Until then, tune into your baby’s hunger signals and try to feed your baby on demand. This might seem like a lot but newborns have tiny tummies so they need to eat often as they are regaining the weight they lost after birth and establishing a good eating pattern. You still may wonder how much your newborn, 1-month-old, 2-month-old, or older baby should eat. A good rule of thumb is to feed newborns every 2 to 3 hours....
Questions to Ask Yourself One of the first things you must do to become a childbirth educator is to figure out which of the many training and certifying organization is best for you. To do this, I would suggest answering these questions: What kind of time do you have to devote to training?Can you travel to attend a training?Do you have a nearby mentor?What is your philosophy of birth?Is there a certification exam?...
There is a lot of testing, emotional investment, and physical considerations to think about before you suggest the idea to your loved one. Here’s what you need to know about being a gestational carrier for a friend or family member. In addition, it’s important to note that people often use the word “surrogate,” but the phrase “gestational carrier” is more accurate. Technically speaking, a surrogate is a woman who not only carries the pregnancy but who is also the egg donor....
Breastfeeding Twins Together The benefits of breastfeeding are numerous. Besides the many nutritional, physical, and developmental advantages it provides, many moms find it convenient and economical to nurse their multiples. Since most women have two breasts, feeding twins simultaneously seems a natural choice. However, it can be a bit tricky. This is where the babies’ father or another helper can provide assistance, standing by to hand over the babies one at a time....
No matter what your child’s preferences and habits are, it’s always a good time to nurture positivity around food and eating experiences. Kids also need support in listening to their bodies in terms of what makes them feel good. You can make a game out of picking different colors of fruits and vegetables (green broccoli, yellow and red peppers, orange carrots). Then, talk about the dishes you can make in the coming week using your rainbow of produce, such as a stir-fry....
As your baby gets a little older, you might be wondering whether it’s okay to start feeding them a little less overnight, and how to go about paring down those feedings. Here, experts share insights about how to decrease nighttime feeding, whether you are breastfeeding, pumping, or formula feeding. When to Start Weaning Nighttime Feeds and Pumping Sessions First, it’s important to note that every baby is different, and there isn’t one magic day when your baby suddenly becomes able to sleep for a longer period of time without feeding....
Generally, you can find in-home daycare providers through word of mouth, by way of traditional marketing channels such as flyers passed around your neighborhood, or online. Looking for the right child care provider to suit your child’s and family’s needs can be a laborious and daunting task. There are several options of providers available, many variables to mull over and some safety issues to consider. Different Types of Child Care The most common child care options for parents who want ongoing regular care are a nanny, an in-home daycare, or a daycare center....
What Is FMLA? The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. It also requires that their group health benefits be maintained. People can use FMLA when they or a family member have a serious illness. They also can use it to care for a newborn or an adopted child. The idea is that if someone qualifies and their employer meets certain requirements, they can take time off to handle these important situations without losing their health insurance or their job....
Specifically, you’ll want to write a letter about your lactation plan that explains what you need to successfully continue breastfeeding. If you’re unsure what to include in your letter we have included a sample letter to help get you started. Create Your Plan Before you send a letter to your employer, consult your human resources policies about breastfeeding. Do they explain what accommodations they provide you? Do you see any roadblocks you need to tackle?...
In “The Broken Compass,” authors Angel Harris and Keith Robinson report that parental attitude is one of the largest influences on school success. They found three effective strategies you can use to create a positive attitude towards school. Show That You Value Education Upper-middle-class kids tend to be academically successful. One reason why: These kids hear about the importance of education during their interactions with adults. But they also see and experience it....
Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of a normal fungus. About one-third of all women normally carry this fungus in their vaginas, and both men and women carry it in their digestive tracts. During pregnancy—particularly in the second trimester—women become more susceptible to yeast problems. The increased risk during pregnancy is at least partially due to the increased estrogen circulating in a pregnant woman’s body. While they’re annoying and uncomfortable, yeast infections are not harmful to your health....
Part B of IDEA, which covers the education of children ages 3-21, mandates that a child’s disability must be taken into account if they are removed from regular classes due to behavioral misconduct, but only under certain circumstances. The IDEA rules regarding behavioral misconduct in children with disabilities, as well as the limit placed on how many days they may be removed from class due to misconduct, are a bit complicated....
The History of World Breastfeeding Week During a meeting in 1990, The World Health Organization (WHO) and The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) created the Innocenti Declaration. The Innocenti Declaration is a formal statement about the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding. This document outlines the benefits and importance of breastfeeding, establishes breastfeeding goals and provides methods for achieving those goals. The main four points of the Innocenti Declaration are:...
The Basics of Softball and Baseball In these sports, two teams of nine players alternate between offense and defense. Offensive players try to score runs by hitting the baseball with a bat, then running around the bases on the diamond while the defensive players try to field the ball. While on offense, players only bat and run the bases. On defense, they play positions including pitcher (who throws the ball to the batter), catcher (who catches missed balls and returns them to the pitcher), infielders (who man the bases and can use the ball to tag the runner out), shortstop (an infielder located between second and third base), and outfielders (who try to catch the ball and throw it to the bases)....
A Late Preterm Baby Is Still a Preemie Don’t let the term “late” fool you! There is nothing late about these babies. A late preterm infant is a baby born three to six weeks early, or between 34 and 37 weeks of gestation. In the last six weeks of pregnancy, babies usually gain about a half a pound per week, so babies born a few weeks early are smaller than full-term newborns—but they are not just smaller infants....
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study found that children ages 5 to 17 experienced significant increases in body weight during the pandemic lockdown. The largest gains, proportional to their age, were in children 5 to 11 years old. The good news is that healthy eating habits and returning to an active lifestyle of play and fun can help reverse the weight gain trend. What the Study Found Researchers with Kaiser Permanente culled information from their Southern California health records....
As a stay-at-home mom in Brooklyn, I’m constantly on the go with my 18-month-old son. From classes to play dates to the playground, I always need the necessities with me: diapers, all kinds of wipes, snacks, toys, water, sunblock, etc. Previously, I carried a black leather tote-style diaper bag, but now with a toddler, it was time for a change. Enter the Mancro Diaper Bag Backpack. Diaper bag backpacks like this are more functional and easier to carry—not to mention, the pockets make it easier to locate what you need and when you need it....
How Popular is the Name Maria? Maria is a fairly popular name in the United States. It started to rise in popularity in the 1940s, peaking in 1975, with 7,531 babies named Maria that year. Thereafter, the name’s popularity declined. As of 2020, only 2,460 babies were given the name. Its decline in popularity is great news for any parent who doesn’t want to give their baby a very common name....
