My seven-month-old daughter loves Baby Einstein videos. I mentioned this fact among a group of seasoned mothers, one of which exclaimed, “Don’t let your child watch them! They teach her to watch TV.” I thought to myself, “Well, what else is she going to do with it?”
A little television is not a bad thing. The Baby Einstein videos are not designed to baby-sit. They are interactive. Parents are encouraged to use the videos as teaching tools. And occasionally, the baby may passively watch the programs.
As a general rule, I center activities with my daughter on music, sensory activities and social interaction. However, I also indulge her in a Baby Einstein video on a regular basis. They are stimulating and she just simply likes them.
Parents can empower themselves by regulating what their children watch. As long as the Baby Einstein or other developmental videos designed for babies are not abused, they are very beneficial to a growing mind. Too much of anything can hurt you. Using common sense can replace the need to avoid videos completely.
When Should Kids Start Doing Chores? Crumply Napkins Are Okay
Your kids can help out even if they don't do a perfect job of it. I started doing my own laundry at twelve, and I can remember setting the table when I was as young as five years old. I used to hate having the responsibility of the table, but as I got older, I used it to my advantage (in my own passive-aggressive way). I used to slightly crumple the napkin of the person I was angry at, or give them the bent fork. No one ever seemed to notice. My mom was always pretty neurotic about the way things should be, but she never bothered me about the napkins. Your kids may not be crumpling napkins on purpose (I may be the only nutcase who did that), but they may not do a flawless job, and that's okay.
Start assigning very simple tasks at around two, such as helping you put his toys away, or putting potatoes in a pot (not with hot water!). That way, she can learn responsibility and how to be part of a team from a young age. When your child gets older (around 4) they can start to help set the table (spoons, napkins, nothing sharp!).
Don't forget, praise your child for a job well-done even if the napkins are a little crumply! The key is that they learn to help out, not that everything must be done to "t". Unless I've come to set your table, you don't have to worry about why the napkins are all wrinkly! So help your child become a responsible adult, and assign them easy to do (and safe) tasks to help you with.
Is your baby stressed? Try Giving Them Some Quiet Time
We all know adults encounter stress, but did you know playing and growing actually can stress your baby out also? You can actually help your baby relax as he encounters the stresses of the world by giving him some quiet time.
You can begin by finding a quiet place in your home. Play some quiet music or hum to your baby using syllables. Feel free to also give your baby a massage at the same time. Whatever you do, play quietly. Watch the ceiling fan or just help your baby gaze out a window. It is alright for your baby to babble and make noise during your quiet time. If he gets fussy, try to find another way to share quiet time, such as rocking or walking around the room.
My son and I share quiet time several times a day. I usually will lay him down before I change him into a new outfit and massage his feet and back. Then I will put his clothes on and we will just sit on the floor in his room. He likes to look at the things on his wall. His room is decorated in John Lennon and he loves to look at all the animals.
Everyone has a different approach to quiet time. Babies need it just like adults. Think about how stressed out we can be. Our world is a never ending challenge for a baby with so much to see and learn. Sometimes as a result our babies can become restless and frustrated. Next time your baby seems cranky, try giving him some of this quiet time to ease some of this stress.
Most children diagnosed within the autism spectrum of disorders are diagnosed around the age of three. Autism is often difficult to detect, especially in higher-functioning cases like Asperger’s Syndrome. Early intervention is crucial for successful treatment of autism and some researchers have discovered that early signs of autism appear during infancy. Following are early signs of autism in the first year:
First Six Months No eye contact Does not respond to his name Does not seem to notice others Has a sibling with autism Larger than average head circumference Inactive Passivity followed by irritability
Six to Twelve Months Symptoms as listed above Fixates on objects Difficulty processing language Difficulty using language and gestures Lack of facial expression Does not block a fall with his hands
Parents may use a “tilt test” developed by researchers from the University of Florida. Tilt your baby to one side or the other. A baby with Asperger’s Syndrome will keep his head straight. Only a physician can diagnose autism, but early detection is very important. Keeping pediatricians informed of possible signs of autism will improve the odds of early detection of autism in infants.
