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A baby's birth weight is an important indicator of overall health as well as a way to measure development and growth. Therefore, it is important that health professionals and parents understand the average weight expected of a full-term baby. However, there are global differences in average birth weights with significant discrepancies between developing countries and others. Average birth weights in developing countries are significantly lower than in other countries, due to a variety of differences, including nutrition.
You don’t have to try to be another mother to feel close to your baby. As a dad, you can create a special bond between you and your baby by including him in activities you enjoy and taking pleasure in the small stuff that comes with parenthood. The early months of your child’s life offer plenty of moments for you to get closer to your child, create memories and experience unforgettable moments.
Beginning around the four-month mark, parents may find themselves frequently wiping drool from their baby's chin. This phase of life is not only a nuisance for parents -- excessive drool can dry out and irritate the baby's skin. Drooling more than usual is typically not a cause for concern. The baby's pediatrician can rule out any potentially serious causes.
When a woman is pregnant, the child in her body can be affected by many of her actions. Nutrition, substance abuse, domestic violence and even music can all have an impact -- whether positive or negative -- on her unborn child. Prenatal activities can influence children's weight gain, brain development, language skills and behavior. In some cases, the effects can be lifelong.
You don't have to hold a healthy newborn for more than a few minutes to realize that the rooting reflex is a strong one. The baby doesn't care if you're a guy, a grandma or someone just passing through; if you hold him and touch the corner of his mouth, he'll start to root. Rooting is a way for your baby to find his food source, but it's also a way for him to communicate his needs to you.
The relationship between parent and child grows and develops over decades, but building trust with your baby begins right at birth. Developing a secure bond with your baby starts with non-verbal communication. Parents sometimes worry that this means they won't know what their baby wants or needs, especially in the first few months. As you settle into parenthood, getting to know your baby will offer many joyful exchanges that build trust.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) affects nearly all children before their second birthday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In most kids, this viral infection causes only mild cold-like symptoms, such as sore throat, cough and low-grade fever. However, some children, especially premature infants or those with underlying health conditions, suffer more severe respiratory complications, such as breathing difficulty, that require prompt medical treatment. Most babies recover from mild cases without any special treatment, but you can keep your baby more comfortable and reduce the risk of complications with simple precautions.
Although your baby won't be reading words for a few more years, you can instill a love of books and of reading at a very young age. Just by having a regular reading time with your baby, you are putting her on a path to becoming a reader. According to child development experts at the Kids Health website, reading with your little one teaches her about communication, gives her information about the world around her and builds listening skills, as well as vocabulary. These are the building blocks of a successful reader, so she will be ready when it is…
Your baby's first and most important relationship is with you. From the day he is born, you begin bonding with him. Every touch, cuddle or kiss helps him feel secure, which leads to an attachment. According to the University of Washington, this healthy and stable relationship affects his future learning, language skills and social-emotional development.
No two babies are alike and infants develop physically at their own pace. Yet, worries about infant development are second only to feeding concerns among parents, according to the March of Dimes. Physical developmental milestones are not set in stone; your baby may develop a little ahead or a little behind other babies the same age. Still, it’s wise to talk to your baby’s doctor if you notice any signs of abnormal physical development.
A premature baby is born before his digestive system is fully formed, which makes feeding more of a challenge than with full-term babies. The contractions required to help food move along the intestinal tract do not occur until around 28 to 30 weeks' gestation, meaning a baby born before 32 to 34 weeks' gestation cannot be fed by mouth. Until his digestive system is fully developed, special care must be taken to feed the premature baby the right way.
From the moment your baby is born, you begin to interact with her, and those interactions help her development. As a newborn, she learns to respond to your voice. By 6 months of age, she initiates play activities and waits for your reaction. At 8 months, she has learned to look for you when are out of the room. When she is 1 year old, she will begin to watch and imitate your actions. All of these developments indicate she has formed a secure attachment to you, helping her to feel secure and continue exploring and learning, according to Education.com.
Growing baby pumpkins is a great way to add a little variety to your garden. Grow baby pumpkins with help from an experienced farmer in this free video clip.
All healthy babies are born with a soft spot on the front and back of their head. Learn about soft foreheads in infants with help from a family case worker in this free video clip.
When your baby starts to crawl, you need to pay particular attention to room-by-room safety in your home. Learn about bathroom safety for a crawling baby with help from a family case worker and parenting coach in this free video clip.
When boiling baby carrots, you need to pay close attention to them so you know when they're tender. Boil baby carrots until tender with help from a private chef and caterer in this free video clip.
Strawberries need to be cooked in a very specific way if you're planning on feeding them to a baby. Cook strawberries for a baby with help from a private chef and caterer in this free video clip.
Your first year of teaching dictates how your peers and students will view you in the years to come. Like a first impression, you can only change how these people see you -- as professional or immature -- with many years of hard work. Some of the activities to establish professionalism during your first year involve extra time on your part for which you won't be paid. In the long run, however, it will solidify relationships and improve your teaching style in a way that will help you enjoy your job more each year.
A buildup of gas can be quite a painful experience for a baby. Help a baby pass gas with help from a CPD in this free video clip.
If you have a collection of sweaters that are gathering dust in your closet, put them to good use by making them into toys. A few craft supplies and a sewing machine can give old life to sweaters as they become toys for friends and loved ones. From squeaky toys to bouncing sweater balls, a variety of toys can be made with old sweaters.
A photographer's initial pay in Massachusetts depends on his field. His salary also depends on whether he is salaried or self-employed, according to Salary Registrar. Most salaried photographers work in portraiture, commercial photography, newspapers, magazines and ad agencies and work in metropolitan areas, according to the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job opportunities for photographers are expected to increase by 12 percent through 2018, according to the bureau.
After nine months of development, your baby has arrived. The birth is an exciting time, but the aftermath can be overwhelming, especially if you are a first-time parent. You will experience plenty of surprises no matter how much reading and research you've done in anticipation of the birth. Although no two babies are alike, here are some general things you should expect to happen in the first few weeks of your baby's life.
Hardy kiwi is a climbing vine that produces edible smooth-skin kiwi fruits similar to true kiwi plants. In contrast to true kiwi that grows in U.S. Department Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 and higher, the hardy kiwi can survive in a chilly zone 3. Plant this deciduous vine as an ornamental for its glossy green foliage and harvest the fruit as they ripen in late summer. The woody twining stems scale arbors, trellises and other structures. When planting a hardy kiwi, first-year care is important to success.
Ballet is both an art form and a sport. The physical components of the dance, coupled with the ability to express thoughts and feelings through movement, are what sets ballet apart from other dance styles. Improving ballet skills and techniques is an ongoing process, one that is a lifestyle for many. You can work on improving your ballet development in a week if you want to make changes to elements of your ballet repertoire or skill set.
Hairstylists help people look their best by providing basic or more advanced hair-cutting and styling services. Hairstylists coming directly out of cosmetology school can generally expect to make a lower first year's salary than others who have been in the hair-cutting business for a considerable period of time.
Handwriting development and writing skills are linked to a person’s literacy development. Writing development occurs during childhood. The different stages of handwriting development will overlap as children progress from one to the next. Even children who aren’t progressing as quickly as their peers can be encouraged to move through the stages at a faster pace through practice and regular writing.
Children start the early of stages of reading at a very young age and continue to learn how to read all the way into adulthood. Although children may learn to read at different levels and ages, the stages of reading comprehension development will help you identify how well your children or students are learning and absorbing text.
Erik Erikson was a psychoanalyst who believed that individuals progress through eight stages of psychosocial development throughout their lifetimes. Each stage is characterized by a crisis — the individual faces a choice between two opposing adaptations to his environment, and the wrong choice causes more difficulty for the individual later on in life. The concepts involved in Erikson's stages of development may seem abstract to some students; activities can function as teaching aids that help them understand Erikson's theory.
Human development describes an individual's progression through life in a series of stages. Humans move through developmental stages individually depending on both genetics and environment. The evaluation and investigation of developmental stages began as early as 335 to 323 B.C. when Aristotle proposed a three-stage model. Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson created developmental theories during the 21st Century.
Naps are important for babies. They help them cope with the stress of growing up and they prevent them from getting too tired. Six-week-old babies require 14 to 15 hours of sleep time every day. Babies who nap well are more likely to sleep well at night. It is possible to get your baby to form the habit of napping so that she gets quality sleep and you get your time for much needed rest or for carrying out other household activities.
Some children do not have the cognitive skills necessary to read at a particular level, which causes them to become frustrated and lose confidence in their reading abilities. Frustration leads to the student having more reading difficulties. Therefore, teachers must make sure the reading activities they give students are at their level of cognitive development
Ph.D programs provide students with expertise in a very specific field, such as economics, psychology or public policy. Students who successfully receive their doctorate-level degree demonstrate ample knowledge and research and in return earn recognition as "doctor." The typical student takes five to six years to complete his doctorate studies.
Although children experience many milestones in their first two years of life, they will still accomplish many more physical milestones during their preschool years. Be on the lookout for these milestones and be sure to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about your child's development with his doctor. Remember that all children develop at their own rate and may not meet these milestones at the same time as their similar-age peers.
Your baby's first birthday is a big milestone, but it's one that can trip up new parents. You want to plan a party that will do justice to the occasion, but you don't want it to result in more tears than smiles for your baby -- or for you. Planning a successful first birthday can be a little tricky, and there are some things you should keep in mind.
