Many parents worry about their child’s development. I’ve been asked to write more about children’s developmental milestones and “when to worry.” It’s a common concern and seems to cause a lot of anxiety. When we refer to developmental milestones, we’re talking about a list of things most children eventually learn. We know at which ages…
If your child is mobile, it’s time to think about making your home as safe as possible. Today, we’ll focus specifically on preventing accidental poisoning at home. In other words, we’ll discuss how to keep dangerous chemicals out of their mouths and bodies. I’ll focus mostly on adults modifying their behavior as well as a…
Many kids watch television at some point. Although the AAP recommends less than 1 hour per day of screen time (for children aged 2-5), it doesn’t mean that any screen time at all is “bad.” There can be many benefits, including parent-child bonding, early literacy skills, school-readiness, and cultural awareness. This post offers some ideas…
Maybe you’ve seen the headlines by now. There are toxic heavy metals in prepared baby foods. Even in organic prepared baby foods. The headlines are doing their job. We gasp. We click and we read. Hopefully, though, we’re not also feeling more afraid. This is why I wanted to write today. These headlines are not…
Disclaimer: This contains no medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon…
Last week, we reviewed some elements of language development (https://www.mayapeds.com/promote-early-literacy-even-without-books/ ). Today, we’ll discuss some gross motor development and the one key activity all babies can benefit from: time on the floor or other open area. We’ll review some basic development and see why and how free time on the floor is so helpful. Next,…
Reading to babies is wonderful and important. When we think about ideas for promoting early literacy, a lot of the discussion revolves around books. And, my goodness. Books are wonderful. I do not want to discount them at all. But what if a family doesn’t have books? Or doesn’t speak the language in which the…
How I love a good playground! I love seeing kids move outside. Climbing, swinging, jumping, and sliding. Their hearts, lungs, and muscles love the movement, the exhilaration. But what about playground safety? Kids do get hurt on playgrounds. Today, I’ll discuss how theories in child development can help a playground live up to its potential and…
Are you researching products for baby feeding? The best baby spoons? Just the right bowl? Plastic is almost always an option when choosing baby products. Today, we have even more choices, and plastic may not always be the best option. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommendations that may help reduce plastic use, especially at…