Mixing Cereal In Baby's Bottle: Just Because Our Mothers Did It, It Doesn't Make It Right
I was told to put cereal in Leah's bottle by older moms. I'm glad I asked the pediatrician first. We had Leah's four month check-up this Tuesday, and we discussed solid food. He said it is crucial to start solids between four and six months. The American Academy of Pediatrics concurs. If you start too early (or too late) you may increase your child's risk for diabetes or food allergies later in life. I received specific instructions on what cereal to start with, and then how to progress to fruits and veggies. The doctor also specified never to put cereal in her bottle. Reason being that until babies are eating real food, all of their nutrition still comes from formula. If you mix cereal in, you risk either overfeeding, or depriving your baby of all the nutrients they need! Also, using a bottle defeats the purpose of teaching baby to swallow new textures and eat from a spoon. Your baby can also choke or even get pneumonia. Give your four month old a four to six ounce bottle first, then mix cereal in a bowl with formula to an oatmeal like consistency.
In addition, giving cereal to help a baby sleep may seem to work, but is just a myth. Studies show babies given cereal in bottles slept through the night at the same age as babies who were not. Keep in mind some babies do so at around two months, but most won't until four to six months (or later). Their stomachs must hold enough food for the night, and their nervous systems must be developed.
Remember-women used to smoke and drink during pregnancy, and used whiskey for teething before research refuted.
So many new parents don’t realize how many choices they have about things! I know my husband and I had no clue. I knew that I wanted to use cloth diapers with my kids. My Mom used cloth with me, cloth is better for the environment, and it looks really easy!
Well, I didn’t know where to go for information and I was scared to death of poking my wee little one with a pin! So, my first son was only in cloth part time until he was almost 18 months old. I found my support system! Thanks to Mothering Magazine’s online discussion forums I am a bona fide cloth diaper addict. There should be meetings.Seriously.
I discovered that with cloth diapers I was doing LESS laundry because we weren’t having “blowouts” all the time. You read that right… less laundry using cloth diapers. I only wash every other day. And that’s having two boys in cloth. A lot of people get hung up on the dunking thing. Well, you’re supposed to flush the poop from disposable diapers as well. Check the package. It’s there. There are some people that think that washing poopy diapers is gross. That you are getting all of that “nastiness” in your washing machine. Guess what? It’s in your machine even if you don’t use cloth.
There is also the cost factor to consider. Cloth diapers seem like a big investment at first. Once you really look into it, you save so much money using cloth. They can even be passed down or sold once your baby outgrows them!
This is only a small example of the pros to using cloth. Cloth diapers… they’re cute, inexpensive, keep our landfills cleaner and they’re not full of chemicals. As with anything, you have to make the choice for what’s best for your kiddos. Stay informed as a parent and keep your mind open and you can’t go wrong.
You have brought that beautiful bundle of joy home from the hospital at last. Everything is going well until all of a sudden your beautiful days come crashing down into a storm of endless crying from that beautiful bundle. Being a new parent is stressful enough with all of the new responsibilies and lack of sleep. Add colic to the equation and you have a stressed out parent and baby.
If your baby is always spitting up, crying for hours, inconsolable, has gas pains, the problem could be colic. Colic is just a broad term used for anytime a baby cries with no medical explanation. Since it is in a mom's nature to nurture, it can be devastating when we cannot soothe our baby's pain. So what can you do?
You need to understand that it is not your fault. It is very easy to feel guilty when you have reached the end of your rope. Just remember--any normal person would become upset after listening to hours of crying. Remember the following:
Take care of yourself.
If you ever feel yourself getting angry, it is okay to put your baby in her bed and go to another room for a few minutes of quite time.
Call a friend or relative and ask if they can babysit while you take a nap.
Call your doctor. He may want to bring baby in to rule out any medical problems. If there are no medical conditions, your doctor may give you some suggestions such as changing baby formulas or keeping a diary of foods mom eats if breastfeeding.
There is a long list of remedies for colic out there. What worked for your best friend's baby may or may not work for you. Try all of them. You will eventually find one that helps your baby. I found a very helpful website--www.colic.net. They have articles and a web forum where you can find tips.
Hang in there. Colic usually ends around three to four months of age. Eventually you will forget this trying time and enjoy your relationship with your child.
I recently read an article in Newsweek's September 5, 2005 issue titled Of Taters and Totsby Alice Fishburn. It explores a new study lead by Dr. Karin Michels (of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School) for the International Journal of Cancer. In a survey of over 2,000 mothers who served their 3-5 year old girls a weekly serving of fries, it showed that their risk of getting breast cancer later in life could be increased by twenty-seven percent! It isn't the potatoes that pose the problem (mashed and sweet are fine). The trans fat (I know you've heard of this by now!) and saturated fat are the catch. These fats can have a carcinogenic effect on the susceptible breast tissue of young girls.
