Effort: Easy - some sewing required Materials: Three shades of green felt (1-1/2 to 2 yards of one color for turtle shells; remnants or felt squares for the remaining two shades) Fabric glue Wide green ribbon Velcro Green sweatshirt (hooded if available) Green sweatpants or tights Green face makeup Scissors Needle and thread Instructions: Cut out one large oval of green felt for the turtle shell. (Fit to the person’s size....

Purring Purring—what could be more catlike? We think of purring as a sign of contentment, and often it is. Kittens and queens purr during nursing, and most cats purr when they’re petted or when enjoying a familiar, safe, comfortable environment. Older cats sometimes purr to signal friendliness to other cats. But a purring cat isn’t always a happy cat. Very often cats will purr when they’re sick or injured or when they’re under stress....

Most kids discover their penis or vulva at a similar stage of early development. They might “play with their privates” incidentally as a part of self-discovery or because it feels good. Sometimes, a child might show an interest in looking at other people’s genitals, too. This behavior often begins around age 2 and tends to decrease in both boys and girls after age 6. Though a young child’s interest in their own or another person’s genitals is a normal part of sexual development, it might be concerning or feel awkward for some family members or friends....

A Primer for Parents As parents we cling to many fantasies about our kids. When they’re babies, we tell ourselves: When they become toddlers, they’ll never throw tantrums in the mall. When they’re toddlers, we tell ourselves: When they become first-graders, they’ll never have trouble learning to read or ever be sent to the principal’s office. And when they’re in grade school, we tell ourselves: When they’re teenagers, they’ll never do drugs, get pregnant, or come home and tell us that they’re gay....

When your child doesn’t behave the way you would like her to behave, it’s not that she doesn’t agree with your rules. She’s almost certainly not trying to be defiant. The truth of the matter is that your toddler neither agrees nor disagrees with your rules, she doesn’t understand or remember them—especially in the heat of the moment, when she sees something that she wants to do. A one-year-old will “behave herself”—that is, act the way you want her to act—only if she wants to do that....

An “OK to Wake” clock is a product that aims to establish a healthy sleep schedule for your little one, letting them know via lights or sounds when it is an appropriate time to be awake. Many parents describe their “OK to Wake” clock as a game-changer for the entire family’s quality of sleep, while pediatric sleep experts agree that, if used correctly, they can be a useful sleep training tool....

If you recognize some of your teen’s traits as you read this list, don’t panic. Teenagers are infamous for many of these qualities! For example, disorganization, distractibility, and difficulty with planning are a few of the “symptoms” listed here. Now really. How long do you wait in the morning while your teen locates everything she needs for school? What teen isn’t easily distracted? And if you’ve ever watched your teen try to hatch a plan with friends, you know that it simply cannot be done without 42 phone calls—and even then it may not work out....

Your hard work has been a gift and will impact the health and wellness of your baby throughout their entire life. As you move into the next stage, you can rest assured that every drop you expressed was shared with love. How to Wean From Pumping The following strategies are effective methods for weaning from pumping without having to stop “cold turkey,” which can cause incredible discomfort, clogged ducts, mastitis, and other discomforts....

Possible Causes of Recurrent Miscarriage Possible recurrent miscarriage causes generally fall into the following categories: AnatomicalBlood clotting/immunologicalHormonalGeneticUnknown Anatomical Causes Sometimes, something is physically different about a woman’s uterus in a way that reduces her chances of a successful pregnancy. This might mean her uterine shape is abnormal or her cervix is weakened in a way that reduces her odds of a successful pregnancy. Anatomical factors that may cause recurrent miscarriages include:...

Puberty is a transition that everyone goes through. It is a time of change during which the human body transforms from that of a child to the body of an adult. Hormones will cause different growth in boys and girls and can cause havoc with a young person’s emotions and even their body and skin. It can be difficult for kids to not compare themselves to their friends who are maturing faster than they are....

​​Breastmilk’s Taste Breastmilk tastes sweet and creamy. High concentrations of lactose give it its sweet flavor. The amount of fat in milk determines its creaminess. When breast milk first starts to flow from the breast, it has less fat. It may appear thin and watery. As the milk continues to flow, it becomes higher in fat and much creamier. What Gives Breast Milk Its Taste Beyond sweet and creamy, breast milk is made up of the flavors that come from the foods that you eat every day....

Several months later, I gave birth to my baby boy…and I certainly did feel a rush of emotions. The only problem was that none of them really seemed like love. In fact, later that night in my hospital room, I looked down at my son—fussing in his bassinet for what felt like the hundredth time—and cried. What had I done?! My old life had literally vanished in an instant, and my marriage, my identity, my future all irrevocably changed....

Taking regular measurements of your child’s height, weight, and head circumference and plotting them on a growth chart are a good way to see if their growth is normal. Your pediatrician takes these same measurements and uses them to assess your child’s physical development. Why Tracking Is Important Tracking a child’s rate of growth is an important indicator of whether your child is developing normally. For instance, if their height is increasing more slowly than their weight, your child may be at risk of having excess weight or developing obesity....

It’s likely that every parent has witnessed their child throw tantrums at one time or another. They usually decline over time as a child learns more socially appropriate ways to deal with their emotions. What’s Typical? Whether they’re mad that you said they can’t have another cookie or they’re upset that they can’t go to the beach on a cold day, temper tantrums are normal for young children. Toddlers and preschoolers who struggle to manage their emotions will often exhibit dramatic tantrums when they’re upset....

When this happens, our children are at risk of becoming overprogrammed, which means that their busy schedules are too demanding for them. This can result in feelings of stress, anxiety and general feelings of overwhelm. “While organized activities clearly developmentally benefit children, it’s sometimes less clear when a child is overscheduled to a point of it being detrimental,” says Amy Morse, PsyD, a pediatric psychologist at Children’s Hospital of Orange County....

Jen R. offered to share her story with Verywell Family readers. She talks about why she choose egg donation, what the process was like, and how she feels toward both her children and the egg donor. This is her story. What Is Your Infertility Story? I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure (POF) when I was 29 years old, three months after giving birth to my son. It took me almost a year to get pregnant with my son, as I wasn’t having periods and couldn’t figure out why....

What Is an Umbilical Cord? The umbilical cord, which is the connection between your baby and the placenta, is typically made up of two arteries and one vein and covered in a thick gelatinous substance known as Wharton’s Jelly. The main function of the umbilical cord is to pass oxygen and nutrients from the mom to the baby and to transport waste away from the baby to the mother via the placenta....

However, some people get a vasectomy and then change their minds afterward. If you or your partner wants to get pregnant after having a vasectomy, there are some options that may be available. What Is a Vasectomy? A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that severs or blocks the vas deferens, which is the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the urethra. When successful, a vasectomy blocks the sperm from reaching the area where it combines with the seminal fluid to create semen, which is eventually ejaculated....

Then you run a finger along their gums, and there it is: a tooth is working its way up to the surface. It breaks your heart when you realize your little one is crying from teething pain. You want to ease the discomfort, but you are not sure if your baby is old enough to take a painkiller. Motrin (ibuprofen) may help with teething pain, but it is only safe for babies who are over 6 months of age....