Every parents knows the sleepless nights that your children bring. Sometimes it’s the midnight cries that you keep you up when your little one is a newborn or the anxious thoughts that run through your head when your child is all grown up and out late at night. The constant fears that your angel is safe never go away – regardless of age!
These first-time parents bring home their newborn for the very first time, countless thoughts running through their minds. Will the house be as safe as they planned for?! There was one hesitation – the family dog, Liev. The parents wanted to make sure the Labrador would be gentle with the new addition to the family.
The sweet video below shows the first time their pup meets the baby (and they give you a few tips for your first time bringing home the baby!)Sure the dog will be excited, tail wagging and all, but eventually they learn to treat the baby with care!
Experts recommend that you prepare the family dog before the baby arrives. It is a very hectic time and a time of many changes when a baby arrives. In order to minimize stress for the dog and reduce the chance of an accident you can make many changes and preparations ahead of time so that the transition is easier for you and the dog.
Tips for Preparing Your K9 Family Member Before the Baby Arrives
Review and firm up obedience.
Parents should practice giving cues comfortably in any position. Ex: sitting back on a couch, lying in bed, sitting on the floor. If your dog does not respond to familiar cues such as "sit" and "down" when you are resting in various positions, then you will need to teach him so that he understands no matter what. Sometimes it is not the word "sit" that the dog is responding to, sometimes it is a hand or body signal that you are giving that you don't even know about!
Be consistent with cues.
Socialize your dog around children in a positive and controlled environment.
Observe and become aware of how the dog seeks your attention.
Know your dog’s sensitivities. Research the breed or mixes. Does he startle with fast motion, noises etc.
Begin a baby schedule
Allow your dog to become familiar with the baby equipment.
Teach your dog the behaviors you want around the equipment vs. what you do not want. Doing this ahead makes a world of difference!
Parents can use the baby carrier they plan to use with their baby and put a teddy bear in it to get the feeling of what it will be like moving with this.
Work with your dog while you wear this.
Walk your dog with an empty stroller or one with some weight to it to get a feel for this and what needs to be worked on NOW.
Use a CD of baby noises to introduce and create a positive experience prior to the baby’s arrival.
Get the baby lotion and put it on the baby carrier, car seat etc. and the teddy you carry in the sling. Bring the same lotion with you to put the same familiar scent on the baby’s clothing for the dog to be familiar with.
Have Dad bring home a blanket with the baby’s scent on it. Although Dad will have the scent all over him. The blanket can go in the car seat, swing etc.
Schedule your vet visit well ahead of time to be sure to have all meds available.
Familiarize your dog with the person that may care for them.
Plan a good and safe spot for your diapers!
Tips for Safety After the Baby Arrives
Never leave the baby alone with the dog even for a second. Dogs can become agitated by the sounds and movements of a baby. Dogs have been know to try to move a baby by carrying the baby in their mouths the way a mother dog might do with her puppies. Other dogs have hurt babies because the baby moves and sounds like prey.
If you have to go to answer the phone or the door or just get the baby bottle from the other room, take the baby with you or take the dog with you or close a door or a gate to keep them apart. Even 1 second is too long to leave a dog alone with a baby.
Keep your baby off the floor when the dog is around.
Avoid face to face contact between dog and baby.
Keep the dog well exercised. Hire someone to watch the baby or exercise the dog if you can't manage.
Be sure the dog has at least 10-15 minutes of one-on-one training time with someone each day.
Be sure that the dog has a crate or other safe place where he can be content to be away from the baby. He should have a special bone and chews toys to enjoy in this space.
Feeling down? Just watch these devastatingly cute twin baby girls dissolve into happy dancing as their mother sings the theme song to the BBC soap "EastEnders."
Amira and Amel gleefully flap their arms. They laugh. They shimmy and shake. It's so adorable we can't stop smiling.The video, which has 1.6 million views on YouTube, was posted by the twins' mother Lola Adebayo, a digital designer who lives in London. She told The Huffington Post she performs for the girls every night.They're particularly partial to the EastEnders' theme song.
"For some reason they love it so much," she said. "Whenever I sing it they stop whatever it is they're doing, which includes crying, just to dance along."
Adebayo said her twins already have distinct personalities. Amira "loves being loud," while Amel is "more laid back." They both know how to have fun.