Just for some background information, a small Mc Donalds fry has 2 grams of saturated and 2.5 grams of trans fat, Burger King's small fry has 3 grams of each, and a Wendy's kid's fry has 2.5 of saturated and 3.5 of trans fat, respectively. Furthermore, packaged fries aren't any better (I thought they would be, if baked). Most have an average of 2 grams of saturated fat, and 3 grams of trans fat (think, they fry them before they freeze and bag them).
Here are my spud suggestions. First, you could serve mashed regular or sweet potatoes. You can also make and freeze your own regular or sweet potato fries. Just cut the potatoes into whatever fry shape you prefer (they also sell tools for this), spray the cookie sheet and fries with cooking spray (no fat there), and bake at 450°F for 20 minutes, turning once. Then just serve or freeze!
So before you hit the drive through, think of your daughter's future.
When I was a teenager, my favorite movie was Rainman. I watched it so many times that I still have some of the dialogue memorized. Autism was a rare disorder back in 1988 and I never dreamed that I would wind up working with autistic children.
Autism is no longer a rare disorder. Ten years ago only one in ten-thousand children was diagnosed with autism. Today one in 166 children is diagnosed with autism. In Pennsylvania, the numbers have risen over 600%.
Autism falls under a spectrum of disorders known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Children diagnosed within the PDD spectrum of disorders vary in symptoms and abilities.
Awareness of the disorder may factor into the rise of autism. More doctors are aware of autism and its symptoms; as the awareness increases, so do the diagnoses. Many high-functioning children with autism may have never been diagnosed years ago.
There may be environmental factors as well. Some argue that MMR vaccines that contained mercury literally poisoned hundreds of thousands of children. Mercury is also a byproduct of power plants and many believe that the cause of autism is literally in the air. Others argue that there is no connection. The debate is still raging on mercury and its relation to autism.
The bottom line is that there has been a significant spike in the diagnosis of autism in the United States. Finding the source of the problem will lead to prevention and it may lead to a cure.
When Tyler was born, it was the happiest day of my life. He was so precious and sweet. The first couple of days were great, but it didn’t last for long. I remember getting up every 2 hours to feed him and how I would have to ride him around the block just to get him to stop crying. Within the first year, he had seven ear infections. I wouldn’t have given it up for anything. He was rolling at 3 months and started walking when he was barely ten months. Everything about him was perfect to me.
So when I was pregnant with my second one, I knew it was all going to happen again. This baby wouldn’t be much different, right? Wrong.
The first night I came home from the hospital, I woke up scared to death because I never heard him cry for a bottle. I had to wake him up to eat. This went on every night for about a month and then I just let him sleep. I never had to train him to sleep thru the night or ride him around the block. He is almost 9 months old now and has only had one ear infection. He only started crawling last week.
All children are different. They all grow different and have milestones at different times. So next time you are worried about whether your baby is ahead for his age, remember that they have their own personalities and develop at their own rate. Every baby is unique and that is what makes them so special.
In this video, kids and parents get to go along on Tad’s adventure through his Dad’s Letter Factory, where “every letter makes a sound”. The storyline and characters are cute and engaging. Each letter has a little song and character that goes with it. As with any video, I highly recommend one or both parents actively watch and participate with their child.
My son (almost 2 at the time) got this video when it first came out because, frankly, he was constantly asking what letters were and trying to read. We are home schooling and I thought that this would be a fun way for him to start learning his phonics. Well, he had his phonics down in about 1 month. After another month he had the letter recognition, too! Of course, watching this video is not the only phonics and recognition exercises he did, but I firmly believe he picked up on it so quickly because of the catchy songs in the video.
Every year around this time my son tends to get some kind of rash. Whether they get heat rash or worse, being outdoors along with the heat and humidity makes children more prone to skin irritations. Here are some tips on decoding some of theses rashes.
INSECT BITES- You’re child has one or more itchy, raised bumps. Over the counter Anti itching products can usually relieve this. Call the doctor if severe pain, crusting or pus develops. These can be a sign of an allergic reaction or infection
ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS- Your child may have lines or streaks of itchy red bumps and blisters. This is caused by poison ivy, oak, or sumac. You can wash infected area with warm water and apply hydrocortisone lotion. For severe itching, a prescription may be needed.
