Supporting Children’s Early Reading Skill

For children to develop early reading skills they need to have plenty of exposure to books. The earlier books are introduced the better. A good start is to introduce babies to books which are made from durable materials that won’t rip or tear. Children who have had plenty of contact with books learn very early on that in English books work from left to right and print works from top to bottom. This can be supported by adults pointing to the words in the title as they introduce the story.

Skin-to-Skin

Skin-to-skin contact after birth helps to:

1. Stabilize you baby’s heart rate, breathing, and temperature
2. Stabilize your own temperature
3. Prevent baby blues later on
4. Reduce your baby’s stress
5. Reduce your baby’s pain from medical procedures
6. Reduce your stress
7. Increase interactions between you and your baby
8. Increase likelihood of breastfeeding

Wiessinger D., West D. , and Pitman T. (2010) The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.

Potty Training

This article looks at how to get started with potty training, working out if your baby is ready and dealing with common potty training problems.

Potty training can be an emotional time for both you and your child. To help make the process less daunting try and stay relaxed, expect the inevitable accidents, and be prepared to try something different if it’s not working for one or both of you.

Infantile Colic (by Family Medical Practice)

INTRODUCTION:

Colicky babies cry hard and constantly at about the same time each day (usually afternoon and evening). It often begins at 2 weeks of age and goes away by 4 month. Although colic can be upsetting both you and your baby, it won’t last too long (few weeks).

About 1 in 3-5 babies develops colic. It is more common in boys and in firstborn children.

Managing Positional Plagiocephaly (Flat Head)

Since pediatricians recommended that babies sleep on their backs more than 20 years ago, the incidences of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) have dramatically decreased. However, many children – nearly half of infants 7 to 12 weeks old — experience positional plagiocephaly. This is more commonly known as flattened head syndrome. Due to the softer nature of babies’ skulls, the back or side of their heads can flatten when they always sleep in the same position, causing the skull to lose its rounded shape.

Positive parenting tips for Infants (0-1 year of age)

Developmental Milestones

Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye-bye” are called developmental milestones. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, behave, and move (like crawling, walking, or jumping).

Baby’s First Solid Food

This time we are talking about when and how to introduce your baby to solids.

There are many ways to introduce solids and this depends on cultures, consider this as one of the ways to do this.

Flying With Babies (Under The Age of 2)

THE STEWARDS AND STEWARDESSES:

Please be aware that the airlines typically do NOT have any supplies for babies (besides the availability of a crib on some flights – and even this is usually limited to one or two cribs onboard).

The stewards and stewardesses are instructed that they cannot handle/hold babies – therefore you will typically have to cope with your baby on your own.

Obviously they will usually say hello to baby and try to amuse baby – but remember that the stewards and stewardesses are very busy and have a serious job to do on the aircraft.

If your baby gets seriously ill however – you should immediately inform them.

Breast Feeding

The success of sustaining breastfeeding depends on priming the breast with early and frequent prolactin surges.

The current Department of Health recommendation is for women to exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months and to continue breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary (‘solid’) foods. This means that when we support women, we need to make sure that we give them the information and support they need to achieve this.

Six Summer Safety Tips

School may be out, but moms and dads should take a little time to study up on summer safety. Doing so can help you make this the best, safest summer yet. The Window Covering Safety Council suggests parents and caregivers follow these six simple rules to help protect children: