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live with family How to pass on the gift of a life-long lesson 'Tis the Season for Giving For the youngins: Even when little ones are still learning the thrill of giving, there are age-appropriate ways to teach them about giving back to their community. If you're taking them to East or West Towne Malls to visit San- ta, stop by the Community Giving Tree where you can select a wish list for some- one in need. Give to a local child near your child's age, and they'll be more able to un- derstand (and get excited about) selecting a gift that will spread cheer. At home, let artsy children give back in simple ways. Meals on Wheels, a non- profi t organization that operates programs through Home Health United and Inde- pendent Living to deliver meals to those unable to leave their homes, provides meal bags your children can decorate and return. Or create your own way to give back by crafting up cards and bookmarks to drop off at a local nursing home or senior center. For grade-schoolers: A seasonal staple, bell ringing for Th e Sal- vation Army is an easy way to donate an hour or two with your child while teaching them how a simple task can make a world of difference. For the chance to clean up while giving back, have your child pick out used cloth- ing and coats then accompany you to a drive at a local store or school, or to a drop- off with an area organization such as Th e Road Home Dane County, which pro- vides clothing to homeless families. For teens: When your energetic teen is getting a bit of cabin fever, send them out with a sibling or friend to shovel for a neighbor or down a sidewalk. Make it more interesting by see- ing who can shovel the most and they'll see the impact of giving back fi rsthand. Or slip them a $20 and challenge them to fi nd the most items possible at the grocery store. Stop by a foodbank such as Second Har- vest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin on the drive home for a lesson in giving. If a challenge isn't what they need but social time is, there is no shortage of or- ganizations in need of volunteers. From lending at hand at Th e River Food Pantry to singing carols at a medical establishment such as St. Mary's Adult Day Health Center, there are plenty of easy (and fun) opportunities to give back. Visit bravamagazine.com for more information and links to these organizations. Ask Doctor Mom Put sleep fears to rest with a few easy steps By Dr. Elizabeth Goetz We never like to talk about our greatest fears, but one is a common concern for every new parent: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. With no warning signs, SIDS can cause an otherwise healthy baby to die while sleeping. The well-known campaign to put babies to sleep on their backs, "Back to Sleep," has effectively decreased the number of babies who die due to SIDS each year. While we may not know the causes of SIDS, we can take steps to ensure that babies sleep as safely as possible, especially when accidental deaths of infants due to unsafe sleep environ- ments are on the rise. Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies always sleep on their backs on a fi rm mattress. While we like to see our children tucked in with cute bedding, bumper pads and stuffed animals, these objects can result in suffocation, asphyxia and entrapment when given to babies who are too young. And though many exhausted parents may be tempted to lay their baby in bed next to them, co-sleeping with an infant is known to be risky. When your baby is young, it is generally recommended that you keep him or her in a bassinette or crib near your bed, but separate from your sleeping space. The good news? Don't be afraid to give your baby a pacifi er while falling asleep starting at around 2 weeks old. It's also important to note that babies who are breastfed and routinely im- munized are at a lower risk for SIDS and sleep-related deaths. While this sounds easy, it bears repeating that in Wisconsin, SIDS and sleep-related deaths are the third leading cause of infant death behind prematurity and birth defects and are higher than the national average. While we can't always answer why, we do know that some deaths are preventable by creating a safer sleeping environ- ment that can lower the risk and help both baby and parent rest soundly. Elizabeth Goetz is a pediatrician at UW Health and mother of three. 26 BRAVA Magazine December 2011 Photo by David King