Tuesday 9 August 2022

Healthy Living Choices For Your Home

 Are you thinking about making some changes to your home? If so, then you might want to explore how you can make it a healthier place for your family. Here are the suggestions we recommend that could provide tremendous benefits. 


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Water Filter Systems 


First, you might want to think about using water filter systems in your home. Water filtration systems are great because the water that comes directly from a tap can be filled with various harmful chemicals. For instance, you might find that water has high levels of fluoride. Research shows that this chemical can cause issues with low IQ and migraines in younger children. If you are worried about this, then it’s worth exploring different types of filters. For instance, you can get a filtration system that’s built into the fridge like a Whirlpool. Do be aware if this breaks down then you will need Whirlpool appliance parts to fix it yourself.

Air Quality Choices 


Next, you should think about the air quality of your home. Issues with air quality can lead to a range of health problems. For instance, you could find that problems with air quality will impact how people breathe. It could lead to your children developing more breathing issues such as coughing. This is because there can be tiny molecules of dust and dirt floating in the air which eventually reach the lungs. One of the best ways to improve the air quality will be to make the home a little more green. In doing so, you can ensure that the home is beautiful and clean with fresh, non polluted air. 


Biophilic Design 


You could also think about the biophilic design of your home. There’s various research which suggests that a biophilic design benefits the body and mind. Researchers often believe that we need to keep our connection with nature intact. In the modern world, this is more difficult but far from impossible. For instance, you might want to think about investing in furniture made from natural materials. You could also explore natural colors and shades when you are decorating different areas of your home. 


Ergonomic Options


Finally, you might want to think about exploring ergonomic options for your home. Specifically, you need to think about choosing the right type of furniture for your property. This is going to be important if you are working from home or you have hobbies that require you to sit down for long periods. Ergonomic furniture will provide specific benefits including a good level of back support. This can stop you developing aches and pains in your lower back. You can also get ergonomic tech such as a computer mouse. This allows you to hold it like a throttle and click instead of a more traditional design. 


We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you can take to ensure that your home is a healthier place which helps improve your wellbeing. These choices can provide benefits for both your mental and physical health, leading to noticeable changes in your quality of life. 


this is a collaborative post


Wednesday 18 May 2022

Development Milestones: A Step-By-Step Guide To Your Baby's First Year

 The first year of life is exciting for parents and their new little ones. But, it’s also a period where new parents can feel scared, anxious, and unprepared. There are many things to learn about your baby’s development in the first year. If you’re a new parent, it may be difficult to know what milestones your baby should reach by certain ages. 


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What Should You Be Looking For During The First Year?


There’s so much to be excited about as a new parent or grandparent. And you have so many things to look forward to, not to mention the gifts and well wishes you’ll receive. But there are many aspects of your infant’s development that you’ll want to keep track of during their first year. As well as watching for developmental milestones, you’ll also want to observe the following. 


  • Eating Habits


How often and how much your child feeds will change as they grow. You must keep track of this, as your child’s diet will significantly impact their development. 


  • Sleep Patterns


How long your child sleeps and when they wake up will depend on several factors, including their age and diet. As your child grows, their sleep schedule will change.

 

  • Physical Activity


How often your child moves around will depend on their age and developmental stage. As they grow, your child will become more active and curious. 


  • Health


You’ll want to watch your child’s health, paying attention to any signs of something wrong.


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0-3 Months: Survival & Start Of The Basics


At two months, your baby will start to practice rooting. This is a reflex that newborns have, allowing them to find their mother’s breast. It’s a good idea to offer your baby the chance to root and suck before they’re ready to feed. At two and a half months, your baby should also be able to: 


  • Lift Their Head


Newborns have very weak muscles, often having trouble lifting their heads. But by two and a half months, your baby should be able to raise its head off the ground. 


  • Sit With Help


Around two and a half months old, your baby should be strong enough to sit with support. If you put your baby in a sitting position, they may stay sitting up without help.

 

  • Respond To Sound


When your baby is two and a half months old, they should start to recognize and respond to the sound of your voice. 


  • Respond To Light


When light hits your baby’s eyes, they should blink. This happens to protect the infant’s eyes from damage. 


3-6 Months: Pushing Up, Smiling, & Showing Interest In Faces


Some major developments start to happen at this integral part of your baby’s life. At three months, your baby should be able to: 


  • Lift Their Head And Chest Off The Ground


Newborns usually lie flat on their backs, but your baby should be strong enough to push themselves up into a sitting position at three months. It’s essential to support their back so that they don’t fall over. 


  • Push Their Palms Against A Hard Surface


At three months, your baby should be able to push their hands against a table or other hard surface. This is the beginning of hand-to-face behaviour. 


  • Smile When Someone Talks Or Makes A Loud Noise


By three months, your baby should be able to smile when they hear you talking or if they hear a loud sound. 


  • Pay Attention To Your Face And Voice


Three months is a great time to start talking to your baby. They should be able to focus on your face and respond to the sound of your voice by the time they’re three months old. 


