Thumb sucking and pacifiers can be a real worry to some parents. We've all heard the horror stories about children's teeth becoming deformed and needing orthodontic intervention. Sucking on a pacifier and/or thumb is a healthy, natural reflex that infants and toddlers use to soothe themselves. Sucking is very relaxing and may help children fall asleep. Sometimes infants and children will develop thumb sucking in response to the popular Cry...

Growing up I always loved summer. I loved being able to play in the sun, spend more time at my grandparents and most importantly not having to go to bed early! It was always a sad time when my parents started putting us to bed early to prepare for school. With school approaching quickly I wanted to talk about sleep - why it is important and how to make it easier for both you and your kids! This is the suggested amount of sleep kids should get acc...

All a parent wants is to see their child grow up healthy, happy, and safe. There are many things that pose a threat to the safety of our children, and as parents, we do our best to warn and protect our children against these dangers. We teach our children to stay safe by looking both ways before crossing the street. We teach them to walk carefully when they are holding scissors and much more. A threat that is more sensitive and serious is the thr...

  While my husband was away visiting with his elderly parents, he sent me a bouquet of flowers with this note: "My dad was telling me how he got some flowers for my mom the other day because she was depressed and feeling down. It struck me that after all these years of marriage [60+years] he still wants to be that guy who brightens her day. I decided I also want to be that guy". It was amazing to me that even now, after so many years, my hus...

D ay of the Dead, otherwise known as Día de los Muertos, is a celebration of life as people remember their ancestors. During this holiday, it is believed that past relatives return as spirits to the land of the living to spend time with their loved ones. Although this holiday originated in Mexico, it is celebrated throughout Latin America during a two-day festival (Nov. 1 and 2). The centerpiece of this celebration is the altar which people displ...

Many parents do not realize that it is recommended to wean babies from the bottle by 18 months. Getting rid of the bottle can turn into a frustrating experience for both parent and baby! However, there are some things that you can do to make it easier. Here are some ideas on how to wean your baby off the bottle and using normal cups. When should I wean from the bottle? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends weaning befo...

School is back in session and with that comes homework. Homework can be stressful for a variety of reasons and there are days where it may seem like the fight to get homework done just is not worth it. No parent wants to expend all their efforts and energy on getting their children to do homework. One of the first things parents can do is show their children that they believe learning is important. A parent's attitude about homework and school ca...

Pee-yew! To scoop the poop or toss the loss? - that is the question. Regardless of whether or not you decide to use cloth or disposable diapers on your little one's backside, remember, they both serve the same purpose. Ultimately, you will need to use the type of diaper that best works with your family and lifestyle. Here are some tips, tricks and fun things to keep in mind when deciding what diaper to don your baby's behind. ​ Cost: Although clo...

  As I was growing up, my parents were always looking for ways to help support our neighbors and community. Whether it was cleaning up yards for people in our neighborhood or helping pick fruit at the local orchards, my parents signed us up to help. While I complained about this a great deal at the time, looking back on it helps me understand more about my parents and our family values. It also helps me understand how important it is for eac...

  At the beginning of every school year, my family had a tradition of sitting down together and making a plan for our safety. I felt safe knowing that my parents had a plan in case of an emergency. Now as an adult I still review my own safety plan each August and consider what I am going to do in case of an emergency and wanted to share a few ideas of things you could do to create your own family safety plan. The first step is identifying po...

In 2018 the most downloaded iPhone app in the world, was a Chinese export: TikTok. Formerly the apps musical.ly, Byte Dance acquired the older lip-synching video app and TikTok (known as Douyin in China) was born. Social media giants have tried hard to capture the attention of younger children and preteens. Facebook created Messenger Kids, YouTube has YouTube Kids and Snapchat has SnapKidz. Despite those efforts, none of them have come close to r...

The Eight Sensory Systems "It's too loud! Can you turn down the volume?" "No hugs! Stop touching me!" "If he keeps eating, he's going to gag himself again!" "Why is he rocking back and forth?" Have you ever heard these phrases? If you have, you are probably familiar with sensory processing. Without us knowing it, our bodies perform infinite amount of processes within seconds to keep us alive, one of them being the process of deciphering sense sig...

Food allergies are among the most common chronic childhood diseases. Unfortunately, many symptoms and illnesses are often confused with food allergies. Would you as a caregiver like to know how to recognize and treat the symptoms? Well that's what we're here for. The following is information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about food allergies. A food allergy happens when the body reacts against harmless proteins found in foods. The...

  Looking to get your kids connected with something besides a small screen? How about communing with nature in the form of a garden? In this era of satisfaction on demand, watching and waiting for something to grow can be incredibly valuable for kids. It also gives them an excuse to get outside and get a little dirty. Another plus? Gardening can help picky eaters expand their food horizons. We know kids are more likely to eat food they've he...

One of the most inspiring ideas I learned about in college was the idea of "emotional coaching." I remember feeling overwhelmed with this practice and asking myself "how am I supposed to emotionally coach a child when I struggle to understand and navigate through my own emotions?" Perhaps, you may feel similar thoughts and fears about emotional coaching, I want to look more into why emotional coaching is important and simple steps that can help m...

Can you believe it's almost that time of the year again? That time where your kids are under someone else's supervision for 8 hours of the day? Well, your kids definitely can't believe it, that's for sure. The afternoons at the pool, the late summer nights, and the freedom of having minimal responsibilities have come to an end for your kiddos, and the time has finally come to face reality. Though many kids dread back-to-school time, there are als...

I love training in martial arts. There's something really fulfilling for me to be able to master a new technique while getting a really great workout in. One aspect of martial arts that I really connect with is the need to breathe. We all struggle with different challenges. We are all more capable of handling life's challenges a little bit easier if we can just breathe. Gentri, Help Me Grow's Call Center Manager, wrote an amazing article on Copin...

A surprisingly common question we get here at Help Me Grow Utah is "Can I tell my friend about this program?" Our answer is always "Yes! Please do!" While we love that most parents feel like Help Me Grow Utah is just for them, we want all parents in Utah to know they can feel that way too! Help Me Grow Utah envisions a vibrant community in which all families have the desire, resources, and confidence to make the best decisions during pregnancy an...

We all know that tummy time is important! Tummy time helps your baby develop her neck, back, and shoulder muscles. Not only does tummy time help your child be ready to crawl and walk, it also helps her to be ready to drink from a cup and eat solid foods. The recommended time for tummy time varies upon who you talk to, but the goal is for baby to spend as much time as they can on their tummies. Do tummy time for as long as the child can tolerate, ...

"Johnny, did you just take a cookie after I told you not to?" "...No..." When you find out that your child has lied to you, it can be pretty distressing. Your sweet, innocent child chose to deceive you, which could only mean that they are now headed down a road full of deceitfulness, bad choices, and possibly crime. Well, not necessarily. Before you start drawing conclusions and panicking, it's helpful to take a step back and to try to understand...