Kaitlynn's Place

Have you ever considered making your own baby food? Whether you are the parent of a special needs child that needs pureed food or the parent of a baby just starting out to eat, making your own baby food has many benefits.

Benefits:

• Assurance that the proper hygiene was used to prepare the food.
• Assurance of nutritious value, freshness, and filler free food.
• Satisfaction of custom making baby food that best suits your child’s tastes.
• Ability to make the baby food organic, vegan, or any other lifestyle that you abide by.
• It’s cheaper than prepackaged baby food.
• It can be made and stored in bulk.

Basic Methods to Cook Baby Food:

1. Baking
2. Boiling
3. Microwaving
4. Steaming

   
Steaming is one of the best methods to keep all the food nutrients intact. With steaming, the nutrients are cooked into the food. If you don’t have an electric steamer,  just place the food in a colander and place the colander over a pot of boiling water, then cover the colander with aluminum foil or a lid. Microwaving also keeps in most of the foods nutrients. If the food is something that you wouldn’t bake for yourself, then don’t bake it for baby either. When boiling foods, be sure to put as little water as possible in pan. You lose a lot of the nutrients when you boil foods in a lot of water. 


Once you have cooked the baby food, you can move on to getting it to an age appropriate and swallowing ability texture and consistency. For older kids with good swallowing ability, a simple mash, food mill, or chop in the food processor is suffice. The texture will still be a little lumpy by just mashing the baby food up.  For smoother textures, use an emulsifying blender. Add water, stock, juice, milk, etc.. to the blender a little at a time until you get the food to the right consistency for your child.

Storing Baby Food

Refrigerator
You have to store baby food just as you would the food that you eat. If you have made enough baby food for just 2 or 3 days, then store it in on the refrigerator shelf in an airtight container. Dip each serving out as you use it. Do not feed baby from the food container, as it can grow bacteria. 

Freezer

You can make large batches of baby food and save yourself a lot of time. Once the prepared baby food has cooled, pour it into ice trays. Cover the ice tray with saran wrap and freeze till solid. Remove the baby food just as you would ice cubes. Place cubed baby food into freezer bags. Label freezer bags with type of food and date prepared. There are also specialty baby food trays on the market, but I find a 30 cent ice tray works just as well. Now, you have individual servings of baby food that you can thaw individually and use as needed. It takes about four hours to thaw in the fridge or you can microwave for 20-30 seconds. An entire months worth of baby food in just one day.


That is all there is to it. Simple, affordable, healthy, and fast….who could ask for anything more~

As far as recipes, your imagination is the limit. Of course, follow the pediatricians’ cardinal rule of only introducing one new baby food four days to new eaters. The pediatrician should also give you a list of foods that are high allergens. Aside from that, get inventive with your recipes. Here are some examples:



Peach and Ricotta Cheese
Ingredients:
1 peach
2 drops of  lemon juice
2 tbsp ricotta cheese
1 drop of pure vanilla

Method:
Cut the peach in half and remove the pit.
Rub 1 drop of lemon juice on each half of the peach.
Roast on a baking dish, cut side up, at 425 degrees for 20-30 minutes.
Allow peach to completely cool.
Mash peach flesh with ricotta.
Stir in vanilla.

Brown Rice with Pumpkin and Peach

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup of peeled and diced pumpkin
1 cup of peeled and diced peach
2 tbsp chicken stock

Method:
Add peach and pumpkin to a heavy boiler.
Add chicken stock.
Simmer for 20 minutes.
Stir in brown rice.
Cook additional 10 minutes over low heat.
Mash or blend to desired texture.

Creamy Butternut Squash

Ingredients:
1 cup of diced butternut squash
1/8 cup cream cheese
1 tsp fresh chopped parsley

Method:
Steam butternut squash until fork tender.
Add chopped parsley and cream cheese.
Mash or blend until desired consistency.

Special needs children often require multiple medications, multiple times a day….a recipe for complicated drug regiments. For many of these children, their medications are their lifeline. It is vital to give medications exactly as directed.

