Time to get out the sunscreen! If you need some ideas on how to break up the lazy days of summer, this helpful guide allows you to narrow down options by age, price, location and dates. There is also a way to search for camps that would provide additional supports for your child (under camp specialty).
Interested in learning more about your baby's sleep needs? Sleep promotes brain development, attention span, frustration tolerance and overall health. The resources below can help you get started.
https://www.amazon.com/Precious-Little-Sleep-Complete-Parents/dp/0997580801
https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/baby-sleep-schedule.aspx
Graph can be found at the following link: National Sleep Foundation Sleep Recommendations
Connect Home Visiting is a Maternal Child Health and Early Childhood initiative affiliated with Lurie Children's Hospital. Connect Home Visiting refers pregnant people and families with young children to a network of home visiting providers in the Chicagoland area. Home visitors work with parents on practical parenting skills as well as family bonding before birth and as children grow up. Through partnering with the home visitors, families learn how to improve their family’s health and provide better opportunities for their children.
Families may consider this resource in addition to the therapies offered through Early Intervention.
Please use the link below to learn more and apply.
Early Intervention Technology Loan
Feeding & Nutrition Consultation
Join the Chicago Feeding Group on January 31st, 6:30-8:30 p.m. for a parenting panel. This event will be a moderated discussion with parents who have children with feeding challenges. Parental stress, management of family life, effectiveness of interventions, and the role of a feeding therapist are topics that will be explored throughout the discussion.
https://autismnavigator.com/ - Autism Navigator provides resources, webinars/learning and a virtual community for those interested in learning more about early detection and support for children diagnosed with autism.
http://www.interactingwithautism.com/ is a video based resource that helps caregivers better understand the diagnosis, therapy options and experience living with autism.
Resource Directory RUSH offers a local resource directory for individuals diagnosed with autism. Looking for a dentist, summer camp or a supportive place to get your child's hair cut? Check out these recommendations!
Chicago Autism Network provides virtual workshops for caregivers around important topics such as encouraging social engagement, school advocacy and navigating insurance benefits.
First 100 Days After Diagnosis Tool Kit Autism Speaks believes knowledge is power, particularly in the days after an autism diagnosis. The Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit helps families of children ages four and under make the best possible use of the 100 days following the diagnosis.
Support through our office is also available! Iwona Parkel, our Parent Liaison is available to talk one on one should you be interested, Iwona_M_Parkel@rush.edu. Please don't hesitate to connect.
With the birth of a baby may come powerful emotions. You may experience moments of excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. But it can also result in something you might not expect — depression.
According to Mayo Clinic, most new moms experience postpartum "baby blues" after childbirth, which commonly include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Baby blues typically begin within the first two to three days after delivery, and may last for up to two weeks.
But some new moms experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression isn't a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's simply a complication of giving birth. If you have postpartum depression, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms and help you bond with your baby. Talking with your doctor is an important first step. In addition, the resources below may be some to consider:
Beyond Baby Blues This Evanston based resource offers online support groups for women experiencing postpartum depression. They also offer a six week, free support group for women who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, death of a newborn, or death of an infant one year of age or younger.
Postpartum Support International A go-to online resource that offers an extensive provider directory as well as a wealth of online support groups for moms, dads, partners.
Chicagoland's Fussy Baby Network provides telephone support, home visits, parent groups, and a Fussy Baby Clinic for families with questions about crying, sleeping or feeding during the first 12 months of their baby’s life, 1 888-431-BABY.
NorthShore MOMS Line an incredibly responsive team through Northshore Hospital dedicated to supporting those experiencing perinatal depression. You don’t have to be a patient there to get help.
Northwestern Medicine COMPASS offers patients at Northwestern University Medical Center a collaborative care team which includes your pregnancy care team and mental health care team. Supports last from pregnancy to one year after your baby is born.
A House in Austin is located in a two-story, Victorian house in Chicago’s Austin area. The home offers an informal space for West Side parents to meet each other, learn new skills, share experiences and learn from one another. Daytime programming is free and includes a music class, a parent chat hour, a support group for new fathers, art and reading classes for infants through 5-year-olds, meditation and yoga, even a cooking course.
STARNET offers parent workshops and trainings that focus on
young children with disabilities. They help caregivers learn more about a
child’s specific disability as well as promote an understanding of what
services might be available through the early childhood community. In addition,
they also offer a lending library.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information to parents and caregivers on how to look for developmental milestones and what to do if you are worried about your child’s development or think there’s a problem.
Please view the YouTube video for
more information:
Please see the link below for the CDC’s Developmental
Milestones:
All Hands Health Network helps families
link to resources in the Chicago area. This site has a specific interest in
connecting families from Belmont-Cragin and Austin (60639 and 60651) with
social service organizations, food pantries, housing providers and governmental
agencies and departments. You can browse by category using the website and
entering your zip code. All Hands Health Network can also provide support by
telephone, (312) 971-3044.
Please see link below for more information:
Chicago Early Learning Chicago Early Learning offers plenty of great programs to support families and make early education avail...
