When your baby is born their eyesight is blurry. In the first two months of their life they can only focus on objects eight to ten inches in front of him, so the first colours your baby sees are black, white and red. Their favourite sight is you, and they love to hear your voice. Now you can sing to your hearts content, they will love it.

Interaction is your great fun learning game, seeing you, listening to you, giggling and laughing at you. But you cannot be your child’s only entertainment system, you will need some time out!

So lets look at some games that your baby will love. Here are Three Brain-Stimulating Activities for Your Baby recommended by museum tour

Peekaboo

What the research says: Peekaboo is a valuable lesson in object permanence. Each game builds and strengthens connections among brain cells that will remain basically in place for the rest of your child’s life. These connections are made easily in early stages, but form slower and with more difficulty later on.

OK, we all know how to play peekaboo. But in case you need instructions:

• Hold an interesting toy or puppet behind your back. Bring it out and say “Peekaboo!”
• Put it behind your back again.
• Keep this up (unless he grows bored) until baby begins to anticipate the puppet coming out in a certain place (e.g. by your right shoulder).

This time bring the puppet out in a different place this time (over your head, on your other side, over the baby’s head…) Is baby surprised? Delighted? Amazed?
Give the puppet to your baby and see if he will imitate you.

Beat of the Drum

What the research says: Learning cause and effect is an important stage of development. Learning that performing the same act with a different set of materials products different results is another one. Other skills developed: auditory skills, discerning tone, sense of rhythm.
Gather a collection of empty containers (oatmeal containers, ice cream tubs, tupperware or the like, coffee cans, plastic wrap stretched tightly over a plastic bowl) pots and pans, and various sized wooden spoons. Try to chose “drums” that will provide a wide range of tones. Let your baby bang away and amaze herself with her own power.

Explore the Senses

What the research says: Using her senses of sight and smell causes brain connections to form, especially if these experiences are consistent and predictable. By exposing your baby to a wide array of situations and sensations, you are expanding her awareness of herself, her surroundings, and her world.

Give her a front row seat. Carry your baby around the house. Take her on walks around the neighborhood. Both urban and rural environments can be fascinating to a baby. Point things out, and talk about them calmly and quietly. A dog running down the sidewalk, a horn honking, a cloud of steam, a basketball bouncing, the smell of bread baking, a summer breeze … things we experience with our senses daily are new, amazing, and important to baby’s development.

Baby educational games are fun, but one of the most important and simple things you can do with your baby is bond. Hold them, touch them (skin-to-skin contact is particularly important), cuddle them, talk to them, sing to them, rock them. You may think this goes without saying, but the research backs it up too! Infants and their parents are biologically hardwired to have close emotional bonds with each other. It’s a survival instinct. These bonds are formed in the first year, and as early as the first minutes, through eye contact, facial expressions, touch, and voice. Holding, comforting, and cuddling your baby helps her brain grow.

photo credit: makelessnoise

Most books advise that inconsolable babies should be put down and allowed to cry. Fortunately, that’s not true and some simple tips will quickly turn you into a world-class baby calmer!

photo credit: willem velthoven

The safety rules change with your baby’s age, but some general principles of safety apply to every child. Following are complete baby safety tips :

Never shake a baby

Shaking a baby, even playfully, can cause bleeding in her brain and rip nerves and muscles. Shaken Baby Syndrome can result in blindness, brain damage, or death. Taking care of a baby is a tough job, and in the early days it’s often difficult to fathom why your baby is crying. Feeling angry and frustrated sometimes is normal. But no matter how frustrated you get, NEVER shake or jiggle your baby violently. If you feel yourself losing control, seek help from your mate, a friend or relative, or a professional. Never shake a baby as part of a game, either. It’s just too dangerous.

Never leave your baby alone

Even newborns can occasionally turn over or flip around, so never leave your baby alone in the tub, on a raised surface like a changing table, or on an adult bed. If the phone rings, take the baby with you (or let the answering machine pick up the call). And never leave a baby in a car by herself, even for a minute Emergencies can happen in an instant, and your child needs an adult with her at all times.

Prevent burns and promote fire safety

• Install smoke alarms, especially where your baby sleeps, and check their batteries when you reset your clocks in the spring and the fall. And put fire extinguishers on every floor of your house. Be sure the fire department has directions to your house if you live outside of town.
• Use fire-resistant or flame-retardant clothing, bedding, and toys for your child. Check the labels to make sure.
• Turn down your hot water heater — 120 degrees F is a good setting for households with small children. You can prevent accidental burns and still get the dishes and the clothes clean.
• Replace floor furnaces with another type of heating system, and block radiators.
• Move all appliances with cords so that your child can’t reach the cords.
• Cover all electrical outlets with plugs.
• Keep your baby out of direct sunlight and use sunscreen — the sun can hurt a baby’s sensitive skin. It’s safe to use small amounts of sunscreen on babies under six months of age — apply it for every outing. Use protective clothing (including hats) and eyewear, even for the youngest child, even in winter, and even on cloudy days.

Lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or crib death

• Put your baby “Back to Sleep.” Research has shown that putting babies to sleep on their back lowers their risk of SIDS by as much as 70 percent. But be sure your baby spends wake time on her tummy to discover, explore, and strengthen her shoulders.
• Keep your baby’s room warm, but not too warm. Maintain an air temperature that is comfortable for you. A young infant has less capability to adjust her temperature than an adult, as she can only sweat around her head. Keep her head uncovered and remove a layer of clothing if her head is damp with sweat. If she’s overheated by too many blankets or clothes, she is at greater risk for SIDS.
• Keep your baby’s head uncovered as she sleeps. Use a sleeper or tuck her in below her neck with a blanket.
• Be sure your baby sleeps on a firm mattress. Fluffy, soft surfaces can obstruct her breathing. Do not use thick quilts, comforters, pillows, or sheepskin under or over the baby. Avoid waterbeds. Toys and pillows shouldn’t be too big or too plush; infants should not have pillows or large stuffed toys in their cribs at all. Finally, make sure bumper pads are secure. If your infant sleeps in your bed, the same precautions apply. Be sure there isn’t any space around the mattress to trap your baby between it and the bed.
• No smoking around your baby. Babies exposed to secondhand smoke are at least twice as likely to die of SIDS.
• Breastfeed. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of SIDS, so breastfeed as much — and as long — as you can.

