These disposable items are designed for convenience. You use them once and throw them in the trash, leaving you more time to manage work-life responsibilities. But this throwaway lifestyle poses a significant threat to the environment, contributing to climate change and affecting not only your future but the future of your kids. The good news is that you can take some actionable steps to reduce the use of these single-use items in your family....
Teaching Kids About Money Teaching kids how to be wise and self-disciplined when earning and spending money will not only prevent a lot of behavior problems, it also will be a skill that helps them for the rest of their lives. To start, look at your own habits and behaviors regarding money and address any issues like excess spending or too-rigid savings goals. The goal is to be a good role model for your kids....
The Standard Breast Pump Flange The breast pump flange is the part that connects your breast to the pump. Milk will travel down the breast shield tunnel to the bottle or another collection device. It’s a good idea to check the fit of the pump flange from time to time. All breast pumps come with at least one average-sized breast pump flange. The average flange is between 24 and 27 millimeters (mm)—which corresponds to the size of your nipple—but not everyone who breastfeeds will fit these sizes....
Many patients wonder if the test will cause pain. The answer varies from person to person. Some people report mild to moderate cramping. Some don’t feel anything unpleasant during the test. Very few report severe cramping. Many say afterward that their fear of pain was much worse than any discomfort they felt. Additionally, various pain medications can be used, as needed, to make the procedure more comfortable. Before the HSG Test An HSG should be done after your period but before ovulation....
At what facilities do you have privileges? Be sure to interview each facility just as much as you interviewed your doctor or midwife prior to selecting them to help you during the birth of your baby. Ask each hospital lots of questions during your interview. What tests or procedures do you normally recommend in pregnancy? Every practitioner probably has a slightly different offering of tests. From Amniocentesis to Stress tests, your midwife or doctor should explain each thoroughly to you....
Fraternal (dizygotic) twins, meanwhile, occur when two separate eggs are fertilized by two separate sperm. Fraternal twins share only 50% of the same genes, whereas identical twins share 100%, which explains why fraternal twins usually don’t look nearly as alike as identical ones do. Unless a set of twins’ birth mother served as a surrogate or used donor eggs, there would be no question that she’s the mother of both twins....
In some cases, children who are already holding a bottle might take more readily to a cup than a child who has been fed exclusively from the breast. But don’t worry if your baby cannot hold the cup properly in the beginning. There is no magic age by which a baby should be using a cup during meals. Additionally, don’t replace your baby’s bottles or breastfeeding time with a cup at this age....
Your child’s first encounters with food will be supplemental, experimental, and part of a learning process for them rather than being necessary to meet their daily caloric and nutrient requirements. Signs of Readiness for Solids From birth, babies are accustomed to getting their food primarily from a breast or bottle via sucking. If anything else manages to make its way into their mouths, infants have a tongue-thrust reflex that kicks in to prevent choking and gagging....
But usually, these worries do not take over our lives… at least not the way the COVID-19 pandemic did. It’s been a little over 100 years since the last global pandemic (the 1918 H1N1 pandemic) and few of us fully grasped what living through a pandemic would mean. Before COVID, could you have predicted that almost every aspect of your life as a parent would be upended and that you would spend so much of your day thinking about how to keep your family safe from contracting a brand new, severe virus—while also staying sane and keeping your kids happy?...
With this information in mind, you may be wondering whether it’s safe at all to allow your kids to get in the hot tub if you have one at home or are visiting a resort with a spa or hot tub. Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. Here’s a closer look at the things you should be mindful of when considering whether or not a hot tub is safe for you and your family....
In that respect, breast engorgement is the biggest concern at this stage. It is important to keep in mind that the frequency and duration of this process vary from woman to woman. It depends on the amount of breast milk you’re producing; how often you pumped or breastfed before the loss of your child; and the length of time it has been since the birth of your baby. So, what do we do about it?...
In the Bible, Leah is the daughter of Laban and the sister of Rachel. She was married to the biblical patriarch Jacob, but he favored her sister instead. Leah loved Jacob though, and since she was unable to conceive, she prayed about her situation. God had compassion on her and allowed her to become pregnant. How Popular is the Name Leah? Leah first appears in the Social Security Administration top 1,000 list of names for baby girls as No....
While it may feel scarier to care for a baby born at low birth weight, there aren’t necessarily many differences in the day-to-day care of your newborn. However, family members of a low birth weight baby need to be extra vigilant to ensure their child stays healthy. Learn more about low birth weight baby risks, types, and causes. What Is a Low Birth Weight Baby? Babies are weighed soon after birth....
What Is a Medical Release Form? Medical release forms are a legal way to outline your parental wishes and transfer decision-making authority to your child’s other caregivers when you are unavailable. The simple form gives clear, irrefutable consent for medical treatment—until you can step in. This makes it possible for your child to get immediate care even if they are not with you, like if they break a bone while with the babysitter or at daycare, or have an allergic reaction while staying with grandma, for example....
At first glance, you notice that these little cradles don’t have a flat surface, which you know is part of the ABCs of safe sleep. You take a closer look at the packaging. It is clearly labeled as a “sleeper” and it shows a picture of a baby peacefully snoozing away in the product. The store you are in is a reputable chain store. You reason that this product has to be safe for babies, or it wouldn’t be able to be sold....
New Year’s Eve may also be the perfect chance to get some downtime after the hustle and bustle that comes with this time of year. Staying in can help regulate your kids if their routine has been turned upside down by the holiday season. “After the first week of winter holidays, which can be very busy with visiting relatives and shopping, many families are ready to spend a night in,” says Rachel Graf, a teacher in Ontario, Canada....
Plus, there are some exciting changes that occur in their diets at this age as well. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies can start to eat solid foods around 6 months old. While this age is a general guideline, there are also some developmental markers—like being able to sit up well without support—that should be met before introducing solids. Of course, when introducing solids for the first time, you want to start small and be responsive to your baby....
