Mini Cafe & Big Latch On: Murray Park 2012

The Saturday which landed in the middle of World Breastfeeding Week, was, this year, dedicated to three Mini Cafes around the SLC area. We have the main Breastfeeding Cafe at the Main Library SLC downtown for the first two weeks of August each year, and generally there is some sort of "event" that also goes on during the Cafe. Two years ago it was a baby-wearing fashion show and last year a baby-wearing flash mob. The "founder" of the Breastfeeding Cafe hoped that some day we'd hold mini-cafes throughout the valley for one or two days and there are even some La Leche League groups in Utah, doing just that.

This year we decided to do three Mini Cafes around Salt Lake, knowing that it was possible they wouldn't be well attended, but that it would be the beginning of some momentum, perhaps moving southward and eventually spanning the length of the State. Wouldn't that be cool? To have the same event going on from North to South, on the same day, representing LLL each year?

We had the families of the three leaders in the group, two of our group moms and one mom who stopped by "on accident" while we were there, involved in the Big Latch On, which is a one minute, world record event at 10:30am. During the three hours we were set up in the park, we had about 20 people drop by: four families and a few individuals. We felt like it was a fairly successful event and even talked a little about making it something we do more than once/year. We started out our Mini Cafe with a potluck brunch and were set up near (but not in) the Saturday Farmer's Market in Murray.

We had window decals, cute little magnetic puzzles and some ADORABLE stickers that we got made, for giving away, as well as information about our group and the main Breastfeeding Cafe

Brunch

We also had coloring sheets, a free drawing for either a Womanly Art of Breastfeeding Book or a set of locally made notecards.  And a silent auction for a sleepy wrap and a photo session.  Each of the three Mini Cafes had the same set of information and prizes/auction items.

These signs are to denote the "photo section" and different countable areas. . .we only had 6 moms participating in our Big Latch On, so we only required one section (for up to 10 people)

We mostly just had a nice time hanging out in the park, eating brunch/snack stuff, talking to moms/families who happened by, the kids enjoying playing with one another, coloring and walking Ben the W family's new pup

And we had four official volunteers for registration, time keeping, official counting and photography

Here is the official ONE MINUTE Big Latch On

And Nate making note of the official numbers

Another couple of moms/families who stopped by, Katherine and Laurel talked with them

We spent 1.5 hours before the BLO and then another 1.5 hours after, at our booth that day

The nursing rocker/comfy nursing spot for moms

Headed over to the swings for FIVE minutes in the hot hot sun

Time for watermelon

Super Chloe

Walking Ben

Watermelon

Awesome co-leaders

Sisters in matching skirts

Dog Pile

Chocolate Milk Face

A bottle of WATER

OJ Sammy

Crazy lady wearing her dog!

Some of the dads . . .

Mel's family about to head out

It was a really lovely few hours, we hope that next year more of our regular Murray LLL moms will consider coming out and bringing their families, visiting the farmer's market and spending the morning with us.

World Breastfeeding Week

As this year's Breastfeeding Cafe "Event" three local La Leche League groups will hold Mini-Cafes on Saturday August 4th.  The Mini-Cafes will coincide with this year's Big Latch On event as well. 

La Leche League of Murray will host the event in Murray Park.  Below are the event details. . .

Murray Mini Cafe
Potluck Brunch begins at 9am
Registration for Big Latch On 9:30am
Official ONE MINUTE Big Latch On Event 10:00-10:01am

We will provide information to the community about La Leche League's services and meetings in Salt Lake County, hold giveaways (we have a Moby, Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, Photo Session and other prizes) and provide a convenient location for nursing mother's to stop and put up their feet for a few minutes. 

How Can You Help??? 
COME AND REGISTER FOR THE BIG LATCH ON!
Would you like to display any wares at our one day Cafe?  Crafts?  Mom owned/run businesses?  Would you like to provide something for one of our giveaways? 

World Breastfeeding Week Activities
Please keep in mind our other exciting opportunities surrounding World Breastfeeding Week. 

~July 15-30 we will hold our third annual Blog Carnival.
~August 2-7 WBW Photo fundraiser (landslidephotography@hotmail.com to RSVP)
~The 7th Annual Breastfeeding Cafe will be held at the SLC Main library from August 1-14, with an exciting line-up of classes all designed to enhance the parent/child relationship.  Visit the Cafe Site for complete information and a calendar.

