Parents often worry about the development of their child.  If they are “behind” by a week, they get paranoid. 

Depending the baby, most infants begin to roll over at 5 months.  Some babies will learn to roll over on their own.  Others require a little bit of help.  If you think your baby needs a little bit of help in rolling over, try these few tips to encourage him.

1. Give him lots of tummy time.  Start off with just a minute or two.  And gradually increase the time he is on his tummy.  This will strenghten his muscles so they learn to push up, roll over, and pull themselves up.  You can lie him on a blanket on the floor, put his tummy on your belly, or  use a boppy. 
2. Once he is comfortable with being on his tummy for a few minutes, try to get him to lift up his head.  Leave his favorite toy in front of him so he can try to get it.  Or you can lie on your own tummy in front of him and talk or sing to him.  He’ll look at you.
3. Once he’s able to lift his head, try to get him to turn his head.  Alternate between his right left so he’s turning his head.  This will strengthen his neck and shoulder mucles.
4. Once your baby has mastered lifting his head and is able to move it back and forth, you might want to consider standing farther back or place his toy farther away.  This will force him to look up higher or reach further.
5. Eventually, he will turn his head far enough or he will reach far enough that he will just “topple” over. 

The first few times may scare him a bit, but after a few times, he will learn this new trick.  Sometimes, it might require a little push to get him to turn over, but in time, he’ll learn to like the new view of the world and will want to roll over on his own.

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Anxiety and panic attacks are something that have become quite common among us as individual adults.  What many people don’t realize, however, are how prevalent anxiety disorders in children have become.  As a matter of fact, many children are dealing with anxiety on an increasing basis because of the conditions of the world around them as well as various problems that are encountered within the family.  There are several different ways in which you can deal with anxiety disorders in children that range from professional help to things that you can do at home as a parent.

Depending on the severity of the anxiety disorder that your child is experiencing, you may want to seek some professional help.  Although you would always want to take an active part in the development of your child, including this difficult time that they may be going through, sometimes a professional that is not personally involved in the situation will give you a good chance at successfully overcoming it.  It is difficult as parents to look at our child objectively at times and not think of them as the child that we know at home.  A professional will be able to look at your child through an outsider’s eyes and may be able to recognize things in them that are obvious but that you may be overlooking.

A child’s home life can also do a lot to help them to overcome the anxiety that they may be feeling.  The home should always be a haven of peace but, more often than not, that peace is disrupted in today’s society in one way or another.  With both parents working and very little time to actually enjoy family life, it becomes difficult for us to provide an environment that would cater to their particular needs.  It may also be that we are dealing with a broken household, something that is also very common and the source of stress for many parents and children alike.

The best thing that you can do in dealing with anxiety in children is to identify any problems that you are able to remove from their environment and to remove them.  It may be difficult for you to overcome your own anxiety in order to help them with theirs, but as your children, they are depending on you to take these crucial steps to help them in their development and in overcoming any anxiety that they may be feeling.

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One of the problems that we are dealing with as a society in general is diabetes.  It used to be that this was a problem that was typically found in adults but with the diets that we tend to keep in the lifestyles that we live, it is becoming more and more prevalent for our children to have diabetes as well.  That is why there is a great need for diabetes information for kids that will help to give them and their parents some general guidelines for a lifestyle that will keep them free from this debilitating disease.

Most people are not aware of the fact that almost 177,000 children in the United States alone are dealing with diabetes.  These numbers are sure to rise as more and more children are lacking in exercise and eating the wrong types of food.  Even though your doctor will be able to give you information that will guide you through these processes, here is some basic diabetes information for kids that will help you to make sound choices that will affect your child’s health for their lifetime.  By following these tips yourself, you will also be benefited in a healthy way.

Of course, there are two different types of diabetes but for this particular article, we are going to discuss the one that affects people as a result of their lifestyle.  If your child has type 1 diabetes, lifestyle changes will also be necessary but this is best done under the supervision of a doctor.

One of the most important things for you to understand about diabetes in children is that it is often comes as a result of poor dietary habits.  Far too many sugary snacks and fast food dinners have caused an epidemic of obesity that is experienced in children throughout many developing countries.  In order to curtail this obesity and to combat diabetes, it is often necessary to eat foods that are lower in sugar.  It is not necessary to totally cut the sugar out of your system but you should make sure that you stick with foods that are on the lower end of the glycemic index.  By doing so, you will be helping the sugar to release slowly into the system instead of dumping into your bloodstream and causing your pancreas to flood your system with insulin.  By taking this one simple step, you will be doing much in combating diabetes and obesity in your children.

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Potty training time can be very difficult for parents and their toddlers alike. While different children will always have different reactions to potty training, your child can experience apprehension, fear, and even anger at potty training time. There are many different studies on the subject of potty training. In this article you will learn the facts about potty training—the facts that are backed up by experts and researchers that have studied potty training methods and progress.

When you’re ready to start potty training your toddler, you need all the tools and resources you can get. Not having the proper resources can leave you lost and wondering.

