What's Best for Baby Brain Development?

" Dr. Laura, Now that my daughter is seven months old, I'd like to know how to best spend each day with her: how much alone play, interactive play, what activities, are there any essential toys, and so on. I pretty much follow her lead throughout the day, but I want to make sure I'm including beneficial activities for her. She is bright, and I'd like to help cultivate that without being overly structured. I'd like to ensure that every moment spent with her is a quality one. Thank you!"

How lucky your daughter is to have a mom so committed to her healthy development. I admire your intention to make the most of every moment with her.

Babies need the presence of an adult who is responsive to their needs, but it doesn't benefit them to have all of life revolve around them. Human babies are designed to develop by interacting with their loved ones and observing family and community life. That means that what your little one most needs is to interact with you in a loving, warm, joyful way, and to observe as you go about the tasks of daily life. So please share your life with your baby, but don't focus on her every single moment.

In other words, she needs to know that you'll be there for her if she needs you. But it's not helpful to her to feel that she's always the focus of attention. You might think of this as responsively parenting your baby. You respond to her needs and set up her environment so that she can explore and thrive. But you don't make every moment about her -- that kind of pressure would make any child anxious!

So being responsive to your daughter's needs is important, in the sense that you feed her when she's hungry and create the opportunity for her to nap when she's tired, and let her explore by watching the bug on the sidewalk. But you don't want her to feel that you're often looking at her and saying "What shall we do now?" She needs to know that someone bigger than her is in charge; it would feel scary to her to feel like she's calling the shots. Instead, set up a schedule that will work for her, and be sure she has the security of knowing what to expect ("In the morning mom does the dishes while I play nearby with my toys; then we go out to do errands.")

Then, while you go through your day, warmly engage with your baby. A baby's brain does not need sensory bombardment; she will find plenty to stimulate her cognitive development in the activities of daily life. But a baby's brain does need to be interacting with her special people during most of her waking hours. She uses you as her secure base from which to explore the world, and she looks to you to know how to interpret what she experiences. As she interacts with you, her brain makes the neural connections that will shape it for life.

So a baby's intellectual development is built on the foundation of emotional security. That means your primary attention needs to be on enjoying her, engaging with her, responding to her, showing her the world, and reassuring her when she expresses concern about things. Studies show that infants who are the most advanced intellectually, emotionally and physically are the babies whose mothers are more attentive, responsive, and warmly engaging with them.

She definitely does not need you to focus on her intellectual development in the sense of counting, ABC's, or any conventional intellectual tasks. She will find great intellectual stimulation in games of hide 'n seek, in pulling all the pans out of your cupboard, and in seeing the world from the safety of a backpack or baby carrier as you grocery shop or interact with other people. You may have heard that reading to a baby is good for her, and it is. But even better is talking to and with her. Involve her and speak with her as you move through your daily tasks: folding laundry, washing dishes, cooking dinner.

Soon your daughter will be at the crawling stage, and she'll want to explore everything. It's worth mentioning that babies who are told "No" a lot learn not to think inside the box. If you want to give your daughter's intellect a boost, baby-proof well and supervise, but give her curiosity free reign to explore. It will mean a couple of months of restoring your books to the shelves every day, but she'll soon be past this stage and onto the next, having concluded that the world is well worth exploring and nothing need stop her.

Babies love changes of scenery. If she's tired of sitting in her seat mouthing her toys, take her for a walk. If she's squirmy in her sling, let her play on the floor, practicing turning over and hoisting herself up onto her hands and legs. If she's not happy being left to her own devices while you clean the bathroom, take a break and let her play with the water with you. Babies love to see how things work, which is second in fascination to them only to interactions with their parents.

Should you play brain development games with her? There's certainly no harm in it, but make it interactive and age appropriate--which means sensory, not just cognitive. Sing to her, play pat-a-cake type games, massage her, play music of different kinds for her, dance with her. Make sure that she gets plenty of opportunities to see other babies and children.

If you run out of ideas, spend half an hour at the bookstore browsing the baby shelves. There are a lot of books out there that offer specific ideas for games, that you probably don't need to own to be inspired by. I did notice recently that used copies of Julie Hagstrom's classic Games Babies Play were on sale online. (She also wrote Games Toddlers Play.)

