Archive for October, 2008

Newborn thyroid function within the normal range was not associated with cognitive development or with maternal thyroid function, according to a recent study .

Researchers from Harvard Medical School and other sites in Boston studied children born between 1993 and 2003 at 34 weeks of gestation or older (n=500) to examine the relationship between thyroxine levels in newborns and first trimester maternal thyroid function and cognition in childhood.

The mean newborn T₄ was 17.6 mg/dL, according to the researchers. Levels were 1.07 mg/dL greater in girls (95% CI, 0.38-1.76) and 0.43 mg/dL greater in infants born after longer gestation (95% CI, 0.18-0.69).

When adjusted for maternal and child characteristics, higher newborn T₄ was associated with lower scores on the visual recognition memory test among infants aged 6 months (–0.5; 95% CI, –0.9 to –0.2), according to the researchers.

However, at age 3 years researchers did not find this association with scores on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and the Wide Range Assessment of Visual Motor Ability test.

“In this sample from an iodine sufficient area, first trimester maternal thyroid function did not appear to affect a newborn’s thyroid function at birth, nor does lower neonatal thyroid function within the normal range impact a child’s cognition,” Elizabeth N. Pearce, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, said.

The second year of your baby’s life offers more freedom for him/her.

While every developmental phase offers new achievements, s/he still has a lot of learning and growing to do.

Baby development from 13 to 15 months:

Once your baby reaches his/her first birthday, s/he will be able to walk effortlessly without your assistance.

If your baby is not yet able to walk, there is no need to worry as this developmental stage varies greatly. Over the next couple of weeks, the baby will catch up easily.

As your baby matures and tries to understand about the new things around him/her, s/he will gradually start to move away from you. Until that time, ensure that you are there right by their side.

Babies at this stage become fascinated by small toys in the form of animals and cars, so make sure you give them a wide selection which are age-appropriate. During this time, your baby tries to keep everything in his/her mouth. So, be aware of choking hazards and continue reading and singing to him/her.

This is also the time to switch over from breast milk or formula milk to whole milk. It is essential that your baby gets lots of vegetables and fruits as well as some meat in small quantities.

A period of rapid growth for your baby, you will observe various changes for the next months in your baby’s life as he gains new skills and learns more about the world.

While there is a general growth curve for children of this age, remember that each baby’s development will not be the same. If you think your baby’s development is not up to the mark, contact a pediatrician for a second opinion.

Baby development during 7th and 8th months:

By this stage, your baby will be able to move for some distance. While he won’t be able to crawl, your baby will try to find another way of reaching the desired destination. Some babies scoot along with the help of their bottoms and push themselves backwards by staying on their tummies, roll or raise their knees and hands and then droop forward.

These are the initial crawling movements. Generally, the baby will grow from crawling to dragging up and then walking. The baby’s age and the kind of the movement the baby uses will greatly vary from each child.

From the day of birth, your baby’s development is an adventure, as s/he learns something new on a daily basis, for the first six months of life.

Each new developmental phase offers an opportunity for celebration which can be recorded in various ways.

Because every child has an individual learning curve, it is a good idea to store the memories in the form of photographs or videos. However, important milestones do follow a general trend:

Baby development during first and second months

Most mothers don’t realize how much their new little baby is aware of the world around them during the initial few weeks of life. While babies spend most of the day sleeping, when they wake, they want to learn about all the new things around them, including family members and other people in the environment.

At this time, your baby’s eyesight still needs to develop and can only see things that are six inches away.

Because people’s faces are the most interesting objects your baby sees, when you talk and sing, make sure that you are close enough for your child to notice. Though it may look strange, it is completely normal for your baby’s eyes to become crossed when s/he tries to look at you.

Farmhouse Table with Choice of Chairs

This classic red, white and blue combination of table and chair set is an imaginative choice for your little one. The perfect size for a tiny tea party, the design is both playful and tasteful. The table included in this specific table and chair set features a denim blue base and legs bordered by white stars.

The chairs are available in rusty red or denim blue. Funky and functional, this little chair and table combo will keep your child, and guests, starry-eyed for days afterwards.

For more details, visit: http://www.poshtots.com/

Picnic Table and Chair Set

This outdoor table and chair set is down-to-earth and fun enough for lunch picnics and garden parties. A miniature version of classic outdoor furniture, this picnic set can be easily arranged in your outdoor space or lawn.

While the island green table and white seating are the most traditional, you can choose other colors which your kids like or one that matches your garden theme. The rustic quality is enhanced over time as the furniture becomes exposed to different elements. Additional seating is sold, should your child be a real party animal.

Urinary tract infections or UTIs in young children are more common than most people think. What you need to know is how to recognize the infection and treat it.

Recognizing urinary tract infection in your baby:

UTIs in children are similar to adults. The one and only clear symptom is that your child will suffer from a continuous fever. Generally UTIs are due to the bacterium that is developed in the urethra.

In adults, the most common symptom of urinary tract infection is the discomfort of frequent urination, but in children the most common sign of this infection is fever.

Symptoms of urinary tract infection in your baby:

If your child has fever and you want to confirm whether your child has UTI, look for the following symptoms:

1. Blood in your child’s diaper.
2. A bitter, foul odor in your baby’s urine.
3. Poor appetite and vomiting.
4. Crying for no definite reason.

If you think that your baby is suffering from the infection, contact your pediatrician immediately.

Treating urinary tract infection in your baby:

The doctor will want to collect a urine sample of your baby. The best way to do this is inserting a catheter in your baby’s urethra and collecting the urine sample. The procedure is not dangerous, and is necessary.