“A recent research study replicated a study done in the 1940’s, in which psychological researchers asked kids age 3, 5, and 7 to do a number of exercises…Today’s 5 year olds were acting at a level of 3 year olds, 60 years ago, and today’s 7 year olds were barely approaching the level of the 5 year old (1, 4, 5).” In the 1940’s, children were reported to walk at 8-12 months of age, now children are reported to begin walking at 12-15 months of age (2). Realistically speaking that is only a generation ago; that’s a huge decline in functional performance in a relatively short time span.

I found this phenomenon to be most interesting and also terrifying. Many considerations were outlined as possible causes, including genetics, birth process, nutrition, change in parenting, information gap, lack of play, overly structured childcare, etc. However, one plausible contributing factor called “containerization of infants” seemed an obvious and early implication for this trend. I decided to research this topic further and was astounded by what I found.

Containerization of infants is defined as “confining them to strollers, playpens, high chairs, and car/infant seats for hours at a time.” Developmental delays in motor milestones such as rolling over, crawling, and walking can occur with this type of confinement (3). It is, of course, recommended that parents interact with infants in daily physical activities that promote exploration. Explorative play is an important part of child development as play becomes the cornerstone of learning about the body, the environment, and how the self relates to the world. The environment provides the motivation for movement through visual interest - and movement provides the brain constant feedback regarding body in space, muscle use, touch, and hand-eye coordination.

Many parents are not even aware of how much their infants have become containerized. We live in a day in age where both parents work, people have extremely busy schedules, and technology and more products have allowed us to continue the rigors of daily living with a baby in tote. For example a mother can place her baby in an infant seat, get ready to go out, take that infant seat and attach it as a car seat, drive to a destination, take the seat out of the car and place it in a grocery cart for easy shopping, place the seat back in the car, drive home. It’s a convenience that is hard to beat and mothers can be seen anywhere holding their babies via plastic handle. However, from the perspective of the baby - there is low motor stimulation, virtually no positional changes, low or unchanging touch stimulation, and visual stimulation that is limited to a continuum of ceiling, potentially for several hours a day.

To fully grasp this containerization theory and compare the babies of today to the babies of higher functioning yesteryear, it is most imperative to take a look at each of the senses separately: The vestibular system is the unifying system, giving us a sense of where we stand; movement stimulates the “vestibule” in the inner ear (1). Vestibular stimulus involves the movement of head through space including linear, angular, orbital, and rotary directions (6). In other words, as movement takes place the brain is processing information about where the body is in space. With regard to containerization theory, babies that spend too much time in containers would not experience movement to the degree that is required for learning and developing gravitational security. Gravitational security is feeling safe during movement with a confident idea of where your body is in space.

The proprioceptive system refers to sensory messages about the position, force, direction, and movement of body parts. Our muscles/joints send messages to the brain as they contract, stretch, bend, and straighten. This gives us a “position sense” (1). Containerized babies tend to remain in one position only or with movement allowed to take place on only one plane. There is little opportunity for meaningful changes in position that allow for muscular input/output. Babies naturally tend to engage in yoga-like moves as they learn to roll, crawl, walk, etc; containers simply do not allow for this type of innate mind-body exercise.

The tactile system includes temperature and texture. This system is designed to alert us to threats and gives the body boundaries - it is the basis for body image (6). The tactile system of a containerized baby is likely under-stimulated with a typical social input being experienced to a much lesser degree. The visual system involves the left and right brain working together to produce visual-spatial processing skills (1). While acuity is often thought of first with regard to vision, being able to process lighting, likenesses/differences, spatial relationships, and the tracking of moving objects is also imperative. Containerization for long periods of time may not offer appropriate visual stimuli, depending on the position of baby in the carrier and the position of the carrier itself.

Orientation and organization of these senses are required for development of skills later in life. Children need to interpret vestibular information in order to develop postural control, balance, cross midline, discriminate between left/right, and understand concepts such as up/down, in front/behind. Proprioceptive information requires correct interpretation in order to maintain upright posture, motor plan body movements, grasp with appropriate pressure, and use the right amount of muscle force during daily activities. Development of the tactile system allows for the detection of size, form, contour, texture, and movement across the skin; functional implications being to tolerate clothing, unexpected social touch, bathing, haircuts, dental care, etc. (7) And the visual system is imperative to not only acuity, but fixation, depth perception, peripheral awareness, and saccades; these are functional requirements for motor coordination, safety, and successful navigation through a community setting.

