Here are some tactics we have collected over the years from toilet-training our own eight children and from our pediatric practice. 1. Start a boy sitting to minimize sprays and dribbles on the walls and floor. 2. Try target practice. We let our boys “write” in the snow or dirt. Also, play criss-cross with dad […]
Walking Funny
Toddlers’ walking styles are as variable as their personalities. Most begin walking with their feet turned out, a position that improves balance. Next, as you are beginning to worry about his turned-out feet, baby turns his feet inward and becomes pigeon-toed. You can put off your mother’s suggestion to take baby to an orthopedic specialist. […]
Walking on Toes
Most toddlers go through a brief period of toe walking, only heaven knows why! This is usually a habit or a bit of monkeying around. If it persists, your doctor should examine your child’s calf muscles and Achilles tendons for tightness.
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 […]
Is Baby Sick or Teething?
When in doubt, don’t attribute baby’s behavior to teething. Let your doctor decide. Yet, here are some general ways to tell the difference between teething and an illness such as an ear infection: 1. Teething mucus is clear saliva and doesn’t run out the nose. Cold mucus is thick and yellow. A nasal discharge usually […]
When Should Baby Teeth Appear?
Guidelines for When Should Baby Teeth Appear Knowing the exact answer to “When should baby teeth appear?” is as unexpected as the timing of baby’s first steps. In general, expect the first sharp nubbin around six months; some babies teethe earlier, some later. Heredity plays a part. If you check your own baby book, if […]
How to Comfort a Teething Baby
What to Expect and How to Comfort a Teething Baby As you wonder why your sleeping angel turns nightwaker, you hear the telltale ping against the spoon or feel the cutting edge. Actually babies don’t “cut teeth,” nor do teeth “erupt.” Teeth slowly slide and twist their way through gum tissue. But sharp teeth pushing through […]
Teaching Toothbrushing
When should I start brushing baby’s teeth? Dentists recommend cleaning gums with gauze to remove plaque beginning when teeth first appear, usually around six-to-seven-months. Try the following brushing tactics. Model good dental hygiene Let baby watch you brush. Show excitement, capitalizing on “just like mommy and daddy.” Around his first birthday, get baby his own […]
10 Tips for Choosing Toys
Choosing Toys for Your Child In choosing toys for your child ask yourself: 1. What will it teach my child? 2. Will it hold my child’s attention? 3. Is it safe? 4. Is it annoying for me to see or hear? 5. Does it promote creativity, social interaction? 6. Is it non-combative, non-aggressive? 7. Does […]
Matching Toys with Temperaments
How Matching Toys With Temperaments Helps It’s fascinating how even children in the same family are so different from one another. A child’s individual personality is determined, at least in part, by their inborn temperament, which begins to reveal its self soon after birth. One three-month-old baby may be described as “laid-back,” while another three- […]
Taming Toy Tantrums
Playgroups for toddlers and preschoolers can rapidly disintegrate into tantrums over toys. A lot of kids and toys in a small room is a recipe for disaster. Why is it so difficult for children to share? The ability to share is not a measure of a child’s generosity. It’s a developmental skill, part of mastering […]