Misc (2)
Babythings4u.co.uk, helping inform you to make the right decisions

I recently came accross Liandrea.com.

Liandra.com sells exceptional how-to parenting DVDs, gifts and other products that parents can use as learning and reference tools during the tough times of pregnancy.
This is a really fantastic company which sells Baby / Parenting DVD’s which was setup by Lianne and Andrea, both moms and broadcasters.
Their award-winning DVDs combine expert advice, demonstrations and lots of mom-tested tips from the company founders.

They have a wide range of Video’s available, raning from $15 (£7) through to $25 (£14). . they also do a gift / box set for $34 (£17).

Bringing Baby Home Keepsake Kit

Their kit features the ideal five must-have items for mom and dad-to-be.
Their award-winning Bringing Baby Home DVD, a super soft onesie for baby, a keepsake journal for mom, and a soothing lullaby CD for the whole family, and comes presented in a really nice vinyl case.

I recently came accross Dads-Haven.co.uk.

Dads Haven is a information website for dad’s containing the following sections:

• Forum
• Live chat
• Links to other mens / dad / parenting websites
• Product reviews
• Picture gallery

By far the best sections on the website have to by the Forum and Product reviews.
The forum has lots of good chat about everything under the sun, and product reviews as comprehensive… ideal if you looking for a gift / present and need some additional help.

The concept:
With its matt black fabric and brushed aluminium frame, this pushchair oozes contemporary class. Versatility and manoeuvrability are the watchwords: the front wheels can be positioned apart, like a traditional pushchair, or moved together to perform like an all-terrain buggy - in either mode they can be fixed or swivelling. The big, air-filled rear tyres and all-round suspension offer your baby a smooth ride and the padded handlebar offers seven different heights - great if you’re considerably shorter (or taller) than your partner.

In action:
Folding and unfolding the Apple is straightforward, including removing the wheels to make it extra compact - the manufacturers claim this will even fit in the boot of a Smart car (I have too much baggage in my life to own such a car…). The carrycot is deep and sturdy, perfect for newborns, and when your baby’s big enough, the seat offers plenty of support and an excellent range of seating positions; it can be positioned facing forwards or back, so you can either interact or just let your baby watch the world go by. The suspension and pneumatic tyres make for a smooth ride for parent and baby alike, and the adjustable hood offers generous coverage from the elements, plus viewing windows in the side so you can keep an eye on junior.

Benefits:
This is a clever buggy, capable of many things, and none are too complicated to achieve: changing the seat position, mounting the carrycot, dismantling - all are a doddle. The basket underneath is capacious and its high sides mean you’re unlikely to shed your belongings as you go. And at £200 less than the Bugaboo Cameleon, it represents good value for style-conscious parents.

Drawbacks:
This is a fairly hefty beast at 13.8kg, so it’s not one to go for if you’re going to actually lift it on a regular basis, ie, getting it in and out of the car. It can’t be folded one-handed, which will hinder you on public transport.

A child’s social and emotional development has significant implications for current and later social functioning, for educational, and employment success. If emotional development is fostered at a young age, children are more likely to settle well into school, work co-operatively, confidently and independently and to behave appropriately. A child with poor social and emotional development is at risk of poor relationships with peers, academic problems, of later involvement in crime, of developing physical health and adult mental health problems.

Key to social and emotional development is the child’s early relationship with parents/caregivers. Efforts to support parents in understanding and fulfilling their children’s emotional needs can help to provide a secure base from which to grow into well-rounded, capable adults with robust mental health.

What is Child Development?
Children grow, develop, and learn throughout their lives from birth and infancy to adulthood. A child’s development can be measured through social, physical, and cognitive developmental milestones. If children fail to develop properly they may be unable to reach their full potential. However, healthcare professionals and parents can work together as partners to help children grow up healthy and strong.

Why be concerned if a baby shows signs of developmental delay? Won’t she just grow out of it?
Developmental delays can have future negative effects on your child, which may lead to speech and language difficulties, behavioral problems and learning problems.

How can I prevent developmental delay in my baby?
There isn’t one “right way” to prevent developmental delay. Consult a pediatrician for specific activities for your child. Some activities such as singing and reading to your child help to stimulate cognition and recognition of a mother’s voice by her child.

What is early childhood intervention?
The intent of early child intervention is to lay a foundation, in conjunction with the family, to support infants as they grow and mature into healthy individuals. Healthy means the best possible outcome the physical, mental, and social functioning and well-being of an individual.

My name is Chloe, I have been a qualified nursery nurse for a number of years now (Certificate in Early Years, Level 4), and would like to share some of what i have learnt about childrens development through this blog.

Defining health and well-being varies depending on where you come from. For example, a child living in Zimbabwe-a country currently experiencing an AIDS epidemic and famine, might be considred healthy by local community because he or she is free from disease and nourished. In the developed world, however, most people would not be comfortable thinking on such narrow terms.

In the United Kingdom, we are bobarded daily with advice on staying healthy, what we should and should not eat and drink, how much excercse we need, and how to tackle stress in our lives. All of this information often leaves parents struggling with questions about their children’s health. Will my child develop well if i go back to work? Is my child eating the right food? These concerns about their children’s health are not without good reason. The foundations for physical, social and emotional health are built in the early years, and it is far more effective to make sure that those are well-established than to cure ill health later in life.

Health is not easy to define, as individuals have different ideas about what health means. In 1984 the World Health Organization defined health as:

the extent to which an individual or group is able, on the one hand, to realise aspirations and satisfy needs: and, on the other hand, to change or cope with the environment. Health is therefore, seen as a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living: it is a positive concept emphasising social and personal resouces, as well as physical capacities.