Sore Nipples You can expect a little bit of nipple tenderness during the first few weeks of breastfeeding. That’s normal. However, very sore, cracked, and bleeding nipples are not. They’re a sign that something is not quite right. If your nipples are so sore that it’s painful to breastfeed, that’s a big problem. You’ll want to try to prevent sore nipples as much as possible, but if they do develop, continue breastfeeding and treat them right away....
Like some other childhood viral infections—such as roseola, which causes a fever followed by a rash, or fifth disease, which causes a bright-red rash on the cheeks—croup has distinctive symptoms and is generally easy to recognize. There’s no formal test for croup. Your child’s pediatrician will most likely diagnose it based on the presence of certain telltale symptoms. Symptoms of Croup Children with croup are usually about 6 months to 6 years old, have a few days of low-grade fever, cough, runny nose, and then suddenly—typically in the middle of the night—develop:...
To perform the test, your doctor will induce mild contractions. An external fetal monitor, which is strapped to your abdomen during the test, keeps track of the strength of the contractions and your baby’s heartbeat. Reasons for a Contraction Stress Test Contraction stress tests (CST) are one way to monitor the health of a fetus before labor. A CST may be part of a series of tests you undergo. Other common late-stage pregnancy monitoring includes a non-stress test (NST) and a biophysical profile (BPP)....
This act requires additional testing and regulation of all products intended for babies and kids and paved the way for mandatory federal safety standards for cribs, strollers, swings, baby carriers, sleep products, bath seats, play yards, and more. However, the act has not prevented unsafe products from reaching the market. For example, if manufacturers call a product a “napper” or “sleeper,” it does not have to pass the same safety standards for sleep as those labeled a crib, bassinet, or play yard....
What Is a Homework Contract? A well-written contract points out your child’s homework responsibilities point by point. It also helps them understand how you can help guide and work with them in order to keep their assignments under control. There are also some good reminders for parents. Simple things like designating a distraction-free homework zone in the house and maintaining a healthy, balanced schedule with extra-curricular activities are important. Sample Student-Parent Homework Contract Use the contract below as a guide and edit it as necessary....
There are certain things to look for when interviewing daycare candidates, and you may want to begin the interview process before your baby is even born to secure a prime daycare spot. When Babies Can Start Daycare When to start your child in daycare is a personal decision that may depend on many factors, including: The length of your parental leaveYour partner’s ability to take leaveYour financial responsibilitiesWhether you have other childcare options, such as family members...
Types of Herpes While it was previously considered more common for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) to cause cold sores on the lips—also known as fever blisters—and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) to cause genital herpes (genital area, anus, thighs, etc.), both strains can cause infections in either area of the body. Both forms of HSV stay in your body forever, and symptoms can recur. But with a strong immune system, they remain in a dormant state....
This age isn’t without its ups and downs. Five-year-olds are still learning to regulate their emotions, so meltdowns happen from time to time. Still, your child is moving toward becoming more mature, and is able to do big kid things like going to school, and brushing their own teeth. Let’s take a look at what to expect in terms of growth and development as you parent your 5-year-old, as well as some red flags that might warrant a call to your pediatrician....
For instance, research shows that females use more relational aggression, while males engage in physical bullying. This is not to say that females won’t be physically aggressive or boys won’t exclude others, but bullying does tend to be influenced by gender. Why Understanding Gender Differences Is Important Researchers have discovered that understanding the role that gender and gender stereotypes play in bullying is an important component of effective bullying intervention and prevention programs....
Peak and Decline One research study conducted at Soroka University in Israel looked at semen quality in normal males and compared the quantity and quality of semen to the men’s ages. The study looked at everything a semen analysis would, including how often they had sex. This is important to consider because sexual abstinence can lower semen quality. Frequent sex creates healthier sperm. Researchers found that semen quantity peaked between the ages of 30 and 35....
Let’s look at an example: Your toddler is getting out of bed every night to come into your room. A reward system in this situation may be a sticker chart to track the nights your toddler successfully stays in their room. With a reward system, you set the concrete expectation (staying in the room) and what they will get if they follow through (a sticker). Once they’ve accrued a week of stickers, they can get a “prize,” like a trip to the zoo or museum....
Fortunately, fetal brain development typically follows a pretty predictable schedule. In fact, the fetal nervous system, or your baby’s brain and spinal cord, is one of the first systems to develop. So, as you continue along with your prenatal care and get your ultrasounds, your baby also will be moving along and developing at a predictable rate. Your Baby’s Brain Before you can fully understand fetal brain development, it is important to understand the different parts of your baby’s brain....
Since today’s kids are more tech-savvy than ever, video chatting with friends, talking on the phone, and texting are things parents need to keep an eye on and limit. Standard fifth-grade curricula vary by state and district, but there are quite a few general things you can definitely expect. Fifth Grade Social Skills At this point in your child’s life, puberty has either already begun or it is right around the corner....
Yet there are some foods with which you may not be as familiar that have been linked to miscarriage and stillbirth. Listeriosis and Miscarriage Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. It may not cause obvious symptoms for a pregnant woman but may result in a serious infection in the fetus leading to miscarriage or stillbirth. The disease can also cause preterm delivery and life-threatening infections in newborn infants....
Fortunately / Unfortunately and Writing Skills In order to become a skilled writer, your child must first learn to tell a story. Storytelling isn’t an easy skill to learn: it requires learning the different parts of a story, how to move a plot along, and also how to use your voice to make that story exciting and engaging to the audience. The Fortunately-Unfortunately game is a fun storytelling game that practices adding details to the plot of a simple story....
How to Choose the Right Volunteer Activity for Your Child One tip to keep in mind is to tailor the volunteer activity to your child’s personality, abilities, and interests. For example, if your child is very young, volunteer activities that require hours of physical work may not be a good fit. If they love to be active and would prefer to be outdoors, participating in a park clean-up or riding a tricycle or bicycle in a bike-a-thon might be a fun way for them to help others....
HELLP syndrome typically occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy, but can also occur after childbirth. The name is an acronym of the three characteristics of the condition: Hemolysis (breaking down of red blood cells)EL: elevated liver enzymes (which can indicate liver problems)LP: low platelet count (which can lead to bleeding) Symptoms It’s important to be aware of and recognize the symptoms so you can get diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible....
Even as the world began to reopen, children’s lives were far from normal for a while. Masks and frequent quarantine closures were required even after schools and daycares reopened. Kids have found new ways to connect and socialize with friends and family, but the safest ways to do it weren’t always easy or comfortable for kids, especially younger ones. No matter what accommodations we made for our children, living through a global pandemic was extremely difficult and impacted their mental health in profound ways....