How Can You Be Involved?
Look over the volunteer calendar (password: milkbank) and volunteer for a slot
Come for the Cafe Kick-off Event
Blog for the Blog Carnival
Don't have a blog????  We need daily "guest bloggers" on the Cafe Site

email LLLofMurray@gmail.com for more information

Summer Safety 101 (June Tea)

Summer Safety 101

Water Safety

Water safety devices? IMO: False sense of security, only watching can ensure quick response!

~Don't allow “floaties” to give you a false sense of security, they are not enough to keep your child safe

~Many times parents become reliant on these, the most important thing, is, unless your child is water safe. . .YOU WATCH YOUR CHILD! Even when they are wearing a “life saving device.”

~Near open water a life jacket should always be on, if child is not being monitored and is not water safe

~For babies, thin stretchy material to make water “moby”

~Know the signs of drowning: Can not wave or call for help, mouth alternates between submerging and above water, no kicking movement, but are upright in water for 20-60 seconds before submerging. 10% of drownings each year happen within 25 yards of someone who could have helped if they'd known the signs!

~Give kids (and self) a break from water play, to avoid fatigue-eat a snack, take a potty break, get some water, re-sunscreen. All public pools have hourly “pool checks” so it's easy to remember!

*Note: Fear of water and floating apparatus are not enough to keep your child “safe” from water, teach water safety and survival before worrying about whether your child is a “good swimmer” though these never ensure “no drowning”

*Anyone can drown in just a couple of inches of water. . . do not leave young children unattended, even with “kiddie pools”

Simple skills to work on this summer

~Getting baby/kids comfortable with water

~Dunking, blow in baby's face first

~Putting Face in water

~Blowing Bubbles

~Floating

~Going from face down to floating on back or from vertical to floating on back

going to the edge

~Jumping in and swimming back toward side

What if my child won't put face in water?

Try a straw in the bath tub, child blows bubbles through straw, every few nights, cut the straw a little

Try goggles in bath tub

Sun Safety

Water

~Keep water in your car FOR your car

~Keep water in your car for YOU & others

~Use blankets to cover carseats or place in windows every time you get out of the car

Sun Protection

~Being outdoors before 10am and after 4pm

~Staying in the shade

~Wearing protective clothing instead of sunscreen: tight weave cotton clothing

~Sunscreen: check skindeep database for information on sunscreens

~What about Vitamin D? What have you heard? What do you know? “A few minutes at midday is enough for most caucasians” http://www.skincancer.org/healthy-lifestyle/vitamin-d/make-vitamin-d-not-uv-a-priority Consider adding Vitamin D rich foods to your diet, any more than a few minutes at midday and it actually begins to destroy the Vitamin D in the body

~Read an article this week about foods that can prevent sunburn?

~Sunglasses

~Hat

~Sunscreen should be applied 15 minutes before swimming and in the heat of the day, every hour after

*You can still get sunburned on a cloudy day AND in the car, if you're going to be outside or in the car for long periods, consider proper clothing or sunscreen

Equipment & Activities

Visiting parks early or late to avoid hot equipment and fatigue

(also planning activities like bike riding and hiking at these times)

Infants?
~Wearing baby can keep a new baby fully covered

~Add a hat or a lightweight receiving blanket for walks and outdoor activities

~Body temperature regulated by closeness, holding, nursing, wearing

~Nursing hydrates, no water necessary

~Under 6 months should not use sunscreen, dress in lightweight but full coverage clothing when possible

Summer Activities

~Fireworks-never let children light fireworks and always keep them at a safe distance

~Strenuous activity should be limited to 15 minutes

Being outdoors

~Interesting note: do not use combination sunscreen/repellant since sunscreen should be reapplied, while repellant should NOT be reapplied

~HELMETS-but not for under 1. Head injuries are the most common injury in toddlers, due to not wearing helmets (even on a tricycle). Get proper safety and protective equipment for your child beforehand if they'll be doing anything that involves wheels (except a stroller)

~Consider taking a CPR course this summer

~If you'll be doing boating, camping, deep woods hiking, etc, make it a special point to look up safety tips before charting new (personal) territory, especially if you've never done these activities with children

Links for information used (beyond my own knowledge as a lifeguard, swim instructor, sun lover and mom)

Vitamin D
Signs of Drowning
Can Foods Prevent Sunburn?
General Summer Safety Tips
Safety Prevention Page
Skin Deep Database
Skin Deep Sunscreen Guide