The first Mother’s Day in USA was held in 1907 when Julia Ward held a ceremony to honour her mother. She then successfully campaigned for a formal holiday to honour mothers and by 1911 most states had taken up idea. This was followed in 1914 by a declaration by President Woodrow Wilson that Mother’s Day should be celebrated as a national holiday on second Sunday in May. The idea quickly spread to Canada and Mexico and many more countries throughout world. The commercialisation of Mother’s Day quickly followed, much to disgust of Anna Jarvis who was arrested in 1923 at a Mother’s Day festival for trying to stop women selling flowers. Jarvis said “I wanted it to be a day of sentiment not profit”. Ironically Anna Jarvis campaigned for many years against commercialisation of Mother’s Day, day she had worked so hard to establish. Although she had no children of her own, each Mother’s Day Anna received hundreds of cards from all over world. Anna Jarvis died in 1948.

Grasp Reflex

Place your finger in palm of baby's hand and he will grasp it. This involuntary movement will persist for about 3 months.

Sucking Reflex

Put your (clean) finger in baby's mouth and he will suck on it. This reflex ensures he will be able to feed.

Diving Reflex

If baby is placed in water - either during a water birth or in a swimming pool - his throat will close so that he does not swallow water. This means that baby will not drown if born in water, and he will also be a natural swimmer. This reflex will last for about 2 months, or longer if you take him swimming.

Babinski's Reflex

Stroke sole of baby's foot and his big toe will curl up and other toes will spread out. This lasts for about two years.