BabyLoving.com

by Deborah Rosalind Nieto

For these parents, I have created a list of suggestions to make the learning process of talking easier, more effective and, at times, enjoyable. Of course, there are some cautions, too, as to what things you should avoid to help your baby maximize his speaking skills.

Concept correlation. By often pointing at objects or people and telling your baby their names, she will find it easier to learn to associate them with each other. You could hold out her bottle and say "bottle", touch her cheeks while saying "cheeks" or point to her father and say "Papa". Also, holding out a mirror in front of her and saying "That is Eloisa" may be a good idea. Making actions, while associating objects or expressions with them, is also an easier way for her to learn. You could say "hello" while waving your hand or utter a "no" while shaking your head.

Broken record. The key to any teaching activity with your baby is repetition. By holding out things or pointing at people while saying their names several times, your baby finds it easier and faster to utter their names. For the first few months, you may get only a coo or a gurgle as a response, or no response at all. But after awhile, you may even be surprised to hear him utter his first words. Risk the silliness of becoming a broken record for the sake of your baby's communicative development.

The Socratic Method. The Socratic Method is a strategy used by teachers which involves asking questions from the students to elicit answers. This method may also be employed when communicating with your baby. Although you can't expect her to give you the right answers, it helps to ask her questions instead of always bombarding her with words and concepts. This way, when the time comes that she's able to talk and you ask her a question, answers will come out from her naturally since she has grown used to being asked questions.

Simple questions like "Where is Papa?" or "Where is your nose?" can make for good questions for your baby. You may also ask him about what he's doing when he's eating or bathing, wait for him to answer, then after a pause, tell him "Mama, I'm eating" or "Mama, I am taking a bath."

Asking your baby questions which require phrases or words other than yes or no, is a good way to have an effective conversation with her. Ask her what food she would love to eat and other questions about her or the world around her to let her explore the different ways people talk to her.

Lastly, one value which your baby may learn from answering questions is making his own decisions. While you may ask him questions which involve knowledge you've taught him, it would be interesting and even more effective if you ask him questions which incorporate these knowledge in matters related to him.

Instead of asking him the colors of his pairs of socks, you may ask, "Which one do you like better, your green or yellow socks"? This question does not simply ask your baby to identify the colors of his socks; he is asked for his opinion as to what he likes better. You may even tell him, "Which one do you want to eat, banana or apple?" Like the first question, he is trained to decide for himself based on the knowledge he has gained in the past.

Baby mimicry. Imitating your baby's gurgles makes her feel and think that you are acknowledging her attempts of communicating with you. When she utters "eeeehh", you may do the same, or when she responds to a question with an "aaaaah" you may echo her. This is one way of reinforcing the communication skills she presently has, thus encouraging her to talk more.

Gibber games. I bet you're quite familiar with baby games similar to peek-a-boo. There is a good reason why it is famous among parents and their babies. You see, games which involve gibberish words and movements stick easily to your baby's mind. This is another way of making the learning experience of talking pleasurable. Do this several times and in no time your baby may finish your phrases and eventually learn saying the whole phrase himself.

Speech through song. Singing "Twinkle twinkle little star" and other nursery songs is another effective way of providing an entertaining learning experience to your baby. Also, by singing lullabies, you not only improve her communication skills, you also get to put her to sleep in a less stressful way.

Singings songs to your baby benefits both of you since it breaks the monotony of talking to him in the same manner. You don't even have to stick to nursery songs or lullabies. You may sing to him popular songs nowadays or anything that may come to your mind. To make the experience more interesting for both of you, you may pepper your songs with facial expressions and body movements. You may also provide additional sounds by stamping your feet or clapping your hands while singing.

Book buzz. Another great opportunity to talk to your baby in a different way is reading books to her. Babyhood is the perfect time to expose her to different words, rhyming sounds, alliterations and assonances. Although you may not be able to read to her every single word in her book since she's more interested in drooling over the book or eating it, it still develops her communicative skills. You get to talk to her about the pictures on her book, the shapes, colors and characters in the story. You may even ask her questions about the book. While your goal may just be to develop her skills in speaking, she may even develop a liking for reading books even after babyhood.

