var quotes=new Array()

//change the quotes if desired. Add/ delete additional quotes as desired.

quotes[0]='Talk to your baby.  Every time you talk to your baby, her brain stores sounds that will one day be words.  She learns to talk by listening to you and other important people in her life. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[1]='Caring, loving, and playing are important for your baby\'s brain development. Constantly ignoring his cries or regularly showing anger, stress, and tension can affect your baby\'s brain development in negative ways. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[2]='Play with your baby only when she\'s alert and in a good mood.  Playing is the way your baby builds her brain.  <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[3]='Rocking helps to develop certain parts of your baby\'s brain that are associated with balance and even language.  You will often find yourself rocking baby when you are sitting or standing. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[4]='As your baby smiles and coos and you smile and coo back, you are \"tuning in\" and sharing feelings.  Your baby is developing the capacity for joy and pleasure.  <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[5]='When baby cries and you pick him up and quietly tell him it\'s okay, he\'s learning that you understand him and that he can trust you to take care of him. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[6]='Play different kinds of music softly.  Loud music is not good for baby\'s ears.  Classical music helps develop the part of the brain that deals with math and thinking. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[7]='Even if you have good child care, your baby needs attention from you.  Sing and talk to her in the car.  Play in the bath.  Rock her and rest yourself. Bring her into the room you are working in, and talk to her. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[8]='Don\'t leave your baby in the car sear or in the crib for long periods of time.  Babies need to be with people and be able to move around freely.  And NEVER leave baby in the car alone. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[9]='When shopping, let your baby touch and smell the things you are buying.  Count items out loud as you tell baby what you are doing.  Hearing different words is good for his learning. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[10]='Babies like to repeat the skills they have just learned.  This is an important part of their development.  If baby is bored with an activity, she will turn away or become fussy.  This is a sure sign to stop. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[11]='Your baby will probably first roll over by accident.  This can be pretty surprising, and he might not know what to think of this major step.  Let him know how happy you are, and what a big boy he is. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[12]='Your baby is learning in these first years what she can expect from people.  Do people listen to her?  Do they hug and love her?  Does she get yelled at if she tries to do something?  If she gets yelled at often, she will be afraid to learn and try new things. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[13]='Many games have been around for years.  They are great for baby\'s development.  Ask older women about some of the things they did with their babies.  Very simple games help baby learn important skills. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[14]='Babies and young children love to do things and hear things over and over again.  This is a necessary part of early learning.  He will let you know he\'s bored or tired. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[15]='Do not use television as a babysitter.  Hearing words on television does not help your baby learn how to talk.  Children ideally should not watch TV until after they are 2. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[16]='Making baby reach helps with coordination, and reaching across the body also helps brain development.  He needs to learn how to use both hands. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/>  LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[17]='Moving around and crawling helps build both the body and brain. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/>LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[18]='Touching things is an important way your baby learns.  Get some small pieces of fabric like silk, cotton or felt and sew together into a little blanket. She likes to touch faces and feel different kinds of blankets and clothing. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[19]='Stack up boxes or cups and let your baby knock them down.  Or put smaller toys or items in plastic bottles that your baby can shake.  <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[20]='Hand skills are important to practice.  Let your child practice picking up things like Cheerios or other small foods.  <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[21]='Read to your baby.  Early reading is not about learning how to read, but about spending time together and hearing different words. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[22]='Every time you give a baby a hug and tell her what a good job she did, she gains confidence.  It can be hard to decide when to help baby do something and when to let her keep trying.  Don\'t be too quick to step in.  <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[23]='Many learning activities are messy.  Finger painting, splashing water all over the place, playing in the dirt, and many others require clean-up.  Make learning more important than keeping your house perfectly neat and clean. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[24]='Offering another object or activity in place of something you don\'t want your child to have (or to do) is a useful tool in the upcoming years.  It gives your child some choice and power, but you\'re still the boss. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[25]='Many babies are shy or afraid of strangers.  Don\'t force him to go to someone.  Just take it slowly.  And don\'t be embarrassed if he is suddenly afraid of a good friend.  He wants to know that you are there. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[26]='When shopping hand baby unbreakable items and let her put them in the cart.  Talk to her about the items and ask her if she likes them.  Baby cannot understand many of the things that you say right now, but don\'t let that stop you. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[27]='Fill a dishpan or bowl with sand, cornmeal or rice and let your child play with spoons, measuring cups or a funnel.  It will help her being to learn math concepts. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[28]='Encourage imagination by getting out old hats, scarves, and shoes.  These kinds of things are better for learning than expensive toys. Imagination leads to better thinking skills and problem solving.  <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[29]='Get a large magnifying glass and take your child on a tour around the house, yard or park to find things to look at.  Make sure he understands that when you are pointing at something, you want him to look at it.  This is important for his communication development.   <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[30]='Use contact paper or large sheets of paper, collect small items like feathers and pieces of paper. Let your baby stick them on the paper.  Save it by putting clear plastic wrap on the top and hang it up for your child to see.  <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[31]='Make a wagon out of a string attached to a cardboard box.  Put some toys in it and let your baby pull it around.  <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/>LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[32]='Make a house out of a big cardboard box and play peek-a-boo.  It\'s really very good for you to laugh and be silly.  It\'s also very good for your baby. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[33]='Roll up socks and let your baby throw or drop them into a laundry basket.  This is good for hand-eye coordination.  Many babies also concentrate very well when they are learning new things and are very proud of their efforts.  <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'

quotes[34]='The first three years are especially important for baby\'s healthy learning development.  Much of your child\'s future will depend on these three years. <p><i>-From Sandy Briggs, <br/> LittleStepsforNewParents.com</i></p>'


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