The miracle of life begins upon conception of your baby, and continues to amaze as the months go by. As parents, you naturally wonder about the development of your little one during pregnancy. You probably want to know what your baby is doing at every stage: how big is he or she? can the baby hear or see? does he or she have hair? Here are some basics:

Week 1-4

Most women do not know that they are pregnant from day one. It’s often very difficult to know that exact date of conception. Most health care providers calculate your due date by counting 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). According to this method, they date the beginning of your pregnancy two weeks before ovulation. If your cycle is longer or shorter than average, this date may be less-than-accurate. At the moment of conception, your child’s gender and most of the inherited characteristics have been set. After fertilization, the embryo travels from the fallopian tube and implants itself in the uterus.

Week 4-10

This period of the development poses the greatest risk to your baby. During this time, all the internal organs, the spine, the legs and arms, and the heart start to develop. His heart starts beating, and his arms and legs grow and begin developing toes and fingers. Your baby is able to open and close his mouth, turn his head, make a fist, and kick (though you won’t feel those movements for quite some time). Reproductive organs also start to develop, but the baby’s gender is still hard to determine on an ultrasound at this point.

Week 10-20

Your baby starts to inhale and exhale small amounts of amniotic fluid, helping his lungs to develop. His ears start to develop and his head is still bigger than his body. But, do not worry! It will even out as he grows. The risk of miscarriage also decreases after week 13. The baby grows rapidly and his eyelashes, fingernails, and vocal cords develop.

Week 20-28

At this stage of development, his head and body seem to even out, so he doesn’t look so top-heavy! His eyebrows, hair, and toenails begin to grow, and his teeth start forming under the gums. Fine, soft hair (called lanugo) begins to grow, and a white, creamy covering (called vernix caseosa) develops all over his body. Both of these protect baby’s skin while he is in utero. During this time, you can probably feel your baby move. He is also able to open his eyes.

Week 28-40

In the third trimester, your baby grows significantly. During this time, your baby’s vision and hearing will develop further. The baby reacts to light directly on your abdomen, and hears and recognizes your voice. Taste buds are now present on his tongue and he learns how to swallow. Amniotic fluid even takes on strong smells from your diet! 

Sometime between 38 and 42 weeks, your baby will make his grand entrance into the world, and you will finally get to see all you had wondered about during his development.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

It’s never too late to stop smoking. Quitting smoking won’t be easy, but it is now more important than ever before. Each cigarette contains 4000 chemicals, 60 cancer-causing compounds, and can restrict the oxygen supply to your developing baby. Stopping smoking will be immediately beneficial to both you and your unborn child.

Each time you smoke a cigarette, your baby’s oxygen supply is reduced meaning your baby’s heart has to work much harder than it should.

How will smoking affect my baby?
There are a number of risks associated with smoking during pregnancy, including an increased risk of:

• bleeding
• placental abruption
• premature birth – smoking doubles the risk of premature birth
• low birth weight – smoking doubles the chance that your baby will weigh less than 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) at birth
• stillbirth
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) – the risk of SIDS doubles if you smoke during pregnancy
• developing asthma
• developing a heart defect
• behavioural problems
• learning disabilities

How to quit
There are a number of methods in place to help you quit smoking during pregnancy, and you need to find the one which works for you. Hypnosis, financial rewards, and patches are just a few ways that other people have found successful.

• believe in yourself – confidence goes a long way where willpower is involved, so you need to believe you can quit
• if your partner smokes, ask him to quit with you
• ask your friends and family not to smoke around you
• change your routine – if you always smoke during a certain activity, try to change your routine to bypass cravings
• light exercise – exercise is a great way to beat cravings and make the most of your recovering health. You should notice week by week that your breathing capacity and stamina are improving
• build a support group – friends and family who want to help you quit, especially if they are ex-smokers themselves, will be great people to talk to during cravings
• tell your healthcare provider  – your healthcare provider will be able to help and advise you how to best stop smoking. Your healthcare provider won’t judge you. They just want to assist you, so don’t worry about asking for help
• remember your motivation – whether that means carrying a scan photo to focus on during cravings, or a factsheet of the dangers for your baby, make sure you remember why you are doing this

Cigarette cravings
If you’re giving up cigarettes, you’re probably going to experience some strong cravings. Each craving only lasts for up to five minutes, so instead of reaching for the cigarettes, find another distraction to see you through. Lollipops, chewing gum, and ringing a friend, are just a few ideas to help you fight the cravings.