IMPETIGO-Your Child has raised red lesions with crust or blisters. The cause of this varies but can come from contagious Staph or Strep Bacteria, common at summer camps. This is cured by an antibiotic.
Family gatherings on special occasions are a stronghold for many childhood memories. Small children learn a lot about social interactions and appropriate behavior when visiting extended family. This learning is often incidental.During a recent visit to my mother’s house, my older brother told my niece that she was not allowed to have any cookies until after dinner. My mother thought that this was ridiculous, and handed her a cookie while my brother wasn’t looking, instructing her, “Don’t tell your father.”Although this may seem like a harmless grandmotherly gesture of love, it carries two very insidious messages: It’s socially acceptable to defy your parents, and it’s best not to tell them when you do. These two messages have serious ramifications in later years. If it is socially acceptable to take a cookie when told not to, it may be considered socially acceptable to take a cigarette or a drink.Sound a little harsh? A secret cookie from grandma probably won’t do any harm. This is simply an example of the importance of presenting a unified front for our children and grandchildren. I think that my mother was wrong to undermine my brother’s instruction. Adult children do tend to be a little critical of their parents and I wouldn’t criticize her to her face. That reminds me, don’t tell my mom about this article Tammi Reynolds
No, I'm not sending you on a trip to Egypt. I do hear the pyramids are pretty amazing, though. But don't hop on a camel and ride through into the desert sun just yet. A much easier trip would be surfing over to Cairo.com. This site is such a great resource for families. If you have a tight budget, or just like saving money, this is a great place for you to go.
I really have to keep a tight budget. I am always trying to save a buck. I even have a little expand-a-file that divides all my coupons by month! When I found cairo.com, I was thrilled. It's free to join, and it finds local sales on almost any item I'm looking for! I can even find out if something I bought recently has gone on sale. Then, the site shows me how to get a refund or price match! My favorite feature for registered users is the grocery saver. All I do is select the stores I shop at, and then make my shopping list. When I click continue, it shows me store by store, what items on my list are on sale, and the prices!
This may sound like it's difficult, but they make it so user friendly. If you get lost, or are unsure how to do something, there is a link to a demo video right on the home page. It will walk you through every aspect of the site. It couldn't be any easier. I promise. So before buy bottled water for that trip to the Nile, check Cairo.com and find out where it's on sale first!
After a long and difficult labor, my daughter was born seven years ago. Needless to say she didn't sleep through the night right away. In fact she screamed most of the time which I would soon learn would turn into three months of colic. This was not at all how I had envisioned motherhood.
Even though she had a difficult time with colic, I noticed that she did seem to be hungry about every 2 1/2 hours. After the first week, I noticed that she would sleep for four to five hours during the day, but still get up every two hours at night. I started to wake her up after three hours during the day. After two weeks of this, she dropped one of her nightly feedings. At five weeks of age, she dropped another night time feeding. And finally at eight weeks, she slept eight hours. She eventually settled into sleeping twelve hours at night with a two to three hour nap during the day.
When I told people about putting her on a schedule and that it had worked, most would say that I was just lucky. When my son was born five years ago, I tried my luck for the second time. He was much easier to put into a schedule because he only wanted to eat every four hours. By his six week check up, my son was sleeping twelve hours per night.
Does it sound too easy? It was not easy at all. Persistance and patience were very necessary throughout those weeks along with a lot of telephone calls to my mom. There were many times in the months that followed where something would break my baby's routine--a trip out of town, getting a cold, etc. Whenever this happened, I just went back to the basics: feeding her, spending some time with her, then putting her back to bed. Within a week or sometimes two, we were back to normal.
If anyone decides to try this, always check with your child's doctor first. My children's doctor was aware of my practices and approved them when he saw that both babies were in good health. I later read an excellent book that can help in the process--"On Becoming Babywise-Learn How over 500,000 Babies Were Trained to Sleep Through the Night the Natural Way" written by Gary Ezzo and available at your local bookstore or on Amazon.com.
In the time it takes to purchase a gallon of milk or a pack of cigarettes, a hot car can turn into a death trap for a child. I live in Texas and the past two days we have been under a heat advisory. Yesterday an innocent three year old little girl lost her life is the result of being trapped in a car. The child was not left in the car, instead had wandered to the car and locked herself in. The unfortunate thing is this happens at least three times a year in the city I live in, alone.
