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What Is Eczema? In general, eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) is caused by problems with the skin barrier. If the barrier is weak or damaged, it becomes dry and itchy. These leads to further damage and increased sensitivity, itching, dryness, and inflammation. Sometimes people with eczema do not have enough filaggrin, a protein that helps skin create the barrier that protects the body from the environment. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), eczema often runs in families....

While cervical mucus changes throughout the menstrual cycle, EWCM is the most fertile and signals the best time to have sex for pregnancy. This stage of mucus is the ideal viscosity and pH for sperm. Some consider vaginal discharge a nuisance or a hygiene problem. But if you are trying to conceive, when you see egg white discharge, it’s time to have sex. Or, as they say on the fertility forums, BD!...

Ella also can be used as a suffix , such as affectionately referring to a girl named Marina as Marinella. It can also make a masculine name feminine when used as a suffix, such as with the names Gabriel and Gabriella. In Spanish, the word ella means “she” or “her” so the name Ella can be considered to mean “girl” or “feminine” as well. How Popular Is the Name Ella?...

We are all sexual beings, from the cradle to the grave. Even as infants and toddlers, it can help to learn some sexuality basics, such as the proper names for one’s body parts. As our children develop sexually, they become even more curious about their bodies, about gender, and about sex. In late elementary school, this sexual awakening manifests in some unpleasant ways. Boys especially begin to talk more frequently about girls’ bodies, making demeaning comments and unwanted advances....

In 2021, a Malian parent gave birth to nine babies (nonuplets). This birth set a new world record for the highest number of babies born at one time to survive. The previous record was held by held by a U.S. parent who gave birth to eight babies. The nonuplets—five girls and four boys—were born in Morocco. Due to the risks associated with multiple births, the babies have remained in the clinic—along with their parents and older sibling—since birth....

No worries if your toddler can’t keep up with your teenager or if you can’t lift quite as much as your partner. Working out together doesn’t mean you have to do exactly the same number of reps. “When a family spends time together doing a physical activity there is an individual goal, which each person is responsible for completing, but there is also an underlying shared goal of family success,” says Nina Moore, a founding trainer at FORME....

During medieval times, noblemen and lords often employed musicians in their households for entertainment, including harp players. Talented harpers were one of the most important figureheads in the medieval baronial halls. In ancient Irish law, the elegance of harp music gave noble status to harpers. How Popular is the Name Harper? Harper follows the trend of surnames evolving into popular first names. The name first surfaced in the Social Security Administration’s list of top 1,000 girl names in 2004....

Overall, there are three stages of language development, which occur in a familiar pattern. So, when children are learning to speak, understand, and communicate, they follow an expected series of milestones as they begin to master their native tongue. However, note that individual children will develop language skills at their own pace along this timeline within an expected range of deviation. Learn more about how children learn language. Language Development Stage 1: Learning Sounds When babies are born, they can hear and distinguish all the sounds in all the languages in the world....

Challenging Behaviors Foster children in your care may display behaviors that are difficult to manage. Know that the following can be brought into your foster home and be prepared to address these behaviors and issues in your home and around your children. Cursing Some foster families do not allow cursing in their homes. These same families may be very surprised at the level of swearing some foster children use on a daily basis, including very young children....

How Many Ounces Should a Baby Eat? There is no specific amount of formula that all babies should get each day. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that on average, your baby needs about 2 1/2 ounces of formula a day for every pound of body weight. For example, a 3-month-old baby weighing 13 pounds needs about 32 1/2 ounces a day. However, some young babies of the same age may drink 22 ounces a day, others may need 34 ounces or more....

Overview When your baby is latched on to your breast the right way, all of your nipple and part of your areola, the darker area of skin surrounding your nipple, will be in your child’s mouth. A good latch makes a strong seal between your child’s lips and tongue and your breast. This strong seal allows your child to create the suction they need to remove ​your breast milk while they’re breastfeeding....

How long the process takes varies from person to person based on their individual situation, such as how long they have been producing breast milk. Generally, the longer you have been nursing, the longer it will take to dry up your milk. In fact, some breastfeeding parents report being able to express small amounts of breast milk long after their child has stopped nursing. Methods for ceasing breast milk production include decreasing or avoiding nursing or taking certain medications....

Why Are Bike Helmets Important? Bike helmets prevent dangerous head injuries. “Helmets are designed to absorb energy during a crash to prevent or lessen injury to the head and brain,” explains Cassandra Herring, the director of child occupant protection at Safe Kids Worldwide. Indeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that bike helmets reduce the risk of bicycle-related head injuries by about 80%. This protective benefit is especially important for children whose brains are still growing and developing....

Sound familiar? Sometimes, as a parent, it feels like you just can’t get any time to yourself. Especially when you have multiple small children, they just seem to be everywhere, all the time. There’s always something that needs tending to, whether breaking up an argument, answering a hundred questions of “why?,” or wiping someone’s nose (or bottom). So what’s a frazzled mom or dad to do when in need of some time away?...

It’s well known that fertility treatments like Clomid (clomiphene), Gonal-F (follitropin alfa), and Follistim (follitropin beta) make it more likely you’ll conceive multiples. But other factors like your height, age, diet, and family history can also increase (or decrease) your risk of conceiving more than one baby at a time. Learn more about what increases the likelihood of having twins. How Common Are Twins? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) birth statistics, there were 120,291 infants born in twin deliveries in the United States in 2019....

After all, death is inevitable. And the truth is that you are going to die someday. This doesn’t mean you need to incite fear or fuel their panic either though. Instead, use an honest, kid-friendly approach when kids express a fear of death—whether they’re afraid of dying themselves or they think you might suddenly pass away. If your child has started expressing fears of death, especially in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the way you respond makes a big difference....

With the increase in electronic media use, you might be wondering how important your child’s penmanship is anyway. You might reason that your child will live in a world where their keyboarding skills are more important. Overview Learning to write legibly is one way to improve fine motor skills. Improved handwriting may help your child avoid misunderstandings—such as a teacher who can’t read an assignment that your child has written and turned in....

Sensory development happens differently for each of us. People with a sensory impairment, such as deafness, or with sensory processing disorder (SPD) will grow into their senses differently than those without these characteristics. A sensory impairment keeps stimuli from getting to the brain in the first place, while someone with SPD would get the stimuli but wouldn’t be able to analyze and integrate them in a constructive way. In either of these cases, extra sensory support can go a long way....

Know What Your Insurance Covers You will want to find out, preferably before you are pregnant, what you will be expected to pay. Don’t assume that everything maternity-related is covered without getting the details from your insurance provider first. Ask specific questions. Will you have a co-pay or deductible? Will your baby have a separate co-pay or deductible? What procedures and tests are covered during pregnancy? At birth? For newborns? Depending on your insurance provider and the type of coverage you’re enrolled in, you can potentially save money on your hospital bill—it just might mean your monthly premium is higher....

My interest was piqued by how many other parents enthusiastically recommended it, and after reading the book (along with three other popular books on potty training), I noticed that it fit very well with my personal values. There are no rewards for peeing in the potty and the learning process prioritizes the toddler’s own pace. It also lines up with the Montessori philosophy of child raising that I subscribe to, promoting toddler independence within an adult-prepared environment....