Rainbow Dreams: Soothing Programs for Sleep and Relaxation [Vol 1] [DVD] (DVD)

Rainbow Dreams: Soothing Programs for Sleep and Relaxation [Vol 1] [DVD] (DVD)
By DVD

3 used and new from $19.98

First tagged by xsignatureline
Customer tags: baby(2), baby sleep problems, infant sleep, baby sleep, sleep training, rainbow dreams, sleep aid, dvd, movie, parenting, naps, sleep

Review & Description

After so many curious and exciting adventures every day, you and your baby will definitely need a way to wind down for some rest and relaxation.

"Rainbow Dreams" features soothing lullaby music and calming images that will create blissful quiet time for both parents and child.

With programs featuring soft classical music and relaxing ever changing shapes in peaceful colors, baby will be lulled to sleep in no time. Read more

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Get to Know Your Kid (Hardcover)

Get to Know Your Kid (Hardcover)
By Shana Connell Noyes

Buy new: $11.07
22 used and new from $9.89
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First tagged by WashingtonDC
Customer tags: gift idea(2), parenting, party favor, get to know your kid

Review & Description

These days, parents barely remember to take the time to record the whimsical and wonderful things their children say. Get to Know Your Kid allows parents to capture the innocence, the wisdom, and the joy of childhood in one easy step. 

One hundred questions are specifi cally designed to encourage young children to open up and share their thoughts, hopes, fears, and dreams. Geared toward children aged four to ten, and prepared with the help of two child and adolescent psychologists, fun questions include "What do you like best about our family?" and "What do you think it will feel like to be an adult?" With each question, there is room to write in children's answers, or have older kids write for themselves, giving parents a memorable keepsake to cherish forever.

Praise for Get to Know Your Kid:

"Get to Know Your Kid is the best idea I have seen in a long time. It will change your relationship with your children for the better and give you insight into who they are and the world THEY live in."
 -Deborah Carroll, a.k.a. "Nanny Deb" (Nanny 911)

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The Hidden History of Head Start (Development at Risk Series) (Hardcover)

The Hidden History of Head Start (Development at Risk Series) (Hardcover)
By Edward Zigler

Buy new: $37.35
26 used and new from $26.94

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Customer tags: head start, early education, in-kind funds, at-risk children, child care, day care, preschool

Review & Description

Currently enrolling approximately 900,000 poor children each year, Head Start has served 25 million children and their families since it was established 44 years ago. Presidents and policymakers have embraced and scorned it. At times scientists have misguided it and the media has misunderstood it. Despite its longevity and renown, much of Head Start's story has never been disclosed to the general public.

The Hidden History of Head Start is a detailed account of this remarkable program. Surveying projects that were forerunners of Head Start, its birth during the Johnson administration, its fate during the presidency of George W. Bush, and the many years between--as well as what the future may hold in store for Head Start--Edward Zigler and Sally Styfco offer an inside view of the program's decades of service, detailing the ever-changing waves of politics, ideology, science, media interest, and public mood that oftentimes threatened the program's very existence. Providing a balanced assessment of Head Start's effectiveness, which has been a matter of debate since its inception, the authors also strive to answer questions that continue to pervade discussions about the program and its future. For example, why is Head Start, a leader of early childhood services, still struggling to prove itself? Why does it serve such a narrow segment of the population? And how can Head Start continue its mission as universal preschool becomes a reality? The Hidden History of Head Start will be of great importance to those who shape Head Start's future, and to those who wish to develop, research, and implement new early childhood programs. Students, historians, and scholars in the fields of early intervention and developmental science, as well as policymakers, will find here an invaluable resource as well as a fascinating chronicle of one of the foremost social programs in US history. Read more

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FETUS STAGES

Fetus Growth Stages

During the gestational period of pregnancy, there are several different fetus growth stages that occur. Beginning with what looks like a small bean on an ultrasound and going to a fully-developed baby several weeks before the end of a pregnancy, the fetus goes through many different stages. In the last weeks of the pregnancy, the baby is fully developed but puts on a lot of fat while further developing internal systems.

 

Following Fetus Growth Stages

Many pregnant women like to follow the stages of fetal growth during their pregnancy. One way to do this is to sign up for a weekly email from a website that has pictures and information about every week of pregnancy; in this way, you get the images and information right in your mailbox each week. Sign up for an account at the BabyCenter website in order to receive weekly emails with this fun and valuable information.

