The media must have misunderstood this study because while it made people smarter, the results only lasted for a short period of time. It’s also important to note that the studies were ran on college students and not newborns.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:40 Your brain doesn’t know where your organs are.
1:29 Babies and toddlers don’t make memories.
3:17 “Listening to Mozart makes baby’s brains smarter.”
4:12 There’s a specific region of your brain specialized for reading.
5:49 Outro

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Usually the two bottom middle teeth are the first ones to erupt. But did you know that baby tooth buds start to form at just 5 weeks into pregnancy?!

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If you are a parent, or someone with sensitive skin, you probably look at the ingredient lists of skin care products with a critical eye. Fragrances are just as suspect as natural flavors. The last thing you want to do is apply a skin care product that leaves your skin itchy, dry, or irritated. Because finding safe, natural products can be a challenge, making your own skin care products is often the best choice. Such is the case for this all-natural homemade baby lotion.

DIY skin care products are having a moment because more and more people prefer natural ingredients to harmful chemicals. Some people think that making skin care products is too much of a commitment. There are some recipes that take a lot of time to make, but a recipe like this homemade baby lotion is quite simple. Although it isn’t so easy that a baby could make it, the lotion is perfectly safe for sensitive skin and babies. Continue reading to learn how the ingredients are perfectly safe for sensitive skin.

A Quick Note: make sure to do a patch test of each of the ingredients on your baby prior to using it regularly. If there is no reaction within 24 hours, the ingredient is generally safe for use. 

Cocoa Butter

High in fatty acids, cocoa butter has a creamy texture that the skin can easily absorb. It melts at body temperature and can be a great option if the baby has dry skin. If the baby has oily skin, cocoa butter may not be a great option, as it can be too heavy and oily for their skin type. Cocoa butter contains a lot of antioxidants, which work to fight free radicals that can cause early signs of aging. These antioxidants also help protect the skin and keep it as healthy as possible. Cocoa butter also contains cocoa mass polyphenol, a substance that inhibits the production of immunoglobulin (IgE), which aggravates symptoms of eczema. 

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer and is a completely safe ingredient to help protect your baby’s delicate skin. Skin experts concur that coconut oil is an easily accessible remedy for a range of skin and hair issues in both babies and people with sensitive skin. Coconut oil contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help moisturize the skin and provide a protective barrier, keeping the baby’s skin safe from dryness. Plus, coconut oil contains vitamin E, which plays an important role in skin repair and the prevention of premature wrinkles.

Vitamin E Oil

As a natural antioxidant, vitamin E oil works to neutralize free radicals. Your little one is probably not too concerned with early signs of aging, though. The main reason that this homemade baby lotion contains vitamin E oil is because it helps form a barrier between the skin and the environment. That helps to seal in moisture and protect the skin from things like sun damage.

Homemade Baby Lotion

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup organic cocoa butter
• 1/4 cup organic coconut oil
• 1/4 tsp vitamin E oil
• 3 drops therapeutic grade lavender essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

• Place the cocoa butter and coconut oil in a heat-safe glass measuring cup. Place the measuring cup in a small saucepan with an inch or two of water in it. 
• Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat down to a low simmer. Stir the cocoa butter and coconut oil frequently until melted. 
• Once fully melted, remove from heat and then stir in vitamin E oil and optional lavender essential oil. 
• Place the measuring cup in the fridge and remove once the mixture has hardened. 
• Remove from the fridge and whip the mixture with a hand mixer with one whisk attached. It will take about five minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• Scoop into a glass jar, screw on the lid, and then store in a cool, dark place. Use when ready.

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The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a serious respiratory infection that can affect people of all ages. Recently, many children’s hospitals across the country experienced an increase of pediatric patients hospitalized with the RSV, in addition to influenza. In most cases, RSV may only cause symptoms like difficulty breathing, lethargy, and cough, but it is most serious when it occurs in babies. 

What Causes RSV?

RSV is spread from person to person via close contact with an infected person via secretions from coughing or sneezing, or touching objects like toys or door knobs that have the virus on them. According to health experts, it takes between two to eight days from the time of exposure for someone to become sick. In most cases, symptoms last for three to seven days, during which time the infected patients are most contagious. Because it can spread so easily, health experts encourage you to isolate and limit contact with other people. The peak season for the RSV is between fall and spring. 

Symptoms Of RSV

People who become infected with RSV usually show symptoms within two to eight days after exposure. The most common symptoms of RSV include:

• Runny nose
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Decrease in appetite
• Fever
• Wheezing

These symptoms tend to appear in stages and not all at once. Very young infants who contract RSV may only experience decreased activity, irritability, and breathing difficulties. Surveys confirm that almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday. 