Drive safely

photo credit: Reznicek111

You and your baby spend a lot of time in the car, so it’s important to take the time to make sure the car is safe. Car accidents are the leading cause of death and injury in children after the first month of life.

• Always use a car seat that’s appropriate for the age and size of your child. Almost all children badly injured or killed in car accidents were not properly restrained in car seats, or sitting in car seats that were not properly installed. Install the seat according to the manufacturers’ instructions, or ask the police department or the car dealer to install it for you. Don’t ever give in to a child’s desire to ride anywhere but in the car seat.
• Always drive with children in the back seat, especially if you have air bags.
• Never leave your child alone in the car — not even for a minute! When you’re on the road, make sure your child isn’t getting too much sun through the car window.
• Don’t smoke in the car.
• Use automatic door and window locks, and keep them set for each ride.
• Be a good role model — buckle up every time you’re in the car, and drive safely.

Make sure your baby’s gear is safe

There are lots of new safety standards for baby and child equipment. Before you purchase anything or take on used baby gear, check to be sure everything meets standards and hasn’t been recalled.

• Before you buy any baby gear, check for safety information. Everything you buy should pass Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards.
• See if your products have the yellow and black certification seal of the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association. Click here for an updated list of product recalls. Items manufactured before 1974 may have lead paint or may have design flaws that make them a safety risk, and they won’t appear on recall lists.
• Check all of your baby’s equipment regularly for loose parts, sharp or rough edges, and peeling paint.

Baby-proof your home

Now, on to baby proofing. First of all, the term “baby proofing” is something of a misnomer, since there is no such thing as a completely baby-proofed house. You will always have to keep a close eye on your baby, and an especially close eye when you’re somewhere other than your own home. However, there are some basic steps to make your home as safe as possible:

• Take a spin through the house on your hands and knees, looking at it from your baby’s perspective. You will quickly notice many looming dangers. Make a list of what you find and take steps to make them safe.
• Get as many electrical cords and appliances out of the way as possible. Before you run any appliance, make sure you can see the baby, and that she’s far from the action. Make it a habit.
• Put locks on all windows so they can be opened no more than six inches. This is particularly important for windows on the second story and above.
• Plug up all electrical outlets and put cords out of reach (this is so important it’s worth repeating).
• Put all cleaning supplies, medicines (prescription and over-the-counter), alcohol, vitamins, and anything else that would harm your baby if ingested up high where she can’t reach it. Lock those cupboards.
• Be sure all medicines, including visitors’, are in safety-capped bottles.
• Use cupboard safety latches, even for those containing safe objects.
• Block stairs with secure gates, and secure doors and windows with high latches and locks.
• Put shade and curtain cords out of reach.
• Secure bookshelves and high furniture than could be pulled over. This may mean using wall bolts.
• Avoid using tablecloths, scarves, and doilies that your baby can use to pull objects off a table.
• Make sure grandparents and care providers adequately baby-proof their homes as well.

Check for gas

• Radon, a naturally emitted radioactive gas, is a cancer-causing health hazard that can collect in tightly closed houses, such as those in cold climates. It tends to collect in the lower levels of houses. Babies and toddlers are especially at risk because the gas collects close to the floor. State, county, and city health departments will come out to check your home and show you ways to vent the gas, if necessary.
• Carbon monoxide detectors are important if you heat with propane or wood. Keep the batteries current.

Prevent choking

In the United States, choking is the fourth leading cause of accidental death among children under 5. Fortunately, choking can be prevented. Follow these guidelines:

• Avoid foods that pose the greatest choking hazard. This includes hot dogs, whole grapes, peanuts, hard candy, and raw carrots.
• Always feed your baby sitting up, in your lap, or in an infant chair. Make sure your toddler sits at the table and doesn’t walk or run with food in her mouth.
• Make sure your child’s toys are safe. Soft toys should be washable, stuffed with fire-safe material, and have no loose pieces such as eyes, buttons, or latches. If toys break down into pieces, no piece should be smaller than 1.75 inches. (They should be too big to fit through a paper towel tube.) Pieces smaller than that pose a choking hazard. Don’t use any toys that have strings, fasteners, buttons, or chipping paint. And avoid latex balloons and small balls, and check all of your baby’s toys regularly for rough edges, loose parts, or peeling paint.
• Only dress your baby in safe clothing. Check clothes inside and out for loose strings or ribbons or anything that could wrap around your baby’s neck, small fingers, or toes. Avoid drawstrings on clothes that can get caught in doors, cribs, or toy equipment such as bicycle wheels. Remember, children can always pull off buttons that you think are securely attached.

Quit smoking

A smoke-free house is healthy for everyone who lives there, especially your baby. No one should smoke around a baby, including baby sitters or relatives. People unwilling to quit smoking should abstain from smoking in a baby’s house. If you or someone in your house smokes, you have many reasons to quit — if not for your sake, then for your baby’s.

• Babies in smoking households are at least twice as likely to die from SIDS.
• Children in smoking households get more chest colds, ear infections, sore throats, asthma, pneumonia, burns, and other health problems compared with children in non-smoking households.
• Smokers’ houses are at greater risk for fire and fire-related injuries.

Prevent firearm injury and death

Today and every day, 10 children in the United States will die from handgun accidents, murder, and suicide. Even more are wounded. In gun-owning households, the natural curiosity and playfulness of children can quickly turn deadly.

The best way to keep your baby safe is: remove all guns from your home, period. But If you do have guns:

• Lock them up. Make sure your guns are locked away, with all ammunition locked up separately. Make sure only adults know where the guns and ammunition are kept and that the key stays with an adult.
• When a gun isn’t locked up, never leave it unattended. Whenever you handle your gun, including when you clean it, don’t let it out of your sight, even for an instant. Most firearm accidents involving children happen because the children weren’t supervised.
• Use trigger locks and other safety devices.
• Never refer to a gun as a toy.
• No child under 8 can be relied upon to remember rules for handling a gun, no matter how well they are taught.

