Your Questions

home : your questions

• How do children develop?
• I just found out I am pregnant. What does prenatal care consist of?
• I'm concerned about my baby's development, but the doctor says she will out grow it. What should I do?
• What events are happening in and around my community?
• What is the best child care setting for my child?
• What preschool setting is best for my child?
• Where can I find a parent support group?
• Where can I find a pediatrician for my child?
• Where can I find out more information on adoption or foster care?
• Where can I find parent education classes that are available to me?
• Where can I get to know other parents with young children?
• Where do I want to birth my baby?
• Why am I feeling so blue?

How do children develop?
Each child has their own developmental agenda. One child may start walking as early as 9 months while another child will start at 13 months. Another child will say his or her first word at 12 months while another child will start at 14 months. These differences are common and spread through all areas of development. The areas of development are listed below with some examples of what can be seen within each:

Cognitive: how your child learns- cause and effect, color recognition, counting

Physical:
Gross-motor: large movements such rolling over, crawling and walking
Fine-motor: movements such as grasping, holding a crayon, cutting

Social: the development of how your child engages in interactions with you and peers

Emotional: your child’s self-worth and emotional regulation that stems from the important child-caregiver relationship

Language: babbling, understanding directions, talking, increasing vocabulary

Each stage of development does not occur without taking in the factors of biology, culture and context. This is why it is important not to compare your child with another child of the same age or your other children if you are not a first-time parent. If you have specific questions pertaining to your child’s development ask your pediatrician. For more general information on development by age-point, visit our educational materials and information section.

I just found out I am pregnant. What does prenatal care consist of?
Prenatal care is the health care you get while you are pregnant. Prenatal care can help keep you and your baby healthy. Babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight. Therefore, it is important to visit the doctor as soon as you suspect you are pregnant. At each visit the doctor will examine you. This examination includes: monitoring weight gain or loss, blood pressure, circumference of the abdomen, position of the fetus and fetal heartbeat. In addition, doctors are able to spot and treat health problems early when they see mothers regularly. Early treatment can cure many problems and prevent others.
Frequency of Visits to the Doctor: Your doctor may schedule your visits monthly during the first two trimesters (from week one to week 28 of pregnancy), every two weeks from 28 to week 36 of pregnancy and weekly after week 36 (until the day of delivery that could be between week 38 and 40 weeks).
Tips to taking care of yourself and your baby:
• Get early prenatal care. If you know you're pregnant, or think you might be, call your doctor or a clinic to schedule a visit.
• Get regular prenatal care. Your doctor or nurse will schedule you for many appointments over the course of your pregnancy. Don't miss any -- they are all important.
• Follow your doctor or nurse’s advice.
• Ask questions. Your doctor or nurse is there to help you
through this experience.

I'm concerned about my baby's development, but the doctor says she will out grow it. What should I do?
As discussed previously, children do not develop in a standardized fashion. However, there are times when you may worry about specific developmental aspects that you may want to discuss with your doctor directly. At times, pediatricians will ask more specific questions that can lead to ruling out your initial concern. However, if you feel that there is reason to continue being concerned and feel that your doctor is not addressing the issue or simply saying “she will grow out of it”, there are services that can help.

What events are happening in and around my community?
There are many activities organized by both community and private organizations that can be a meaningful experience for your children and family. Whether you are looking for a mommy and me class, a trip to the DuPage Children’s’ Museum or a day at the library, you can take advantage of the activities that are available in DuPage County and the surrounding areas. By participating in outside activities you can provide your child with the opportunity to interact with other children, spend quality time with you and encourage growth and development through enriching experiences. Often times, organizations offer child appropriate activities for little or no cost. Please visit our event section to see what is happening in the community.

What is the best child care setting for my child?
Leaving your child in child care is an important decision for you and your family. Finding the best setting for your child is just as important. There are different types of child care that you can choose from. Depending on various factors such as schedule, finances and age of your baby, a child care choice is often times a process that requires time and thought. There are different types of child care settings such as relative care, center-based care or home-based care. As a parent, it is imperative for you to be informed on what high-quality childcare is and how to find it. The quality of the child care setting is more important than the type of child care. The following are some factors that you may want to keep in mind when making your decision:

• Are caregivers trained in early childhood education?
• Does the ratio of adults to children comply with state requirements?
• Has the staff been stable over the past few years?
• Does the staff welcome parents as visitors and participants, and respect parents' preferences and ideas?
• In their interactions with children, do the caregivers express warmth, interest, and respect for each child? Are they engaged with the children most of the time?
• Is the environment safe, clean and appropriate for the age of the children?

Depending on your needs, your child may spend most of their day in a child-care setting. That is why you want to look for the best possible care and feel comfortable and secure that your child is in an environment that will foster their growth and development in a positive manner. Make sure you have the opportunity to visit the different child care programs you are thinking about in order to observe the everyday activities that take place.

What preschool setting is best for my child?
There are many different types of preschool available for your child. Some are run by local schools. Some, like Head Start , are sponsored by federal agencies; others by nonprofit groups such as churches. Some are provided by employers, and others are owned by individuals or corporations. However, just like a child care setting, the most important factor when finding a preschool for your child is the quality of the program.
When choosing a preschool program for your child, it is also important to consider characteristics of your child, of the program, and of the preschool staff. The following are some questions to taken into consideration when looking for a preschool setting:
• Does your child do well in a large group setting or small group setting?
• Do the goals address all areas of children's development, including social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development?
• Does the staff encourage exploration in the children's interests in the world around them?
• Do the content and materials of the program reflect cultural diversity?
• Are the teachers trained in early childhood education?
• Does the ratio of adults to children comply with state requirements?
• Has the staff been stable over the past few years?
• Does the staff respect different parenting styles?
• In their interactions with children, do the teachers express warmth, interest, and respect for each child?
• Are the teachers engaged with the children most of the time?

