How Often to Breastfeed Newborns So you realize you might need to wake your baby for feedings, but how often? If you have a freshly born baby who is still below their birth weight, it is very important that you breastfeed them often. Many lactation consultants will advise that you aim to feed at least 10 to 12 times in a 24 hour period. Another way to think of it is to nurse about every 2 hours during the day with no longer than 4 hour stretches at night....

Holiday shopping, and getting gifts for all the friends and family on your list, are stressful, but there’s an added panic many parents feel when thinking about giving a gift to their child’s teacher. Do you get them a gift? What should you get? Should you buy something or make something? Are gift cards acceptable? It’s a lot to decide and it can feel like a lot of pressure—so we’ve tapped teachers, parents, and an etiquette expert to guide you on your teacher gift-giving decisions....

Unless you have specific safety-related concerns, you might want to actually consider their request: toddler-safe scooters aren’t just a fun way to log some outdoor activity time, they’re a perfect way to build strong motor skills and a sense of independence. Here are all the ways a scooter can be great for your toddler—and how to keep them safe while using it. It’s Great Exercise According to the CDC, only about 24% of kids between the ages of 6 and 17 are getting the recommended amount of physical activity (i....

Suspicious Signs Any of the following indicators may come up in the first trimester. If you experience them to an unusually extreme degree, it may be a sign that you are carrying multiples. Weight gain: A singleton mother gains, on average, five to seven pounds in the first trimester. Anything more could indicate multiples…or excessive junk food consumption! Abdomen size: With multiple babies in her womb, a pregnant woman tends to outgrow her regular clothing and require maternity gear sooner....

The truth is that while there are several signs of a twin pregnancy, there is also tremendous overlap with the signs of singleton pregnancies. It is impossible to definitively know whether you are carrying twins (or multiple babies) by simply gauging how you feel or going off of what a home pregnancy test shows. In fact, only an ultrasound can confirm a twin or multiple pregnancy. That said, it can be exciting to wonder whether certain signs are subtle clues that you or a loved one may be carrying more than one baby....

But never fear—you’ll get over it. When you realize that you have your freedom and that you have the inner strength to move forward into a life that fulfills you and suits your needs, you will no longer feel so frightened. You are much stronger than you would ever have believed. If you feel like falling apart, don’t hide it from your children (well, maybe a little). But make sure they know they have done nothing wrong....

The concept of citizenship is emphasized, usually in ways that promote responsibility, such as helping others and learning about rules and how rules are used to resolve conflict. Children will be asked to talk with their parents about voting and governmental functions. They will also interview their parents and grandparents about their cultural heritage. Maps will become more familiar, and children will be able to use map coordinates, read map symbols, and locate oceans, rivers, cities, and towns....

Causes of a Child’s Sore Throat It can help to uncover what might be causing your child’s sore throat if you first understand some of the medical terms related to sore throats, including: Tonsillitis: An inflammation or infection of the tonsils, which can be caused by strep and many viral infections. So while strep throat is a form of tonsillitis, so is mono and other viral infections.Pharyngitis: An inflammation or infection of the pharynx, the area of the mouth near the tonsils....

Define your expectations for the meeting, and lower your goals. It is not going to be love-at-first-sight, and it shouldn’t be. Think of it in biological terms. You are encroaching on another animal’s territory. Be polite and wary. This meeting is not about love or fun; it’s about getting through it alive so you can live to see meeting #2. Think of meeting the kids for the first time as a blind date....

They can also be kind of scary, especially if your child wakes up with blood on their pillow or has a nosebleed that you just can’t stop. One of the problems is that many parents still treat nosebleeds incorrectly, using old-fashioned and outdated advice. This might include having the child lean back, pinching the bridge of their nose, putting ice on the bridge of their nose, or simply letting it bleed until it stops on its own....

Still, given that the odds of getting pregnant in any particular month are only about 30% to 40% , even when you have sex during your fertile days, it’s not necessarily a sign that anything is wrong if it takes a little bit of time to conceive again. If You Have Trouble Conceiving If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for several months without any success, you may want to speak with a fertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist....

So, don’t worry if you’re feeling warm and sweaty when everyone else around you is comfortable—it’s a routine part of the pregnancy experience. Learn more about sweating and night sweats during pregnancy. Sweating and Night Sweats in Pregnancy Sweating is nature’s way of helping regulate your temperature. During pregnancy, your body temperature increases slightly. This is a natural byproduct of growing a baby. Hormonal changes, increased blood volume, and weight gain all contribute to this small uptick....