Prevent drowning/promote water safety

Drowning is the second most deadly type of accident for children in the United States. Young children are especially at risk, not only because they don’t know how to swim, but also because they can drown in a very small amount of water.

• Never let your child out of your sight near any pool of water, including toilets, scrub buckets, fountains, swimming pools, wading pools, lakes, ponds, or the ocean.
• Children of any age need to be directly supervised around any swimming pool or body of water. All monitors should have no other tasks than to watch children when they’re around water.
• Keep the bathroom off-limits for infants and toddlers, except for when they are directly supervised.
• If you have a pool, enclose it with a fence taller than 4 feet that has a locked gate. If you live near a community pool, get it up to these standards.
• Bathtub rings do not protect a child. If you use one, you must still supervise your child constantly.
• Swimming lessons aren’t recommended for children under 5 years old. They give parents a false sense of security. You must always supervise your children when they’re in the water, even if they’ve had swimming lessons. Young children may swallow too much water while swimming, leading to serious or even fatal salt imbalance.
• If you have a boat, make sure you follow all U.S. Coast Guard safety regulations. Have a regulation life preserver, sized appropriately, for each person on board, and teach your older children safety rules and boat etiquette.
• Arm “wings,” plastic rings, and other devices do not ensure safety for young children in the water. Watch your children directly at all times. If your child is under 2 years old, you should be in the water with her at all times.

Other little safety tips

• Don’t put pacifiers or necklaces around your young infant’s neck. A cord or necklace can too easily get caught and strangle her. If you use a pacifier, be sure it’s molded in a single piece.
• Any space or opening bigger than 2 3/8 inches wide can accommodate a baby’s head at an angle, so keep an eye out for potential traps.
• Never refer to medicine as candy.
• Put all visitors’ handbags and luggage out of your child’s reach.
• Make sure carrying devices such as packs and strollers fit your child’s age and stage of development.

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Your oldest child may become angry, frustrated, and possessive of her toys and gear—and, of course, possessive of you. No matter how she expresses her discontent, what she is actually saying is “Don’t forget me! I need you too! This is difficult. Do you still love me?” Responding to these concerns is an important part of managing sibling rivalry and creating a home environment where everyone feels valued.

When Your Firstborn Meets Your Newborn

photo credit: i am brad
What you worry about is a critical difference between a first and second pregnancy. During the first pregnancy, you worried about whether you would be a good parent. The second time around, as a parenting pro your concern focuses on how your older child will react to your newborn. In fact, you probably wonder about your own reaction: “I love my child so much—how can I ever love a second child in the same way?” The truth is that the heart of a parent only expands and becomes more beautiful with each addition to the family.

You can address your concern by taking steps to prepare your firstborn for your soon-to-be arrival. Decide when you want to tell your child about the baby. There are different theories about the right time to do this. Go with what works for you given your situation and child’s age. Refer to the pregnancy as “our baby” and “my other baby” so your child feels included. Have your child go with you to prenatal visits where he can hear the heart beat and see the baby on the sonogram machine. Let your child step on the scale just as you do and meet your doctor. These activities frame the idea of a new family member in a way that actively involves your firstborn.

Whether your firstborn will have a new room is another area of preparation. Whatever you decide, make the transition as gradual as possible. Have your child learn the color of his new room—or help pick a new color if it’s to be repainted—and help organize it. Try to move your child several months before the baby’s birth, or if the newborn will be in a bassinette in your room, several months afterward. This time frame prevents your firstborn from feeling displaced by the new baby.While these are all helpful, proactive strategies, the reality is that your firstborn will not actually know what it is like to have a sibling until the baby arrives. To help make the homecoming go smoothly, have someone other than the primary caretaker(s) bring the baby through the doorway upon your return. This helps your child ease into the idea of a new addition and reassures him that your arms are still available for him, not just for the baby.

Friends, family, and colleagues will send presents for the new baby. Rather than having your firstborn watch the outpouring of gifts in dismay, have a stash of presents stowed away for him. They don’t have to be expensive or elaborate, but are gestures that reassure your oldest he is loved and valued.

Try to spend one-to-one time with your older child each day. Of course, the ability to do this depends upon your schedule and child care arrangements. One-to-one outings assure him of your undivided attention and the special relationship you share.

Toddler-Preschool Rivalry
Your older child may actually have no problem with the addition of a newborn to the family. Things may progress smoothly until something happens—your newborn stops being a newborn. A new relationship world is entered when your second child becomes a toddler. Now your preschooler may start to have real feelings about her younger sibling that get expressed through statements like “No!” and “Mine!” Your oldest may hide toys, refrain from sharing, and even hit her younger sibling.

“Why the drastic change?” you wonder. A newborn is less threatening to your firstborn—he can’t play with your older child’s toys, interrupt her conversation, or talk back. Sibling rivalry often erupts at this juncture because your oldest child is upset about the new behaviors her toddler sibling has acquired.

As with the transition from a one-child to a two-child family, several strategies can help you manage toddler-preschooler rivalry. A first step is to assess your family context. How do you manage conflict? Children observe and imitate adult behaviors. They will learn by watching you model effective negotiation and conflict resolution.

Do not make comparisons between your children. Statements like “Eat your food like Quentin does” only heighten feelings of conflict between siblings. Remember that each child is unique and embodies different ways of being in the world.

Allow your children to express their feelings in safe ways. Your preschooler may be angry about a toy broken by her younger brother. Giving your child the space to express angry feelings while you listen is validating and supportive. If hitting occurs between siblings, clearly communicate a no-violence policy.

Entering the world of siblings is like embarking on a new adventure. A growing family, the love that develops between siblings, and the pride you feel while you watch your children thrive are all guideposts along the way. Managing sibling rivalry means you strengthen relationships among all family members and in so doing, build a solid foundation for the future.

