Newborns celebrate first Halloween at Advocate Good Shepherd's Baby Bistro

Posted November 03, 2023 6:00 am

Steve Zalusky

Three Baby Bistro buddies are dressed up for Halloween: Merrick Rogers, 7 months old, of Cary as a pumpkin; Leon Mohrman, 6 months old, of Lake Barrington as a Dalmatian; and Stetson Smith, 6 months old, of Barrington as a skeleton. Courtesy of Advocate Health Care

Newborns and their moms recently celebrated their first Halloween at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital's Center for Health and Integrative Medicine near Lake Barrington.

The group of 56 hailed from towns including Lake Zurich, Lakemoor, Cary, Palatine, Elk Grove Village, Barrington and Crystal Lake.

Babies came decked out as everything from pumpkins and animals to skeletons and superheroes. Five-month-old Anthony Quinones of Crystal Lake came dressed as a lion, while 7-month-old Nash Wynn, also of Crystal Lake, came as a monkey. Four-month-olds Alyssa and Parker Wallenfang of Lake Barrington arrived as Pooh and Piglet, respectively.

The event was part of the Baby Bistro program, a weekly breastfeeding support group for new parents that meets every Thursday. Led by a certified lactation consultant, the meetings offer a venue for parents to ask questions, meet other new families and gather to share the challenges posed by the first year of parenthood.

“You hope that the baby can nurse, but there are feeding issues that can come up,” said Jill Burman, a certified lactation consultant who leads the Baby Bistro meetings.

“Babies can have trouble latching, need supplemental nutrition or are too sick to nurse. Regardless of your feeding plan, we're here to help ensure your baby is thriving and offer a community of other new parents who can help you through all the firsts — from first days at home to picking your first Halloween costume.”

Baby Bistro is open to new moms and their little ones, up to 12 months or so, regardless of where they were delivered. One does not have to be breastfeeding to join, and no fee or registration are required.

For information, call the lactation office at (847) 842-5569.

From left, Kelly Frano of Cary with 6-week-old Daniel, dressed up as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and Slimer, respectively, and Cassandra Curry of Palatine with her Beanie Baby, 8-week-old Wesley, at the Baby Bistro Halloween event. Courtesy of Advocate Health Care

The Baby Bistro group recently celebrated several newborns' first Halloween with costumes and camaraderie at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital's Center for Health and Integrative Medicine near Lake Barrington. Courtesy of Advocate Health Care

Kristin Eastman of Lakemoor and 7-week-old Raelynn dressed up as matching skeletons for the Baby Bistro event at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital's Center for Health and Integrative Medicine near Lake Barrington. Courtesy of Advocate Health Care

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