Posts

Tiger parenting refers to a strict, authoritative method of parenting that is meant to raise high-achieving children. This often means forgoing sleepovers, parties, and other leisurely activities to focus on their studies. The phrase “tiger parenting” was first introduced by author and law professor Amy Chua in her book, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom.” The novel reflects upon her strict upbringing that was based on tiger parenting strategies. Chua, who says the book was meant to be a memoir rather than a how-to guide, speaks about her experience implementing tiger parenting methods with her own daughters and her eventual transformation as a mother following her daughter’s rebellion....

During pregnancy, there’s a lot of talk about the placenta, and for good reason: it is quite the powerhouse! It plays a major role in your pregnancy health and the health of the fetus, and is a unique and fascinating organ in itself. In more earthy circles, the placenta is also nicknamed the “tree of life”—partly because its function is life-sustaining, but also because when looking at it, the veins do resemble a tree....

If you would like to give your toddler yogurt, the good news is that it’s usually a safe choice for children as young as six to 12 months old who are starting solids. This differs from the recommendation to avoid giving cow’s milk until a child is a year old, which is still the guideline; babies under one need the nutrition in breast milk or formula. Babies under one should also not have cows milk due to the potential risk of iron deficiency anemia, which can harm brain and nerve development, and introducing it too early can increase the risk of obesity later....

One of the most exciting pregnancy milestones is hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time. If you are at least eight or nine weeks along at your first prenatal visit, your doctor or midwife may use a fetal Doppler (or a fetal Doppler stethoscope) to pick up the sound of your baby’s heart beating. Sometimes, the sound of a fetal heartbeat is not detected at this time. If you were expecting to hear your baby’s heartbeat and you can’t, you may be disappointed and even worried....

Busy families love to multitask—how else would we get anything done? So when you’re facing a big household chore list, remember that taking care of all those tasks will also help you get in your workout for the day. These chores, in particular, top the list of calorie-burners and strength-builders: Kids benefit from helping out around the house. Not only will tasks get finished faster, but they’ll also learn something new and get some physical activity in, too....

At 10 weeks pregnant, you’re getting close to the end of your first trimester. You may be wondering when those pesky early pregnancy symptoms will start to fade or getting ready to share your big news with the world. Meanwhile, your baby is growing and hitting a big milestone at the end of this week. Your Baby’s Development at 10 Weeks At week 10, a baby is about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches long (3....

For some families, having everyone’s name follow a theme is important. Perhaps all your children are named after your favorite fictional characters or your favorite season. Or maybe your family has decided to honor your heritage and give the children names that speak to their history. No matter what you go with, having a theme can make your family feel more united. One idea is to give all your kids names that start with the same letter—perhaps the same as your own....

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that usually onsets during childhood and persists throughout adulthood. The most common symptoms of ADHD are impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. There are multiple treatment interventions that help manage these symptoms in both children and adults, such as medication, psychotherapies, behavioral therapies, healthy lifestyle habits, and complementary alternative medicine (CAM). CAM therapies are a more holistic treatment approach that focuses on the connection between the mind and body....

On April 12, 2022, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force shared updated recommendations regarding screening for depression, anxiety, and suicide risk in children and adolescents. According to their press release, “There is not enough evidence to recommend for or against screening for anxiety and depression in younger children and screening for suicide risk for all youth.” In other words, they have found that the potential benefits of screening for these issues outweigh possible risks, even for children who do not outwardly exhibit symptoms of anxiety or depression....

When it comes to exercising during pregnancy, swimming is one of the safest and most beneficial choices. Swimming while pregnant offers excellent health and fitness benefits as well as stress relief and enjoyment. Pulling a few freestyle laps or maybe even breaststroke is a fun way to get some low-impact aerobic exercise while improving your circulation and boosting your oxygen levels—exactly what your body needs when you are expecting. Swimming works every muscle in your body, and since you are weightless in the water, it’s an exercise you can safely and comfortably continue throughout your entire pregnancy....