"As a pair they are adorably funny and amazing to watch, especially when they interact with each other and make each other laugh," she said.
Watch the video and you'll see what she means. And check out Adebayo's YouTube channel for more videos of the perfect pair posing for the camera and burbling joyously at each other.
Siberian Huskies are actually wonderful family dogs, and their affable natures tend to make them good dogs to pair with small children. They also have a wonderfully level temperament, so you will not have to worry about them suddenly becoming aggressive towards your children. Yet like all other animals, they are, well…animals. You must always watch them when around your children. The younger the child, the more you will need to watch them and the dog when they interact. Please read over the following safety tips regarding huskies (or any dogs) and children.
Never leave a child to play unsupervised with your Husky or any other dog.
Do not allow your child to go up to a strange Husky (i.e. a stranger’s dog or one they have never seen before) without first asking the owner if it is:
alright for your child to pet the dog, and…
does the dog bite.
Remember that Huskies tend to do a lot with their mouths, and they may unintentionally harm your or your child if allowed to roughhouse. When we say they do a lot with their mouths, we mean that they nip when playing, and use their mouths to explore their world. So that this does not become a problem, rough-housing behavior that involves biting (which is a way for pups and adult dogs alike to play together) should be stopped during puppy-hood.
Do not allow your child to tug, pinch, poke, pull on, or otherwise play roughly/act aggressively towards your Husky, as even the best tempered, most loving dog can snap when feeling pain. Humans do the exact same thing, though we do ours verbally. Your dog can not speak to you, so snapping is their way of letting you know they are hurt or uncomfortable.
Infants should never be left on the ground in an area where your dog is. Restrict tummy time to when your dog is either outside or crated, because although Huskies are very friendly, they may unintentionally hurt the infant by trying to play with it.
Although you should always be cautious when your children are around Huskies or any other breed of dogs, there are a few reasons why Huskies actually make fantastic pets for families with small children. Those reasons are listed below so that you can best understand the risks and rewards of having a Husky in a home with small children.
Huskies have even temperaments so you don’t need to worry about them switching moods in the blink of an eye like more volatile breeds.
This breed tends not to be aggressive. Since they were raised to be pack dogs, every person a Husky meets is a friend.
They have a high energy level paired with an innate desire to have fun, making them perfect for hyper children of all ages.
They are not territorial, which means they will not be aggressive towards guests, including your children’s friends.
Since Huskies are extremely intelligent, they are easy to train, adjusting well to obedience, crate, and house training.
In that instant, all the work (sleepless nights, endless diaper changes) over the past several weeks seems well rewarded because your little angel finally flashes you that pink, gummy grin. And then for the next several days, we parents try our best to re-create that smile, for family, friends, the garbage man—basically anyone who will pay attention. So when can you expect this first real smile—and how can you tell it from a reflex smile?
Reflex Smiles
Babies give fleeting smiles as early as birth and even smile in their sleep. But, according to experts, this is a reflex action or survival instinct similar to other newborn reflexes like rooting and sucking. These first reflex smiles are innate and are believed to make newborns more appealing to keep them safer.
“I can’t say that I remember the very first smile, because in the beginning so many of the little smirks were questionable,” says Christine Schmid, an Arizona mother of 5-month-old Sydney. “We couldn’t tell if she was smiling, if she had gas or if she was just uncomfortable. I was one of those moms that read too much and learned that in the early weeks of life a child smiles for survival reasons. If they can win the love of everyone in the room, they’re likely to be fed and cared for. However, even knowing this, the first smiles were the greatest.”
Expect these reflex smiles to start sometime around birth to 3 days and to last until approximately 2 months.
Baby’s First Real Smile
Sometime around your baby’s 6th to 8th week (although some parents say as early as 4 weeks), the smiles become a reaction to stimuli or a “learned” smile. The grin lasts a bit longer and you can even see expression in her eyes. Babies learn to smile because they see your reaction. The joy in your face and the smiles and laughter she gets from you makes her want to repeat it, again and again.
It’s hard to distinguish between what is a real smile and a reflex smile, but generally, your baby will use her whole face, including her eyes, when she is smiling to please you or in response to your overjoyed reaction. But don’t worry if you haven’t seen that real smile by week 8. Babies develop at different stages, and some very happy babies will wait up to 12 weeks before flashing the first real smile.