Guess what? Sleep experts agree. Although teens need the same amount of sleep as the rest of us, at some point during adolescence the circadian rhythm changes. As a result, the ideal teen sleep cycle looks a bit different than that of younger children, or even of adults. And that can cause problems for your teen. The Teen Body Clock The stereotype of the teenager is a night owl — someone who stays up all night and sleeps all day....

When deciding what type of gift to buy, consider the age of the baby and the safety of the item. Gifts that are Valentine’s Day-themed—like pajamas, blankets, and board books—can be the ideal present. Sentimental gifts are often associated with the holiday, even for babies. Something that can be monogrammed or personalized, or a simple handmade card, can become a family keepsake that will last for generations. When considering Valentine’s Day gifts, we evaluated them for safety, design, sentimentality, usefulness, and age recommendations....

According to Christia Brown, psychology professor at the University of Kentucky, “All toys are educational because that’s how kids learn about skills, it’s how they’re learning about the world, about how they move their body, about how to think, that’s how they are practicing for the things they’re going to need in adulthood. Every toy teaches something.” While that’s clearly true of, say, a STEM kit designed to teach a science lesson, it’s also true of regular toys that help children understand what people look like, how to engage in imaginative play, and how to nurture....

More: Stocking Stuffers for Kids That They’ll Actually Use (Under $10) Teens may seem confusing, but they are easy to shop for! Try some of these tried and true gift ideas that will wow even the most picky of teens. Stocking stuffers can sometimes make the perfect gift, and you will get enjoyment out of your teens discovering all the little surprises. Our Top Picks: Best Choice for the Adventurer: RoverTac Pocket KnifeBest Choice for Remote Learner: Noise Cancelling HeadphonesBest Choice for Music Lovers: Waterproof Bluetooth SpeakerBest Choice for Stylish Teens: Carhartt BeanieBest Choice for a Good Laugh: Graphic T-ShirtBest Choice for Tech Savvy Teen: Smart PlugBest Choice for a Handy Teen: Credit Card Multi ToolBest Choice for the Risk Taker: Jelly Belly BeanBoozled GameBest Choice for Gadgets: Lintelek Smart WatchBest Choice for Harry Potter Fans: Fidget SpinnerBest Choice for Minimalist Teen: Slim Front Pocket WalletBest Choice for Teens to Accessorize: AirPod Silicone CaseBest Choice for Self Care: Bath BombsBest Choice for Beauty Lovers: Lip BalmBest Choice for Stylish Teens: Nail PolishBest Skin Care Choice: Face MasksBest Choice for Accessories: ScrunchiesBest Choice for Journaling: Gel PensBest Choice for Personalization: VSCO StickersBest Choice for Concert Goers: Clear Mini BagBest Choice for Decorators: Photo Clip String LightsBest Choice for Scrapbookers: Instax PrinterBest Choice for Fashionistas: Hair ClipsBest Choice for Trendy Teens: Embroidered/Beaded BraceletsBest Choice for Health Conscious Teens: Tech WipesBest Choice for Trendy Teens: Stainless Steel Water BottleBest Choice for Techie Teens: AirPodsBest Choice for Functional Teens: PopSocketBest Choice for On-the-go Teens: Hand Sanitizer Carrying CaseBest Choice for Game Lovers: Hive Pocket GamesBest Choice for Comfort Lovers: Bombas Socks...

Consider the age recommendations for the gift you’re buying, as one gift may be safe for a 9-month-old baby but not a 3-month-old. Additionally, opt for thoughtful gifts that can be personalized or ones that will double as a keepsake. We carefully looked at age recommendations, design, toy safety, usefulness, value, and longevity when reviewing products. Made of cotton jersey and sherpa, it measures 36 x 36 inches, so your little one can use it for years to come....

“Fever is something we need to evaluate in a baby under 2 months because their immune systems are more delicate, and they don’t have a developed blood-brain barrier that basically keeps things separate from the blood and separate from the brain,” Mona Amin, DO, a board-certified general pediatrician based in Florida and member of Buybuy Baby’s Parenting Pros, tells Verywell Family. “So we want to make sure that there’s no infection that’s coming into the blood or brain....

The best baby sunglasses are durable and comfortable, have a high percentage of UVR protection, and offer an option for polarized lenses. Not all baby sunglasses are the same, however, so you’ll want to consider a few important safety features beyond their UV rating. Richard Hertle, MD, FAAO, FACS, FAAP, chief of pediatric ophthalmology and director of the Vision Center at Akron Children’s Hospital also suggests looking for “child-proof” glasses for babies, which means flexible, nontoxic frames and plastic lenses they won’t be able to break easily....