a lot of toys scattered on playroom floor
Early Child Development | Home | Infants (0-1 yr) | Toddlers (1-3yrs)

Toy Collection Guidelines: How Many Toys Do Kids Need?

How many toys do kids need? While it’s nice to have a number to shoot for, it’s more important to assess how many toys are right for your particular child and circumstances. For example, as a stay-at-home mom, my kids are home a lot. We live in a 2000 square foot home and can fit…

child draws in preschematic stage with elements of schematic stage drawing
Early Child Development | Infants (0-1 yr) | Toddlers (1-3yrs)

Understanding Children’s Development Through Drawing Stages

Before we can read, write, or talk, we can make our first rudimentary marks on paper; we scribble. And while an erratic scribble does not appear to be anything extraordinary, it is the first step on the amazing journey of human graphic development. Just as there are general developmental milestones when it comes to learning,…

family nature walk using a lightweight and breathable baby wrap
Early Child Development | Infants (0-1 yr) | Motherhood | Wellness

The Best Baby Wrap Carrier for Summer – Nominating the WeeSprout Tencel Modal Wrap

With sunshine and fun-filled days ahead, finding the best baby wrap carrier for summer is a must! A cozy wrap is great to use while out and about or at home getting things done. Features of a Great Summer Baby Carrier Wrap A great baby carrier wrap promotes bonding, provides comfort, and offers convenience. When…

newborn baby
Early Child Development | Infants (0-1 yr) | Motherhood | Wellness

When Should Family Visit Your Newborn Baby? Tips and Rules

Considerations – When Should Family Visit Newborn Baby?     1. Know Thyself     2. Protecting Immature Newborn Immune System     3. Establishing Breastfeeding     4. Processing Postpartum Emotions Establishing Boundaries with Newborn Visitors     1. Give Yourself Permission to Have Boundaries     2. Practice Clear and Kind Communication Around Boundaries There are a lot of…

little boy's 2nd birthday with mom and dad
Early Child Development | Infants (0-1 yr) | Toddlers (1-3yrs)

Raising Little Boys and Thoughts on Andrew Yang’s ‘Why Boys and Men are Failing’ Episode

As a mother of a 2-year-old boy, Andrew Yang’s recent episode on his podcast ‘Forward’ piqued my interest; “Why Boys and Men are Failing”. You can also watch the conversation between Yang and Zach Graumann on YouTube. I found this an odd and intriguing topic given our culture’s current conversations around male privilege and patriarchy. What could…

mom holding child's hand
Early Child Development | Infants (0-1 yr) | Toddlers (1-3yrs)

Raising Global Citizens for a Better Tomorrow

Table of Contents I was going to write this week’s post on pumpkin muffins for toddlers… but I can’t write about pumpkin muffins this week. Recently, there is something far more important to address that concerns me as a mother and as a human; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Since that initial…

toddler plate with iron rich foods
Early Child Development | Infants (0-1 yr) | Kid-Friendly Recipes | Toddlers (1-3yrs)

35 Iron-Rich Foods for Growing Babies and Toddlers

Contents When I started noticing that all of the baby cereals sold in stores had “iron-fortified” written all over them, I started to wonder what was so important about iron. And whether or not my child was getting enough. And especially since my son was exclusively breastfed (breast milk is low in iron vs iron-fortified…

A baby and his pacifiers - when to stop pacifier use
Early Child Development | Infants (0-1 yr) | Toddlers (1-3yrs)

Pacifier Use: When To Start & When to Stop

Pacifiers are wonderful tools to help soothe babies and young toddlers. Some children never take to them, but for those that do, pacifiers become their prized little possessions! At some point though, the question arises, when to stop pacifier use?  Sucking is a natural reflex for babies, and the ADA (American Dental Association) explains that pacifiers help provide a…

signs baby is ready to wean from breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Moms | Early Child Development | Infants (0-1 yr) | Motherhood | Toddlers (1-3yrs)

Natural Baby Self Weaning Signs from Breastfeeding

Contents My baby began a gradual process of self-weaning from breastfeeding shortly after 12 months of age. This took me by surprise because I always figured I would be the one to decide when our nursing relationship ended. After all, I had heard stories of nursing mothers who had 4-year-olds still breastfeeding. I wasn’t planning…