Q – My baby is 10 months old and doesn’t have teeth yet – should I be worried?
A – This is not a cause for concern. Although the average age for first tooth eruption is 6 months, some children begin teething earlier, around 3 or 4 months, and some later, not until 14 or 15 months.
You and your new baby decide to go on your first outing since he was born. You change him, dress him and nurse him before you leave the house. He falls asleep in his car seat on the way there. Perfect! He’s fed, changed and sleeping peacefully.You’re all set to shop and you’re sure you have at least an hour and a half to get your shopping done before he wakes up and is hungry again. A half hour into your shopping he wakes up and you know he’ll be hungry soon. What do you do?
Thanks to all of you who entered our JP Lizzy diaper bag contest, and congratulations to Susan Ryder, who won the draw! We’ve compiled a few of your answers, as the activities while pregnant and with kids are inspiring. We are thrilled to have so many readers who are so in love with life!
One of the hardest parts of being a new parent is the isolation you can feel. Are you doing the right thing? What are other babies like? Do I know my baby’s cues?.. Parent-Child Mother Goose is a phenomenal program offered across Canada that can provide you with insight into your child, give you wonderful rhymes and music to sing, and connect you with other parents.
The other day, my toddler wanted to know where his daddy’s mommy was. She died ten years ago of cancer, and I was stunned that he was already sensing the absent family connection. How young is too young to explain death? Experts agree that the correct terminology is a good place to start. ‘Passing away’, ‘expiring’ or ‘putting down’ simply don’t compute with the little ones.
A big concern many parents have about traveling is how time changes and jet lag will affect their child’s routine and sleeping patterns. It’s a valid concern; we all know how jet lag makes us feel (zonked and cranky), and who wants to cope with a toddler in that same state? According to pretty much any book or article you read, children cope with time changes and jet lag much better than adults do, acclimatizing much faster.
The best thing about being green is that simple is best. Choices are (fortunately or not) less plentiful, and certain decisions are a given. Low VOC paint? Check. Carpet? Nope. Particleboard furniture? Uh, uh. The basic concept from a health standpoint is the toxins in the substances. Volatile organic compounds as well as the glue used in making pressboard, particleboard and chipboard, and chemicals in carpeting are released into the air over time. No number of spider plants will eliminate the chemicals forever. Choosing wood furniture can be a better choice, not only from an environmental perspective, but from a financial one.
by Prof. David Elkind
A year ago last fall, I was asked by the Hasbro Toy Company to consider being a spokesperson for their line of early childhood toys. Hasbro recently bought Playskol, a well established, and well regarded, maker of playthings for young children. Before accepting, I had a meeting with the manager of the division, and with some of the designers and creators, at their offices in Pawtucket Rhode Island. I was particularly interested in seeing their current crop of toys.
We can’t think of any activity more perfect than starting a great family nature tradition. Teach your young future stewards of the planet how to engage with their environment, take home pine cones for crafts, and get fresh air and exercise while learning the names of bugs, plants and flowers. These are memories of childhood that they will smile about for years to come. (and it may get you some future help with yardwork!)