Sound of silence. You may be proud about the active household that you have: the presence of your relatives, the frequent visit of friends, the constant watching of television or listening to music. With the multitude of sounds, conversations and music your baby hears, he may have a big chance of learning words and their meanings fast.

Then again, you must set some time each day for tranquility. Perhaps the perfect opportunity to have this quiet time is when the least number of people is around the house. Make sure that equipment like the television or the radio is turned off. The reason for this need is not only to reduce the stress experienced by your baby, but also to encourage her to speak or blurt out her own sounds. If we older people tend to speak to break the silence, the same is true for your baby who may take the tranquility as an opportunity to say what she wants to say since she knows she will be heard.

Broadcast for babies. Be like a public announcer. As you do your everyday activities with your baby, try to broadcast everything to him. As you feed him, you may say, "Okay, Luis is eating now. He's going to love this mango mush." You may tell him "Now we're finished eating, Mama will sing a song to you. I'm just going to get your little book from your crib and then we'll be singing together."

Just imagine that you're on the phone with someone with whom you have to discuss in detail what you are doing as you talk to her. This means grabbing every opportunity of saying something to your baby. It's putting your speaking skills to the limits. It may feel stupid at first and may feel tiring after awhile, yet you may enjoy it once you get the hang of it.

Bravo baby! As a baby's parent, you are entrusted the role of being his first teacher. One of the essential jobs of teachers, which they must not fail to remember, is reinforcing the child's right answers or good behavior. The same is true when communicating with your baby.

When you ask her something and she responds to you by babbling or gurgling, acknowledge her answers. When you ask her, "What is my name?" and she responds with even a simple gibber, clap your hands and say, "Very good, Chloey, that is right, I'm Mama."

To get the hang of reinforcing your baby's attempts at communicating with you, start doing this even while he hasn't learned a single word. When the time comes that he can utter syllables or even whole words, you may realize that reinforcing his learning comes out naturally from you.

You may do these reinforcements when she points or looks at something that you ask for or utter a word which is the answer to your question. You may give her a peck on her leg, a warm embrace, or a gentle rub on the back while telling her how smart she is. You may bring your face close to hers and give her a big smile. Since these actions bring pleasure to her, they translate to acknowledgement of her actions and encouragement for her to learn more.

Widening words. When your child reaches the stage where he can say words and even associate them with the right things, besides reinforcing him for his development, add more details to his words. If he says apple, you may tell him, "Yes, it's a delicious red apple." This way, while reinforcing his right associations with words, you get to strengthen the brain connections made in his brain and add new ones by giving further details.

Riding with words. Having rides in your car with your baby is another interesting way to talk to her about different things. While she may not be able to appreciate right away the street signs and people on the road, you may start by talking to her about the feeling of moving while inside the car. You may point at different parts of your car or hold out stuff found inside it.

To make the riding experience even more enjoyable, play children's music or nursery songs. Your baby may respond by kicking his feet or bringing his hands together, or he may not respond at all. Just keep at it and in no time you'll realize that he already knows some of the syllables or words in some songs.

Don'ts

I have also created a short list of don'ts when encouraging your baby to talk. While these are just suggestions, you will find that it helps to avoid them when dealing with your little one.

Don't..

• Talk in a stressful voice within your baby's earshot. I bet you have an idea of the possible repercussions of shouting at your baby or simply letting her hear your voice in an unpleasant tone. The last thing you want to happen is for your baby to associate your voice with negative emotions she may feel. This may produce bad effects not only on your baby's emotional health, but also on your relationship with her.

• Spoonfeed him through over-coaching. Once your baby knows how to utter some words or phrases, you may find that he is still struggling with the application of these in his speech. While you may help him by coaching him the appropriate words in every situation, you may be doing harm than good. You may help your baby when you find that he fails to remember a certain word but you can do it without spoonfeeding him. You don't want to be his crutch whenever he gets lost for words. You have to train him to remember the words you teach him. This means you have to give him thinking time to find the right words in his memory bank. Coaching him the right word should just be a last resort in case he really forgets it or says a different word.

