From your child's first scribbles to her carefully written school book reports, she goes through a series of developmental stages that help shape her handwriting. It takes time to remember which direction each letter and number is supposed to face, and it's common for children to write them backward from time to time.

Ask any preschool teacher or pediatrician to list the top five concerns parents have, and food issues are often high on the list. Many toddlers and preschoolers eat slowly or show a disinterest in food.

Newborn babies can contract viral infections including the common cold. Indeed, babies are typically more susceptible to catching a cold than children or adults, as their immune systems are not as developed. If you notice any cold symptoms in your infant, consult his pediatrician.

Are you or aren't you? When you're trying to conceive, waiting for signs of pregnancy can be agonizing. Pregnancy tests can detect pregnancy before a missed period, but listening to and carefully monitoring your body can also give you an answer.

Sleeping on your stomach puts pressure on your unborn baby. If it's early in your pregnancy or you're simply trying to conceive, you should try to get in the habit of sleeping on your side, so when you are further along, sleeping this way comes naturally.

Family arguments over teenagers' music-listening choices are as old as disagreements over who washes the dishes or takes out the trash. Parents' musical tastes are often very different from those of their teenage children; however, music has the potential to affect emotions.

An accurate gestational age gives your prenatal care provider a basis for measuring the baby's development and growth. He is better able to identify problems with your baby's development with this information.

Pregnancy is a time of emotional ups and downs. Many pregnant women find they cry more easily and with less provocation than they did before they became pregnant.

It’s always a treat for kids when they get to leave school to visit a museum or historical monument. The key to packing a field trip lunch is to make it complete and easy for your kids to eat, wherever they are, such as on the bus, under trees on a lawn or on the front stairs of a museum.

During pregnancy, your body changes, and that includes your breasts. In preparation for your child, your breasts make changes to supply food for your newborn. Whether you plan to breastfeed or not, you may have some discomfort. Rest assured, this is not uncommon.

Chlamydia, among the most common sexually transmitted diseases, affects an estimated 100,000 pregnant women each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This disease not only poses substantial risks to women but also to their babies during delivery.

Random contractions in pregnancy can be worrying when you first experience them. When you are seven months pregnant, these contractions are usually just a slight, brief tightening. You might find them uncomfortable, or you may not feel them at all.