As children grow, they reach milestones of play, learning, behavior and language development that change the way they interact with others and the world around them. Because some disorders are characterized by delays in these milestones, parents...
Pregnancy is an exciting time for parents-to-be. Some mothers find it difficult to quit smoking prior to or during their pregnancies. Cigarette smoke contains over 2,000 chemicals, with two of the most dangerous substances being nicotine and...
Premature births, also known as preterm births, are a significant health concern, occurring in over 12 percent of all pregnancies in the United States, according to the March of Dimes. A birth is considered premature when it occurs before the...
Babies who use pacifiers have different needs at different stages of development. In the early months of life, a pacifier should resemble a nipple to make breastfeeding easier. As children develop teeth, however, it's important that pacifier...
Omega-3 fatty acids, essential polyunsaturated fats the body cannot produce, play an important role in cognition, memory and behavioral function. Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Both farmed and wild...
Infants born prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy are considered preterm. Many of these infants require special care to promote their growth and development. Their bodies must adjust to life outside of the womb at an earlier time than anticipated to...
According to MayoClinic.com, most babies double their birth weight by 6 months and triple it by 1 year. But for parents of infants who fall short of that goal, or who were classified “growth restricted” at birth, it’s natural to...
Infants grow and develop at different rates, and just because your baby isn't crawling or walking as soon as his playmates doesn't mean there's anything wrong. However, there are developmental milestones in every baby's development, and if your...
All children are born as unique individuals that grow, develop and learn at their own pace. Despite their individuality, pediatricians follow a set of standard child development milestones of verbal, physical, social and cognitive skills to help...
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a baby is considered to be premature if he is born before his mother's 37th week of pregnancy. The NIH reports that between 8 and 10 percent of U.S. pregnancies are premature. The development...
If your baby is born prior to 38 weeks he is considered premature, or a preemie. Some women may deliver as early as 24 to 30 weeks of gestation. Their babies will spend many months in the neonatal intensive care unit. Generally, the earlier a baby...
Memory, language, reasoning and thinking all begin developing during the first year of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that it's important to monitor cognitive development during the first year to identify any delays....
Constipation is uncomfortable for adults. It can be uncomfortable for infants, too. You may think that supplementing your baby's diet with vitamins and minerals such as iron is good for him. But the iron might be making him constipated. Check with...
Your baby's brain is like a sponge, absorbing information about the world around her at an amazing rate. Cognitive development begins at birth with attachment and trust in you. By the time she's a year old, your baby will have developed a variety...
A premature baby, born before 37 weeks' gestation, may be born early as a result of an infection, hormonal imbalance or mother's poor health. He may need help to breathe, eat and stay warm at first. The earlier he is born, the more complications...
During their first year, babies progress developmentally from simple reflex movements to pulling up and walking. Babies need opportunities to stretch, move and strengthen leg muscles in order to promote healthy leg development. Understanding leg...
Babies born at less than 37 weeks' gestation are preterm, or premature. According to the author of "When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads," Dr. Barbara Luke, roughly 10 percent of single baby and 50 percent of twin pregnancies are...
During pregnancy, your developing baby is exposed to anything that you put in your body--whether that is healthy food and water or drugs and alcohol. Substance abuse during pregnancy can severely affect the health of your developing baby. The...
Babies are virtually helpless and reliant upon reflexes when first born, but they soon become cognizant of the world around them and have multiple exploratory tools at their disposal by the time they reach their first year. Although babies develop...
The stages at which an infant can grasp and hold objects are important milestones in a baby's life. Learning to grab things not only makes play more interesting for the baby, but it also prepares him for future skills, such as eating with a spoon...
Arm strength development plays a major role in your baby's first year. Arm muscle control enables your baby to interact with and explore her environment, and to develop skills that help her crawl, climb and pull herself up. Encourage arm movement...
According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health --- abbreviated NSDUH by the U.S. government --- more than 15 percent of pregnant women admit to using drugs or alcohol at some point during their pregnancies. Topping the list of drugs...
Consuming adequate amounts of iodine during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is extremely important. Iodine is a mineral essential for proper growth and development in babies. An iodine deficiency can cause developmental delays, mental...
During the first year of life babies develop the skills that will translate into the activities they will use for the rest of their lives. Gross and fine motor skills, language, sensory and social skills all are rooted in infancy. While babies...
According to the March of Dimes, 30% of young women younger than 20 years of age become pregnant at least once. Because of the wide-ranging effects to the individual mothers and children as well as society as a whole, programs to help prevent teen...
Cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by brain damage during development and results in problems with muscle tone, balance and motor skills. The location and extent of the brain damage can result in a wide range of different symptoms. There is no surefire...
According to the American Thyroid Association, more than 12 percent of the U.S. population will suffer from a thyroid condition at some time in their lives. Although uncommon in the United States, inadequate intake of dietary iodine can cause...
In 1984 the Surgeon General mandated that cigarette packages carry the following warning; "Smoking by pregnant women may result in fetal injury, premature birth and low birthweight." When a woman finds out that she is pregnant the first thing she...
You may see warnings on diet soda bottles about the risks of phenylalanine. An essential amino acid used to make proteins as well as brain chemical and some hormones, phenylalanine occurs naturally in many foods, including meats, dairy products...