• Make the television too accessible to both of you. Set boundaries for the use of your television. It is better to place your television in a place not too available to you and your baby like cabinets or other rooms both of you do not frequent.

You need to establish communication with your baby through the simple things you see. There is a reason why the television is called an idiot box. It's like a machine which replicates a person who always does all the talking. Chances are, your baby will just stare at the television for a great fraction of the time it is open. If you want her to maximize her learning of the spoken language, then engaging her in a one-way activity where she barely does the talking is not a good idea. In fact, most psychologists say that it is not advisable for babies younger than 2 years to watch the television.

by Deborah Rosalind Nieto

Almost all parents, whether bookworms or infrequent readers, intend to foster the love for reading in their children. They know that it brings about benefits in their little ones' development and that it is best to ignite that passion for reading during babyhood.

Yet a few parents may know the full benefit of this noble activity. Still, even fewer may know how to maximize reading to their babies. However, whether you have started reading to your baby, or have yet to experience this activity with her, you may learn more from the benefits listed below and the suggestions included in maximizing book reading with your little one.

Benefits of reading to babies

Besides the advantage of developing in your child a love for reading, here are other amazing benefits of reading to your offspring while he is still a baby:

Books as brain sowers. Scientific studies have proven that new things experienced or encountered by your baby bring about the growth of new brain cell connections. This means that for every line you read to your baby, for each word you utter or rhythmic sound she hears, one or two brain cell connections are formed. Thus, if you read the same book to her, the brain cell connections that have previously grown will be fortified.

All ears. Reading to your baby trains him to pay attention to what you are saying. This is a good foundation for your baby to learn the best skill in becoming a good conversationalist: listening. Moreover, it better teaches him the skill of paying attention to certain things as he grows up, making it easier for you to develop patience in him gradually.

An eye for an eye, a book for a book. As you read, you may be pointing to some pictures or particular colors on the pages. This is a great way to develop not only your baby's attention, but also her eye muscles. So next time you read a book to your baby, take time to point at shapes, colors or pictures to help her better use her eye muscles.

Comfort activity. If you read to your baby in a soothing tone, your baby tends to associate your voice with calmness or warmth. The same is true if you read in an enthusiastic way to him, he gets an idea that your voice can bring much joy to him, thus making him consider your voice as a positive part of his life.

Succumbing to books. Make sure you not just read to your baby while she's lying in her crib. Make that effort to hold her while reading to her a good book. Since your baby feels comfort and security while you hold her and read a book to her, you may not realize it but your baby grows to make a connection between reading and being held. This then makes her look forward to reading since she considers it as a comforting activity.

Echoing everything. Babies are very fond of imitating sounds. Besides the usual sounds he hears around him, like the hum of the electric fan, the sound of your steps or the very words you utter, it would be great if he could imitate certain words which you read straight from a book. Of course you cannot expect your 5-month old baby to immediately echo the sounds you read, but after a while you'll be surprised to hear him finally grasping the words and uttering them himself.

Language teacher. Reading is all the more important for your baby if you want her to learn more than one language. Exposing her as early as babyhood to books which use the particular languages you intend for her to acquire, will make her language acquisition a more meaningful and fun experience. She gets to learn them the unconventional way, not just through translating separate unrelated words or facing grammar books, but instead through rhythmic sounds, unique combination of words and colorful pictures found in her baby book.

Romancing language. Without you realizing it, through hearing you read stories or even simple lines to him, your baby gradually acquires the love for the language. With the sounds of rhythm, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, and other fun sounds in language, he gets to enjoy words and the very language itself.

School whiz. Research shows that children who are exposed to language at an earlier age tend to do better in their studies. Of course it is best to start during babyhood. When you have started a routine with your baby before she becomes an impatient toddler who cannot even sit down with you, you'll be surprised that she picks up her book voluntarily and insists that you read to her.

Maximizing the benefits of baby book reading

Handy for baby. Instead of keeping your baby's book tucked in some closet or shelf, it may be a good idea to place it among his toys. This way, he is likely to develop interest for his book the way he has grown to like his toys. Making books accessible to him is the key to making books become a great part of his babyhood.

