We get many questions here at Infant Crisis Services. Two common questions are about breastfeeding and cloth diapers. Pediatrician Patrice Aston alongside Infant Crisis Services staff answered some of those burning questions.

Q: Isn’t breast milk best for babies? Why do you provide formula rather than encouraging these new mothers to breastfeed?
A: Breastfeeding has been shown to have substantial benefits for babies, including decreased illness and a closer bond with their mother. But the choice to breast- or bottle-feed is a personal one, and is often dictated by culture, the mother’s desire and determination, or the need to supplement with formula as directed by a physician.

Infant Crisis Services encourages all clients who are currently breastfeeding to continue to do so, and provides them with everything available at the time that may help them.

The majority of our clients arrive at Infant Crisis Services when their child is at least one-week-old; in some cases, the baby may be as much as one or six months old. As much as we would love for more mothers to breastfeed, the reality is that by the time a client has arrived at Infant Crisis Services, they may have already ceased nursing. Once a mother has made the decision not to nurse, it is extremely difficult to begin nursing again, as related to that particular birth.

"Human milk is best for human babies, but when unavailable for any reason, a high quality infant formula which imitates milk will support optimal growth of the baby, and development of the brain, sensory and immune systems."
-Dr. Patrice Aston, Pediatric Consultant

Q: Why doesn’t Infant Crisis Services provide cloth diapers rather than disposable diapers?
A: Infant Crisis Services will provide cloth diapers for families who request them, however cloth is usually not an option. Childcare centers require parents to leave disposable diapers with their child. In addition, families that can’t afford diapers often do not have washing machines and can’t afford bus fare to get to the laundromat, or money for the laundromat.

Journey Church

Journey Church brought in an amazing amount of donations today! In a U-haul, which took at least 20 minutes for about 10 people to unload, they brought:

24,000 individual diapers

363 pound of formula

106 Bath items

And more!

Thank you for your donations...this will feed many, many hungry babies and make sure they have a dry bottom!

1/20/2010

Volunteer Nancy with Cherish

Amy, Public Relations Assistant with a beautiful baby boy

Volunteer Amy keeps her hands busy with a toddler and baby

Knocked out!

Meet our Program Manager

Brenda, Program Manager

Hi this is Brenda Rempe, Program Manager at ICS; I have been on staff here for three years. This so far has been an amazing year here at ICS. We had a successful move last February and it is hard to believe we have been in our new building for almost a year. We have been so blessed…

Our in-kind donations over the holidays were incredible. Our toy drives were very successful and we were able to give every client (baby or toddler) we served a new Christmas toy and new book.
Even with all the wonderful donations, we still are in need of in-kind goods, such as Good Start formula, diapers (sizes 4, 5, and 6), slightly used clothes mostly sizes between 18 months to 3T, new items for our new client infant and toddler packs (baby lotion, baby wipes, pacifiers, baby bath, children’s toothbrushes & children’s toothpaste, Sippy cups, new baby bottles and slightly used and new toys). We take donations of most things pertaining to children from birth to age 4 years.

Infant Crisis Services is very thankful for all the in-kind goods we have received since our move to our new location and continue to receive from our community. There are so many generous people that live in the OKC metro area.

A day at Infant Crisis Services

Welcome to the new Infant Crisis Services' blogspot. Through this new blog we will bring you client's stories, messages from volunteers and staff, pictures/videos, etc. We hope this will bring more insight into Infant Crisis Services, who we serve and questions you might have about our organization.