Experts Talk Parenting Tips and Tricks

These experts share their advice on baby nutrition and sleep, as well as give advice for parents looking to achieve a work-life balance.  

What is one piece of advice you can give to parents and families on encouraging their children to eat more of fresh, healthy foods?

I always encourage parents to get their kids involved in the kitchen. It’s going to get messy and that’s okay, because when you let your kids help, they’re more likely to try the dishes they had a hand in making. My oldest daughter was gifted a set of child-safe kitchen knives, so I’ll set her up with a cutting board and let her chop away. This gives her a chance to touch, taste, and smell all sorts of fresh produce. I also find comfort in knowing that by allowing them to assist, I’m instilling kitchen confidence in them that can help them as they grow and start to make meals for themselves.

Do you incorporate any organic or vegan ingredients to your morning meals?

Buying organic foods is very important to my family due to the peace of mind that comes with knowing that my food doesn’t have any pesticides, fertilizers, or additives in them. My kids get packed organic fruit and vegetables every day. It’s probably their favorite thing to snack on at home or school.

What’s the best thing about sitting down and enjoying breakfast with your family?

The best thing is knowing that I’m promoting healthy eating habits in my family. It’s our time to converse before we spend most of our day apart at school and work. And with my kids each being so unique, the conversation could be about anything. I love that.

In the past five to 10 years, how has modern technology changed the cooking process?

Cooking, whether at home or in a restaurant, is always evolving and changing. We have so many tools now that simplify cooking. Modern technology is a big part of that.

What does sleep coaching mean?

Going to sleep can be a learned skill.  By creating the right sleeping environment and learning your baby’s sleep cues, you can be their loving coach for learning the skills to fall asleep on their own.

When is the best time to start sleep coaching?

Most babies develop more predictable sleep patterns when they are 2-3 months old. This would be a great time to try to follow a nap schedule, which in turn promotes a consistent bedtime. I found that I was putting my son down for his naps after he was already over-tired, so I started timing the first nap for about two hours after he woke up and that seemed to help with the rest of the day.

What’s one thing that moms can do tonight to help their little ones sleep better?

My advice would be to start a bedtime routine associated with visual cues. While adults and older children often create a calm environment by reading before falling asleep, I found younger babies need sleep associations. We settled on a bath, a short book, and then off to bed using a wearable blanket. Putting baby in a sleep bag is a great sleep cue, and also a way to ensure that your baby is not waking up cold. We created a calm and soothing environment with music to encourage our babies to shift into a more relaxed state of mind before sleep. Through repetitive action, my children began to expect that sleep was the next step. 

What does it mean to self-soothe and what are some techniques for self-soothing?

Self-soothing is when baby can fall asleep without the caregiver and, more importantly, put herself back to sleep when she wakes during the night. For the majority of babies, this is a milestone that doesn’t happen immediately. I did notice that by the time I had my third baby, I often wasn’t able to rush to her the minute she started to fuss because I was taking care of the older kids. With my first born, I would pick him up the second I heard a sound. I wonder if those few extra minutes gave my daughter the chance to learn how to self soothe. To this day, she is my best sleeper.

What advice would you give to new parents looking to find a healthy work/home balance during the current stay at home orders?

Be kind to yourself, and do your best to stay in each moment. I’d suggest that to any parent, but especially new parents who are seemingly hardwired to be hyper-critical of themselves. As someone who lives with three little ones who are all e-learning, this is a lesson I have taken a crash course in and am still in practice of. It isn’t easy, but it’s so very worth the peace that it brings.

What is the importance of nutrition within the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life?

There aren’t words to express the importance of nutrition within the first 1,000 days of a tiny human’s life. And that’s exactly what they are: tiny humans. Babies are so loved for the hope and joy that they bring. However, for far too long, their dietary needs have been overlooked, and the food offered was lacking all of the goodness necessary for optimal development. A baby’s brain will double in size in the first 12 months of life alone — this is the time to establish the foundation of lifelong health.

What is one piece of advice you can give to parents and families trying to incorporate more fresh and healthy foods into their babies’ diet?

Incorporating fresh, healthy foods into a tiny human’s diet can be as simple as staying away from shelf-stable offerings and instead, give them delicious, cold-pressed food. A baby’s palate is developing around four to seven months, and what you feed them at that time will help determine their lifelong relationship with food. When choosing cold-pressed options (a category segment that is growing with brands like Tiny Human Food®), you’re teaching your little one to fall in love with what fresh, healthy goodness tastes, smells, and looks like, while simultaneously giving them the nutrients that their growing bodies so desperately need. 

What advice would you give to parents looking to find a healthy work/home balance during the current stay-at-home orders?

Don’t be afraid to ask your partner to watch the children while you take a drive, go for a walk, or even just go to another room for time alone. It is okay to take some time to decompress.

How has COVID-19 affected the average couple’s fertility journey?

COVID-19 has had a negative impact on many couples. From canceled treatments to limited in-person visits, to lost jobs and financial strain, the pandemic has made it more difficult for couples to get the help they may need.

Can COVID-19 impact pregnancy or fetal health?