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A Child’s Perception of TV
A child under age 5 cannot distinguish between the many types of information available on television: commercials that sell products, fictional dramas, talk shows, sitcoms, and news. Your preschooler lives with one foot in fantasyland at all times anyway, so TV is always “real” at this age. This is why disaster dramas are just as frightening as documentaries about real disasters. Only at about age 7 will your child be able to distinguish the real from the imaginary. A preschooler believes that the actors on TV continue to feel and live in the same way between shows as they do during a show. Also, children under 3 are fascinated by television’s fast-moving bits of imagery, but they don’t make the narrative transition from one image to the next. That’s why such techniques as flashbacks and multiple story lines make no sense to them at all.

photo credit: woodleywonderworks

Guidelines for Responsible TV Watching
Add to these developmental issues the content of TV programming, with its high component of aggression and violence, and it’s easy to see why some might suggest a total ban on watching. But that’s not necessary. What follows are some ways to make television watching a productive part of your preschooler’s life:

1. Set a limit on hours watched per day: one to two hours is plenty.
2. Discuss your TV-watching plan with your partner, your babysitter, and anyone else who has regular contact with your child so what you’re saying is not contradicted by others.
   
3. Don’t use television as a reward.
   
4. Keep meals TV-free.
   
5. Watch with your child. It tells her that you think the activity is more than something to keep her busy while you’re doing something else. It also allows you to explain the show and to point out the difference between it and the commercials.
   
6. Plan what to watch. This cuts down on surfing, which just increases confusion and unwanted exposure for your child. Good shows to watch are those that ask questions of a child and encourage her response. If a program you’ve watched talks about numbers or letters, try to follow up with your own examples (”A is for apple; it’s also the letter of Grandma’s first name. What’s Grandma’s first name? Right, it’s Alice”) or with books that can extend the idea.
7. Tape shows that you’d like to watch with your child so you can put them on as your schedule permits.
8. Avoid news programs that concentrate on the day’s violent events.
9. Remember: Just because something is labeled a children’s program does not mean it’s free of violence. Don’t turn kids over to Saturday cartoons, for example, without knowing what they’re watching.
10. Turn off the program when it ends. This says to your child that it’s time for another activity, which you should have in mind.

Adapted from Encounters With Children by Suzanne D. Dixon, M.D., and Martin T. Stein, M.D. (Mosby, 2000).

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Unfortunately, there is no evidence of a universal cure for stammering - in other words, there is no approach that works like a magic pill for everyone. This situation is perhaps not so surprising when it is considered that there is still no complete answer to the question, ‘What causes stammering?’ Most experts agree that it is due to a combination of factors - physiological, neurological, psychological and environmental - but the precise ways that these factors operate together is not known, and clearly the combination will be different from one individual to another.

What is clear, then, is that stammering is a complex condition with many characteristics affecting each individual in a unique way. Whilst two people who stammer may sound similar to an outsider, the factors that trigger stammering, and reactions to stammering (both physical and emotional) can be very different. These aspects are highly personal and make it important to consider individual needs in any course of therapy.

Furthermore, while there are techniques which can be extremely helpful, these require ongoing practice to become effective. This is not the same as a ‘cure’ - which implies something administered by an expert which will work for everyone in all situations. People who claim to have found a cure for stammering often passionately believe they have something to offer. Here are some stammer therapy considerations for different age children:

Pre-school aged children

Speech and language therapy has a high success rate in children under five years of age. Therapists carry out an assessment, taking into account many factors including the physiological and parent-child interactions. They may then choose to work in a variety of ways, indirectly or directly. The majority of children can be helped through these approaches and often have no recurring problems. However, it is not appropriate to think of this as a ‘cure’ because many children under 5 years go through a very normal phase of dysfluency anyway, and may just have grown through this phase. It is more accurate to say that these children have been supported at an early stage in a way that has prevented their early dysfluency from developing into a lasting stammer.

School aged children

It is obviously distressing to see your child stammering and, as a result, perhaps struggling with issues of self-consciousness, lack of confidence, teasing and bullying. You may consider ‘anything’ to help your child, ‘no matter what the cost’. However, expectations of a ‘cure’ can lead to even greater difficulties and a sense of failure for both parents and children if it doesn’t work out. The experience may well put you both off trying other approaches in the future.

Most of the courses and therapies which claim a cure are aimed at teenagers and adults, but there may be some practitioners who accept younger children. We strongly recommend parents caution and that you instead seek advice from a qualified speech and language therapist who has experience of stammering. The most important issue at this stage is to help children who stammer develop self acceptance, and self confidence.

General recommendations

I recommend that you consider the following questions before deciding to pay for a private course or private therapy.

1. Is the person leading the course accountable to any registered professional body which is bound by a code of ethics? This is particularly important regarding therapies for children.
2. Does the person hold professional qualifications accredited by a professional body or institution? The Health Professions Council can verify this for you in the case of speech and language therapists - see their website at www.hpc-uk.org. It may well be that a person without professional qualifications can be of help to some people. However, it is important to note that, if you feel that you have been harmed by the treatment offered, either physically or psychologically, there is unlikely to be a professional body to which you can complain.
3. Is the person leading the course basically offering their own personal experience of a method which helped them? Don’t forget that, because of the individual nature of stammering, there is no guarantee that what helps one person will necessarily help another.
4. What is the cost and is it reasonable compared to other courses? What do the costs cover? Are there any financial guarantees? Is there a refund policy?
5. Is follow-up support offered to increase the chance for long term fluency? You are likely to need direct help and ongoing support from your therapist while you practise and phone calls are unlikely to be sufficient. A characteristic of stammering is that it is prone to relapse, so care and ongoing attention needs to be given to this.
6. What emotional support is available for you if you ‘fail’ the course? This can be an issue, especially if the course leader is one who tells you that you must be a failure for ‘failing to be fluent’.

Finally, with any form of therapy, it’s no doubt best, having made the decision to try it, to give it your best shot, rather than do it half-heartedly. If, in the end, it doesn’t work for you, you can at least be assured that it wasn’t for want of trying. All it means is that, at this point of time in your life, it is not the right approach for you. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

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3 to 6 Months

Read a book:

photo credit: Chiceaux
Chernoff and other doctors begin handing books out to their patients at 6 months of age through Reach Out And Read, a national early literacy campaign. Of course, it can’t hurt to introduce reading sooner — just don’t be discouraged if you don’t get much of a reaction, says Chernoff. “Some kids are interested and some aren’t, but you’re also communicating something about reading books that they’re picking up on,” she says, adding that she’d avoid putting baby in front of a TV as entertainment. When you’re reading, be sure to label things — “this is a dog, this is a cat, this is a baby” — to get baby primed for learning such words later, says Wallace. At this age books with simple pictures are best, she says.

