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These types of toys spark babies’ imaginations and help them build and practice new skills. Some push toys, such as doll strollers and lawnmowers, inspire pretend play too. Others add a lesson in cause and effect (say, if that lawnmower produces soap bubbles as your baby pushes it, or a puppy opens and closes its mouth as it rolls). There are all sorts of building blocks to share with your baby: Traditional wooden blocks, blocks that snap together, plastic blocks and blocks that make music....

Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt The Tuck family is confronted with an agonizing situation when they discover that a ten-year-old girl and a malicious stranger now share their secret about a spring whose water prevents one from ever growing older. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg’s father, who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government....

Booster Seats Unlike a car seat, which actually straps your child in with harness straps, a booster seat simply raises or “boosts” your child up so that the car’s regular seat belts fit better. New car seat laws, some which require kids to be in a booster seat until they are 8 years old, have been a good reminder for many parents that a booster seat is the safest way for kids ride in the car until they are ready for seat belts....

People often wonder how long after the doctor breaks your water will the baby be born. Typically, amniotomy will quickly get labor going but the time to delivery varies widely from minutes to many hours. Purposefully breaking the amniotic sac as a labor intervention has been used by obstetricians and midwives for more than a hundred years. Today, the use of amniotomy varies around the world. The procedure is used routinely in some places and infrequently in others....

If you don’t feel ready to go home when your doctor thinks you are, explain your concerns and request more time. If your baby isn’t nursing well, ask if you can stay even an additional twelve hours to give you several more breastfeeding sessions where assistance is available. If that isn’t possible, see if you can arrange for an appointment the following day with either a lactation specialist on staff at the hospital or a private lactation consultant in the community....

A breech presentation increases the risk of complications during delivery. Sometimes the buttocks do not push against the cervix with enough force to move labor along and even when they do, delivering the head (which is the largest body part) last can cause problems. The position can be determined in the ninth month by the experienced hands of your doctor. Generally, he can feel the spine, the buttocks, and the head....

In the Bible, Caleb was a companion of Joshua and Moses. Caleb was one of the spies Moses sent into Canaan, the promised land. He was also one of the only two Israelites who left Egypt with Moses that lived to make it into Canaan. Even though it has Hebrew origins, Caleb became popular as an English name after the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. It was a common name in the English Protestant sect called the Puritans; they introduced it to America in the 17th century....

If you recently had a baby, you may find yourself wondering if you can safely take melatonin. Caring for an infant has its fair share of stressors. Whether you are overwhelmed by the huge task of being completely responsible for meeting your little human’s basic needs or you find yourself feeling anxious and worrying constantly (or both!), it’s not surprising to find it hard to sleep at night. Breastfeeding parents may wonder whether taking melatonin is safe for their nursing infants....

The test can’t tell exactly how much hCG your body is making (it’s not what scientists would call a “quantitative” test), but your body needs to be producing a certain minimum amount in order for the test to detect it. How Drinking Water Affects Pregnancy Tests Drinking water—or any fluids—can, in fact, affect the results of an at-home urine pregnancy test, especially when taken very early in the pregnancy. When your urine becomes diluted by drinking lots of fluids, the urine concentration of hCG becomes lower....

However, peanut butter can safely be eaten while pregnant. In fact, not only is it considered safe by medical experts, it is encouraged. “It’s specifically recommended to not avoid potentially allergenic foods in pregnancy or lactation unless medically warranted,” explains Christie Naze, RD, CDE, a clinical dietician at the Oregon Health & Science University Center for Women’s Health. Eating Peanut Butter During Pregnancy “Enjoy your peanut butter,” says Diana E....

To help minimize any confusion and set you on the path to clearer-looking skin—without putting your baby at risk—we tapped the expertise of two board-certified dermatologists. Ahead, we’re discussing whether or not it’s safe to use an acne wash while pregnant, and what types of ingredients—baby-safe and not—to look for on product labels. Read on for all that intel and more. What Is Acne Wash? Acne wash is a type of cleanser formulated specifically for treating and preventing breakouts—blemishes that pregnant people can be especially prone to developing due to a surge of hormonal activity....

TUMS is a common over-the-counter treatment for heartburn. The good news is, TUMS is considered a safe treatment option for symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in pregnancy. We reached out to pregnancy experts to learn more about safe usage, as well as suggested precautions, for TUMS as a treatment for those pesky heartburn symptoms. What Is TUMS? TUMS is an over-the-counter antacid with the main ingredient calcium carbonate. It is used to relieve symptoms of heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux....

Caring for your parents as they get older is often a stressful experience. There are many emotions you might experience along with your new responsibility. When you become the caretaker of your parents, it’s very important for you to be aware of your emotions. It can make the difference between having a meaningful, rewarding experience and having one of the worst experiences of your life. The following sections describe the most common emotions people feel when they are faced with their parents becoming older and less independent....

If your basement or attic is full of old junk, consider making it something more enriching to your family. If space is really at a premium, think about converting part of the garage. A spare bedroom that only gets used by guests once in a while is probably better used by your family. (You can always turn it into a guest room if you need to.) Wherever you choose, make sure your crafting area has these essentials:...

As the eggs mature, the level of estrogen rises and the pituitary gland receives a message to produce luteinizing hormone (LH). Every month, this surge in LH triggers one follicle (and sometimes more than one) to release a mature egg-the moment of ovulation. More: How to Get Pregnant Once the egg leaves the ovary, it enters the fallopian tube, which lies close by, and starts to travel through the tube to the uterus....

The relationship between twins and multiples is definitely complicated. On the one hand, they are blessed with built-in buddies. Yet they are also subject to constant comparison and competition. Just as in any relationship, there will be tender, loving moments, and times of dissension and disagreement. Overview The fighting between multiples can be particularly intense. Multiples tend to spend more time together than traditional siblings; they may share a room, have the same friends, and are usually in the same grade....