Comprehensive Resources for Parents
Top Blogs For Parents
How would any of us survive motherhood without our village? The terrible twos, angsty preteen years, and downright disruptive teens would be enough to do us all in without other moms to remind us we will survive.
That’s where our selection of best mom blogs comes in. These are the moms telling their stories for all the world to read, giving you reasons to laugh, cry, and get up to parent another day.
- Healthline Parenthood
Quotes For Moms
Hey mamas, as we all know life hits you with many ups and downs. For me, a dinner with a friend, an inspiring quote, or even an inspirational movie help t0 pull me through the struggles. Here are 50 of my favorite inspirational quotes about life and struggles.
- Rookie Moms
Link: rookiemoms.com/inspirational-quotes-about-life-and-struggles/
The 4 Biggest Struggles New Moms Face
New parents – especially new moms – face an array of challenges, often with little guidance. Well, now it’s time to speak out because the reason that new motherhood feels so challenging is that new moms often feel ashamed of struggling. By breaking the silence about these 4 common challenges, though, everyone can find their way through those overwhelming early days.
- MomBlogSociety
Link: momblogsociety.com/the-4-biggest-struggles-new-moms-face/
The Evolution of Parenting: Five Biggest Challenges Faced by Parents Today
Believe it or not, good parenting, parenting styles and general child care are actually a relatively new phenomenon. The scientific interest in parenting or what is the best mode to raise a child’ has come about in recent years
- Toddler’s Den
Top 7 Things Parents Struggle With
Today’s parents struggle with 7 main things. Not surprisingly, modern parents struggle with roughly the same things their parents struggled with in the past. Today, they just give it a different name, maybe to feel a bit more modern or advanced. Same struggle, different shape.
- Family Matters
Link: ronitbaras.com/family-matters/parenting-family/top-7-things-parents-struggle-with/
The Best Autism Blogs of 2020
They say it takes a village to raise a child. That’s especially true for parents of children living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Finding a community of not just medical experts, but people who intimately understand the unique challenges of parenting an autistic child can make all the difference.
- Healthline
The Autism Dad - A Single Dad Raising 3 Kids with Autism
This blog is all about my life as a single Dad raising my three amazing autistic kids. I’m honest, transparent, and very open about the struggles we face as a family.
My message is one of hope, understanding, education, and perseverance. No matter what life throws our way, we always find a way through it.
- Rob Gorski
Link: theautismdad.com/
Data & Statistics - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
ASD is more than 4 times more common among boys than among girls.
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children
CDC has been tracking the prevalence of ASD since 1996, beginning with children in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia (2). Subsequently, CDC established the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, which has reported ASD prevalence in multiple communities in even-numbered years since 2000.
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Link: cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/ss/ss6904a1.htm?s_cid=ss6904a1_w
Study Published on Developmental Disabilities
In this study, scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) found that 17% of children aged 3–17 years had a developmental disability, and importantly, that this percentage increased over the two time periods compared, 2009–2011 and 2015–2017
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Link: cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/features/increase-in-developmental-disabilities.html/
Why Children Might Need Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have long been prescribed vitamins, minerals, and natural supplements to help with sleep, gastrointestinal distress, and boost low vitamin levels, all of which are common in children and adults with ASD.
- Autism Parenting Magazine
New Research Suggests Vitamin D Benefits Children with Autism
In 2008, Dr. John Cannell, MD, Founder of Vitamin D Council, published the first paper suggesting a relationship between low vitamin D status and an increased risk of autism. He created his hypothesis based on the data that illustrated an increased prevalence of autism in the regions of greater cloud cover and rainfall. Only observational studies had confirmed his hypothesis until now.
- Autism Parenting Magazine
Link: autismparentingmagazine.com/vitamin-d-benefits-children-autism/
Vitamin/Mineral Supplements for Children and Adults with Autism
The definition of a “vitamin” or “essential mineral” is that the lack of that vitamin or mineral results in disease or even death. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is the minimum amount required to prevent disease, but may be less than the amount needed for optimal mental and physical health. Most people in the US consume less than the RDA of one or more vitamins and minerals.
- Autism Parenting Magazine
Link: autismparentingmagazine.com/vitamin-mineral-supplements-for-children-and-adults-with-autism/
Help For Picky Eating
Even though I’m a dietitian, my kids aren’t eating octopus and quinoa salads with a side of kale in their lunch boxes. They’re typical kids, who love a good PB&J, have their own unique quirks, and need some time to warm up to guacamole.
