Kids loves to play which seems like they are just having fun but it is not true. Play is an important part of their development and growth. Each type of play including, indoor, outdoor, water play, family play time and sand play have their own benefits and advantages.

Sand play is not bad as some people think of it. kids have so much fun while playing in sand as well as there are many benefits of it in their overall growth. Playing outdoor and taking fresh air is a way where kids can feel the nature and build their strength.

Research suggest that playing in sand, taking it in palm, making patters, making sand art, writing on it and many more activities related to it can word wonders for there physical and mental health.

12 Amazing benefits of sand play

kids just love digging, playing is sand, making castles, mixing sand and water, and specially messy play. Sand play is an open minded activity which they can play as per their interest.

Here are some of the amazing benefits of sand play.

1. Helps in physical development

sand play is an open ended game there are endless ways to play with it. There is some sand toys available like bucket, scoops, castles and many more, which can help kids in developing their physical strength. Lifting the sand bucket, pouring it in the sand truck, scooping it and digging it help them to grow their muscles and boost their fine and gross motor skills.

2. Build imagination and creativity

There are so many possibilities when it comes to play with sand. your child can build sand castle, bridges, mountains, change the texture by adding water, making shapes, create a construction site, making objects like cars or animals with the help of toys. Let him play in sand and expand his imagination and creativity. there are endless ways to play with the sand, let him imagine the word with his own eyes and hands.

3. Promote social communication and interaction

kids can play independently in sand as well as its a great way to interact with other kids as well. when they play together, they share toys, dig together, make sand mountains together, fill the sand truck more faster and achieve some goal, which make them very happy. This way their communication and interaction improve with other kids, help them to learn problem solving skills as well as improve language skills.

4. Build concentration and attention

Sand play has many benefits for children, contributing to their overall mental and physical development. It helps to develop their concentration and attention span, as well as being lots of fun! It is also an excellent tool for encouraging creativity and imagination as children construct different shapes or objects from sand. Through sand play, children also explore nature elements such as water and shapes in 3D.

5. Improve gross motor and fine motor skills

Participating in sand play can benefit children in developing important motor skills such as gross motor, fine motor and coordination. Sand play encourages children to coordinate their body movements, from throwing a shovel full of sand to making intricate sandcastles. Furthermore, building with sand helps the development of fine motor muscle control in hands and fingers, as well as improving hand-eye coordination.

6. Build Immunity

Sand play is a great way for children to build their immunity. Not only does the sand provide physical stimulation for kids, but the bacteria and microorganisms found in dirt are beneficial to their development. Introducing kids to this natural environment can help boost their immune system and prepare them for any potential illness in the future.

7. Improve hand eye coordination

Sand play can be a great way to help kids develop hand eye coordination. As they manipulate the building toys, scoop or pour sand, or move objects around, they must pay attention and make adjustments in order to be successful. This helps to strengthen the connection between their eyes and the muscles in their hands. Also, playing with sand encourages creativity as kids use it in different ways to create unique sculptures and patterns.

8. Build problem solving capacity

Sand play provides a great environment for children to exercise their problem solving capabilities. Through the tactile medium of sand, kids can discover solutions to different challenges such as digging and filling up trenches. The combination of physical action and mental strategy while playing in sand encourages them to think creatively, which builds problem-solving capacities over time.

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9. Incorporate independent play

Sand play enables children to engage in independent play, allowing them the chance to explore, create and imagine without adult assistance or external instruction. When kids are able to decide which activities and games to engage in with the sand, this encourages a sense of autonomy that can lead to greater exploration and discovery.

10. Connect them with nature and science

It is a great way for kids to explore nature and science! Sand play is especially beneficial for teaching children about nature and science, as they can get hands-on experience exploring different textures and materials and understanding processes

11. Helps in sensory development

Sand play is an invaluable activity for children, as it helps nurture their sensory development. Through sand play, kids can explore and experience different textures, sounds and temperatures, further stimulating their receptors and creating new learning pathways in the brain. It encourages them to develop a better understanding of their environment. This helps in the development of sensory skills, such as touch, sight, smell and hearing.

