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Citrus fruits (due to their high acidity) Strawberries and other berries (common allergens) Tomatoes (high acidity) Peanuts and other nuts (choking hazards and allergens) Eggs, even just the whites (allergens) Cow’s milk and milk products (allergens) Wheat and corn (allergens) Fish and shellfish (allergens) Chocolate (allergen) Salt (too much can strain or damage an infant’s kidneys) Other spices (can cause indigestion and may be allergens) Sugar or sugar substitutes (difficult to digest) Soda (high sugar content) Butter or other added fat (difficult to digest) Honey (may cause botulism in infants and one-year-olds) Alcohol and caffeine, of course (both are drugs)...

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This may be for practical reasons (for instance, if the mother is breastfeeding on demand or the baby wakes frequently during the night) or to maximize bonding opportunities. But a recent study from University of Kent in the U.K. found no link between sharing a bed and infant/maternal bonding during the first six months. “There is conflicting advice for parents regarding whether they should share a bed with their baby or not,” says lead author Ayten Bilgin, PhD, from University Kent’s School of Psychology....

Some of these behaviors are seen on one end of the spectrum (e.g.,classic autism); others on the opposite end (e.g., high-functioning autism, Asperger’s syndrome). As a baby, does not reach out to be held by mother or seek cuddling Does not imitate others Uses adult as a means to get wanted object, without interacting with adult as a person Does not develop age-appropriate peer relationships Lack of spontaneous sharing of interests with others Difficulty in mixing with others Prefers to be alone Has an aloof manner Little or no eye contact Detached from feelings of others...

For this reason, many people are turning to mindfulness during their pregnancy as one way of coping with the challenges they are facing. In fact, this natural approach to taking control of your thoughts and reigning them in has been proven to be useful in reducing stress levels in many different situations, including pregnancy. What’s more, many mindfulness practices have become the basis of childbirth education classes where pregnant people learn not only what to expect during labor and delivery, but also how to focus on their breathing and relax their bodies so that they aren’t fighting the childbirth process....

Effort: Quick and easy — no sewing required Materials: White T-shirt Black iron-on patch Scissors Iron Black face makeup Instructions: Cut the black iron-on patch into the capital letter “P”. Iron the P onto the center front of the T-shirt. Make a circle around one of your child’s eyes with the black face makeup. Now she is a “black-eyed P!”

Solo Outings Here’s an approach: Try the solo outing. Go out on a date with the child, just the two of you. Does that idea clench your stomach? The prospect fills many a stepparent with fear and horror, but it’s not a bad idea. Getting to know the child one-on-one is an important part of building a real relationship. Here are a few tips for your solo “date”: Make it an activity with some, but not all, the focus on each other....

Pre-schoolers are too young for the Harry Potter books, but if you’re a fan you can ride the wave with these fabulous fantasy stories for little ones. A few new series have been published recently for this age group: Dragon Slayers’ Academy by K.H. McMullan begins with The New Kid at School, in which Wiglaf is off to the Academy for an unforgettable first day of school. In The Secrets of Droon #1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet by Tony Abbott, Eric, Julie, and Neil discover a secret staircase to another world while cleaning a messy basement....

Arrive bearing gifts. Having a homemade present in hand gives your child a sense of accomplishment and purpose. Whether it’s cookies or a holiday mini-wreath for someone’s bedroom door, children can explain how they went about making the gift and ask the other person about his or her holiday memories. Bring along a favorite toy. It’s a good way to strike up a conversation and it gives kids an opportunity to demonstrate how something works....

But why would a breastfeeding mom decide to do such a thing, especially considering the time and effort required to get this “liquid gold”? Here’s when it’s necessary (and not) to pump and dump your breastmilk. Pumping and Dumping After Drinking Alcohol Some moms choose to pump and dump after drinking alcohol. This practice is not necessary unless you are concerned that a missed feeding will affect your supply or if you are experiencing engorgement....

Gastric bypass surgery is performed to help you lose weight and lower your risk of serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. The surgery reduces the size of your stomach and bypasses the top portion of your small intestine. This decreases the number of calories that you take in each day and helps you lose weight, but it also affects your body’s ability to absorb some important nutrients....

Some new mothers don’t consider leaking to be a problem at all while others view it as just a slight inconvenience. The leaking may diminish or even stop once your breast milk supply adjusts to your baby’s needs. When Leaking Occurs New mothers with overabundant milk supply or hyperactive let-down reflex, may find the leaking continues longer than normal. For these ladies, leaking breast milk can be messy, embarrassing, and frustrating, especially if you have to go back to work....

Shared experiences build connections. Discipline is best taught by a parent who truly knows her child’s interests and reactions. This knowledge is based on shared experience. I know a family where the parents were so afraid that their kids would compete with each other that the kids were never allowed to do anything together. The family rarely spent time together—they were little more than a bunch of people who shared a house....