You are probably thinking, what kind of parent would let that happen to a child? I personally have never done it. On the other hand, there are many parents out there in this generation that are very busy. They have so much going on and children easily get lost in the scatter. I don’t believe these parents do it on purpose; they just need to be reminded. They can suffer big consequences, such as involuntary manslaughter or child endangerment. Then the most obvious is could you really live with yourself if your child dies or is permanently brain damaged, for something that could have been prevented?
In the summer months, the temperature inside a parked car can reach above 120 degrees in as little as 10 minutes. Heat exhaustion can occur at temperatures above 90 degrees and heat stroke can occur when the temperature reaches above 105 degrees.
Here are some tips on keeping our children safe. If you see a child in an unattended car, immediately call 911. That call may be the difference between life and death. Check and make sure all children leave the vehicle when you get to your destination. Don’t leave any child behind. Make sure that unoccupied cars are locked, so that children do not become trapped inside.
Remember parents, our children depend on us to keep them safe. Watch out for other children left alone in cars as well as your own. Hot cars and children can become a life and death situation for a child.
Imagine starting a new task. You have a guide who only tells you when you are doing something wrong. The task quickly becomes frustrating because you are only given feedback on what you shouldn’t be doing. It would be much easier if the guide helped you understand what is expected. Now imagine being a toddler. All tasks are new.
As parents, we help our children navigate through every day experiences. We serve as guides, cueing them on how to behave and how to treat others. Positive reinforcement is a valuable tool for helping children understand what is expected of them. Positive reinforcement is very simple; if a behavior is desired, reward it. The best way to insure that a behavior will be repeated is to reward that behavior. This is not to suggest that a child should get a prize for every good behavior. A simple, “nice job sitting quietly!” will do. Positive reinforcement can be used to reduce an undesired behavior, too. For example, a child throws objects on the floor. You want this behavior to stop. You can either punish the child for throwing the object or you can find a replacement behavior and reward it. Encourage the child to give the object to you and reward him when he does. The child is more likely to hand you an object the next time around than he is to throw it. A little positive reinforcement can help a toddler understand how he should behave. It is concrete and direct and the child will quickly link the behavior to the reward. It is a guide for encouraging good behavior while he navigates through a big, new world.
I just read an article about getting children to sleep through the night. It made me remember when I was pregnant with my daughter. Our family doctor told me that in order for my daughter to get adequate nutrition when breastfeeding, I needed to feed her on demand. She may need to feed every hour for the first several weeks and then at six months of age she may be ready to sleep through the night.
After my visit, I went home and called my mother. Since she raised five kids, I felt that would make her something of an expert. When she heard what the doctor advised, she asked me if that was what I wanted to do. Guessing that I was hoping for an alternative, she told me that all of her babies had slept through the night by the age of two months because she placed us all on a schedule.
She said it was simple--just feed the baby for about 20 minutes or more every three hours during the day. If she tries to sleep longer than that three hours, wake her up and feed her. During the night, feed her whenever she wakes up. The three hour time frame is just a guideline. If your little one needs fed every 2 1/2 hours, then feed her. Just try to keep the feedings somewhere between two to 3 1/2 hours. After she eats, try to keep her awake and spend some quality time with her. Then put her in the crib and let her fall asleep. Rocking is a great time to bond with your baby but rocking her to sleep will teach her that she can only get to sleep with your help. She will not understand how to fall asleep on her own.
So did it work for me? Check back next time for the rest of my story.
When I discovered I was pregnant, I seemed excited on the outside, but inside, I was filled with self-doubt and fear. To be blunt, I was absolutely terrified. Tim and I weren’t married yet. In fact, we went from moving in and planning on a wedding in the next few years, to preparing to bring a new person into the world in just nine months! All I could do was constantly question my “qualifications” for being a mom. I did what I usually do when I’m uncertain-I threw myself into researching. I braced myself for night feedings, endless amounts of exploding diapers, and all the money we’d spend.
The entire nine months was spent probing book after book for all the “demanding” facets of childbirth and new mommy-hood. I grimaced through stories about episiotomies and twenty-seven hour labors. Once I felt terrified enough with labor and birth, I moved on to brutally honest books about baby’s first year. “On average, a child experiences 5,000 diaper changes before he or she is toilet trained…” advised the Mayo Clinic. I calculated the cost. Now I wasn’t only completely green to the tasks of motherhood, I couldn’t afford it either!
