But as you watch lovingly watch, you notice your baby drooling all over those once shiny toys and begin to wonder how the heck you clean these things safely and effectively. Here’s how to keep baby toys looking fresh and feeling sanitized for a healthy home. What Are Baby Toys? Baby toys are the props and objects that help infants advance developmentally (while also providing some entertainment!). Some toys can help bolster fine motor skills while others assist with hand-eye coordination....

It’s common for kids to withhold their affection from a stepparent, no matter how nice you are, no matter how carefully and kindly you treat them, and no matter how strong your relationship with your Honey is. Be prepared for a cool reception. And be prepared for that cool reception to last a long time. You are going to have to take the risks. You’re In Charge Ignoring the evil eye and calming the baleful stares will take time, unconditional respect, care, and courtesy....

This stage was the focus of a recent study by academics at the University of Cambridge and Royal Holloway, University of London, in the U.K. Published in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, the study found an association between childhood behavioral difficulties, such as anxiety and hyperactivity, and poor mental health during adolescence. Researchers also found that kids with behavioral difficulties are more likely to experience problems as adolescents if they’re from less privileged backgrounds....

This article provides fun ideas for how to plan and host a perfect 16th birthday party including themes, invitations, decorations, food and drinks, activities, and games. Planning a sweet sixteen birthday party is fun and exciting. Here are some steps and birthday ideas to help you with the party planning. Decide on a Party Theme The first thing to decide on is the theme. There are plenty of birthday party ideas to explore but choose one that you are sure your teen would love and matches their style, personality, hobbies, and interests....

Making the Switch to Milk The rule of thumb is that you should not consider making the switch from infant formula to whole cow’s milk until your baby is 12 months old. While it generally is no concern to wait a little longer to make the switch, do not switch before your baby has hit their first birthday. Before age 1, babies have greater difficulty digesting cow’s milk proteins. While babies 6 to 12 months old can tolerate dairy products like yogurt and cheese, they can have trouble with the large amount of cow’s milk proteins found in milk....

red spots or blisters on the palms of their hands and on their fingersred spots or blisters on the soles of their feet and on their toesulcers in a child’s mouth (especially their tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks) Other symptoms can include a fever, rash on the child’s buttocks and legs, and mild pain from the mouth ulcers. Are They Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease Symptoms? While it is often easy to diagnose a child with classic symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease, there are other childhood infections that cause similar symptoms and not all cases of HFMD are so classic....

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Other conditions detected in prenatal screening can be fatal or carry a profoundly poor prognosis. For example, half of the babies born with anencephaly will not survive birth and the other half die within hours or days. A chromosomal condition such as trisomy 13 or trisomy 18 can result in a baby with a short lifespan; 90 percent of babies with either of these conditions do not survive past one year old and are frequently afflicted with health problems and medical interventions throughout their lives....

Changes to the test such as multiple choice rather than short answer, or a reduced number of test items.Changes in the administration of the tests such as extended time, having items read using a text-reader, or having someone write your child’s answers as she says them aloud. Decisions on Accommodations for Tests Shortly after your child is formally diagnosed with a learning disability, the IEP team or Section 504 committee will likely discuss whether your child should have accommodations on his testing....

“Around the house, it is probably easier not to wear socks,” pediatrician Heather Shafi, MD, tells Verywell Family. But when it’s chilly out or your kiddo is wearing shoes, socks are an important layer to protect the feet from blisters, the elements, and anything else. Look at materials, style, value, and your baby’s comfort (’cause they’ll let you know!) when you stock up on socks. For this list, we researched socks in a variety of styles, prices, and materials, all of which have a reputation for quality and for staying on tiny toes....

Choose the right book for your little one by considering their interests, the book’s length and format, and how you think they will respond to the pictures and illustrations. Toddlers love repetition, so it also helps if you enjoy it, too! We carefully considered any age recommendations, illustrations, format, length, and value when reviewing products. Whether you’re looking for a sweet and sentimental bedtime story, an impressive gift, or just want to build your child’s book collection, here are our top picks for books for 2-year-olds....

To find the best rugs for kids’ rooms, we spoke with a few experts for insights into what qualities to look for. According to Dr. Karen Aronian, a former public school teacher and owner of Aronian Education Design LLC—a full service design firm serving to create purposeful learning spaces—rugs are essential because they can “transform rooms and invite play, creativity, and learning.” In addition to color and style, material, durability, and size are important factors to consider....

When choosing a toy for a 4-year-old, think about their lifestyle, interests, and who they might be playing with. While it’s nice to challenge them with toys or gifts that they can age into, make sure that whatever you choose is also fun right out of the box. We carefully considered toy safety, design, material, ease of cleaning, value, and any age recommendations when reviewing products. Here are the best gifts for the 4-year-old girl in your life....

No one seat is perfect for everybody, the right one will fit your car, child, lifestyle, and budget. We carefully considered age, height, and weight recommendations, design, material, ease of installation and cleaning, value, and safety when reviewing products. Here are the best infant car seats to keep your baby safe on the road. We named the Chicco Fit2 Infant & Toddler Car Seat our top pick thanks to smart functionality and longevity that allows your baby to be seated safely from day one....

As dietitians, the first thing we typically recommend is eating more protein-rich foods to meet your body’s increased needs. But you may find it challenging to eat more high protein foods than you’re accustomed to or may not be able to increase your intake enough. Add to this the nausea and changes in taste preferences that can occur during pregnancy, and a protein powder may be an important tool to boost your protein intake....

While certainly there is plenty for your child to do in the way of backyard games that don’t require any additional equipment, sometimes outdoor play can be enhanced with specially-made outdoor toys like swing sets, playhouses, water tables, sandboxes, and others. Check out our top picks!​ Usually made of plastic or wood and suitable to place in a yard or a playroom for indoor play, playhouses offer a base for ​a host of different play options, including “house,” “school,” “restaurant,” and more....

Wooden toys are classic and beautiful. There are so many lovely pull toys, baby rattles, and other favorite toys out there that are made of wood. Wood is a natural, eco-friendly material and toys made from it are good quality and feel nice to hold. There is just something appealing about wooden toys for babies, whether handmade or not. We rounded up the 25 best wooden baby toys. More: The Best Montessori Toys for Babies and Toddlers...

An Overview of IDEA and Section 504 Since 1975, every child with a disability has been entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) designed to meet his individual needs under the rules and regulations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This federal law governs all special education services and provides some funding to state and local education agencies to guarantee special education and related services for those students who meet the criteria for eligibility in a number of distinct categories of disability, each of which has its own criteria....