Practice batting and grasping:
Since babies are now learning to reach for objects, give them plenty to grab for. Wallace recommends blowing bubbles in baby’s direction and letting her “catch” them. In the early weeks of this time period baby will probably be batting at things rather than picking them up. It’s a good time for mobiles and other hanging or floating objects that are fun for swatting. A little later, when baby starts to pick things up, place toys of different shapes and textures within reach or slightly out of reach to encourage baby to pick them up.

Peek-a-boo:
Baby won’t begin to develop “object permanence” — the idea that something doesn’t cease to exist when it is out of sight — just yet, but you can start to introduce the concept now. Try peek-a-boo: put a blanket over your face and then remove it for baby to see that you’re still there. The bonus: babies at this age and a little older will delight in your antics. You can also play peek-a-boo with toys or other objects. Eventually baby will get the hang of it and begin playing it herself.

Let baby play alone:
Although you’re a crucial part of baby’s development, helping baby may sometimes involve just letting her play by herself for a while. “Children learn a great deal from playing on their own and from exploring the world in the way that they feel driven to,” says Wallace. For example, “if the child is exploring a piece of dust that is floating in the air she’s learning how things fall,” Wallace explains.

6 to 9 Months

Practice passing:
At this age babies are getting good at picking things up, have probably developed the ability to “rake” objects with their hands, and are beginning to transfer things from hand to hand. Fine forefinger or thumb control won’t be developed until about 9 months, but you can get baby started by letting her try to feed herself (finger foods, not those that require a fork or spoon). Be forewarned: it’s a messy proposition and you’ll need to supervise her closely in case she begins to choke.

Let her taste her world:
At this age babies experience things primarily through their mouths, so it’s great to give her a variety of toys that she can gum or chew. Since she can probably sit up now, an activity saucer (like a walker, but without wheels) can be a good place for baby to sit and explore toys.

Explore cause and effect:
Your baby is probably gaining a growing interest in cause and effect — “I push this button and I hear a sound.” Offer her an array of toys that cater to this new interest.

Practice standing:

photo credit: Avery Zoe
By 9 months baby may be pulling herself up to stand or may stand with assistance from you or a stationary object. Help her do this by providing a sturdy toy — a play shopping cart or activity cart — but make sure your house is baby-proofed, that stairs are gated and all objects she might pull up on are well anchored.

Share your world:
“If you’re excited about something, your child is going to learn about it and be excited about it,” says Chernoff. Talk to your child about the things you like to do and involve her whenever possible. “This is especially true for dads, who are sometimes a little awkward with babies,” she says. “You don’t have to figure out what baby likes; you can share what you like.” If you enjoy hiking, take baby with you. Not only will it help you continue to do the things you enjoy, but it will also give you something the two of you can enjoy together.

Make music:
Even though baby probably has a room full of fun toys, she’ll most likely get a big kick out of banging on a pot, pan or plasticware dish with a plastic spoon or knocking down a plasticware tower, says Wallace. Babies are also developing better control of their fingers so toy pianos and toy phones are usually a big hit and a developmental boon.

Explore emotions:
Your singing can take on a new element now that baby is ready to start learning about emotions. Try singing “If You’re Happy and You Know It” — you’ll not only introduce the concept of happiness, but you’ll also be helping to develop body awareness and fine motor skills, says Wallace.

Swim:
Baby might not be ready for the breaststroke yet, but swimming “classes” offer a good opportunity to get baby used to the water and to experience the sense of floating while at the same time bonding with you and building dexterity. Plus, you’ll get a kick out of seeing baby explore water for the first time. Music and gymnastics classes are also good.

9 Months to 1 Year

Learn the language:
As we mentioned above, language skills won’t really take off until year two, but baby is already starting to realize her ability to make sounds. By 6 months of age she was probably practicing vowel sounds and now may be combining vowels and consonants. Help her progress by repeating what she says and offering new combinations for her to try — ba ba, ma ma, da da — says Chernoff. For now they’re just sounds; eventually baby will figure out that mama applies to mom and dada applies to dad.

Crawl and walk:
Baby will probably crawl, cruise and possibly walk during this period. You can help encourage movement by placing interesting objects just out of reach, says Wallace. Or, spice things up by creating a cardboard-box tunnel for baby to crawl through. “That encourages them to crawl but also helps them develop spacial relationships,” she says.

Stack, squeeze and snap:
At this age babies will enjoy putting objects into other objects, fitting objects together and stacking them. Blocks and plasticware are a baby’s best friend now. You can also cut a sponge into different shapes and let baby stick them to the side of the tub. Now is a good time to introduce zippers and snaps, although baby won’t be able to master the technique for some time to come.

Keep in mind that all babies develop at their own pace and that what may be normal for one will not be for another. Your goal in helping baby to grown and learn is not to develop a “superbaby,” but rather to help your child develop to her full potential. “As parents we feel tremendous pressure to do all the right things,” says Wallace. “But what’s most important is to help them connect to people and relate effectively to their environment.” And anyhow, your baby will always be a superbaby to you.

Tags: child development stages, baby growth, child care development, child development education, early child development, development of child, fetal development, infant development, Baby grow, 1 year baby grow, baby development, 3 months baby grow

photo credit: creativesam

“Babies need more than just food to develop normally,” says Meri Wallace, a child and family therapist and author of Birth Order Blues and Keys to Parenting Your Four Year Old. “Everything you do that is responsive and affectionate and loving is supporting the baby’s development. The baby who is not getting that, even if she is being fed and having her diaper changed regularly, is not going to thrive or develop normally.”

According to Dr. Robin Chernoff, director of the Family/Behavior Clinic at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, the first year will be marked by developments in fine motor skills — picking things up, moving objects from hand to hand — and gross motor skills such as crawling and walking. Although your baby will be cooing, babbling and possibly even saying a few choice words (like mama and dada) during the first year of life, language skills don’t really take off until the second year. However, you’ll be laying the foundation for these skills, and others, from the day baby is born.