RSV Can Cause Serious Health Problems

In more serious cases, RSV can cause serious infections like bronchiolitis, which is inflammation of the small airways in the lung. RSV can also lead to pneumonia, a lung infection. Health experts say that RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under the age of one. 

Healthy adults and children don’t usually require hospitalization. Some people with an RSV infection, especially infants under the age of six months and older adults, may require hospitalization if they have trouble breathing. In the most severe cases, a patient may require oxygen or IV fluids, if they have difficulty breathing or become dehydrated. Some patients with RSV have been in need of intubation with mechanical ventilation. In most of those cases, hospitalization only lasted a few days. 

Take Additional Steps To Prevent RSV Infection

The best way to protect yourself from RSV infection is to keep the body as healthy as possible. Eat a healthy diet, exercise, wash hands, and consider the following tips when trying to prevent the spread of the virus. 

• Avoid kissing your baby on the face if you have cold symptoms. Additionally, keep your baby away from older siblings, relatives, or anyone else with cold symptoms. 
• Wash toys and the baby’s environment regularly.
• Ask people to first wash their hands before holding or touching your baby. And you do the same if you want to hold a friend’s baby.
• Limit the time that high-risk children or babies remain in daycare or play settings, especially between late fall and early spring.
• Keep your baby away from high-risk settings, for example, crowded indoor spaces. 
• Avoid environments with smoke.

As a final note, it is common for babies to make a full recovery from RSV within one to two weeks. Most babies recover from RSV without receiving treatment in a hospital setting. More often than not, you can treat symptoms at home. You can use a cool mist humidifier to introduce moisture to the air to aid breathing, or use a bulb syringe to clear thick secretions from your baby’s nose. If you think your baby has dehydration or is in moderate to severe distress because of RSV infection, you should seek medical care.

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Babies all around the world experience diaper rash. It’s nerve-wracking for parents and painful or irritating for the baby. As a parent, you don’t want to see your child in pain, so you try to remedy the rash with healing lotions and ointments. Since many of those lotions contain harmful chemicals, it is better to use natural ingredients to soothe irritation and get rid of the rash.

Understanding Why Diaper Rash Occurs

You have to understand the causes of diaper rash if you want to prevent it. The most common cause of diaper rash is the containment of moisture, warmth, and growth of organisms within the diaper. Candida or yeast, which is present in stool, is typically the growth. This is not always the cause of the rash, though. Some children have food sensitivities or allergies to certain materials. Chronic diaper rash, for instance, is most commonly attributed to a food allergen. Finding the allergen can take time, but there are ingredients that can remedy the situation in the meantime.

Beeswax For Diaper Rash

Beeswax has numerous benefits, one of the primary ones being that it nourishes the skin. Loaded with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and germicidal properties, beeswax can help fight diaper rash and soothe the skin. While there are dozens of lotions that contain beeswax, go straight to the source and incorporate it into a homemade salve.

Calendula For Diaper Rash

The recipe for this DIY diaper rash salve calls for infused calendula oil. Traditionally, calendula flowers have been used in herbal remedies for their medicinal properties. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties are especially beneficial for wounds, burns, rashes, infection, and inflammation. Research suggests that calendula is better for diaper rash than aloe vera gel, but some children may be more sensitive to it.

DIY Diaper Rash Salve

Ingredients For The Calendula Infused Oil:

• ½ cup dried calendula flowers
• 1 cup sweet almond oil

Ingredients For The Salve:

• 1 cup calendula infused oil
• ¼ cup beeswax
• 1 tablespoon marshmallow root
• 1 tablespoon chickweed
• 1 tablespoon comfrey rot
• 1 teaspoon barberry root powder

Instructions For The Calendula Infused Oil:

• Add the calendula flowers and sweet almond oil to a pint-sized mason jar.
• Make sure that the flowers are completely submerged in the oil.
• Cover the jar and allow it to sit in a sunny windowsill for one month.
• Strain the flowers and reserve the oil in a jar for your diaper salve.

Instructions For The Salve:

• Add the infused oil, marshmallow root, chickweed, comfrey root, and barberry root powder to a small saucepan over low heat. You do not want to cook the herbs, so make sure that it is very low heat.
• Let the herbs infuse for 10 minutes and then add the beeswax. Stir the beeswax occasionally until it is completely melted.
• Strain the herbs through a cheesecloth into a glass measuring cup with a pour spout.
• Quickly pour the mixture into jars or small tins for storage. Allow the mixture to harden in the tins before screwing the tops on. Store in a cool dry place and use as needed.