  • Respond To Having Their Feet Tickled


Your baby’s feet should have a sensation at three months. They should be able to feel a light tickle on the soles of their feet and respond to the feeling


6-9 Months: Recognizable Cooing, Babbling, & Hand-to-Face Behaviors


By six months, your baby’s development will be in full swing. They should be moving around a lot and getting into everything. At six months, your baby should be able to: 


  • Coo With Pleasure


At six months, your baby should start making soft sounds like “coo.” This is the beginning of babbling, and it’s a sign that your baby is feeling happy and content. 


  • Respond To Your Voice


At six months, your baby should be able to recognize your voice. They should react when you speak to them, even if they don’t understand your words. 


  • Smile When They See You


Babies are often happiest when they’re with their mothers. At six months, your baby should be able to smile when they see you, even if they’re not feeling particularly happy.

 

  • Smile Back At Other People


When other people smile at your baby, they should be able to smile back. They may not be able to keep a big smile on their face, but they should be able to react to other people. 


  • Contribute To A “Conversation”


You may notice that your baby occasionally tries to talk to you. At six months, they should be able to participate in a “conversation” with you. They may not always say something that you can understand, but they should be trying to talk to you. 


9-12 Months: Standing, Walking, and Talking? Maybe Not…


The first year of a baby’s life is filled with many exciting developments, but not all are easy to see. Babies’ brain development is a slow process that doesn’t happen quickly. You can expect your baby’s cognitive development to follow a very different pattern from his physical development. For example, the ability to walk and talk at a certain age does not reflect how developed their brain is.


Next, as your baby enters their 9th and 10th months, they may start to stand. This may sound like a big achievement. However, they likely won’t be able to balance or walk just yet. Instead, they may first use their hands to support themselves as they get to their feet. During this stage, your infant’s entire body will start to become stronger, which means that they may take their first steps at a later stage. 


While many babies learn how to walk between their 12th and 15th months, some may still not be walking at 18 months. In fact, only 25% of babies walk before their first birthday. This is completely normal, and there’s no need to worry if your baby isn’t walking by 12 months.


12-18 Months: Words, Sentences, and Symbolic Behaviors


At about 12 months, you may notice your baby starting to experiment with words. They may even say a few words, such as “no,” “mama,” or “dada.” Most babies, however, do not start putting words together until they are closer to 15 months. By 18 months, your baby should be saying single words, such as “dog,” “book,” “car,” etc. They will also be able to put simple two-word sentences together, such as “walk ball,” “eat car,” etc. They may not be able to have a full-blown conversation with you just yet, but she’s definitely on her way. 


Many babies start to show an interest in letters, numbers, and counting. This is a good sign that they are cognitively ready to learn. You can start reading to your child and encourage him to play with toys that promote cognitive learning. During this time, your little one will also develop their symbolic thinking. This means they will start to see things as more than just what they appear to be. This is a crucial step toward learning. In fact, symbolic thinking is one of the most important developments in early childhood. It means that your baby is becoming more aware of their environment and more connected to their feelings.


18 Months – 2 Years: Language Explosion!


During this period, your infant will likely become a chatterbox! They will continue to use words and sentences and start to understand more complex concepts. In addition, your baby may begin to ask a lot of questions. This is because they’ll see the world around them as something that needs to be understood. 


You’ll also likely notice some changes in your baby’s behaviour. They’ll begin to show signs of being more independent, and they’ll be able to understand more about the world around them. During this time, your baby will also be able to use language more symbolically. They’ll be able to ask complex questions, and they’ll be able to use language to express their emotions.


2 years +: The Road Ahead


As your child gets older, their social skills will continue to improve. They will likely start to enjoy playing with other children, make friends, and want to spend time with other kids. At around 2 years, your child will be able to understand simple concepts, such as sharing, taking turns, and being gentle. You can encourage them to develop these social and cognitive skills by playing interactive games, such as hide-and-seek. 


By the time your child reaches the age of 3, they will be able to understand concepts such as time and money. You can use this time to teach your child about these important things. And your child will likely be completely independent. Their language skills will be near an adult level, so they will be able to understand complex concepts and might be ready to go to school.


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What’s A Normal Delay In Infant Development?


As we’ve mentioned, every child develops at their own pace. Although your baby’s development may follow a typical pattern, they may develop and grow at a different rate than other infants. In addition, your child’s development may be delayed if they experience an illness. During these times, they may be behind in their developmental milestones. 


If you notice some developmental delays in your infant, don’t panic. Instead, simply speak to your paediatrician about a normal delay in infant development. Together, you can work out a plan to help your child catch up to where they should be. There are plenty of sources of information online, too, which will help. Like this blog post about When Can Your Baby Sleep On Their Stomach? 4 Signs To Watch For. Of course, there are negatives about being online, but a positive is that great info and support are available to you at the click of a button. 


This is a collaborative post