Baby on a Budget: Save a Bundle

July 26, 2022

pexels-the-craft-wonder-421884 — Photo by The Craft Wonder

Congratulations! You either have a new bundle of joy or will bring one home soon. Having a baby is such an exciting time, but it can feel a bit stressful too. With all there is to learn and prepare for, finances shouldn’t get in the way. Here’s thrifty advice for every stage of bringing home a baby.

Before Baby

Budget early.The secret to saving and finding the best deals on quality items is planning, researching and comparing prices. Estimate costs you might incur and write a spending plan. While everything won’t unfold as expected, some things may work out better. If the stork sneaks up on you, start planning as soon as possible.
Review Health Insurance and Savings Plans. Choose a plan in which the premium-to-deductible ratio is the best price and value for pregnancy and childbirth care. Most health insurance policies cover the cost of breast pumps. Make sure yours does. If you have disability insurance, it may pay for maternity leave. Most importantly, start saving. Having money in your savings account gives a sense of peace and keeps the focus on the baby in your arms instead of on financial burdens.
Flex your financial muscles. Check to see if your employer offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA). These pre-tax dollars can be used to buy prenatal vitamins, breast pumps, breast milk storage bags, thermometers and more. While you can purchase over-the-counter baby pain relievers, teething gel and fever reducers with many FSA or HSA plans, check with your insurance company. Some require prescriptions for over-the-counter medications.
Calculate the cost of different types of child care. Think about which option of childcare makes the most sense for your family — staying at home with baby, a daycare facility, nanny, or nanny share. Research the costs associated with these options. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers childcare affordable when it accounts for no more than seven percent of a family’s household income. Try to keep your child care costs within that range.

During the Pregnancy

Create a chic nursery without the designer price tag. You don’t have to be a celebrity to design a beautiful nursery. Start with a safety-approved crib and add another desirable piece. This is what Emily Zolan, mom to Julia, 16 months, did.

“I researched and found a particular crib that I knew was safe,” Zolan said. “I found it on Facebook Marketplace for $200 when it is usually $1,000. Then I got a glider from Costco.”

Zolan recommends buying a nice rocker. “You are going to be sitting in the nursery a lot, so you want to love it.”

Register and be rewarded. Create a baby registry at Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, or Buy Buy Baby and receive free baby goodies and other perks like coupons and discounts on the items left unpurchased on your registry. The free gifts usually include samples of products you can try out when the baby arrives. You can decide what works best before you spend money on baby items you won’t use.

“Be choosy with your registry,” Zolan suggests. “People naturally like to give sweet baby clothes and fun gifts. Pare down your registry to the necessities, and you may still get the fun, cute things you want.”

Spend modestly on maternity clothes. You’ll only be wearing them for a few months. Budget more for maternity clothes for work than for working out. Buy staple pieces that can function for different events and activities. You can also find maternity clothes at some children’s consignment stores. For lounging around the house, baggy sweats and t-shirts are comfortable.

After the Arrival

Don’t let diapering a bottom affect your bottom line. If friends ask to give you a shower, consider having a diaper shower or make a diaper raffle part of a shower. Guests who bring a package of diapers in addition to their gift are included in a drawing for a prize. Amazon has a group gifting feature that allows expectant moms to set up a diaper fund. Friends and family give to the fund and the money is loaded on to the expectant parents’ gift card balance.

Sikedra Lamar, mom to 11-month-old Ailani, uses this strategy. “I like the diaper fund because I can buy diapers as I need them,” Lamar says.

Brooke Norris, mom to 23-month-old Wyatt and six-month-old Sadie, suggests having shower guests put a sticky note on diaper gifts labeling where the diapers were purchased in case you need to return for a different size.

“Target may have a 96 pack of Huggies, and Ingles sells a 92-pack, so you can’t return diapers to any store.”

Disposable diapers like organic, plant-based or chlorine-free can be pricey. Try a diaper subscription to cut down on costs if you want these specialty diapers.

It’s okay to be frugal when it comes to formula.Breast milk is free and has tremendous nutritional benefits, but it doesn’t work out for every mom. Save on formula without skimping on what your baby needs. If you buy a name brand, go to the company website and sign up for coupons and online deals. Ask your doctor for free samples and ask other moms for samples they don’t want. Keep in mind that all baby formula is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration to meet certain nutritional requirements.

