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Not only is this moment memorable, but early exposure to language is also very important to babies’ development. That language, however, does not necessarily have to be spoken. A new study confirmed that deaf babies exposed to sign language from birth were not more likely to face cognitive delays than hearing babies. Prior studies looked mostly at deaf children with hearing parents, who often end up with developmental delays. This new study shows that the issue is typically lack of language exposure, not being deaf itself....

Research on Alcohol in Early Pregnancy Some studies have suggested that consuming alcohol during the first few weeks of pregnancy can harm the development of the fetus. However, other studies have suggested that drinking during the early days of pregnancy does not harm a developing fetus. Research has also provided evidence that it’s a person’s pattern of drinking (for example, having one drink per day as opposed to binge drinking) that wields the most influence on the effect alcohol consumption has on fetal development....

Habits That Tweens Should Avoid Below are a few everyday habits tweens might need to leave behind. Blaming Others Your tween is old enough to begin taking some responsibility for his actions. If your child tends to blame others (teachers, siblings, friends) for everything that goes wrong, you may need to encourage your tween to spend a little time considering his actions. Don’t allow your tween to scoot away from consequences....

Expand on What They Already Like Oftentimes getting a child to accept a new food can be challenging, especially a strong-willed child who has some selective taste preferences. Serving foods that taste good and look familiar can help to reduce battles and increase food acceptance. Providing access and serving healthy foods is the role of the parent, and one of the best ways to get children to explore and expand their delicate palates is to expand on the foods they already enjoy eating....

Potential Causes of Miscarriage Of all miscarriage causes, chromosomal abnormalities are considered to be the most frequent explanation for why miscarriages happen. Estimates suggest that anywhere between 50 and 70% of all miscarriages are caused by random genetic problems in the developing baby. In most instances, scientists do not know the exact reason why chromosomal abnormalities lead to miscarriage. One theory is that the mother’s immune system recognizes a problem in the developing baby’s genes and thus ends the pregnancy....

Yeah…not quite. While you won’t become a totally different person—or parent—with every child you have, your parenting style is definitely going to adapt as your family grows in size. Three kids is not the same as five kids, or eight kids, or gasp ten kids. Since having five or more kids is generally the cutoff point for being considered a “large” family, here are all the ways your parenting will change once you hit that pivotal plus-five milestone....

If you often find yourself feeling drained by your child’s high energy, it could be that you have a little extrovert on your hands. This means that, for them, they are re-energized by social interaction. This can be challenging for anyone to keep up with, but perhaps for none more so than an introverted parent, who can become easily depleted by too much external stimulation. At times it might feel like you have to sacrifice your own needs for your child’s sake....

That’s why it’s important to ease back into this part of your life and educate yourself on what to expect. Here, we go over the recommended wait time, reasons why you might be experiencing painful sex, why it’s not at all uncommon to not want to have sex right away, and tips for when you are ready. When Can You Have Sex? According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), there is no set “waiting period” before a woman can have sex again after giving birth....

Academic Achievement Countless studies have found that kids perform better in school when their parents are involved with their schoolwork. Compared to students whose parents are uninvolved, kids with involved parents get better grades and are thought more highly of by teachers. These effects remain in the future, even if parents become less involved as the child ages. Parent involvement in school-based activities seems to have the greatest effect on kids’ grades, but home-based parent involvement also plays at least some role....

In fact, by some estimates, nearly one in five women meet the diagnostic criteria for at least one anxiety disorder during pregnancy, so if you are feeling a tad anxious, you are certainly not alone. Here is what you need to know about anxiety in pregnancy including what is normal, when to seek help, and, most importantly, how to cope. How Anxiety Can Impact Pregnancy When it comes to being pregnant, some amount of anxiety is expected....

Legitimate Concerns About Safety If you fear that your ex is a danger to you or your children, the court will treat the issue as a legitimate and serious concern. In general, judges are careful to thoroughly investigate allegations of abuse, threats of violence, and any form of domestic violence before making a child custody determination. This also means that before granting custody or visitation rights to your ex, the judge will likely investigate the allegations to make sure you are not making them up....

Breast and nipple sensitivity, swelling, and discomfort can also occur during your menstrual cycle but these symptoms are likely to be more intense in early pregnancy than they would be during your period. If you’ve been trying to conceive and looking forward to a positive home pregnancy test, embrace the ache. In all likelihood, it means that you’re expecting! Learn more about how to deal with sore breasts during pregnancy....

Convincing your child to sleep in his own bed can be a challenge once he’s gotten into the habit of sleeping in your bed. Whether your child refuses to fall asleep in his own bed or he ends up crawling into your bed halfway through the night, kids who don’t want to sleep alone can be persistent. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to take back your bed if you’re tired of sharing....

Determine What Type of Caregiver You Want There are key differences between a nanny, au pair, mother’s helper, babysitter, and a private caregiver, so the first thing you should do is research which type of care you prefer. Compensation, training, living arrangements, hours, and transportation requirements may greatly influence what type of professional care provider you seek and can reasonably employ. Prioritize Your Requirements Over Your Preferences While it’s easy to imagine hiring a Mary Poppins who is capable of doing it all, keep in mind that child care providers are only human, just like you....

The exact amount of supplies you will need for a diaper cake depend upon how large you want the cake to be and how much money you want to spend on the project. Most diaper cakes use about 50 to 75 newborn or size 1 diapers. Here’s what you’ll need: A cake topper (a stuffed animal, ribbon, board book, etc.) A sheet of cardboard or a cake plate Clear stretch jewelry cord Diapers (disposable or cloth) Ribbon Rubber bands...

When you homeschool your child, you might ask yourself “How do I know if my child is learning anything?” This is one of the most common questions asked by parents new to homeschooling because the style of learning is so different from traditional schooling. This doesn’t mean you can’t measure your child’s learning at all during homeschooling, but that you have to find creative ways to evaluate their progress. If you’re concerned with having a quantifiable record of what your child knows (and, by default, what they don’t know yet), here are some ideas for figuring it out....

Follow this expert advice and you’ll both feel more confident navigating this unfamiliar territory. When Is the “Right Age”? As is the case with many things in child-rearing, the “right age” for when a child stays the night elsewhere for the first time depends entirely on the child. “It’s not necessarily about the age, but more about the readiness,” says Megan Romano, a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) based in Brooklyn, New York....

Combine that sticky stuff with a preschooler who isn’t used to the sensation of simply chewing something, keeping it in their mouth for a long time, and not swallowing, and you’ll find a little person might be tempted to take it out of their mouth, it’s a good idea to be prepared in case a sticky mess occurs. Methods and Tips for Cleaning Chewing Gum Messes Give these methods a try when cleaning up the next chewing gum mess you encounter....