According to Dr. Martha Heineman Pieper and Dr. William Joseph Pieper, authors of Smart Love, the first social smile could appear around 6 weeks, but is not likely to stick around on a regular basis until 12 weeks. And by 6 months, most babies smile happily and readily at the people they know best.
“Ashley smiled from the day she was born, and she was always smiling in her sleep,” says Amanda Tabscott, an Indiana mother of two. “It wasn’t until she was about 5 months old, when she would wake up and really smile especially for me, happy to see me in the morning.”
“In the beginning, I felt like everything I was doing must be wrong,” Schmid says. “Sydney wasn’t sleeping and she seemed to always be crying for food. Although this is completely normal, I guess being a new mom, I didn’t know it at the time. So after weeks of giving this little girl all my love, attention, and energy, she gave me smiles that told me ‘Life is good, Mom! You’re doing a good job, and it’s going to be all right.'”
Games to Make Baby Smile
Peek-a-boo: One of the all-time favorite games for babies, peek-a-boo can simply be played with a blanket, burp cloth, or even a napkin. Cover your face to hide from Baby and then remove the napkin and say “peek-a-boo!”
Upsy Daisy: While your baby is on her back, let her grasp her hands around your thumbs. Slowly pull her up to sitting position and say, “upsy daisy!”
Bubbles: Use liquid bubbles and blow them toward your baby’s face or on her neck or belly. She will get a kick out of the mysterious bubbles, especially when they pop.
Kisses: Tickle your baby by kissing her on the neck or blowing on her face or belly to make her show that toothless grin.
This Little Piggy: Babies are infatuated with their toes, and even love to put them in their mouths! Recite the popular rhyme as you play with their toes: “This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had pizza, this little piggy had none. This little piggy went WEE WEE WEE all the way home!”
"Six-Week-Old Girl Dies After Mauled By Family Dog," the headlines blared. The LA County Sheriff's Department reported the familiar scenario. A family member had left the baby unattended on a bed for a few minutes and returned to find her head encased in the dog's mouth.
Sounds shocking, but this isn't the first time an infant has fallen prey to the family pet. According to the Center for Disease Control (1997), of the 279 dog bite-related fatalities in the US that occurred between 1979 and 1994, most involved children younger than ten years of age, with infants making up a disproportionately high percentage. The most common bites occurred when infants were left alone with the family pet.
What type of dog would perform such a deed? While many would immediately conclude that it must have been the much-maligned Pit Bull mix or a rogue Rottweiler, not so here. In the case above, it was a Pomeranian-a pocket-sized dog known more for being babied than biting babies. And although due to their size, large dogs are usually to blame for fatalities from dog bites, other little dogs-Dachshunds, Westies, and Cocker Spaniels-have all committed the same crime. Even Labrador and Golden Retrievers are on this ill-fated list. So the word is out-all dogs can bite, and a few will even kill.
Why would a pet attack an infant or child?
But why would a pet attack a family member, especially an innocent child? The whole situation seems senseless, but once you take a moment to think like a dog, the pieces come together. One day life for Jake the Jack Russell Terrier is just ho-hum, and then, suddenly, a surprise. A five-pound squeaky thing moves in, triggering his predatory instincts, the same ones that cause him to kill fluffy toys, squeaky balls, and to chase relentlessly after squirrels.
The mystery object enters hidden in a bundle of cloth. It smells like a mammal and squeals like live food, yet Fido never really learns what it is. It also jerks and gurgles like wounded prey. This secret toy is it's off-limits but always tempting with its presence. The longer it hides from Rover, the higher his frustration and drive. Older toddlers and young kids incite this instinct too. They run around yelling and flinging their arms like the ultimate interactive squeaky toy. Then when the dog gets loose he chases just to play, but when the kids get scared and scream and flail more, Rover's arousal gets out of control sometimes leading to a bite.
How to Prevent Problems
Knowing the causes of infant and child attacks can help us avoid a serious disaster. Dog bites to infants and kids can be prevented and the steps begun before baby comes home.
The first step is to make sure your dog knows his manners and has self control. Does he come when called, sit when asked, and wait patiently for your next cue, even when he'd rather grab the toy you just tossed or snatch that piece of food that just fell on the floor? If not, put him through the learn to earn program where he learns to say please by sitting for everything he wants. Also make sure he has a good come when called so that you can call him out of danger and that he walks well on leash already since walks will be more complicated when you're pushing a baby stroller. A second reason to work on the say please by sitting exercises is that they provide structured fun-time for Fido which you'll be able to continue once the baby arrives.
