Crawling, walking, talking—every parent relishes the first time their child reaches one of these important milestones. But it’s easy for parents to start worrying if their child is a bit behind ‘schedule.’ Don’t worry, though! All babies develop at their own pace, and some will hit certain landmarks sooner than others. Here are some of a baby’s most important developmental milestones—the ones you’ll want to remember forever.

- Smiling—Although babies may give you a little grin earlier, most babies only give a true, sincere smile at about five-eight weeks. When smiling sincerely, a baby will make eye contact and react to your facial expressions and voice.

- Sitting Up—Some babies can learn to sit up and support themselves much faster than others, but around six or seven months is typical. You can help your child along by propping her up with pillows, or having her lean forward with her legs apart and supporting herself with her hands.

- Eating On Her Own—Once your baby has begun to eat solid foods, at eight to nine months you can supervise her as she tries out eating on her own. Offer her little bits of foods such as bananas or cereal. Most children, however, won’t be able to use utensils for another 8-9 months.

- Knowing Her Name—Children usually begin to recognize the sound of their name when they’re eight to ten months. It may be hard to tell if your baby is responding to her name or just the sound of your voice. Help her learn by removing background noise and speaking her name clearly and giving her time to respond.

- Crawling—A lot of children learn to walk before they can crawl, but many begin to move about in other strange ways as well. Babies may scoot on their bellies or their bottoms, or just roll around. Children usually begin to move around on their own at eight to ten months.

- Standing Unsupported—At about ten to twelve months, your baby may begin to stand unsupported. You can help her work up to this by placing toys on a low table that she can support herself on, or by helping hold her up as she learns to be comfortable on her own two feet.

- First Word—Most babies speak their first “word” when they’ve reached twelve to thirteen months. It is most common for babies to start with the first syllable of a word repeated, such as “mama” or “dada.” They may also speak the name of a pet, sibling, or toy. Around eighteen months they may begin to speak full words and possibly short phrases.

- Walking—Most babies begin to walk at about twelve to fifteen months, but it is not only difficult, but also requires confidence. Help your child feel self-assured by holding her hands and gradually easing away your support. Don’t worry if it takes your baby longer to learn—babies will begin to walk when they’re ready.

Witnessing each of these moments will bring you immense joy, knowing that your baby is developing and growing up. Again, however, don’t worry if your child seems to be behind the learning curve. Just because she can’t stand or talk as soon as other babies does not mean she’s less intelligent or has other problems. Every baby will develop at his or her own pace.

Backpacks For Kids is a recently founded organization that provides underprivileged children in Yolo County, California with backpacks and other school supplies. Last year, the organization provided over 250 children with supplies they could otherwise not afford so that they could start the school year off right. In addition to backpacks and school supplies, Backpacks For Kids also provides clothes, desks and bike helmets.
This year, the project ambitiously hopes to help 1000 children, quadrupling their level of service. Many people do not realize the level of demand for these necessities. Backpacks For Kids is hosting a family fun day on July 26, but if you don’t live in California you can still help out—check out their website here.

It’s easy for parents to butt heads over parenting styles—after all, it’s something that both of you care about very much. But just because you have different ideas about how to raise your children doesn’t mean that one of you is wrong. Kids need both parts of the parenting equation, and finding the balance between mom’s ideas and dad’s is a key part of parenting. Here are some of the common differences between men and women’s parenting styles, and some advice that will hopefully help you and your partner avoid conflict.

- Moms tend to be more protective of their children, while dads will encourage them to take some risks in their children. While mothers may flinch in situations where their kids could get hurt, it’s important to remember that risk-taking is a crucial way for children to develop confidence and a willingness to try new things. While no parent has to put up with anything that they’re truly uncomfortable with, ask yourself whether the activity could cause real harm, or just be slightly painful.

- Mothers are also more likely to ask for advice, compare parenting styles with other moms, and consult books or experts, whereas fathers can sometimes trust their instincts more than others’ advice. While there’s no reason to outright reject any advice, nobody knows your children better than you do—you have to have the confidence to trust your own parenting abilities.

- Men tend to be less concerned with minor details, as long as their child is safe and happy. This can be quite frustrating for mothers who feel pressure to have everything be perfect. To keep your and your partner’s sanity, decide what’s really important and what you can let slide. Learn not to sweat the small stuff.

