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Parenting Hacks for Holiday Travel with Baby
Household items such as painter’s tape and old sheets make great tools for baby proofing your travel accommodations. Keep little ones busy during long car rides with activities like road trip scavenger hunts and gift unwrapping. When flying, take advantage of extra storage space in Baby’s checked stroller and dress Baby in onesies with leg … Continued
What To Do If Baby Has a Fear of Strangers
Hello, baby! From aunts and uncles to friends and neighbors, baby is constantly meeting new people. Meeting people is a great way to work on baby’s social skills. While this is usually a happy occasion for the adults and older children involved, meeting new people can sometimes be hard for baby. They may feel anxious or … Continued
Sleep Cues to Tell if Baby is Sleepy
Sleepy babies are calm and show signs like yawning and droopy eyes, while overtired babies become fussy, cry, and show irritability. Look for signs like loss of interest, drowsiness, pulling at ears, or sucking on fingers to identify if the baby is sleepy; crying and pushing against you indicate overtiredness. Follow sleep cues to help … Continued
How to Hold NICU Baby in Your Arms | Games that Help Bonding and Development!
Bonding with your baby begins right after they’re born, even in the NICU! It can happen in so many ways. Bonding helps baby feel safe, secure, and loved. It’s a process that can take time, but taking little steps every day, even when they’re in the NICU, can make a big difference. Here are some … Continued
What is “Midline” and Why Does it Matter for Baby?
Midline is an imaginary vertical line dividing the body into left and right halves. Crossing midline involves reaching across this line with arms or legs, indicating a developing connection between the brain’s hemispheres. Babies typically begin to cross midline by bringing hands together (3-4 months), reaching for their feet (4-6 months), and reaching for toys … Continued
When Will Baby Clap and What Does it Mean?
Babies usually start clapping around 10-12 months, often becoming noticeable near their first birthday. Clapping helps babies connect and communicate with others, imitating caregivers to show excitement. Encourage clapping by modeling the behavior and playing interactive games. Consult a healthcare provider if your baby isn’t clapping by their first birthday. When will baby clap? Baby … Continued
When Does Baby Recognize Faces?
Babies can start recognizing faces, especially their primary caregiver’s, as early as two months old, and this ability develops throughout their first year. At birth, babies recognize caregivers more by voice and scent, but by 2-4 months, they begin to visually identify familiar faces and enjoy looking at reflections. By 6-9 months, babies can distinguish … Continued
Alternatives to Saying “No” to Your Toddler
Telling your child “no” doesn’t always mean saying that word! Use alternative phrases to “no” to guide toddlers, encouraging positive behavior and helping to develop critical thinking skills. Promote positive behavior by praising what toddlers do right and involving them in problem-solving activities, teaching them safe and appropriate actions. As your little one becomes more … Continued
Post Baby’s Tummy Time Today to WIN!
October 2 is #TummyTimeDay! To celebrate, we’re giving away prizes when you share a picture of baby’s Tummy Time. Here’s how you can enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Take a picture of baby doing Tummy Time. Show us how baby does their daily Tummy Time! Share & tag. Share this picture on … Continued
What Coordination Skills Should Toddlers Have?
Coordination involves moving multiple body parts and both sides of the body simultaneously, balancing, and using senses for spatial awareness. By age 3, children should have various coordination skills like walking with a heel-toe pattern, maintaining balance, and using both hands for tasks. To provide opportunities to practice coordination, engage toddlers in activities like ball … Continued
Why Does Baby Not Like Tummy Time?
Tummy Time is essential for a baby’s motor and sensory development, aiming for at least an hour per day by 3 months, divided into shorter sessions. Babies may resist Tummy Time due to unfamiliarity, inability to push up, boredom, rolling over, recent feeding, or tiredness. Various strategies can help, like integrating it into daily routines, … Continued
Why Does Baby Hiccup?