As a former finicky eater myself, I understand where my kids are coming from when they’re suspicious of a seemingly innocuous sprinkling of parsley. So I try to be patient.
- Real Mom Nutrition
More Good Days Parenting Blog - Picky Eaters
When I teach about nutrition for toddlers and preschoolers, I include a few tips about introducing new foods. Then parents say “But I’ve got a really picky eater.” About 30 – 50% of parents of preschoolers describe their child as a picky eater!
So, this post will talk about how that may be just a normal toddler phase, plus lots of steps we can take to work on those challenges.
- Good Days With Kids
21 Struggles That Are Way Too Real For The Parents Of Picky Eaters
Take one bite! Please! Just one lousy bite!
- Mike Spohr (BuzzFeed Staff)
Link: buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/21-struggles-of-raising-a-picky-eating-kid
Child And Parent Predictors Of Picky Eating From Preschool To School Age
Picky eating is prevalent in childhood. Because pickiness concerns parents and is associated with nutrient deficiency and psychological problems, the antecedents of pickiness need to be identified. We propose an etiological model of picky eating involving child temperament, sensory sensitivity and parent-child interaction.
- Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act
Macro- and Micronutrient Intakes In Picky Eaters: A Cause For Concern?
Background: Picky eating (PE) is characterized by an unwillingness to eat certain foods and by strong food preferences. PE may result in lower intakes of energy and nutrients, which may compromise health.
Objectives: We quantified nutrient and food group intakes in children identified as picky eaters or nonpicky eaters and compared intakes between groups and with United Kingdom reference nutrient intakes.
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Is Your Picky Eater At Risk Of Becoming Malnourished?
A nutritional concern is frequently the main reason why parents seek help for their picky eaters. With a limited eating repertoire, it is quite understandable to think that kids are not getting enough nutrition to grow and develop optimally.
But are our nutritional concerns valid?
- Feeding Bytes
Link: feedingbytes.com/2019/05/is-your-picky-eater-malnourished/
Alternatives to Vitamins for Picky Eaters
Just give him a vitamin." That's the advice that parents of picky eaters often get.
If your kids don't eat fruits and vegetables or seem to pick at everything you give them, then a vitamin will help make sure they get the nutrition they need, right?
- Very Well Family
Link: verywellfamily.com/alternatives-to-vitamins-for-picky-eaters-2634438
He’s Too Picky… Does He Need Vitamins?
Ideal world: An eager, hungry 6-year-old sits at his perfectly-portioned plate, with a vegetable, fruit, whole grain and protein – accompanied by a glass of milk.
Real world: A picky, finicky 6-year-old stares at his plate on which you’ve hurriedly thrown a pile of pasta (you know he’ll eat it), a few green beans (that he will avoid like the plague), apple slices (that he eats first) and a glass of milk that he refuses to finish.
- Childrens MD Mom Docs
Link: childrensmd.org/browse-by-topic/general-health-wellness/hes-too-picky-does-he-need-vitamins/
Parenting Children with Special Needs
The usual challenges of parenting are compounded for parents and primary caregivers of children with special needs.
- BU Faculty & Staff Assistance Office
Link: bu.edu/fsao/resources/parenting-children-with-special-needs/
20 Things Every Parent of Kids with Special Needs Should Hear
1) You are not alone.
There may not be anyone else with the same constellation of symptoms as your child but there are people with similar challenges. Find those people. I have never met anyone with all of these same challenges as my kid but I have a strong network within each separate diagnosis. We have made wonderful friends and have found—and I hope provided—a great deal of support within each of these. I just have to pop onto one of my Facebook groups and I’m immediately reminded, I’m not alone.
- Dr. Darla Clayton, PsyD, The Mobility Resource
MULTIVITAMIN FOR AUTISM: SUPPLEMENTS TO BE ON THE BETTER SIDE
Typically, children on the spectrum do not absorb nutrients well because their digestive systems are not working very well. Often, they eat a very limited list of foods. B vitamins are particularly important because they are crucial for optimal brain health. Minerals, particularly magnesium, zinc, selenium and trace minerals, can be crucial as well. The body depends on these essential nutrients.
- Brainchild Nutritionals
Link: brainchildnutritionals.com/blogs/news/multivitamin-for-autism-supplements-to-be-on-the-better-side