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Typically eaten as a side dish or dip (but we all know it could be enjoyed as an entrée), guacamole has been a staple part of Mexican cuisine since the time of the Aztecs. Today, guacamole has become one of the most popular add-ons, dips, and sauces in the Americas and Canada, where it is informally known as guac.

Guacamole Fact: While the humble avocado is native to Mexico and Central America, it is grown and consumed in all areas of the world. The people of Sri Lanka even enjoy their own rendition of guacamole by making a creamy avocado sauce.

Benefits Of Avocados

Great For Vision

Rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals that are primarily concentrated in eye tissues, avocados help to promote eye health. These phytochemicals have been known to minimize the damage from ultraviolet light. Additionally, monounsaturated fats in avocados work to aid the absorption of fat-soluble antioxidants like beta-carotene, a necessary nutrient to decrease the risk of macular degeneration.

Baby Food

Avocados contain folate, which is an important nutrient for developing fetuses. Pregnant women are encouraged to consume folate-rich foods in order to lower the risk of possible neutral tube defects or miscarriage. A recent study found that there was a 30% increase in birth defects of baby mice that were conceived using the sperm of folate deficient male mice, compared to the mice conceived with sperm that had high folate levels.

Nutrient Dense

Avocados are like nutrient bombs, being great sources of monounsaturated fats, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene, lutein, folate, niacin, riboflavin, and vitamins C, E, K, and B6. The healthy fats in avocados help to keep you satiated, which can prevent overeating. These same healthy fats also slow the breakdown of carbohydrates, working to maintain constant blood sugar levels.

How To Celebrate Guacamole Day

There’s really only one way to celebrate…with a giant bowl of guacamole of course! Make a large batch and eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in between if you like. Is that too much guacamole? Wait…is too much guacamole even a thing? However you decide to celebrate National Guacamole Day, we hope you make some of the following recipes.

Easy Guacamole

Guacamole is one of the easiest dips to make, and it contains a bunch of essential nutrients that you need in your body. Try this recipe!

Click here to make the recipe.

Spicy & Sweet Mango Guacamole

Looking for a dip that will help boost your energy levels, nourish your brain cells, and regulate blood sugar? This is that dip. Try it out!

Click here to make the recipe.

The OG Guac Recipe

This is a great guacamole recipe. It is so simple to make and helps to fill you up. Avocados also contain beneficial heart healthy fats!

Click here to make the recipe.

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The creation of the disposable diaper can be traced back to a nun who worked in a hospital in Ohio in the 1950s. According to historians, she proposed that Procter & Gamble, a giant in the U.S. consumer goods market, should invent a replacement for cloth diapers. The reasoning behind this was to create a hygienic product that could ease the workload of mothers.

Since the creation of the disposable diaper, the industry has grown to generate $65 billion per year. Disposable diapers have expanded to countries across the globe, but the convenience of these products comes with an environmental cost. The reason for this is because disposable diapers have traditionally been made out of non-recyclable polyethylene plastic, which takes several hundred years to decompose. During the decomposition of these diapers, toxic chemicals and microplastics are released into the environment, diseasing coral reefs and killing marine life.

Babies poop about four or more times a day, and there are over 300,000 babies born worldwide every day. Until babies are potty trained, they go through hundreds of billions of diapers each year. Additionally, one baby creates about 1,000 pounds of poop a year and runs through 7,000 diapers before potty training, so there is a lot of untreated waste and non-biodegradable waste that ends up in landfill sites.

Disposable diapers made with plastics are some of the most prominent items at landfill sites in the United States and Europe. The reason diapers have become a threat to marine life is because plastic diapers have entered into countries with less sophisticated waste management systems. For instance, the population on the island of Java, Indonesia has doubled over the past 45 years, and the waterways are clogged with plastic trash, including plastic diapers, as a result.

In an effort to make environmentally and socially responsible choices when it comes to raising a child, several companies in the disposable diaper industry have developed eco-friendly, disposable diapers over the past several years. Because the average parent doesn’t want to deal with the mess of cloth diapers, the eco-friendly, biodegradable diapers may be a step in the right direction towards a healthier, less contaminated planet. In addition to the sustainable materials that are used to make the diapers, they are more effective at protecting a baby’s sensitive skin.

