Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy:

Raw Meat: Uncooked seafood and rare or undercooked beef or poultry should be avoided because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.

Deli Meat: Deli meats have been known to be contaminated with listeria, which can cause miscarriage.

Fish with Mercury: Fish that contain high levels of mercury should be avoided.

Smoked Seafood

Fish Exposed to Industrial Pollutants

Raw Shellfish

Raw Eggs: Raw eggs or any foods that contain raw eggs should be avoided because of the potential exposure to salmonella.

Soft Cheeses: Imported soft cheeses may contain bacteria called Listeria, which can cause miscarriage.

Caffeine: Although most studies show that caffeine intake in moderation is OK, there are others that show that caffeine intake may be related to miscarriages.

Tips for raising a well-rounded boy

1. Give him some responsibility.

Following directions and finishing tasks are skills that are often slow to develop in boys.

2. Let him show his emotions.

Even in these enlightened times, boys are often expected to stifle their tears and swallow their anger while girls are allowed more free rein with their emotions.

3. Give him plenty of physical affection.

Studies have observed that moms and dads have less physical contact with boys than with girls, a trend that starts in toddler hood.

4. Don't try to shut down his high-revving engine.

Boys tend to have a lot of energy, which can get pent-up if they don't have enough chances to run, climb, and blow off steam.

5. Don't worry if he isn't acting "masculine" enough.

Even tough-guy fathers have a nurturing side. (The good ones, at least.)

6. Give him chances to polish his social skills.

Most boys don’t form close intimate friendships as easily as girls.

7. Make music part of his life.

Practicing an instrument can give your son a valuable sense of accomplishment.

8. Encourage his interests, even if they aren't "boy" activities.

If your son wants to take dance lessons, his friends may tease him, which can be hard to deal with.

9. Get involved at school.\

Talk with your son's teacher regularly to find out his classroom strengths and weaknesses.

10. Praise the positive.

"Boy" behavior, even when it's age-appropriate, can be hard for adults to deal with – and boys get plenty of correcting, reprimanding, and scolding in school and at home as a result.

Baby Hair Care

^{If your baby has no hair...}

^{Care tip: Shampoo twice a week to avoid cradle cap -- oily, flaky patches of skin on the scalp.}  

^{Styling tip: Hats are a must to protect baby's head from the sun -- and a bonnet.}

^{If your baby has thin and wispy hair...}

^{Care tip: Comb gently and trim wisps that fall into baby's ears or eyes.}

^{If your baby has thick and curly hair...}

^{Care tip: Slather on a conditioner or baby oil after shampooing once a week if hair is very dry. Comb hair gently from roots to scalp before rinsing conditioner out.}

^{If your baby has thick and straight hair...}

^{Care tip: In some cultures, it's a tradition to shave even thick hair so it comes in healthier, but frequent haircuts can also do the trick.}

^{Whether it's thin, thick, curly, or practically non-existent, parents love to run their fingers through their baby's hair just for the pure pleasure of it. And seeing it sticking up in the morning or slick and wet in the bath is one of those wonderful little joys of parenthood. In fact, many moms put off baby's first haircut for as long as possible, because seeing those wispy little curls fall to the floor is often the first sign that babyhood is coming to an end.}

How to buy baby and toddler shoes.

What to look for when buying:

Choose a breathable, lightweight material. Soft leather or cloth is best. Avoid stiff leather shoes, which can hinder foot development, and synthetics, which don't breathe.

Bend the soles. They should be flexible and gripping, not smooth and stiff. A non-skid rubber sole with ridges will offer good traction.

Have your child try on the shoes and stand up. There should be just enough room to squeeze your pinky between your child's heel and the heel of the shoe, and a full thumb-width between the end of your child's longest toe and the front of the shoe. The shoe should provide just enough wiggle room without being too big. Because baby feet grow quickly, it's a good idea to check every month to make sure the shoes still fit.

Shop later in the day. Babies' feet swell and are often bigger at the end of the day. Shoes purchased in the morning might feel tight in the evening.

Look for problem spots. Your baby's shoes shouldn't need any breaking in. Let your child toddle around indoors wearing the shoes, then take them off and look for any irritated areas on your child's foot.

Ideas for Helping Kids Develop Better Posture

Make sure kids hamstrings stay flexible. It’s a lot easier to keep them flexible than to stretch them later. When hamstrings are tight it can tip our pelvis backwards so that it flattens our low back spine.

Lots and lots of climbing. Since it’s getting nicer out this should be easier because parks are lots of fun. The more unstable the climbing surface the more they will have to work their stabilizers and abdominals. I love climbing nets or climbing domes.

Animal walks are a lot of fun and really challenge the core. Some of our favorites are bear walking (hands and feet) or crab walking or dog/cat walking (straight crawling)

Use a therapy ball. Have your kids sit on it and move it around in all directions with fast and slow motions.

Try sitting on an unstable surface. There are wedges or core discs that are out there that can provide the ability to wiggle while sitting and allow kids to keep their core active and engaged.

Reaching in sitting will also encourage upright posture. Have them sit in a variety of positions or on a variety of surfaces and play games where you make them reach up and in front or to the side.