Measuring a squirmy baby can be tough to do, so it would make good sense that it would be easier when he/she is sleeping. Thanks to Clare Chen’s fun “Baby Measuring Crib Fitted Sheets“, now you don’t even need a tape measure. Each fitted sheet is made of

100% cotton in seven different colors using environmentally-friendly (UNI color for textile) inks at Supermarket. What a cool gift idea!

Don’t forget everyone, babies should always sleep on their backs. Babies shown on their stomachs in ads are awake, and being directly observed by adults.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> tip thanks to Yanko Design

Dear Dr.MOZ,

Is it true that my newborn’s vision is too poor to see my face? If so, at what point would he be able to recognize me?

Thanks!
Daddy Shawn

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Hi Daddy Shawn,

It’s true that your newborn lacks the focus to see facial details when first born, but he can

definitely see enough of you to know you are there. See the description below along with the graphic example above to help determine how clearly your newborn will be able to see during development:

• Newborns: are able to see light and blurry shapes. He’ll see your head and outlines of facial features, but will be unable to control his focus as adults do for months to come.

• Month 2: brings an increasing ability make eye contact and to notice details in your face. You’ll still look blurry, but he’s well on his way to seeing things the way you do.

• Month 4: brings the ability to recognize you and other family members! He’ll see things in great detail compared to previous months and you’ll notice that he grabs things around him thanks to his new depth perception.

• Months 6-8: bring a better ability to track objects in the world around him. He’s not quite achieved 20/20 vision, but he’s increasingly interested in patterns and can distinguish objects, people, and facial expressions from greater distances.

Thanks for the great question Shawn and don’t forget that babies can also judge the world around them with their hearing. He may not be able to see you with great detail yet, but he’s been listing to voices from the womb and will recognize yours as a friendly one.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

> Visit Craftsbury Kids for the all natural toy teether giraffe above!

According to a recent piece in the New York Times, a sub-culture of high-performance runners are beginning to learn what the majority of baby shoe manufactures have known all along…less is more. Running barefoot or nearly barefoot with thin, flexible shoes is thought to reinforce proper biomechanics unlike many running shoes that allow athletes to

repeatedly slam down on their heels.

Much like developmentally appropriate baby shoes, running with thinner shoes (or completely barefoot) helps runners land gently with their feet under their torsos while building strength in all the muscles in their feet. Competitive athletes aren’t yet releasing what other secrets they’ve learned from their baby counterparts, but don’t be surprised to see Nike’s new full-sized reflective onesies running through a neighborhood near you.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

A recent study by book e’tailer AllTopBooks surveyed over 640 parents in the UK to see how much time was spent reading to children 5 and younger each week. The parents reported:

• 34.4% spent no time to their children at all

• 50.5% of parents spend 0.5-1 hour reading to their children each week

• 11.2% spent 2-3 hours reading to their children each week

• 3.9% spent 3.5 hours or more reading to their children each week

This is a bad sign for future generations (assuming the results are accurate) considering that babies develop important language skills in the first 6-12 months of life. Not only will reading to babies stimulate their brains and develop needed language skills, but it also sets the stage for learning about the fun world around them like colors and shapes.

To learn more about the importance of reading aloud to babies, visit “Reading Books to Babies” at KidsHeath.org. For collection of great books to read to your baby, drop by again soon to see what our experienced parents suggest.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

Dear Dr.MOZ,

Our daughter seems to be behind our other friends’ children when it comes to crawling. She likes to stand with our help, but she doesn’t seem particularly interested in crawling yet.

What is the normal time for a baby to begin to crawl, and at what point should we be worried? Any feedback from you or the GoodFather on the subject would be very helpful.

Thanks,
Jerry

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Hi Jerry,

Although you’ll find baby books will tell you that children begin crawling between 6 and 10 months, there’s really no “normal” month. Some babies crawl when they are ready, and others skip crawling altogether and go straight to walking. Instead of worrying about the time line, I recommend that you take this opportunity to prepare for a mobile baby. Here are a few safety points to consider, along with an idea to help inspire your baby to take the next step towards movement.

Baby Proofing Your House: We have a comprehensive and printable baby proofing check list in your home in the GoodFather gift CD-ROM, but here is a summary of things

to look for:
- Shelves which were once too high to access might be fair game now that she has the size and strength to investigate new territory
- Remove quilts and pillows that may cause suffocation around your home
- Many plants are poisonous, so keep them out-of-reach
- Pet food and water could be a serious risk, so these must be put off the ground as well
- Older children’s toys may be dangerous for babies, so be sure to put them away
- Electrical cords and outlets need to be attended to to prevent electrical shock
- Make sure your cabinets have safety locks and your stairs and doorways are blocked with gates
- for the complete baby-proofing list, please see the GoodFather gift CD-ROM

Crawling Inspiration: Coordination and strength will all come in good time, but sometimes all your baby will need is a goal. Next time she props herself up (as if to crawl), put her favorite toy just out of reach to encourage movement. You might be surprised at how quickly she learns to crawl when her teddy is just a few movements away.

Clothing: You may also want to consider your baby’s clothing when she begins to master crawling. She’ll put quite a few miles on those little knees, and some new parents like to use padded pants and knee pads for babies crawling on wood floors or tile flooring. Visit our GoodFather Friday post on Clever Parents for on fun clothing and accessories for your new crawling critter.

Thanks for the question and don’t be stranger here at Dear Dr.MOZ as your baby grows. She’ll be running around the house before you know it, and you’ll be thinking back about the “good old days” when you could actually keep-up with her. Welcome to the GoodFather family Jerry!

Your favorite family man,

The GoodFather

(meet the GoodFather at DrMOZ.com)