Also, some parents I know consider placing their baby's books all over the house. They make sure they have some books in the baby's room, living room, dining room, bathroom, and all other parts of the house where they bring their baby. You may consider doing the same since you never know when your baby is in the mood for reading. After all, her undivided attention is a precious gift in reading sessions.

This is even helpful for you when you have to perform a task on your baby and you need him to become absorbed over something else. For instance, giving your baby a bath may be daunting, yet you may get the help of soft plastic books in the tub instead of some toys. This way, bathing your baby becomes an easy task plus he becomes even more interested in books since he gets to encounter them almost everywhere.

Book bonding. While you can always let your baby chew on books or play with them on her own, still, there is nothing like the bonding time you can spend with her each day as you read to her a book. If possible, choose a place in the house where the only sound she hears is your voice. Hold your baby and as you read to her, make sure that she has your undivided attention. The important thing here is to let your baby feel that you're with her as she explores a book; and she has your focus each and every time you have a reading session.

Beyond the written word. You don't have to stop at what is written on every page of your baby's book. You may spend time talking about the pictures before turning the page. You may do this by asking him questions or relating the pictures to what is around him.

Discuss with her the story thoroughly as if you are talking to someone who can understand every word you say. This way, reading becomes more than a routine where you read word for word to your baby. This is also an excellent way to stimulate greater interest in your baby.

Picture is the mother of invention. There are available baby books where no words are present and only pictures are shown. You may connect a picture to another by inventing your own story to create greater meaning in the pictures. You may also do this with books which already have words in them. This way, book reading becomes a fun and learning routine for both you and your baby. While she learns by listening, looking and touching, you get to learn, too, by enhancing your storytelling skills.

100% Entertainment. Be more than a Mother Goose to your baby. Try to be entertaining by changing your voice for different book characters. You may also couple your otherworldly voices with funny facial expressions to make your baby smile or laugh.

Try also doing several gestures to emphasize verbs in the book or imitate animals present in it. Clap your hands, stamp your feet or whistle a tune to make things more enjoyable. You may also play with your baby's feet or hands when reading onomatopoeia such as "boom, splash, blag, kaboom". This not only adds fun to your book reading, but also lets your baby appreciate non-verbal communication.

Book boundaries. Don't be too pushing when reading to your baby. You may find that instead of letting you finish reading a page, he would turn the pages and skip on some of them. This is just natural. You may pick another book if he wants another one or stop the reading session if he loses the mood.

Remember to start only reading when your baby's comfortable, meaning she's in a comfy position and is not hungry or tired. Just keep sessions short every day. Like exercise, it's better to spend a few minutes every day reading a book to your baby than reading for a great period of time for a few days every week.

Many couples talk about when is the best time to have a baby, depending on job status of the parents, money saved, health insurance, home situation, etc. If possible, most couples like to plan to have their babies at the right time, when all their proverbial ducks are in a row. Yet, most seasoned parents know that there is no "good" time to have a baby. Babies are demanding, amazing, and all-consuming. Regardless of the apparent material preparation one can make for the arrival of a new baby, there are always unknowns and unexpected issues that pop up, ranging from sleepless nights to illnesses. Many times the best laid plans can be derailed by an unexpected pregnancy, as well. Yet, what stumps me is the couple who is clearly not ready to have a baby, but either society, their parents, or just that old biological clock is telling them that since they are married and "of age" to have children, the time must be now; this, regardless of the fact that money is tight, both parents must work full time, and the tiny apartment in which they live is simply not big enough. I have seen many young couples get so excited about becoming parents that they do not think through what is involved until after the baby arrives.

I know a couple currently who has been married about five years. The wife is twenty-nine years old and the husband is thirty-nine. He has very little background or education and is constantly changing jobs. He is a hard worker, but they would have to go on government assistance if they depended only upon his salary, which is just above minimum wage. He works very long hours, six days each week. The wife is a high school music teacher who also plays in the local symphony orchestra. Although a teacher's salary is larger than minimum wage, life is expensive, and this couple relies heavily on the jobs of each of them. Just last year, the husband felt he was getting older and wanted his wife to have a baby. They both felt very strongly that one parent should stay home with the baby, so they discussed it in great depth. In the end, though they knew they could not currently support their convictions about staying home with the baby, they wanted one, anyway. Surely they could find a good day care.

