Q: Dip the pH strip into the water but do not swirl it around or stir the water. After about 5 seconds, remove the strip from the water and wait another 5 to 10 seconds. When the pH strip changes colour, compare it to the pH spectrum to determine the pH level of your water.  Generally tap water has a pH level of around 7. Anything below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is alkaline.  Those who advocate the health benefits of alkaline water recommend a pH level of around 8.5 - 9.5. If you are hoping to improve your health and wellbeing by ionizing your water, it’s important that you spent some time scrutinizing the health claims. This is especially important if you are thinking of buying an expensive ionizing machine. Advocates of ionized water say the alkaline helps balance the acidity in other food and drink we consume, and claim that it can have marked impact on your focus and energy.  These are difficult things to quantify, however, and scientists say there is little evidence for the claims. Your body has mechanisms to keep your pH level within a narrow range on its own. Whatever pH level food or drink was at when it entered your body, it is 6.8 when it leaves.  There has been scientific studies done in Korea and Japan that argue that alkaline water helps treat and prevent diseases. Some scientists have expressed concern about the lack of clinical evidence to support the claims about ionized water. If you are interested in ionizing water, talk to your doctor for some more advice. If you are on any medication, or you are pregnant, you should always talk to your doctor first.
A: Test the pH level of your drinking water using pH strips. Don’t expect great health benefits. Talk to your doctor.

Q: Let the baby play with toys with a variety of textures. You can also encourage play with a variety of baby-safe objects around the house. Your baby is absorbing information through touch as they play with these items.  With this in mind, try to get your baby a little time outdoors every day. Exposing your baby to different sights, sounds, and experiences keeps their brains engaged. Do tummy time a few minutes a day to develop strong neck and back muscles and keep your baby interested in their surroundings. Babies need to practice their gross (large movement) and fine (small movement) motor skills. Things like blocks and stacking toys help babies work on grasping early on. As your baby gets a little older, balls and straddling toys will help get them moving. As your baby starts moving and crawling, give them a safe place to explore. Exploring helps them learn about their environment, and it creates the building blocks for spatial intelligence, helpful in things like navigation, mathematics, and sports. Make sure you remove anything the baby could put in their mouth (and choke on) and cover all electrical outlets. Also, remove any kind of chemicals (including household cleaners and even cosmetics) your baby could get into. You can use baby gates to keep them out of areas where they could get into trouble. Babies love playing around in messy textures, and letting them have some free rein gives them a chance to explore the physics of these objects. Finger paints, mud, sand, and water all make great textures for babies to play in, though of course, you should supervise them closely (or join in the fun yourself!). Bath time is a great time to learn about things like how cups are filled up and how gravity works. That is, you don't have to actively teach these things to your child; just give them toys to play with in the bathtub. With a set of cups, most kids will start pouring water back and forth, for instance, which helps your baby learn about things like volume and gravity. Use your grocery store time to engage your baby. As you pick up different fruits, for instance, say their names and let your baby touch them before you place them in your basket. You can also do things like count items as you place them in your cart or say what you're going to do with each thing. Repetition, such as talking about the same fruits every time you go to the grocery store, helps your baby build neurons and create lasting memories.
A: Offer a variety of textures. Provide toys that help with motor skills. Baby-proof your home. Let them get a little messy. Take toys to the bathtub. Keep them entertained at the grocery store.

Q: There are a lot of cliches that people use when other people are going through hard times, and more often than not these common responses just feel insincere or painful to the recipient. Examples of what not to say include:  "God will never give you more than you can handle," or its even-worse variation, "This is God's will." Sometimes well meaning people of faith say this phrase, and they may truly believe it, but it can feel very harsh to the recipient, especially if she is experiencing something that is very difficult or overwhelming. Also, the person may not believe in God. "I know how you feel." Sometimes people say this phrase to others who are going through hard times, and while its true that everyone has experienced trials in life, it's impossible to know how someone else is feeling. This phrase is even worse if its accompanied by personal anecdotes that really don't match the intensity of what the sufferer is experiencing. For example, if someone is facing the loss of a limb, don't equate it to the time that you broke your arm. It's not the same thing. However, if you have truly had an experience that is on par with the experience the sufferer is going through, it's ok to talk about and say "I've been through something similar." You'll be ok." This is a common phrase when people don't know what to say, and we often say it more as a wish than a statement of fact. In fact, you don't know if someone will be ok, and in many cases of chronic or terminal illness, the person will NOT be ok. They may die, or be condemned to a life of physical suffering. Saying they will be ok minimizes the experience they are having. "At least..." Don't minimize the person's suffering by suggesting they should be thankful that their situation isn't worse. In particular, avoid discussing minor health issues such as a headache or a cold. This can vary depending on your relationship with the person and the length of their illness. If they are chronically ill, or a very close confidant, it is more likely to be appropriate to discuss things that you're going through. While its true that its important to be sensitive to the feelings of someone who is sick, sometimes we overcompensate for our fear of doing the wrong thing by doing nothing at all. Its better to stick your foot in your mouth and apologize than it is to just ignore your sick friend altogether. If you do mess up and say something insensitive, just say, "I don't know why I said that. I really don't know what to say. This situation is just very hard." Your friend will understand. Try to pay attention to your friend's cues so that you don't visit too frequently or overstay your welcome. When someone is extremely sick especially, it can be very difficult to carry on a conversation and they won't want to offend you so may over-tax themselves by trying to please you.  If your friend seems distracted by television or her phone, or seems like she is struggling to fall asleep, those might be signs that she is growing tired of the visit. Don't take it personally! Just remember she is dealing with lot, both physically and emotionally, and it can be taxing. Be mindful of the time, and be sure that you don't extend your stay into mealtimes or other times that your friend may need to be alone. Ask if your friend would like you to pick up some food for them or cook them a meal if you plan to visit during mealtime.
A:
Watch out for common faux pas. Don't complain about your own health problems. Don't let fear of doing the wrong thing keep you from doing anything at all. Be considerate.