There are mixed reviews when it comes to teaching kids about competitiveness. Some people feel exposing kids to competition teaches them real-life lessons about winning and losing. Others feel competition does more harm than good. Either way, there are pros and cons to both approaches. Drawbacks and Benefits Those who are against instilling competitiveness in kids, or even exposing them to competitions in general, believe that competition is destructive and toxic....

The fetus has a medical condition which is certain to result in death either before or shortly after birth.The mother risks death by continuing the pregnancy. The decision to go ahead with a termination is usually very painful for parents. There are many things to consider, from your personal moral beliefs to religious laws, state laws, and insurance coverage. As always, the choice is personal, and your doctor should not pressure you into any decision that makes you feel uncomfortable....

“What do you get if you cross a pig and a centipede? Bacon and legs.” “Who did Dracula marry? The girl necks door.” A parent may need to read the riddle, which lays out which hidden-in-plain sight objects to find. But there are so many items in the intricate photo illustrations that children can make up new riddles or enjoy a little freelance sleuthing. Children of all ages love these books....

According to a new study published in The Lancet, physical punishment is not only harmful to children, it worsens their behavior rather than improving it. The results stand true across gender, race, culture, and parenting styles. Furthermore, the study debunks common myths about spanking. Study authors hope to alter public policy on physical punishment against children as a result of their research. “Parenting is incredibly challenging, but it is even more challenging if we keep doing things that research has clearly shown does not work and harms children," says Elizabeth T....

Is Your Child Ready? Pumping on a swing may seem simple enough, but it’s actually a pretty complicated maneuver. A few things need to happen before a child can learn to do it. First, make sure your child is OK on a big-kid swing, rather than riding high in a bucket-type one. (Bucket-type swings are a lot harder for a child to self-pump on.) Your preschooler will need to have some balance and promise to always hold on tight to the ropes or chains while sitting in the seat....

“Use of consistent expectations, praise, and consequences are important for teens, just as they are important for all children across development,” says Katharine Reynolds, PhD, a licensed psychologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado and assistant psychiatry professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Here, we’ll discuss common teen behaviors and discipline strategies you can employ. Typical Teen Behaviors Your teen will want more independence and privacy and have an increasing focus on their social lives....

Mental health issues often emerge during the tumultuous teen years. In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics: “More than 14 million children and adolescents in the United States, or 1 in 5, have a diagnosable mental health disorder.” Early intervention is one of the keys to successful treatment. Prevalence of Mental Illness Mental illness is fairly common among children and adolescents. In fact, approximately 22% of adolescents have a severe mental impairment, according to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill....

When picking out a baby baptism gift, consider the thoughtfulness and usefulness of the item, and see if it can be personalized for the little one. This makes for a timeless present that honors the joy of the baptismal day. When reviewing products, we carefully looked over design, personalization options, sentimental value, and usefulness. For the monogramming, you can choose whichever color you like best on the order form. This beautifully soft quilt with scalloped edges will be a perfect addition to your baby’s nursery....

Even if the kid on your list has developed deep interests in something, expand their horizons with a toy that is new, innovative, or just made for fun. From fidget toys to paint kits to bikes to books, there is a gift out there for every 8-year-old in your life. We carefully considered price, value, durability, design, age recommendations, and functionality when reviewing products. Based on our research, these are the best gifts for 8-year-old boys....

Depending on their interests and lifestyle, choose a gift that matches their preferences or is just plain old fun. We carefully considered design, toy safety, material, value, and age recommendations when reviewing products. Here are the best gifts for the 7-year-old girl in your life. Price at time of publication: $199 Price at time of publication: $49 Price at time of publication: $63 Price at time of publication: $36 Price at time of publication: $49 Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $39 Price at time of publication: $94 Price at time of publication: $12 Price at time of publication: $89 Price at time of publication: $70 Price at time of publication: $18 Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $31 Price at time of publication: $12 Price at time of publication: $76 Price at time of publication: $8 Price at time of publication: $15 Price at time of publication: $10 Price at time of publication: $16 Price at time of publication: $20 The machine can use Bluetooth or USB input for music straight from a device, or connect it to your television and sing along with the lyrics to all of your favorite songs on the mic....

Gifts that promote self-care and a little bit of relaxation can make a big difference to the new parents in your life. Additionally, presents that celebrate caregivers and all they do can help them feel recognized for all their hard work. We carefully considered design, ease of use, value, and practicality when reviewing products. Here are the best gifts for new parents that are sure to make them smile. Price at time of publication: $19 Price at time of publication: $27 Price at time of publication: $15 Price at time of publication: $150 With the NYC Subscription Box, new parents will get to try pizza straight from the Big Apple and even delicious bagels....

The process of IVF can be draining, physically, mentally, and financially. The expenses average around $12,000 in the United States. According to the Pew Research Foundation, as of 2018, more than 75,000 babies were born in the United States thanks to assisted reproduction technologies like IVF. If you or a loved one is considering this process but are concerned about costs, several IVF loan companies can help make IVF more affordable....

Gifts for Valentine’s Day can be toys, crafts, clothing, decorations, or anything else your kid enjoys. While not necessary, a Valentine’s Day gift can be a special reminder that “Gift-giving is one way of showing love, though it’s by no means the only way,” says Mary McGaughan, Psy.D., a child and school psychologist. If you do give your kid a gift, she recommends combining the gesture with “actions and words that also demonstrate your love,” like a special breakfast, sweet treat, or a fun family game....

When choosing a test, make sure it is not expired, think about the day you’d like to test (early or after a missed period), and know how you’d like to read the results. Digital readers can make things more simple by translating your results to text, like “Not Pregnant” or “Pregnant.” If you have more experience with pregnancy tests, test strips with line results are typically cheaper and come with more in the package....

“Most bottles labeled as ‘breastfeeding friendly’ have wide bases that are actually the least recommended for breastfed babies. You want to choose a nipple flow rate that is similar to a natural flow,” Cindy Scott, RD, CLC, a registered dietitian and certified lactation consultant, tells Verywell Family. “Most breastfed babies do well staying on a slow-flow newborn nipple and do not need to be advanced to a faster flow nipple unless there is a very strong let-down and flow rate....

The type of diaper bag you want to use may depend on your lifestyle. Pick something that is comfortable and easy to bring along, whether attached to your stroller, on your back, or over the shoulder. We carefully considered design, capacity, material, ease of cleaning, style, and any additional features when reviewing products. Here are the best diaper bags to tote around all of your baby’s essentials. Once the need for a diaper bag is done, this also doubles as a work backpack since a laptop fits right into the changing pad pocket....

Warmth, comfort, and your little one’s safety are key considerations when looking for winter nursery products. We carefully considered design, material, age recommendations, safety, value, and ease of use and cleaning when reviewing products. Here are the best cold-weather products to have in your nursery. Comfort You’ll also want products that keep your baby comfortable in the winter season, when the air is drier and cooler and respiratory bugs are common....

History Kangaroo Care was originally developed in the early 1980s by two neonatologists in Bogota, Colombia South America. Because the hospital could not afford high-tech equipment such as incubators to keep these small premature babies warm, they used what they had to keep these infants body temperatures stable, their mother. The concept of Kangaroo Care was born. Dramatic improvements were seen in these infants. Not only did they survive, but they thrived- gained weight faster, kept their temperatures stable, their heart rate and breathing were regulated, and they were discharged home from the hospital sooner....