Parenting success relies on understanding developmental benchmarks, managing maternal health during and after pregnancy, and implementing effective behavioral strategies for toddlers and teenagers.
Abdominal discomfort occurs commonly in pregnancy. The growing uterus, an active fetus and shifted intestines can all contribute to abdominal discomfort. But pain in the upper abdomen can be caused by problems beyond the usual pregnancy aches and pains, though less serious concerns can also be to blame.
Read more →
Implantation bleeding is one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms. Approximately six to 12 days after conception, an embryo implants itself into the female’s uterine wall, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Read more →
Sports, whether team-based or individual, are a great activity for children that provide a variety of benefits other than physical activity. Participation in sports can help build self-esteem and confidence, can motivate children to excel academically and can help build social skills.
Read more →
Infant sleep sacks are like a cross between a dress and a blanket. They start out like a sleeveless shirt on the top and flow out like a dress at the bottom but are completely enclosed. They zip up the front, creating a cozy sleeping bag for baby.
Read more →
When your child is 8 months old, he is starting to develop his own personality. He's starting to do new things and is learning at a rapid rate. With that, however, may come a change in his food and bottle preferences.
Read more →
One of the favorite milestones of a new parent is the first time the baby sleeps through the night. Months of interrupted rest, nightly feedings, and sleepy mornings finally gives way to restful sleep. In most babies, this period of respite won't last.
Read more →
You should aim to be back at your prepregnancy weight six months after delivering your baby, states the MedlinePlus website. Your recovery from a C-section takes longer than from a vaginal birth, so don’t immediately rush into a weight-loss program.
Read more →
Even though many theories exist regarding the stages of child growth and development, one of the most respected and influential theories has been that of 20th century psychologist Erik Erikson.
Read more →
As your little one moves past babyhood and into toddlerhood, her hair might need some extra attention. You may encounter challenges as your child’s hair goes through a stage of uneven wispiness. Stay the course if you’re growing it out, though.
Read more →
Children begin developing at birth and continue to adulthood. The successful completion of developmental milestones helps your child reach her full potential.
Read more →
Although plants and herbs might seem natural and safe, they can have potent effects. Trigonella foenum-graecum L.Leguminosae -- better known as fenugreek, a plant whose seeds and leaves have a long history of use in alternative medicine, could have several potentially serious effects on your unborn baby.
Read more →
Every toddler develops at his own pace, and there is a wide range of normal when it comes to developmental milestones. There are activities that can promote learning for 20-month-olds and help them develop appropriately, as well as provide bonding opportunities for the whole family.
Read more →
While healthy weights for adults are set by body mass index -- BMI -- charts, healthy weight ranges are difficult to determine for children and teens. It is hard to state a "normal" weight for a 15-year-old, and more important to advise a healthy BMI-for-age range.
Read more →
The Harvard Family Research Project defines educational involvement of families as activities that parents conduct at home and in early childhood settings to directly or indirectly support their child's learning.
Read more →
Finding natural ways to get labor moving becomes appealing as your due date nears or passes. Exercises that may start labor are only effective if your body is ready to begin the process. Specific studies that support the efficacy of exercises to induce labor are limited.
Read more →
Normally, a girl begins to develop pubic hair between 10 and 11 years old. However, some medical conditions can cause young girls to exhibit early signs of puberty before the age of 8.
Read more →
Many women wonder, when faced with the thought of conceiving or the possibility of pregnancy, whether they can continue to drink alcohol.
Read more →
As a fetus develops, the bones of the skull are flexible and sutures are not fused. This allows passage through the birth canal, which can cause flattening of the head. When a misshapen head needs correction, a baby might need to wear a cranial helmet, which is a device that reshapes the head as a baby grows.
Read more →
After nine months of stretchy waistbands and tent-like tops, you are eager to shed your pregnancy weight. It may take awhile to shift the numbers on the scale. Remember, your body is forever changed for having housed your little one. Give yourself nine months to a year to lose the baby weight.
Read more →
Determining whether a girl is pregnant can be difficult, particularly if the girl is young or not yet regular in her menstrual cycles.
Read more →