Dr. Kathleen E. Walsh, assistant professor of pediatrics at University of Massachusetts Medical School, led a new study that suggests parent's frequently make mistakes while giving meds to their chronically ill children.

The research team went into the homes of  83 different chronically ill children ages 6 months to 20-years-old that suffered from cancer, sickle cell anemia, epilepsy, etc..  Altogether, the researchers watched 166 drugs being administered by the parent, caregiver, or children themselves. They also checked over 500 medications. Two doctors then followed up to analyze the administration and medication correctness. 128 medication errors were found. Of the 128 medication errors noted, at least 73 could have seriously hurt the child, and 10 actually did injure the child. One mistake involved a serious overdose when a chemotherapy dosing label directed six tablets a day. The child was actually supposed to have seven tablets a week.  However, simple mistakes, like not using the correct syringe or pill cutter, can result in the child getting too little or too much of a medication.

The study also noted that these medication errors are not attributed to lack of higher education. In fact, 49%  of the medication administers had at least a bachelor’s degree. 

As a nurse, I can attest that parent’s are not alone in medication error statistics. Even the most careful medication administer can have a mistake. However, many medication errors are preventable. Here are some tips to help prevent medication errors:

1. Make sure that the doctor and pharmacist gives you written instructions that include information such as dosage, how often the medication is given, if there is a specific time of day to give the medication, the route that the medication is to be given (by mouth, injection, IV, G-tube, rectally), drug interactions, storage instructions, whether the medication can be crushed if needed, and other medication specific information.

2.  If you have any pause or question about the medication, the dosage, or the directions….contact the prescribing doctor. There is no such thing as a stupid question.  Make sure you have complete clarity about the medication before giving it.

3. Organize medications. Assign a different area in the home for each person’s medications, and keep all of each person‘s medications together.

4. If you are giving your child multiple medications…multiple times a day, make yourself a medication administration record. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. List each medicine on a line; include the dose directions, strength, and what the medication is for beside each medication. For example, “Humalog insulin 2 units subcutaneous 7 A.M. and 7 P.M. for diabetes.” If the medication requires an additional action such as taking a blood sugar or blood pressure, then write that action on a separate line, and record the results.  The medication administration record should be brought with you to all relevant doctor appointments.

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5. You shouldn’t actually be using a tablespoon or teaspoon to administer medications. Use a syringe or dosage cup with clear and easy to read markings. Use a pill crusher to crush medicines and a pill splitter to cut pills. Rinse and dry the measuring device out daily to prevent medication from crusting inside and altering the dosage. 

6. Do not leave it to the child to take their medication. Many medications have side effects that deter the child from wanting to take the medication. Rather than arguing with you or voicing their concerns, many children just don’t take the medication. Even older teens should have oversight.

7. Check, check, and check again. It doesn’t matter how familiar you are with your child’s medicine regiment. Check the label when you begin. Check the medication label again when you sign your medication administration record. Check the label a third time before you give the medication. You are checking to make sure you have the right med, the right dose, and at the right time.

Finding toys suitable for a special needs child is a disheartening and challenging task. Many area toy stores just do not carry toys that are congruent with a special child’s physical ability or understanding. Many standard toys also don’t provide the correct stimulation and skill building for special needs children.

For example, a child with Down Syndrome often has difficulty with fine motor skills.  A typical children’s puzzle with 20+ small pieces can be difficult for this child to work with. A large puzzle with just a few pieces works much better, but is hard to find. The same with CP. CP children have spastic and involuntary movements that make working with small tedious toys difficult. ADHD children would find focusing on in-depth detailed instructions difficult. Toys that have more creative leeway are better. And so on…

Able Play is a great resource to find physical, cognitive, age, and sensory appropriate toys for special needs children. Able Play does the research for the parent. The company does a comprehensive product evaluation, and then relates the evaluation to children’s special needs and abilities. The 1-5 rating system on cognitive, sensory, communication, and physical ability for every toy makes it easy to figure out what toy suits your child.

Special Needs Toys provides toys for senses (visual, auditory, tactile, proprioception, and balance) and skills (motor, cognition, independence, communication, and socialization.) I love the adaptive swing selection on this site.



