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.

How to Cover a Baby to Sleep

You may think that your baby needs a soft, fluffy blanket in order to sleep comfortably, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission actually discourages the usage of blankets in your baby's crib. Blankets can cover your baby's nose and mouth, causing him to suffocate.

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The Importance of Physical Play in Child Development

Physical play includes activities that use physical movements to allow children to use their energy, and it gives children the chance to develop gross and fine motor skills, learn new things and socialize. Physical play also benefits a child’s health.

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Baby hands

Characteristics of a Premature Baby

Depending on how early delivery occurs during pregnancy, a premature baby can have different characteristics than a full-term baby. Over time, the characteristics become less noticeable.

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3 Periods in 1 Month and Signs of Pregnancy

It’s not possible to have three actual menstrual periods in 1 month and still have signs of being pregnant. It’s possible, however, to have three bleeding episodes that look like periods in 1 month and still be pregnant.

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sporty child

Negative Effects of Computers on Children

Today's computers have changed the lives of children of all ages. While this technology can be an amazing thing to enjoy and use for learning and entertainment, it can also have sometimes unseen effects on your child’s health and development.

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Baby's First Table Foods

For the first year of a baby's life, baby formula or breast milk should be the mainstay of her diet. Once your baby is six months old, she is ready for pureed baby foods.

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How to Tell if Your Child Is Smoking Pot

More and more kids are smoking pot. The National Institute on Drug Abuse found, in its 2012 Monitoring the Future survey of eighth, 10th and 12th graders, that 36 percent of high school seniors and 11 percent of eighth graders had smoked it in the previous year.

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Signs Before Your First Period

Menstruation (a period) is a sign that a girl’s body is able to conceive a child. While one girl may be excited at the prospect of becoming a young woman, another may be fearful of her first period and its implication that her childhood is coming to an end.

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What Do You See in a 6-Week Sonogram of a Baby?

At six weeks, some doctors perform a sonogram, also called an ultrasound, to determine the health or viability of the developing embryo. This is generally the earliest that anything is visible on an ultrasound, although at this point it will not look much like a baby, since development is still in the early stages.

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Teenage girl thinking

The Psychological Impact of Puberty

Your sweet, good-natured child can turn into a completely different person when going through puberty. During this stage, adolescents experience many physical and psychological changes that can result in confusion, anger and rebellion.

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Hispanic mother and son smiling at each other

The Effects of a Single Parent Home on a Child's Behavior

According to 2012 U.S. Census Bureau information, the number of children reared in single-parent households continues to rise. Children with two parents in the home -- earning two incomes -- tend to have better financial and educational advantages.

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What Are Signs of Pregnancy at 13 Weeks?

At the end of your 13th week of pregnancy you are at the beginning of your second trimester. Your baby is almost 3 inches long and weighs almost an ounce, according to Baby Center. It is important to realize that not all women experience the same symptoms at the same time.

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Boy dipping a piece of toast into a boiled egg

Meal Plan for Overweight Kids

Because children, especially young children, require proper nutrition daily to grow and develop at an appropriate pace, severely restricting an overweight child’s calorie intake is generally not a good idea -- unless your doctor recommends it.

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Ultrasound Machine

Causes of Vaginal Bleeding During an Ectopic Pregnancy

One of 60 pregnancies is ectopic, or growing outside of the uterus. Vaginal bleeding is common in early pregnancy, occurring in 20 percent to 30 percent of all pregnancies, the American Pregnancy Association says. Vaginal bleeding in ectopic pregnancy can be heavier than bleeding seen in intrauterine pregnancies.

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Hamburger

Causes of Weight Gain During First Month of Pregnancy

During the first month of pregnancy, your baby-to-be grows at a rapid rate. But he's only about 1/5 of an inch long 4 weeks after conception, still not large enough to account for any weight gain by himself. Most women gain very little weight related to pregnancy itself during the first month.

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Woman holding positive pregnancy test

How to Calculate When I Should Take a Pregnancy Test

According to the National Institutes of Health, pregnancy tests performed at home are about 98 percent accurate when used properly according to the package directions. Pregnancy tests detect a hormone called HCG, for human chorionic gonadotropin, which is also referred to as the pregnancy hormone.

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Diverse Students - Objective Testing

How to Get Middle School Kids Organized

Middle school is a time of transition for students. They are expected to leave behind the supports of elementary school and grow into the challenges of high school. One common area of concern is organizational skills.

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Adoption

Reasons Parents Give Their Babies Up for Adoption

When a woman places her baby up for adoption, she isn’t making the choice to give up. Instead, she’s choosing a life for her child, according to the American Adoptions website. The decision for a mother or birth parents to place a baby up for adoption isn’t always simple.

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Waiting for a baby.

What Does My Unborn Baby Look Like at 6 Weeks?

Week 6 of pregnancy is considered early pregnancy and is about halfway through the first trimester. Some women find out they are pregnant around this time. Babies at this stage can be measured with an ultrasound, although many details may be difficult to see.

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