Should you let her watch Baby Einstein videos? Experts warn against it. First, babies who watch any video are spending less time interacting with actual humans, so studies show that their language development is delayed and we suspect there are other delay effects. Second, watching screens changes brain development. We don't know enough yet, but screen use in the early years when the brain is taking shape so rapidly has definitely been associated with shorter concentration spans.

Making every moment count is an admirable idea, but you don't want to teach your baby that being productive every moment is what matters most. Making every moment with your daughter high quality should not mean making every moment busy. Babies don't benefit from over-stimulation. They need plenty of interaction with us, but they also need plenty of time to play with their toes, listen to music, stare at the dust motes in a shaft of light, and just figure out how their own muscles work. They don't need us at those times to rush in and justify our own existence by teaching them anything or occupying them; they're already occupied. All babies need time to play in the security of our presence, but without our interference. Learning to do that is an important developmental accomplishment.

Your daughter is a lucky baby. Since you follow her lead, you will be able to attune to what she expresses, and able to give her what she needs. Enjoy her, and treasure this time with her. Knowing we enjoy them is probably what babies need from us most of all.

5 Things Every Toddler Mom is Grateful For

Oh, toddlers. There's so much to love about the wonderful, complex little beings that are neither baby nor kid. There are the words beginning to come together into sentences, the slobbery kisses and hugs that turn into snuggles, and the way those little voices sound the first time they say “I love you” without being prompted. There's the sound of little feet stomping across the kitchen and the way they look at you, every minute or so, just to see what you're doing. Along with all the wonderful joys of toddlerhood though come all the dinners strewn across the floor, the red-faced shouts of “do-it-by-self!”, and the tantrums on the floor of the grocery store. As much as we know that these hard parts of toddlerhood are good, that they are discoveries of independence and testing of boundaries, they can also be really dang hard. As those hard parts arise, toddler moms find themselves particularly grateful for many of the modern conveniences of mom life.

Along with all the wonderful joys of toddlerhood, though, come all the dinners strewn across the floor, the red-faced shouts of “do-it-by-self!”, and the tantrums on the floor of the grocery store. As much as we know that these hard parts of toddlerhood are good — that they are discoveries of independence and testing of boundaries — they can also be really dang hard. As those hard parts arise, toddler moms find themselves particularly grateful for many of the modern conveniences of mom life.

Dry shampoo

Good old dry shampoo. I bet you thought that your long nights and showerless days would end as your newborn grew and transitioned to a baby and then to a toddler. Alas, the challenges of having a newborn are different than that of having a toddler, but you still might find yourself tired, un-showered, and in deep need of that can of dry shampoo your ever-so-kind sister gave you when you brought the baby home.

Grilled cheese, strawberries, and Cheerios

Remember when you were pregnant and spent hours researching how to make your own baby food?

Yeah …

By this point in parenthood, you've probably adjusted your expectations a few times, but it can still feel uber frustrating when you prep that fabulous spaghetti squash dinner for your toddler and it, again, ends up nowhere but the floor. At times like these, toddler moms are beyond grateful for their little one's “always” foods — for my kid, that's grilled cheese, strawberries, and Cheerios.

Grandparents who let Mama sleep in on the weekends

For toddler parents, there's nothing like a weekend at home with Mom and Dad. Home-cooked meals (cooked by someone else), a fire in the fireplace (made by someone else), and the RARE chance to sleep in while someone else watches your little one. Parents of any age are thankful for extra sleep, but toddler moms count their blessings, thank their lucky stars, and pull the covers up over their head when it actually happens.

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Or Curious George or Elmo or Pooh … Toddler moms are thankful for their little one's favorite character for the love, comfort, and giggles they give them. When everything is going wrong in a toddler life — the lunch isn't right, the nap is too late, the socks are just too scratchy — their favorite character, in book, lovey, or TV form, always offers comfort that toddler moms are beyond grateful for.