In fact, that’s what happened to Sherry Clark. Sherry felt pressured by her in-laws to toilet train her daughter Cheyenne before she turned three years old. The problem was that Cheyenne didn’t display any signs of being ready to toilet train, and Sherry’s family sort of left her to make her own decisions. “I really felt like I was doing a terrible job as a parent, because Cheyenne didn’t want anything to do with potty training. In fact, I probably prolonged the process because I pushed her into training when she clearly wasn’t ready,” says Sherry. According to child specialist Theresa Cornwell, Sherry may be exactly right. “Toilet training depends on the parent and the child. Both have to be ready and prepared for the changes. Forcing a child to use the toilet may only stunt her progress.”

Sherry decided to simply wait and let Cheyenne come to terms with using the toilet before she tried to train her again. In just a few months, Sherry tried again and was successful. In fact, the actual training time went very quickly and with very few incidents.

Here are some of the best-known ways to toilet train your toddler.

Do Not Panic

Often, parents can think there is something wrong with their child because he or she is 3 or 4 years old and they aren’t potty trained. Children develop differently, and some children may simply be late bloomers. This is most definitely not a reason to believe there is something wrong with your child. The child’s gender may even have something to do with it. In fact, researchers have found that girls are easier to toilet train than boys are. There are many reasons that this is true, including the fact that girls comprehend language earlier than boys and may therefore understand your teachings more quickly than a boy would.

One of the biggest messages that experts try to get parents to understand is that you shouldn’t panic. If your child is a late bloomer, it doesn’t mean there is something wrong with him or her at all.

Use Consistency

One of the most important things a parent can do when toilet training their toddler is to be consistent. This is the fastest way to teach your child how to use the toilet. For example, as soon as your child wakes up in the morning, take them to the bathroom.

Offer a small prize for using the potty. One thing that many parents do is to place a clear jar in the bathroom with small treats and cheap toys. The child sees this and knows that if he or she successfully uses the toilet, they will get one. Continue this every morning without fail so that your child becomes accustomed to and familiar with the process.

Another way that you can use consistency is to inform other caretakers of the potty-training plan. If your child just loves spending time with Grandma and Grandpa, and does so frequently, let Grandma and Grandpa in on the plan. This way, even if you’re not there, the same process will be followed, which should put the child at ease. If each different caretaker uses different methods to help your child use the toilet, it can get very confusing. By simply discussing the methods you’re using with any other caretakers, you can speed up the training time and keep things consistent.

When is Your Child Ready?

Although each child develops differently, experts agree there are a few things to look for that will signal your child is ready to begin toilet training. Since they will not be able to learn how to use the toilet until the muscles of their bladder and bottom are fully developed, you will want to look for the following:

• Your child can go several hours without emptying his or her bladder.
• Your child goes all night without wetting his or her diaper.
• Your child is mature enough to listen and understand what you say, as well as to communicate with you. This way, they can communicate the fact that they need to use the bathroom.
• Your child is starting to notice that when he or she eliminates in his or her diaper, it is dirty. They may not like the fact that they are dirty.

Any or all of these signs may tell you that your child is ready to begin potty training, and there are a few other things you will want to keep in mind when you are toilet training your toddler. Praise is the best method, and experts agree that a child should never be scolded for accidents. This could make them develop a complex about using the potty.

In fact, a study was done in which the researchers asked parents to praise their children and speak of defecation in a positive way to them. This study was published in the Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine. The researchers found that when parents spoke positively about defecation, the child was less likely to want to hide during the process and responded better to toilet training. It can be difficult to potty train your child, but with consistency and praise, you can soon say goodbye to diapers!

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If you haven’t already, you should notice that your baby is being a lot more responsive to noise and sound around him.    He should turn his head towards your vacuum, hair dryer, puree mixer, and even his name when you call him.  At this stage of his infanthood, his hearing is very important in the development of his communication skills.  He should be babbling much more and should be trying to “talk” to you. 

Try to encourage him to babble as much as possible by talking to him.  Repeat the words or sounds that he is making.  He’ll think you’re talking to him.  Try to have him listen to lots of different sounds and noise and tell him what they are.  It will help him associate the sound/noise with to the item making the sound/noise.  Also, continue to use repetitive sentences or words so he can understand what they mean when you say them. 

Since hearing is critical to your infant’s speech development, make sure you check with your pediatrician if your infant:

• does not repond to loud noise
• responds to only some sounds
• does not giggle or laugh out loud by his 6th month
• does not babble in a variety of tones and sounds by the 8th month

If caught early, these problems can be treated successfully and will have little impact on speech development.

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Most babies are born with some sort of abnormal shape to their heads due to the pressure of the birth canal during delivery. Most babies’ heads will return to normal shape within a few weeks of birth. Some, however, do not return to normal, and this is what doctors call Plagiocephaly or Flat Head Syndrome. There is typically either an asymmetrical look to the infant’s head, or a flat spot somewhere on the head. Most parents should be concerned at around six weeks if the child’s head stays abnormally shaped or develops a flat spot. Some children with Flat Head Syndrome can also have abnormally shaped ears, a prominent forehead, and uneven facial features.