A phlebotomist is an important member of the health care team and is responsible for collecting patient blood samples and preparing them for testing. Many colleges and specialty training schools offer courses and certifications in phlebotomy, which can take anywhere from a few days to a year depending on the course. Most states in the U.S. do not require certification to work as a phlebotomist as many medical organizations provide on-the-job training. Whether you are taking a certification course or want to gain experience and get your foot in the door for a medical career, it is possible to start…
Babies can have hair when they are born or be bald for quite a while, so some babies might even be toddlers before they get their first haircut. The baby's first haircut can be an exciting time for you and something you want to document, but it can be a scary experience for your child.
The western skink is a small species of lizard native to America. It grows to a little less than 8 inches in length and has a slender body type. The skink's tail is usually 1.5 to two times longer than its body and it is bright blue from birth into adulthood. As the lizard ages, the tail color fades to a more subdued shade, more similar to the rest of its body.
The ARPANET was the first version of the Internet, a way to send communications from one computer to another within a network. The Advanced Research Projects Agency, which was known as ARPA and was part of the United States Department of Defense, developed the ARPANET in the 1960s, laying the groundwork for the massively connected Internet world of today.
An infant can be quite a mystery to her new parent. She moves her arms and legs in jerky motions, puts everything in her mouth and cries quickly for no obvious reason. These infant movements are actually instinctual reflexes or she is using them to learn about her surroundings and let you know her needs. By carefully observing your infant you will be able to detect what each movement means.
A baby will exhibit a few specific signs if he or she is hyperactive. Learn how to tell if a baby is hyperactive with help from a postpartum doula and infant specialist in this free video clip.
Freud's psychoanalytic theory relies on his three-stage personality development for diagnosing and treating personality disorders. His psychological theories created a philosophical movement that led to further developments and advancements in the psychological field. Freud's theory of the id, ego and superego influenced other theories that attempt to understand and explain human behavior and personality development.
Erik Erikson was a German psychoanalyst who believed that every person passes through eight stages in their life cycle. He believed that all of these stages of identity and psychosocial development were interrelated. His theory is based mainly on the effect of parents and society on the development of a child. The first four stages deal with figuring out the world, while the last four stages deal with finding your identity.
A deep mother-infant bond is essential for your baby to grow as a secure and self-confident person in her later years. Your baby can express her contentment with you in a number of ways, using sounds, touch and vision. By educating yourself to recognize these signs, you'll be a happier mother when your baby displays these signs.
One common problem many parents face is a child who wakes up much earlier than the parents would prefer. Fortunately, according to parenting expert Elizabeth Pantley, less than 15 percent of children are true early birds: going to bed early and easily, sleeping well at night and waking happily at an early hour. For most children -- and sometimes even for natural early birds -- making adjustments in your child's sleep environment and schedule can help encourage her to sleep in later than 5 a.m.
The toddler years are a very exciting time for both parents and children. It can also be very frustrating. During this stage children go through many changes, both emotionally and physically. They begin to master things they learned in the baby stage and are very eager to learn new skills. Toddlers have a tendency to become moody when they can't easily do what they want. This is why the toddler stage is sometimes known as "the terrible twos." Regardless, everything they learn during this stage is necessary to perform everyday tasks. Physical learning goals play a large role in a…
There are so many developmental milestones for a baby to reach, and waiting for your child to reach them can make any parent anxious. All babies learn how to crawl, sit up and walk at different stages. If your child is already learning how to sit up, then it certainly could be time for her to learn how to crawl. Babies can learn how to crawl from different positions, including sitting.
A 2011 study published in "Science" reveals that many preschoolers who attend quality preschools experience cognitive benefits that help them make better life choices, and have higher success levels in education and future careers than children who don't attend preschool. The Chicago Longitudinal Study followed over 950 families with students from preschool to age 28 that participated in Chicago's Child-Parent Center Education Program. The program focuses on helping preschoolers become school-ready through quality teaching and parental involvement.
Now that your baby can expertly roll over and sit up, you are no doubt anxious to see him crawl for the first time. Although there is no need for concern if your child seems to take his time reaching this milestone -- some children never crawl and instead go straight to walking -- you can take steps to encourage the process.
Babies from seven months can distinguish different and complex shapes, according to a November 2000 article in "Science." By the time they are toddlers you can boost their emotional and social development and stimulate their intellectual growth with some fun activities based on their natural curiosity about shapes.
Teachers, like people in other professions, learn as they go through the stages of development during their careers. Michael Huberman discusses the five stages of teacher development in his book "The Lives of Teachers." The stages -- career entry, stabilization, experimentation, conservatism and disengagement -- look at how teachers continually evolve, how they assess their roles in the classroom, their effectiveness as teachers and the steps they take in their career development.