Hand-me-downs and kid thrift shops

Everyone told you they grow up fast, but what they didn't tell you was to never, ever buy clothes new. I learned this lesson when my 9-pound, 9-pound newborn never got the chance to wear a single item of the newborn layette I bought him. Toddler moms know that their kids grow way too quickly for new clothes and are thankful for all the hand-me-downs that come their way and the kid thrift shops they use to complete their kiddo's wardrobes.

Expert Tips to Get Kids to Eat Veggies – and How Much They Really Need

Transitioning your child from baby food to solid foods can be quite the task.

All parents want their kids to eat enough veggies and fruit but figuring out how much they need and how to get them to eat what they need can be challenge. Dr. Jack Maypole, adviser to The Goddard School and pediatrician for medically complex children at Boston Medical Center, offers some guidance on how much kids of all ages need to stay healthy:

• Toddlers should eat two to three servings of fruit and vegetable a day. A serving size for this age group is about a quarter to half what the grown-ups at the table are served.
• Preschoolers should be offered about a quarter to half a cup of canned or fresh fruits and the number of tablespoons of vegetables for every year of their age daily.
• All children should be served protein two to three times a day and carbohydrates up to six times a day (think snacks!).

Now that you know how many servings of healthy foods your little one needs, how can you get her to eat what you offer? While some families have toddlers who will happily eat whatever is offered, many parents find that around 12-15 months old their children tend to become picky or even avoid healthy foods they previously loved when they start to become more aware of taste and texture. As a mother of four, I know it's not always quite that easy!

If you have a picky eater at home Dr. Maypole has some tips to help.

 Tip #1

Offer one new food with two familiar foods

If you know your daughter likes pasta, serve that as usual and add a portion of a new vegetable to her plate. If she's got one food available to her that she really likes, she won't be so averse to the vegetables.

Tip #2

Establish a rule that children have to try at least one bite of a new vegetable

Just as the saying goes, “You can't knock it unless you try it,” meaning, you have no basis on the taste of a food if you've never tried it. Research shows that most children will take to a food after about 15 tastings (for some super picky or rigid eaters, such as those on the autism spectrum, for example, it may be many, many more times).

Tip #3

Turn the food into something that kids don't associate with “gross” — like V8 or Naked Juice

My kids love to drink their veggies (maybe because they don't realize what they are drinking is good for them). Sometimes I make smoothies with spinach and carrots, but we also drink a lot of drinks like Naked Juice. My kids love then and they have fun names like Green Machine and Kale Blazer.

 Tip #4

The taste may lie in the presentation

Keep mealtimes positive by involving kids in food prep and getting enthusiastic in the craft and presentation of food. This may cultivate interest and curiosity in the food, which can lead to the development of a more adventurous palate.

Besides the look of the food, kids love colorful, fun plates! Mine love Skip Hop's owl-themed mealtime set. Many other animal themes are available in case your child prefers dogs or butteries.

Tip #5

Never force feed or go to war about making your child eat

Forcing your child to eat food that they don't want to eat is typically a losing battle for all involved, but finding a way to negotiate in some way may not be a bad solution.

If it's easy for Mom and Dad to make veggies, they will offer them to the kids more often! The Baby Brezza Glass One Step Baby Food Maker is great for making small portions for introducing veggies to babies in a way that looks similar to the baby food they had been previously eating. It also works well for toddlers, preschoolers, and even my big kid when I want to prepare a small amount of a new food for my kids to try. It's kid sized, so it's easy for older children to use.

The Case Against Ferber Sleep Training

I'll admit up front that I'm biased against Ferberizing, or Ferbering, as it is sometimes called. As a psychologist, I follow the research, which has convinced me that babies do better if they are held when they cry.

I understand how desperate a parent can be to get a child to sleep, and I have many good friends who have used the Ferber method with their babies. But I've found that there are kinder, gentler ways to teach babies to put themselves to sleep. And with all due respect, Richard Ferber is trained in physical health, not mental health. He readily admits that he is not trained in infant psychology.

Most interesting, Ferber now says in interviews that he regrets some of the advice he's given. He's been quoted as saying that he feels badly that child health professionals are encouraging parents to leave very young babies to cry, and that it's ok to co-sleep.