As we look back at how infants were cared for one to two generations ago, we can imagine that infants had much more exposure to movement and seeing the world from changing angles and depths. It is more likely that a mother of generations ago would put her baby in one arm or on her hip and go about her day; the baby at that point experiences several positional changes from the mother’s body moving, as well as from the mother likely changing holds on the baby. In this manner, the baby is then experiencing changing vestibular and proprioceptive inputs that are natural to a mother’s movement and gravitational force. Baby-carrying provides the elements of pressure, motion, pleasure, warmth, security, sound that is essential to the development of the vestibular nervous system (8). Seeing the world from varying angles is experienced - not only via changes in position in space by being carried, but also by moving closer and further away from objects of fixation as the mother moves. Touch could be characterized as constant, with fluctuations in pressure, quick/light touches, friction, and temperature. Carrying a baby offers realistic sensory inputs natural to human and environmental experience, while containers often shield these inputs from becoming a part of neurological growth.

Carrying your baby at all times or leaving him/her unattended is certainly not the answer - everything in moderation is the key to a successful and holistic plan. Carrying, tummy time, sitting time, rest (potentially per container), and physical play with opportunity to move about are all equally important. Containers can offer safety and convenience at important times, yet the long-term implications of overuse are dramatic and a factor that is quite obviously changing our population as a whole.

Resources:

(1) Effective Neurological Management of Sensory Processing Disorder, Course Workbook, www.crosscountryeducation.com, Written & Presented by Charlene Young, OTR/L, CEAS. (2) Young, Charlene. Speaker notes. (3) National Association for Sport and Physical Education (4) Education Advocate, A Publication of the Commonwealth Education Organization. May/June 2008, Vol. 9, No. 3 (5) Speigel, Alex. Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills. www.npr.org (6) Autism Society of Michigan (7) Understanding Sensory Processing/Integration with Remediation Strategies for the Home/School Environment, Course Workbook, Written by Cynthia Ann Clemens, OTR/L. (8) 43 Reasons to Carry Your Baby http://www.instinctiveparenting.com/flex/43_reasons_to_carry_your_baby/73/1

ModMum baby wraps and baby slings specializes in baby slings and baby wraps, babies slings, babysling. We are passionate about baby slings and baby wraps, Lisa and other mom’s give great parenting advice and share tips to enjoying their babies on the blog. Come visit anytime.

If anyone are trying to purchase the full design of your kid baby’s room to match, than the baby crib bedding sets that you find are vital. These sets include the linen, the comforter or quilt, the diaper holder, as well as some additional items. Ensuring that you the right one for your should as well as the decoration that you get is important to having an valuable and pretty toddler baby’s room.

Most new parents really excited to certainly get their baby baby’s room together, so they will put lots of time towards deciding on the models they need to put up. One detail about that is almost never forgotten is the baby crib bedding sets. The bed linen at these a crucial element of the complete gardening shop because their upcoming child may be staying there most of the time. The set requires to be cute and comfy, so you must have seem for equally of these in any arranged you are contemplating.

While searching at baby crib bedding sets need to ensure that the seat designs but they have may fit on your crib bed. Having tooth that do not fit may be risk as they can roll up off of the bed. Avoid it by testing the bed before shopping for units. This can make sure that your baby is not only risk-free, but also as comfortable as possible.

Also try seem for models that are created of silk cotton or wool. Those that are made of wool are really comfortable, while those are produced of 100 % cotton are usually hypoallergenic. Hypoallergenic is always a excellent option for toddlers, as you never heading to be confident what allergies they may have. Keep this in mind searching for you sets, if you may be bombarded it with cotton sets that are not hypoallergenic. If you do would like to go with one that is produced of silk cotton, guarantee that is hypoallergenic for the basic safety and comfort of your baby.

Try to match the arranged around with other decorations that you have got put up in the child baby’s room. This may be anything from toys to the wall paper, producing it match can make for a great environment for your child to stay in. Lots of animals and multi-colored designs are also good idea as they will catch the baby’s eye. This way your baby will not only be comfortable, but he or she may also thoroughly entertained while laying in their baby bed or crib.

There are a lot of choices when going through baby crib bedding sets, so it might take you some time to finally decide on one. Ensure that you set a budget before start purchasing and know exactly what the room decor is before finally getting the comforter. This’ll create your decision easier.

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Here are some top tips on buying a childrens play house. Of course, we may also consider different types of toys that can also come under the category of playhouses, like dollhouses. There are also Barbie doll sized town homes and a stage for children to pretend that they are showing a play or a puppet show. There are playhouses that are more like pools for a child to sit in while surrounded by balls rolling down a ramp, and so on. But for this article we will focus on the popular childrens full sized playhouse.

