Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team

COVID-19 VACCINE BULLETIN ADULTS 80 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER CAN PRE-REGISTER FOR THE COVID VACCINE. The vaccination site for our area will be the Ce...ntre Wellington Community Sportsplex in Fergus (there are other site options which the website link will show you such as Guelph and Orangeville). If you cannot come to Fergus there will be pop-up mobile sites coming to Drayton (we do not currently know when this will be). YOU WILL NEED TO FOLLOWING TO REGISTER: Email Address Cell phone and/or telephone number Health Card Number (If you do not have an email address or cell phone please ask a friend or family member to help you.) Step 1 Pre-Registration Website Link - https://register.wdgpublichealth.ca Step 2 You will be contacted for an appointment when vaccines become available for your group. Public Health will use the contact information you provide to send you an email and/or text message. This email and/or text message will include a website link and unique code so that you can schedule a date, time and location for you to receive your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Please check your junk/spam folder regularly. Step 3 On your appointment day when you arrive for your appointment, please bring your identification (health card and/or license) because Public Health will use it to confirm who you are and that you are part of a priority group. Public Health takes vaccine prioritization seriously. Providing false information may result in cancellation of your appointment and notification to the appropriate regulatory college. If you need help registering or are having trouble registering, please call (519)822-2715 ext. 4506. We ENCOURAGE ONLINE REGISTRATION as much as possible as the quickest way. Due to call volumes, it may take up to three days to get back to you.

Interested in learning some tips for heart healthy grocery shopping from the comfort of home? Join our dietitian for a FREE virtual workshop on Wednesday, February 24th at 2:30pm. Call 519-638-2110 or email [email protected] to register!

Are jars getting harder to open? Noticing a decrease in upper body strength? Our one-time virtual class for upper body strengthening and stretching might be for you! Learn how to properly strengthen your upper body using free weights or TheraBands. What to expect: Strengthening exercises for upper body muscles, incorporating a proper warm up and cool down, as well as stretches to help reward your muscles for the work they have done! Please call to register 519-638-2110, space is limited. Next Class: Tues Feb 23 from 3-4:30 OR Tue Mar 30 from 10:30-12.

If you’ve read any of my books, you know I love many baby-self feeding concepts! But, it’s time for a little myth-busting! . Learning to chew safely takes up... to two years & sometimes longer. First, babies learn to swallow in the womb, where they get their first tastes of flavors via the amniotic fluid. . Next, babies breast or bottle feed, using a tongue protrusion pattern under the nipple while coordinating sucking, swallowing & breathing. . The tongue protrusion pattern SLOWLY shifts to a mature swallow pattern at about 12 months of age. . Meanwhile, baby learns to swallow purees, soft solids & develops self-feeding skills, starting at about 6 months of age. Chewing skills start as a munching up-and-down pattern with first foods & the rotary chew (more mature pattern) is perfected by 2 years of age. As baby advances to even more challenging foods, they learn to manipulate the food in their mouth & the skill is fine-tuned for months to come. . So, do we offer just purees or just self-feeding solids? Will that cause choking? You can offer both! I’ll bust that myth in my next post when I explain the motor aspects of feeding development. #melaniepotock #blw #blwinspiration #blwmyths #blwideas #feedinglittles #mylittleeater #slp #babyfood #feedingbaby #myfirstbaby #momadvice #dadadvice #feedingtoddlers See more

There are so many types and shapes of #pacifiers to choose from, it’s important to be informed about what you’re putting in your baby’s mouth. This is the @aven...t brand and my preferred shape for babies. . Does your baby prefer a pacifier that’s flatter, or with a bulbous shape, or that has orthodontic hook to keep it in their mouth? The reason they are easier to keep in the mouth is because they don’t require a baby to use as many muscles together in a coordinated fashion. It’s the muscle action that is so important! Wondering how to teach you baby to hold this type? Check out my Instagram highlites for a demonstration! Tomorrow I’ll post how to get rid of it...cause I know you’re wondering! #melaniepotock #pacifiers #binky #byebyebinky #momtipsandtricks #parentingtip #babypacifier #toddlerlife #toddlermomlife