Here's how Ferberizing works:

You never start this process with a baby younger than three months. First, you let the baby cry for five minutes, then go in to reassure him verbally and by patting him. You don't pick him up. Then you leave, let him cry for another ten minutes, then go back to reassure him again. This time, you let him cry for fifteen minutes, then go back to reassure him. If the baby vomits, you clean him up (preferably without picking him up), but leave him in the crib and continue with the Ferberizing. Each time you leave, you wait longer to return.

With a very determined and resourceful baby, this crying can go on all night, but more usually the baby will become exhausted and fall asleep after a few hours. When he reawakens later in the night, the process is repeated. Often the next interval of crying is shorter, either because the baby has given up on the parent staying, or because he is exhausted. Sometimes it is longer, because the baby is re-energized (or an extremely determined person, who will someday accomplish great things by virtue of his strong will.) Usually, though, the crying diminishes on subsequent nights, as the baby learns not to expect the parent to stay with him.

While listening to their baby cry is hard on parents (not to mention the baby), most babies do eventually give up calling for their parents, and sleep. Because they do not yet talk, and live so completely in the moment, we do not hear from them the next morning how they felt about the experience.

However, even when parents are consistent, this approach does not work on all children. Some babies are still crying on the seventh night in a row. It is not uncommon for babies to get an ear infection in the middle of it (from the congestion caused by the crying); it is recommended that the Ferberizing be discontinued during the round of antibiotics that follows, to be re-initiated later. In addition, since any change in the routine (a brief illness, a trip to Grandma's) requires parents to respond to the baby's cries and then to repeat Ferberizing on another night, this process must be endured repeatedly by both baby and parents.

There are many studies claiming that repeatedly leaving babies to cry it out is a risk factor that predisposes kids to permanent brain changes and mental health issues in later life. However, advocates of Ferberizing say that because the parent keeps returning to the child's room, this offers the child reassurance that he has not been abandoned, and therefore keeps the experience from traumatizing the baby in the way that just letting them "cry it out" does.

The most recent claim that letting kids "cry it out" without reassurance may cause lasting damage is the finding that when a baby is left to cry alone, her cortisol level shoots up, indicating distress. That's not surprising. What is surprising is the finding that on subsequent nights -- even when the baby is put into bed and does not cry -- her cortisol level still shoots up. Researchers interpret this as an indication that she is distressed. So why doesn't she cry? Because she has been "trained" -- she knows that no one will come.

Margot Sunderland's The Science of Parenting cites many studies that Sunderland claims support her view that repeated, sustained crying without adult reassurance causes babies' brains to develop less than optimally. My perusal of her sources showed some that probably should not be used to support her claim because they studied more extreme circumstances. But many of the studies seem credible.

Harvard Researchers who examined emotional learning, infant brain function and cultural differences claim that babies who are left to cry themselves to sleep suffer long-lasting damage to their nervous systems. The researchers claim that this makes these children more susceptible in later life to anxiety disorders, including panic attacks. The incidence of anxiety disorders has increased dramatically in recent years, but I personally don't think this is necessarily correlated to the practice of letting children "cry it out." My own view is that such a susceptibility could be caused by many aspects of childhood in 21st century North America and would need to be triggered by later trauma to play out.

So the question is whether the intermittent parental reassurance (but refusing to pick up the pleading baby) as specified by the Ferber method protects the child from the risks of just letting him "cry it out." Some anti-Ferber folks claim that the parent coming into the room and ignoring the baby's distress might actually increase the trauma by undermining the baby's trust in the parent.

It's hard to evaluate research in this area because there are so many other factors (many of which are arguably more important) in how babies develop. However, it is well-documented that sustained, uncomforted infant crying causes increased heart rate and blood pressure, reduced oxygen levels, elevated cerebral blood pressure, depleted energy reserves and oxygen, and cardiac stress. Cortisol, adrenalin and other stress hormones skyrocket, which disrupts the immune system and digestion. It's a reasonable guess that if this is repeated over time, these babies would build a slightly different brain, more prone to "fight, flight or freeze."