Norris discovered this with her second child. “As first-time parents, we were nervous so we paid more for the name brand,” Norris says. “I talked to my pediatrician, and we used store brands with our second child, and she’s been fine.” Norris says she did a side-by-side comparison of the name brand formula with a store brand. “They both had the same ingredients.”

Check out consignment sales and stores. The beautiful thing about consignment is that you can get designer and name brand clothes, gear, furniture and toys at a fraction of the original cost. Baby items are outgrown so quickly that they are usually in good shape even if they are used. And once your baby is finished with an item, you can consign it. Consignment shops usually let patrons choose to receive cash or store credit for the items they sell, and sweeten the pot by giving a higher amount for in-store credit.
Find high-end baby clothing on the cheap. Wait until the end of the season and buy for the next year to get upscale or designer clothing at rock bottom prices. If your child outgrows the size you buy before the next year, you can always consign the items or regift to another expectant parent. Check out Facebook Marketplace to buy boutique baby clothes for less.
Swap babysitting. Even the cost of paying a neighborhood teen has increased dramatically. Trade babysitting with another couple and you can still enjoy a night on the town without the expense of child care. This also helps your baby to feel comfortable with other adults, which can be a game changer in case of an emergency if you don’t have family that lives close by.
Invest in an item that’s worth the splurge. You’re more likely to stick to your budget if you don’t feel deprived. With a smart financial plan in place, pick out an extravagant or convenient, time-saving item like a car seat stroller combo, a bottle warmer, monogrammed diaper bag or a kids’ sound machine.

“The Baby Brezza is amazing,” Lamar says. This product works like a Keurig but with formula. Norris loves the Owlet, a sock baby monitor. Parents track their baby’s sleep patterns on their smartphones. Norris says it gives her peace of mind.

“When Sadie had RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), I knew she was breathing fine.”

Zolan recommends Magnetic Me, baby clothing that comes with magnetic fasteners instead of snaps.

“It makes dressing a baby faster,” she says. “When they are little they don’t like to get cold.”

Babies don’t have to break the bank. With a specific savings plan, you can save a bundle without skimping on the things you love.

More Ways to Save

If you are looking for additional ways to cut costs, remember little things add up. These ideas can bring big savings over time.

Don’t remove tags. If you don’t use something or it doesn’t fit, you may be able to take it back or consign it for a higher price.
Buy gear that grows with your baby. Invest in a battery charger and rechargeable batteries.
Don’t buy shoes until your baby walks. Buy diaper pails that use any trash bag or throw diapers away in a trash can with a lid. Specialty diaper pail bags are more expensive.
Buy gender neutral if you plan to have more than one child.
Buy diapers, formula and wipes in bulk at a wholesale warehouse club.
Don’t buy a lot of bottles until after baby arrives. You don’t know what the baby will prefer.
Breastfeed or pump if you are able to.
Make your own baby food.
Host a swap party.
Check out freecycle.com, a place to give away or find items you need for free.

CDC Approves COVID Vaccinations for Children as Young as 6 Months

Molly Klima

July 25, 2022

CDC Approves Vaccinations - RW Mills — Dr. R.W. Mills has been a pediatrician for 36 years and is the Chief Medical Officer of Nationwide Children’s Toledo.

As of June 18, 2022 COVID vaccines have been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for children as young as six months old. This approval applies to both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

As of late June, Lucas County averaged 41 new cases per day. Per the Lucas County Health Department, 30.25 percent of children and young adults aged 0-19 years old have completed their vaccination series. In Lucas County, 58.42 percent of the population has completed vaccinations.

Where to go

Not all pediatrician’s offices have a supply of COVID vaccines in the proper doses for children under five, so contact your child’s doctor and local pharmacies to check the availability of the vaccines. Dr. R.W. Mills, Chief Medical Officer of Nationwide Children’s Toledo, says, “Some pharmacies may be hesitant to vaccinate a child as young as six months. Administering a shot to a baby or toddler who may be resistant is not the same as administering a vaccine to an individual who is able to sit still.”

The Lucas County Health Department is currently scheduling vaccines Monday-Thursday 8:30am-3:30pm and Friday 9am-3:30pm. They began administering doses for children as young as six months old at the end of June.