Wallace said parent’s role in helping baby develop is vital. While you probably can’t speed the developmental process a great deal — baby will walk when baby is ready to walk — you can certainly slow it down by failing to help baby develop. “If you keep your baby in a crib all the time she’s still going to learn to walk eventually but she may do it later than she would otherwise,” says Wallace. “So we know there are things we can do to make it harder for a child to develop.”

Below are some activities Wallace and Chernoff suggest for helping baby develop. Although we know baby can be either a he or a she, we’ll refer to baby by the feminine to make things simple. Keep in mind that many of the activities below are ones you’ll start doing early on and will continue, possibly with adjustments, as baby grows.

Birth to 6 Weeks

Snuggle up:
At this age, you need not worry about holding baby too much, says Chernoff. “You really can’t spoil a child in the first six months,” she says. “You need to respond to her cues, pick her up and hold her because that’s when she’s developing her attachments and discovering that the world is a safe place.” Of course, keep the stimulation to a minimum at night, so that baby will learn the difference between night and day — and so that you’ll get some sleep.

Develop her senses:
In the first six weeks of life, baby’s eyesight is not nearly as good as her hearing, so you’ll need to keep objects close to baby’s face — eight to 12 inches away. Fortunately for you, your baby is most interested in the human face, so merely holding your face close to hers can provide stimulation and entertainment. To help develop her ability to “track” or follow objects, try holding a toy in front of or above her and moving it in an arc. You can also begin introducing textures by touching her skin with different objects — a feather, a piece of material, a soft toy, suggests Wallace.

Introduce baby to herself:

photo credit: Mish Mish
Hold baby in front of a mirror and point out her eyes, nose, ears and mouth. She won’t understand for a while, but labeling baby’s world for her will help her later.

Sing a song:
Singing is not only soothing but it also helps baby develop a sensitivity to sound. As baby gets older you can get her involved physically by moving her legs and hands in time to the music, says Wallace.

Build muscles:
As baby grows her neck muscles will strengthen, although she won’t gain head control until she is about 4 months old. Help baby build neck muscles by lying down on your back, putting baby face down on your chest with her toes pointing toward your toes, and lifting your head up slightly. She’ll attempt to look at your face, which will encourage her to lift her head, strengthening those baby neck muscles.

Offer a varied view:
Give baby a taste of different environments by changing her view throughout the day. Take her with you as you move from room to room. If she enjoys sitting in a swing, be sure to face it in different directions so she can look at new things.

6 Weeks to 3 Months

Encourage tummy time:
Since babies spend all night on their backs (to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) it’s important to put them face down during the day, while you are closely supervising them. This “tummy time” will help them develop their neck and upper body muscles.

Stimulate rolling over:
Babies usually roll over somewhere between 4 and 6 months of age, but you can start encouraging her to roll over before then. Try lying baby on her side on your lap and then putting a toy a few inches away, says Wallace. Make sure her arms are free so that she can roll without having them pinned to her side. Another method: lie baby on an activity mat with one arm straight down by her side. Then roll her over on that side.

Develop body awareness:
Help baby develop awareness of her hands by singing “Pat-A-Cake,” “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” or other songs that involve hand movements (you can make them up too). Don’t forget to get baby’s feet involved. Sock rattles can also help her become aware of her feet. Babies at this age are also beginning to develop recognition of facial characteristics, so keep pointing out facial features in the mirror. Some parents use flash cards with features pictured and labeled. And take advantage of bath-time fun to help baby label body parts too.

Sound identification:
Record the sounds of normal activities — a dog barking, a door opening, footsteps — and play them back for baby while explaining what they are, suggests Wallace. Baby will also probably get a kick out of hearing his own laughter played back. A hand-held tape recorder is ideal for this purpose.

Keep in mind that all babies develop at their own pace and that what may be normal for one will not be for another. Your goal in helping baby to grown and learn is not to develop a “superbaby,” but rather to help your child develop to her full potential. Tomorrow we will learn what we can do to help 3 Months – 1 year baby growing.

Tags: Child development, baby growth, child development education, early child development, fetal development, development of child, child development centre, child care development, child development stages, baby development, infant development

Recent studies of Cornell University’s James Maas show that baby’s primary caregiver loses up to 700 hours of sleep in the first year. Sleep deprivation can wear down the entire family. It is corroding health, straining marriages and contributing to depression.

photo credit: kingary

People who don’t get enough rest aren’t able to regulate their moods, which makes them not able to think clear. This fatigue could lead to small mistakes like forgotten birthdays to serious one like forgetting how much medicine have been taken for a day. In this situation, parents shall hold off on important decisions until they’re better rested.

Lack of sleep also impairs a driver’s judgment and reaction time. Maas urges parents to plan their driving trips in advance. Parents should make sure they get enough rest — either at night or by daytime naps — before doing crucial errands. Parents also should consider carpooling, getting rides from neighbors, using public transportation — anything to keep themselves and their children safe.

To be at their best, parents should never be on baby duty more than three nights a week. Expert advises parents to sleep whenever they can, even if for just 20 minutes. Although a cup of coffee can help, the caffeine takes about half an hour to take effect. After that, the coffee may give drivers an extra 30 minutes of alertness.

Sleepy moms and dads should try to schedule their most complex tasks, such as projects at work, for the times of day when they’re naturally most alert. They should save more mundane chores, such as filing or reading e-mails, for times when they’re drowsier.

I hope this article could help you a bit during first few months your baby having erratic sleep patterns. Do not worry; it’s only one or two months in my experience. Please leave comment down below or share how you handle your less sleep months.

Tags: sleep, parenting, sleep disoreders

photo credit: DanielJames

Although it’s common your baby bites during breastfeeding, many mothers wonder how they will be able to continue to nurse after their babies get teeth. Then some questions appear related to the problem.

There are three reasons why your baby bites during breastfeeding. Babies bite because they start teething. They also bite to prevent sliding off the breast by clamp down to nurse. The last reason is, sometimes, they clench their jaws as they fall asleep.