We know that with adults, even one panic-inducing experience like a car accident or mugging that causes an extreme stress response can have ongoing stress effects for years. Since babies' heart rates and blood pressure soar during Ferbering, I don't think there can be any doubt that sleep training without parental comfort causes the experience to be indelibly etched on the memory, much as any panic situation can evoke strong feelings years later. That the memory is sensory and preverbal just gives it more power, as it cannot be adequately processed.  

So there are a growing number of critics who see Ferberizing as barbaric. Their position can be summarized as follows:

1. Richard Ferber is a pediatrician with no psychological training.

While his approach works on some babies, it may not be simply "teaching them to sleep in their own beds”, as Ferber maintains. Other, less desirable lessons are unwittingly being taught.

2. Your baby is learning that you cannot be depended on,

and in fact will regularly desert her when she needs you most; that she is powerless to have an impact on her world in the ways that most matter to her; and that her world is a cold and lonely place. The most important developmental work your baby is doing right now is learning how to trust. Why sabotage that?

3. She learns that you will not help her when she needs it,

...by your coming back into the room and telling her to go to sleep. She concludes that she is not, in the deepest dark of the night, really lovable. She may even conclude that you are intentionally tormenting her.

4. It is possible that these early lessons will underlie her sense of self and worldview for the rest of her life.

Insomnia is rampant in our culture, and some Ferber critics argue that all those adults who can’t fall asleep without the TV on, or who wake up at night and can’t sleep, are Ferber casualties.

I should add that I've heard that there are families where the baby learns to fall asleep with a few minutes of crying and never needs to be retrained. In those cases, it seems to me a wonderful solution.

I should also acknowledge that I know many kids who were Ferbered as babies by their parents, who shall remain nameless because they are dear friends of mine. These kids all seem fine to me. So while I think Ferbering is a risk factor, it's hardly the worst thing you can do to your kids. Regular yelling because you're exhausted would be worse, in my view. And sleep deprivation definitely makes you a worse parent.

But Ferbering is a risk factor, and an avoidable one, so it's important for you to know there are other, gentler methods for teaching your baby to put herself to sleep. You can begin encouraging gentle sleep habits that make it more likely that your chid will sleep at night even as early as three months.

These are not the top child health problems

Childhood obesity, bullying, and drug abuse are the top child health problems, according to respondents to a national survey for Mott’s Children’s Hospital in Michigan.The survey participants got it wrong on two of those priorities.  Their responses are more a reflection of what’s been getting media attention, rather than the real problems affecting America’s youth.

I was glad to see that childhood obesity, listed by 60 percent of the participants, achieved the number one ranking.  It’s hard to overemphasize the serious medical and mental health implications of this epidemic.However, those who listed bullying (58 percent) and drug abuse (53 percent) as the most serious child health problems got it wrong.Bullying is an important issue, but the prevalence is not increasing, and may in fact be declining. Schools are taking this problem very seriously, and many states have laws that help insure that our kids can go to school in an emotionally safe environment.

While drug abuse is a serious issue, it’s more of a symptom of underlying problems.If I was completing the survey, I’d list child abuse and neglect as the second most serious health problem for our kids. The overall rates of neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse remain alarmingly high.  This is a safety issue that demands our focused attention.

I’d rate stress as the third most significant health issue, one that is related to so many other problems identified in the survey.Childhood stress is difficult to comprehend. Most of our kids are privileged, entitled and raised in financially secure environments. They have economic advantages unknown to any other generation. With so many benefits, why is stress such a serious health issue?

I’d list stress as one of my top priorities because we are raising a generation of entitled and overprotected kids who are horrible at dealing with life’s problems. When confronted with difficulties, they respond by abusing drugs, smoking, bullying or developing mental health issues.

These problems are symptoms. We don’t need more education to teach kids that bullying, taking drugs, and smoking are bad. Instead, we need to teach our children better ways to deal with unpleasant feelings, difficult people, failure and frustration.

What kids are calling “stress” today was once viewed as just a normal part of living that kids figured out how to manage.

The solution is for parents to stop solving problems for their kids, and start teaching them how to deal with difficulties on their own. Your job is to do more coaching and less controlling, helping our kids to be strong and independent, not victims of life’s normal pressures.

Does My Toddler Have a Language Delay?