More Toys:

Different Roads To Learning
School Specialty
Ability Station
Fat Brain Toys
Kids Scope Toys
PlayAbility Toys
Sensory Edge

Special needs children often lack in self esteem, inclusion from peers, recreation activities, and independent transportation. It might not sound so obvious at first, but a simple activity like riding a bicycle provides a gateway for all of the above. As the child masters the seemingly impossible task of riding a bike, they gain self esteem and confidence in themselves. After mastering their skill, they can experience the independence of doing an act without caregivers helping them and participate in recreational bicycling with peers.



“Lose The Training Wheels” is a program that teaches children with disabilities how to ride a traditional bike without training wheels. Parent’s of autistic, ADHD, Down Syndrome, etc.. children often spend years trying to teach their child to  ride a bike.  The Lose The Training Wheels program is based on over 20 years of research by Dr. Richard E. Klein and his students at the University of Illinois. Dr. Klein created the first bike camp in 1999 in LaCrosse Wisconsin . By 2006, the program had grown to over 30 camps. Then in January of 2007, the program became Lose The Training Wheels Inc., a non-profit organization.  In 2010, Lose The Training Wheels  has 60 camps across the United States and Canada.  

The Lose The Training Wheels camps teach children to balance, pedal, steer, and take off on their own by using just five (75 minute)  riding sessions. The program says that over 80% of the children  are at least able to balance on a bicycle by the end of the five day camp. Each child has one or two volunteers that provide one on one physical and emotional support.



Eligibility Requirements: 

Have a disability
Be at least 8-years-old
Be able to walk without an assistive device ie- walker or cane
Be willing or able to wear a bike helmet
Be able to side step quickly to both sides
Have an inseam measurement of 20”
Be under 220 lbs
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Schedule of Camps for 2010:
May 10 to May 14, 2010 - Fairfax County, VA.
May 17 to May 21, 2010 - Fairfax County, VA.
June 7 to June 11, 2010 - Ridgeland MS.
June 7 to June 11, 2010 - Indianapolis, IN.
June 7 to June 11, 2010 - Danville, IL.
June 7 to June 11, 2010 - South Bend, IN.
June 7 to June 11, 2010 - Parkersburg, WV.
June 7 to June 11, 2010 - Omaha, NE.
June 14 to June 18, 2010 - Rohnert Park, CA.
June 14 to June 18, 2010 - Grand Rapids, MI.
June 14 to June 18, 2010 - Columbus, OH.
June 14 to June 18, 2010 - Frankfort, IL.
June 14 to June 18, 2010 - Pittsburgh, PA.
June 14 to June 18, 2010 - Midland, MI.
June 21 to June 25, 2010 - Portland, OR.
June 21 to June 25, 2010 - Columbus, OH.
June 21 to June 25, 2010 - Charlotte, NC.
June 21 to June 25, 2010 - Wichita, KS.
June 21 to June 25, 2010 - Allentown, Pa.
June 21 to June 25, 2010 - Milwaukee, WI.
June 21 to June 25, 2010 - St. Louis, MO.
June 28 to July 2, 2010 - Bloomington, IL.
June 28 to July 2, 2010 - Columbia, MD.
June 28 to July 2, 2010 - Highlands Ranch (Denver), CO.
June 28 to July 2, 2010 - Buffalo, NY.
June 28 to July 2, 2010 - Longview, WA.
June 28 to July 2, 2010 - Chattanooga, TN.
July 5 to July 9, 2010 - Nanaimo, BC.
July 5 to July 9, 2010 - Schenectady, NY.
July 5 to July 9, 2010 - Highlands Ranch (Denver), CO.
July 5 to July 9, 2010 - Evansville, IN.
July 5 to July 9, 2010 - Rochester, NY.
July 5 to July 9, 2010 - Dallas, TX.
July 6 to July 10, 2010 - Atlanta, GA.
July 12 to 16, 2010 - Madison, WI.
July 12 to 16, 2010 - Nashville, TN.
July 12 to 16, 2010 - Harrisburg, PA.
July 12 to 16, 2010 - Victoria, BC.
July 12 to 16, 2010 - Ann Arbor, MI.
July 19 to July 23, 2010 - Marquette, MI.
July 19 to July 23, 2010 - Columbia, MO.
July 19 to July 23, 2010 - Cincinnati, OH.
July 19 to July 23, 2010 - Jacksonville, FL.
July 26 to July 30, 2010 - West Hartford, CT.
July 26 to July 30, 2010 - Rochester Hills, MI.
July 26 to July 30, 2010 - Charleston, SC.
July 26 to July 30, 2010 - St. Paul, MN
July 26 to July 30, 2010 - Toledo, OH.
August 2 to August 6, 2010 - Orange County, CA.
August 2 to August 6, 2010 - Lombard, IL.
August 2 to August 6, 2010 - Peoria, IL.
August 2 to August 6, 2010 - Falls Church, VA.
August 2 to August 6, 2010 - Owings Mills, MD.
August 9 to August 13, 2010 – San Antonio, TX.
August 9 to August 13, 2010 – Richmond, VA.
August 9 to August 13, 2010 - Rockford, IL.
August 30 to September 3, 2010 - Windsor, ON.