What if I relapse?
If you relapse, quit again. Relapsing isn’t failure, just try again and learn from your mistakes. Now you’ve identified a weak spot (did you relapse because of stress or habit, for example?), you can avoid it happening next time. Don’t give up on giving up.

Do you have any advice to women who want to give up smoking during pregnancy?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Your baby will soon be a year old. So much has changed over the last several months! Here’s what you can expect around 9-months-old:

On the Move

Your baby has likely been crawling for a while now, and may be trying to pull to a standing position. Once standing, he may enjoy cruising around the furniture. Hold your baby’s hands and allow him to walk across the room and back with your support! If your baby is a climber, make sure you teach him to climb back down safely. Gate stairs and close doors to keep baby safe.

Your baby can also change positions pretty easily now, from crawling to sitting and then on the move again. Be sure your home is safe for baby to explore. Childproofing is an ongoing battle – just when you think you’ve got it all taken care of, baby reaches another milestone! Crawl around with your baby (who will think it great fun) and check for any hazards.

Other motor skills are improving, too. Your baby has probably mastered the pincer grasp (grabbing small objects with the thumb and forefinger), and can move toys from hand to hand (and then straight to the mouth). Toys that allow them to manipulate objects – stacking cups, sorting toys, building blocks, etc. – will give your baby a chance to work his mind as well as practice his fine motor skills.

Making Conversation

All day long it seems like your baby is talking to you, though you don’t really know what he’s saying. By answering his babbling, you’re teaching him how to converse. Throughout the day, name objects around the house, on your walk, in the grocery store, at the park, etc. Your baby will likely begin to mimic your sounds, eventually saying simple words like ‘mama’ and ‘dada.’

Even though he can’t talk yet, he will be able to understand many words, as well as gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice. Your baby will also start to understand the word ‘no,’ and you may find yourself saying it more often. Setting limits can begin even at this early age.

Stranger Anxiety

Your baby may begin to be wary of new people, and maybe even people he knows but doesn’t see often (like grandparents or a sitter). He may be clingy with you, and may fuss when you try to leave. These are normal changes related to your baby’s growing brain – his awareness of self and others, his memory, and the idea of object permanence are all maturing. Separation anxiety is always worse when baby is tired, hungry or ill. It usually peaks between 10 and 18 months, and is usually gone by age 2.

Mealtime Fun

Your baby is probably a little gourmet, having started solid foods around 6 months. Your baby may enjoy small, soft pieces of food he can feed to himself. He can start to have cheese and yogurt around this time, if you haven’t already introduced them. Breastmilk or formula should still be your baby’s main source of calories, though. He might like to try using a spoon – though he won’t be very good at it yet.

Your baby may also enjoy learning to use a cup around this time. Try to find a cup with handles, which will be easier for your baby to manipulate. Most parents opt for ‘sippy cups’ with spillproof spouts. But you can teach your baby to drink from a straw or even an open cup, too. Simply fill the cup with water and let your baby experiment with it. It will take a while before he’s proficient enough to take all his liquid from cups.

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Playing games with your baby is a lovely way to pass the time. You’ll get to enjoy the smiles and squeals of delight as your baby has fun interacting with you, and your baby will love having some focused one-to-one time you with. Games can also help to develop social, emotional and developmental skills. Here are five fun games to play with your baby:

1. Peekaboo

This classic game is sure to be a hit with your baby. Use a thin blanket to cover up a toy and then pretend you don’t know where it’s gone. Pull away the blanket to reveal the toy beneath and shout ‘peekaboo!’. As your baby gets the hang of the game, you can start hiding yourself behind the blanket. Your baby will have fun whilst learning about object permanence.

2. Obstacle course

When your baby is mobile, an obstacle course is a good game to help develop coordination and motor skills. Place objects around the room that your baby must crawl through, walk around or climb over. Don’t make it too complicated to begin with, but you can add additional objects as your baby masters the course.

3. Hide and seek

Help to develop your baby’s problem-solving technique and make the most of his natural curiosity with a quick game of hide and seek. Use a musical toy and hide it under a blanket, then help your baby to find it. He’ll soon work out that it’s easy to find by simply following the sound. Start off easy but be sure to make the game more difficult as your baby gets the hang of it.

4. Body parts

Naming the body parts will help your baby to learn these essential words and develop a greater understanding of his own body. Point out and name the body parts on yourself and your baby. After a while, your baby should be able to point at the right body parts when asked. As your baby’s language skills develop, he may even attempt joining in with the naming.