The baby came and the father was able to take a few days off to help the mom. Thankfully the baby was born in the summertime, so the mother was able to have a bit of time with the baby before putting him in full time day care. The day care they chose is not their ideal, because the day care provider does not share their religious beliefs, but as with many other things, they were forced to compromise out of necessity.

I am not trying to make a judgment here; many parents choose this route and while my belief is that the baby is better off at home with a parent, people have to make their own choices. The problem with the aforementioned couple is that they now are trying to push their unwise decision on those closest to them. The wife is pressuring her mother to quit her job so she can baby sit the infant during the day; the husband hints to friends about how wonderful it would be if they could spend time with the baby so he and his wife could have a date (i.e. free babysitting); and the wife is constantly looking for friends who will accompany her to the symphony so they can watch the baby there, backstage, while she plays - again, free of charge. We, the friends of this couple are feeling as though they want their life to go on as it always has while their friends and family pick up the slack. Yes, the idea of friends and family being a part of this baby's life is very important, but it seems that this couple either should have thought ahead a bit more, or they should alter their current living arrangements. Perhaps a second job on the part of the husband and putting off the symphony on the part of the wife would be a good idea.

Baby's first birthday is a special experience; it's the very first day that is all about him or her, celebrating the first big life milestone. Most of us might be tempted to give the babies in our lives an all-out bash complete with pony-riding, games, huge plates of cake, and entertainment; we have to remember that most of those things are for grown-ups, and since babies won't remember their first party, presents and a special meal should be all that's really needed. It will be nice to have the memories, but do you honestly need that clown that charges $300 an hour when baby won't remember the occasion? Love your baby and give him or her attention on this day, and chances are that Baby will be more receptive to these kinds of things.

If you are wondering what to buy Baby for the first birthday, here are some suggestions: Your baby's personality is unlike any other, so gifts should be chosen according to the speed at which the child seems to be learning. If your child already has an ear for music, a CD of children's songs is a great choice. Storybooks are loved by all ages, and many believe the earlier you read to your child, the faster they will learn. Crib bedding, special food, and soft toys offer different choices, but keep in mind that some of your guests will probably duplicate your ideas and you don't want to spend money on a stroller only to discover that you could have gotten one for free as a gift.

If you do want entertainment, don't choose loud music or anything that might scare Baby; after all, nothing's worse at a birthday party than the guest of honor being cranky. If you know your child likes bright colors, consider a tropical theme or any theme incorporating these flashy colors into the party scene. Even if he or she can't remember the activities, the colors will entice and excite Baby. Always watch your guests, particularly young ones; some younger children would probably have a grand time trying to feed Baby lots and lots of cake or carry him or her around to see the decorations. It's wonderful to invite cousins and friends, but you always have to watch who is trying to further include Baby in the celebration. It's a good idea to keep in mind that a lot of people in one space might be too much for the little one, so if you can, keep your guest list small and only invite those who are very close to the family or a few very special friends.

Does your little one already have a sweet tooth? If you don't want to go the traditional route, there are other suggestions besides cake. Birthday cupcakes and huge cookies can be found or homemade if you can't find anything that suits you. You might find it more special to make the birthday cake or cupcakes yourself. We've all seen the shows where, as soon as Baby's birthday cake is sat down on the highchair, hands plunge into the cake and it's "goodbye, dessert." To avoid disappointment and still give Baby his fun, consider a smaller, "just-for-decoration" cake that Baby can "play" with, and have a larger, fancier cake that guests will actually consume. If you don't want to buy or make two cakes, Baby's own personal cake can be a cupcake; less mess if he decides to play with it, and not too much sugar if he actually eats it!