Another way to keep track of your own baby's growth stages based on how far along your pregnancy is can be to look up the number of weeks that you are pregnant every so often on the Internet. A few good online sources for learning about fetal development and seeing the development in pictures, are:

Length and Weight in Fetal Growth

The following numbers are averages; all babies grow at different rates and there is a difference between male and female babies, especially nearing the end of pregnancy. When looking at the length figures below, keep in mind that until 20 weeks of pregnancy, the length of your baby is measured from the head to the baby's bottom (because the legs are always curled up and can't really be measured). After 20 weeks, your baby's length is measured from toes to head, hence the sudden jump in height in the figures below:

• 8 weeks: Average fetal length is .63 inches and weight is 0.04 ounce
• 12 weeks: 2.13 inches is the average length and average weight is 0.49 ounce
• 16 weeks: 4.57 inches long and 3.53 ounces
• 20 weeks: 10.08 inches long (from head to toe) and 10.58 ounces
• 24 weeks: 11.81 inches and 1.32 pounds
• 28 weeks: 14.80 inches and 2.22 pounds
• 32 weeks: 16.69 inches and 3.75 pounds
• 36 weeks: 18.66 inches and 5.78 pounds
• 40 weeks: 20.16 inches and 7.63 pounds

As is evident in the numbers above, the fetus grows faster and faster as the pregnancy progresses, with especially a significant weight gain at the end of the pregnancy. Women who go past their due date, which is quite common especially in a first pregnancy, often deliver even larger babies.

Fetal Development

Another important aspect in fetus growth stages is to consider which body parts, internal organs, and systems develop during which parts of a pregnancy. While the gender of the baby is already determined at the moment that conception occurs, the baby's gender will not be visible until a few weeks before your 20-week ultrasound. At this point, your baby's genitals and most other physical traits will be visible (depending on the position of the baby during the ultrasound).

Important Milestones

• 3 weeks: the heart begins to beat
• 4 weeks: the backbone is forming while arms and legs are starting to become distinct physical features
• 6 weeks: the brain can control muscle movements
• 8 weeks: the fetus is now physically complete
• 16 weeks: everything going on in the environment of the pregnant woman can be heard by the baby
• 24 weeks: oil and sweat glands start functioning
• 29 weeks: the baby blinks in response to light seen through the uterine walls
• 32 weeks: antibody production increases

Following this point in pregnancy, the fetus is fully developed. The last weeks of pregnancy allow the baby to put on weight and gain strength for the outside world.

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TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Pregnancy is sometimes unplanned, especially for younger women. Our bodies are made in such a way that we can get pregnant as a teenager, even when we don't want to. This is a time in our lives when we may not be emotionally and financially ready to deal with having a child. Be brave; you have a challenge ahead of you. and having a baby is hard some people think that it is easy and some teens want a baby but they don't know how hard it is. 

STEP 1

If you suspect you might be pregnant, take a pregnancy test. Don't put it off, because knowing you're pregnant is vital to your health and gives you the most options if you're not sure you want to be a parent. Some symptoms of pregnancy include a missed menstrual period, fatigue, breast tenderness, mood swings, and nausea. When you first discover you are pregnant, you should tell someone that you trust and who will support you.

STEP 2

Support:If both or one of your parents support you, that is wonderful, as they have experience and can guide you through parenting. If the father of your baby supports you, that, too, could be wonderful, as he could willingly help you by taking you to appointments, paying for baby stuff, being emotionally supportive, and so much more. If you don't find support, tell people you trust until you find people who will support you. If no one knows or supports you, you could be going through this alone.

STEP 3

Apply for Medicaid and WIC to cover your medical expenses, food and living expenses if necessary. Oftentimes, there is support for young women, and it can help you to find jobs, finish high school, and go to a vocational school or college.

STEP 4

Take a parenting course

STEP 5

Find a place to stay. If your parents don't support you, or are giving you an ultimatum to do their wishes or move, and your boyfriend is not supportive, see if you can find a relative, friend, or anyone who has your best interests. If you don't have support from friends or family, seek support groups who are in similar situations.

STEP 6Get advice. If you're afraid of having a baby, consult an elder, nurse, doctor or midwife. Ask them what to expect.

STEP 7

Save money. Be thrifty in what you buy. There are oftentimes places where you can buy stuff for you and your baby very cheaply, such as yard sales and thrift stores.

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Section Feature: Toys for Baby

At Dear-Born Baby we carry a huge selection of teethers and rattles, and little toys for babies little hands. Click here to visit the section online!

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BABY FOOD

BABY FOOD

At about 6 months of age, your baby will be ready for "solid baby food". Don't be fooled though: at these very early stages, "solid food" isn't very solid. It's all mashed up and gooey.

Start with rice cereal. After a week or two of this, try oatmeal cereal and then barley cereal. If there is one grain that he does not like, you can buy a mixed cereal that has all 3 grains in it. Once you've exhausted all those options, then it is this time to introduce fruits and vegetables. You can mashed fruits into the baby cereal to make it more interesting. As your baby grows older, you can leave the fruits in soft chunks so that it gives the baby cereal texture.

In general, it is not recommended to give your baby breakfast oatmeal that are designed for children & adults. These tend to be too sweet and have lots of added stuffs (honey, cinnamon) which your child may be allergic to. Go for good ol' fashion plain, baby cereals 

If your baby cries during his first few feedings, or he spits all the baby cereal out, he may not be ready (in the latter case, he may still have the Tongue-Thrust Reflex). Stop offering solid foods and wait a month or  two before trying again. Some parents introduce solid food as early as 4 months of age (not recommended by pediatricians) while others start solids after 12 months of formula/breast milk (somewhat extreme), so there's a lot of flexibility in when you introduce solid baby food

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