If you are entirely opposed to using disposable diapers, no matter how environmentally friendly they are, reusable cloth diapers are cost effective and beneficial for the planet. Even if you consider the water, detergent, and energy that is used to wash cloth diapers, you’ll still spend a third of what you would otherwise spend on disposable diapers. We aren’t advocating for plastic disposable diapers and we aren’t demanding that you only use cloth diapers. Our intention was only to present you with both sides of the equation and show you that, if you have a baby, environmentally responsible companies have created biodegradable diapers that are safer for the planet, and even safer for your baby.

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Nowadays, it seems like we have largely forgotten that our ancestors once used healing clays as part of their nutrition, well being, and lifestyle. Bentonite clay, in particular, doesn’t usually appear on dietary recommendations, or isn’t included in homemade recipes. However, its benefits are plentiful.

Bentonite clay is clay that consists of aged volcanic ash. It is odorless, with mostly grey/cream colors, and has a soft, very fine consistency. It has a high concentration of minerals including silica, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, and potassium, but the way it works is mainly due to electricity. Bentonite clay produces an electrical charge when it comes in contact with water. This negative charge attracts positive-charged toxins and chemicals, and, like a magnetic sponge, it holds onto impurities before carrying them out of the body in our waste.

While this clay can be used externally, you can also ingest it to reap its many benefits. However you use it, you’ll find how to use it as a natural remedy below:

Important: Do not mix bentonite clay in a metal bowl or with a metal utensil. This can destroy its negative charge. 

As An Oral Rinse

Bentonite caly can be easily used as an alkalizing and toxin-removing mouth rinse by simply mixing it with water. Also, just like activated charcoal, it can be used to help whiten teeth naturally. Try this by mixing ½ teaspoon of clay in ¼ cup of water, shake well, and rinse for one to two minutes before spitting it out.

As A Face Mask

Clays, such as bentonite, make for great natural masks, especially for oily skin, clogged pores, and acne. Simply mix one tablespoon of bentonite clay with one tablespoon of water and apply to your face for 15 minutes. This mask can help reduce scar appearance, draw out toxins, and regenerate skin tissue.

For Drawing Out Harmful Bacteria And Viruses

You can do this easily by drinking ½-1 teaspoon of bentonite clay with a glass of water. Due to the negative charge in bentonite clay, it acts as a magnet for toxins, bacteria, and pathogens that are positively charged. Eventually, as the digestive system does its job, both the clay and the toxins stuck to it are eliminated from the body. Researchers have also found that bentonite clay can relieve nausea, acid reflux, and diarrhea.

To Heal Poison Ivy, Dermatitis, And Wounds

Try applying a thick layer of clay on the skin before applying damp gauze over it. With the same effects as the aforementioned face mask, when it is combined with water and left to dry on the skin, the clay is able to bind to bacteria and toxins, reducing the outbreak of blemishes or allergic reactions. Bentonite clay also has the ability to act as an antibiotic treatment when applied topically on skin infections.

As Baby Powder

Plain bentonite clay can make for a very soothing baby powder alternative to use when there is infection or redness. It can also be mixed with water to turn into a mask that can be applied to help speed up recovery in this area.

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Whether you are a breastfeeding mom, mom-to-be, or a woman thinking about having a child, the decision to breastfeed or use baby formula is a typical dilemma in the modern world. Some women feel that “Fed Is Best” and breastfeeding is not right for them after they do it for a month or two, so they switch to baby formula. There are certain dangers to consider when deciding to give a child commercial baby formula, though.

From a biological standpoint, breast milk is considered the optimal food for newborns. Human milk contains countless bioactive molecules that help to inhibit inflammation and infection, while also contributing to healthy organ development. It also helps to mature the immune system. Now, this does not mean that breastfeeding is always optimal. Some mothers are unable to breastfeed and some babies struggle or are unable to do so. Some mothers can breastfeed, but just can’t produce enough milk.

Baby formula, on the other hand, is typically processed under high heat, which can lead to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGES). AGES are basically sugar molecules that damage proteins in your body, leading to inflammation or an increased risk of chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease.

The dangerous thing about sugar damaging protein is that it makes your immune system act defensively. A child’s immune system will combat AGES, but this leaves some damage in his/her arteries, which can lead to the formation of plaque; thus, the strong connection between infants who consume formula and heart disease or diabetes later on in their lives.

Almost all of the infant formulas out there contain substances that should be avoided, one of the main ones is sucrose. All major formulas have some kind of added sugar because it helps babies to digest the proteins in milk in soy. Breast milk, on the other hand, contains things like probiotics and healthy bacteria that help an infant’s body thrive. The probiotics in breast milk also help to contribute to the healthy development of gut flora. While baby formulas may contain probiotics, they are inferior to those found in breast milk.