Brightly colored playhouses are more fun for children, as their imaginations can run wilder with the happy feelings they will get with such colors. But there are other reasons why the playhouse should be colored brightly. The parents or guardians should be able to see the playhouse at all times. It should never blend into the scenery of the back yard. It should be visible and obvious for supervision purposes.

Windows and openings in a playhouse will also add to a parents visual ease. And it is also a good idea for ventilation, and so that the child can get fresh air while playing, especially if the house is outside. There are obvious opens in some playhouses, and others have flaps that can be pinned or strung to the side of the playhouse.

For the parent, the playhouse should be easy to assemble. Some need a pvc pipe to be cut and inserted in the bottom of the playhouse as a foundation. Others have their own foundations. You should know if you will need any tools or special equipment to put the house together before you get it home, if possible.

Some playhouses are lightweight for easy assembling, disassembling, and storage. They are also comfortable and soft for the child. Others are heavier, like hand made ones, and they will end up being pretty much permanent fixtures in the back yard. If you have a few children, the house will be enjoyed for many years to come.

Some playhouses are strictly for the outdoors, like the above-mentioned log cabin. Others are for indoors, and others can be used both indoor and outdoor.

They can be in the form of various types of cottages, or castles. They can include the makings of a puppet show or activity center. There are playhouses that are more like tents, with accessories such as a make believe stove and refrigerator.

Playhouses come in various shapes and sizes and colors. They are mostly made of vinyl, which is good for indoor use, as well as outdoor, as this is a durable material. These vinyl ones are usually very safe, as there are no sharp edges. Be sure to read the labels and that there was no lead paint used to make the toy. And some are even inflatable. These are also soft and safe and make for great fun. These Top Tips On Buying A Childrens Play house should come in handy when deciding on your purchase.

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As a parent; one of the hardest things you will ever do is leave your children in the care of others. It’s a lot easier if there are family members available who you know and trust, but sometimes finding help from outside your circle is the only option. Here are a few guidelines as to how to find a good babysitter for your kids.

I have a few snippets of advice for you here will ensure that you get the right person for this very responsible position. Follow these steps to find yourself a great babysitter.

Next time you pick up your kid; have a word with their teacher or day care worker to see if they have heard good things about anyone in particular. Work Colleagues and acquaintances are both often a great source of information.

This is a job at the end of the day, so treat it like one and arrange interviews with the prospective candidates. Plan your questions carefully and look for maturity and responsibility.

Ask your interviewees if they can perform CPR and have taken a first aid course. There are many babysitting training courses available today and I think that anyone looking for this kind of work should have attended one. Ask them for their references and follow them up. You have to play your part too, by giving them all the contact numbers they would need in an emergency and also by being completely honest about what the position involves.

Give your babysitter detailed information that lists your childrens’ bedtime, meal times and general routing. Also be upfront regarding any health issues or allergies. These should be written down and not delivered orally.

A vital aspect that a lot of parents overlook is that your sitter and your kids must like each other. Kids are notorious for not liking people for no reason, then deciding that they love them 5 minutes later, so a trial is recommended first.

If you can’t decide between a few prospective sitters, give them all a short trial. This may seem like a hassle but these are your kids that you are trusting with these strangers, so its well worth taking the time to find the perfect sitter.

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There are many choices and option on the market when shopping for kids table and chairs. But you should never buy the first thing that you see. There are many things to take into account. The most important ones are what the children need and prefer. They are the end users and should have a saying.

First of all, you should consider their safety. This is the most important thing and you should try to consider buying only safe products. There are many regulations and standards regarding this and the producer of the sets should be well aware of this. If possible, try to research for yourself more on the matter.

Further more you should make sure you buy something adequate for your kids. There are products available for any age class. This will allow the children to use them in a safe and easy way. Producers usually make different variants of the same product fo

Another very important thing is to try and match the style and design with the preferences of the children. Depending on each kid, there are plenty of sizes, colors, materials or designs available. By making sure your kid likes what you want to buy, you will have fewer difficulties in the future.

Lastly, you should also consider the price of these sets. They cannot be used forever and the price should reflect this. You might not want to pay a very high price and you should compare the prices of different producers to make sure you get the best product for your money.

Buying kids table and chairs is a fun activity and should be done together with the children if possible. They might be better shoppers than you for something that is destined to be theirs. Always make sure to take into account their opinions and this will contribute to their joy.