If a child has not yet started their vaccination series, parents may want to consider timing this with the beginning of school or heading into the winter months. For ages six months to four years, the second Pfizer-BioNTech dose is given four to eight weeks after the first, and the third does at least eight weeks after the second dose. For ages five to 18, there is a two-dose series three to eight weeks apart.

The dosing for Moderna vaccines is different from Pfizer, making the dosing times different as well. The two Moderna doses are given four to eight weeks apart for kids six months to 18 years old. Dr. Mills recommends waiting closer until the eight-week mark to receive the second and third doses for both vaccines, as this increases immunity and also decreases side effects.

Guidelines for when to receive booster shots vary based on whether your child receives the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech. For the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, booster shots are recommended for kids five and older at least five months after their initial round of vaccinations are completed. Booster shots for those who completed the Moderna primary series are typically only reserved for those who are immunocompromised or have an underlying condition. If your child received the Moderna primary series and you are wondering about a booster or ways to maintain protection, Dr. Mills suggests speaking with your child’s pediatrician.

Benefits of ongoing protection

While Lucas County’s current risk level is low, Dr. Mills says the medical community is expecting continued surges around times of heavy travel, such as holidays, and during the fall and winter. “Once we are back to doing more things indoors and having people back together again in small areas, the level of transmission is expected to increase.”

“One of the misconceptions is that if you get infected you don’t need a vaccination, but that natural immunity only lasts three to four months. You are also more likely to get Long COVID if you have not been immunized,” Dr. Mills clarifies.

Dr. Mill explains that the effects of Long COVID are the same in kids as they are in adults, “We continue to learn about this as time goes on, a significant number of kids have Long COVID symptoms. They continue to have difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty with memory and brain fog.”

As with adults, underlying conditions for children do increase their risk of severe disease, including Long COVID. The high risk factors include obesity, heart disease, lung diseases, neurologic diseases. Dr. Mills says it is possible for kids without underlying conditions to also experience severe disease to the point of hospitalization.

Concerns about side effects

A common concern with the Covid vaccines has been the potential long and short-term side effects. If a baby experiences side effects, they typically show up in the same way side effects do for other childhood immunizations: irritability, sleepiness and maybe a fever. Older kids may experience the same effects as adults: chills, fatigue and fever.

Myocarditis is a medical condition typically caused by viruses and causes inflammation of the heart. This condition was not something many parents thought much about for their kids until it became associated with COVID-19. While this has been a rare side effect of COVID-19 vaccines, kids are 50 times more likely to get myocarditis from a COVID infection than they are from the vaccine. While Myocarditis is rare, males aged 12-39 are at higher risk for this side effect with the Moderna vaccine. If this is a concern for parents, Dr. Mills encourages parents to ask about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

“The benefit we have with all of this is that these [the vaccines] were all done on adults first. That’s how we’ve been able to learn that greater intervals between doses decrease side effects and increase immunity. Any children in clinical trials were monitored very closely. These new approvals have been approved unanimously by the FDA.” Dr. Mills explains.

Due to the ongoing changes that occur with new knowledge, Dr. Mills recommends staying up to date with the CDC and calling your doctor’s office to make sure information or plans you are making with vaccines is current as not all online websites are updated in a timely fashion.

Financial Literacy Class Now Required for Ohio Students

Autumn Vasquez

July 24, 2022

Governor Mike Dewine signed Senate Bill 1 into law on October 28, 2021 after a unanimous vote to support the mandate. This new law will require all Ohio students to complete 60 hours, or “one-half unit” — as described by Ohio’s Department of Education — of course instruction in financial literacy in order to meet high school graduation requirements.

Toledo Public Schools

The Toledo Public School(TPS) District has implemented financial literacy as a part of their required curriculum for the past 10 years.

“TPS has been requiring all students who graduated over the past 10 years to take a financial literacy class, so, in essence, we have been ahead of the curve,” said Jim Gault, the TPS Chief of Educational Development.

Considering a personal finance class was previously set in place within the TPS graduation requirements, the new law will not affect its current required curriculum, but Gault says that it will allow the district to develop a variety of new classes that can satisfy the financial literacy requirement, as well as possible electives surrounding the topic.

“We’re looking to develop additional courses around this topic that may be added as electives, along with all of the classes we currently have available,” he said.

