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In-home providers typically treat their charges as extended members of their own family, and a small (and manageable) number of children in their care means that the brood can often take “family” outings to the park or story hour, or even nature hikes or sidewalk strolls. Meals are usually served family-style in a central dining area, and comfort, familiarity, and small group activities are enticements. While the number may vary, most in-home providers care for six or fewer children....

Although very people (about 1%) get hyperemesis gravidarum, the most severe form of morning sickness, even mild or moderate morning sickness can make life downright miserable. Morning sickness can start as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy and can last up to 14 weeks, or even longer. And “morning sickness” is a misnomer. It’s more like “morning, noon, and night sickness” for many people. If that’s you, talk to a healthcare provider about trying Unisom and B6....

In some circumstances, parents may decide to treat a short child with growth hormone therapy. This long-term treatment stimulates growth in children who have a specific hormonal deficiency or a health condition that prevents normal growth. Causes of Short Stature If a young boy is in the fifth percentile for his height (meaning that 95% of boys his age are taller than he is), that is not considered a problem in and of itself....

Positive vs. Negative Attention Imagine standing in a room with three children. Two of the children are playing quietly with toys. One child is running around wildly, jumping on furniture and screeching. Which child would be most likely to get your attention? If you’re like most parents, you might give the misbehaving child more attention. If, however, you praised the children who were behaving, you could change the entire situation. Saying, “Wow, I love the way you are sitting there playing quietly,” may motivate the misbehaving child to follow suit....

Not every new parent needs or wants to write a birth plan. However, for many people it is an opportunity to think about and articulate their preferences about childbirth so that on the big day they can just focus on the experience and be ready for whatever may happen. What Is a Birth Plan? A birth plan is an optional document that many first-time parents use to establish their preferences for their labor and delivery experience....

One Abnormal Result Doesn’t Mean Male Infertility The most important thing to know is that one poor result doesn’t necessarily mean you’re infertile. “It is important to know that an abnormal test result can actually be normal as sperm can fluctuate,” explains Dr. Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron, Director of Fertility Preservation at Fertility Centers of Illinois. “A semen analysis needs to test abnormal twice to truly be abnormal.” Your semen analysis can be affected by recent illness, anxiety over the exam, and other various factors....

The relaxin hormone also plays a significant role in the reproductive process. After ovulation, relaxin levels increase to prepare the uterus for a possible pregnancy. Your relaxin hormone levels will begin to drop if conception does not occur; but if you do conceive, relaxin hormone levels increase to help support the pregnancy. Let’s take a look at relaxin’s role before and during pregnancy, as well as how it works with other hormones in your body to help produce and sustain new life....

But there is one pregnancy ailment you may have never heard of, and yet is actually more common than most of us realize: symphysis pubis dysfunction, otherwise known as pelvic girdle pain. Ranging from moderate to severe, symphysis pubis dysfunction is generally defined as pelvic pain, or pain involving your pelvis and its surrounding joints. It is most common in pregnancy. The pain is usually felt on or near your pubic bone, back, lower back, perineum (the area between the vagina and anus), and thighs....

Qualities and Characteristics Common to Students With High Academic Achievement A good student usually demonstrates a number of characteristics. In-born characteristics like intelligence and cognitive skills do play a role in a child’s school success; a child must be able to learn in order to achieve academic achievement. But most students in any given classroom have average—and similar—abilities. Still, some students stand out more than others, getting better grades and grasping material more deeply....

Here’s an overview of the items we recommend you can pack to make sure you’re prepared for whatever may come up when you’re out and about. Remember, some items may vary depending on whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding and whether your child is eating solid foods. Diapers and Clothing Probably the most important things to include in your diaper bag are diapers, changing materials, and extra clothes. That would include must-have supplies like ointment, wipes, and ziplock bags....

Toddler sizes aren’t just ranked by age like baby sizes because they all grow at such different rates. There are two different clothing size systems that overlap; one goes by months, while the other goes by years. Let’s clear up some of the confusion about how toddler sizes work. Toddlers Grow at Their Own Pace No two toddlers are alike, and they all grow at their own rates. The average 1 year old boy weighs 21 pounds and stands 30 inches tall....

The good news is that in most cases, babies are just fine. The old adage that “babies are made of rubber” applies much of the time. Your Baby Falls Down There are many reasons why a baby might fall down, and may vary depending on their age and circumstances. The most common causes of newborn baby falls are: A caregiver falling asleep while feeding or rocking their baby, and the baby drops out of their arms A caregiver carrying a baby who trips, falls, and drops the baby Falling off a changing table Falling off a bed...

Alternatively, you might go to your child’s room to say goodnight, and find them crying in bed. A quick survey of their phone shows that they are a victim of cyberbullying by one of their peers, and the hurtful comments center around their sexuality. The Trevor Project, a leader in LGBTQ+ youth resources, defines bullying as, “Aggressive, repetitive behavior that is based on a real and/or perceived power differential.” StopBullying....

To get more help on finding the right kids’ summer camps, you can read the Summer Camp Guide. What Is VBS? VBS is a nationwide program many churches offer. The purpose is to incorporate themed activities that entertain kids with the chance to learn about God. Church membership is not always required to participate. VBS is typically a week-long affair that takes place in the summer. Children attend around three to four hours each day....

There are many things to think about when deciding when a NICU baby is ready to be held. We know that when parents hold their babies—especially when doing kangaroo care—there are benefits for both parent and child. However, there are also risks when babies are held before they’re ready. When You Can Hold Your NICU Baby Once your baby meets these milestones or criteria, you will usually be able to hold them....

A small amount of butter is not necessarily dangerous for your baby, but it is not recommended as a regular part of your baby’s diet. “You can safely give your baby butter but there is no need to add it to your baby’s diet,” says Preeti Parikh, a pediatrician and the executive medical director at GoodRx. “Butter is not exceptionally nutritious.” Read on to learn more about why butter shouldn’t be a daily staple in your baby’s diet just yet....

Getting a fever after being immunized is not uncommon, but fevers can be dangerous for babies. You may wonder whether you can give your baby Tylenol (acetaminophen) to help bring a fever down. Tylenol is safe to give to babies for pain or fever under your pediatrician’s direction. Just make sure to give the appropriate dose for your child’s weight. “Babies can take Tylenol as soon as they are born if the doctor believes it’s necessary,” notes Molly O’Shea, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician, consultant, parent coach, and speaker....

Conception After Stillbirth About 50% of women choose to become pregnant again after a stillbirth. It’s common to have a heightened level of anxiety or depression during subsequent pregnancies and postpartum with your new child. Giving birth to another baby isn’t a cure-all for the mental health symptoms from your previous stillbirth. It’s wise to seek emotional support after a pregnancy loss, regardless of whether you decide to embark on another pregnancy or not....

When parents request an educational records review to pinpoint why their child is struggling in school, the student’s cumulative file is one of the documents they examine. Why Educational Records Reviews Are Needed A thorough review of a student’s records involves analysis of his entire educational history, so evaluators attempt to get records from any previous schools the child may have attended. Such reviews are especially helpful if the child is too young to articulate what the problem is, and parents and teachers seemed baffled about the child’s learning difficulties as well....