Mommy Planning Guide

by Ed Jackson

Difficult economic times have arrived for millions of families across the country, and many are facing challenging financial decisions.

Estimated expenses vary by a family’s size and income level. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, depending on the age of a child, the annul expenses range from $7,830 to $8,830 for families in the lowest income group (2007 before-tax income less than $45,800), from $10,930 to $12,030 for families in the middle-income group (2007 before-tax income between $45,800 and $77,100), and from $15,980 to $17,500 for families in the highest income group (2007 before-tax income more than $77,100).

The Consumer Expenditure Survey for 2007 performed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that housing is the largest child-rearing expense, comprising of 33 to 37 percent of all expenses. Food is the second largest expense, accounting for 14 to 19 percent.

The estimated average monthly cost of food for a family of 4 (two adults and two children between the ages 3 – 5 years) in 2007 was $474.50. For two parents and children between the ages of 6-11 years, the average monthly cost of food was $543.80.

Child-related expenses are generally lower for younger children and higher for older children. Overall, child-rearing expenses are highest for families in the urban West, followed by the urban Northeast and urban South; families in the urban Midwest and rural areas have the lowest child-rearing expenses.

Facing financial challenges of rearing children is one of the many tasks of parenthood. Creating a budget is vital for controlling expenses and planning for the future. You can learn a few basic budgeting steps here: Financial Plan

You can use the worksheets below to help you budget:
Basic Budgeting Worksheet
Monthly Spending Worksheet
Annual Budgeting Worksheet

You can also estimate the cost of raising your child/children with the helpful calculator below: Cost of Raising a Child Calculator

The Mother of All Pregnancy Books

by Sandra Sexton 

Planning to get pregnant?  Start reading The mother of All Pregnancy Books by Ann Douglas now, before your baby arrives!

This books explores not only pregnancy and its issue, but also serves as a great guise to pre-pregnancy planing on a physical and emotional levels.  It talks about pregnancy complaints from A to Z, demystifies the labor day, and more.

I especially liked the chapter "When Pregnancy isn't perfect".  My sister's last pregnancy was high risk and we both read this book together to get a better understanding of issues related to preterm birth and associated health complications.

Great read for moms-to-be out there!

Save Money by Eating Breakfast at Home

A friend of mine recently announced proudly to his wife that he saved $12 that day by not having breakfast. What he meant was “not eating out” for breakfast. Good job! Let’s take a closer look at the financial impact of his decision of not eating out that morning.

Spending $12 every morning (Monday through Friday) means spending: $60 a week, $240 a month, and $2,880 a year! WOW, THAT’S PRICEY! 

Most of us do not think about the lost financial opportunities a few dollars a day can bring. For example, if my friend were to invest the $2,880 that he would have saved over the course of just one year at a reasonable rate of return (12% over, let’s say 30 years), he would be looking at a nice chunk of $$$.

If you’re like my friend, review the figures below. You’ll find sample prices of breakfasts-on-the-run, your annual spending if you indulge in eating breakfast out during a business week (Monday thorough Friday), and of course the amount of money that you would have made had you invested it! 


I bet you had no idea you could save that much on just eating breakfast at home!

Of course the name of the game is to save and invest this money not just one year but year after year. By doing this, you will increase your wealth exponentially. 

Green Hygiene

What is the benefit of using organic bath and beauty products?

Well, for starters, your skin will not be harmed by harsh chemicals. Some cosmetics contain ingredients such as dietholamine, which is a known carcinogen. Others may contain hormone disruptors, lead, or mercury. Daily exposure to such chemicals may result in health problems later in life.

Using organic cosmetics will not pollute our waterways when these toxic compounds go down the drain when you wash your face.

If you care about your health and environment, try natural cosmetics, such as Burt’s Bees, a line of natural cosmetics for women, men, and children. They even have products for infants, such as baby shampoo and more. 

Or try Tom’s of Main, a selection of natural deodorants, toothpaste, mouthwash, and soap.

You can also find earth-friendly bath and beauty products at Whole Foods Market or possibly at your local health food store.

Fever: What You Need to Know

Fever is one of the most common reasons why parents bring their children to me for an evaluation. Many parents perceive fever as a disease and fear that it may cause harm or even death if it is not treated. In this article, I would like to dispel the fever phobia. 

What is fever?
Fever is an elevation of the body’s temperature in response to infection. A part of the brain called the hypothalamus serves as the body’s thermostat. It helps us maintain a normal temperature of about 98.6 F. Sometimes, the hypothalamus resets the body’s temperature in response to an infection. An elevated temperature stimulates the immune system to fight off the infection.