5. Sensory fun

Babies use all of their senses to learn about the world around them. They explore the taste, touch, smell, look and sound of the things they come into contact with throughout the day. Sensory play is play which encourages babies to use all of these senses, heightening their learning experience. Find a clean muffin tray and turn it into a sensory play station by adding different objects to the different holes. Make sure you have a few objects that will encourage your baby to use each of his different senses.

What games do you enjoy playing with your baby?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Many parents of babies born prematurely worry about their child’s development. You may worry about whether he will be able to catch up with his peers, and may even find yourself comparing him to other babies. Babies born prematurely face enormous challenges at the very beginning of their life. They have amazing strength and determination. Many babies born prematurely have caught up with their peers by the time they are two years old. You may be wondering whether there are any steps you can take to encourage development in premature babies. Here are five easy things you can do to help your baby develop:

1. Build a strong bond

Many premature babies spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This environment can be noisy, bright and, at times, chaotic. Though you spent plenty of time by your baby’s side, you may not have been able to hold him as often as you’d have liked. Once your baby has been discharged from the hospital, it’s time for you to focus on building a strong bond with your little fighter. Carve out time each day to spend enjoying skin-to-skin contact, invest in a sling or wrap so you can carry your baby easily and give baby massage a try. Touch is important for building a strong bond, so make sure you spend lots of time cuddling and interacting with your baby.

2. Talk to your baby

Babies learn a lot from listening to you speak. They learn language skills and communications skills as well as developing a greater understanding of social interactions. The more you speak to your baby, the more words he’ll hear and the more opportunity he has for learning. If you’re struggling to find the words to say, read children’s books aloud to your baby at bedtime. Wearing your baby in a sling when out and about provides plenty of opportunities to talk to your baby. Point out things you see on your travels. From the safety of your chest, he’ll also have a front row seat to your conversations with other adults, allowing him to learn more about social interactions.

3. Play

The best thing you can give your baby is time. He doesn’t care about fancy toys or expensive classes, he just wants to hang out with his mama. Life can get pretty hectic, so make sure you set aside some time each day to truly focus on your child. Sing songs, play games and explore objects of interest together. Try to engage him in activities that will stimulate all of his senses. Babies use their sense to learn about the world around them, so engaging your child in play will aid his development.

4. Work with the doctor

One of the most important things you can do as a parent to a baby born prematurely is to continue to work with your baby’s doctors. Report any concerns and always listen to their feedback. Some premature babies need speech, physical or occupational therapy to help them development as they grow older. If your baby needs this additional help, the sooner it is provided, the better it will be. That’s why it’s important to keep communication open with your healthcare provider, be upfront and listen to their advice.

5. Don’t compare

Pretty much all parents are guilty of comparing their offspring to other children. When you’re surrounded by babies, it’s only natural to notice who is crawling and who isn’t. It’s important to remember though, your baby had a more challenging start in life. Your baby is older than he should be, he was busy impressing you with his strength and courage when those other babies were still tucked up safely in their mama’s wombs. Don’t compare your baby to other babies. Remember, all babies are different.

What things do you do to encourage development in your premature baby?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

There are lots of stereotypes out there about how birth order affects personality. Firstborns are said to be quiet and well-behaved, they’re pretty much blamed for tricking the parents into daring to have another assuming the next one would be just as placid. Younger siblings are said to be assertive, they know what they want and they’re not afraid to demand it. They’re about as different as first children can be. And as for the middle-child, well, they’re supposed to spend life feeling well and truly left out. But is there any truth in the stereotypes?

Does birth order affect personality?

Numerous research studies have been carried out to determine whether birth order affects personality and the results are varied. Though it was once accepted as common knowledge that birth order would play some part in determining your personality, recent studies have disproved this theory. A 2015 study concluded that birth order had little impact on personality outside of intellect.

Older children consistently score higher on IQ tests, this is thought to be because first time parents are more likely to spend time educating their child. Younger siblings tend to spend more time engaged in play with their older siblings, whereas first born children were likely to spend that time learning with parents.

Other than intellect, recent studies have not found any link between birth order and personality, so you can stop worrying about your middle child. It does make sense, however, that birth order would have some impact on the environment your child is born into even if this does not affect each child in a uniform way. A toddler with older siblings, for example, will have a very different home life than a toddler who is an older child.

