Babies can be a handful, literally and figuratively, which is exactly why nurses from the Island County Health Department are offering their childcare expertise to parents of newborns — in fact, they’re making house calls on request.
Healthy Babies is a flagship program, sponsored by the county board of commissioners, that helps new parents establish a healthy, nurturing environment for their infants. Available to all families regardless of social or economic status, the program involves voluntary visits by trained nurses who advise, educate and provide support in all baby-related matters.
Carol McNeil, Island County nursing director, said the program was envisioned as a means to welcome babies as “future citizens” of the county, and to provide parents with good tools for coping with the many complex factors involved in caring for a baby.
Healthy Babies is not aimed exclusively at “at-risk” parents; rather, the program provides a support system for any parent desiring information and encouragement from health care professionals.
“A lot of people think, ‘Do I need a public health nurse? I’m not doing anything wrong,’ ” McNeil said. “We’d love to erase that stigma.”
Instead, McNeil said, she hopes the program says to parents that if you ask, you can find resources.
The goal of the program is for nurses to visit 30 families a month, McNeil said. Such visits, along with providing parents with information and further referrals to community resources, will help establish a database in the health department for future research into infant-related issues.
Amy and Greg Fisher of Coupeville are parents who requested assistance, having heard about the Healthy Babies program through their doctor.
Shortly after they brought their son, Gabriel, home from the hospital, they were visited by Loretta Bezold, a public health nurse who brought with her a free gift package. It included a daily organizer, books for and about children, and a “Tummy Time” blanket for Gabriel’s 2 to 3 minutes on his belly (more than this is not recommended at a time), which encourages “motor enrichment.”
The Fishers said they feel the visits by Bezold helped them adjust to the overwhelming responsibilities that come with raising an infant: They had immediate access to a professional nurse who could answer their many questions and provide sound advice on such issues as child development, nutrition and sleep patterns.
“The question and answer, that’s the key,” Greg Fisher said. “It’s nice to have a professional give you the feedback. There’s so much info about the early stages, and people don’t often get that.”
“It’s really a great help,” Amy Fisher added. She called Bezold “a terrific resource.” Fisher said the best thing about the program has been being able to ask all the questions that needed answering.
Bezold said one of the goals of the program is for nurses to visit parents within the first two months of bringing a baby home, while lifelong habits of parenting are being developed. It’s important also for the newborn to be set up right away in a positive, nurturing environment.
In fact, Bezold said, the Healthy Babies program is founded primarily on recent discoveries and insights into early childhood development.
Research has found that from birth to about age 3, a child’s brain is especially absorbent, with a huge number of neurological connections being made that will determine to a large extent that child’s capabilities in later life. During this optimal period of growth, it’s crucial that babies receive warm, responsive care from nurturing parents who are clued in to what’s best for their child.
“The whole thing is for babies and parents to be together,” Bezold said.
The visits by nurses facilitate the immediate child-parent relationship by helping create a total environment of interactive care, something that just can’t be done over the phone.
“I get so much information from people by seeing how they’re doing,” she said.
Bezold said she doesn’t want people to be nervous or self-conscious about inviting health workers into their homes. No one, she said, is going to be judged; the visit is not an intervention but an invitation to talk about babies, parents and parenthood.
“We’re all pretty good at being able to meet people where they are,” Bezold said. “One of the things I really like about this program is that it’s a community effort.”
Amy Fisher said she wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the Healthy Baby program to any parent, it’s been such a boon for her and her husband and little Gabriel.
“People should definitely take advantage of it,” she said. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s free help.”
For more information about the Healthy Babies program, the Island County Health Department can be reached at 321-5111.