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We all know that as soon as the Easter decorations have come and gone from the stores, along comes the Mother’s Day card aisle - reminding us of this special holiday that comes every May. But if you’re like most of us, we will still wait until the last minute to find the perfect card for mom - combing the racks looking for anything that will concisely say all it is that we feel for our mothers.

That is all your mother requires as a return for her love and affection, a reciprocation of her feelings. Honor the selfless love of your mother by thinking of her on this day. Choose a card that says flattering things about her and her importance to you, and stresses the fact that she means a world to you and to the rest of the family. Most mothers complain of being taken for granted by the entire family. This gesture of making her feel like the most important person in the family, around whom the whole family revolves, will make her feel really important.

You may even customize your card with great wordings or beautiful poems especially meant for Mother’s Day. All this and much more is available for you to just choose and send to your mother. Beautiful images, wordings, poems and personalized messages make the entire experience of choosing a Mother’s Day card a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

These days it is a ‘piece of cake’ to shop for a very special Mothers Day greeting card and that gift ‘with a difference’. Mothers’ day greeting cards and gifts are readily available online these days and, at the click of a mouse, without needing to step out of your house or workplace, you can find with ease and select the perfect personalised Mothers Day greeting card. It’s so easy these days to locate the huge variety of cards online which includes humorous Mothers Day cards, traditional Mothers Day cards and contemporary Mother’s Day greeting cards to express the best of your love and good wishes for her.

Regardless of the type of Mother’s Day card that you choose, the beauty is more in what you say rather than how you say it. Do your best to capture the special feelings you have for your mother on paper; she will treasure it always.

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It is basic common sense that we should never leave children near a swimming pool unattended. Water attracts children and they can fall in in a second. If you are at a pool and have to leave, even just for a minute, take your kids with you.

Not only kids drown in pools, non swimmers can find themselves in difficulty pretty quickly too. Life saving devices should always be available, and something as simple as a shepherd hook or life belt can save a life. Keep this supplies handy since you’ll never know when they might be needed.

It’s also a good idea to have a phone at the poolside, so of there is an emergency you can raise help quickly. Sometimes an emergency situation can be determined within a matter of seconds or minutes, and a phone call may serve as the difference.

I hope you already have a fence erected around your pool area. If you haven’t, get one built asap. This will keep any kids away from the pool when it is unattended.

To prevent anyone getting past the fence, make sure it is at least 6 feet and that that gate has a lock that is key operated. Always keep this key on you and out of reach from any of your children.

A responsible pool owner should also know how to administer CPR. Hopefully you will never have to do it, but it’s good to know that you can if there is an emergency.

Although we always hear about the tragedies that are kids drowning in pools, adults do too. If you have a pool being used be there at all time and act as a lifeguard. You would never forgive yourself if someone lost their life in your pool because you weren’t there to save them.

Pool parties are very enjoyable, but at the end of the day safety is more important. Always make sure that the gate is locked before you go into the house.

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A stroller is one of the most useful items you will require for your baby. There are different varieties of strollers with different features available. So you will have to figure out which is the right one that suites your need. Through this article we are trying to help you find the right stroller by sharing our experience with you.

All products related to kids should be selected with care. Always go for a safe and comfortable stroller .The most important factor to consider when buying a stroller is being snug. A reliable restraint system and secondary locking mechanism are two of the most important factors that need to be considered. Restraint system secures baby at the shoulders, waist and crotch and locking mechanism on the frame ensures that the stroller cannot fold while in use. Reliability of rear-wheel brakes should be considered which helps to prevent rolling.

Some strollers offer bars that open or remove for easy access to baby. This is a very good feature which helps us to get baby in and out. Check to see if an adult can fasten and unfasten the harness quickly. Avoid models with sharp, unfinished edges and small pieces that might come loose. The frame should be tip-resistant, in both the open and folded position. Heavyweight strollers can become burdensome so be sure to consider stroller weight. Lightweight strollers (made of aircraft-quality aluminum) are a wonderful choice because they are both light and sturdy. The stroller should fold and unfold easily.

The stroller needs will change based on the number of children. Should look for dual, swivel front wheels and one-handed steering. Should also consider how easy is it to adjust the stroller back or activate the brakes. Smooth operating mechanisms, adjustable handles and padded ergonomic handles are great features for strollers.

Make sure that, when folded, the stroller will fit in the trunk of your car.you might not think that you need to worry about the weight of something with wheels, but when you fold it and store it or have to drag it through an airport folded, you will be concerned if these are things you need your stroller to do. This isn’t so much of a concern for those who don’t ever fold their stroller.