Baby hiccups are a normal, involuntary reflex often occurring during or after feeding, caused by the diaphragm muscle. Common triggers for baby hiccups include overfeeding, eating too quickly, and swallowing air, but hiccups are harmless and typically subside in 5-10 minutes. To manage baby hiccups, burp baby during feedings, slow down feeding pace, hold baby … Continued
Boost Baby’s Sensory and Feeding Skills with these Fun Food Play Ideas
Messy food play aids in developing sensory and fine motor skills while reducing picky eating. Prepare for messy play by cleaning hands and toys, using bibs, and protecting the floor. Engage in 15 playful activities such as edible sand, food painting, making food faces, and using digging toys with food. Playing with food has so … Continued
The “Fourth Trimester”: Supporting Parents & Babies
The fourth trimester refers to the first 12 weeks after birth, a crucial time for both baby and parents as they adjust to new routines and development. Babies benefit from skin-to-skin contact, swaddling, rocking, frequent feeding, and sleeping in the same room as parents. Parents should seek support, communicate with healthcare providers, take care of … Continued
Fall Activities for Babies
Check out these fun and simple fall activities for babies! Enjoy sensory play with leaves, explore pumpkins, take nature walks, and try seasonal flavors to celebrate autumn with your little one. Introduce baby to the beauty of fall with sensory activities involving colorful leaves, pumpkins, and gourds. Enjoy comfortable fall weather by taking baby on … Continued
How to Dress Baby for Fall Weather
Dress baby in breathable, lightweight layers including a onesie, sweater, jacket, hat, and booties to keep them warm as temperatures fluctuate. Use jackets when it’s below 21°C (70°F) and thicker winter gear like snowsuits below 7°C (45°F). Ensure baby wears socks, shoes, and a warm cap to keep their feet and head warm, and remember … Continued
10 Ways To Help Your Child With Learning Shapes
Learning shapes is an important early math skill and language skill. Even before children say their first words or take their first steps, they’re noticing and playing with shapes. So what are some shapes that preschoolers should know? At a younger age they may only know basic shapes, but their knowledge will grow with age! … Continued
Games for Your 1 Month Old Baby | Fun Activities for Communication and Sensory Development
It’s never too early to start helping your child reach their sensory and communication milestones. Check out these simple and enjoyable activities you can try with your baby to help develop their skills! Beep Baby – Tap different parts of your baby’s body and name them. Say “beep!” with each new body part. Smile at … Continued
Types of Sitting Positions You May See Your Child Do!
Baby goes from supported sitting at 4-6 months to independent sitting by 6-9 months, mastering various sitting positions by one year old! Early types of sitting include supported, tripod, and independent sitting, while toddlers and older children may use positions like ring sitting, crisscross, long sitting, and side sitting. Each sitting type helps with developing … Continued
Premature Baby Bonding: Skin-to-Skin Contact & Massage+ 30, 10, 5 Tips
Bonding with your baby can help create a strong emotional attachment and positively impact your baby’s development! When your baby is in the NICU, holding them can feel challenging, especially with IVs, G tubes, or their small size. However, there are ways to bond with your baby that can help you feel more comfortable with … Continued
Foods and Drinks to Limit for Baby
Throughout their first year, baby will be consuming breastmilk or formula for most feedings, in order to obtain nutrients and hydration. Around 6 months, baby will be able to start eating solid foods, which can expose them to many more textures and tastes. In baby’s first year, stick to breastmilk or formula for hydration and … Continued
7 Ways to Encourage Your Baby’s Communication | Approved by a Speech-Language Pathologist!
When it comes to communication, baby learns by watching the people around them. Even if baby doesn’t have the vocabulary to have a conversation with you, it’s very helpful for their communication development if you talk to them! Check out these tips for encouraging your baby’s communication development: Use a High-Pitched, Sing-Song Voice: Talking in … Continued
One Way to Make Tummy Time Better? Reading!
Tummy Time is a crucial exercise for baby’s motor and sensory development. One tip to make it even better? Incorporate reading while doing Tummy Time! Incorporate reading during Tummy Time to boost motor, sensory, and vision development. Establish morning and evening routines before school starts to build executive function and reduce anxiety, and set up … Continued
Help Your Baby Roll Over with 8 Expert Tips | Essential Motor Milestone for 4-6 Months
Rolling over is a 4-6 month motor milestone! Rolling helps with head and trunk strength, weight shifting, and core strength—which are all important for gross motor development. You can help your baby meet this milestone with these 8 tips from expert physical therapists: Tip 1: Place a toy in the direction of the roll Tip … Continued
7 Ways to Get Kids Excited For Back to School
Discover effective ways to get kids excited for going back to school with tips on shopping, routines, and fun activities that can make the new school year enjoyable. Involve children in back-to-school shopping for supplies and decorating their personal spaces, making the process enjoyable and personalized. Establish morning and evening routines before school starts to … Continued