Walkers Although these were very popular years ago, it is now commonly believed that walkers are not safe and may actually interfere with the normal development of the leg muscles. We are referring to the type of walker with wheels that baby sits in and uses his legs to push himself around the room. These […]
Car Travel
How appropriate is the bumper sticker that reads, “If a mother’s place is in the home, why am I always in the car?” Here are ways to make car travel pleasant and safe: Rules for the Road Always wear a seat belt yourself and insist that all other passengers do as well. Always use a […]
A Daughter’s Letter to Her Father
Hi Daddy: It’s Hayden. I have wanted to write, or talk, to you about this for a few months, but the time has never seemed right. And, it will probably come out better on paper, so here we go. A while ago at church, I heard a sermon that struck me in an awesome way. […]
Toeing In/ Pigeon Toed
In the first two years nearly all babies toe in. This is due to two conditions: The normal bowing of the legs leftover from the fetal position in the womb. Normal flatfeet. Babies seldom develop much of an arch until the age of three years. To compensate, babies turn their feet inward while walking, in […]
Limping
It’s important to notice unusual walking habits in your child and report them to the doctor. Limping must always be taken seriously, and warrants a thorough medical exam. If your baby walks funny (for example, waddles like a duck or drags one foot), report your observation to your baby’s doctor. While it usually self-corrects it’s […]
Fun With Baby’s First Steps
Play safety tips to help you and your baby start off on the right foot with baby’s first steps. Remember baby’s eagerness when she first learned to crawl across the room? And how much fun did baby have when she could pull herself up and cruise along the couch? These are fun milestones for babies […]
Play Ball!
In a world of electronic toys with flashing lights and stimulating sounds, it’s easy to forget about the classic simple toys that have been around for centuries. The Ball is one such toy. It’s so simple, and yet so versatile. It delights kids of every age. Its uses grow and change as a child develops […]
Active Play
Active Play at 12 – 24 Months Sometime around one year of age babies master walking, and active play takes on a whole new dimension. Toys they can push or pull top the list of one-year favorites. Toddlers love to climb on small slides or play structures. The kitchen becomes a world of wonder for curious […]
6 – 12 Months: Child Development During the First Year
Developmental Changes During Baby’s First Year Sitting up without support gives babies a new outlook on life. And once they’ve mastered this skill, they will eagerly move on towards crawling. Toys placed just out of reach will motivate them to lunge forward and discover ways to rock and scoot and move along the floor. As babies’ fine […]
Pacifier Habit
I have slowly been weaning my 10-month-old daughter from the pacifier, but recently I’ve noticed she has started sucking her thumb. Since the thumb is a harder habit to break than the pacifier, my thought is to let her have the pacifier. Your 10-month-old is in an in-between stage of development, as she is crawling […]
Growing Pains in Children
Growing Pains in Children vs. More Serious Pain It can be difficult for parents to know if their child is just feeling growing pains or if something is really wrong. How can you tell the difference between growing pains in children from something more serious? Growth doesn’t hurt, at least not physically. Growing pains in […]
Feeding at a Glance: Birth to 24 Months
The chart below offers helpful suggestions for feeding an infant from birth through 24 months of age. It also indicates the stage of physical development and explains why certain foods may be preferable at specific stages of development. Age Food Sequence Food Presentation Developmental Skills, Implications for Feeding Birth to 6 months Breastmilk and/or iron-fortified […]