A baby cannot breast-feed and bite at the same time. When he nurses, his tongue comes over his bottom gum line. In order to bite, he has to stop suckling. If a baby is going to bite, it is usually towards the end of a feeding

When you baby is going to bite, you feel the difference in his jaw tension and notice his tongue change position. Gently push his head into your breast — just for a second. When you do this, he will open his mouth and you can safely detach him. Avoid pulling him off your breast directly as this can hurt.

Babies do not realize that they are hurting you when they bite. Here is a good way to teach “nursing manners.”

After you have removed your baby from the breast, talk to him for a moment, face-to-face. Use short, simple, positive phrases like, “Nurse gently,” and then offer to nurse again. He will soon get the message.

An older baby may think that this is a game; you may notice a twinkle in his eye just before he clamps down! However, babies are not allowed to bite their mamas.

If this happens, detach him and talk to him. Put him down for a moment in a safe place and walk away so that he cannot see you, but come right back and pick him up. Tell him that he must be gentle, and offer to nurse again.

Knowing the reason why your baby bites could help you to minimize the problem. If he is teething, offer him other things on which to chew. A favorite teether is one made from a clean washcloth. Ring it out in cold water, pop it into a plastic baggie and freeze. To use, take it out of the baggie and let him play with it. When he puts it into his mouth, the ice crystals on the rough terry cloth will help to soothe his gums.

You also may want to talk to your doctor about using over-the-counter gum preparations or teething tablets.

If your baby clenches his jaws as he falls asleep, gently remove him from your breast. Should he wake up, he may need to nurse a little longer.

If your baby is biting because he is not latched on properly, remove him from your breast and latch him on correctly. Make sure that you are supporting your baby’s weight so that he is lying straight across your body and not pulling your nipple down. A good latch feels comfortable to both of you.

If you would like some help in getting a good latch, call your local La Leche League leader for one-on-one help.

Well, I hope this article could help you against this minor problem. Continue breastfeeding, because it’s the best for your baby!

Tags: babies bite

Using this principle – that your child is intensely interested in and paying attention to some things — you can help your child focus in situations where she currently is falling short. The main strategy is to channel your child’s energy and interest to promote the development of persistence in other tasks.

1. Sometimes kids lack persistence because they doubt their own abilities. By not trying they can preserve their dignity by saying “I failed because I didn’t even try.” You can channel your child’s enthusiasm for a sports hero or a favorite movie or cartoon character by telling him to pretend like he is his favorite hero. If your child is mesmerized by Lance Armstrong, invite your child to walk and talk like Lance would. By pretending to have a lot of confidence, your child will get the feeling for what it is like to have confidence and have the foundation for acting from that place.
2. Sometimes kids lack persistence because they feel if they have a disorder why should they even try since there is already something wrong with them. Using a person whom your child is fascinated with — his or her hero — you can ask your child to tell you what would have happened if that person said “Why Try?” If your child is obsessed with Harry Potter ask her what would have happened if he had just given up and didn’t try to overcome the many obstacles he faced.
3. Use your child’s areas of intense interest to develop basic skills that will help him in learning things that are not so interesting. For example, if you child is obsessed with cars you can help him find books or manuals about cars. In this way he will begin to develop some skills with reading that will carry over to other areas.
4. Let your child play and exercise in nature. A recent study (Faber-Taylor et al., 2001) has shown that playing in “green settings” helps children to focus and pay attention. The findings suggest that letting your child have a little bit of play time outside in nature before sitting down to do her homework might help her to concentrate, complete tasks and follow directions.
5. Become an advocate for your child in school settings. Sometimes your child needs little adjustments to help him focus in school. As a parent, if you can advocate for small changes, you can make a profound difference in your child’s behavior at school. For example, one parent found that by asking the teacher to let her child get out of her seat occasionally without being punished, the child was able to pay attention more in class just by making this one change.
6. Develop an appreciation for what your child does pay attention to. For example, often a child is not paying attention to the course work in school, but he is paying attention to what all the other kids are doing. Tell your child that his interest in other students shows a lot of caring and concern for others and intelligence about how other people get along and interact. Ask him to share his insights with you and comment on his abilities to understand what other people are thinking and doing. Praise your child at any opportunity for what they are paying attention to and find a way to reframe it as a strength rather than a deficit.
7. Find out what your child is paying attention to and encourage her interest in that arena. For example, if your child is interested in sports, rather than being discouraged that his interest will not lead to academic success, find a way to show him that you honor his interest and find ways to channel that interest. When parents try to discourage interests in their children, the child will feel that the parent does not understand him and feel alone. As an example, you could use an interest in sports to an exploration of the human body and how to encourage optimal functioning. This could lead to increased interest in science classes.

In summary, the main principles of change are to maintain a positive perspective of your child and to stay connected to your child. By honoring his or her areas of intense interest you can transform your child’s problems into strengths.

For some children, it will be like turning on a light switch and they will wake up and never use a diaper again. For others, it may take a month or two for them to fully transition out of diapers. Whatever you do you must be consistent. If you work hard for a week and only see minimal progress, do not give up.

Some of the signs a child may be ready to be potty trained is if they are ale to stay dry for over two hours at a time. If they have regular bowel movements throughout the day. If your child comes up and tells you they need a diaper change.

Using a potty chair or a toilet ring is up to you, but if you find one method is not working as well, don’t be afraid to try the other.

Here are some different methods to try:

The timer method:
Set a kitchen or other timer for 20 minute intervals. Every time the time goes off, take your child to the potty and have them sit there. If they use it, great! If not, that’s fine too. Just set the timer again and keep trying. But be consistent.

The reward method:
Some parent have had success creating a little chart where the child can put stickers on it if they go potty. After a certain number of stickers are put on the chart the child gets a prize

The example method:
Yes, I know it can be a bit embarrassing, but letting the child watch you use the bathroom can be a fantastic way to show them how and encourage them to be a “big kid.”

The book method:
You local library will likely have several books on potty training. Some of these will be written specifically for kids. Check these out and read them to your child several times to help encourage them.