Financial literacy courses such as Personal Finance and Economics have been available within Ohio schools as electives, but courses such as these will now be required in all schools throughout the state once the new law takes place.

“We (TPS) believe that having financial literacy is very important. That is why we required it for graduation for our students 10 years ago, even though in other schools it was optional,” Gault said, adding that TPS is committed to creating lifelong learners who are college and career ready, including understanding finances.

“Financial literacy is one of those lifelong skills that students should learn as they progress in life. It’s important to understand credit, mortgage rates, checks, and how to manage your dollars to prepare for a lifetime.” said Gault in a virtual interview.

When To Expect It

Although this bill was signed into law in 2021, it will not go into effect until the 2024-2025 school year. Each school will be required to have an educator with a license in financial literacy.

Considering this timeline, only students who enter ninth grade for the first time on or after July 1, 2022, will be required to complete the financial literacy course before graduation.

Nationwide, only five of fifty states have made personal finance education a required part of the high school curriculum. These states include Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and Ohio, the latter being the largest state to officially make the course a requirement.

“I think that having good knowledge of financial literacy is crucial for high school students as they prepare for college, prepare to buy their first home and automobile, and just about everything else… I am glad to see that the state understands this and has made it a requirement for all Ohio graduates” said Gault.

Kids Astrology: Leo

Kimmie

July 23, 2022

July 23-August 22

Your little Leo has an outgoing personality and loves to perform! They will try almost any competitive activity with the idea of making their parents proud. This month, your child will be very excited as the center of attention for their birthday. Don’t be surprised if they get a little disappointed that they are not receiving all of the attention for the entire month!

Divide the month out into two special activities, like a trip to a trampoline park to spend their infinite energy. You can also play a game at home, which can teach them that they can’t always win. This is especially important for them during their birthday month when they can feel extra competitive. Teach them how fun it can be to play a game whether you win or lose, adding in a lot of laughter. Take a similar approach with baby Leo’s by bringing them to a park in their stroller, then making it go really fast and pretending you’re in a race! They already love competition even at that early age. Clapping and cheering for them is key. At any age, Leos need to know that their birthday is a celebration for their parents as well. Show them their baby book so you can reflect on memories together, emphasizing that their birth has enhanced your own life.

Finally, the ideal gift for a Leo, like Monopoly and Legos, is one that teaches them how to play fairly while encouraging parent-child participation.

Triple P Positive Parenting Program: Free Support for Childhood Development

Flynn Dooley-Homish

July 22, 2022

pexels-william-fortunato-6392805 — Photo by William Fortunato

A free online parenting program for Ohio residents — the Triple P Positive Parenting Program — provides a combination of skills and strategies researched for 35 years to give participants the right tools to positively impact their child’s development.

Governor Mike DeWine, in partnership with the Governor’s Children’s Initiative, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund, is bringing this program to all Ohio families in alignment with the Governor’s Advisory Council’s recommendations, released in late 2020. The Council’s recommendations were summarized into categories, one of which is practice. Governor DeWine has stated that “Triple P’s positive approach will help build parenting skills, while providing needed resources and to help parents promote their children’s resiliency and build stronger families.”

This program is all about investing in Ohio’s families and the future of children. Parents can work through the program at their own pace with multiple worksheets, activities, and videos. The program is free for any parent who has a child or children under 12 years of age, and it gives participants full access for 12 months. Governor DeWine is encouraging all families to visit their website to make the most of these crucial developmental years.

New St. John’s Jesuit High School President Shares Desire to Serve

Mary Rose Kulczak

July 19, 2022

St. John’s Jesuit High School recently appointed retired Air Force Colonel Mark Swentkofske to serve as the school’s twelfth president. We spoke with President Swentkofske, an SJJ alumni, to learn about his hopes for the future.

Tell us a little about yourself. I was born on February 12, 1966 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I am the middle child in a family of five children. I attended Catholic grade schools and entered Marquette University High School in the fall of 1980. I enjoyed playing football, basketball, baseball and jumping events on the track team. I was also a member of the conclave student government.

