The WM Parenting Connection

WM: Can you explain the “text4baby” program?

MG: Sure, text4baby is a program that was founded by National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, Voxiva, and CTIA – The Wireless Foundation. AT&T is one of the supporters.

WM: How does it work? How can it help parents?

MG: Here’s how it works: expectant moms just text BABY to 511411, then share details on the due date.  All they need is a wireless device that can receive a text message. For Spanish-language tips, just text BEBE to the same number. Participating moms-to-be will receive a few free texts per week, covering a range of health and medical issues that they may face through pregnancy.

   

WM: What kinds of topics are covered?

MG: Messages will contain health and medical guidance timed for the mom’s specific week of the pregnancy, and tips will cover both the health of the mother and the baby. They might include advice such as, “Keep your prenatal appointments. If you miss one, make another right away. Don’t wait until next month. They’re essential for you and your baby's health.” Or “Butt out! Ask people not to smoke around you. The smoke reaches your baby, and can cause serious problems.” The text tips apply to all stages of pregnancy and early childhood, from 4 weeks through the first twelve months of a child’s life.

WM: As a participating provider, how does AT&T help to support the program?

MG: We are one of a number of wireless industry supporters of the program. We’re supporting the initiative by:
1.    Ensuring that the text tips are free for our wireless customers.
2.    Supporting the program with additional outreach and advocacy through Mother’s Day 2010.

WM:   Can any family member opt-in the program (such as grandparents and older siblings) or just parents?

MG: Yes.  AT&T customers who have text-capable phones can receive the text4baby tips for free. 

WM: AT&T’s senior vice president Cindy Brinkley said, "At AT&T, we're glad to support text4baby and the many families who will benefit from it. We are proud of our long-standing support of women in the workplace – including working mothers – and the various initiatives we have in place to provide them with advancement opportunities. The long-term impact of offering tips and tools to help keep moms and pregnancies healthy – and to lead to beautiful, healthy babies for our world -- is large and lasting for us all." We LOVE that. What other ways does AT&T support parents?

MG: That’s a good question. We support parents by offering our customers ways to help keep their kids safe and a watchful eye out when they can’t be with them. We know that when you give a child a cell phone for the first time, it’s giving your child a bit of independence. To put parents’ minds at ease though, we have several Web sites and services that help parents use their child’s cell phone as a safety tool. For instance, have you heard for AT&T’s Smart Limits for Wireless? This service allows parents to set limits for their child’s cell phone use, such as the number of text and instant messages a child can send, or the time of day the phone can be used for web browsing, messaging and outbound calling. We also have Smart Limits for Internet and TV, as well.

Another service that is quite helpful to parents is AT&T FamilyMap, which helps families stay up to speed on each other’s whereabouts by locating wireless devices with a shared family account. In fact, last week we just expanded the popular FamilyMap app to the iPhone.

You can learn more about AT&T Smart Limits, AT&T FamilyMap and other safety tips for parents at www.att.com/safety.

WM: Tell us about AT&T’s new mom blog, Calm, Cool, Connected.

MG: Calm, Cool, Connected is a blog written for moms by seven real AT&T moms (and dads), along with the occasional guest blogger. It focuses on how parents can use technology to stay calm, cool, and connected in their busy lives. I also wanted to point out that one of our Dad bloggers, Cory, lives right here in St. Louis. We’ll be working with mom blogger, Heather Spohr in the coming weeks, and later this month, we’ll be hosting a Twitter Party to help promote the cause.

WM: How many kids do you have, including the one you’re expecting? How far along are you now?

NC: I am expecting my first child and am 7 months along.
   
WM: Can you tell us about your experience using the text4baby service? What do you like about it?

NC: Of course as an expectant mom, I’ve been doing a ton of reading and research. What I really like about the service is that all of the tips and information are really in line with what my doctor has told me and what I have read about. It also provides good reminders on important things – like remembering to take my prenatal vitamin! I also liked that it provided reminders about getting your flu vaccine and contact info that expectant moms can call if they questions about the flu shot.
  
WM: What kinds of messages do you receive?

NC: I have received everything from alerts on high blood pressure symptoms to watch out for to tips on how to sleep most comfortably and safely.

WM:  Has there been a certain tip that came at a perfect time or that helped you to understand something you didn’t know before?

NC: While I haven’t had to worry about high blood pressure, the symptoms/warning signs hadn’t really been a topic that I had thought about much through my pregnancy. So the text reminder really provided a good guide on what to keep an eye out for – just in case.

WM:  Do you feel that this service is helping you to be healthier during your pregnancy? Will you use it if you become pregnant again in the future?

NC: Of course.  As an expectant mom, my child’s health and growth has become my first priority, so anything that can provide convenient reminders of and help me understand how to live healthfully is most welcome.

WM: Would you or do you recommend this service to friends or family who are new or expectant parents?

NC: I would recommend this service to both friends and family. It’s been a great tool, plus it’s fun anticipating when the next text message will come and what it will say.

WM Insider: Here's the Scoop on the New Free text4baby Program