5 Parenting Rules I won’t compromise on!

Breastfed. Bottle fed. Co-sleeping. Crib sleeping. Sleep training. Pacifier. Cry-it-out. Chicken nuggets. Veggies and hummus. So many decisions when it comes to raising children. As much joy as kids bring, It’s hard to be a parent. We are all trying our best to do what we feel is right in raising our little humans. There are things, however, that I will always do to make sure my child’s happiness and health are my top priority. These are my top 5, no compromise parenting rules.

Disclaimer: This blog post is sponsored by IVaccinate, but the words and beliefs are my own!

 

Vaccines: 

One thing that I do not question for my child is vaccinating her. I choose to vaccinate to make sure she is the healthiest version of herself. In the long run, some decisions don’t really matter. Your child is going to grow up just fine if you feed them chicken nuggets every once in a while- because let’s be honest, parents don’t always have time to throw together a gourmet meal. Not vaccinating, on the other hand, can have serious repercussions. According to the CDC, as of February 14, 2019, there are 127 confirmed cases of measles in the United States. Every year the number of measles cases fluctuates due in large part to unvaccinated people spreading a disease that should be eradicated. Now, there continue to be arguments against vaccines, citing anecdotal information that vaccines cause autism. While extensive research has been done to disprove any relationship between vaccines and autism, the fact remains that measles CAN in fact cause death. In my opinion, death is worse than autism. In children under 5, severe complications of measles, including pneumonia and encephalitis- can lead to death, and severe ear infections can lead to permanent hearing loss. Generally, most babies, kids, and adults do not suffer any side effects from receiving vaccinations. The most common side effects are mild pain and swelling at the injection site.

As a pediatric Registered Nurse, I see the effects of not vaccinating your children very frequently. In Michigan, only 58% of toddlers are up to date on their vaccinations. This means that other toddlers who are immune-compromised are at a much greater risk of contracting a disease from unvaccinated children  that their body will not be able to fight. Imagine a child beating cancer only to pass away from measles. The thought is terrifying. I regularly see so many parents turn down the flu shot because “everyone I know still gets the flu even after the shot.” I sincerely ask that you educate yourselves! The “flu” that these parents are talking about includes diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. This is NOT what the flu vaccine prevents. The flu vaccine prevents Influenza, which can have serious effects on certain populations including those under 2, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Influenza is a respiratory viral infection and can cause severe pneumonia, bronchitis, heart issues, and asthma exacerbations.

It is so very important that people educate themselves regarding vaccines. By educating themselves, I mean scientific research- peer-reviewed articles – not anecdotal information found on the internet. When states allow exemptions based on “personal conscience,” it opens up so many opportunities for diseases like smallpox, polio, diphtheria and others, to make a comeback in our country. I am passionate about vaccinating because my daughter’s health is so important to me, and because I couldn’t imagine if my child was unvaccinated, and spread a deadly disease to a child who cannot be vaccinated due to a valid medical reason.
You can visit IVaccinate for more information on vaccines, FAQs and vaccines in the news. This website is such a good resource! Please check it out!

Reading:

Ok guys, when I say I am a bookworm, I mean I am a LEGIT bookworm. It is February 21 and I am 5 books in to my 25 book 2019 reading challenge. This is one quality I am hoping and praying to pass onto my daughter and future littles. There have been studies done to show that kids who are read to on a daily basis are smarter. I want my daughter to reach for a book instead of an iPad or the TV. We try to read to her every night even though she is only 11 months old. I feel that it’s so important to cultivate her spelling, literacy, listening skills, and her own reading skills. I read a lot as a kid, and was always the first to put my hand up to read a chapter in class (I told you I was a book nerd!). I want my daughter to understand how important education is, and reading to her from a very young age is setting her up with a strong foundation.

Healthy Foods:

I mentioned earlier that chicken nuggets is a necessity sometimes. As parents, it’s not always reasonable to expect that you will prepare a full on meal every night of the week for your kids. However, with the obesity rates in the United States and rampant cases of high blood pressure, heart failure and diabetes, I feel that it is important for my daughter to understand the relationship between food and health. I will do my best to provide her with healthy options the majority of the time. Another hard pass will be fruit juices and pop. All the added sugar and carbonation is horrible for adults; The effects on a child’s developing body and teeth are even worse and will set them up to have bad eating and drinking habits. I will, however, give myself grace when it’s a night for hot dogs and French fries because mama is exhausted!

Screen Time:

This one is SO SO SO tough. Technology is the way of the world in 2019, and will continue to grow and expand, and there will be no way to hide every TV, iPad, and video game system from my daughter. Research being done continues to show that extensive screen time is having very negative effects on our kids. Anxiety, obesity, sleep disruption and even depression are symptoms that are surfacing in kids who spend the majority of their free time in front of a screen. I know it’s easier said than done, especially when my daughter is only 11 months, but I plan to provide her with other activities instead of dropping an iPad in her hands.

Being a Good Human:

My son, Caleb, passed away November 2018, from complications related to the condition he was born with: Hydranencephaly. He had special needs, but he was the happiest, smiliest, most free-spirited kid I have ever met, and I’m not just saying that because he was my son! My daughter was 6 months old when Caleb passed away, so she was too young to understand what happened, but we talk to Caleb every single day with her to keep his memory alive in our home. Because we experienced the cruelty of people towards Caleb, we will make it our mission to raise our daughter to be a good person. She will understand that everyone is different, but this does not mean that you treat people differently. She will understand that people with special needs or different abilities have feelings, emotions and understanding of how others treat them. She will know how special her brother was, and to honor his memory by being a good human to everyone she meets. She will understand respect, saying please and thank you, and how to stand up for herself. This is a no compromise in our home!

 

 

What parenting rules are “no compromise” in your household?

 

Thanks for reading loves! Hoping this post doesn’t cause controversy, but I do believe in the things I shared above. I am always open to a conversation!

-Nique