You can either host a sit-down meal or a salad-bar style lunch where guests can come and fill up on sandwiches, desserts, and drinks. If you are having the party at home, make sure a big enough area can be cleared for children to run around without breaking anything or causing distress. A garage is a good idea for this; there usually aren't many pictures already hanging on the garage walls, so you don't have to pull down lots of frames to hang decorations. If it's cold outside and your garage isn't heated, a space heater will help the guests stay cozy. If you don't want Baby to feel overwhelmed, the party should probably be fairly shorter than an older child's celebration; don't forget that one-year-olds often can't make it through the day without a nap or two.

By Leigh A

Here are a few tips and suggestions to make sure that your little ghosts and goblins have a great Halloween night.

First of all make sure your child has a costume that is safe. Make sure that the costume is short enough to avoid tripping over. Try to find costumes that are flame retardant, and review stop, drop, and roll techniques with your children should their clothes or costume catch fire. Check to make sure that shoes fit well and consider using non-toxic hypo- allergenic make-up instead of a mask. Hats and scarves should be tied securely to prevent them from slipping over the eyes of a child. Make sure that any costume props like swords or scythes have smooth tips that are flexible enough that they will not cause injury if they are fallen on. Place your name, address and phone number discreetly within the costume of your child or have them wear an identification bracelet or necklace. Have your child wear a watch that glows in the dark so they know what time to be home.

Now for the best part the trick or treating! If you are not going trick or treating with your child make sure that he or she goes with a responsible adult or for older children in a group. Be sure to know all the activities your child plans to attend such as parties or fall festivals and set a time for them to be home. Make sure that your children know to observe all pedestrian rules such as crossing the street at a corner or in cross walk, and walking on the sidewalk or if there is no sidewalk to walk at the farthest edge of the street facing traffic. Remind children not to cross the street between parked cars. Know the route your children plan to take and make sure that they know not to cut through back alleys or fields, try not to wander off the beaten path and stay in well lit areas. Teach children to only stop at homes that are familiar to them and those that have the lights on and to never ever accept treats or rides from strangers. Only accept treats in the doorway do not go inside the home and always say thank-you for treats. Remind children to walk and not run, place reflective tape on costumes and treat bags and make sure that your child has a flashlight or glow stick to make them more visible to motorists and other pedestrians.

Explain to your children the difference between vandalism and tricks and if caught vandalizing make sure they cleanup the mess. Teach children to be wary of strange pets and remind them that torturing animals is against the law. Tell your child not to eat treats and to they get home and you have inspected them and to never eat anything that is not commercially wrapped. A good meal of favorite foods before trick or treating will discourage children from filling up on treats or eating candy before you can inspect it.

Here are some preparations you can make for trick or treaters who might visit your home. If you plan to use jack o lanterns with candles place them far enough back and away from the door that costumes do not accidentally catch fire. A safer alternative would be to use the plug in kind just make sure you tape down the cords so no one trips. Take extra precautions and remove tripping hazards on your walk way and property. Examples might be low tree limbs, garden hoses, and flower pots. Sweep any wet leaves from your steps and walk way so that no one slips and falls. Consider purchasing individually packaged healthy food alternatives or non-food treats for visitors to your home. Some healthy choices might include individually wrapped cheese and cracker packages, sugar free gum, small bags of raisins, pretzels or nuts, granola bars, fruit roll-ups, gummy bears, peanuts in the shell, or fruit. Some non-food alternatives might be stickers, temporary tattoos, fun shaped erasers, colored chalk, crayons or color pencils, rings, and small balls or whistles. Make sure to leave your front porch light on so visitors can clearly see the path.

Hope every one has a wonderful Halloween and be safe out there!

Many mothers find it an exceptionally fulfilling experience to bathe their babies. As a general rule, you need to give your baby a nice bath every two to three days. Between this time, you can top and tail like cleaning the bottom, neck and skin etc. Following are some tips and bits of advise that will help you in making your baby's bath safer and more pleasurable.

Baby Bathing Tips

Most importantly, you need to regulate the room's temperature. It should be warm enough for the child.

Before undressing your baby, check carefully that you have gathered everything you need for and after the bath. It is not advisable to leave the baby alone every few minutes.

As you let the water run, place the baby on a changing mat on the floor.

The ideal temperature of bath water is 36 to 38 oC (i.e. 97 to 100 oF). Always remember to run cold water first. Before you put your baby in the bath water, check the water temperature with your elbow or by using a thermometer.

