Early years

The Infant & Toddler Forum (ITF) has revamped its online resource to create a user-friendly, visual guide on how much food to offer young children. The guide is now accessible on all devices including mobile, tablet, and desktop computer.

 

A new guide, Childcare for families with disabled children, launched today by legal experts Irwin Mitchell and charities Contact a Family, Every Disabled Child Matters and the Family and Childcare Trust will help parents with disabled children seek redress if the childcare system fails them. It forms part of the charities’ new campaign ‘Levelling the Playing Field’, calling for equal access to childcare for disabled children.

The children’s continence charity ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence), launches a national campaign called "Let’s Talk About Poo" to raise awareness of childhood constipation among parents of two to four year olds and health and education professionals working with this age group.

As the new term starts and even very small children are learning about computers, child psychologist Dr Amanda Gummer urges parents to understand and embrace mobile technology and gives some top tips.

From September 2014, all four to seven year-olds in England will be eligible for a free lunch at school that is healthy and nutritionally balanced – not only will it also help save parents valuable time preparing school lunches, but it’s estimated that it will help parents in England save up to £400 per child, per year.

In part three of her series of top tips for using music in you child's life, Liisa Henriksson-Macaulay, founder of the early music education programme Moosicology and author of The Music Miracle discusses the role of clapping in tips five and six.

Liisa Henriksson-Macaulay, founder of the early music education programme Moosicology and author of bestselling parenting title The Music Miracle: The Scientific Secret to Unlocking Your Child's Full Potential gives her top ten tips on how to engage with your child through music. Here are tips three and four: Tap and clap; Get into the Waltz mode.

A survey commissioned to mark the publication of the latest edition of the First Aid Manual, written and authorised by the UK’s three leading first aid providers, St John Ambulance, St Andrew’s First Aid and the British Red Cross, reveals that a third of parents have been in a situation where their child has started choking and worryingly, half of parents did not know the correct procedure. Here we have the new infant choking technique and guidelines.

Teething can be a terrible time for babies  – and their carers. Yvette Henlon's daughter Beatric has been entertained and comforted by Little Tikes Teether Keys from ASDA.

From lightweight three-wheelers to travel systems and off-road strollers – there’s a huge array of pushchairs available to choose from, and it can be difficult for new parents to know where to start. BRITAX have put together some top tips to help you choose the right pushchair for your family.

It's always lovely to share in the joy of a first Christmas and this year we say hello to Beatrice, sister to Victoria whose mum Yvette Henlon regularly reviews for Parenting Without Tears.

Hair washing after baths and swmming often leave childen's hair full of knots and adults stressed as they try to comb hair. Olivia Coates has been using Hip Peas Hair Detangler on Harriet's hair with great results.

Balance bikes are not just a precurser to riding a two-wheeler with pedals but help children with various skills as well as increasing their confidence. Harriet is now the proud owner of Galt's Bike Runner by Winther, an excellent choice, writes Anne Coates.

Toddlers can be at their most demanding at mealtimes but with a little forward planning and understanding parents can avoid a lot of the strees, writes Anne Coates.

Organix has launched Cook with Organix, a new home cooking range set to revolutionise the babyfood aisle. Cook with Organix Recipe Bases provide the starting point for a meal, to which you can simply add the finishing touches and Cook with Organix Paste Pots allow you to create a meal from your own choice of ingredients, using a wide range of available recipes. Michaela Braisher put them to the test.

Non-slip grip socks that adjust to fit the shape of each foot from six months to four years – Grippa Socks as the perfect answer to indoor footware and slippery floors, writes Anne Coates.

The Infant & Toddler Forum (ITF) – leading experts in early years nutrition and development – has launched brand new guidance on how to meet toddlers’ vitamin D needs. Preventing Vitamin D Deficiency in Toddlers provides easy-to-follow tips to help families with this important nutritional issue.

As a mother of three,  Andrea Townsley, founder of Clever Clogs nurseries, knows what a significant step sending your child to nursery for the first time is. Here Andrea gives some tips on how to prepare your child (and yourself!) for nursery.