Delayed Development or Time for Concern?
Babies develop at different rates, but there are still some milestones that they are expected to reach within a certain timeframe. This is part of what doctors use to determine whether a child is developing ‘normally’ or whether there may be problems. Determining developmental delays is not always easy as children just do things at their own pace.
Knowing When to Seek Professional Help
While there is no right or wrong way to deal with what may be a developmental delay, there are some telltale signs. Firstly, as a parent there are times when you need to go with your gut feeling. If you feel that something is wrong or you see things that cause you concern, err on the side of caution and talk with your pediatrician. It may be nothing, but some developmental delays are more easily corrected if caught early.
Signs of potential problems are based on set developmental milestones that children of a certain age generally achieve. These milestones are categorized into five broad groups, namely:
- Fine motor skills: This is the ability to color, sort objects based on shape and color, and stack building blocks or similar tasks.
- Gross motor skills: This refers to sitting up, crawling walking, standing on one leg and similar activities.
- Language skills: The ability to understand and speak
- Social interaction: How the child relates to caregivers and peers.
- Thinking
Some general signs that may indicate developmental delays are when the child:
- Does not stay as focused on activities as other children of the same age group
- Tends to stare into space more often than not
- Does not frequently make eye contact
- Unable to say short sentences by age three
- Do not react to sounds such as someone calling their name or a dropped object
While a child may be delayed in some areas this does not mean that this is the case for all areas. This is one reason why some delays are not readily identified. Also interesting is the fact that a developmentally delayed child may be gifted in another area. For example, a child who is slow to speak or who has speech problems can be adept with fine motor skills and be an excellent artist.
How to Deal With Developmental Delays
Early intervention is one of the best ways to get help for a child with certain developmental problems. Once a problem is spotted and after evaluation and diagnosis, the pediatrician or other medical expert will advise on the necessary action. It is important to follow-up with exercise programs or other therapeutic programs the child needs. Keep informed about research in the area of childhood development and discuss your concerns and wishes with a pediatrician. Most importantly, parents need to keep a positive outlook and help their child develop with the capacity to deal with their challenges.
Most Moms Want a Make Over
I guess it’s no surprise, especially with all those images of “yummy mommies” all over the internet and TV that many moms want their pre-baby bodies back. A recent survey revealed that a staggering 62 percent of women would undergo plastic surgery if they could to look the way they did before they had children.
Most Commonly Requested Procedures
The most common procedures done during a mommy makeover are breast lifts, breast augmentation and tummy tucks. A quote from Dr. Matthew Schulman, assistant professor of plastic surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, suggests that these areas undergo a lot of changes during pregnancy. He was quoted in an article stating, “Weight gain associated with pregnancy, the loosening of the skin and stretch marks, are a major concern for them… Hormonal changes, especially after a second child, can take their toll on the body.”
Younger and Younger
Interestingly, information provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons also revealed that women seeking mommy makeovers are much younger than they were 10 years ago. The article noted that most patients seeking these procedures are in their 30s and 40s. In past years, the article stated, mommy makeovers were more common with women in their 50s and 60s.
Costs Associated With Mommy Makeovers
The main deterrent from more women getting work done seems to be finances. Some plastic surgeons have started to offer package deals so to speak to make it easier for women to afford mommy makeovers. The fact that plastic surgery has become more acceptable in recent years is not only driving the demand, but may also be contributing to younger women opting for procedures as well.
Exercise Is Not Always The Answer
While exercise can help restore the bodies of some mothers after childbirth, not everyone gets the same results. In fact, Dr. Schulman states that “Breasts deflate, weight settles on the hips, and thighs and stretched stomach muscles won’t snap back through exercise.”
With continued focus on the perfect body, and so many celebs revealing amazing pre-baby bodies a few weeks after giving birth, what is the average woman to do? For many, plastic surgery is the only way to start looking good again. On a personal note, I don’t think this desire to look good means that many women prefer to look good over being moms. It is just a response to society’s youth conscious ideals and a desire to be the best they can be.
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Most Moms Want a Make Over
1st Birthday Party Survival Tips
Can you believe that you are already preparing to celebrate your baby’s first year of life? It seems like just yesterday your baby was swaddled in your arms, and now look at the difference! Your baby is preparing to take his first steps, saying “Mama” and “Dada”, banging pots and pans … It is truly amazing what a child learns in their first year of life.
No doubt, you would like to celebrate this amazing first year with a special birthday celebration. He or she will not have any memories of the party, so in a way, this party is just as much for you as it is for your baby! The key elements to planning your baby’s first birthday party are selecting a theme, as well as an appropriate time frame and setting, organizing activities, and creating a menu. Also, where possible, delegate most chores to family members and friends, so you remember and enjoy the party, rather than only have memories of rushing around and stressing!