My 2½-year-old daughter seems to talk less than her sister did at this age. I know that kids develop language skills at different times, but I'm still concerned. What's "normal" for her age?
- Nina

As you mention, all children (yes, even siblings!) develop and refine their language skills at different times throughout their development, so the range of what's "normal" is broad. However, some guidelines can help parents decide if their child might be at the latter end of the spectrum.

A typical 2-year-old should:

• speak in two-word phrases, like "more juice" and "go bye-bye"
• follow two-step commands
• name simple objects
• have a vocabulary of 50 or more words
• be understood at least 50% of the time by a parent

Between 2 and 3 years, vocabulary continues to build and comprehension also increases. By 3 years of age, a child should:

• speak in three-word sentences
• have a vocabulary of 200 words or more (basically, more than you can count)
• be understood 75% of the time
• understand prepositions (such as, "put it on the table" or "put itunder the bed")
• use pronouns ("me," "you," "it")

If you feel that your child is not on track, talk to your doctor about your concerns.

 by: Amy Nelson, MA, CCC-SLP

A Guide for First-Time Parents

You've survived 9 months of pregnancy. You've made it through the excitement of labor and delivery, and now you're ready to head home and begin life with your baby. Once home, though, you frantically realize you have no idea what you're doing!

These tips can help even the most nervous first-time parents feel confident about caring for a newborn in no time.

Getting Help After the Birth

Consider getting help during this time, which can be very hectic and overwhelming. While in the hospital, talk to the experts around you. Many hospitals have feeding specialists or lactation consultants who can help you get started nursing or bottle-feeding. In addition, nurses are a great resource to show you how to hold, burp, change, and care for your baby.

For in-home help, you might want to hire a baby nurse or a responsible neighborhood teenager to help you for a short time after the birth. Your doctor or the hospital can be good resources for finding information about in-home help, and might even be able to make a referral to home health agencies.

In addition, relatives and friends often want to help. Even if you disagree on certain things, don't dismiss their experience. But if you don't feel up to having guests or you have other concerns, don't feel guilty about placing restrictions on visitors.

Handling a Newborn

If you haven't spent a lot of time around newborns, their fragility may be intimidating. Here are a few basics to remember:

• Wash your hands (or use a hand sanitizer) before handling your baby. Newborns don't have a strong immune system yet, so they are susceptible to infection. Make sure that everyone who handles your baby has clean hands.

• Be careful to support your baby's head and neck. Cradle the head when carrying your baby and support the head when carrying the baby upright or when you lay your baby down.

• Be careful not to shake your newborn, whether in play or in frustration. Shaking that is vigorous can cause bleeding in the brain and even death. If you need to wake your infant, don't do it by shaking — instead, tickle your baby's feet or blow gently on a cheek.

• Make sure your baby is securely fastened into the carrier, stroller, or car seat. Limit any activity that could be too rough or bouncy.

• Remember that your newborn is not ready for rough play, such as being jiggled on the knee or thrown in the air.

My Child Won't Eat - Healthy Eating Habits for Life

One of the most common concerns voiced by new parents is how to get their kids to eat healthy foods. Children need more than just calories. The rapidly developing brain needs protein; fatty acids; iron; zinc; copper; iodine; selenium; vitamin A; vitamin B6; choline and folate just to name a few essential ingredients that come from proper nutrition. In the long-term, proper eating habits from infancy will carry on to adulthood and protect us from disease and disability.

Taste Preferences

Babies are born with highly developed senses of taste and smell. A few drops of sugar water placed on the tongue will elicit lip licking and a happy expression in babies. At the same time, it is obvious if they are exposed to a bitter flavor and a clear dislike for it will be demonstrated by their reaction to it. This preference for certain tastes is influenced by what you eat and drink during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Studies have shown that mothers who eat healthy foods during pregnancy or breast-feeding on a consistent basis have babies with healthier eating tendencies. Parents should eat more healthy foods themselves. When children see you eating and enjoying healthy food, they will tend to mimic you and do the same.