It will be helpful if the stroller can be folded and can fit into a closet or a trunk. This is useful when transporting your stroller to and from places like the mall, park or airport. All the aspects mentioned above along with your right decision will help you pick the best stroller for your child.

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Premature babies are exposed to many forms of stress while during their stay in intensive care nurseries, such as invasive procedures, blood drawing, bright lights and loud noises. Stress can interfere with their immune system’s functioning and render them more susceptible to infections. Several research studies have demonstrated the positive effects massage therapy has on premature babies. It lowers stress and enhances their immune system’s functioning.

Massage promotes growth and development in premature infants. Prior to birth babies are physically stimulated while in their mother’s wombs.

Also, premature and low birth weight babies are often placed in incubators, open beds, attached to numerous monitors that interfere with them being touch as often as full term babies.

The Touch Research Institute has conducted numerous studies that revealed the benefits associated with infant massages. It stimulates the immune system, and increases the baby’s resistance to infection. Also massaged babies gain weight faster.

Oxytocin levels are increased by massage. It is a hormone with pain relieving and calming properties.

A review of medical research studies found 14 randomized massage studies involving premature and/or low birth weight babies.

It included studies in which one group of babies did not receive massage and were used in comparison to those who did. In the majority of these studies, the babies were stroked or rubbed for about 15 minutes, three or four times a day, for five or ten days. The studies determined the babies receiving massage gained more weight each day (approximately 5 grams). The massaged babies were discharged earlier from the hospital, had slightly higher developmental test scores and fewer complications. The studies did not determine any negative effects of massage. While it is a time consuming process for nurses to provide, parents can perform it without extensive training.

Benefits for Babies:

* Improves weight gain

* Helps the baby to become more organized

*Assists the baby in becoming more alert and interactive with others

*Helps start oral feeding earlier (rather than tube feeding)

*Promotes healthier bones

*Supports infant-parent interaction

*Promotes weight gain in preterm infants

* Lowers levels of cortisol, the stress hormone

*Increases muscle tone

* Improves sleep and awake patterns

*Earlier hospital discharge

* Improves cognitive and motor development at eight months of age

*Infant massage is an inexpesive tool

*Can be used as part of the baby’s developmental care plan

Benefits for Parents and Caregivers

* Provides all of the essential elements of intimate parent-infant bonding and attachment: eye-to-eye, touch, voice, smell, movement, and thermal regulation.

* Encourages pre-verbal communication between caregiver and infant

*Helps parents feel more competent and confident in caring for their children

* Helps to lower parental stress, if they are working and must be separated from their child for extended periods during the day

*Gives parents one-on-one quite time or interactive play with their child

*Creates a regular time of infancy between parent and child

*Elevates parents’ self-esteem by enhancing and reingforcing their skills as parents and validates their role

* Provides parents with the tools for understanding their child’s unique behavior and patterns

* Teaches parents how to read their infants’ cues and recognize their states of awareness

* Gives parents a special way to interact with their children who may be hospitalized. Helps parents feel a greater part of the healing process

* Daily massage helps parents to unwind and relax

* Provides a positive way for fathers to interact with their infant children

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We all have good intentions of spending more time with our families, but it sometimes just doesn’t work like that. This story should really get you thinking.

After a long and very tiring day at work a man was greeted by his son with a question; “what do you get paid every hour, dad?”

The man was a bit shocked by the question, but nonetheless he told him that he was paid $20 for an hour’s worth of work.

Before he had a chance to ask his kid why he wanted to know, his son asked another question “cool dad, so could you give me $10?”.

If the first question was unexpected, the second one floored him completely. Money was tight and he had to work very hard for his pay check, so his son was bang out of order.

He told his son this and expressed his disappointment at how his son had asked him for money. Things were already tight financially, and asking for such a thing would only make things more difficult.

His father’s reaction greatly upset the boy and he left the room with a very heavy heart. Something was clearly amiss here, but what was wrong?

That night as he was tucking his son into bed, he started to feel guilty about what had happened earlier and got a $10 bill from his wallet and gave it to his son.

A smile spread across the boys face and he dived under his pillow and pulled out ten $1 bills. His dad got really upset then and asked why he had asked him for money when he already had some.

The little boy held the money in his hand and looked up at his dad and spoke very quietly, “I needed $20 so I could pay for an hour of your time….”

How much is an hour of your time worth to your kids? This is something you should very well think about as the time truly flies by as they grow up.

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