Parenting & Child Development: From Infancy to Adolescence

Parenting success relies on understanding developmental benchmarks, managing maternal health during and after pregnancy, and implementing effective behavioral strategies for toddlers and teenagers.

Cute newborn baby in white bed

Normal Breathing Rate for a Newborn

Full-term babies normally come out of the womb ready to breathe on their own, but the way your baby breathes might alarm you at times. Newborns normally breathe faster than older children and adults do. They might also have more irregular breathing patterns.

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Baby yawn

How Do I Get Your Newborn to Sleep in a Crib?

Newborn babies are an absolute joy. And while most newborns sleep about 14 to 18 hours every day, parents often face many challenges getting them to sleep. Though it’s sometimes easy for a newborn baby to fall asleep in the your arms, the challenge comes when trying to put a baby in a crib to sleep.

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cute asian baby

Can Babies Get Hiccups After Breastfeeding?

Hiccups might seem like a troublesome condition -- particularly when they startle your baby and make him feel unsettled. However, a case of the hiccups is usually a harmless -- and painless -- digestive issue. There are a few triggers that can take place during feeding times that can bring on a case of the hiccups.

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close-up portrait of a beautiful sleeping baby on white

Infant Formula Vs. Whole Milk

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding infants until 12 months of age. However, not all mothers are physically able to breastfeed or choose to breastfeed their infant. In these cases, parents need to rely on another source of nutrition such as infant formula or whole milk.

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Boy and Girl Holding Autumn Leaves

Five Stages of Puberty

Puberty--the biological transition to adult reproductive appearance and function--takes place through a defined process of steps. Doctors measure the stage of puberty using a standard called the Tanner stages.

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Mother laying on bed with sleeping baby

Infant Noises in Sleep

Whoever coined the phrase “sleeping like a baby” must not have lived with a newborn: babies are noisy sleepers, and new parents are treated to a nightly symphony of grunts, whimpers, snorts and yelps.

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Mother placing her son in a crib

Baby Rolling Over in Sleep

With the advent of the "Back to Sleep" campaign by the National Institutes of Health, the recommendation that babies be placed on their backs to sleep has significantly reduced the incidence of SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome.

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Emotional Symptoms During Third Trimester of Pregnancy

The third trimester of pregnancy lasts from week 28 until delivery. During this time the baby is growing and gaining weight rapidly. There are many physical and emotional experiences that occur during the last months of pregnancy.

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How to Calculate Ovulation for Irregular Menstrual Period

When your body is on a regular menstrual cycle, it's easy to tell when you're fertile and when you should expect your period. But when you have irregular menstrual cycles, your fertile period can be different each month. This fertile time, centering around ovulation, gives off some tell-tale signs.

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Four girls (8-12) lying in circle on beach, holding hands, eyes closed

What Are the 4 Stages of Puberty?

Puberty is a sequential series of physical changes that lead to sexual maturity. These changes are described by Tanner stages, named after British pediatrician Dr. James Tanner. The stages are based on the development of secondary sex characteristics.

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Pregnant young woman outdoors in summer day closeup

5 Things You Need to Know About IBS and Pregnancy

A common concern among female Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers is, "How will this affect my pregnancy?" Truth of the matter is, in many ways it won't. IBS will not affect your ability to get pregnant nor will it bother the baby. Unfortunately, the one it will bother is you, the mommy to be.

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Young pregnant woman do yoga indoors

11 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

At 11 weeks pregnant, you are almost at the end of the first trimester. Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed, states the Mayo Clinic. The symptoms you may experience at this point during your pregnancy may differ from another woman's symptoms.

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Teenage girl playing with baby boy

Developmental Activities for a 6-Month-Old

As a new parent, watching your baby grow and change on a daily basis fills you with anticipation and pride. You may notice that your 6-month-old is acquiring exciting new skills — learning to roll over and sit up by himself and hold, chew and handle objects.

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Mother putting her daughter to bed

Creative Ways to Discipline a 7 Year Old

When kids enter school, they may become more independent and more difficult to discipline as a result of outside influences. Oftentimes, the more demanding you become while trying to maintain control, the more resistant they seem to become.

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Pre-teen girl talking on cell phone

Physical Development in Late Childhood

Late childhood is generally defined as ages 9 through 12. Up until this point, most children have been growing at fairly predictable rates. Now, all bets are off due the often wild fluctuations in physical development.

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Young illness woman

Antihistamines for Pregnancy

Pregnant women often have enough discomfort at is it, so having to deal with a bad cold or allergies can send many pregnant women rushing to find relief. The U.S.

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mother and daughter holding hands

How to Calm a Hyper 1-Year-Old Child

Life can be very exciting for a 1-year-old. By the time your child's first birthday rolls around, she's discovered that she can propel herself using her body, figured out that different sounds mean different things and realized that the world is full of things to explore.

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How to Make Cheerleader Pom-Poms

If you want to save a bit of cash without skimping on team spirit, you can make your own cheerleading pom-poms at home. By creating your own cheerleading gear, you can make them in your favorite team's colors and customize the size, depending on the age and preference of the intended cheerleader.

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How to Care for a C-Section Scar

A cesarean section is a major surgery, and you'll have either a vertical or horizontal incision left from the procedure. The scar will need care to properly heal and to prevent infection, or worse, scarring.

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Mother sitting with her son on a park bench

How to Correct Rebellious Behavior in a Child

Rebellious behavior can drive a wedge in between your relationship with your child. You may think that a heavy, strict hand is the best way to stop rebellious behavior in its tracks, but it might just serve to cause your child to rebel even harder against stringent rules and regulations.

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