Do kids need vitamins? I’ve read a lot of mixed info on this. Some health care providers feel they do, while others believe vitamins supplements are unnecessary for kids who eat a balanced diet.

WebMD notes that children should be getting their vitamins from a healthy, balanced diet that includes the following:

• Milk and dairy products
• Fresh fruits and leafy, green vegetables
• Protein
• Whole grains

However, WebMD notes that not all children are actually eating a healthy, balanced diet and those kids could use a vitamin supplement. Additionally, children with some medical conditions might need vitamins.

• Children with unbalanced diets
• Children who are picky eaters
• Children who have chronic medical conditions (e.g., asthma or digestive problems)
• Children who are very active in sports
• Children who eat a lot of fast food or processed food
• Children on particular diets (e.g., vegetarian or dairy-free)
• Children who drink a lot of carbonated beverages

WebMD considers the following vitamins important for growing children, but also advises against megavitamins.

• Vitamin
• Vitamin Bs: B2, B3, B6, and B12
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Calcium
• Iron

I bounce back and forth about vitamins. My kids eat really clean and will eat just about anything. They probably get more than their daily requirements of fruit and they actually eat a lot of veggies. Still, I know that you can eat a balanced diet and lack some nutrients. My son also has some GI issues, so I worry.

So, if you decide your kids need vitamin supplements, how do you know what to give them? I’ve come across a few lately that I’d consider.

alternaVites Kids

alternaVites are for kids four years old and over. They are multivitamins in the form of yummy flavored powder. I’m not a huge fan of gummy vitamins. We don’t give the kids gummy type treats, and so when we bought gummy vitamins, the kids became obsessed with getting their vitamin. It concerned me that if they ever got a hold of the bottle, the temptation might be strong because to them, gummy vitamins are like packaged treats. alternaVites are great because they are in powder form. They are free of egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish for kids with allergies. You can give them to your kids directly or mix in with food like yogurt.

Vemma Next

Vemma Next is a liquid supplement formulated for kids two through 12 years old. It contains vitamins like Vitamin C and Vitamin D, along with Quercetin (a group of flavonoids that give many fruits and vegetables their coloring) and phytonutrient extracts of 14 organic fruits and veggies. Vemma Next has a kid-friendly creamy orange flavor and is free of preservatives, artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners.

 Do your kids take vitamins? If so, which ones?

As a preschool teacher, I can tell you all the incredible things that three, four, and five year old children are capable of doing. Sure, sometimes they need some extra encouragement, and more often than not, they need more time than we might anticipate. But in the end, they can be very competent. The average, typically-developing preschooler can:

• walk into a classroom on his own two legs
• put a shoe on her own foot
• quickly learn the “flip trick” for putting on his own jacket
• follow one or two step clearly stated directions

Obviously, that is just a small list of examples, but I pick those specifically because of their impact on a child’s classroom experience. I hope I don’t sound too harsh when I say this, and do know that I say it with love, but you’re not doing your child any favors by keeping them completely dependent on you for simple tasks like those listed above. If your child is a part of a group– in a preschool class, in a swim class, at a Mom’s Morning Out program, what have you– I can almost guarantee you that no one is carrying your three or four year old around.

In my classroom, whenever a child asks me to do something for them, I ask if they’ve already tried once or twice. Maybe it’s opening a lunch container, or perhaps it’s getting shoes on after nap time is over. If the child consistently balks at the suggestion to give it a try, I can begin to picture that this is a new experience for him. If it is the case at home that when he wordlessly hands a parent his shoe, it will immediately be placed on his foot with no effort on his part, then I can understand his frustration at my response. I also understand that it is critical that I help him tap into his own growing abilities.

To help your child begin to experience the confidence that comes from being able to independently handle simple tasks, you will need a strong dose of patience and the willingness to step back a bit. Show your child simple steps to getting a shoe on- open wide (just like a great big mouth), slip your foot in, hold the back, and then velcro close. Teach them how to lay a coat on the floor, stand by the hood so the coat is upside down, push their hands into the sleeves, and with a great big FLIP, bring it over their heads while they slide those arms all the way through the sleeves. Begin to involve them in simple chores around the home. All of these seemingly small experiences really do help a young child feel more competent and capable.