All these questions are important to ask when looking for a high quality preschool program. Your child’s experience should be a positive one set in an environment where you feel comfortable and secure in your decision.

Where can I find a parent support group?
Parenting can sometimes leave you feeling overwhelmed, stressed and full of questions. Sometimes you just may want more information on specific topics pertaining to children and suggestions on how to handle certain situations when it comes to parenting. Even if this is not your first time parenting, children are all unique, with their different temperaments- therefore providing new experiences and challenges that you may not have encountered with your previous children. Parent support groups provide an environment where you can discuss the certain issues that you may be struggling with, concerning your child or yourself. Parent support groups can be found in different settings such as your local hospital, social service agency or community-based group. Remember, parenting is challenging, the more support you have the better you will feel about the struggles you are faced with. What you will come to learn is that you are not alone; most parents are often facing the same concerns that you are feeling.

Where can I find a pediatrician for my child?
Throughout your baby’s first year of life alone, you will make a significant amount of visits to the pediatrician. You will take your child to his or her well-child visits, where the doctor will examine your baby, administer any needed immunizations and discuss the overall health and development of your baby. Typically, the well-child visits are scheduled as follows:

2-4 days
2 months
4 months
6 months
9 months
12 months
15 months
18 months
24 months
36 months

Due to the frequency of these visits, finding a pediatrician is imperative to your child’s health and well-being. As a parent, you deserve and should expect a pediatrician that will address your questions and concerns. Finding a pediatrician that meets your family’s needs should be a process in which you feel trust and comfort with your decision. In the first year of your baby’s life you will probably have a wide-range of questions around health, nutrition and development that will result in a call to the pediatrician’s office. Make sure that the pediatric staff welcome your questions and are prompt in returning your calls and providing advice and answers to your questions. Remember, if you are not fully satisfied with your pediatrician, you have the opportunity to find a new one that will provide the services and support that you are looking for.

Where can I find out more information on adoption or foster care?
Adoption and foster care are an increasing occurrence in the United States, and there are many resources available that can provide the information and support that may be of benefit to you. If you are thinking about adoption or foster care it is important to educate yourself on each and what each entails.

If you are considering adoption it is important to learn about the different types of adoption and understand the expenses associated with it. There are two types of agencies that are used in adoption, private and public. Private agencies are funded by private money and must be licensed or approved by the state in which they operate. Public agencies are the local branches of a state’s social service agency. Public agencies generally handle only special-needs adoptions- those children who were abused, neglected or abandoned by their birth parents.

Foster care is also an option for individuals or families that are looking to helping children who are in need of stable care. In order to be a foster parent contact the Department of Children and Family Services and request information on foster parenting and the requirements and training needed.

Where can I find parent education classes that are available to me?
Parent education classes can be found in many different settings and range in topics. Parent education classes can cover everything from prenatal education to infant care to discipline. Many community organizations, schools and hospitals can offer parent education classes that may fit the interests that you may have. Parent education classes can provide valuable information in child development and parenting, all the while providing an environment where professionals can answer your questions and concerns pertaining to any issues that may arise with your children.

Where can I get to know other parents with young children?
Whether you are a new parent or an experienced one, there may be feelings of being overwhelmed as you are constantly trying to provide everything your new baby needs. However, it is important to create a social network of individuals who have young children and may feel the same. This informal network can provide support in many aspects. Being around other parents can provide the opportunity to listen to their challenges and successes with their experiences in parenting. In addition, this setting may also provide the opportunity for your young child to interact with other young children, providing a rich social experience, contributing to their socio-emotional development. Another added benefit to meeting other parents with young children is the ability to create play dates, play groups and outings to local activities in your neighborhood. This can provide a break in your everyday schedule and provide valuable experiences for both you and your child.

Where do I want to birth my baby?
The birth of your baby is an exciting time but also a time when parents may experience feelings of worry. Therefore, it is very important to find out which birth setting is most appropriate for you and your family. As you begin to make decisions on the many choices in this new phase of your life, one major decision will be where you want to birth your baby. This decision starts with what type of practitioner you would like: an obstetrician, a family physician or a certified midwife. Once this decision is made, it will be easier to decide if you would like to give birth at home, a local maternity or birth center or at a hospital. It is important to remember that home births are suited for low-risk pregnancies and that they will be attended by a qualified physician or certified nurse-midwife and that you have emergency transportation standing by to take you to the hospital in the instance that it is needed.

The most important aspect of choosing the type of location where you want to birth your baby and which type of professional you want as your practitioner is that you feel comfortable and secure in your decisions. Trust your instincts.

Why am I feeling so blue?
After delivery, 50 to 70 percent of women experience feelings of exhaustion, moodiness, weepiness, disappointment and anxiety. These feelings can last up to two weeks and is often described as the “Baby Blues”. Often times, the Baby Blues pass in a few days without any treatment necessary. However, sometimes these feelings do not go away and may progress into Post Partum Depression (PPD). PPD occurs in about 10 to 20 percent of new mothers, which is more severe and can happen anytime during the first year of childbirth. Mothers who are experiencing postpartum depression usually have one or more of the following symptoms:
• Low mood
• Irritability
• Very fatigued
• Loss of interest or ability to feel pleasure in daily life
• Guilt
• Decreased concentration
• Indecisiveness
• Despair
• Fearful of baby
• Feelings of worthlessness

(Symptoms are not limited to those mentioned above. Check with your doctor.)

If you feel that you are suffering from postpartum depression ask and accept help. Talk to your doctor and understand that these feelings are common and you are not alone. If you feel like hurting the baby or yourself, DIAL 911. There is help and support available.