New parenting resources for the "smartphone era" (Part 2 of 2)

We busy parents of multiples need all the help we can get! In this spirit I present to you the 2nd post in a 2-part update of new parenting resources that take advantage of current technology.

HealthyChildren.org is the official parenting website of the American Academy of Pediatrics. If your child has a mild illness or minor injury, the website's KidsDoc Symptom Checker tool can help you decide what level of care is needed, and how to provide symptom relief for minor issues you can manage on your own. A KidsDoc Symptom Checker app is available for smartphones as well. Remember that no website or app can replace the medical care and advice of your health care provider– always address specific questions about your child’s health with your pediatrician, and in an emergency situation, call 911 immediately. For those situations in which you are unsure if you should call your doctor or not, the Symptom Checker is a useful tool to help you make an appropriate decision for your child.

New parenting resources for the "smartphone era" (Part 1 of 2)

Technology marches forward, and with the popularity of social networking and smartphone "apps" come new parenting resources that can help keep your kids healthy and well-cared for. This week I'll be posting information on two relatively new resources with time-tested reliable advice with feedback from, and the support of, the American Academy of Pediatrics.

"Text4baby" is a free mobile service designed to provide pregnant women and new parents information on maintaining healthy pregnancies and babies, provided by the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. Parents can sign up for the service by texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411 to receive 3 free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth. A helpful way to get reliable advice while on the go. Check out their website at text4baby.org, their Facebook page, or the video below for more information.

A Low-Tech Emergency Info Sheet

Technology marches forward, and smart phones (iPhones, Blackberries and the like) are ubiquitous. Many parents enjoy the convenience of the phone, internet, and countless apps ready in their pockets, giving today’s suggestion an antiquated feeling, but a quick Google search tells me Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

Consider maintaining a list of important phone numbers as a word processing document on your computer’s hard drive, and post a printed version in a central location of your home, such as on the refrigerator. Customize your number list to include any numbers you deem important– it is yours, so go ahead and include your favorite takeout restaurant’s number below the emergency numbers! We keep key information on ours such as:

• Mom and Dad’s cell and work numbers
• Grandparents’/neighbors’ phone numbers
• Pediatrician numbers
• School numbers and absentee hotline numbers (very handy; my 4 kids attend 3 different schools)
• Poison control
• Local pharmacy numbers, including the nearest 24 hour pharmacy

A posted paper list is always available and easy to reference, and never needs recharging. If parents head out for work, date night or a rushed, unexpected emergency, the hard-copy list is ready for your children’s caregiver with all pertinent information– no need to worry about preparing the info every time you leave the house. (Just as carrying an umbrella seems to ward off the rain, I’m a believer in being prepared for unexpected scenarios, for peace of mind.) If the master document is kept on your hard drive, you can easily make corrections and updates as needed. Print out extra copies for nearby relatives or neighbors, and they’ll have your contact information at the ready.

A bonus: as our kids grow older we coach them, in an age-appropriate way, how to handle emergencies and other various situations. My second grader knows where the master contact list is, and if need be, he can use the house line to call his dad’s cell phone, or Grammy, in a jiffy. While most cell phones have phone numbers memorized, your child probably won’t have access to your device in an emergency. Modern innovations are great for busy families, but there is also beauty in a simple sheet of paper.

Families With Kids––Don't Go Completely Wireless!

A mom in my twins club took an informal poll this week to see how member families save money on their home phone/internet/cell phone bills.  She has toddler boy-girl twins, and usually uses her cell phone for day-to-day calls.  She was tempted to drop her home land line in order to save money.

I encouraged her to maintain a home 'land' line to have the peace of mind of enhanced-911.  With enhanced 911, even if the caller is unable to speak, emergency services will automatically have the address and will be able to send help.  Any home with young children should maintain a 'wired' land line telephone for this very reason, because you never know when an emergency may occur, and you never know if you're going to be able to make the lifesaving 911 call yourself.

Most cell phones do have a Global Positioning System on them these days, but land telephone lines are still the most reliable way of establishing the location of an emergency.

Even from a young age, children can be taught the basics of telephone usage.  A simple way to teach a preschooler how to dial the telephone in case of emergency is "Green-9-1-1" ['Green' for the green symbol on the "On" button].  Of course, don't leave your phone unattended after the tutorial!  You'll want to make it clear to your kids that 911 is only for emergencies.