And please, hold your child’s hand while you walk into school together rather than carry her in. You’d be amazed at what a difference that makes in her perspective.

As part of my Mom Health commitment, I’m going to get back on the exercise wagon. Before I had kids, I was working out. I saw a personal trainer two to three times a week and hit the gym five times a day. I was in shape and I loved it. And I had workout clothes!

Fast forward four years and, ahem, a few pounds and I’m back in the market for cute exercise clothes. The only problem is that I don’t look so cute in them like I once did. So I’m avoiding and dreading shopping for them. I’m heading to a great studio, The Dailey Method, where I can just picture adorable women in great workout clothes. And I get all sweaty.

On their website, they advise “comfortable clothing that you can move in. Preferably not too loose or baggy so instructors are able to see your alignment and form.”

So there goes my giant frumpy mom Tshirt over yoga pants. This is good, though, because my goal is to ditch the frumpy look and recapture some style. My go-to for workout clothes was always Target, so I did some (online) shopping.

Babydoll Athletic Tank

I’m no longer comfortable in super fitted exercise clothes. At all. But again, I’m hoping to avoid the Tshirt, so this great babydoll athletic tank ($20) is a great solution. It’s fitted enough, but not super clingy in the stomach and although it could be maternity-esque, that’s a risk I’m willing to take right now!

Tummy control tank

I don’t love the pattern, but I love the “control” part of the tummy control tank ($22). The built-in bra and the coolmax fabric make it perfect for a serious workout, which I need!

Long sleeve workout tee

It’s not quite cold enough in San Diego for hoodies, but a comfortable workout tee ($13) over an exercise top is perfect for slightly cool weather, and it can be taken off after the sweating begins.

Semi-fitted capri pants

Exercise pants give me the hives. I don’t wear pants (well, other than my pajama pants, which I wear too often). I wear skirts and dresses 100 percent of the time. Really. So, I’m going to go be brave and go with these semi-fitted capri pants ($18).

So, do you have any favorite workout clothes? Share!

Being a parent can be stressful, whether your kids are toddlers or teens. And while we all know that we should try to do things to reduce stress — whether that’s taking a yoga class or just taking a bubble bath — did you also know that some foods can also help you relax and cut back on stress?

Salmon
Well not just salmon, but anything that’s high in omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce adrenaline. Too much adrenaline can cause stressful, sleepless nights, so be sure to include salmon, mackerel and other oily fish, as well as walnuts, flaxseed oil and other omega-3 rich foods in your diet. Omega-3s can also improve cardiovascular health and circulation, increase good cholesterol, decrease triglycerides and much more.

Whole grains
Grab a bowl of whole grain cereal or slice of whole grain toast in the morning. Whole grains contain serotonin — the chemical in your brain that keeps you calm, happy and balanced.

Fruits and veggies
You need vitamin C and magnesium in your diet to help regulate cortisol — the stress hormone. If you are going to be doing something especially stressful, load up on berries, citrus fruit or even broccoli to get your vitamin C, while also eating spinach, nuts and other magnesium-rich foods.

After I stopped nursing, my daughter became quite fond of the bottle (to say the least). Talking long before she was walking, she never called it a “ba ba” but rather, with exceptional and seemingly deliberate annunciation, she chose to call it what it was–a “bot-oll.” When she wanted her bottle, she asked for it. After she began walking, she loved to cruise around with it in her left hand while leaving her right hand free to play with her toys. Stumbling about, she looked a lot like a drunken sailor (albeit a very short and very cute drunken sailor.). And as her one year birthday came and went (she’s now thirteen-months-old) I began to dread the day we’d have to take her bot-oll away. So when should a baby stop drinking from the bottle?

The Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving up the bottle by age one and no later than 18 months. And according to this study, prolonged bottle use can lead to childhood obesity.  Oh, and in addition to making my baby fat, I also read that drinking from the bottle is bad for her teeth. “According to the American Academy of Dentistry, it can cause baby bottle tooth decay.” (And…I should’ve been brushing her eight pearly whites already?! And should have taken her to the dentist already!?- Er, another post for another time.).

I recently took my daughter to a playdate and my friend asked when I was going to get rid of “IT.” She went on to tell me that she’d had a “bye bye bottle” party for her daughter when she was fourteen- months-old because she was so attached. I braced myself. Was this what I’d be in for? Girlfriend did like, make that love, that bottle.

