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First Things First First Things First

Parenting Blog

Information and inspiration for parents and caregivers of babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Toddler behavior, playing in the pantry

Is my 1-year-old’s behavior naughty or normal?

  • parenting

Getting into things, unrolling the toilet paper and dropping food on the floor are part of how your baby makes sense of the world.
Picky eaters - toddler not wanting to eat food

Babies and toddlers can be fussy or picky eaters. Sometimes it’s more serious.

  • health & nutrition

Children with pediatric feeding disorders are more than fussy babies or picky eaters. But it can be very hard for parents to recognize the difference.​

Hug your baby early and often. It’s good for the brain.

  • parenting

It makes sense, but now there’s research that the more ​gentle touching the better for a baby’s brain.
Child Development baby podcast

Podcast: The Basics of Baby and Toddler Development

  • child development

This episode is about the most important and useful things for parents – especially new parents – to know about child development.
Mother playing with daughter rattle

Pay attention to your child’s development

  • infants

Every child develops at their own pace, but there are certain milestones they should reach from birth to 5 years old.
Reading for life skills

Reading with your child builds more than just words

  • early learning

​​Reading together helps young children develop important life skills as well as language and literacy.
Screen Time

FaceTime can help babies connect with long-distance relatives

  • screentime

​​Video chat is an exception to pediatricians’ «no screens for babies» recommendation because it enables responsive, back-and-forth interactions.
Parenteen: A survival guide

Teen parents: Keeping your dreams alive

  • parenting

​​Being a young parent isn’t easy, but with a team of supporters and a solid plan, you can achieve your goals and be an even better parent.
Father and son laughing

Bringing books to life

  • early learning

Reading engages parts of the brain that store memories for vision, touch, physical activity and other functions. Here are some suggestions to help make books…

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