In fact, studies show that pet ownership may benefit kids in a number of ways. Pets can help decrease stress and can even help children develop social and emotional skills. And although research on human-animal interaction is still relatively new, initial studies have shown that pets can reduce cortisol levels, decrease loneliness, boost mood, and increase feelings of social support. If you are considering getting your kids a pet—or if you are being lobbied relentlessly by your kids to adopt an animal—you may be wondering if all that added responsibility will really be worth the time and effort....

A 3-month-old needs to eat about 4 to 6 ounces of breast milk or formula every 3 to 4 hours. Since all babies are different, some babies will eat a little more or a bit less than this. When your baby is 3 months old, they have reached an important milestone—they are no longer considered a newborn. During this stage, you can expect to see a lot of exciting changes in your baby....

Respite Foster Care When one foster family temporarily cares for another family’s foster children, this is respite foster care. It gives the children’s original foster family a bit of a break—a respite. Respite foster care is sometimes called “short-term” foster care and is often considered a form of self-care for the foster family. This type of foster care is especially helpful when foster children display the challenging behaviors that are often seen in many therapeutic foster homes....

There are several types of mistakes people make when they take a home pregnancy test that can lead to inaccurate results. For example, not waiting to take a test until your period is late or drinking lots of water before the test. Potential test errors fall into two categories: those related to timing and those related to interpretation. Learn more about how to avoid a pregnancy test error. What Not to Do Before Taking a Pregnancy Test While unusual, drinking too much water before taking a test can produce a false negative result....

The truth is that there really aren’t very many rules and restrictions for breastfeeding moms. Aside from needing about 500 extra calories a day, you can pretty much eat anything and everything you want, in moderation, of course. So then, what foods should you eat when you’re breastfeeding, what truly constitutes the “right” breastfeeding diet, and how can you possibly fit in healthy food choices in these harried days as a busy new mom?...

Question Your Pediatrician From my personal experience, pediatricians are quick to dismiss frantic concerns from tired, new parents. If your gut tells you that something is up with your baby, it probably is, so speak up! I remember asking my pediatrician if we needed to speak with another doctor about our concerns regarding our son’s potential condition, and that seemed to do the trick. She finally seemed to hear us out, and refer us to a GI doctor....

If your child is receiving the cold shoulder at school from friends, former friends or from classmates, it could make for difficult times at home. And to make things worse, your child is older now, and fixing their problems aren’t as easy as they used to be. Let’s face it, a cookie and a smile can only get you so far these days. With that in mind, the suggestions below should help you perk up a child who’s feeling left out by peers....

These students can thrive, however, with the right mix of support from parents and education professionals. Use several different approaches simultaneously to help accommodate the needs of students with language processing problems, receptive language disabilities, dyslexia, and listening comprehension weaknesses. Clarify the Language Present written material in brief and direct terms, omitting non-essential details and double negatives. Use common words instead of rarer words with more syllables. You may find success in partnering with teachers or tutors to present lessons in plainer language—but if you can’t get what you need from the school, consider reviewing assignments in advance to offer simplifications on your child’s behalf....

In fact, the regular and frequent use of a breast pump to remove breast milk from your breasts can help you create, maintain, or increase your breast milk supply. This is because breast milk production is based on a supply and demand system. So, the more breast milk you remove, the more you will make. Whether you’re pumping in addition to breastfeeding or exclusively, fully draining the milk from your breasts and the stimulation of the breast pump encourages your body to make more breast milk....

“The worst thing you can do it treat this Thanksgiving like any other year,” warns Jill Grimes, MD, author of “The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook.” There are few, if any, 100% safe activities during the pandemic. With that being said, keeping your celebration small and making smart changes at your feast could reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 on one of the biggest family gathering days of the year....

“My room is making noises,” “I need a drink,” “I’m hungry,” “I miss you so much,” “I’m scared,” “I’m lonely,” “I’m sick” or simply, “I can’t sleep.” A child’s nighttime excuses can melt almost any heart and diffuse parental protests, especially if it’s 3 a.m. and you need to work in the morning. It’s easy to simply turn down the sheet and let your child sleep in your bed. But the next morning—after enduring a night of tossing and turning and a child that’s hard to wake—you may regret the choice....

So, what is a calm-down jar? It’s a liquid-filled bottle packed with special items that fall gently to the bottom. They can be used for relaxation at bedtime, or to take a little break from a stressful situation. Taking a few deep breaths comes naturally with one of these in your hand! How to Make a Calm-Down Jar Colored Elmer’s Glitter Glue Distilled water Clear plastic jar or bottle from your recycling bin Items to place inside, such as shaped glitter, small toys, buttons, beads, glow-in-the-dark stars, etc....

More: A Parent’s To-Do List for the Summer Before Your Teen Heads Off to College Schedules and routines are important both for children and for parents’ sanity. If your child is of school age, she just spent almost ten months of the year following a specific schedule. If your child is not yet of school age, she most likely had more of a schedule than you may have even realized centered around meals, naps, and bedtime....

Watch vs Warning Fires have their own notification code according to the NWS. There are three different fire characterizations; a Red Flag Warning, a Fire Weather Watch and Extreme Fire Behavior. The NWS issues a Red Flag Warning when there’s an imminent critical fire weather pattern. That means fire conditions are currently active or will probably occur in the next 24 hours. A Fire Weather Watch means that pending weather conditions might lead to fire weather conditions in the next 12 to 48 hours with a ceiling of 72 hours....

Cataloging books is a good rainy day project for the bookworm in your family. Paper Pencil Books Notebook, index cards and recipe box, or simple computer database Date stamp (optional) Directions

People realize that this is an issue that impacts everyone. Not only are women and men in the public eye impacted, but the issue also has hit close to home as friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers share their stories. Overall, it has been an eye-opening experience for the entire country. History of the #MeToo Movement In 2006, Tarana Burke, an advocate for women in New York, coined the phrase “Me Too” as a way to empower women who had survived sexual violence....

Are You Stuffed Up? Try nasal rinses, like the store-bought saline solutions. This will help you clear your congestion. You can also go into your bathroom and run the shower on high heat. You don’t need to get wet—just allow the steam to penetrate clogged sinus passages. Stay Hydrated Even if you don’t feel like eating, be sure to stay well hydrated. Dehydration can bring on contractions that could possibly lead to preterm labor....

Ice cubes Paper Powdered tempera paint Flat box (the kind a 24-pack of soda comes in) or large baking pan Directions

Here’s how to recognize an implantation dip on your BBT chart, what causes it, and what the actual odds are that you’re pregnant if you see one. What Is an Implantation Dip? If you’re looking up information on implantation dips, it’s important to know the basics of basal body temperature charting. Your BBT is your body’s temperature at rest. It responds to changes in your internal and external environment. These BBT shifts are often tied to your menstrual cycle and changes that occur during ovulation and pregnancy....

In days of yore, unfinished “strip” flooring with tongue-and-groove edges (which hold the boards together and hide the nails) was your only choice. Now, however, you can buy tongue-and-groove prefinished. Although this stuff is extremely durable, there are fewer color options, and it’s difficult to sand out high spots or damage during installation. You’ll also see a number of other ways to get a floor that looks like a traditional strip floor:...