The trial and error method:
Some children just have a harder time than others, so it may take trying several or all the different methods until you find one that works.

Whatever method you try, just remember to make potty training a fun stress-free time for your child.

Tags: potty training tips, potty training

Music is many things. It makes us happy, annoyed, melancholic, afraid and mad. Music is also for every one. It invades almost anything and everything. Different milieus have their own music to recollect. Various races and continents also enjoy distinctive music. Young and old alike take pleasure in it.

In every stages of life there will always be music for it is perpetual. In fact, there are unique types of music that caters to specific group of individuals. Rock and metal music cater to hyperactive music enthusiasts. Love, acoustic and pop songs blend well with lovers and emotional persons. For kids there is the children’s music.

Children’s music can give kids a magical experience. They can play roles with it. For a moment, they can be a pretty princess with a castle or a dashing knight in shining armor. They can simultaneously play musical instruments. They can dance and sing.

Music is entertaining most especially to children. Thus, even at the very young age they must be exposed to music. By doing so, kids develop their sense of adventure and discovery.

Aside from that, they can be knowledgeable about children’s music lyrics. They can also develop the basic languages.

Children’s music can also be treated as therapy. Application of children’s music can treat some physiological and psychosocial elements of illness. Treatment is aimed for the acquisition of non-musical behavior by virtue of systematic musical methods.

Studies have proven that children with developmental delays and learning disabilities like Down’s syndrome respond to music. Thus, exposure to music can boost response and expression. As a result, individual expressions and talents like singing and dancing can be discovered.

Children’s music treats developmental delays and learning disabilities by drawing out movements. The latter develops self-awareness which can easily be manifested. Examples of these movements are gripping the beater, tapping a triangle, playing cymbals and drums and the likes.

The relationship between children’s music and movement cannot be overemphasized. The rhythm of music creates the ideal stimulus that results to coordinated movements. These movements lead to repetition which is a mode of child learning.

Aside from entertainment and therapy, children’s music is also a special kind of education. It develops the cognitive skills of children. Exposure to music stimulates learning about colors, numbers, shapes and parts of the body. As a consequence, though may not be the primary goal, it increases the child’s intelligence.

Stimulation of cognitive abilities leads to multi-sensory development. The latter contributes to the ability of a child to retail information and be attentive to detail. As a result, the child becomes confident and clever.

Children’s music can also develop the child’s social skills. Usually, musical experiences are done in groups. Participants can sing in unison or one after the other. With this process, every one is encouraged to participate thus participants eventually become closer.

Children’s music can be so powerful that it can develop both the intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects of a child. It simultaneously augments functional abilities at the same time the expressive and creative capacities of a child.

Tags: music for children, free sheet music for children, to us a child of royal birth sheet music

“I knew even before I was born that my mother didn’t want me.”

“I could feel my mother’s fear and anxiety even before I was born.”

Parenting does not start once the child is born. Good parenting starts even before getting pregnant. It starts by caring about what you eat, how much exercise and sleep you get, and by making sure that you are taking responsibility for your feelings of anxiety and stress. Your baby will feel what you feel, so learning how to be in peace and joy before getting pregnant is part of good parenting.

I loved being pregnant. I had always wanted children so I was thrilled to be pregnant. I loved feeling the baby moving within me, awed by the very fact of creating new life. I loved feeling an elbow or a knee slide across my stomach. I loved that my body could be a receptacle for bringing through this soul, this angel from heaven. I could not think of anything more profound, more worth doing. Who was this unique little person growing in my body?

I read every book I could on parenting and thought endlessly how I wanted to be a different parent than my parents were.

The problem was that I have never thought about how much my relationship with myself and with my husband might affect this child.

My husband was angry, distant and withdrawn during my pregnancy and the first three months after giving birth to our son. He was a person who wanted control and he was not happy that I got pregnant six months before we had planned. He didn’t open his heart until our son smiled at him at three months of age.

Being young, I had no idea how to handle the loneliness I felt at not having my husband joyfully involved in the hugest event of my life. Had I known then what I know now, I would have done anything I could to get the help we needed to bring our relationship back into caring. We can’t go back, but I’m sure that my son felt the lack of joy that existed between my husband and me. I’m sure he felt the depth of my loneliness. I wish I knew then what I know now about taking responsibility for my own feelings.

Being pregnant and giving birth are enormous events in a woman’s life, especially the first child, which changes your life so dramatically. If you do not know how to take responsibility for your own feelings of anger, hurt, anxiety, depression and loneliness, things will only get worse after giving birth. A child does not solve problems for you.

It’s hard to imagine before having a child what it is like to be responsible for another life 24/7. If you have not learned how to lovingly parent yourself before giving birth, you might find yourself getting lost as parent your baby. Good parenting starts before getting pregnant, with learning how to take loving care of yourself.

If you have a desire to be a good parent, here are steps you can take before getting pregnant:

• Physical health: make sure that you are in good physical shape by eliminating sugar and artificial sweeteners. Start to shop in health food stores and buy only organic products. Eliminating pesticides and food additives is essential for good health. Also be sure to get enough exercise and sleep.
• Emotional health: instead of having your eyes on your partner, turn your eyes inward and begin to compassionately notice your own feelings. Start to treat your own feelings in the same way you are planning on treating your future child’s feelings - with caring and understanding. In addition, start to practice taking loving action in your own behalf - standing up for yourself, speaking your truth, taking time for yourself. Practice taking loving care of your own feelings instead of making your partner responsible for how you feel. Begin to notice what you think and do that may be causing you stress. Changing thoughts and behavior that cause your stress before getting pregnant is essential for good parenting.
• Spiritual health: practice opening to a higher source of guidance, wisdom, strength and comfort. This can be your own highest, wisest self within you, or a Higher Power outside of you. You will find that being able to turn a source of wisdom and comfort within or without will go a long way in helping you stay loving and stress-free with yourself, your partner, and your baby. In addition, this will help you know what to do in different challenging situations with your baby.

If you are planning on having a baby, start today in becoming a good parent!

Tags: teenagers dealing with pregnancy and parenting, parenting, parenting quotes, pregnancy parenting, parenting tip home-family-parenting, parenting home-family-parenting