Beware Experts’ Advice If there is one area that causes concern for even the most experienced parent, it’s helping our kids learn to read. And with good reason: We are told reading is an area best left to the experts, who advise us about what age our children should begin, what method to use, and how long it should take. We’re told tests and reports are vital to the learning process....

In men, low testosterone is a potential cause of infertility. However, you may be surprised to hear that abnormally high testosterone levels can be a problem as well. In women, high testosterone levels can signal a potential fertility problem. Women can also have low testosterone levels, but this typically occurs after menopause and not as commonly during the childbearing years. What causes high or low testosterone levels in men and women?...

The first thing to decide is how much money you can afford to spend on your get-together. If you don’t determine a budget ahead of time, you may get carried away by the holiday spirit and spend more than you can afford to - which does not make for a happy new year! There are a few things you should take into consideration: how many people you will invite, what kind of food and drink you will offer, and whether your guests will contribute....

While there are a lot of factors to weigh as you consider the option of homeschooling, the good news is that now, more than ever, there are many resources out there to help you. Let’s take a look at why families choose to homeschool, what the homeschooling environment really looks like, and what your options are in terms of style and instruction. History and Background It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the majority of students attended formal school....

When this premature dilation is not detected in time, cervical insufficiency can cause a pregnancy loss or birth of a preterm infant. The outcome of a preterm delivery depends on when the baby is born, with earlier birth being more likely to result in outcomes such as severe birth defects or even pregnancy loss. Causes Cervical insufficiency can result from previous cervical damage, such as having had a difficult birth experience or some types of cervical procedures, such as loop electrocautery excision procedure (LEEP), laser ablation, and cold knife cone excision (CONE)....

Miscarriage is commonly diagnosed using a combination of tests, the most standard of which include the hCG blood test, an ultrasound, fetal heart scanning, and a pelvic exam. Quantitative hCG Blood Test Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone produced by the body during pregnancy. It becomes detectable in your about a week after ovulation when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus. In the early weeks of pregnancy, the level of hCG can double every two to three days....

Conception or ovulation date Date of your last period Measurements taken during an ultrasound Transfer date (if you had in vitro fertilization) Calculating Due Date Your due date is considered to be 40 weeks (280 days) after the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP) or 38 weeks (266 days) after ovulation. Even if an early ultrasound is used to determine or shift your due date, it’s still based on the basic idea of a 280-day gestational period....

Signs of Hunger and Fullness Whether you’re using a formula, nursing, pumping, or a combination of all these feeding methods, tune in to your baby’s hunger and fullness cues before you start crunching numbers. While each baby is unique, these are are some common hunger cues to watch for: Crying or fussinessOpening of his mouth when touched on his chin or lipsSmacking of lips or making small sounds with his mouthSucking on fingers or placing fist in mouth...

The amount of fluids needed varies by age, but a good starting point is six to eight cups a day for kids and teens. Their recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables also contain lots of water. Water is an ideal beverage choice regardless of age because it hydrates without adding unnecessary calories, sugar, or fat. Milk and juice offer benefits as sources of essential nutrients such as calcium and vitamin C....

Academic Achievement Countless studies have found that kids perform better in school when their parents are involved with their schoolwork. Compared to students whose parents are uninvolved, kids with involved parents get better grades and are thought more highly of by teachers. These effects remain in the future, even if parents become less involved as the child ages. Parent involvement in school-based activities seems to have the greatest effect on kids’ grades, but home-based parent involvement also plays at least some role....

Childcare comes in many forms. Some parents have friends or relatives that are able to help out, others take their children to daycare, and others still hire a nanny or babysitter to come to their home and watch their kids. For families in this last group, it’s not uncommon to develop a strong and intimate relationship with the nanny or babysitter, the importance of which can be difficult to truly express....

Researchers know that developmental brain differences can exist in children depending on their parent’s socioeconomic status, but it was not known when these brain differences first occurred. New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has now shown that socioeconomic status is associated with differences in the development of the human brain as early as in the womb. It is important that all moms understand that although SES is shown to be associated with fetal brain development, there are more specific influences that pregnant people and their care providers can address to improve outcomes....

The Possibility of Getting Pregnant Soon After Giving Birth Whether you had a vaginal birth or c-section, your body is capable of getting pregnant very shortly after giving birth. You can ovulate before having your first postpartum period, and as soon as you ovulate, you can conceive. Despite the fact that it is not recommended that you have sex prior to your six-week checkup, it happens. If you don’t use a form of contraception, you can get pregnant....

So, what’s a parent with a stinky tot to do? Keep a few key strategies in mind. Tips for Easier Diaper Changes The following tips will help make diapering a squirming toddler less of a struggle. Be Ever Ready Just as you learned in basic diapering, having the materials you need on hand before you try and change that diaper is key. By your child’s first birthday, you’ve probably found a spot that works best for quick changes....

Picking Music for Labor and Birth During the childbirth classes that I teach about using music in labor, I ask everyone to play a really fun game. I’ve got a playlist on my smartphone that is entitled “Childbirth Class”. In there I have a very unique selection of music. The instructions are to raise your hand if it’s something that you might consider listening to for your birth—then I start the music....

Because it receives constant, daily use you need to know what to look for in a backpack. Quality Counts in Backpacks The widest selection of school backpacks is available during the back-to-school shopping season. You will find that quality and price can vary widely during this time. This is the best time to take advantage of backpack sales, just remember to shop smartly. You might be tempted to buy a backpack that is inexpensive and trendy, and just assume that if you have any problems you will be able to replace it....

Proper interventions can help many kids stop biting, but it’s important not to punish a toddler for biting or bite them back. See the tips below on what to do and what to avoid. Staff Interventions Toddlers are almost certainly too young for a lecture or even timeout. Some interventions may actually reinforce biting behavior. Instead, keep it simple and use these tactics: Try to intervene or distract the toddler and say “No bite” firmly, but calmly, if they are about to bite....

“The pressure to have kids comes from a lot of places,” says Jordan Davidson, editorial director of Health and author of “So When Are You Having Kids?” Davidson adds that our society is considered “pronatalist,” meaning it places a high value on having children. “People feel they can’t opt out of having kids because it would mean going against societal norms.” If you have found yourself navigating this landscape, you might want to ask yourself some tough questions in order to reach the decision that’s right for you....

References The best resource for parents who are seeking information on a good child custody attorney is to seek references from other people. Important references to obtain on child custody attorneys include: Asking friends and family membersSeeking advice from court clerks at the court officeInquiring of other parents, strangers included, who currently have cases at the child support officeThe state bar association can pass on referralsDepending on your state, some courts may maintain a network of attorneys...

The three-step process for buying services is very similar to that for buying products. But you have a few different resources and tools available to you, along with some concerns that are specific to services. If you look carefully, the steps are basically the same three Rs: Review, research prices, and reevaluate. Seek Reviews and References For products available nationwide, finding reviews is relatively easy. But where do you go for reviews of local service companies, such as plumbers, electricians, and photographers?...