The truth is that there really aren’t very many rules and restrictions for breastfeeding moms. Aside from needing about 500 extra calories a day, you can pretty much eat anything and everything you want, in moderation, of course. So then, what foods should you eat when you’re breastfeeding, what truly constitutes the “right” breastfeeding diet, and how can you possibly fit in healthy food choices in these harried days as a busy new mom?...
Feeding Twins Solid Foods While the timetable is different for every baby, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that babies will be ready for solid food at about 6 months of age. However, parents of multiples should consider their babies’ adjusted age when evaluating developmental milestones. As many multiples are born prematurely, they may require some extra time to catch up and won’t be ready as early as babies born closer to their due date....
What size should you buy? Are plastic, glass, or stainless steel bottles the way to go? What about bottle nipples? Do you need a slim or wide nipple? What’s better—silicone or latex? What if you are planning to breastfeed: what’s the best bottle for breastfed babies? And the list goes on. Truthfully, you won’t know exactly what kind of bottle you need until your baby arrives and lets you know their preferences....
Many kids seem to experience a “sugar rush” after eating cake, cookies, or candy. They become energized for a short time and then quickly crash, feeling tired, irritable, and often hungry. Naturally, parents yearn for ways to control hyperactive behavior when sweets are served and curb the health consequences of eating too much sugar. We spoke to a pediatrician and a pediatric nutritionist to explore how sugar affects kids. Learn ideas for letting your child satisfy their sweet tooth from time to time without experiencing energy crashes and mood swings....
If your child is receiving the cold shoulder at school from friends, former friends or from classmates, it could make for difficult times at home. And to make things worse, your child is older now, and fixing their problems aren’t as easy as they used to be. Let’s face it, a cookie and a smile can only get you so far these days. With that in mind, the suggestions below should help you perk up a child who’s feeling left out by peers....
Sure, it might seem a little cheesy—like something you might see in a made-for-TV movie—but you’d be surprised at what a difference it can make for your clan. Reasons to Hold Family Meetings Although you might eat dinner together as a family or you may all sit around the family room watching TV, your conversation may be more lighthearted and everyone may be a bit distracted. A family meeting is an opportunity to accomplish something specific without any distractions from the outside world....
Party Game Ideas for Kids Here are some awesome party game ideas that kids will love. Active Party Games for Kids From juggling to relay races to buddy tag, these fun party games get kids moving and are always full of surprises. Many of them can be played indoors if you have enough space. Channel their energy into some physical activity that will do their bodies good. Outdoor Party Games Take the fun outside with outdoor games....
Keep in mind that you will be the caregiver for your child’s guests overnight. You will need to ensure their health and safety. Invite Your Guests Your party’s success starts with selecting the guests. Keep it small: Limit the guest number to half of the age of the child. At age 6, invite three guests. At age 10, invite five guests, and so on. To ensure a successful slumber party, think small—and then plan big so that you anticipate and meet every need....
The day before that, you watched your child for a while, without them knowing you were there. You saw them skirting up to the edge of a group of their peers. The kids didn’t do anything outwardly aggressive, but from what you could see, they turned away, not acknowledging your child or inviting them into the group. A lump forms in your throat as your begin to realize that your child may be feeling rejected at school....
What kind of text is this?What new information did I learn, and what do I expect to learn?Is this text informative or entertaining, fact, or fiction?What interests me about this book? A Word From Verywell Reading comprehension can be difficult for people without learning disabilities. But for those with documented challenges, mastering reading comprehension may seem twice as hard. By practicing the techniques above, however, teachers, parents, and students can learn how to improve reading comprehension for any purpose....
Induction is the formal term for the process of stimulating uterine contractions before you naturally go into labor. Some 22% of pregnant women in the United States have their labor induced, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). To induce labor, doctors commonly use techniques like membrane sweeping or medications, but some people try to get things moving through alternative methods, from acupuncture to sex. Learn all about these common labor induction approaches and why it’s important to keep in constant communication with a healthcare provider as you consider ways to speed up labor....
Baby Chooses Its Birthday You might ask your healthcare provider if there are any risks to waiting until labor starts on its own before undergoing your planned cesarean. Under normal circumstances, your baby is the one who gets the labor process going when it is ready. If it is appropriate, you might consider waiting until you go into labor before having your cesarean. Baby gets to pick its birthday, and you get the excitement and experience of being surprised and heading to the hospital for the birth much the same way parents who are birthing vaginally get to do....
Overview Kids can play the 7-Up game solo or with friends. The game is simple to learn but challenging enough to keep your child’s interest. Most importantly, it gets them moving to boost their physical activity time. Other Names: Sevens, Seven TimesSupplies: Bouncy ball, such as a tennis ball or soft, small rubber ballWhere to Play: Garage, basement, driveway, playground, schoolyard, cul-de-sac Directions for Playing Find a safe space to play....
While you may already know the importance of sex education, you may not know how to approach the topic with your kids. We’re here to help. We asked two experts—a pediatrician and an adult/child psychiatrist—to share their top tips for talking to your kids and teens about sex. Talking to Very Young Kids When it comes to preschool and early elementary-age children, you might think the sex talk is off the table....
Every child is different, but most kids are ready to tackle the “big kid” bike around 4 years old. But before you run out and buy them a new set of wheels (likely donned with their favorite fictional character), pump the brakes! (Pun intended.) They say you never forget how to ride a bike, but it doesn’t hurt to freshen up on important safety tips and bicycle basics to get your child started....
How can you know when your teen is lying? The bad news is that research published in 2011 shows that most of us have a fifty-fifty chance (at best) of detecting when somebody is lying unprepared, and it is even worse when a child has had time to prepare their lie. But if you pay attention to your child’s behavior when they may be being untruthful, you may be able to improve those odds....
Thawing Frozen Breast Milk When you thaw frozen breast milk according to safety guidelines, it maintains more nutrients and is less likely to spoil. Your bags or containers of frozen breast milk should have a label with a date. Use the oldest container of breast milk first. Defrost frozen breast milk by placing it in the refrigerator, putting it in a bowl of warm water, or holding it under warm running tap water....
All you need to do is simply pee on the test stick (or dip it into collected urine) and wait several minutes for your results. However, while home pregnancy tests are pretty simple to use, it’s very important that you carefully read the test directions. Accuracy depends on you correctly following the directions, including the timing of when to take the test and how to interpret the results. Learn more about how to use a home pregnancy test....
First off, you’ll want to know the FAPE. This is the acronym for a free, appropriate public education. FAPE is the goal of the education legislation that will affect your family most directly, because when you have a child with disabilities, what fills the gap between a situation where your child can’t learn and the promise of a FAPE is services. As the name implies, those services should be free....
Cost of Preschool Most preschool fees are comparable to the high costs of daycare centers. Depending on where you live and the quality of the preschool, average costs range from $4,460 to $13,158 per year ($372 to $1,100 monthly), according to the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA). In cities, such as New York and Boston, full-day preschool may cost $20,000 for more or school-year tuition, summers not included....