I was well into my eighth month, and swelled up so badly I couldn’t see the bones in my feet and ankles. I would prop my sausages up on some pillows, and rest book after book on my engorged belly. I’d alternate between page turning and eating mouthfuls of loaded baked potato. I felt increasingly unprepared for the imminent arrival of our daughter.
A day after my due date, I felt a great deal of “stomach upset.” I locked myself in the bathroom, completely in denial and convinced I simply “had to go” (if you know what I mean). About an hour later, I emerged and called my mother. After considerable insistence, I finally gave in. Tim grabbed my bag (the books said to have it ready!) and I wobbled my way to the car. My white-faced and extremely nervous boyfriend was barked at for every stone he hit, every red light, every dip in the pavement, and anything else I, as a laboring woman, felt he was doing wrong (everything).
I arrived at the hospital already dilated to five centimeters. I read that the “average” first time labor was around sixteen hours! Nonetheless, I was pushing within two hours of my arrival in triage.
I won’t tell you I loved her on sight. In fact, I didn’t have the energy to hold her for more than ten minutes. Hours later, after I’d had some time to rest, they brought her in. In that instant, I became someone else. I thought Leah was the most beautiful person I had ever seen, even though she bore a striking resemblance to Mr. Furley from Three’s Company. I knew I was going to love her in a way I had never loved anyone. I became a cliché.
Yes, my labor was intense, and yes, the next few months were rough. I went through the exploding diapers galore (one on a plane!), 2 a.m. feedings, and many tears were shed during her first shots (mostly mine). I experienced all the “horrors” I read about, but what the books couldn’t describe was the exact way I’d feel when she smiled back at me. The books didn’t tell me that her laughter would bring me more wonder and joy than I ever knew.
Sure, I still get scared when a doctor’s appointment is looming. I positively get overwhelmed on particularly cranky days (those days become a battle of who is the grouchiest, mom or baby). The only difference is, now I’m okay with it. I’ve tackled all the obstacles she’s thrown at me with the ease of a professional (thanks to all those books), and I’ve settled into my new domestic career. Sometimes my duties aren’t pretty, and it can get messier than a soup sandwich; it was all in the job description. And to tell you the truth, I think I was the perfect candidate. Kristen Docimo, OSB Contributor
Toys aren't just for keeping babies entertained - they're extremely important for their mental, physical, intellectual and social development.They are the tools that teach baby about their world and their place in it.They add excitement to learning about life, how things work and how to get along with others. Good toys will give your little one the motivation to play and develop basic skills. This article provides suggestions on choosing age appropriate toys and activities during baby's first year. Following these guidelines will helpyou be continually expanding baby's horizons and encouraging healthydevelopment.
0 - 3 Months
For the first few months babies do little more than sleep and eat. In fact some sleep as much as 20 hours a day! Make the most of the time they're awake by choosing toys and nursery accessories that stimulate them and encourage them to use their developing senses. When playing with a newborn, remember that they see best when objects are about eight inches away from their face. Make sure they can see you by leaning in when talking to them and holding toys close. At this stage it's time to introduce.- Music: From the time they're born, babies can hear high pitche dnoises and are soothed by low pitched noises. Numerous studies have concluded that playing music to babies in the womb and in the early years helps build the neural bridges along which thoughts and information travel. It's known as the Mozart Effect, a theory which is credited with boostingIQ, improving health, strengthening family ties and even producing the occasional child prodigy. It has also been shown that music can also stimulate the brain's alpha waves, creating a feeling of calm.-
A Mobile: Scientific research has shown that babies who are given appropriate stimulation show sustained developmental advantages over babies in less stimulating environments. Although they won't be able to focus on the specific shapes hanging from the mobile, babies are fascinated by the movement of a mobile and it encourages skills such as pattern recognition, eye/hand coordination, gross motor activity, and a sense of object permanence. Choose one that plays music and it will do double duty!-
Simple Toys: Experts agree that babies get a great deal out of the toys that they can amuse themselves with. They learn many different things through their senses at this time, and through their senses, they discover their world. The most fascinating toys to a baby at this stage are those that make noise, or that use a lot of high contrast black and white, orbright colors such as red and yellow.
