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When these differences become evident, parents naturally worry that their children are not developing at the appropriate rate. If your preschooler’s speech and language development seems to be behind or different from their peers, you may find yourself wondering—and worrying—that they might need speech therapy to catch up. But many times, the differences you are noticing are normal. Remember that a lag in communication skills does not necessarily mean a speech or language disability is inevitable....

Spotting is usually light and brown, although heavy spotting can be red. A person who is spotting might need only a panty liner rather than more absorbent menstrual supplies to manage the flow. However, there are many possible reasons for spotting in a normal, healthy pregnancy. These include the following. Irritation of the Cervix The cervix can become irritated and bleed following sexual intercourse, a recent pelvic exam, or a transvaginal ultrasound....

Most important, you want to protect your baby’s skin while in the sun. “Sun protection includes layers of protection (shade, sunscreen, proper sunwear), and I would highly recommend using sunscreen, even if a beach tent is being used. Both combined will add more layers of protection,” Mona Amin, DO, a board-certified general pediatrician based in Florida and member of Buybuy Baby’s Parenting Pros. When shopping for a baby beach tent, you’ll want to consider how many people you want it to fit and the amount of sun protection it offers....

Some books also provide a timeline to potty train kids, which some parents may find helpful because it sets a clear goal in a specific amount of time. Other features to look for include the author’s credibility and durability (if you plan to read the book with your kid). We researched a variety of books with these features in mind. Here are the best potty training books on the market....

However, it’s not safe to sleep on your back in the second and third trimesters because the weight of the uterus and growing baby can put pressure on your circulatory system. Sleeping on your tummy also becomes off limits once your baby bump makes an appearance. Luckily, there are lots of ways to get into comfortable side-lying sleeping positions, including those that will help to relieve back pain and other common pregnancy discomforts while you sleep....

If your tween can’t seem to keep up with their responsibilities, it might be because they have too many. Below are a few considerations when evaluating your child’s free time. Prioritizing Free Time Parents often have the best of intentions, but many parents are guilty of overscheduling their children, programming their schedules with extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and other demands. The reasons behind the trend in overscheduling children are numerous....

If you’re buying a gift for a kid who’s anywhere from 3 to around 7 or 8 years old, chances are they already adore “Bluey.” The TV show, which airs on Disney and streams on Disney+ in the U.S., is aimed at younger children, and yet even adults and teens get drawn into its good-natured humor and the absolutely infectious laughter of Bluey and her little sister, Bingo. Kids probably wish they could join the pups for a playdate, and parents wish we could be as good at this child-raising thing as those on-screen dogs....

Overview You may be asked to wait longer or hold back a bit if you have had a cesarean section or a vaginal delivery with complications. Your doctor or midwife can give you specifics on your personal timeline for exercise. In most cases, light and gentle movements are fine and will feel good. Gentle movement should begin within hours after you give birth, even if you required surgery. This doesn’t mean a jog around the block, but it does mean getting up and moving around your hospital room or in your home....

Your baby does not have to have a full tub bath every day if you are keeping the diaper area clean with each diaper change and using a barrier cream. (Vaseline or a zinc-based cream are good options as a preventive for skin breakdown.) A complete submersion tub bath once or twice a week is sufficient in the early days and even months after discharge while your baby is immobile and sleeping most of the time....

Pros The Ubbi is one of the best-looking diaper pails ever made. It’s sleek and modern, and you can choose from many different color and pattern options from bold to trendy and soothing. There are neutrals if you want something that blends with the rest of your home decor. Available solid colors are purple, red, aqua, orange, baby blue, navy blue, light pink, hot pink, lavender, mint green, white, gray, and ivory....

The most likely explanation for a ravenous baby is that your little one is going through a growth spurt. Periodic growth spurts (from a few days to a week) are perfectly normal for infants. What Is a Growth Spurt? A growth spurt is a sudden burst in your infant’s growth that is accompanied by a brief period of increased feeding. It might seem like your baby outgrew their cute little sleepers overnight—and it might be because they actually did....

What Is a Nasal Cannula? Care providers will carefully consider which type of support best matches your baby’s needs, with the problem’s cause and extent front of mind. One of the least aggressive interventions, known as a nasal cannula, is used when only a small amount of oxygen is required. In some cases, the air flow of the cannula can help babies with apnea (pauses in their breathing) remember to breathe....

Symptoms In many women, fibroids cause no problems. Some women, however, may experience pelvic pain, unusually heavy menstrual periods, or fertility problems. In some women, fibroids can cause recurrent miscarriages. Do Fibroids Cause Miscarriage? According to a 2000 study, fibroids are the exclusive culprits in 5% of women who are infertile or miscarry. Doctors believe that the reason why fibroids cause problems for some women and not others have to do with the type and size of the fibroid and its location in the uterus....

This discomfort may be due to a condition known as vulvar varicosities, or varicose veins on or around the vulva. While this condition may catch you by surprise, it is normal and usually does not cause complications. If you have vulvar varicosities, there are several things you can do to ease your discomfort through your pregnancy. Here is what you need to know. Understanding Varicose Veins Even if you’ve never heard of vulvar varicosities, you’re probably familiar with varicose veins—the term for any superficial vein that’s become enlarged, twisted, or swollen....

Verbal skills include the ability to understand language easily. That includes grammar as well as creative uses of language, as in poetry. Learning languages tends to come easily to the verbally gifted and they generally have a good ear for the sounds of a language. People who are verbally gifted also have the ability to understand and manipulate language symbols like alphabets. Learning Language All children with working auditory and oral systems learn a language, and unless they have a learning disability such as an auditory processing problem, they learn it with ease and without instruction....

The key is for parents to remember that the tween years are a time of transition. Not only are they maturing physically, emotionally, and socially but they also are starting to develop a sense of self. So, as your tween begins to explore what that means for them, it’s only natural that an interest in dating would start to emerge as well. That said, try not to be overwhelmed by your tween’s budding interest in dating....

Poison Ivy Rash The urushiol in poison ivy, oak, and sumac remains in the roots, stems, and leaves of the plant whether it’s alive, dried up, or dead, so you can get a poison ivy rash even in the winter. If you think you have touched poison ivy, immediately wash your skin and clothes with soap and cool water or a poison ivy cleanser to: Remove as much urushiol as possibleLessen the severity of the rashPrevent the oil from spreading on your body or around your home...

I grew up in the foster care system. From 3 months to almost 12 years old, I did not have permanent parents. I think about the time that I spent growing up in the foster care system and I knew I tried my best to be the kid that my foster parents wanted me to be. I just wanted to be able to stay in the same home, stay at the same church, and have the same people to wake me up every morning....

In some cases, decreased movement may be an early warning sign of a condition that could lead to stillbirth, so it is absolutely best to err on the side of caution. If you are sure your baby’s movements have become less frequent than usual, such as if you’ve been monitoring kick counts, you need to call and discuss this immediately with your physician or midwife. When Does Fetal Movement Begin?...

What Is Kindermusik? Kindermusik exposes children to a variety of musical styles. The program teaches young children and babies movement and learning skills through music education. Parents and kids play with instruments, dance, sing and listen to stories each week. The program’s take-home materials encourage learning outside of the classroom with books, instruments, and CDs that accompany the music and activities from class. Some Kindermusik programs also offer classes for older children as well as classes for a variety of age groups....