Next make sure Fido has safe place where he can rest and be away from the baby and kids. A crate, exercise pen, babygated area, or his own room are good. It's best if the place can be an area he can choose to go on his own and which the baby will be taught to avoid.
Train Fido to enjoy all of the bad things that might accidentally happen just in case they do. For instance, train him that when people approach his food bowl good things happened to him, and that it's fun giving people his toys because he gets treats and the toy back. Train him to love being touched and handled all over, including his paws, ears, and tail. Although you'll ultimately spend every day teaching your toddler to stay away from Fido while he's eating or sleeping and to only touch him gently, invariably, the child will make a mistake and that's what we want to train Fido to tolerate now.
Get Fido used to baby sounds by playing recordings of babies. Ask him to play some games such as targeting or say "please" by sitting, if the sound seems to bug him. Make sure he gets lots of treats. Also, if he reacts strongly to the sounds at regular level, start with the recording at low volume and gradually increase it.
Then, to prevent cross-species sibling rivalry, do the unthinkable: Start paying less attention to Fido a week before the expected day. Continue his exercise, fun training games and overall say please by sitting exercises throughout the day, but otherwise treat him like a ghost at home. That is, don't lavish extra attention or have long period of petting. We don't want him to associate a big decline in attention with your bringing baby home.
When the baby does arrive, bring a blanket or something else with the baby's scent if possible, and let Fido get used to the smell. If he ignores it, that's fine, because it shows the smell doesn't bug him. Then when you bring the baby home, let Fido get used to him or her. While holding the baby safely out of his reach, have him sit quietly and reward him with treats for being calm. That means no whining and no straining or jumping up to reach you. The ideal behavior is for Fido to act relaxed, like a baby is not a big deal. In other words, you're training him to perform his sit games and practice self-control while the baby's around.
As a matter of habit, ignore Fido when the baby is away and reward him for good behavior, such as sitting, when baby is nearby. Soon he'll learn there's nothing to fear when the little infant is near. He'll just know that good things happen to him when baby is around. As a bonus, he'll also know that he should remain calm and controlled around the baby and that the baby does not mean removal of attention for him. Instead the presence of the baby means that he's going to get rewards.
Lastly, no matter how petite or perfect your dog is, never leave him alone with an infant or small child. In fact things can go terribly wrong even when you're in the same room. It's up to you to recognize the signs and know when Fido needs a rest and your toddler needs more rules. It sounds labor intensive but by failing to take these precautions, one bad day and a lapse in your attention, and tragedy could occur.
Babies and puppies go together just like peas and carrots! From snuggling to playing to sleeping, we’ve compiled the 17 sweetest photos for your viewing pleasure.
1. These adorable Frenchie pups absolutely love to snuggle their little baby friend…and it looks like this baby thinks that he’s got a pretty sweet deal!
2. These two definitely know how to make a classic black and white portrait ooze with CUTENESS!
3. While this young lady is being taught how to really work it in front of the camera by her little Golden Retriever puppy…
4. In the winter, there’s no better baby blanket than a pile of soft, warm puppies.
5. And during warmer months pit puppies will play with baby all day!
6. The relationship between puppy and baby is mutually beneficial, as demonstrated by these two happy sleeping partners.
7.Getting into trouble is utterly exhausting!
8. Puppies make excellent crawling coaches!
9.Is it any wonder why doggies are so protective of their tiniest humans?
The tiny mongrel has been named Shenghua, which means biochemistry, by the rescue teams who found him sniffing among the wreckage 72 hours after the disaster
An adorable puppy found amid the devastation following the hugeTianjin explosion has become an inspiring survival tale for people in China.
The tiny mongrel has been named Shenghua, which means biochemistry, by the rescue teams who found him sniffing among the wreckage - three days after the explosion.
Two enormous chemical fireballs so big they could be seen from space, claimed at least 112 lives in the port city last week.
Chinese soldiers who examined the puppy said the creature was "miraculously unscathed".
And the loyal little dog stays close to the soldiers who saved him and won't leave their side, reports the People's Daily.