Think of an infant’s body as a blank slate. The baby has yet to form an ecosystem that develops within the digestive system. The manufacturers of baby formula cannot replicate the beneficial microflora that exist in breast milk. What we are essentially saying is that breast milk is the best milk.

Did you know that breast milk has roughly 100 different components that contribute to the development of a healthy child? Breast milk contains living cells, hormones, enzymes, and protective antibodies that help to neutralize foreign invaders in a baby’s body. Breast milk also contains lactoferrin, which is an iron-building protein that has antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-cancer properties.

What Moms Need To Do

Since the baby is essentially consuming what the mother puts in her body, it is ideal to consume a healthy diet. Eating a lot of processed foods, meat, meat products, added sugars, or refined ingredients is not going to benefit a baby’s health. It is best to consume plant-based foods that are going to give your body complete proteins and essential nutrients to help the baby’s development. When the baby is old enough to start eating real foods, it is advisable to make your own baby food by pureeing vegetables and fruits. Homemade is the best way to ensure that your baby isn’t consuming processed ingredients.

Safe Herbs To Help Detox Baby Formula From Infants

• Red Clover
• Mullein leaf
• Chaparral
• Strawberry leaf
• Chickweed
• Elderberry
• Dandelion
• Burdock root

Make a tea from these herbs and sweeten it with grade A maple syrup and add a little lemon juice, and give to the baby via a bottle.

To conclude, we understand that not every person is going to see eye to eye on this matter. We only recommend that if you are going to use baby formula for your child, it is advisable to do your research to make the best informed decision you can possible make. There are other options like donor milk or homemade formula. We also recommend that you do read the ingredients of baby formula to ensure you aren’t give a child harmful chemicals.

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Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a contagious viral infection that is common among children and infants. It is identified by a rash on the hands and feet, and sores inside the mouth. The illness doesn’t last more than a week or so and it is most common in the summer and fall, but it can occur any time of year. HFMD is not to be confused with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which only affects animals like sheep, cattle, or goats. HFMD virus spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, or touching objects that other infected persons have touched.

Symptoms of HFMD

The identifying symptoms of HFMD are sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. Symptoms can take anywhere from 3-6 days to develop after contracting the virus. The initial stages of the infection may result in a sore throat or slight fever, followed by the rash and sores days later. Some of the following symptoms may occur if the child contracts HFMD.

• Fever
• Sores inside the mouth
• Rash, which doesn’t itch and sometimes blisters on hands and feet
• Sore throat
• Feeling sluggish
• Irritability in infants and toddlers
• Loss of appetite

Natural Remedies for HFMD

• It can be beneficial for the infected child to eat probiotics, echinacea, and goldenseal, as all of these help the body naturally eliminate the virus. Probiotic foods can include sauerkraut, kimchi, or fermented pickles. You can make goldenseal and echinacea teas for your child to drink while they have the virus. These herbs have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help calm the virus.
• Antiviral teas can be very beneficial to those with HFMD. Peppermint, elderberry, and rooibos teas are some of the best teas you can drink to combat viruses. The trick with these teas is making sure that you don’t brew them too strong. Most kids won’t drink these bold flavors if they are brewed too intense.  It’s also important to not drink too much elderberry tea because it can cause diarrhea.
• Because kids like soup, making an antiviral broth may be a viable option for an herbal remedy. Using vegetable broth as the base, add fresh garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage and let the flavors simmer in the broth for at least 30 minutes. All of these herbs have strong antiviral properties that can help reduce the symptoms of HFMD.
• It is crucial to instruct kids who have HFMD to always wash their hands. Practicing proper hygiene can help stop the virus from spreading. If a kid has HFMD, it is important that you clean anything they touch and that they avoid going to school, as the virus can spread easily. In addition to this, do not share utensils, towels, or any other objects that an infected child touches.
• A soothing remedy for the rash or blisters on the hands and feet is organic, unfiltered coconut oil. It has wonderful soothing properties that can help restore healthy skin. You can mix some fresh lemon juice with the coconut oil and apply this mixture to the skin for added relief.
• Taking an epsom salt bath with a few drops of lavender essential oil can help soothe the skin. While this bath promotes relaxation, epsom salts are known to help calm inflammation and naturally flush out toxins.
• You can help your child fight the virus by feeding him or her a plant-based diet. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds means that your body is getting all the essential nutrients it needs. Eating processed foods, junk foods, GMOs, dairy, a lot of meat, and refined sugars only does damage to your body.

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