Jennifer Kirkpatrick is the owner of Pipsqueak Boutique, an online babystore with a unique collection of baby essentials, toys, music and nursery items. For baby products that are suitable for every stage of development,visit http://www.pipsqueakboutique.com. Or for a refreshingly funny look at parenting check out the newsletter, The Lighter Side of Parenting athttp://www.pipsqueakboutique.com/newsletter.html
3 - 6 Months By 3 months old baby has discovered her hands - and her mouth. Her fists will uncurl more and she'll be able to start grasping. She may hold things for a moment and then lift them to her mouth to suck. Almost everything she grabs is likely to end up in her mouth. During this stage babies also become much more aware of their environment.They respond to tickling, and other games you play with them. Now is the time to start introducing more interactive toys and activities that promote bonding and encourage baby to expand her boundaries.At this stage it's time to introduce.
Nursing Necklaces: At a few months of age babies start to pinch,and pull at mom during feeding. Nursing necklaces (also called breastfeeding necklaces) give baby something else to hold to prevent mom from being hurt.They also provide baby with visual and tactile stimulation that furthers cognitive development.
Handheld Toys: Baby can now hold onto objects and wave them around. She's also aware of the differences between her toys. Now is a good time to introduce different textures and sizes of toys that she can use by herself. She'll love the independence and you'll notice her hand eye co-ordination greatly improving.
Books: Baby is now able to focus on objects at different distances so it's a good time to start reading to her. She'll be able to seethe pictures and words on the page and even at this young age will begin to associate words with sounds.
Varied Music: Now that baby is more aware of her surroundings, you'll notice that sometimes she'll prefer to listen to a gentle lullaby, while at other times she'll want to hear more active music. Introduce a range of music at this stage so that she hears different musical instruments and tunes played at various speeds and volumes.
Jennifer Kirkpatrick is the owner of Pipsqueak Boutique, an online baby store with a unique collection of baby essentials, toys, music and nursery items. For baby products that are suitable for every stage of development,visit http://www.pipsqueakboutique.com. Or for a refreshingly funny look at parenting check out the newsletter, The Lighter Side of Parenting athttp://www.pipsqueakboutique.com/newsletter.html
By the time babies are six to nine months old, they are usually able to sit by themselves and are learning to crawl. Babies will also be learning fine motor skills, such as pinching and grasping objects with just two fingers. At this stage you'll want to provide baby with a variety of toys to playwith in all shapes and sizes to satisfy the growing curiosity and need to explore.At this stage it's time to introduce.-
Physical Development Toys: Encourage baby to use his body in new ways by providing toys that require him to move and stretch. Balls are great because you can make a game of rolling them back and forth, as are toys on wheels that move away from him so he'll have to chase them.-
Reasoning Toys: Baby can now understand that an object is behind something and the idea of nesting objects. Encourage the use of reasoning skills with toys and games that make him think. Be sure to celebrate when he figures them out!-
Bath Toys: Now that baby can sit up, he'll begin to be more active during his bath. This is a great time to introduce water toys that encourage baby to learn about water. Squeaky ducks, cups to fill with water and empty again and anything else that is water safe and easy to hold can provide lots of entertainment.
Jennifer Kirkpatrick is the owner of Pipsqueak Boutique, an online babystore with a unique collection of baby essentials, toys, music and nursery items. For baby products that are suitable for every stage of development, visit http://www.pipsqueakboutique.com. Or for a refreshingly funny look at parenting check out the newsletter, The Lighter Side of Parenting athttp://www.pipsqueakboutique.com/newsletter.html
Choosing Toys that Encourage Baby's Development 9 - 12 Months
Babies at this stage like to make things happen - they enjoy pushing a button and hearing a song, or seeing something light up. Having the ability to interact with their surroundings is very exciting and once they find something they like, they do it over and over (and over!) again. At this stage it's time to introduce.-
Interactive Toys: Babies can now interact with their toys in away they weren't able to before. Anything that responds in some way to baby's actions or makes a noise will become fast favorites and will teach babyabout cause and effect.-
Language Development Toys: Baby is now able to say simple words such as "no" and "dog". Encourage his growing vocabulary with toys and gamesthat develop language skills. Great options are toys that say words when abutton is pushed or videos that focus on language development. Fabric or board books are also good because after reading the story you can give the book to baby to flip the pages and "read" it back to you.-
Co-Ordination Enhancing Toys: Babies at this stage are very mobile and enjoy pushing and pulling items. Toys that require them to use their whole body are great for encouraging them to walk. Other favorite games will include stacking items and then knocking them over and filling up an item and then dumping its contents.-
Role Playing Toys: They watch you and will want to start mimicking the things you do. Toys such as play telephones, brooms, shopping carts and steering wheels will be a big hit and will help baby explore the world of make believe.