For more information about each date, requirements for participation, and info about how to enroll in each camp visit the Lose The Training Wheels Camp Schedule.   Learn how to get involved and host a camp. Learn how you can donate to Lose The Training Wheels. 
  

It is often very difficult for the siblings of special needs children to cope with all that goes along with having a special needs child in the family. Special needs children require an extraordinary amount of attention, care, love, devotion, and share of the family income. This can create difficult and often conflicting feelings for the unaffected sibling such as: 

• Fear of the special needs child dying.
• Jealously, anger and or resentment that the special needs child gets a larger share of family resources and attention.
• Anger over lack of attention or share of responsibility.
• Anger over not being able to go places and do things because the special needs child can’t.
• Embarrassment over the physical and mental differences of the special needs child.
• Guilt over the above feelings.

Sibling rivalry isn’t uncommon, but when one child is labeled as “normal” and the other is “special,” it inherently creates feelings that are emotionally disruptive and detrimental to the family unit. Parents need to be astute on how the siblings are coping with having a special needs sibling.

Watch for the warning signs that your child might not be adapting and coping with having a special needs sibling:

• Eating and sleeping changes.
• Frequent medical complaints- stomach ache, headache, etc..
• Hopeless feelings or comments.
• Perfectionism.
• Lack of concentration.
• Lack of self -esteem.
• Depression or speaking of hurting themselves.
• Loss of interest in activities or anger over inability to partake in activities.
• Frequent bouts of crying or worrying.
• Withdrawal from the family unit.
• Speaking of or actually hurting the special needs child.

   
The last warning sign is very important. It is very easy for jealously, anger, and resentment to turn into violence, especially if the warning signs that the child isn’t coping well are ignored. Speaking with the family physician, seeking professional counseling, and joining  support groups can be very helpful. Support groups that involve the entire family can be a great outlet for siblings to talk with peers that also have a special needs child in the family. Everyday friends that don’t have a special needs child in the family often do not understand, much less relate, to the pressures and feelings of being a sibling to a special needs child.

Some great resources that may help siblings cope and express their feelings constructively, family adjustment, and parents are:

The Sibling Support Project.
The Winds of the Hurricane:  Siblings in the Storm of Illness, by Joan Fleitas.
SuperSibs!
Siblings for Significant Change
It Isn't Fair! Edited by Stanley D. Klein and Maxwell J. Schleifer
Living with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs: A Book for Siblings, by Donald Meyer and Patricia Vadasy.
When Madness Comes Home: Help and Hope for the Children, Siblings and Partners of the Mentally Ill, by Victoria Secunda.
Views from Our Shoes: Growing Up With a Brother or Sister With Special Needs, edited by Donald J. Meyer

I don’t want this post to seem all “negative.” Siblings of special needs children may often need help adjusting. However, studies have shown that kids that grow up feeling positive about their special needs sibling, are more likely to develop qualities like- patience, kindness, tolerance for differences ,  compassion, helpfulness,  empathy, dependability, loyalty, etc.. in adulthood.