12. Keep them engage for longer and improve logical thought process

One of the main benefits of sand play for kids is that it can help to keep them engaged and entertained for longer. It can also help children with creative problem-solving and logical thought processes as they build structures, create stories, and make/enact different scenes in the sandpit. By playing with sand for extended periods of time, kids are able to stay entertained and engaged while strengthening their decision-making skills.

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Some of the safety tips to consider while playing in sand

Playing safely is always key! Here are some safety considerations that should be taken into account while enjoying the sandbox:

• Use protective gear like sunscreen, sunglasses and hats when playing outside during sunny days;
• Make sure the age appropriate toys are available;
• Don’t allow eating while playing;
• Encourage all washing up before & after playing so that your child’s health won’t be compromised;
• Replace wet & soiled sand every two weeks to avoid unhealthy germs & fungal growth over time at the risk of infection;
• Keep fingers away from eyes & ears – don’t forget about hand hygiene rules here;
• Be aware of allergies – keep tracks of seasonal inhalants & other airborne allergens that can affect your child even from far away sources (such as nearby meadows).

The post What is sand play? 12 benefits of sand play for kids of all ages. appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

Child tantrums are common and its very common behavior of toddlers. Most toddlers grow out of this phase, try to communicate and learn to have some patience. Like adults, kids also have lots of emotions like happiness, sadness, love as well as anger. As a kid, they lose their temper very easily and frequently.

Parenting is not at all easy and specially handling a child or toddler with anger issues. Here are my 15 recommendation or ways to help your child to manage their anger.

1.    Try to understand their needs

Understand the reason of anger and child’s need. Try to speak with them why they are showing anger and what they want. Give your child enough space to express their needs rather than showing aggression. Sit with them and talk politely. Sometime showing some love and affection can do wonders in such situation.

2.    Think like a child

Reading your child’s mind is a very tough task but if you try to think like a child, you will understand the reason of their anger. Sometimes we think like an adult and it seems like irrelevant to us but it might be important for them. Try not to ignore the problem and find the solution. Behaving like a child with your child can give you solution to many problems.

3.    Use distraction

Distract your child with something exciting or new to them. This idea works wonder if child is 2 year old or less, it may not work for older kids because their memory will get better by the age. This might work great if you distract your child before showing tantrums or anger and may not work when they are full-on angry. 

4.    Find their trigger points of anger

Observe your child closely and understand the situation when they show anger. Sometime kids have particular triggers and patterns on which they get angry. If the triggers are avoidable then try to avoid them and if the triggers are unavoidable then talk to them about them when they are calm.

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5.    Try to stay calm and don’t scream at them

If you want to control child’s anger then control your own first. If you try to get angry on child, they will behave exactly the same and will get angrier then you. Always behave calmly and don’t scream on them; behaving aggressively can lead to an aggressive behavior in kids. Aggressive behavior can leave a strong impact on their mental health.

There are many studies that if a child is scold frequently, it will leave a negative foot-print on their minds for the life-time. These kids can have more negative attitude towards life and can face anxiety and depression later on their life.

6.    Don’t use commanding and harsh language

If you use commanding and harsh language with your child then you should focus on your behavior also. Children don’t like commands and when you give them commands; their mind reacts in a different way. Try to ask them with kind words and use some kind words like please, thank-you, excuse me, sorry and many more. If you will show them gratitude, they will also learn the same.

7.    Give them some time to process the situation

Sometime when we are angry, we don’t want to listen anything. The same happens with the child also. They can’t process what you are saying and what not, so try to calm them first and then talk. Give them some time to calm themselves and hold them until they calm down.

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8.    Don’t get physical with them and don’t hit

Hitting a child is a worse thing that you can do with them as a parent. Never get physical with them, especially when child is having some issues with his/her anger. Hitting can cause negative effects on their brain for later on their life also. Try to talk and solve the problem rather than raising your hands on them always.

9.    Communicate about good and bad behavior

Communication is the key in every relationship as well as in parents and child also. Always communicate with them when they are in mood of listening about good and bad behavior. Talk to them what is acceptable and what is not. Keep reminding them about good and bad behavior. Appreciate them whenever they behave well and remind them when they are crossing the lines.

10.    Set some rules and consequences

It is always important to set some rules for certain behavior that which one is ok and which one is not ok.  Like hitting and spanking is not at all ok. Set some punishment for them and always stick to that. Some children need rules and regulations to thrive. So setting some rules and punishments is always important. Always be consistent in that but try not to rigid, be flexible some times. You can also set some rewards if they behave good, this will encourage them for good behavior and discipline.

11.    Don’t give up

Never give up on your child. It takes lots of time, patience, and positivity to encourage a good behavior. Spend some time everyday with each other and have a meaningful conversation. Set a daily routine to follow and help them cope with anger better. Ensure they are getting enough physical activity throughout the day and using their energy.

12.    Try to offer alternatives

Don’t say direct NO to child and try to offer alternatives so that it will make them feel like having a control and independence. So rather than telling them what to do or what not, try to offer some choices. By offer them options to choose from as this makes them feel as if they have control over their lives and can independently decide what they would like to do.

13.    Appreciate good behavior and show some love with actions

Praise your child whenever possible is always a good way to reduce negativity. Always encourage your child with some good words when he or she behaves nicely. You can also give them small reward for that like cook their favorite food, do their favorite activity, watch their favorite show on TV and so on ( Don’t give them expensive or big reward as it can make them habitual of it ).

Show them love with your actions also like lots of hugs, kisses n all. Keep the positive environment at home all the time.

14.    Don’t scare them

Scaring kids with imaginative things can leave a negative impact on their mind which can cause anger issues in child. A child is very sensitive and when they are very young, they belief on everything what they hear from their loved ones. Scaring them frequently can cause a temporary trauma on their mind at that time and in long run it can lead to poor mental health and poor immune system. So stop scaring kids unnecessarily over small things and start talking with them.

15.    Keep the screen time low and useful

Last but not the least keeps the screen time low and useful. Keep your child away from technology during early years as much as possible because technology has many negative effects on their brain. They can also cause anger issues in child.

The post Anger issues in child/toddler: 15 ways to teach your child to manage anger appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

Motherhood is the most beautiful thing in this world but on the other hand parenting your child is very difficult task. The real battle begins when your baby is no more a baby but a toddler and you sweet cute little baby transform into a stubborn toddler. Toddlers behave differently than small babies, they starts walking around their 1^st birthday and start exploring the world.

Most toddlers show interest in doing things by themselves and try to explore the things their own way. Stubbornness is the most common and normal behavior for them. Generally, by the age of 18 months till the age of 4 or 5 years, this stubbornness is on its peak. It begins when children discover they have the power to refuse other people’s requests. They respond negatively to many requests, including pleasant ones. In general, they are stubborn rather than cooperative. They delight in refusing a suggestion, whether it’s about getting dressed or taking off their clothes, taking a bath or getting out of the bathtub, going to bed or getting up.

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This can be very frustrating period for parents. I am also a mother and I can say that this is really very frustrating. My son was refusing almost everything that he was doing since he was a baby whether its food, bath time, nappy change, going out sitting on car seat, and so on, this list is too long to explain.

The toddler phase and the teenager phase are considered the toughest to handle. Here I will explain my ways of handling a stubborn toddler without any punishment. Yes, here I am not talking about the hitting, spanking or behaving aggressively with your child. As research says, this can lead to other mental and behavioral problems in their adulthood. Before talking about the ways I will explain the characteristics of a stubborn toddler. I hope after reading all these characteristics you will feel little relaxed.

Characteristics of a stubborn child

Here are some of the characteristics of stubborn toddler or child that you can look for. All of them are not bad, but for some kids this can be their behavior also. Stubborn kids are difficult to handle but it’s not that bad.

• Tend to be fussy and independent.
• They can have frequent temper tantrums
• Stubborn kids tend to question everything which can be mistaken for rebellion
• It can be difficult to get them into a routine as they are free-willed
• They are committed and bent on doing what they like.
• Always want to be the BOSS and have strong leadership qualities.
• Tend to do everything at their own pace
• They have a strong need to be acknowledged and heard. So they always want your attention.

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15 tips to discipline stubborn child

Here are my top 15 tips that I was also using to handle my very stubborn child and believe me I am still using these tips. I keep reminding myself about these tips whenever I lose my temper on my kid.

1.    Don’t Argue with a stubborn child, try to request them rather than command

Stubborn children are always ready for an argument, so try to avoid that and don’t give them a chance to argue. Always listen calmly what they want to say and when you feel they are ready to listen then try to tell your side of story. Try to do more conversation rather than an argument.

Always try to request them like please can you come here for a minute or please can you do this for me, try not to give commands like come here now or do this. This way they will understand that you want them to do this otherwise they will always ready to fight back.

2.    Try not to force them for anything, make a connection with them

Do not force your child to do something that they do not want to. This will only make them more stubborn and they will be bent on doing exactly what they are not supposed to do. So, if you want your child to stop doing some activity, always try to give some time out like, last 5 minutes, by this way their mind will understand that this has to finish in sometime. Try to explain them the reason behind every action, to make them understand the situation better.

3.    Use distractions

Sometime distractions work. Distract your toddler with a toy or any other activity instead of always saying NO or STOP when he wants to play with something that he shouldn’t. This trick works well for toddler under the age of 2 years when they have poor impulsive control and lack of cognitive ability to understand why you are saying NO.

4.    Offer some choices

Stubborn toddler always wants the control in their hand, they don’t want to listen. So rather than telling them what to do or what not, try to offer some choices. By offer them options to choose from as this makes them feel as if they have control over their lives and can independently decide what they would like to do. Keep the choices limited to avoid confusion for your child and offer only two or three options. Like if you want them to do their homework then you can ask which one you want to do first.

5.    Control your own anger

There is only one way of controlling your child’s anger is by controlling your own first. If you try to get angry on a stubborn toddler, they will behave exactly the same and will get angrier then you. Always behave calmly; behaving aggressively can lead to an aggressive behavior in kids also. Aggressive behavior can leave a strong impact on their mental health also.

6.    Always encourage or reward a good behavior

Praise your child whenever possible is always a good way to reduce negativity. Always encourage your child with some good words when he or she behaves nicely. You can also give them small reward for that like cook their favorite food, do their favorite activity, watch their favorite show on TV and so on ( Don’t give them expensive or big reward as it can make them habitual of it ).

You can also try not to use negative words such as No, Cannot, Will not etc. if you will use more negative works, child will also try to use those words more often. Try to use more Yes instead of No.

7.    Establish a good routine and try to follow that

Sticking to daily routines as well as weekly ones can help improve your child’s behavior as well as performance in school. Bedtime needs to be defined and should be such that it provides for plenty of rest for your child. Lack of sleep and being tired can lead to behavioral problems in children between the ages of three and twelve.

8.    Try to understand the situation from your child’s point of view

Always try to think from your child’s point of view that why he or she is behaving like this and work on the reason. For example if you promised for something and somehow couldn’t do that then try to explain the reason first. Your child will only see it as a broken promise, but by outlining why you cannot do that and by setting a later date for that, you can salvage the situation.

9.    Set some rules and punishment

It is always important to set some rules for certain behavior that which one is ok and which one is not ok.  Like hitting and spanking is not at all ok. Set some punishment for them and always stick to that. Stubborn children needs rules and regulations to thrive. So setting some rules and punishments is always important. Always be consistent in that but try not to rigid, be flexible some times. You can also set some rewards if they behave good, this will encourage them for good behavior and discipline.

10.    Keep positive environment at home

Positive environment is very important for positive behavior. Try to talk nicely with other members of your family so that child can learn from you. Kids always like to copy their parents, so behave nicely with your spouse, this will encourage them also. Make sure that your home is a place where your child feels happy, comfortable, and secure at all times. Try to avoid argument in front of your child.

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11.    Remember this is just a phase and a normal behavior of them

Rigidity is usually a sign of a healthy developing toddler, not a “stubborn” one. That’s because toddlers are just beginning to recognize and predict their routines. So much of their world is new, surprising, and completely out of their control, which can be equally exciting and frightening. Always try to comfort your kid when not behaving properly and keep in mind that this is just a phase, it will pass out in few years. Have patience and take it positively.

12.    Avoid excessive No to a stubborn child

Do your child say No to everything, if yes, then think about your attitude once that do you say NO to your child very often? Don’t say excessive NO. Try some other way like we will think about it, I will try to do or I will do it in sometime and so on. But save yourself from saying excessive No. This can lead to a negative attitude in child and he or she will also try to avoid every situation by saying NO.

13.    Don’t expect too much form a stubborn child

You should not expect too much from a little human, after all they are just 2 to 5 year old. What do you expect that they will follow all your rules and commands? No, they will not, kids love to explore new things and love to do things in their own way; don’t expect that they are going to do everything perfectly. It is important to understand that stubbornness is a part of the personality of some children while in others; it is their way of nudging the boundaries and asserting their will

14.    Don’t give choices when its non-negotiable

Don’t get too emotional and get trapped. Sometimes children cry for the things that need not to be done. So don’t give choices when it’s non-negotiable. Such as sitting in the car seat, are not open to discussion, although you can explain why the rule must be followed. Going to bed or to day care also is not negotiable. Don’t ask a question when there’s only one acceptable answer, but direct your child in as kind a way as possible. Commands such as “do this or else” should be avoided.

15.    Ignore some of the behavior of stubborn child

Try to ignore some of the behavior that doesn’t need your attention. This is the best way to handle stubborn toddler. If you will avoid some of things, by the time they will get bored and leave that particular thing by their own. In this way they will get enough chance to explore something that they want to and you will also not feel bad for saying NO to them.

The post How to discipline a stubborn child? 15 ways to discipline them appeared first on YourHealthyMom.

Milk is an important source of calcium and protein. It is recommended to have at least 500 ml of milk per day for 6 to 12 month baby and at least 300 ml of milk per day for toddler (1 to 3 year old).

Toddlers need about 700 milligrams of calcium per day and milk is the best source to meet that daily requirement. You should always choose whole milk for children less than 24 months of age and low-fat milk for children 24 months or older. Do not use unpasteurized or raw milk as it can cause serious illness.

Some babies refuses milk while transition from formula or breast milk to cow’s milk. This transition usually takes place around your baby’s first birthday. Some toddler simply can’t digest cow’s milk also called lactose intolerance and they won’t drink milk because of discomfort associated with this like bloating, diarrhea and cramps.

8 Tips to get toddler to drink milk

If your toddler won’t milk then try to find the reason why:

• Check whether the taste of milk is problem. Because taste is a big problem as a result, they start refusing milk.
• Maybe it’s hot or cold. Try to find out their temperature preference of milk
• Are you are pressuring them to drink milk.
• Maybe he is not having milk because other member in the family are also not having it
• He or she is not able to digest the milk and are lactose intolerance.

If your toddler can digest milk but refuse to drink, here are some tips that you can try.

1. Start Slow

Offer milk to your toddler very calmly and don’t force your child to drink milk or do not beg your child to drink it. Try not to give any treat for drinking milk beacuse they can make it as a habit also. Start with 1 to 2 ounce at a time. At first he will only take in small amount, slowly increase the amount of milk.

2. Creative Serving

Serve milk in a creative way for example give some colorful cups, use straw, and spout cups or anything that your baby likes.

3. Warm or Cold Milk

Some children likes cold milk and some prefer warm milk and serving milk according to their preference can be appealing for them to have milk.

4. Add Milk to Foods

You can also try adding some milk to other food items like breakfast cereals, porridge, soups, custards, pudding, scrambled eggs, or smoothies. Basically, try to add milk rater than water in their meals and snacks.

5. Let them Prepare their own Milk

Some children finds it interesting to eat the food that they prepare so let them put their milk in cup and maybe they will have it.

6. Drink with them

Some children love copies their caretaker therefore you can also have milk with them and try to encourage them about it.

7. Try Flavored Milk

Always offer plain milk, but sometime children don’t like the taste of plain milk. You can add some fruit purees or add some chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavor to it.  Make it flavorful and offer your toddler.