COVID-19 may make it take longer to conceive both because of lack of access to resources and support, and because the COVID-19 infection has been shown to alter hormone levels in some women. Additionally, pregnant women are at a slightly higher risk of showing symptoms of COVID-19 than non-pregnant women. The good news is that most mothers with COVID-19 do not pass it to their babies in utero.

What are your hopes for the future regarding more family-friendly workplace environments?

The COVID-19 pandemic has made everyone realize that the caregiving struggles working-parents endure can be experienced by anyone. Everyone now understands that a family-friendly workplace is vital to our functioning economy. Like any major transition, 2020 offers an opportunity to reassess what and how work gets done. Workers can be hyper-productive when they know what needs doing and are able to control their schedules. I dream of better trained managers, the flexibility to work from home or office, and a generous federal paid leave policy like the FAMILY Act.

How can pregnant women protect themselves and their babies during the pandemic?

Limiting contact with other people is the best defense. Ask if your doctor does virtual visits, get groceries delivered at home, work from home if possible, and try to avoid gathering with people outside of your household.  

Will a COVID-19 infection affect fertility?

While we don’t know the long-term effects COVID-19 will have, there seems to be a short-term infertility associated with it. COVID-19 has been shown to alter estrogen and progesterone levels — hormones key to regulating the menstrual cycle and getting pregnant. Post-infection, some women have experienced long, irregular cycles, thus contributing to transient subfertility.

How has fertility tracking changed since the beginning of the pandemic?

Before the pandemic, most fertility tracking was done at fertility clinics. Now that in person visits are limited, more and more doctors are choosing to remotely monitor their patients to reduce the risk of infection. Advances in technologies allows doctors to access sperm and ovulation quality at home now, which are crucial elements when it comes to successfully conceiving. 

How should companies support their expecting and new parents during COVID-19?

Especially during COVID-19, it is critical for companies to understand that their new parents are enduring intense pressure and isolation during what should be one of the most joyful (and complex) times in their personal and professional life. Communication is key. Reach out to offer help and talk through what they need to feel supported during this critical time. Don’t be afraid to ask about their emotional and mental health. Our training and leave resources — particularly our evidence-based self-assessment tool, the “Parental Leave Transition Assessment” — helps employees and their managers find creative solutions that are customized to each unique situation.

What advice would you give to parents looking to find a healthy work/home balance during the current stay-at-home orders?

Don’t let time blend. Get dressed for work, try to keep a regular routine throughout the day, and be sure to make time for self-care. Keep exercising if you were before you got pregnant, eat on a regular schedule, sleep when you’re tired, and ask for help if you need it.

How has COVID-19 affected the average couple’s fertility journey?

It’s made it lonelier. Maintaining physical distance from friends and loved ones who would like to be involved is hard but necessary. It’s also changed the “nesting” process from wandering through stores picking out cute things to net surfing and delivery truck stalking.

Can COVID-19 impact pregnancy or fetal health?

According to the CDC and other sources, pregnant women are a little more likely to have a severe infection from COVID-19, and the virus can slightly increase the likelihood of preterm birth.

How can pregnant women protect themselves and their babies during the pandemic?

Social distancing, masks, hand washing, and staying home as much as possible are especially important for pregnant women. In addition, other household members need to remain vigilant about preventing exposure and isolating if it happens anyway. Get into a routine so that efforts to avoid the virus just become part of your day.

How has fertility tracking changed since the beginning of the pandemic?

Any excursion outside the house could turn into an exposure. Carefully planning trips and arranging delivery of whatever can be delivered is essential. This will require research into what you’re likely to need, as well as procuring lists, schedules, and friends and family to run around for you. They want to help — let them.

What advice would you give to parents looking to find a healthy work/home balance during the current stay-at-home orders? 

Balance is bunk. Shift your perspective on what’s achievable, and take the pressure off. Sometimes, you’ll get a lot done for work, and other times you’ll need to focus on family. Both require creativity and flexibility. Start with open and upfront communication with your company with a goal of finding solutions together. Discuss limitations on schedule and attention. Ask for and accept help from your support system — your partner, family, neighbors, friends, religious community, etc. Needing support is not a reflection on you. You are being asked to do the impossible.

Can COVID-19 impact pregnancy or fetal health? 

The COVID-19 pandemic has made everyone realize that the caregiving struggles working-parents endure can be experienced by anyone. Everyone now understands that a family-friendly workplace is vital to our functioning economy. Like any major transition, 2020 offers an opportunity to reassess what and how work gets done. Workers can be hyper-productive when they know what needs doing and are able to control their schedules. I dream of better trained managers, the flexibility to work from home or office, and a generous federal paid leave policy like the FAMILY Act.

How should companies support their expecting and new parents during COVID-19?

Especially during COVID-19, it is critical for companies to understand that their new parents are enduring intense pressure and isolation during what should be one of the most joyful (and complex) times in their personal and professional life. Communication is key. Reach out to offer help and talk through what they need to feel supported during this critical time. Don’t be afraid to ask about their emotional and mental health. Our training and leave resources — particularly our evidence-based self-assessment tool, the “Parental Leave Transition Assessment” — helps employees and their managers find creative solutions that are customized to each unique situation.