My pediatrician told me that if it was her “only vice” (and it really was) that I didn’t need to rush anything- afterall, she’d just turned one (her appointment was on her one-year birthday. Gee mom, thanks for the three shots- is that my birthday present?). The doctor went on to say that what was most important was that she was getting her milk- about sixteen ounces per day (and she was–and then some!). And I breathed a sigh of relief. I could do it on my own terms, when it felt right for her. (Which is how anything in motherhood SHOULD be, but the pressure to keep up and do what “they” say sometimes gets me. Who are “they” anyway?)

Cut to two days ago. For whatever reason, I decided to put the milk in her sippy cup and see what my daughter would do. I poured the milk from the carton into the brightly colored cup that was taller like her bottle (two things I read would help the transition) and step-by-step, walked my baby through what I was doing. If anyone had witnessed this, I probably looked like I was making a bad “how to” Youtube video from my kitchen. And how did my daughter react? She took the cup from me, said “milk” or rather “ilk” and started drinking. And she drank the entire thing. Never once asking for her “you know what.”

Yesterday, she mentioned the “you know what” one time, but I simply said, “your milk is in here” pointing to the sippy cup. And she took it and drank it. There was no drama. There were no tears. She didn’t throw the sippy cup across the room and demand her bot-oll. She drank from her cup like a big girl. And a funny thing happened to me.

Did I swell with pride at how well she handled giving up her bottle? No.

Did I smile with satisfaction that I’d accomplished this feat? No.

Did I feel sad that my baby was, well, turning into a little person? Yes!

Turns out saying bye bye to the bottle was a lot harder for mommy than it was for baby. I have a suspicion that this might be the case when it comes to many milestones in my daughter’s life.

I believe that beginner knitters should start out with the cheapest acrylic yarn possible. You’re going to hate and likely destroy the first half a dozen things you make, so why spend more than $3 on the yarn? But after that, when you start to love your projects and you feel comfortable knitting, it’s okay to start indulging in gorgeous yarn. Not everyone can wear wool, but not all yarn is made of wool. You can look into cotton, bamboo and even alpaca. (And don’t be afraid to buy synthetic and novelty yarn when it suits your purposes.)

When I buy special yarn, I like to shop handmade. I have literally no idea how people spin and dye wool for yarn but it sounds like a really awesome craft. I have friends who do it, and it’s one of those things I consider to be sorcery, more or less. Whenever you can, try to support the folks who spend a lot of time on this amazing craft.

Here are some cool places to buy homespun yarn:

• Quo Vardis 
• Pam’s Fiber 
• Kindred Threads 
• Northcott Wilson Artisans

Our kids never got sick very often, until this year when my son started preschool at age 3. Now it seems that he’s constantly bringing home something new, passing it on to his younger sisters. Unfortunately right now our whole family is sick, but my 2 1/2 year old daughter has the worst of it — horrible cough, chest congestion, runny nose, water eyes, headache, sore throat and more. When young kids get sick, especially toddlers that aren’t totally verbal, it’s often difficult to determine exactly what is wrong.

Is it allergies?
If your child has a runny nose and itchy eyes, it can actually be allergies and not a cold. Keep in mind that a fever is never present with allergies and even a cough is rare. If your child does have seasonal allergies often, talk to your pediatrician about a prescription for nasal steroids to provide some relief.

Is it the flu?
You might think your child has a common cold, however it could be the flu or an infection. With a simple cold, stuffy nose, sneezing and a sore throat are common, while fever, headache and heavy fatigue are more often the symptoms of the flu. Keep in mind, even a common cold can lead to something more, such as earaches, a hacking cough and painful sinus congestion. Severe complications of the flu include bronchitis and pneumonia — which can be life threatening.

What can you do?
If your toddler has a cold, there’s not much you can do, except provide a pain reliever for temporary relief. Depending on your child’s age, over-the-counter decongestants might also be a possibility. With the flu or an infection, your child needs to see a doctor and get a prescription for antiviral or antibiotic medication.