What Causes Flat Head Syndrome?

There are a few different reasons that a child can develop Flat Head Syndrome other than pressure during delivery. During the 1990s, parents were continuously warned about the dangers of SIDS and were advised to put their babies to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk. When the child continuously sleeps in one spot, the pressure from the mattress can cause Flat Head Syndrome.

Another reason that an infant can develop this condition is if the womb is constricted somehow. This happens often when there are twin pregnancies, if the baby is breach and becomes wedged within the womb, or if the mother’s pelvis or uterus is very small. If, after six weeks or so, you notice that your baby is developing a flat area on her head, or if the original problem has not corrected itself, it is advisable to check with your child’s pediatrician. In most cases, the pediatrician will refer the parents to a craniofacial specialist or pediatric neurosurgeon.

Getting a Diagnosis

If your child’s condition is more than just the normal asymmetry, either a pediatric neurosurgeon or a craniofacial specialist will be able to tell you if action will need to be taken to treat your child. In most cases, the specialist will perform an x-ray of your child’s skull to rule out a condition called Craniosynostosis. This is a condition that displays similar symptoms but requires different treatments.

Once the specialist has determined that your child suffers from Plagiocephaly, he will then recommend a course of action.

Treatment

The most common recommendation a specialist will make is reposition therapy. This is simply where you place your child in a different sleeping position and avoid putting pressure on the flat spot. Typically, this works best in children under six months old. After this age, it is difficult to control the way your child sleeps. Your specialist may also recommend a specially tailored sleeping helmet, specifically molded for your child’s skull and will straighten out the shape of the head. Usually, reconstructive surgery is the very last resort and only if the case is extremely severe.

Preventing and Correcting Flat Head Syndrome

If your child needs reposition therapy, which is what most parents hope for, you will simply need to make sure your child doesn’t continually sleep in the same position. Your specialist can tell you different ways to position your child so there will be a lower risk of SIDS while you are correcting the Flat Head Syndrome. If the child must wear a special helmet or band (called a cranial orthotic), they will probably have to wear it for 23 to 24 hours out of the day. Usually, this type of treatment continues for around six months at a time.

In order to try to prevent Flat Head Syndrome, there are a few things you can do. Do not place your child in the very same position every time they sleep. Make sure they are placing pressure on different areas rather than the same one over and over again. You may try to place your baby on her side to sleep as well as on her back. Limiting her time in a carrier or swing is advisable, as well. Switch from side to side when you are bottle or breast feeding and you should reduce the risk of this condition greatly.

While in most cases your efforts and those of the pediatric specialist will pay off, sometimes there will be a degree of flatness left. If the specialists determine that the amount of flatness is too small to cause problems, it will most likely be hidden when your child’s hair grows.

This can be a scary condition, but overall, the success rate of correction is high. However, the earlier your child is treated, the better the chances will be of correction.

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There have been studies in animals that phthalates can cause reproduction problems. Therefore, activists believe it can also cause reproductive problems in human beings.

A recent U.S. study took urine samples from 163 babies that were between 2 to 28 months and detected at least one phthalate, with lotions, shampoos, and powders having the highest level.

Phthalates are added to plastics to make them more flexible and can be found in commonly used items such as nail polish, cosmetics, vinyl flooring, plastic toys, and even sex toys. Many products with fragrances often have levels of phthalates in it as well. The recent study found that items such as baby shampoos, lotions, and powders.

As a parent, how do you avoid buying products that are phthalates free? It’s going to be difficult since manufacturers are not required to list phthalates as an ingredient. But some manufacturers do label their products as “phthalates free”. A good guide might be to just simply purchase things that are fragrant free when it comes to baby shampoos, lotions and powders.

To read more, you can visit: The Canadian Press or Associated Press

A lot women love to wear cosmetics with fragrances (I know I do - they smell great and makes me feel fresh and clean!). If you would like to try “phthalates free” products, here is a list of natural cosmetics companies that have phthalates free products: Phthalates Free

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Not sure if any of you have heard, but Evenflo has recalled 1 Million of their Discovery Car seats. It is said that the car seat can separate from the base in the case of a car accident. How dangerous is that!!!

So, if you own models 390, 391, 534 and 552 that were made between April 2005 and January 29, 2008, make sure you contact Evenflo to get a free dual-hook fastener that will lock the car seat the base.

Their phone number: 1-800-356-2229.

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I received an email from a friend today. It reads:

Hello All,

I’m sure everyone of you knows at least one family affected by autism, as ours is. Please watch this video and pass it along to everyone you can. The band, Five for Fighting, is generously donating $0.49 to Autism Speaks each time this video is viewed. The funding goes toward research studies to help find a cure. When you have a moment, please visit the link below to watch the video and pass it along. They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal.

http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/408214

For those who are curious what life for a parent of an autistic child is like, watch the Autism Every Day video on this link:http://www.autismspeaks.org/sponsoredevents/autism_every_day.php

Much love.

We all can help fight autism, even if we are not affected by it. One day, I am sure you will run into someone who is affected and wish you could help.

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