"Only 12 percent of U.S. firms offer paid maternity leave, while a national parental leave policy would likely require businesses to give new mothers six weeks of paid time off. Research has shown that paid maternity leave can increase the rate of mothers who attempt breastfeeding by as much as 18 percent. Lack of widespread parental leave also may explain why less than a quarter of working mothers are still breastfeeding after six months."

"...some of the recent stories in the news and articles spreading through social media appear to paint quite the opposite picture about breastfeeding—that somehow breastfeeding is potentially dangerous to babies and that the “pressure to breastfeed” is the reason behind some babies getting sick or even, in a handful of cases, dying.

"CHICAGO (AP) — A widely shared story that U.S. health officials are recommending a delay in breast-feeding to improve vaccine effectiveness is false.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency named in the false reports, encourages breast-feeding . The CDC says breast milk is best for all infants except in rare cases such as when a mother has active, untreated tuberculosis."

"All forms of extra organised support analysed together showed an increase in the length of time women continued to breastfeed, either with or without introducing any other types of liquids or foods, the authors wrote."

"Breastfeeding is really important," said lead author Alison McFadden, who directs the Mother and Infant Research Unit at the University of Dundee in the UK. "Good support will help mothers to breastfeed longer and breastfeed exclusively, which of course is good for mothers and babies."

"In a commentary that accompanies the study, Dr. Lydia Furman of Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital suggested that this won’t be the last word on breastfeeding and brain growth. On the one hand, the preponderance of studies shows that there’s “a small but durable impact of breastfeeding on intelligence.” On the other hand, the more that researchers are able to account for factors like a mother’s IQ and the exact duration of nursing, the weaker the relationship between nursing and intelligence is likely to get."

"We use breast-feeding to help change that narrative, and say ‘this is our commitment to the health and nutrition of our children.’ Kimberly Seals Allers' book “The Big Letdown."

"Mother support groups, including La Leche League International, provide role models and accurate information for both normal breastfeeding as well as problem-solving. The sharing and friendships that develop between breastfeeding mothers can also provide a safe haven of support.

Some mothers and their children do get depressed, that is an undeniable fact. However, breastfeeding can provide at least some protection from depression, in addition to its many other benefits."

"Being a parent has so many positives. But with those positives comes a big dose of stress, chaos, and pressure. Parents have to sacrifice a lot more than they did pre-kid days; sleep, privacy, wants, and, a lot of times, needs. Finding a group of supportive people is an essential component to feeling a little bit sane when you spend day in and day out around children. You might find that some crazy things come out of your mouth."

Are you a practitioner or educator who works with families to reduce children’s use of screens and other digital devices? Then we want to hear from you! We know talking to parents about screen time can be a difficult and sensitive topic, and keeping up with the latest research can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re launching a national network that will provide critical support for educators, practitioners, and advocates working directly with families to reduce to children’s screen time.

"The most recent statistics collected by the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (2015) of State College students found that, “The most common depressed thought was “at times I think I am no good at all,” reported by 26.7 percent of students in this district, with 37 percent of 12th-graders. About 23.2 percent of students reported they felt sad or depressed most days in the past 12 months. Overall, 12.4 percent of students had seriously considered attempting suicide, compared to 16 percent of students at the state level."

Los Niños Training presents 14th Annual Young Child Expo & Conference NYC

The 14th Annual Young Child Expo & Conference promises to be another highly rated inspiring professional development opportunity.

NYC Conference

May 2nd – May 5th 2017

Los Angeles Conference

January 17-19 2018

Past issues of API Links are available online to read and share at any time. Keep current on parenting information and find supportive resources.

January

February

March

There are so many great articles we hope you will check out.

Parents play the lead role in supporting their children’s early development and school readiness. When parents are able to provide nurturing care and strategic support for learning, they foster child brain development in ways that increase capacity for learning—building early attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. The quality of early parental care also shapes the development of child skills for making friends, getting along with others, and managing emotions and behavior."

A family-centered cesarean is a relatively new concept that’s helping to make cesarean births gentler and more positive. In addition to giving a mother control over her birth, a family-centered cesarean -- sometimes called a gentle cesarean -- may also help facilitate early bonding between parent and newborn. This can help a family to start out feeling attached and connected from birth.