Plunket nurse's star shines bright

Ana Tom lends a hand with baby Slade Pihema and his brother Rakardo. Picture / Brett Phibbs

When there are three children under the age of 4 in the house and one has forgotten the art of sitting still, many hands can make light work.

This week, Ana Tom tagged along with fellow Plunket nurse Te Mere Kaa to the Mangere house of Te Ngaere Williams and her children Davarah, Rakardo and Slade Pihema to show how her talents won her the Plunket Eyebright award for South and East Auckland.

She is confronted by the job's ultimate challenge - a grinning 20-month-old Rakardo, who is getting in some early practice for his terrible 2s.

In quick succession he raided the banana bowl, emptied out the Plunket equipment box and rubbed his fingers over the photographer's lens.

With 3-year-old Davarah supervising from on high, Miss Tom and Ms Kaa checked out 3-month-old Slade's progress while he showed how much of his fist he could fit into his mouth.

Miss Tom has purloined Ms Kaa's family for the photograph session because for a few weeks she has been behind a desk, filling in as acting clinical leader for the Manurewa Plunket office, where she has worked for the past three years.

But she reckons she'll soon be back with her own parents and children - she did nursing so she could have a hands-on impact in the community.

The award is evidence that she is good at it, and was partly based on feedback to Plunket from Miss Tom's clients, who include mothers of Pacific, Maori, Iraqi, Indian, Chinese and European descent.

Miss Tom said there can be initial distrust and reluctance in those newer communities that are not used to the Plunket concept.

"Some have limited English but if I'm having difficulty I try to find someone in the community who can interpret. Some families can be a little sceptical at first because they don't really know where we are coming from.

"Some just say, 'I don't speak English', and close the door. But we try again to tell them we've come to see baby, and gradually, sometimes reluctantly, they will say it's okay."

Fourteen regional Eyebright awards are given out nationwide. Three of the recipients will go on to win national honours.

Parents whose nurses have won a regional award are encouraged to help the judge's pick by sending their support to the email address below or Eyebright Freepost, PO Box 31-301, Devonport, Auckland.

Toddler tips

* "Helping" in the house makes them feel important and included - let them play with water in the sink while dinner is being cooked, or help lay the table.

* Toddlers don't stick to one activity for long. Have different options lined up, for example play with pots and pans with wooden or plastic spoons, painting, or play in cardboard boxes.

* Try not to worry about the mess. Make a game out of cleaning up.

* Tantrums are normal for toddlers. Tell them when they have been good and distract their attention from a naughty activity.

* Ignore a tantrum, stay calm, avoid smacking and try not to stop it with treats. Contact Plunket or another Well Child health provider if you have any concerns.

Source: Thriving Under Five by the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society and Bounty Services.