About the Author:Jennifer Kirkpatrick is the owner of Pipsqueak Boutique, an online babystore with a unique collection of baby essentials, toys, music and nursery items. For baby products that are suitable for every stage of development,visit http://www.pipsqueakboutique.com. Or for a refreshingly funny look at parenting check out the newsletter, The Lighter Side of Parenting at http://www.pipsqueakboutique.com/newsletter.html
We are looking for a few good writers for this fun parenting blog. In exchange for ATLEAST writing 3 times per week for our blog, you will receive free advertising for your business. You can also use this as writing experience. It will also look great for your resume or curriculum vita.
Here is what we are looking for:
Writers need to have time to contribute entries atleast 3 times per week. Writers should be parents since this is a parenting site Writers should have interest in and be able to write about the following but not limited to subjects: Parenting babies Parenting Toddlers Parenting Pre Schoolers Parenting Tips Baby Care & Tips Smart Baby Resources Attachment Parenting resources Current Parenting News Stories Current News stories or issues related to babies, toddlers or preschoolers Baby, Toddler, and Pre-K products, reviews, movies, toys,etc...
Entries should be no more than 250 words and no less than 100 words.
Once again this is a volunteer position and you will be required to electronically sign a contract giving us permission to reprint your entries. In exchange for writing 3 times per week ( or more if you want to), you will get a url link at the end of every entry (5 words max) and your site or blog included in our blog roll which is shown throughout the entire site. If you are interested, please email me at ajcebay@yahoo.com
I look forward to hearing from you. This is a great way for work at home parents/ mommys to get free valuable advertsing and one way links to their site.
Parents everywhere believe that they have the cutest baby in the world. I know I can probably speak for everyone when I say this. I, too, believe that I have the most adorable baby in the world.
Soon enough friends and family members are telling new proud parents that they should get their baby into modeling since they have the cutest baby in the world. This is when parents begin asking questions about baby modeling. The most common question is, How do I get my baby into modeling?
To answer most parents’ main question, I would begin by telling parents that their child needs to be noticed. Parents can submit their child’s photos to modeling agencies. Parents can also enter their child into online photo contests, online modeling contests, and traditional beauty pageants for more chances at being noticed by a potential company seeking a baby model. Most online photo contests are free to enter and there are several baby photo contests online that you can submit your baby’s photo to. In addition to gaining valuable exposure and the potential for being noticed, your baby can also win money and prizes! Parents will also have tons of fun in the process.
Three top online baby photo contests that I recommend are ContestForMoms.com Free Baby Photo Contest, BabyZone.com Baby Contest, and BabiesOnline.com Baby You Should Be in Pictures Beauty Contest.
If you have a baby then you realize how hard it is to communicate. If your baby is just coming into the toddler years you know and realize how much more difficult communication gets.
My baby is 13 months old and I am wondering how many words can a 13 month old really say? My 13 month old son says mama, ok, and a bunch of gibberish/baby talk. He is also signing but I am really wanting to know about actual talking.
So, how many words can your baby say ( speak) or how many words did you baby say when he or she was 13 months old? All children are different and develop at different times. I'd like to know the average words that a 13 month old baby should know ( if any).
Letting your child be messy encourages imagination. What I mean by letting your child be messy is this. Let your baby, toddler or preschooler get out old clothes or your favorite shoes and pretend play with them all around the house, let them have a picnic in the middle of the living room floor, and even let them create their own"potion" or "concoction" with all types of ingredients from the kitchen ( while keeping it safe, of course).
All of these things will encourage their imagination and lead to a happier and smarter child. Being imaginative encourages important brain development. The first three years are the most crucial for brain development. Your baby will not be a baby for long so let their imagination run wild! Let them imagine & dream while they are young!
Parents, does your baby show an interest in your computer? Does your toddler or preschooler like to play on the computer? We have put together some fun online learning games for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers! Best of all, all of these fun and games online for babies and toddlers are FREE!
Click on the links below for these fun free learning resources:
