Having the Hang Out Home

The other day, a parent of one of the neighborhood kids came by looking for his four-year-old son. They had an errand to run and he needed to collect the little boy. “It looks like you have the hang out house!” he said. Having the hang out house can be a mixed blessing. On the positive side I always know where my kids are. They are right at my home or in my yard, so I know that they are safe, and I never have to go looking for them. I can hear and usually see what is going on. … Continue reading

Bringing Baby to the Library

You might be surprised to know that libraries generally welcome babies. A visit to the library with your baby can be a fun and rewarding experience. It can introduce the importance of books to your little one, provide an opportunity for socialization, and let’s face it, if you stay home with your baby, the opportunity to get out of the house. Here are some highlights of a visit to the library with a baby, as well as some special tips. I started bringing my babies to the library at a very young ages, but with a busy life, I have … Continue reading

Baby’s Smile Acts Like a Drug

The miracle of a baby’s smile, how it just instantly melts your heart and makes the sleep deprivation and the stress all worth while, is a powerful thing. Now, researchers have concluded, a baby’s smile not only warms the heart but it affects the brain, and it does so much the same way that a drug might. The smile of an infant sends a trigger to the mother’s brain in the reward center. This is the same area that is considered the pleasure center and responds to the high of alcohol or drugs. A baby’s smile sets off a response … Continue reading