If you like running at night or in low-light conditions, being seen should be your top priority. When on the road, it’s best to carry a flashlight and put on reflective gear to ensure oncoming traffic can spot you. High-visibility athletic gear usually features bright and neon colors, reflective material, and LED lights. “Staying safe while running in the dark is about two things—being able to see, and being seen,” says RRCA-certified running coach Heather Jergensen....

A common worry among new parents with small breasts is whether or not they will be able to breastfeed. You may even hear from friends or family that because of your tiny breasts, you won’t make enough breast milk. This is simply not true. Parents with small breasts can absolutely breastfeed and produce a healthy milk supply for their child. Small Breasts and Milk Supply Your breast size does not determine your ability to breastfeed....

A familiar tickle in your nose and the blur of your eyes beginning to water tells you that allergy season has arrived. Normally, you would pull out your tried and true medications to fight runny noses and itchy eyes over the next few months. But this year, you’re pregnant. Suddenly you’re unsure what is safe to take and what isn’t. Will you just have to suffer through your symptoms this time around?...

Mood swings are very common during pregnancy. These emotional ups and downs are caused by a variety of factors, including fatigue, stress, the physical discomforts of pregnancy, the very-normal worries of upcoming life changes, and rapidly shifting hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone. If you find yourself feeling excited one moment and in tears the next, you’re far from alone. Learn more about mood swings during pregnancy and how to cope....

There’s a lot of conflicting information about the safety and efficacy of taking aspirin during pregnancy. Some studies say it can increase your risk of miscarriage, whereas others say the opposite. Which is correct? Confusingly, the answer could be both—or neither. However, the research is still unclear. More authoritative research on aspirin and miscarriage risk is needed to fully understand the risks or any potential benefits. Below, we explain what is known about aspirin and miscarriage risk to help you make sense of the various findings and recommendations....

By the time your baby nears their 6-month birthday, you’re probably well aware that life with a more active baby is certainly different than living with a newborn. Get ready—your baby is about to become even more mobile. Over the next three months, your baby will tackle some pretty big milestones, such as eating solid foods and learning to sit up, wave, and babble. As they near the age of nine months, they might crawl or stand....

You’ve heard it before: “If you’re having a child, you can kiss your relationship goodbye.” But that belief just might be wrong. In fact, a new study contradicts the narrative that the sleepless nights, millions of diapers, and the increased workload lead to a decreased connection among couples and marital dissatisfaction. Key Takeaways Having a baby doesn’t typically ruin the parents’ relationship as past research and society’s narrative suggested.A new study reveals 81% of couples who were already happy with their relationship are still happy at the 1-year postpartum mark....

When you live in the intimacy of marriage, personality flaws or bad habits of your spouse can get revealed—often much to your annoyance. It’s something couples have to deal with when they enter a relationship or get married and it can lead to nitpicking. Nitpicking involves pointing out minor faults and devoting too much attention to unimportant details. This kind of fussy fault-finding usually involves petty, inconsequential issues or tasks. But if done on a regular basis, the ramifications to your union can be serious, ultimately tearing away at the bond in your relationship....

Perfectionism may lead to increased feelings of stress and anxiety. The following looks at how perfectionism is linked to fear, anxiety, and panic disorder. What Is Perfectionism? In basic terms, perfectionism is the desire to be a perfect or flawless person in various aspects of one’s internal or external life. Perfectionism involves exceedingly high standards that one sets out to achieve and a belief that being “perfect” should be strived for....

If there is anything that most people could agree upon, it’s that being a parent is a difficult and often thankless job. The United States government agreed so much with this sentiment, that they made Mother’s and Father’s Day federal holidays. Mother’s and Father’s Day are intended to show support for parents, classically celebrated by breakfast in bed, a greeting card, and other tokens of affection. However, for non-binary parents, it can be particularly exclusionary....