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Pump Early, Often, and Well You may not be able to breastfeed right away if your baby is born early. Premature babies can’t always nurse effectively. Moms breastfeeding a premature baby often need to pump breast milk that can be fed to their babies via a feeding tube. Breastfeeding moms can establish a plentiful milk supply using a breast pump if they pump early, often, and well. Pump early: If your baby was born early, you may feel overwhelmed by your birth experience and your baby’s condition....

Every family is different and every toddler will handle welcoming a new sibling differently, but to ensure that everyone is as prepared as they can be, here are some tips for transitioning into a family with both a toddler and a baby. Talk to Your Toddler It may seem obvious, but one of the easiest places to start preparing for how your family will change is to simply talk to your toddler....

Preparing emotionally for a reunion is a critical first step. The child, even if they are now an adult, needs to carefully think through the implications of a reunion and needs to plan carefully for the initial contact and the first meeting. Once the decision has been made to reconnect, here are some pointers from those with experience about making the initial contact and the first meeting work well....

They can also be used to give children an incentive to work on different highlighted behaviors each day (such as doing homework on Monday; remembering to take out the garbage and working on listening to the teacher and mom and dad on Tuesday; and so on). Overview Charts can be so effective in school-age children because kids want to get adults’ approval and they love praise and concrete evidence of their achievement or progress (one reason why gold stars have such an enduring appeal for kids this age)....

From filmmaking to video game design, from computer programming to exploring space, there is a summer camp that’s perfect for your gifted child. Here are some of the best. Regardless of the camp a child attends, he or she will learn about space and space exploration and will get some hands-on training. They can experience the sensation of walking on the moon in the 1/6th Gravity Chair and prepare for a space mission....

Knowing how to prevent and treat common insect bites and stings, and knowing when not to overreact, can help keep your kids safe and healthy. Symptoms of Bug Bites and Stings in Children The symptoms that can be caused by insect bites depend on the type of insect and how sensitive you are to it. Symptoms can vary from mild swelling, pain, itchiness and redness to large blisters or life-threatening anaphylactic reactions....

During an ultrasound, a technician spreads a warm gel over the lower part of the abdomen, and then presses a tool called a transducer against the belly to examine the fetus using sound waves. An image of the fetus appears on an accompanying computer screen. While looking at this image, the technician takes some standard measurements from different angles and listens for a heartbeat. While you may be more familiar with this trans-abdominal ultrasound, it is common for doctors to use a transvaginal ultrasound for pregnancy dating, especially early in the first trimester....

Nanny Share A nanny share is when two or more families share one nanny, says Shannon Auster-Weiss, general manager of Nanny Lane, a service connecting families with nannies and nanny shares. The concept is a simple one. The nanny works full-time while the families share the cost of the salary among them. “There are two ways to set up a nanny share: Either a nanny cares for different families at the same time, or a nanny splits their hours between these families,” Auster-Weiss says....

Geocaching is the world’s largest treasure hunt. It’s like a grown-up version of the beloved childhood pastime, except it’s no joke. Geocaching is the real deal. The high-tech treasure hunt combines GPS tracking with outdoor adventure, and it’s fun for all ages. There are more than three million geocaches hidden all around the world in parks, trails, and urban areas. In fact, there are probably some near you as you’re reading this....

By becoming aware of how you’re moving and adopting some good habits, parents can perform common activities safely to promote better posture and overall health. Is Poor Posture Bad For Your Health? Poor posture can, in fact, have negative effects on your overall health and strength over time. Dr. Wilson Wang, DC, a chiropractor notes that poor posture can lead to strain on the body. Other long-term issues like scoliosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and chronic lower back pain can develop from poor posture....

A full-term pregnant uterus is one of the strongest muscles in the human body, and like any other muscle works best when provided with plenty of fuel and hydration. Choose your labor foods wisely, and you will have all the energy you need to go the distance on your birth day! Easy to Digest Is Key When a woman goes into labor, her body directs a lot of energy and resources into doing the work of labor and chooses not to use valuable calories on “non-vital” processes like digestion, which will slow down considerably....

Here’s what to know about the start of breast milk production, including when it happens, what the signs of it are, and what to do about possible leakage. When Does Milk Production Start? Your breasts begin the preparation for breastfeeding pretty much as soon as you get pregnant, even if they aren’t making milk quite yet. “Parents may notice that their breast/chest tissues are getting bigger and changing color, usually getting darker,” Laura Howells, IBCLC, a lactation consultant in private practice....

The good news is that the risks associated with being underweight or not gaining enough weight can be offset by starting to put on weight. As a result, being underweight and pregnant is usually not a big concern, as long as you are receiving adequate nutrition during gestation and adding enough weight throughout your pregnancy—especially in the second and third trimesters. Overview Being underweight before becoming pregnant may indicate the need to gain more weight during pregnancy than a woman at an average or above weight....

It’s understandable that this milestone often comes with a substantial dose of nerves—for the child and their parent. It brings new routines and faces, an unfamiliar environment, and a whole set of new expectations. Some children settle into kindergarten almost instantly, but it takes others a little longer—and that’s completely normal. If you treat your child with compassion and offer comfort and support when needed, you’ll help make the transition easier....

Here’s everything you need to know about when to give a lovey to your child, if they are safe, how to clean them, and more. What Is a Comfort Item or Lovey? They may go by several different names, such as loveys or stuffed animals, but essentially all beloved childhood security items serve the same purpose—to comfort your child. That can be at night, or specifically after an incident or tantrum....

It may take a pregnant person anywhere from 13 to 25 weeks to begin feeling their fetus move, depending on a number of factors. But it will take longer before anyone can feel the baby kick from the outside. Though it can vary from one pregnancy to another, on average others around you can begin to feel a fetus move around the end of the second trimester or near the beginning of the third trimester (weeks 28 to 32)....

1. Set expectations from day one. Sure, it’s grandma, and she can’t wait to have one-on-one time with your child. But what do you expect from the arrangement? This should be clear before the arrangement begins. Are your expectations that grandma provides a safe and nurturing environment or do you further want your child to be kept on a strict routine? Do you have certain foods that are “musts” and others that are “no-no’s?...

In December 2022, the FDA extended this authorization to children between 6 months and 4 years old. They can now get a booster after the Moderna primary series, or as part of the Pfizer primary series. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are now available for children as young as 6 months old. Here is what you need to know about why and when children should be vaccinated. When Can My Child Get Vaccinated?...

Growing a baby is a big job that changes your body in a myriad of ways, and some of those changes may be more surprising than others. While you probably expect to gain weight and experience some nausea, you may not be as ready for changes in how you smell—but pregnancy can indeed affect your body odor, too. Smelling a little differently during pregnancy is not generally an indication that anything is wrong, and it likely won’t hurt you....

Newborn Vaginal Discharge During pregnancy, high levels of estrogen and progesterone circulate in a mother’s body. These cross the placenta and reach the baby. This is totally normal and not harmful in any way. In fact, some of the hormones are necessary for the baby to develop correctly. After they are born, the baby loses this steady supply of hormones. In girls, the sudden absence of the high levels of estrogen and progesterone they were used to during gestation triggers a response in their body that causes a white and sometimes bloody discharge....