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.

Close-up of a newborn baby sleeping on the bed

Is it Okay for a Baby to Sleep in a Swing?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should never leave your child sleeping in a swing. If a baby falls asleep in the swing, move her to her bed for the rest of her nap.

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When Does Your Baby Start Moving Inside the Womb?

When you visit your doctor for confirmation of pregnancy, she will determine your due date by adding 40 weeks to the beginning of your last period. Those 40 weeks are known as the gestation period, a time of rapid fetal growth and development. Fetal movement is one of the most exciting events during this process.

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Funny baby girl relaxing with her legs and feet

How Long Are Babies in Newborn Diapers?

Newborn babies go through a lot of diapers. You may be tempted to run out and buy several economy-sized boxes of diapers before baby comes to stock up to save a little money in the process.

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Children watching television

How Watching Violence on TV Affects Kids

Television programming as of 2010 is all about showing reality without censorship, meaning that child watchers are inundated with shows depicting physical and sexual violence, as well as the use of illegal substances and harsh language.

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Baby drinking bottle

How to Use Avent Bottle Sterilizer

A bottle sterilizer uses steam, instead of the traditional method of boiling water, to sterilize your baby bottles and accessories. The sterilization process helps to prevent the spread of bacteria or germs when feeding your baby, since she has not developed her immune system.

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Group portrait of children (9-12) embracing outdoors

Games for Kids Ages 10 to 12

As your child enters the preteen years between ages 10 and 12, you may find the simple games that enthralled him in his younger years no longer hold his interest or challenge his developing abilities. Some children will gravitate naturally toward more sedentary activities, such as video and computer games.

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How to Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil on a Baby's Skin

Massage or touch therapy has several benefits for a baby, including positive weight gain, decreased anxiety and improved motor development. The use of extra virgin olive oil for baby massage has become increasingly popular.

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Baby feeding

Diet for a 7-Month-Old Baby

Getting adequate nutrition is crucial for proper physical and mental growth and development in your infant’s first year of life. Although general guidelines exist explaining what to feed a 7-month-old baby, you should treat each infant as an individual in terms of readiness to begin eating new foods.

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How to Convert a Dresser to a Changing Table

A changing table allows you to change your baby's diaper without having to bend over at an uncomfortable angle. Most changing tables include shelves to hold diapers, wipes, powder and other supplies you need. But once your baby outgrows diapers, you're left with a piece of furniture you can't really use.

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spoon with infant formula

How Long Is Baby Formula Good For?

For many parents, baby formula is a life-saver. The ease and convenience of giving your baby infant formula can be a huge relief, particularly when you're away from home.

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laughing baby girl in pink hat

How Much Should a Baby Weigh at 4 Months?

In order to grow and develop properly, babies need to gain an appropriate amount of weight. Underweight and overweight babies are at risk for health problems, and abnormal growth may signal underlying health conditions.

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Things That Can Make a Baby Grunt

Babies make all kinds of noises, from contented sighs that melt your heart to high-pitched wails that pierce your eardrums. Grunting is part of each baby's audio repertoire, a sound that can mean anything from a cheerful desire for communication to a sign of serious illness.

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Ultra sound scan of fetus

Can Heart Rate Predict a Baby's Gender?

Boy or girl? It's perhaps the most common question asked of pregnant women, and many a pregnant woman looks forward to learning the sex of her baby with almost as much anticipation as her due date.

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side view of a mother lying on a bed holding her baby (6-12 months)

Ways to Test a Baby's IQ

Speculation about what contributes to a child’s IQ or intelligence quotient looks at the roles of nature versus nurture, parent’s age, breast feeding versus formala, music heard in the womb and educational videos for babies. Tests for babies assess their cognitive skills.

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Close up of newborn baby

Bone Development in Babies

Babies start developing their 300 bones during the second trimester, according to MayoClinic.com. As your baby grows in utero, her bones turn from cartilage to bone, then fuse together to form an adultlike skeleton. Keeping your baby healthy and promoting good bone health will help ensure a strong skeleton for life.

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African baby standing with mother

Swaddlers Vs. Baby Dry

Swaddlers and Baby Dry are both varieties of diapers sold by Pampers, which is owned by Procter & Gamble. Both types are quite absorbent and will keep your infant dry and comfortable. Young infants, however, are more prone to diaper leaks than older babies.

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Close-up of a mother holding her baby boy

How Much Weight Should an Infant Gain Each Month?

Your baby will triple her birth weight by her first birthday, according to Glade Curtis and Judith Schuler in "Your Baby's First Year." By the time she reaches six months, her weight gain will start to slow down and weight gain will become more irregular due to growth spurts.

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