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As with other assessments, the tasks range from basic responses to more complex responses. For example, a basic response might involve introducing an interesting object for the child to track with his eyes. A more complex task might involve a toddler finding hidden objects. What Are the Elements of the Bayley Scales? The entire test takes about an hour to administer. After completing a set of developmental tasks, the examiner is able to produce a developmental quotient (which is different from an intelligence quotient or IQ)....

Are they ready to move out of a booster seat and into regular seat belts? Are you sure? Belt-Positioning Booster Seats Booster seats boost your child up, providing a higher sitting height, which allows the adult lap and shoulder belt to fit properly. Booster seats are used forward facing only and are used without harness straps. Other things to know about booster seats: Kids should sit in a booster seat until they are “old enough and large enough” for seat belts to protect them properly, which usually isn’t until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall (57 inches) and are between 8 and 12 years old....

When talking to your teen about grades, it may be tempting to discuss the dangers of bad grades. But scare tactics like, “You’ll never get into college,” or “You won’t get a good job,” aren’t likely to be effective. Instead, you can talk about the benefits of getting good grades. By giving real-life examples, you can provide motivation for your teen to study hard today. There are five benefits you can use to jump-start your conversation with your teen....

Group together several small items such as medicine dispensers, diaper rash ointment, thermometer, burp rags, infant pain reliever or nail clippers. Or create a themed gift by packaging a selection of bath accessories in an infant bathtub. Offer to cook dinner or pay for take-out. Arrange to do dishes, laundry, housecleaning, yard work, or car washing. Once you make the offer, follow through. Don’t wait for new parents to ask for help....

Five-year-olds love to learn, so gifts that spark a new interest or develop a new skill are naturally a good idea. Playful gifts that inspire active outdoor play and foster girls’ developing balance and coordination skills are another great option. When reviewing gifts for 5-year-olds, we considered developmental milestones, design, safety, and versatility. We also looked for gifts that foster independence, learning, and playfulness—three of the traits most commonly associated with 5-year-olds....

Whether your blood pressure condition pre-existed your pregnancy or started in pregnancy (gestational), your doctor will work with you on how to best address your blood pressure issues to keep you and your growing baby safe. High and low blood pressure can happen in pregnancy for a variety of reasons, sometimes as a complication of pregnancy and other times due to a pre-existing condition. When high blood pressure develops after 20 weeks gestation, it is called gestational high blood pressure or hypertension....

In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends children be evaluated at age 7 to determine if braces or other types of appliances will be needed. It is also not that uncommon for kids to need some sort of corrective measure. “The [AAO] estimates that 50% to 75% of people can benefit from orthodontic treatment,” says Karen Conn, DMD, MS, a board-certified orthodontist in Philadelphia. “Sometimes the need for treatment is obvious; other times it’s more subtle....

Your pregnancy may have been cut short by preterm labor. Or your twins’ homecoming may have been delayed by days or weeks if they required a stay in the hospital or NICU to catch up and overcome problems from early birth. Hopefully, you’re able to read this article with time to spare and can take heed and implement some of the issues addressed here. If not, that’s OK, too. Take a deep breath and know that it will all be fine....

Take Your Medications Many people stop taking their post-surgery pain medications too early or don’t take them on the recommended schedule, which can lead to unnecessary pain. Your doctor may recommend around-the-clock pain management after your c-section, at least for the first several days, so take your pain medications as prescribed and make sure you take them before the pain becomes too bad. Taking pain medications consistently and on time helps prevent the vicious cycle of “chasing the pain” where you never fully find relief....

The answer as to whether or not it is safe to take Adderall while breastfeeding isn’t so straightforward, says Carly Snyder, MD, a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist and member of the Verywell Family review board. While she has patients who do breastfeed while taking the medication, it’s at their own comfort level knowing that there isn’t a lot of data about the potential risks. “I think it’s a risk-benefit discussion,” says Dr....

One research analysis that reviewed over 100 other studies on physical activity and pregnancy found less than 1% of “adverse events” were related to exercise, and these adverse events were uterine contractions—not miscarriages or other pregnancy complications. This review, published in 2017, concluded that even vigorous activity could not be tied to miscarriage risk. Another more recent research review published in 2019 came to a similar conclusion. After analyzing 23 studies of miscarriage, this review noted that “prenatal exercise is not associated with increased odds of miscarriage....

For most of adulthood, the decision to chemically straighten your hair is a personal stylistic one. But when you’re pregnant, you must take your developing baby’s health and needs into account too. To find out if it’s safe to chemically straighten your hair while pregnant, we tapped two doctors to share their insights. Ahead, learn all you need to know about chemically straightening your hair while pregnant—including why you may want to hold off on making that appointment....

Otherwise, most people have no reason to be exposed to X-rays during pregnancy. But it’s important to understand the possible risks in case you are, since radiation can be harmful to humans, especially babies. Simple precautions can minimize your baby’s exposure to the radiation that can come from X-rays and put your mind at ease. X-Ray Risks During Pregnancy The concern about X-rays has to do with the possible effects of radiation on fetal development....

To help you wade through any confusion on whether or not you can use a vibrator while pregnant, we tapped two experts. Ahead, learn all about when it may be safe—and when it may not—as well as what some benefits could be and certain precautions to take. Read on to discover everything you need to know about using a vibrator while pregnant. What Is Vibrator? Vibrators (a.k.a. personal massagers) are types of vibrating sex toys that a person can use to stimulate sensitive areas—like the vagina, clitoris, nipples, anus, penis, or scrotum—to help achieve orgasm....

CTS is a common discomfort of pregnancy that you don’t often hear about. Here’s what you need to know about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of carpal tunnel in pregnancy. What Is It? Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects a nerve in your wrist called the median nerve. Nerves send signals from your brain to your body and your body to your brain. They are responsible for body movements and the ability to touch and feel sensations....

You wonder if maybe you should give your child an electrolyte drink. You’ve heard that sometimes water alone isn’t enough to rehydrate, and that restoring the balance of electrolytes—essential minerals such as sodium, calcium, and potassium that are often lost while sweating—is important. After all, you yourself have consumed electrolyte drinks after sweating it out at the gym. Still, you know that kids aren’t mini-adults and so what might work for dehydration for an adult might not be advised for a child....

These findings are great news for safe sleep but may leave some parents wondering how they should share a room with their baby. Should they drag a crib into their bedroom? Or resign themselves to sleeping on the floor or on a mattress in their baby’s room? Many parents worry they might be setting themselves up for a never-ending slumber party, baby-style. One option many parents consider is placing a bassinet next to their bed....