Newborns are Not a Blank Slate

July 12, 2023

Newborns may often look inactive, but it’s important for caregivers to understand how hard they are working. Let them know that over 1 million nerve connections are made every second in a newborn’s brain & that faces, snuggles and words are the best ways to support their development.

The Powerful Influence of Fathers’ Attitudes

July 5, 2023

In a recent survey of 250 new fathers, researchers highlighted the powerful influence that fathers’ attitudes and knowledge had on both breastfeeding and safe sleep practices. This data suggests that directly providing fathers with information and skills in these areas supports the health of the entire family.

Bedtime Routines

June 28, 2023

Having a consistent bedtime routine can help signal to babies that it is time to sleep, and help them to practice self regulation. Reminding parents to start a bedtime routine early, can be a beneficial habit to support self regulation as children grow. Hear from parents themselves:

Pacifier Weaning

June 21, 2023

Pacifiers are an excellent source of soothing, but eventually it’s important to limit their use to the sleep space in order to promote language development. This can also be a first step toward weaning the pacifier entirely, and finding new ways to help infants soothe themselves.

Stranger Anxiety

June 14, 2023

You may be their doctor, but you’re also likely a stranger to your youngest patients. Normalizing their difficult reaction to you at visits can help parents to understand that stranger anxiety is a normal part of development and to respond sensitively to a child’s distress.

Sunscreen Battles

June 7, 2023

It’s hard to get toddlers to cooperate with sunscreen. Try recommending that parents play a game by asking them to pick which body part to start with, and which to do next. Giving choices not only promotes autonomy, but can increase toddler compliance with frustrating tasks.

Tip of the Week