Don't overfill the bath. Keep the water depth at 5 to 8 cm (i.e. 2 to 3 inches) deep.

To support your baby's shoulders, tuck them with one hand, keeping your fingers under the baby's armpit. Support the baby's legs with the other hand. Now slowly lower the child into the bath. Use both hands while lifting him/her out of the bath.

Keep the towel and mat close by the bath. While rubbing the baby dry, make sure you dry the folds of the baby's neck, legs, and under arms.

Remember, never ever leave your baby alone in the bath even for a jiffy. Take the baby out with care and let the door or phone bell ringing till you place the little one safely on the mat, wrapped in the towel.

Washing the Baby's Hair

Follow these easy steps to wash your baby's hair better.

Wrap your baby in a towel.

Tuck him/her under one arm, holding the baby's head over the bath.

Dampen the hair.

Gently and carefully pat the hair dry.

Giving Your Baby a Sound Sleep

To ensure your little one's better health, it is necessary that the baby be provided sound, safe, and peaceful sleep. Following is a bit of advice on safe and restoring sleep for your child.

Selecting the Right Mattress

Choice of the mattress for the baby is of primary importance. A few considerations are to be remembered in this regard. Foremost comes the size and shape of the mattress whether it is for the child's cot, pram, bed, or basket. Wee limbs of babies can easily get caught in gaps at the sides and ends. The size and shape of the mattress should be such that no gap larger than 4 cm remains after placing the mattress.

Type of Mattress

There are many choices available in market in the type of mattress for children. Depending on your individual taste and need, pick any good mattress, whether foam or spring interior, preferably having the following qualities:

· Resistant to odor and mildew
· Lets the air circulate through it
· Has a liquid dissipating middle layer
· Easy to clean of spills

Mattress Hygiene

To prevent any possible allergic reactions of the baby, regularly clean his/her mattress. Wipe its surface and vacuum or sponge clean the non-removable covers. To maintain its shape, turn the mattress regularly. Also, rotate it head to foot so that both its ends are used equally.

Buying the Right Cot

The right cot for the baby is strong and does not have cracked or broken slats. Also, it lacks any points or edges. It gives a firm support to the mattress. It has a structure that does not leave gaps after the matching size of mattress is placed over it.

Location of the Cot

A vital role is played in your baby's sound sleep by the position of his/her cot. It is advisable to position the cot away from ledges or such appliances that can easily come in the grip of the baby's hands. Also, never place the baby's cot near a radiator, beneath a shelf, under a hanging frame, or under clocks etc. Keep your baby's cot away as much as possible from glasses and mirrors.

Well, it may cost you a bit more than a dime, but here are a few ideas I have come across to having a fun birthday party and not breading the bank.

Ah, birthdays, the time of year that my children look forward to with much glee. But planning the birthday party is not high on my Fun Things to Do With my Time List. I do not know about you, but visiting a dentist might be more little fun than running a birthday party for a kid. But birthdays are a time for my little darlings to have fun with all their friends and get a few presents in the mean time.

So what do you do to make a birthday party for a child successful? Two words! PLAN AHEAD! Having an at home party for a child is no easy feat that can be thrown together in a few hours before kids are likely to come.

This year for the 8th birthday of my daughter, we are had a princess party. So that was the theme of the whole party. I drew out a simple crown and glued jewels to the top with glitter glue and viola, those was the birthday invites. Each girl invited will get a plastic crown to wear when they come and enjoy games such as pin the jewel on the crown (much the same as pin the tail on the donkey), (for boys, you can use this same game and just change it to pin the skull to the crossbones for a pirate theme or pin the car to the race track. Well there are endless possibilities for this game! I was lucky enough to find a crown paper punch at the dollar store that I used for gluing onto the picture frames they made (cardboard frames that I punched out at a store that teachers can use and for those I bought stickers and used the rest of the jewels from the invites and then put magnetic tape on the back of so they could be hung on the fridge).

