More: Is it Safe to Get Your Nails Done While Pregnant? One thing that has been a semi-controversial addition to the no-no list is a healthy drink that’s akin to the grassroots days of pre-commercialized, homemade yogurt. Can we all say, kombucha? This curious but insanely popular tea is classified as a ‘functional beverage’, meaning it’s non-alcoholic (for the most part) and contains vitamins, amino acids, and other health-boosting properties....

Caring for the umbilical cord area helps prevent infection. Omphalitis is an infection of the umbilical cord stump and is life-threatening in newborns. Thankfully, omphalitis is rarely seen in developed countries such as the United States and can be prevented with proper care. We spoke to two board-certified pediatricians about exactly what you need to do to care for your baby’s umbilical cord stump and prevent infection, and what to know about any belly button irregularities once the stump falls off....

Your kids have million-dollar smiles. But how can you ensure that they keep those smiles well into adulthood? By taking care of their teeth and gums, of course! Although parents should be educated about proper dental health even before a child is born, there may be cultural, economic, and environmental factors that affect whether good dental habits are developed. While many children go for periodic check-ups with their pediatrician or family doctor, many don’t regularly visit with a dentist....

Books or scraps of wood Matchbox cars or other toys with wheels Directions

Pregnancies that are lost earlier are considered miscarriages and are treated differently by medical examiners. Parents of a stillborn baby, for example, will receive a birth and death certificate while those of a miscarried fetus will not. To many who have experienced such loss, the line between a stillbirth and miscarriage can often seem arbitrary but should in no way suggest that a parent’s emotional response is any more or less profound....

So then, what is all the fuss about if the new standards are nothing more than a common blueprint to ensure that all children have been taught the same basic skills at each grade level? There are several causes behind the angst about CCSS debate. This article will look at common complaints and frustrations, and explain what is really behind them. This understanding can help you advocate for your child’s education more effectively....

So, you may want to reconsider this arrangement since it can pose serious and life-threatening risks to your child. If you do choose to co-sleep, note that it should not occur with infants less than one year of age. The following are precautions to take to ensure that your child is safe throughout the night. Consider Your Bed Choice Use a large mattress to provide ample room and comfort for everyone....

If your home has any sliding glass doors or plate glass windows, you may find it helpful to put decals or window stickers on them to make them more visible. If your toddler is running and can’t see the glass, he may crash right into it or through it. Because this amount of glass would be so dangerous to your toddler, you might even find it well worth the expense to replace them, at least temporarily, with Plexiglas or safety glass....

Level: Moderately easy Time involved: Two to three hours, plus one to two days to dry Ingredients: Mixing bowl Spoon 1 cup ground cinnamon 2/3 cup applesauce 1 tablespoon white glue Rolling pin Cookie cutters Cookie sheets Paintbrush or skewer Fabric paints in squeeze bottles

Overview Co-sleeping proponents argue that sleeping with an infant is a time-honored custom practiced in other cultures for centuries and claim many benefits, including healthier self-esteem for children who sleep with their parents as babies. They insist that it promotes breastfeeding by giving mothers easier access to their babies for nighttime feedings and making it easier for her to rest between feedings. Parents will also find some very persuasive arguments against the practice of co-sleeping, however, including from trusted authorities like the American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP)....

Coin Directions

20 to 30 minutes Materials Rubber bandsBalloonsflashlight Directions Extensions By adding different balloon filters, you can make a variety of secondary colors. Try combining red and yellow or blue and yellow.If you have several flashlights, you can shine the colors on the wall and do the color mixing there.Use 3 flashlights and 3 different colored balloons. Hold them inside a paper grocery bag with holes cut in the bottom. Aim the holes at the ceiling and move the flashlights inside to create a rainbowlike dance of light and color....

Visiting too often Staying too long Calling on the phone too often or too little Meddling in your business Trying to tell you how to live your life If a family member is really annoying you, take the time and effort to determine what specific behaviors you are bothered by. Many times, resolving a particular conflict can improve your relationship with him or her. It might be that only one behavior is annoying, but many things bother you because of that one thing....

Effort: Quick and easy — no sewing Materials: White pants (white shorts and white tights will do, too) White socks White shoes White diaper pins or white Velcro Light pink, light purple, or light blue tulle (the amount depends on the size of your child) Shirt or sweatshirt to match color of tulle/batting Matching lipstick and face glitter (optional) Alternative option: pink, blue, or purple dye, and cotton quilt batting...

Here are the issues parents need to take into consideration when figuring out if their teen is getting high on drugs or drinking alcohol. The first few are tips on getting in the right frame of mind when dealing with this tough issue and your teenager. The rest are steps you should take if there is any hint of drug use in your home by your teen. You and your teen will be better off if you know about their drug use as it can lead to your teen getting any help they need to stop using the drug....

While birth plans are not intended to be followed to the letter (mainly because that is usually impossible), the exercise of creating them can prompt you to ask questions and think about all aspects of the birthing experience, including a potential C-section. Additionally, a birth plan can help facilitate communication with your doctor. Where to Begin A complete birth plan covers a range of topics, from the desire to use pain medication to preferences for the number of people in the room when you deliver, and more, including your thoughts about a C-section....

What is Cytomegalovirus? Cytomegalovirus, otherwise known as CMV, is a common virus that is related to both the chickenpox and herpes simplex viruses. Just like these infectious agents, it remains dormant most of the time. However, when the immune system is weakened, a person’s CMV can reactivate and be spread to healthy people through the exchange of bodily fluids. This can include saliva, vaginal fluids, semen, blood, and breast milk. Therefore, sexual contact, having a vaginal birth, and nursing can all spread this illness....

The Nemours Foundation defines a clique as being a group of friends that leave other kids out on purpose. A clique is usually run by one or two kids who have been deemed “popular,” and these leaders decide who can be a part of their group and who gets left out. Cliques usually have rules the members must follow, such as excluding others and not being friends with anyone outside the group....

Consider this. If you borrow $25,000 at 8 percent interest for a Camry and pay it back over four years, you’ll pay about $610 a month. If you borrow $15,000 at 8 percent interest for the same four years, for a Honda Civic, you’ll pay about $366 a month. That’s a difference of $244 a month. If you put that $244 into an investment that averages an 8 percent annual interest every month for 35 years, guess how much money you’d have?...

When Breaking Up Is Bravery, Not Cowardice This is one of the most difficult decisions a woman can make. If you are the one having to decide whether your marriage is healthy for you and your children, I pray that you have the internal guidance, wisdom, and strength to make this decision wholeheartedly. If you have to make a difficult choice you should not beat yourself up over it. You are not a failure or a bad mother for choosing to end a destructive marriage....