Shenghua's heart-warming tale has attracted tens of thousands of likes and comments on social media.
Weibo user Zun Bao said: "It's a miracle that the puppy managed to survive such horrific blast.
"I hope it will find a good home."
Yang Yi Chang added: "We have been reading so many stories of death and loss, especially our young firefighters.
"So I am glad to hear how a tiny puppy has become a story of strength and kindness in China today."
It is not known where the puppy came from or if it had an owner, according to the BBC.
And it's unclear whether the dog survived the blast or wandered into the area after the explosion.
Shenghua is thought to be still with rescue workers at the blast site.
"This is more than just any old animal story - reading it among all the doom and gloom of Tianjin literally lifted my spirits," added another.
Newborns sleep a lot – typically up to 16 to 17 hours a day. But most babies don't stay asleep for more than two to four hours at a time, day or night, during the first few weeks of life.
The result? Lots of sleep for your baby and a very irregular – and tiring – schedule for you. Your job is to respond to your newborn's cues, so you'll probably be up several times during the night to change, feed, and comfort him.
Why newborn sleep patterns are unpredictable
Baby sleep cycles are far shorter than those of adults, and babies spend more time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is thought to be necessary for the extraordinary development happening in their brain. REM sleep is lighter than non-REM sleep, and more easily disrupted.
All this unpredictability is a necessary phase for your baby and it doesn't last long – though it may seem like an eternity when you're sleep-deprived.
When your baby will start to sleep longer
At 6 to 8 weeks of age, most babies begin to sleep for shorter periods during the day and longer periods at night, though most continue to wake up to feed during the night. They also have shorter periods of REM sleep, and longer periods of deep, non-REM sleep.
Somewhere between 4 and 6 months, experts say, most babies are capable of sleeping for a stretch of 8 to 12 hours through the night. Some infants sleep for a long stretch at night as early as 6 weeks, but many babies don't reach that milestone until they're 5 or 6 months old and some continue to wake up at night into toddlerhood. You can help your baby get there sooner, if that's your goal, by teaching him good sleep habits from the start.
How to establish good baby sleep habits
Here are some tips to help your baby settle down to sleep:
Set up a sleep schedule. For the first six to eight weeks, most babies aren't able to stay up much longer than two hours at a time. If you wait longer than that to put your baby down, he may be overtired and have trouble falling asleep.
Teach your baby the difference between day and night. Some infants are night owls (something you may have gotten a hint of during pregnancy) and will be wide awake just when you want to hit the hay. For the first few days you won't be able to do much about this. But once your baby is about 2 weeks old, you can start teaching him to distinguish night from day.
Look for signs that your baby's tired. Watch your baby for signs that he's tired. Is he rubbing his eyes, pulling on his ear, or being more fussy than normal? If you spot these or any other signs of sleepiness, try putting him down to sleep. You'll soon develop a sixth sense about your baby's daily rhythms and patterns, and you'll know instinctively when he's ready for a nap.
Consider a bedtime routine for your baby. It's never too early to start trying to follow a bedtime routine. It can be something as simple as getting your baby changed for bed, singing a lullaby, and giving him a kiss goodnight.
Put to your baby to bed when he's sleepy but awake. By the time he's 6 to 8 weeks old, you can start giving your baby a chance to fall asleep on his own. How? Put him down when he's sleepy but still awake, suggests Jodi Mindell, associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and author of Sleeping Through the Night.
Not everyone agrees with this strategy, however. Some parents choose to rock or nurse their babies to sleep because they believe it's normal and natural, because they enjoy it and their baby is thriving and sleeping well, or simply because nothing else seems to work. These parents expect to get up with their baby several times during the night to help him get back to sleep.
On your mark, get set: Go, baby, go! From cruising to toddling to walking, your baby's first steps kick off one fun ride.Once your baby learns how to pull herself up to stand, she'll be excited to learn what else is out there in the big wide world — and that means taking a big step forward. Your baby's first steps might happen within a few days or a few months of when she first learns to stand. But once she does, it's just a hop, skip and a jump (in other words, practice, practice and more practice!) to toddling and walking.
When to expect it: Many children graduate from pulling up to cruising (or walking by holding on to furniture) around month 9 or 10. When cruisers "reach altitude" and make their first attempts at letting go of whatever piece of furniture (or part of Mom or Dad's leg) they're using to stay upright, you could see your child's first toddling steps. Most children don't take their first independent steps until well after their first birthdays (around month 14, on average), although it’s not unusual for them to start as late as 18 months (or in some cases, as early as 7 months).
