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Well Child Center

Growing Health Families

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Child Development

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 is the first edition to include recommendations for infant and toddlers! From birth to 2 years old is a critically important time for parents to feed their children properly to promote optimal growth and development. It is also an important time to establish healthy dietary patterns that can influence food preferences and eating behaviors later in life. The theme “Make Every Bite Count” is highlighted throughout this edition and is all the more fitting for children 2 years and younger, as they tend to consume small quantities of food frequently throughout the day.

Notable Guidelines for Children Birth to 2 Years Old:

· Recommendation to exclusively breastfeed up to 1 year of age, and longer if desired. Offer iron-fortified formula during the first year of life when human milk is not available.

· Provide infants with a vitamin D supplement beginning at birth.

· At about 6 months, introduce infant to nutrient-dense complementary foods.

· Introduce baby to potentially allergenic foods with other complementary foods, for example: peanuts, eggs, cow milk products, nuts, wheat, shellfish, fish, and soy. The guidelines state that there is no evidence that delaying potentially allergenic foods help to prevent food allergies. However, we encouraged all parents and caregivers to discuss this topic with their doctors before proceeding.

· Offer a variety of foods from all food groups beginning at 6 months and beyond, including protein, fruit and vegetables, dairy, and grains. At this time, taste preferences begin to develop therefore it is important to expose children to a variety of foods. It may take up to 8 to 10 times for a young child to be exposed to a new food to like it due to new textures and flavors. Repeated offerings increase the likelihood of an infant accepting new foods.

· Parents, caregivers and guardians play an important role in a young child’s nutrition because infants and toddlers are fully reliant on them for their every need. The edition also introduced the term, Responsive Feeding. Response Feeding emphasizes recognizing and the responding to hunger and fullness cues of your child. This will help allow the child to self-regulate their dietary intake.

· Avoid added sugars and foods higher in sodium. Taste preferences are formed at a young age and children may develop preferences for sweet and salty foods.

It’s safe to say that recommendations for baby and young children are always changing. However, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 can currently help parents navigate the eating behaviors of their young children. It’s never too early or too late to begin eating well!

Information regarding this blog and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 can be found at:

https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf

Free Childbirth Education Classes

Well Child Center has partnered with Advocate Sherman Hospital to offer Childbirth Education classes. These classes are taught in 4-week sessions by certified instructors every month. Expectant mothers are provided with instruction and support to help navigate pregnancy through the postpartum period.

The class schedule is as follows:

Tuesdays 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Week 1 – Labor & Delivery, Pre-Eclampsia, Diabetes and Pre-term Labor

Week 2 – Epidurals, Cesarean Section and Post-partum Depression

Week 3 – Breastfeeding: Latching, Positions and Practice

Week 4 – Newborn care: Diapering, Holding, Bathing and Nutrition

Normally you would pay $125 to take similar classes at the hospital, but our programmimg is free to WIC participants. Additionally, an infant car seat will be raffled at the end of each class series!

We are proud of our collaboration with Advocate Sherman Hospital to create an innovative curriculum to motive expecting mothers to breastfeed. The benefits of breastfeeding are abundant! Therefore, we are happy to share our knowledge and support mothers through their breastfeeding journey.

The class outcomes are undeniable for the 565 pregnant women who have attended:

  • 97% of mother attendees initiate breastfeeding at birth
  • 77% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 6 weeks
  • 64% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 12 weeks
  • 35% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 6 months
  • 26% of mothers continue to breastfeed at 12 months

If you or someone you know are interested in attending the Advocate Sherman Hospital and Well Child Center Childbirth Education classes, please call:

Well Child Center at (847) 741-7370 or

Chayo at (630) 391-0001

No App Can Replace Your Lap

Life is always so go-go-go, it can be hard to make time to sit down and read to your child. However, the benefits of reading are undeniable and well worth the time amid hectic routines. Reading every day to young children starting in infancy can facilitate early development. This is because reading to children in the earliest months stimulates the brain allowing a child to build key language, literacy and social skills.

Here are 7 factors to consider when reading to your little one:

1. Reading sets children up to succeed. The more you ready to your child, the more knowledge they will absorb. Diverse books teach children about different topics.

2. Reading develops language skills. Everyday vocabulary is often repetitive. Reading books exposes a child to language on different topics, meaning they hear words and phrases they may not hear otherwise.

3. Reading enhances a child’s concentration. By consistently reading every day, your child will learn to concentrate and sit still for longer periods of time.

4. Reading develops a child’s imagination. When we engage in a book, we imagine the characters and the setting sparking creativity.

5. Reading books helps develop empathy. Children will begin to identify with characters and feel what they are feeling, thus beginning to understand and relate to emotions.

6. Books are free entertainment! With so many negative aspects of screen time, choosing a book that interests your child is a better option.

7. Reading together helps create a bond between parent and child. Spending time together while reading and talking can bring parents closer to children. For parents who work or live a busy lifestyle, reading is a simple way to enjoy each other’s time while relaxing and bonding.

So instead of saying “honey, I don’t have time,” make the effort to sit down and read. There is no app to replace your lap!

About Melinda Scheibe

Melinda received a B.S. in Nutrition from Illinois State University. Upon graduation, she joined Well Child Center and is actively working as a WIC Nutritionist and Development Associate. Melinda is committed to her career as a Nonprofit professional, empowering families to reach their maximum potential.

A Parent’s Guide to Screen Time

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth fighting with your child over the amount of time he or she spends in front of the TV, computer or another screen, the answer is a resounding YES. Research has shown that kids spend more time using electronic media devices than they do on any other activity – an average of 7 hours a day, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Screens are everywhere and as a result, having control over a child’s screen time has become much harder on parents. Although some screen time can be educational, too much of it may have a negative effect on a child’s development and overall well-being. As your child grows, keep in mind that too much or poor-quality screen time has been linked to:

  • Obesity
  • Irregular sleep schedules and shorter duration of sleep
  • Behavioral problems
  • Loss of social skills
  • Violence
  • Less time for play

Monitoring screen time and media content is an absolute necessity. Although limiting screen time will not immediately lead to changes, over time there is a wide range of health and wellness benefits associated with less exposure.

Here are a few tips to help regulate screen time:

  • Children under the age of 2 should have zero screen time
  • Reduce screen time to only 2 hours a day
  • Create a “screen free” zone in the home
  • Remove screens from a child’s bedroom
  • Do not leave the TV on as background noise
  • Be a good role model

Experts also suggest that the quality of the screen content your child is viewing is more important than the platform or amount of time spent. Not all programs, online games and apps are created equal. To ensure quality screen time, consider these tips:

  • Preview programs, games and apps before allowing your child to play them
  • Seek out interactive options that include activity vs. sedentary entertainment
  • Use parental controls to block or filter internet content
  • Ensure your child is close by during screen time so that you can supervise media activities
  • Speak with your child regularly about what programs, games and apps he or she is using
  • When watching programming with your child, discuss what you’re watching and educate him or her about media content/advertising

Reserving more time for person-to-person interaction and offering activities that encourage creativity and socialization will limit screen time and promote a child’s healthy development. Remember: unstructured playtime is more valuable for a young child’s developing brain than an electronic device!

About Melinda Scheibe

Melinda received a B.S. in Nutrition from Illinois State University. Upon graduation, she joined Well Child Center and is actively working as a WIC Nutritionist and Development Associate. Melinda is committed to her career as a Nonprofit professional, empowering families to reach their maximum potential.