Baby Time

by Jennifer Nicholson Rowan Public Library

This week is a little sad for me, I just finished planning my son’s third birthday party; and I realized that my sweet, cute, adorable baby is not a newborn anymore.  He is growing up so fast, as I am sure every parent knows just how I am feeling!  Looking back I can remember how I felt three years ago; as an expecting first time mother, full of hope and worry, and not knowing what to do!  Babies do not come with manuals, but there are many great resources available to help!

A couple of weeks ago you probably saw an amazing article by Dara Cain, reviewing many of the great online resources that the Rowan Public Library has to offer for young children. Yet, many do not know that the Rowan Public Library also offers great resources for babies and first time moms as well! The library offers programs and storytimes that are geared just for babies.  These interactive programs introduce babies into the world of music and stories allowing babies to develop literacy skills and social skills.  Likewise, these storytimes serve as a great outlet for moms, dads, and caregivers, as well, by providing an opportunity to interact with their child, but also with other adults!  Storytimes help serve as a reminder for all of those silly songs and stories, which you probably heard as a child, but forgot as an adult. I cannot tell you how many times I sung Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!  For more information visit our website at Rowanpubliclibrary.org, or for times and locations see below:

Baby Time- Storytimes

Headquarters (Salisbury)                Wednesdays                          10:00am

East (Rockwell)                                 Mondays                                 10:00am

Toddler Time

Headquarters (Salisbury)                Tuesday                                 10:30am

East (Rockwell)                                 Mondays                                 11:00am

Tiny Tumblers

South (China Grove/Landis)                       Tuesdays & Thursdays        10:30am

            The Rowan Public Library also offers many great books, which yes, almost seems as if there is a manual for babies!  Many of these books offer wonderful, colorful pictures and tips; such as Heading Home with Your Newborn, by Laura Jana and The Essential First Year, by Penelope Leach; other books are great go to guides like the Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby’s First Year and What to expect the First Year, by Heidi Murkoff.

            However, one of the most terrifying and daunting challenges that I experience, and I am sure that every parents worries about is finding a great daycare or preschool.  Trusting someone else to take care of your most precious child is scary.  Yet, many parents are unaware of the many great resources available to them to help with find the perfect daycare and preschool.  The library again does offer many great book resources like, How to choose the best preschool for your child by Jenifer Wana.  Yet, there are also many great online resources such as, http://ncchildcare.nc.gov.  This site created by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services by the Division of Child Development and Early Education, this site allows parents to find and search for daycares and preschools in their area, either by city or county.   Parents can search for center-based childcare or family based childcare centers, by star ratings, and by child’s age.  This site provides parents with tips and questions to ask when visiting and looking at schools, and offers parents a great guide in choosing the best care for your child.

            Being a first time mom does not have to be scary.  The Rowan Public Library is here to help first time moms, by connecting moms other moms, through Storytime, or by checking out many of the books and online resources that we have available.  For more information or questions please checkout our website at Rowanpubliclibrary.org or by calling us at 704- 216-8234.

                                                                                                Jennifer Nicholson

                                                                                                Librarian/YA Coordinator

Jana, L. A. (2011). Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality (2nd ed.). Elk Grove Village, IL: The American Academy of Pediatrics.

Leach, P. (2010). The Essential First Year. New York: Dk Publishing.

Mayo Clinic. (2012). Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby's First Year. (E. Krych, R. Johnson, & W. Cook, Eds.) Intercourse, PA: Good Books.

Murkoff, H., Eisenberg, A., & Hathaway, S. (2003). What to Expect the First Year. New York: Workman Publishing.

Wana, J. (2010). How to choose the best preschool for your child : the ultimate guide to finding, getting into, and preparing for nursery school. Naperville, Ill: Sourcebooks.