[Icequeen_in_ak]

I signed up for this thinking what could it hurt?? I wanted to make sure I was teaching my baby everything I could and that I wasn't missing the mark on anything.<br><br>
Here's what blew me away... as the parent coordinator was going through the handouts with me, she was discussing what babies my age (6 months) should be doing and how they should be sleeping. In the PAT handouts, they actually ADVOCATE CIO!!! I about fell off my chair that a nationally funded program would publish something telling you to let your child cry itself to sleep!<br><br>
Do you think I would be out of place to contact the national headquarters?? I'm personally appauled <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"><br><br>
Maybe pushing some alternate perspectives might help to open the minds of the people creating the printouts that they give to so many parents.<br><br>
WDYT?

 

[mocha09]

Just went to their website.<br><br>
Do the push early reading and stuff? I get creeped out anytime I see those "What your children are supposed to be doing at this age" stuff....it's based on averages, and obviously, every child develops at different rates. Seems like that could be fodder for panic and anxiety if your child is on a different schedule.<br><br>
I would definitely talk about the CIO thing. Yuck.<br><br>
ETA: IQ, you are one *dedicated* mama! You obviously are researching and joining groups, doing your best to give your child the best. That's awesome.

 

[Icequeen_in_ak]

it's a nationally funded program that is free to the public.... it is suppose to help ensure that children get adequate stimulation, interaction and education from their parents.<br><br>
Here is their website.<br><br><a href="http://www.patnc.org/forparents.asp" target="_blank">http://www.patnc.org/forparents.asp</a>

 

[Icequeen_in_ak]

thank you Mocha <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
Would it sound wierd if I said that she's my only baby, and I have no clue if I'm doing anything right <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"> and therefore some outside opinions at least let me know if I'm on track or not. For what it's worth... according to their silly scales, my babe is equivilant to a 9-10 month old <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> (don't know if that's a good thing or not <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/headscratch.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="headscratch"> )

 

[kimberlylibby]

My sister uses them and they're pretty cool. I didn't know that about CIo though. ugh.<br><br>
They are a good reassurance that your kid is developing normally <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[DreamerMama]

My sister uses it and likes it a lot. She really needs this sort of thing too, she dropped out in the 7th grade and has a hard time reading. On top of ehat they do provide, they also encouraged my sister to get her GED, cut her daughters bangs for her, offer books and resources. Lots of encouragement and advice. Being a single mom she loves all the help she can get.<br><br>
That said, anything involving "free" and "government" would have me suspect. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shrug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shrug"><br><br>
I am glad my niece is too old for CIO and that my sister coslept, I don't know if I could live with her doing CIO.<br><br>
My advice is to take what you need and leave the rest.

 

[Mama J Rock]

Our local PAT is great. The funding for our county is administered by the local hospital so it's not technically a "government agency" that oversees it. When I got a handout a few months ago about helping your baby sleep it didn't have anything about CIO. It just suggested things like routine, warm baths, reading, dim lights, rocking, etc. It did talk about how important sleep is for babies and encouraged parents to read their babies cues about when they needed sleep.<br><br>
I also have a 30 mo dd so I've gotten several of the handouts for older babies as well and I always felt that their recommendations for "discipline" for age-appropriate behavior was always good. Pretty basic, but, always suggested redirection and emphasized what behavior is considered normal.<br><br>
I feel like the handouts don't really give the impression that your child should be doing xyz by such and such age because they're typically spaced out pretty far, i.e. 8-14 months, 24-36 months. The handouts I've gotten also list types of skills, physical, social, intellectual and emotional that children will start to develop and gives suggestions of how to encourage or support that development.<br><br>
I'm not saying that it's a perfect program and I'm sure it depends tremendously on what the director and parent educators are like (there's always some that ruin it for the rest) but overall I've been pleased to have the option. I love the ideas that they have for games and activities. They always seem so obvious but I guess my creativity genes are lacking as I don't ever think of anything like that on my own.<br><br>
I approach PAT like I do everything. I take from it what works for our family and leave the rest.

 

[kerikadi]

I used them when I lived in Missouri - they had sign up at the hospital birthing classes if you wanted it. I really enjoyed it but I would think a lot depends on your representative. I got along well with mine and she gave me all kids of great ideas on how to make homemade toys and fun age appropriate games to play.<br><br>
I didn't know it was national and don't know anyone here in Texas that uses them but then again my last 2 were born at home so there was nowhere to sign up.<br><br>
Keri

 

[Marsupialmom]

I used them. I do not remember any CIO stuff.<br><br>
I think the pedatric community is stuck at 6 months they should be sleeping through the night crap.<br><br>
The "your child should be doing" are guidelines to when to worry and they ussually give an age spread or by x month your child should. They do help parents judge if their child is growing or developing properly.