Your child has a fever when her temperature is:
• 100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius) measured rectally
• 99.5° Fahrenheit (37.5° Celsius) measured orally
• 99° Fahrenheit (37.2° Celsius) measured under the arm

How to measure temperature?
Research indicates that evaluation of temperature by touch or kiss does not correlate with the actual body’s temperature. Therefore, it is important to measure it in a reliable way. Since pacifier, ear, or other newer thermometers have varied and have low sensitivity, the old-fashioned way of measuring your child’s temperature is recommended. For infants younger than 3 months, a rectal temperature should be measured. In children 3 months to 5 years, the temperature should be measured under the arm, and older children can have their temperature checked either under the arm or orally.

How to treat your child's fever?
Since fever activates the immune system in an attempt to fight off infection, its presence is very beneficial. However, I use general rules of thumb for fever treatment:

• If the fever is 102 F or higher, it should be treated
• Any fever below 102 F that makes your child uncomfortable should be treated

Help your feverish child feel better by offering plenty of fluids. When your child has a fever, her body uses more water. A dehydrated child will always feel worse, so let her sip water, Gatorade, or diluted juice. A sneaky way of getting fluids in is to let your child eat Popsicles and jello.

I do not recommend lukewarm baths for children running fevers, because they may get chilled. Shivering is caused by muscle contractions that produce heat; therefore, it tends to increase the body’s temperature. Instead, apply cool compresses to the neck, forehead, under the armpits, and the groin area. Skin is very thin in those places, thus blood vessels are close to the surface. The cooled down blood will be distributed throughout the body and help your child’s fever to go down.

Is alternating Tylenol and Motrin safe?
Alternating Tylenol and Motrin is not recommended. For higher fevers use ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil). For lower fevers, acetaminophen (Tylenol) should do the trick.
When should you see a health care provider?
When your child’s fever lasts for longer than 3 days, she should be evaluated by a health care provider. Viral infections may produce fevers typically lasting for up to 3 days. Fevers lasting longer than that may indicate your child has a bacterial infection and requires an antibiotic.

If the fever is high, 102 or higher, and you cannot control it with ibuprofen, take your child in to see her health care provider as well. She might have a bacterial infection.

All infants running a fever younger than 3 months of age need to be seen by a health care provider immediately to rule out meningitis.

Make Your Own Fresh Air at Home

Certain plants are proven to improve air quality in offices, work places, and our homes. Check this out!

According to a 15-year study by Greenspaces, certain plants will improve indoor air quality. In fact, these plants not only convert carbon dioxide into oxygen but also remove toxins, such as formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds, from indoor air!

These plants are areca palm, money plant, and mother-in-law’s tongue. The study showed that workers in the Greenspaces building reported increased productivity, 52% reduction in eye irritation, 24% decrease in headaches and 9% in asthma. For more information, please watch this video.

Areca palm converts carbon dioxide into oxygen during the day. Its leaves should be wiped daily to remove dust, and the plant should be placed outdoors every 3-4 months.

Mother-in-law’s tongue converts carbon dioxide into oxygen at night. Six to eight waist high plants are needed per person to improve the indoor air quality.

Money plant effectively converts carbon dioxide into oxygen and eliminates formaldehyde released from cigarette smoke and adhesives used in wooden furniture.

A team of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) researchers tested the effect of 12 houseplants on three pollutants known to be present in spacecrafts: benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. The same compounds are present in our homes and office buildings, as they are released from the furniture, office equipment, or certain building materials. According to NASA, some plants are very effective in removing specific indoor pollutants.

You can read about the summary of the NASA study here.

Pregnancy Book

By Sandra Sexton

If you are expecting, you might have a lot of questions about what to expect during your pregnancy.  I would like to suggest a book for you: You & Your Baby: Pregnancy by Dr. Laura Riley, OB/GYN.

Dr. Riley is an author, the medical director of labor and delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and a mom to two daughters.  In her book, she talks about how a mom's-to-be body changes week-by-week and what symptoms expecting moms can experience.  She also offers advise on how to deal with the morning sickness, mood swings, and lower back pain. 

You & Your Baby: Pregnancy gives moms-to-be a good overview of the amazing journey that pregnancy is.  She suggests exercise programs, healthy diet, addresses safety issues in preparing women to progress through the pregnancy as healthy as possible, and helps them to conquer childbirth fears.

It is a great read full of very good information.