Having an older sibling not only affects how you spend your time, it also means you have an important early relationship with a non-adult, which is likely to be very different to the close relationships of a child with only parents in the family. By the time a second or third child arrives, the parents are likely to be less anxious about things. Years into your parenting career, you won’t experience the same rush of terror when your child climbs the big slide. You may find your second child enjoys independence and freedom a little earlier than your first child did.

So while birth order will not necessarily impact upon your child’s personality, the home environment will. A child with older siblings will undoubtedly benefit in many ways from being part of a larger family though they miss out on those glorious first years as an only child revelling in all of the attention.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

If your baby was born prematurely, she may have two ages. She will have an ‘actual age’ calculated from the day she was born, but she will also have an ‘adjusted age’ calculated from her due date. This is because babies are supposed to spend around 40 weeks in the womb, preparing for birth. Babies born prematurely sometimes need a little bit of time to catch up on the time they missed in utero.

Why do premature babies have an adjusted age?

Premature babies are not expected to meet milestones at the same time as other babies, this is why an adjusted age is used. If your baby was born 10 weeks early, she wouldn’t be expected to smile at around six weeks like other babies. Six weeks after her birth date, your baby still wouldn’t be passed her due date and so wouldn’t be expected to meet the same milestones as full-term babies born on the same day. Instead, you should expect your daughter to smile for the first time when she is six weeks old according to her adjusted age. That is, around six weeks after your due date.

Premature babies often spend the first few weeks of life trying to catch up. Your baby has been busy working on skills like maintaining her body temperature and breathing on her own. Your baby is likely to catch up with her peers, though how long this takes can vary from baby to baby. Most experts recommend that the adjusted age should be used until your child is around two years old, by then most premature children have caught up with their peers.

Talking to friends and family

You may find it useful to explain the difference between actual and adjusted age to your friends and family. It can be hurtful to hear people comparing your baby to babies born at full-term and questioning why your baby isn’t on the same level developmentally. Simply explain that while babies born at full-term were born with many basic skills, your powerful little baby had to work on all that when she was born. Not only is this incredible, but hopefully it will encourage people to readjust their expectations and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be born premature.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

After months of being your baby’s only mode of transportation, you’re probably keen for him to get moving by himself. One of the most amazing things about having a baby is being able to watch and share in his excitement as he masters new skills. Crawling is a milestone that will allow your baby to better explore his world. It is his first step towards independence and a reminder of how quickly time passes. Crawling will help him to develop the skills necessary for walking. It will also help him on his quest for mischief, but don’t worry too much about that.

Most babies learn to crawl between the ages of seven and 10 months old. Some babies learn sooner, however, and for others it can take a little longer. Some babies skip the crawling stage altogether, opting instead for a maverick move like the bum shuffle to help them get around at baby group.Here are five ways to encourage crawling:

1. Tummy time

To be able to crawl, your baby needs muscle control and strength. He needs to be able to raise himself up, move his legs and use his tummy muscles. Tummy time is important for helping him to develop the necessary muscle strength for crawling. Make supervised tummy time a part of your daily routine to make sure he has lots of opportunities to build up these muscles and learn how to use them.

2. Opportunity

To perfect his crawling skills, your baby needs plenty of opportunities to practice moving around. This means he needs freedom to move, explore and play as much as possible. Spending time in strollers, bouncy chairs and highchairs limit the time babies have to learn valuable skills such as crawling. Of course, some time spent in these things is unavoidable, but do make an effort to provide your baby with plenty of opportunities for floor play throughout the day.

3. Play

Children and babies learn best through play. You can encourage your baby to crawl by making it a game. Placing exciting looking toys slightly out of reach might tempt your baby to try and reach for them. Babies love to explore so leave the toys in sight but leave your baby to discover it for himself if he can. To begin with, place the toys just out of reach, but as your baby gets better at reaching them, move them further away.

4. Safety

Babies are easily spooked, so you need to make sure his crawling practice arena (aka your living room) is a safe environment for him. Avoid banged heads, trapped fingers and falling objects by baby-proofing the room long before he learns to crawl. Get down on your hands and knees and crawl around the room to identify potential dangers for crawling infants.

5. Relax

Your baby will master crawling in his own time. The above suggestions will provide him with ample opportunity to practice the skills needed for crawling, but it’ll still be up to him when he finally does it. Help your baby build his confidence by remaining cool, calm and collected while he’s trying to crawl. If you feel stressed, he could pick up on that. You don’t need a strict, regimented schedule of crawling lessons, just plenty of time and space to explore.

Has your baby started crawling?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.