How to prevent illness
The best thing to prevent the common cold is good hygiene — handwashing, handwashing, handwashing. For the flu prevention, little ones should get an annual flu shot or FluMist. In the end, there isn’t much you can do when toddlers get a cold, mild flu or upper respiratory infection. Just follow your doctor’s advice, dispense medication when necessary, make sure they get plenty of fluids, and of course, get as much rest as possible.

Here I am again, writing what is more like an inverse advice column about parenting a child heading down the path of adolescence. I’m the one who is in serious need of a road map. Lately, my husband and I have been talking a lot together, as well as with our 11 year old son, about maturity. I’m just not sure if our expectations are appropriate.

I don’t think we have a good grasp on what the “norm” is for this stage of development yet. (Remember last week I mentioned our whole “guinea pig child” framework? Yeah, first born children really get screwed, it would seem!) What we see is a yo-yo-like coming and going of maturity. Our son has responsibilities and privileges that I trust he is capable of handling, and he’s made some good decisions in situations when he has been alone that show his growing level of maturity. Then other times he bickers with his younger siblings like he’s also four years old.

Is this what we should expect for a while? I imagine this is a time of confusion for him, this middle space between childhood and adolescence. Is this why the word “tween” was coined? Because this certainly does seem like a “between” kind of time.

I have some very vivid memories from my own sixth grade experience, and I think that I might gather some guidance in how I act as a parent right now from drawing on these memories. My best friend and I would spend time playing Barbies in her room, though we made Barbie and Ken act in what we perceived to be adult manners. (Oh, how the misconceptions did abound!) We rode bikes around on town on our own, bringing money to the drugstore to buy candy, or hanging out under a small pedestrian bridge trying to skip stones on the water underneath. We also watched George Michael videos on MTV in her living room, singing along to lyrics that I was still years from completely understanding.

Because of these memories, I’m not too concerned about our son’s desire to still play with his Lego collections or his various toy figures. Perhaps his path to maturity will be longer than others’, but I imagine that the two steps forward, one step back approach is shared with at least some of his contemporaries.

This week’s Facebook Poll was: How Often Do You Wash Your Hair?

When I asked this question on Facebook, I was sure most women would say they washed their hair daily, although I know models and movie stars wash their hair very few times a week to keep it stylish and manageable. I was surprised to see that the majority of those who answered (there were 41 responses in all) said they washed their hair every other day.

I used to wash my hair daily because I hated how ‘dirty’ my hair felt if I missed a day of washing it. I’ve since trained my hair and now skip a day between washings. It’s healthier for my scalp and keeps my color longer. I also love the fact that my style looks so much better on day two, something I never believed in previously. It’s so much easier to manage when hair is a little dirtier.

Like most of those who responded, I will agree, on the days that I work out, which is rare, hair-washing is a must. So those who go to the gym every day wash their hair after a workout. There were a few ladies who only wash their hair once or twice a week, but a quick puff of baby powder onto the scalp helped contain any oily scalp. That, or a ponytail or a baseball cap, they say, will do the trick to keep dirtier hair in check!

Each is different, so whether you’ve got curly hair, straight, long, or a “quick-and-easy jump out of bed and go with it” style, figure out what works best for your scalp and hair care and go with what works for you. I’m glad I’ve found the magic remedy to finally have manageable and reliable hair without having to wash it daily!

So, how often to YOU wash your hair?

Photos of Miley Cyrus rockin’ “mom jeans” are splashed all over just about everyone online celeb gossip site you can find. They’re cracking me up. Cyrus is also guilty of wearing mom jean shorts.

I can assure you that I do not own — nor have I ever owned — mom jeans. Even in my current sad style state, there are absolutely, positively no mom jeans in the rotation. In fact, there aren’t any jeans that fit, but that’s another issue for my Mom Health Monday post.

This all got me thinking about where mom jeans originated. A quick google search led me to Wikipedia, which credits Saturday Night Live with blaming us moms for an awfully offensive clothing item. Mom jeans don’t look good on anyone. If Miley Cyrus and her currently cute little figure look awful in them, everyone looks awful in them.

I mean, really — high waisted, ugly color, painfully unflattering… mom jeans are just wrong. Wiki says a skit with the tagline “For this Mother’s Day, don’t give Mom that bottle of perfume. Give her something that says, ‘I’m not a woman anymore. I’m a mom!’” started it all.

What in the world is Miley Cyrus doing in mom jeans?!