MD, IBCLC
Dr. Elena Shea was a physician at the Health Unit of the US Embassy in Rome, where she developed an interest in child health. With over 28 years of experience, she is now a breastfeeding medicine provider and literacy advocate for early childhood. She is from Florida but lives with her family in Washington D.C. Her favorite pastimes are reading novels, running, spending time outside, and working on various advocacy projects.
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When we are young, we acquire and develop cognitive skills continuously. These are the skills that assist us in processing and responding to information. Cognitive activities for toddlers aid in the development of these mental capacities, allowing children to read, learn, understand, recall, and focus more quickly. Infants and toddlers keenly observe their environment and…
Moro (startle) reflex in babies is one of the several reflexes in babies and is not present in neurologically intact adults. Some other reflexes include the rooting reflex, sucking reflex, stepping reflex, grasp reflex, and tonic neck reflex, which occur at different stages of a baby’s development. These reflexes are an indication that the baby's…
Just like in adults, yawning in babies is one of the signs of sleepiness and generally occurs just before the onset of sleep. Babies begin to yawn right from within the mother’s womb when they are young fetuses of 12-14 weeks gestational age (1). Yawning is defined as an involuntary wide opening of the mouth…