Some of it may be in her wiring: Your little one may follow in your or her dad’s (early or late) footsteps. Build and temperament play parts, too. A lean, high-energy baby will probably strut her stuff sooner than a mellow Buddha-baby. And some kids are more cautious and only want to take a step when they’re positive they won’t tumble; others are daredevils and will dive right in — literally.One thing’s for sure: Your toddler will eventually learn to walk — but on her timetable, not yours. Sure, there are ways you can lend her a helping hand (and a couple of clapping hands as she racks up her triumphs!), but rather than focusing on the finish line, just embrace all the baby steps along the way — a journey that will make her victory lap seem that much sweeter.
How to help your baby discover it: You've heard of free-range chickens? Think free-range baby. Letting your little one get in lots of on-the-move time is the best way to encourage cruising and first steps. Let your child have plenty of open exploration time outside of the stroller or carrier — and away from the Exersaucer or swing — and let her see where her busy body takes her. A few other ways to encourage those first steps:
Leave a tempting trail. The same tricks that can entice a baby to crawl or pull up can also help motivate a beginning cruiser. Place tantalizing toys nearby but out of immediate reach when she pulls up to stand — say, a few couch cushions to the left — and your baby may try out new ways of getting at her prize.
Activate her cruise control. If your toddler can stand but seems afraid or unsure of what to do next, she needs plenty of practice figuring out how to balance her weight over her feet while she's on the move. Help her by lining up stable furniture to steady herself as she goes (if you haven't already done so, make sure your coffee table, TV stand and any other items your baby might use to maneuver herself are childproofed, with no sharp corners or risks of tipping). You can also encourage independent stepping by walking with her while holding her hands for balance — which means plenty of slow, bent-over walking around the room for you. But the joy on her face when she masters independent motion will more than make up for the occasional backache.
Get her a push toy. A small shopping cart, say, or a pint-sized lawn mower gives your child control as she grips and pushes it in front of her. Plus, it’ll give her the support she needs as she works those legs, refines her balance and boosts her confidence. Look for sturdy toys with a bar or handle she can lean on and big wheels that make it harder for the toy to tip over.
But don’t put her in a walker. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages walkers, and studies show that they can slow motor development and cause back problems. Even worse, walkers can tip over or roll down the stairs, causing injuries.
Limit time in the stationary activity center. While they don’t carry rough-and-tumble risks, activity centers don’t boost walking skills, either, even if your baby can stand up and play in one. Remember, she needs to develop her torso and arm muscles in order to walk — not just the leg muscles — so don’t keep her in there for longer than 30 minutes at a time.
Keep her tootsies bare. No need to invest in a shoe wardrobe for your little stepper: The best shoes for beginning walkers are no shoes at all. Indoors and on safe surfaces outdoors, let your baby walk barefoot (or, if you'd like, in non-slip socks) as much as possible to help build muscle tone in her feet and ankles, to help her arches develop, and to learn balance and coordination. For outdoor excursions, keep the shoes lightweight and flexible. Stay away from tall booties or groovy high-top sneakers — too much ankle support can actually slow down your walker by constricting her movement.
Expect some stops and starts. A child who’s decided to immerse herself in other developmental feats — such as sounding out the family pooch’s name or feasting on finger foods now that she can pick them up with her thumb and pointer finger — may take a break of a few weeks, or even a month, from walking. Or your little crawler may relish zipping around so much that walking may come later. After all, why stop to try something that, to her, seems slower? Other walking toddlers may suddenly go back to crawling after a bad tumble or an illness
There are also a number of idiosyncrasies you’ll notice as your child waddles around — all of them perfectly normal:
Trips and falls. When your little one first starts walking, she may remind you of a boxer who’s fighting her way through a rough match: She bobs, weaves and sometimes takes a dive. Of course, she’s still refining her walking skills. (Plus she's still farsighted and doesn't yet have the depth perception of an older child or adult. Add in an adorable lack of coordination, and it's no wonder she probably didn’t spot that armchair before she bumped into it.) Make sure your home is childproofed, and watch her carefully at all times — then try not to stress over her inevitable (and numerous) tumbles. Sure, your little one may cry if she falls, but chances are she's more frustrated than injured. Remember, she's got built-in bumpers (that chubby tush and cushy diaper) and a still-flexible skull designed to take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. She’ll likely forget her trips and tumbles long before you do.