In the summer of 1982, I moved to Toledo after my father accepted a position with Toledo Trust. I joined the junior class at St. John’s and played varsity football, basketball and baseball. I graduated in May of 1984 with an appointment to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Due to a serious knee injury playing football for the Falcons, I was medically turned back a class. I graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. I also earned a Master of Science Degree from the National Intelligence University in 1999. I have two adult sons: Marcus (26 years old) who lives in Washington D.C. and Danny (24 years old) who lives in Tampa, Florida.

Tell us about your background, serving in the military and post-military. After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1989, I attended technical training to become a USAF intelligence officer. I served on active duty for thirty years with three combat deployments, five overseas assignments and eight assignments within the continental United States. I retired from my military career at the conclusion of 2019. I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to command an Air Force squadron, work at the White House and serve as an Attache at the United States Embassy in Beijing, China.

What are your hobbies? I am an avid golfer. I enjoy playing and watching golf in person. I also enjoy outdoor sports, especially downhill skiing, biking, and walking. I enjoy reading, particularly biographies and auto-biographies of historically significant personalities. I also enjoy spending time with my two sons.

What are some of your favorite things about Northwest Ohio? It’s filled with friendly, caring, respectful people with knowledge of diverse subjects and pride in America.

What about some of your favorite local spots? Mr. Freeze Ice Cream, Tony Packo’s, Midwest Sports, Inverness Club and the Metroparks Toledo.

What influenced your decision to accept the position at St. John’s Jesuit? My education in high school had a profound impact on me as a man of faith, but it also instilled in me a strong desire to serve and share my God-given gifts with others. I am indebted to many influential teachers, coaches and friends who helped me along the way. In this spirit, I wanted to serve young people and give back to the place that had given so much to me. The timing could not have been better to allow me to accept this humbling opportunity to continue a life of service.

How does it feel to be back at your alma mater? Amazing. I feel very humbled. I also feel grateful for my years at SJJ and to be in a position where I can help other families in Northwest Ohio not only afford this experience but provide an opportunity that will be life changing.

What are your hopes for the future of St. John’s?

In a world that currently faces significant cultural, economic, social, and ideological challenges, I want St. John’s to remain a guiding light for educating young men in Northwest Ohio. To sustain this, my hope is that collaborative, forward-thinking school leadership continues to develop. It is in creative problem solving that we will keep graduating men of character.

What are your challenges for the future? Providing a Jesuit education that provides SJJ graduates with lifelong opportunities to succeed in a world that is always changing and needs men who serve others first. This all requires resources – financial, professional and the gift of one’s time and expertise. Securing those resources is a challenge in any time and market condition. Convincing people that SJJ is a solid investment in the future – not only of the future of young men – but a solid investment in the future of our community, nation and world can be a challenge, but it’s certainly a challenge worth accepting.

How would you like to see St. John’s influence the Toledo community in the future? Our mission as a Jesuit school has always been to educate and develop young men as Christian leaders with Ignatian spirituality who desire to give back to their communities. St. John’s has always been steadfast to this mission during changes in leadership and changes in our world. I recognize the Toledo community has high expectations of SJJ and our graduates which I intend to exceed.

Parochial schools have seen an uptick in enrollment post-COVID. To what do you attribute this? As a Catholic school, we employ a faculty and staff who view their roles at SJJ as a ministry and a calling. We do not have jobs at SJJ – we have been called to a vocation of service to our young men. There is a sense of commitment to our students from all those that serve them in every capacity from our food court to our classrooms that we are here to educate the whole person – mind, body, and spirit.

In the wake of Covid-19, families saw us return to in-person learning as quickly as possible to do this. I believe SJJ continues to demonstrate an agility and accessibility that appeals to many families.

What makes you most proud of St. John’s Jesuit? When I interact with anyone from the greater Saint John’s Jesuit family (students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, board members, donors, and friends), I always have a positive interaction that is highlighted by mutual respect, intellectual curiosity, humor and humility. These same people are always leading in their homes, churches, communities, and places of work. They want to be helpful and positive rather than critical and negative. I absolutely love SJJ people!

How do you see the future of private Christian education in an increasingly secular culture? At St. John’s, we have a large Catholic student population. We also have a substantial number of young men who practice other faiths or are non denominational. These backgrounds come together to create an incredibly diverse and enriched middle and high school experience that is based on appreciation for others and finding God in all things. As long as families place value on such a diverse experience and desire the freedom to be able to choose a faith-based school that best fits their students, parochial education has an important place in our community.

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