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Another common question is whether you can have a negative hCG blood test but still be pregnant. This situation is quite rare, but it is possible to have a false-negative result, particularly if the test is done too early or if the test is faulty. While at-home urine tests are also extremely accurate, blood pregnancy tests are more sensitive and can detect a pregnancy earlier. Blood pregnancy tests yield a positive result if they detect 1 to 2 mIU/mL (milli-international units per milliliter) of hCG, while urine tests require hCG levels to reach 20 to 50 mIU/mLs....

Since there are some risks associated with inducing labor, the decision to deliver before your due date is an important one that you will make with your doctor or midwife, usually later in your pregnancy, That said, there are a few instances when you might know earlier in your pregnancy that induction is the safest route to a smooth delivery. Why Is Labor Induced? Pregnant people have a variety of reasons for wanting to have their labor induced....

Symptoms Every pregnancy is different. While there are certain symptoms that produce a suspicion of multiples, there are plenty of mothers of multiples who had no indications whatsoever. Some common signs include sensing fetal movement earlier in pregnancy, measuring larger for gestational age, rapid weight gain, extreme experience of common symptoms like morning sickness or fatigue. Other clues are hearing dual heartbeats or abnormal results on prenatal tests. Diagnosis If you suspect that you are carrying twins or more, discuss your feelings with your doctor or midwife....

For one thing, simply trying to overeat or eat whatever you want to gain weight isn’t necessarily going to be healthy. Plus, kids who have problems gaining weight usually don’t have a very good appetite, so they may not eat much, to begin with. Gaining Weight Healthily Although many parents think that their kids don’t eat as well as they would like, unless they are actually not gaining weight well, it may not really be an issue....

Why Little Kids Love a Box Before your child begins to invent pretend worlds and imaginary friends, she will usually love a toy for being exactly what it is. A block is magical, not because it can be reimagined as a telescope or precious gem, but because it is a block. It can be pushed through a hole, rolled across the floor or dropped repeatedly from the top of a high chair....

Here’s a story of a mother’s journey in navigating her past struggles with crying and how she’s learning to embrace those tears with her children. My parents discouraged me from crying When I was growing up, crying was seen as a negative behavior that needed to be done in private. Whenever I hurt myself by bumping my head, falling, or getting upset with a sibling, my parents would immediately say the words, “無事”....

According to the Centers for Disease Control, rotavirus incubates for up to 48 hours, so if your child is exposed, symptoms won’t appear for a day or two. The illness itself can last for up to ten days and you should consider your child contagious for about twelve days. Most daycare centers and schools provide guidance for how long to keep your child home to prevent rotavirus from spreading to other students....

My Story It took my son no time at all to learn to pee on the potty. He started doing this when he was 2 years old, but it wasn’t until he was almost 4 that he would consistently go poop in the potty. He developed the habit of holding his bowel movements, which took a lot of time and patience to break. As for night training, he never had a wet or poopy night after the age of 3....

Delayed gratification—saving for things they really wantCharity and helping othersBudgeting But many parents have questions about how much to give, what to do about chores, and other allowance policies. Here is what experts recommend. When you’re making the decision, consider: What your child is now spending on the things you will expect the allowance to cover (say, school lunches, clothing, and birthday gifts for friends).What your child’s peers are getting, if you know....

The first stage is referred to as functional play when children find simple pleasure in repeatedly moving objects and exploring toys or other playthings through their senses. Constructive play is the next phase of play. In this stage, toddlers have a deep understanding of what various objects can do; they will now try to build things with the toys and everyday objects they find around them. When a Child’s Attention Span Lends Itself to Constructive Play At around 2 years of age, children begin to have a longer attention span....

When at times a special technique is needed, technique spontaneously develops. Children invent or reinvent it. Their skill develops out of the intricate demands of their feelings, not from aesthetic concepts. Whatever they paint is done with their whole being and carries the stamp of authenticity and the beauty of their innocence. The way each child perceives and senses the world is unique. While the body and mind constantly grow, perceptions also change....