Flat feet. Take a good gander at those chubby legs and little flat feet, and you might be amazed that she can get around at all. But even though her feet look flat, that’s just baby fat plumping them up. By age 2 or 3, the extra “fluff” should melt away and you’ll be able to see her natural arches. Her feet may also curve inward, almost like half moons. That’s another infant holdover, which likely started in the womb, and is taking its sweet time to straighten out.
Pigeon-toed feet. Also common is “toeing-in,” or being slightly pigeon-toed, which comes from “internal tibial torsion” — meaning that the shinbones are turned inward. Luckily, it will usually correct itself within six months of her first step and without any outside help. If it continues longer, your child's doctor can give you stretching exercises to correct it. In another variation, some kids toe-out during their second year, only to pivot into toeing-in when they’re 3 or 4 years old. Even if the toeing-in doesn’t completely correct itself, it’s probably not a big deal unless it gets in the way of her walking and running. (If it does, talk to your doctor; corrective shoes can help.)
Bowed legs. After spending nine months curled up inside you, she may have slightly bowed legs, too. Bowed legs typically go away by about 18 months (but may also linger until she’s 3 years old). Even before she’s walking, you can help those gams straighten out by holding her while she stands.
Tiptoe walking. Some toddlers have an insatiable desire to totter around on their tiptoes — which, strangely enough, helps them develop their sense of balance. While in rare cases tiptoeing may indicate too-tight muscles in the heels or feet, it’s almost always a quirk that goes away on its own. To reassure yourself, just check to see that your child can physically flatten her foot. If she can’t, or if she’s still walking on her tiptoes past the age of 3, bring it to the pediatrician’s attention as it sometimes can be a sign of a developmental disorder.
Do talk to your pediatrician promptly if you notice your child repeatedly favoring (or stumbling to) one side, falling excessively, or if her legs seem unduly stiff, as these may possibly point to nerve, joint or spinal problems. Otherwise, just enjoy her jaunty gait (that phone video will come in handy now), and applaud her new adventures.
Many children have a special bond with their first pet, but the bond between three-year-old Sapphyre Johnson and 9-week-old puppy Lt. Dan is extra special.
Due to a birth defect, little Sapphyre Johnson was born without all of her toes and fingers. In her short life Sapphyre’s undergone three major surgeries, including a double amputation at the age of one to remove the toes she did have, so that she could be fitted with prosthetic legs.Sapphyre’s mum Ashley told Greenville Online: ‘When I was seven months pregnant, they did an ultra sound and told us she may be missing some fingers and toes,’
She went on: ‘They don’t know what caused it,’
But although Sapphyre has had a rough ride of it so far, things are looking up, as Sapphyre has just been give a very special puppy.You see Lt. Dan (named after the Forest Gump character who loses his leg), was born with a missing paw.
Lt. Dan is just 9 weeks old
Lt. Dan – a gorgeous white German Shepherd puppy – was born to one of dog breeder Karen Riddle’s dogs.When Karen saw he was missing a paw, some fellow breeders suggested she put him down, however Karen knew this wasn’t an option.
Instead she contacted her local Shriners Children’s Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina – which happens to be where Sapphyre has been treated – and asked if any of the children there would like to care for a puppy who was a little different.And when someone told Sapphyre’s mum about Lt. Dan, they agreed to meet.
To everyone’s delight, Sapphyre and Lt. Dan hit it off immediately.In fact, Ashley Johnson told BuzzFeed news, that as soon as Sapphyre saw Lt. Dan she said, ‘He’s got a foot like mine — he’s like me,’ and then proceeded to take off her prosthetic legs so she could show him they were just the same.
Talking about the new addition to their family, Sapphyre’s father Matthew told Greenville Online: ‘A lot of kids don’t see other children or animals that have issues like they have,’He went on: ‘This was a really nice thing… and a really good thing for Sapphyre.’
And as you can clearly see from the pictures, Sapphyre and Lt. Dan couldn’t be more in love.In fact, Ashley Johnson told BuzzFeed News they’re already best friends.
