays, they consume far too many soft drinks, increasing from 37% in 1978 to well over 50% in the late 1990s. Having other beverages available and not buying soft drinks to drink at home will encourage the breaking of this habit.
4. Eating while watching television is also a no-no. This can distract children to the point where they’re not aware of how much they’re actually eating. Good nutrition is important to maintain health, give energy to accomplish goals, and live a fulfilled life.