- Dads also sometimes goof off with their children more than moms, who can get engrossed in moving from one task to the next. Humor and fun are obviously important parts of a youngster’s life, so make sure they get plenty of both. To make sure the goof-off time is evenly divided, however, split up the not-so-fun stuff down the middle as well, so that you’ve both got time to play.

- Another common difference between men and women’s parenting styles is that men will often let their children cry a bit longer before stepping in. Although this might make it seem like they care less, that’s not the case—they’re simply letting their children learn to deal with problems on their own. Being overprotective of your child can make them less-prepared for independence and adulthood.

- Men are also more likely to avoid direct confrontation with their children. Instead of forcing or commanding their children to do something they don’t want to, they’ll find ways to sneak the dreaded task in or to make a game out of it. This is also because fathers are usually less married to a strict routine and more flexible about when and how things get done.

Once you hold your baby in a chenille blanket from Little Giraffe, you’ll never want another baby blanket again! Mothers everywhere have discovered the luxurious softness that Little Giraffe has to offer, and now refuse let their babies sleep with anything less. Why?
These blankets are soft. They bring together lush chenille and silky smooth satin for a superior level of comfort for your baby’s sensitive skin. And the elegant design will turn heads everywhere you go. That’s why celebrity mothers can be seen toting their newborns around Hollywood in Little Giraffe’s satin and chenille blankets.

And since they sport the Little Giraffe logo, you can rest assured that these blankets are made with the utmost in quality and care. And mothers can breathe easy knowing that the entire line of Little Giraffe blankets, pillows, and towels, are all machine washable and dryable.
Once you’ve experienced the sumptuous softness of Little Giraffe baby blankets, you’ll never settle for another blanket again.

Each and every parent knows the financial pressures that having a child brings. Food, clothing, toys—it quickly eats up parents’ salaries. But one of the most essential expenses for parents of young children is daycare. Without it, parents would be severely limited in their employment prospects, if they could even work at all. The annual cost of childcare can easily reach $10,000 or more, and that cost is rising at a rate faster than inflation. And since child care is such a crucial concern, parents are understandably unwilling to compromise quality for affordability.

There are, however, several things that parents can to do reduce this cost. First of all, check to see if you qualify for subsidized child care or other government assistance. If not, see if your employer has any sort of negotiated discount with any local daycare centers. Don’t be afraid to change your childcare provider, unless your current one continues to offer the best in care and affordability. For more information, click here.

We all know how good cotton feels against the skin—the soft, comforting sensation you get from sliding between cotton sheets or curling up with a cotton blanket. That’s why cotton baby blankets are so popular. But you have a choice when it comes to cotton: you can make a difference in the world while still getting only the best in quality and comfort.

Non-organic cotton growers use a disproportionate amount of pesticides, which indiscriminately kill bugs both harmful and helpful, and expose residents of the surround communities to harm. The pesticides used in cotton growing account for hundreds of thousands of dead fish from runoff and cause chronic health problems in workers. Pesticides are also a leading environmental cause of cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

Buying organic cotton gives you the same quality that you expect and is good for you, your family, and the world. So when choosing a blanket for your baby, an object that they will love and cherish for years to come, make sure you make a conscientious decision—go organic!

Need to get away? Been dreaming of escaping the daily grind for a sunny, sandy beach? Well, just because you’ve got your family with you doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of options for great vacations! But a poorly-planned trip can end up being an expensive disaster. Here are some of my personal tips to keep this from happening, keep your family happy, and have a great time!

- You can still take that trip to a third world country, but bringing a baby along might not be the best idea. Your best bets are places that are used to accommodating babies - many luxurious hotels and resorts include daycare and other services that will leave mommy with plenty of time to relax.

- It’s better to avoid places that will be crowded or overwhelming. If you’re in doubt about a places facilities or accommodations, call ahead and make sure that they have what you need.

- Even if you’re going to a family-friendly resort or camp, don’t assume that they’ll have everything you need. It may be difficult to find a replacement for a baby blanket or a particular brand of diapers.

- Make sure to schedule plenty of time to rest and eat, or children can become overwhelmed and antsy. Try to schedule long car rides or flights for times when the children would naturally sleep.

- Give your child enough time to adjust to the new circumstances. Especially if this is one of their first times away from home, they may be nervous or fussy - take it slow the first few days and make sure everything’s running smoothly.

Above all, relax! Be ready to roll with the punches, adjust, and be flexible. Expect the unexpected and embrace it. This is vacation, after all, and you don’t want to forget that. Have a great time!