Baby Blog Month in Review: August 2008by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 01 Sep 2008 06:10 PM
Don't worry about the missing last week of blogs. I've gotten quite a few questions about where I have been. The Baby Blog tends to go on hiatus the last week of the month. That may change in the future. Meanwhile, you can catch up on all of the articles that were posted in previous weeks just by exploring the links below. August 1 Baby Blog Month in Review: July 2008 Two of my three children are summer babies. That is, they were born in the summer and had their first months surrounded by sunshine streaming in the windows, the sound of birds chirping, and days spent wearing nothing but a diaper and a "onsie." I made sure that they had Fourth of July outfits ready, even though one of them arrived a week after the holiday. I guess he just wasn't interested in the parade. Do you have a summer baby, too? August 2nd Baby Blessings: An Alternative to Traditional Church Ceremony Baby blessing is a ritual that is becoming increasingly popular with new parents. Read on to learn about baby blessings and see if this is something that is right for your baby and your family. August 3rd Which Toys Don't Include Phthalates? Phthalates are chemicals that are considered toxic waste by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and yet they included in most plastic toys and other items that come in contact with out babies, such as sippy cups. Phthalates make plastic toys soft and flexible, and they are many different products. Research has shown a connection between phthalates and reproductive issues in boys and the early onset of puberty in girls. August 4th Baby Blog Week in Review: July 28th Through August 3rd Safety and summer fun have been two themes occurring in the Baby Blog for last week. From tougher toy standards and new information about you baby and second-hand smoke, to fun in the baby pool and enjoyment through volunteering, you'll find a variety of information and opinion. Some of it might even be controversial. Add your comment! August 5th Rocking and Bouncing Can Affect Your Baby's Music Preference Did you know that the way you rock and bounce your baby can affect his sense of rhythm and even what type of music he prefers? Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada studied how babies perceive music. Since parents usually bounce or rock their babies while singing to them, the researchers wanted to see if there was any connection to the development of rhythm or later preference for music in the babies. August 6th Is Air Conditioning Harmful for Your Baby? In the summer, especially in some parts of the world, air conditioning seems a necessity. Hot and humid temperatures make us all uncomfortable. But could turning on the air conditioning be harmful for your new baby? Could all of that cold air cause a chill or weaken her immune system? Could it cause Asthma later in life? Keep reading for the answers. August 7th Are you worried about the safety of your children's toys? Massive recalls of toys containing lead have brought the issue of toy safety to the forefront of our minds, and many parents are concerned that this information wasn't available previously. Also in the news is the presence of certain chemicals in plastic that have been seen to interrupt endocrine function leading to growth problems and problems with adult reproduction. August 8th Link Between Second-Hand Smoke and Allergies Here is another warning against exposing your baby to second-hand smoke. A recent study took a look at infants who are exposed to second-hand smoke and found a link between that exposure and the risk of developing allergies, both indoor inhalant allergies and food allergies. Since food allergies can easily be deadly and inhalant allergies can lead to asthma, the results of this study are important to note. August 9th Preschoolers and ADHD Research ADHD is a common condition that is often identified when a child starts preschool for the first time. It is characterized by the inability of the child to pay attention or focus. Your preschool teacher may discuss the possibility of your child having the condition, but you should have any diagnosis done by a professional before you accept the possibility that your child has ADHD. August 10th Backyard Preschool Summer Olympics Why should the little ones miss out on all of the Summer Olympic fun? You can host a backyard preschool olympics that will be sure to be a great time for everyone. The kids will learn all about moving their bodies and working as a team. They can gain confidence in their abilities, as well as a little exercise. Why not plan a backyard preschool summer olympics for your next preschool playdate, birthday party or moms camp? You can hold it for one day only, or host the event for a few days. It is up to you. August 11th Baby Blog Week in Review: August 4th Through August 10th Did you catch the Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony? We all enjoyed watching most of it as a family and thought it was spectacular. Did you find yourself bouncing or rocking along to the music? Recent research shows that bouncing your baby to music may affect his later music preference in life. We have this story, plus more this past week. Catch up on what you might have missed. August 13th Are Reborn Babies Scary and Harmful? I have to tread lightly on this topic, because the whole thing is a little disturbing to me. Lifelike baby dolls, dubbed Reborn Babies or a Reborn Baby, started out being made and traded by a handful of enthusiasts in the United Kingdom. These dolls have since turned into a trend that many say is macabre and scary. Some psychologists worry about the mental sanity of those who own these dolls, and the dolls have wrecked social havoc on a number of occasions. August 14th Are Reborn Babies Scary and Harmful? Continued Have you seen the Reborn Baby dolls? They are in the center of a controversy. Some say these dolls are cute and cuddly, while others see them as creepy and macabre. I tend to lean toward the second group. (If you missed the first part of this article, please click here to catch up: Are Reborn Babies Scary and Harmful? August 15th Signs Your Baby May Be Ready for the Olympics You know that your little one is special, but did you ever wonder if he or she is the next Michael Phelps, Katie Hoff or Nastia Liukin? Sometimes raw talent can be recognized very early. Here are some tongue-in-cheek ways that you can tell if your baby is headed for the Olympics. August 16th Mothers Determine How Well Father Takes Care of Baby When it comes to how involved fathers are in caring for their infants, it seems that moms are the gatekeepers. According to a study published in the Journal of Family Psychology this past June, mothers play a critical role in determining how much and how well a father takes care of his infant. August 17th What Is that Growing Red Spot on My Baby? If you notice a rapidly growing red spot on your infant, it could be an infantile hemangioma, which is a reddish skin tumor that is usually noticed by one month of age. I'll discuss what an infantile hemangioma is all about August 18th Baby Blog Week in Review: August 11th Through August 17th Have you seen the Reborn Babies? What do you think of them? Check out the posts about Reborn Babies, as well as lots more from this past week. August 19th Are you worried about exposing your baby to bisphenol A, also known as BPA? It is a chemical that has been shown to cause fertility and sexual maturity problems in the lab. In low doses, the chemical has also been shown to cause behavior and brain changes, as well as possible reduced viability and low birth weight in fetuses. There has also been a study that shows that the more often babies are exposed to BPA through shampoo, soap and lotion that are stored in BPA containers, the more of the chemical they have in their systems. August 20th Proper tummy time is important for your baby's development. Recent research shows that most babies today are not getting enough tummy time, and as a result are suffering from delayed crawling and head deformities. August 21st Helping Your Baby Manage the Fear of New Things Babies are new creatures in the world and are naturally curious about the things, people and happenings around them. This can often get them into trouble as when they are exploring something that could be dangerous, such as an unprotected stairway or a hot stove. Helping Your Baby Manage the Fear of New Things 2 Yesterday I shared a little bit about the how and why babies can be fearful of new things, even those things that you want them to experience. I also mentioned how my own toddler who loves water in every form he has encountered so far (he doesn't even mind when water gets in his face from a shower or sprinkler) seemed to loathe the beach. Now I'll tell you more about how we decided to take the supportive approach with him and this fear. August 25th Baby Blog Week in Review: August 18th Through August 24th Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantbaby tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags baby blog, baby articles, dads, moms Discuss this article
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Isn't it crazy the way babies grow so quickly? It seems that you just get used to one stage and boom they are already into another. Tonight, were busy getting the household all set for my eldest child's first day of second grade. My two younger ones are excited and want to start school, too. It will be a busy month.