IT’s TOUCHING!!!!! Oh my, how many times have we heard that as parents? It’s a common complaint with toddlers & once it’s a thing it’s a BIG thing! . He...re’s where to start if your child protests over food touching: . A small sample (about a teaspoon) of the 2 to 3 foods on the mealtime plate goes in the smallest section in the far corner. If your child reaches for his cup with his right hand, put the samples in the left corner for less visual attention on the mix. . Model calm. It’s tempting to increase your energy & try to convince a toddler that this is FUN but honestly, the better sell is to just be cool. Oh yeah, those foods are just hanging out together, trying to get to know each other. If your toddler decides to join in & introduce nugget to peas, again, be cool. You’re silly that’s a funny nugget voice! and just eat. . I’ll REPEAT: Too much attention on the mixed foods can really back fire, so just be cool about it smile & just eat. . Speaking of eating, try your best to not comment on eating anything out of that corner. Kids need to explore new mixes, even when they are barely touching & it just takes time. Eventually they will take a taste on their own. . The first step is just allowing kids to get used to the idea of a few foods hanging out in the same small space. Once that goes well, you can add a few peas (for example) to one of the bigger sections. Go slowbe coolyou got this! Pictured: @munchkininc Toddler Splash Divided Plate #melaniepotock #toddlers #feedinglittles #mylittleeater #pickyeater #fussyeater #momadvice #dadadvice #parentingtoddlers #dividedplates #feedingkids #toddlerplates #munchkin See more

How big of portion should my child get at mealtimes? That’s one of the most common questions I get! But the answer is simple: . Present several food gro...ups at mealtimes. It doesn’t have to be EVERY food group at EVERY meal, but do your best to be consistent. . Each person at the family table gets a small portion of whatever is being served. If they eat that one portion and would like more of that food, and it’s available, yes, of course they can have more. . Is a second portion contingent upon eating the other food(s) too? No. Each portion is just a sample to be experienced with any sense (eyes, nose, touch, etc.) that interests the child. . Remember, snacks are smaller so that kids are hungry (not hangry) for mealtimes. . Some kids may need 5 to 6 mini meals for medical reasons, so adjust snack portions accordingly. . If you’re wondering about nutrition guidelines, download the free chart at www.melaniepotock.com under the FREE TOOLBOX tab. It’s created by a fabulous RD who teaches my on-demand nutrition course with me on my website. . Got questions? Ask in the comments! I’ll answer as quickly as I can, because I know this is a hot topic and one that I love to help withso we’ll chat soon! #melaniepotock #healthyhappyeaters #portionsizes #howmuchtofeedkids #mylittleeater #feedinglittles #feedingtoddlers #preschoolers #momlife #blw #blwinspiration #babyled #toddlers #familymeals #feedme #feedmykid See more

So many different thoughts run through our heads when we hear the assertive No! We should not give in to that, we are being too soft and permissive They d...o not respect the work I put into making this meal! If I let them get away with this, I will have a picky eater on my hands! But from the child’s perspective, things look a lot simpler. Saying No feels good because it gives them control of the tiny part of the universe that is their body. And, of course, it’s always fun to see the tremendous effect the simple word has on the grown ups around. You probably guessed by now that that the best reaction to no is .....nothing. Not worried hovering, not short order cooking, not pushing food. When we accept no for an answer, kids learn their role in a trusting feeding relationship: to make their own choices from what’s on offer. When they know that their no is taken seriously, they learn to use the space it provides to start listening to their bodies. Now that we don’t need to fight mommy or daddy on whether I should eat, I can actually have time and space to listen to my tummy and see that I actually am a bit hungry and maybe I could try those green beans. I know you don’t have to and I can do it at my own pace. And if I am not hungry, I am not going to be pressured to eat, so I don’t need to worry about that. And this is how the magic works.... #pickyeating #responsiveparenting #responsivefeeding #feedingbytes_toddlers #fussyeaters #2yearsold #1yearold #3yearsold #intuitiveeating #intuitiveeaters

Here is another cool event to check out: