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Toxins in household dust may be harmful to kids
Most of the dust that coats your furniture and floors comes from outdoors and can pose a health threat, a new study suggests.
BPA in canned foods could harm children, group says
Measurable levels of the chemical additive bisphenol A (BPA) were found in a variety of canned goods, including some that claimed to be BPA-free, according to an analysis released this week by the nonprofit advocacy group Consumers Union.
Toxic toys? Health group finds high lead levels
Children's toys carrying the Barbie and Disney logos have turned up with high levels of lead in them, according to a California-based advocacy group — a finding that may give consumers pause as they shop for the holiday season.
Why Reading to Your Infant is Essential
Why Reading to Your Infant is Essential
Reading is one of the ways to help your baby learn about communication. Communication involves receptive and expressive language, through listening, understanding and responding to the spoken, and non-verbal word. Shortly after birth, newborns can recognize and respond to their mother's voice. They also react to stimuli around them. Babies can be startled by a loud, sudden noise, or comforted by a soft, gentle sound. From the first few days of life, your baby is communicating. Babies enjoy listening to the sound of voices, and the closeness you share while holding your baby, will help foster the bonding process. It is important to observe the pictures your baby is looking at. This provides an opportunity to talk about the picture and this will help increase your child's vocabulary. Reading to your baby will help build social, comprehension, concentration, and problem solving skills.

It is important to choose a time when your baby is most alert and observant. Make reading fun for baby, vary your tone of voice or speed. It is important to follow your baby's cues to make reading time an enjoyable and positive experience. Select brightly, colored books, with a word to a few words on each page to begin with. Select cloth, vinyl, or sturdy cardboard books that your baby will not be able to destroy while tasting. Choose books that have familiar objects that your baby sees, or words with familiar vocabulary. Books with rhymes, finger actions, and ones that contain family photos will also captivate your baby's interest. And best of all, use books that can be easily washed. 

Creating a scheduled reading routine will help your baby learn that reading is important. This will benefit the early childhood years ahead. Always look for opportunities to read to your baby throughout the day. Reading before or after mealtime, waiting rooms at the pediatrician, naptime, bedtime, or bath time are excellent opportunities.Offering and repeating a variety of easy, colorful, picture books will maintain your baby's interest. Remember to keep baby's "first" books simple. Colorful pictures, with a familiar one word per page, will help baby to associate the pictures and vocabulary, to everyday surroundings.

 Priddy Books offers an array of baby "first" books that captivate interest with colorful pictures and simple vocabulary. 

Easy Reads for Babies: 

"I Love You Through and Through", written by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak, and illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church, a brightly illustrated book about all aspects of a baby that a parent loves.

"Look At You, A Baby Body Book", written by Kathy Henderson, and illustrated by Paul Howard, colorful pictures of babies doing everyday activities.

"Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See", written by Bill Martin Jr., and illustrated by Eric Carle, a colorful picture book introducing each animal as each spies on the next.

"Baby Cakes", written by Karma Wilson, and illustrated by Sam Williams, a colorful picture book featuring all the loveable parts of a baby.

"Whose Toes Are Those", written by Jabari Asim and illustrated by LeUyen Pham, a poetic story about all of a baby's parts.

Reading to your baby will encourage communication and the development of early language skills. It provides special bonding time, a routine that will develop into a healthy, life long habit of enjoyable reading, and a love for learning in the years ahead.