Now that many kids are heading back to school, we are going to have to readjust back to “real life.” It won’t be automatic. Kids may have to learn or relearn how to handle social interactions and group situations. And since the pandemic is still very present in our lives, they will need to navigate social life around precautions as well. Older kids will need to navigate the intricate social world of peer groups with both safety and respect in mind....

According to Carrie Housman, a spokesperson for the Red Cross, your family may have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home. It’s crucial that every household create a fire safety plan and practice it until everyone can escape in less than two minutes. Here’s how: 1. Create an Escape Plan First, gather your family and walk through each room in your house. Discuss the possible exits and escapes....

An at-home learning space is an incredible way to let your child play and explore the world around them. And while building one may seem like a daunting task, creating a comfortable and inspiring learning space for your children is actually easier than you may think. There are a few key guidelines to follow in order to best create a learning space that inspires and nurtures your child. Below are a few tips to and inspiration from Pinterest to get you started....

AmeriCares88 Hamilton Ave.Stamford, CT 06902800-486-4357www.americares.org American Jewish World Service45 West 36th St., 10th FloorNew York, NY 10018800-889-7146www.ajws.org American Friends Service Committee (AFSC Crisis Fund)1501 Cherry St.Philadelphia, PA215-241-7000www.afsc.org American Red Cross - Southeast Louisiana Chapter2640 Canal St.New Orleans, LA 70119504-620-3105800-229-8191http://www.redcross.org/ Catholic Relief Services209 W. Fayette St.Baltimore, MD 21201800-521-CAREwww.catholicrelief.org Christian Children’s FundChild Alert FundPO Box 264842821 Emerywood ParkwayRichmond, VA 23261800-776-6767www.christianchildrensfund.org Church World Service209 W. Fayette St.Elkhart, IN 46515800-297-1516, ext. 222www.churchworldservice.org Episcopal Relief and DevelopmentPO Box 12043Newark, NJ 07101800-334-7626, ext....

Feeding Twins Solid Foods While the timetable is different for every baby, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that babies will be ready for solid food at about 6 months of age. However, parents of multiples should consider their babies’ adjusted age when evaluating developmental milestones. As many multiples are born prematurely, they may require some extra time to catch up and won’t be ready as early as babies born closer to their due date....

What size should you buy? Are plastic, glass, or stainless steel bottles the way to go? What about bottle nipples? Do you need a slim or wide nipple? What’s better—silicone or latex? What if you are planning to breastfeed: what’s the best bottle for breastfed babies? And the list goes on. Truthfully, you won’t know exactly what kind of bottle you need until your baby arrives and lets you know their preferences....

“The reasons for back talk are as varied as the personalities of thechildren who use it,” says Bozigar. The child could be hungry, tired, or ina transitional period. But children who talk back usually do have one thingin common: They’re trying to separate from their parents and exercisecontrol over their lives. How should you handle these outbursts? Bozigar suggests parents do somebehavior tracking: “For three days, make notes about what your child says,what the situation was, and how you responded....

That’s because friendship is incredibly important to our mental health, and that starts from a young age. Research suggests that even having just one close friend in early childhood helps to shield kids from experiencing excessive internalized symptoms, such as sadness, anxiety, and loneliness, as young adults. “There are so many amazing reasons why friendships are important to kids, but the biggest one is simply having that companionship that makes you feel such goodness inside,” says Roseann Capanna-Hodge, EdD, LPC, BCN, an educational psychologist and therapist....

Summer nights have their own set of concerns, but perhaps the season that presents the most stress when it comes to baby sleep is the winter. After all, the coldest part of the day—from around 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.—is when your little one is asleep. It’s common for many parents to seek advice on how to keep your baby warm during the night, especially when there are so many rules surrounding bedding and sleepwear for infants....