LilSugar

Tell Mommy: When Did Your Child Start Chatting?

babysugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:00:31 -0700

It's only natural for parents to pay attention to their children's developmental milestones and how he or she measures up to playmates. That being said, each child has his or her own pace and in most cases, they catch up or eventually, level out their Olympic speed. A recent study on language emergence has shown that 80 percent of children with language delays at age two will catch up by age seven. Of course that also means one in five "late talkers," stay delayed for a while longer.

I always tell friends how important I think it is to not put your children on a timetable and just enjoy the proud growth and accomplishment moments when they happen. Of course, there are certain milestones - like your child becoming a chatty Cathy - a parent will never forget. When did your child begin completing full sentences and carrying a conversation?

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Trendtotting: Tees that Speak the Twooth

babysugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:44 -0700

Ever have a hard time deciphering what your lil one is trying to tell you? After a while, a mother can clarify to others that "waga" translates to "water" and "peas" does not connote the green veggies, but "please." Take one of your tot's most mangled vocabulary words and memorialize it with a Temporary Language tee.

Parents choose an image from a gallery of 100 plus pictures, enter their child's version of the word along with the legitimate translation. For $30, your babe will be a walking talking self–identifying dictionary for those surrounding him. And, you'll have a tangible memento of his "faborit whuurd."

Do You Sign With Your Babe?

babysugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:00:53 -0700

Most baby stores now carry sign language merchandise from books to DVDs and flashcards to placemats.

I only taught my lil one the sign for "more," but my friends have been more diligent in their efforts. Advocates say that children who sign are less likely to throw tantrums since they can communicate earlier. On the flip side, others argue that signing can delay speech development as tots learn to rely on their hands.

When it comes to sign, what's your stance?
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One Language or More?

babysugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:00:39 -0800

In many bilingual families, parents make a conscience effort to teach their babes both languages. If one parent is proficient in one language and the other in another, it is normal for each one to talk to their tot solely in that tongue.

I try to chat in Spanish with my babe, but I'm not as diligent as I'd like to be. Luckily, her nanny is teaching it to her every day. And, at this age, she is soaking words up like a sponge.

Just the other day we were on a walk and she looked up at me and said, "Mano!" A little puzzled, I thought to myself, "Mano?" Then it hit me, "Hand! That means hand in Spanish!" So I reached down and her tiny palm met mine and off we went.

Will your child be bilingual?

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Tracking Baby's Words

babysugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:00:35 -0800

In Sunday's New York Times Magazine, I came across an interesting piece on baby talk.

Most parents are curious about how their child measures up to the developmental milestones and physical growth charts.

While some parents brag about their tot's precocious behavior, others secretly worry about their lagging babe, especially if the lil one isn't talking much.

To learn what these parents can do about it, read more.

Terrance Paul from Infoture created LENA (language environment analysis) for $400. According to the article:

Terrance Paul's current venture (LENA) was inspired by a well–known study that found that professional parents uttered more than three times as many words to their children as did parents who were on welfare. The children in the less talkative homes turned out to be less verbal and to have smaller vocabularies. Other studies have suggested that these gaps affect later professional success.

LENA is a voice recorder that attaches to the kid's clothing and reportedly assesses children's verbal skills as well as their exposure to verbal stimulation. In the future, they hope the device will also be able to account for speech entropy, which is the adding of new words, phrases or sounds to their skill set.

Critics of the LENA system have legitimate concerns about how words, syntax, and verbal growth can actually be charted using a recorder. Others argue that parents of LENA children will converse more than normal in efforts to better their child's LENA scores. And, some lil ones who may just be slower to mature in dialogue could be identified as "having a problem" when their timing is off in comparison to their peers.

But many agree on one simple idea – the more you speak with your children, the more you provide them the tools and confidence from which their language can evolve.

Tell us, would you buy a LENA if you were concerned with your babe's language development?
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10 Ways to Encourage Babies to Develop Language Skills

LilSugar — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:00:21 -0700

Was your lil one born with the gift to gab? It may seem that way in the early months when a child babbles away incessantly, even if no one can quite make out what they are saying. Soon after birth babies begin picking up on the words and sounds they hear, and from the early stage, their language development skills are growing. Parents and caregivers can encourage these skills by speaking directly to their children and using words and phrases that babies understand. Check out our 10 tips for aiding the development of language in tots.

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What Do You Know About Baby Talk?

LilSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:08 -0800

No doubt about it, moms and dads can hardly wait to hear their babe's first words. While there are some great things you can do to encourage language development in babies, the main thing most tots need is a little time. Before stressing about your little one's speech (or lack thereof) take this quiz to see how well you know baby talk.

Take the quiz

Would You Invest in an Autism Screening Assessment?

LilSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:00:45 -0700

If you could buy one more piece of the puzzle, would you? Some parents rely on their pediatricians for recommended tests and screenings, while others are willing to take matters into their own hands. When it comes to autism, many mamas seek out doctors willing to use a modified vaccination schedule or conform to a controlled diet in order to reduce the chances of their lil one developing the disorder. While researchers work on the possibility of a prenatal screening, one company is touting its ability to screen 24- to 48-month-olds for the likelihood that they will develop the disorder.

The same company that developed a system for testing a child's language development through the mail has introduced the LENA Language and Autism Screen ($200). By placing a recording device in specially designed clothing and letting it record 12 to 16 hours of a child's speech, LENA claims they can process the data and provide parents with a probability of their youngster being diagnosed with autism.

Given the importance of early detection, would you invest in an autism screening assessment?

SIDS Campaign Resulting in Many Flat Heads

LilSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:00:16 -0700

Back to sleep! The anti-SIDS slogan, which was introduced in 1994, is so ingrained in most moms that they don't give it a second thought when putting their wee ones down for some shut-eye. Though the campaign is credited with preventing 2,000 additional SIDS cases each year for the past 15 years, doctors have determined that one in 40 will develop a flat head.

According to The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, flat head syndrome can lead to more ear infections, which, in turn, can result in language disorders and learning disabilities. The researchers have seen a 49 to 54 percent increase in these types of ear infections. If a baby appears to develop a flat head, special helmets can help reshape the skull. To see some of our tips for keeping your tot's head round, just click here.

Did your lil one develop a flat head due to sleeping on his back?

Your Baby Can Read: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

babysugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:55:58 -0700

Think your kid could be the next Einstein? Your Baby Can Read certainly makes you think there's potential for it. If mommy lets her tots watch Saturday morning cartoons, she's most likely seen the infomercials for the early language development system. The DVD and flashcard program has moms across America pondering a $15 trial that appears to have 18-month-old children rattling off words and full sentences. Home videos (like the one above) can make a believer out of a skeptic but does it do enough to make mommy pick up the phone and place an order?