Finicky Eaters

Around 2 years of age it is quite common for children to abruptly stop eating foods that they used to enjoy. The best way to overcome this natural instinct is quite simple: exposure. Children will ultimately eat like their parents and if you expose them to vegetables and the proper mix of good foods, they will acquire this same tendency over time. All of us are born with a natural craving for sweet things. Exposure to a nutritious food will increase your child's future desire for it. It is best that you ignore your child's facial expressions and general negative reactions to certain foods that you know are good for them. Over time, the brain will recognize the nutritional value of good foods and the natural craving for things that are good for us will eventually take over.

Introducing New Foods

If you want your child to start eating new food, don't present it alone. Serve it to your child along with some other things that he or she likes. Also, make sure your child is really hungry when you are introducing a new food. That way, they are more likely to taste it, eat it, and enjoy it. Their acceptance of the new food will be enhanced if he or she has a good appetite when it is introduced. First impressions are lasting impressions and this particularly applies to new foods.

Strategies to Avoid

Make sure that you don't introduce new or novel foods when a child is feeling ill. They may associate the new food with a bad experience going forward by doing so. Also, never pressure children to eat large quantities of things they don't want to eat. There are tremendous benefits from encouraging children to taste new and different foods in small quantities. This approach of sampling good foods and letting nature - and your child's brain - do the rest will serve you well.

Tips for Parents

1. Pair new foods with familiar foods. 

2. Encourage children to try new foods, but don't be harsh or forceful. 

3. Eat a variety of foods yourself in front of your children. 

4. Avoid filling children up with familiar food when you are trying to get them to taste something new. 

5. Be patient and have faith in your child's own taste and nutrition-seeking system. 

6. Don't introduce new foods when your child is ill or becoming ill.

Helping Baby Sleep, a Simple Plan

Do you have a baby who has trouble sleeping? Lack of sleep in babies can affect their growth, immune system and their ability to thrive, not to mention your own sanity! Helping baby sleep is possible when you know how. I have provided information below to attempt to make this a bit easier for all parents.

There may be several resons why your baby is not sleeping well. Some of the reason we hear most about are colic or abdominal discomfort, food intolerance, teething, urinary tract infection or even separation anxiety. As well as the above, other factors such as an unsuitable crib or uncomfortable or ill fitting sleepwear could be causing your baby's restlessness. Try to find out the reason your baby isn't sleeping well before seeking out some baby sleep help.

Many babies have problems sleeping, so you're not alone. Most of these problems will simply go away on their own as your baby gets older. Most children will outgrow these problems as they grow and mature. However, at times, sleeping problems could become chronic and could develop into more serious sleeping disorders. So, if your child's sleeping problems are persistent, you should immediately seek some baby sleep help from a qualified physician.

One of the first things to do is make sure sure your baby is comfortable. Establish a good.workable sleep routine, make sure baby's crib is comfortable and make sure his romm is not too hot or cold. 

These are some simple things you can do to make sure your baby feels safe and comfortable. These things will go a long way in helping baby sleep peacefully. But the most important thing you should do as far as your baby's sleeping problems are concerned is choosing the right medication.

Natural remedies are the best when it comes to treating sleeping problems in babies. Babies, needless to say, are gentle and tender. Allopathic medications, though effective, could cause a lot of side effects. Even more important though is virtually all of the chemical sleep medications are addictive. 

In fact, it is very risky to give these medications to your child. So, if you are looking for some good baby sleep help, go for homeopathic medications which are both powerful and safe.

There are numerous advantages to selecting herbal or homeopathic medications instead of chemical based medications.

Natural remedies are very safe. There are little to no chances of side effects at all. They are quite safe to use on a regular basis.

They do not act as a sedative. They bring on a feeling of drowsiness, relax your baby and help establish a natural, healthy sleep pattern.

In addition, some of the natural ingredients found in homeopathic blends are also useful for treating other infant problems such as irritability, anxiety and colic. They have a calming effect as well which will help your baby sleep soundly.

Some examples of ingrdients to watch for when purchasing sleep remedies for babies are Coffea c30, Matricaria and Passiflora Incarnata. These ingredients are completely natural and safe but also highly potent and effective for helping baby sleep. What more can you ask for? Choose wisely and look after your baby's wellbeing.

Author,

Wendy Owen