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App Review: NAN Toddler Talk

Staff Writers Ever wondered what your toddler is trying to tell you with their babbles and squeals?

Decoding baby babble

Amity Dry While a happy baby babbling is easy to listen to, an upset baby trying to communicate can be one of the most frustrating and upsetting experiences of new motherhood. How do you know which cries mean what?

When your child should learn to swim

Tanya Ryan-Segger Swimming classes teach children - and their parents - about safe water habits, even from a very young age.

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Kids of married couples have better outcomes

The children of married parents have better educational and social outcomes than those raised by de facto couples or single mothers, according to new research.

Child car seat review: SWiSH air convertible booster seat from Safety 1st

It can take the skills of a structural engineer and the fortitude of an amateur wrestler to install a new car seat. Eleanor James explains why the Safety 1st SWiSH air convertible booster seat is worth entrusting with your time, money, and your child’s safety.

Research

Babies outperform best computers

Deborah Smith Given a choice between raw broccoli and a salty cracker, 18-month-old children will invariably choose the tastiest: the biscuit.

Childcare operators caught short by new rule on children under two

Adele Horin Many childcare centres have failed to prepare for the most significant reform to quality childcare in NSW in two decades even though the new standard has been signalled for two years.

Counting the cost of child's play - fees set to increase

Adele Horin Parents are likely to face higher childcare fees to meet mandatory new staffing levels when centres reopen on January 10, but only an unlucky minority will encounter the $20 a day rises predicted by some lobby groups.

Cutest baby video ever?

We've seen a million cute baby videos on YouTube, but this baby grooving to Florence and the Machine takes the cake.

Child's play – How to play with your baby from 4-6 months

Brooke Tasovac A baby of this age is also beginning to differentiate colours, shapes and sizes, as well as developing association with various smells. Most importantly any activities that combine auditory, tactile and visual experiences such as holding, looking and listening to a book being read, or listening, moving and singing sounds in music, are ideal as they cultivate several of your baby's senses, all at one time.

Child's play – How to play with your baby from 7-9 months

Brooke Tasovac Your baby is integrating everything she has learned so far by seven to nine months of age. Motor and visual skills are more in tune with one another, as seen in your baby's capacity to manipulate things using her hands and better hand to eye coordination.

Child's play – How to play with your baby from 10-12 months

Brooke Tasovac As baby nears her first birthday, she is able to understand more complex speech and the associations between words and actions such as "kiss" and "clap". By responding to your baby's attempts to communicate, as well as allowing her to move around as much as she pleases, it builds your baby's confidence to start walking.

Teach your baby sign language

Did you know your baby already communicates with you using basic hand gestures? Baby signing is a natural extension of baby’s natural communication skills. Find our how you can assist your baby's speech with baby signing.

Encouraging baby's physical development from 0-2

Kathy Walker It seems we give our children less chances to play, to climb, to do some rough and tumble. We are often too careful and don’t give children enough time to practice these skills

Understanding your baby's brain

Kathy Walker Many parents understandably assume that a new born baby is simply a blank slate that requires us to do everything for them and that they really are incapable of anything other than crying, drinking and sleeping or not, as the case may be!

Baby talk: encouraging rich language and thinking skills

Kathy Walker Early stimulation equals better brain function and easier acquisition of language skills. Brain studies now more than ever highlight the importance of exposure, practice and stimulation of experiences when children are young.

Teaching your baby sign language

Babies learn to talk during the first two years of their life. By 10 to 14 months babies usually speak their first word but they can learn to use sign language from a much younger age.