8. Try with other milk products first or mix the milk with Breast-Milk

You can also give milk alternatives like yogurt, ice-creams and cheese and see whether he likes the taste and then first try to give small amount of milk or you can also mix breast milk with small amount of cow’s milk and slowly increase the amount of cow’s milk till he develop a taste.

10 alternative of milk to include in your child’s diet

Milk is an important part of toddler’s diet but sometime they won’t drink milk because of that they can miss many essential vitamins and mineral. Milk provides many essential vitamins and minerals like:

• Calcium
• Fat
• Protein
• Zinc
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin A
• B vitamins
• Selenium
• Folate
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Iodine

To get all the essential vitamins and mineral mentioned above, it’s important for the children to have milk. But in all cases it’s not possible. Some kids cannot digest milk and some simply refuse to drink it. I am also a mother of 3 year old and I can understand very well. After weaning off from breast milk he never likes the taste of milk and I tried every tip that I have mentioned above but nothing worked. He simply refuses to have milk and I was always worried about his calcium and protein intake but nothing worked.

 If your toddler is same like mine and won’t drink milk, I will simply say don’t panic.

There are other ways or I can say other alternates to milk that you can offer and your child will get necessary supplement that they would usually get from milk, without actually drinking milk. In other words milk alone is not the only source of all theses vitamins and minerals.

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Here are the following alternatives to milk that you can offer to your child.

1.    Yogurt and cheese

You can offer milk alternatives like yogurt, cheese slices and cottage cheese. They are full of calcium and protein like milk. You can offer yogurt as a desert or add in smoothies also. Cheese can be added to meals like pasta and egg or can be given as a snack. this is a very good alternative of milk for toddler who won’t drink milk.

2.    Oranges

All knows that oranges are full of vitamin c but they are full of calcium also. You can add fresh oranges to your kid’s diet or add some orange juice, make sure that juice is full of calcium.

3.    Non-dairy milk

Some kids want to have milk but they cannot because of lactose intolerance. There are so many non dairy milk options are available for the toddlers who don’t drink milk. You can offer other non-dairy milk for instance, coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk or any lactose free milk. They are full of calcium, fats and other vitamins.

4.    Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds are full of vitamins and mineral and are rich source of calcium and protein. You can use some nuts flour like almond flour, flex seeds flour while cooking. Offer nuts while snacking or add their flour while backing. You can also give them nut butters like almond and peanut butters. Brazil nuts are rich in selenium.

5.    Beans and legumes

You can give them boiled beans like chickpeas or green beans, peas while snacking or add them in soups or as a side dish in meals also. They are full of nutritious.

6.    Tofu

Tofu is a great source of calcium and protein. You can give them as a snack or add them with vegetables during meal time. Tofu is high in protein, fat, vitamins, mineral and this can be one of the good option to include in your toddler diet who don’t drink milk.

7.    Green leafy vegetables

Green leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, lettuce, turnip greens and spinach are great source of calcium, magnesium and iron. Include them in your kids diet will provide them calcium and necessary mineral. 

8.    Salmon

Salmon is rich in vitamin D and you can include this in your kids diet for the better absorption of calcium because Vitamin D is very important for the absorption of calcium.

9.    Sun light

Sunlight is a great source of vitamin D. without enough vitamin-D calcium will not be able to absorb in your body. Daily requirement of your kid is to get 400 IU vitamin-D per day. By spending some time in sun will do the wonder or you can try supplementing with vitamin-D after consulting your health care provider.

10. Fish

Fish contains healthy omega 3 fatty acid in addition its a great source of iodine, zinc, selenium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin D, B-vitamins, vitamin A, fats and protein. Add this super food in your kid’s diet for the necessary vitamins, minerals and protein.

These are the variety of foods that you can give to your toddler, who don’t want milk and still you can complete his essential requirements.

Here are the key points to remember while doing this

1. Add variety of foods during each meal.
2. You can do experiment with milk and try adding milk to the different type of meals and snacks.
3. By giving other dairy products like yogurt, cheese, and ice-creams
4. You can also try adding some dairy free milk like almond milk, soya milk etc.

The post What do you do if your toddler won’t drink milk? appeared first on YourHealthyMom.