Selecting a Theme
Though not neccessary, of course, having a theme makes the rest of the party planning easier, because you have a unifying idea – for instance, a Sesame Street theme takes care of how to decorate the cake, the color of the streamers and balloons (primary reds, yellows, blues), and perhaps even partywear – for instance, I bought Elmo birthday party supplies for a birthday – one package included a cake pan of Elmo’s face, cups, dishes, table cloth, balloons, streamers and candles. So all that was taken care of. Make sure to select a theme that reflects your likes as well as your baby’s. You will then enjoy planning and carrying out the celebration just as much as your baby enjoys the party.
Some other themes you may wish to consider are:
Winnie the Pooh – Every baby loves this friendly, rumbley-in-my-tumbley character! Since he’s been around for generations, all of the adults present at the party will likely enjoy their own dose of nostalgia. Plus, if you pick a friendly character that your child recognizes, it will lead to smiles all around for your baby.
Bubbles – Children love bubbles, so experiment with creating them in different shapes and sizes. If your baby has a spring or summer birthday party, you can fill a baby pool with bubble solution, and use a hula hoop to create giant sized bubbles. You can make your own homemade bubble solution by mixing one cup water, 2 tablespoons light karo syrup or glycerin, and 4 tablespoons dishwashing liquid soap. This is safe to use indoors, too.
Animals – One year olds can recognize animals, such as dogs, cats, turtles, fish, horses, and many others. Create a theme around your baby’s favorites. This can take on a “How Much is that Doggy In the Window?” theme, “Teddy Bear’s Picnic”, “Barnyard 1st birthday” or even “Noah’s Ark.”
Choosing a Setting and Time Frame
When choosing a setting for your baby’s party, the season is one of the most obvious determining factors. You may wish to have a backyard party in the spring or summer. If you do so, make sure to advise your guests so that they can bring necessities such as hats and sunglasses. You’ll also want to set out some bottles of sunblock, (within parent reach.)
If you anticipate a large number of kids in attendance, make sure to make expectations of parent attendance clear as well. Parents may expect to drop kids off and leave if you not designate that you would like chaperones present as well. If you are hosting in your own home, make sure to thoroughly kid-proof the whole house. Don’t be afraid to appoint a trusted friend to help you with any tasks you find overwhelming, such as clean up afterwards.
Try to schedule your baby’s party for a time shortly after he or she will be awakening from a nap. Then your baby is most likely to be happy and full of energy for the party. An appropriate time frame for the party would be about 2 hours. Don’t feel like you need to overdo it.
Planning Activities
Are most of the attendees going to be your baby’s age? Then plan plenty of games that parents and babies can play together, such as crafts, bubbles, sing along songs, and simple games such as hot potato. If you will have older kids attending as well, plan separate activities for the older children. For example, if you have a rented Moon Bounce, make sure the babies and older children play in separate time frames.
Again, because one year olds will not remember the event, it is a good idea to document your party with lots of photos. Set up a designated photo spot, such as a chair with balloons tied to the back, where each child will be photographed. Try to do this as soon as each guest arrives, before children get dirty and/or tired. A copy of the photo can later be sent to each guest with a thank you note.
Creating A Menu
If you don’t want to serve a full meal, don’t feel obligated to. A mid-afternoon party lends itself well to light munchies. Chucks of fruit make great finger food for small children. Or create pretty sandwiches by cutting shapes out of bread with cookie cutters. The bread shapes can even match your theme!
If you plan to do a full meal, make sure to keep baby’s tastes in mind. Small children actually have much more sensitive taste buds than adults do. So while adults may love a barbecued chicken cookout, the children may prefer turkey dogs and applesauce.
Everyone knows that the highlight of a birthday is cake! But there’s plenty of room for creativity here, too. Cupcakes are great for kids. If you do an animal theme, perhaps try serving animal shaped sugar cookies rather than cake. You can make your own semi-homemade sugar cookie dough by buying a refrigerated tube, such as Pillsbury, and mixing in ¼ cup of flour. This makes it the right consistency for rolling and cutting.
Enjoy your child’s first birthday! It will likely be the most memorable one for you, so enjoy it.
About the Author: Chris Molnar is a father of two preschool girls. He edits a children’s website full of theme party ideas at Themeaparty.com. As a work-at-home Dad, he has to come up with some pretty creative ways to keep the kids entertained while balancing work life!
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1st Birthday Party Survival Tips