Another game we play pretty much every year is to put interesting objects (such as a large shell, a stuffy etc) Place one object per lunch bag and number each bag. Let the children feel the bag and guess what it is and make a list of each guess. This results in some pretty interesting answers. For older children, I play a memory game. I place a lot of items that they would use (my older daughter is a teen, so stuff a lip gloss, a pin back button of her favourite star, or earrings) Place all the items on a large tray, give the gang 10 minutes to memorize the stuff and take it away and give them each a pen and paper and see how much they remember.

Last year, my oldest had an Island theme party. Each guest was encouraged to wear their best island themed outfit, we had a limbo in the living room, (had 2 girls hold either side of a pool noodle) and played some Latin jazz, then we played pass the pineapple (much the same as hot potato) but using a can of pineapple (or a fresh one).

Another idea is just to take a bunch of friends and the birthday person to the beach. My oldest daughter has a May birthday, well this year we differed it until August and allowed her to have 3 friends stay over night and then had a big breakfast (courtesy of dad) then headed off to the beach and spend the day shopping (it is a beachy resort town), swimming, sunbathing and eating. I brought snacks and drinks and we bought hot dogs for lunch. She had a really great time.

As long as you have it planned ahead of time, the party can be a lot of fun. For goody bags for the kids to take home, I look for sales at dollar stores and the like and shop all year round for treats. If I see something that would be good for a goody bag, why not buy it then? Of course, depending on the season, you can also include seasonal related things in the bags. Items like a unique Christmas ornament for each of the attendees (which was bought after Christmas, of course and put aside for the following year!), or items that are themed with the party, like the crowns that the girls got at our party. For the goody bags themselves, we use brown paper lunch sacks that the birthday child has decorated and put stickers on. For food, I find that a cake is not always the best thing. A lot of little eyes tend to be bigger than their tummies and the cake ends up going to waste, so I either make my own, or I have been doing decorate your own cupcake. I just have mini candies, gummies and sprinkles on hand and let each child go to it. My eldest does not like cake (she definitely does not take after her mother!), so we have had make your own sundaes.

But no matter what you do, you can have a successful home based birthday party for your child that will not cost you a lot of money. Just be a little creative, plan ahead and make sure you have help for the day of the party (in case of emergencies, like what happened to my sister in law at the party for my niece. They went to a park and one of the partygoers ended up getting scrapped up a bit and his parents had to be called; so having extra help is great and it also keeps the party moving!) and your party will be a success, mom will have survived and you will have one happy birthday kid on your hands!.

In recent years, I have met and gotten to know many families with several children. I grew up in a family with only two children, and now I have three of my own, so in my extended family, three children constitutes several. However, when I speak of having several children, I mean more than four; more than a set of parents could have without owning some sort of very large car, van, or sports utility vehicle. For instance, I know one family with seven children. The parents are in their early fifties and the children range in age from twenty-three to nine. The family is very close-knit and when the little ones were babies, the older siblings helped out. I have a good friend who is about to turn forty-four and she just discovered she is pregnant with her fifth child. I have another friend who is forty-one and, brace yourself; she is pregnant with her ninth child. Yes, ninth. I know several others who have multiples, but you get the idea.

My husband have three children because we were blessed with three precious babies; end of story. It is nobody's business why we had as many as three or why we have no more than three. Yet, in recent years I have met many people who have very definite ideas about the number of babies other people should be having. There is no definite number, per se, but out of the people who hold strong opinions on this subject, I find that there are two camps of people out there: those who think families should only have a couple of children and those who think families should have as many babies as possible. I for one, fall into neither camp, because I believe the choice of how many babies to have is between a husband, a wife, and God.

I have one acquaintance on the side which thinks families should only have a minimal amount of children because pregnancy is so hard on the mother. This acquaintance knows the family with nine children and thinks they are mad. In fact, she has made noises about talking to the husband about the issue, since she is concerned about the wife's health. My opinion is that she is treading on very dangerous ground. I have another acquaintance who would never say anything to this family, but she continually gossips to others about how awful it is that they have so many children. She bemoans the fact that the children must share rooms, wear hand-me-downs, and not have the "proper" amount of time with each parent each day. It seems very odd to me that this person is so emotionally involved in the life of a family which has nothing to do with her; a family, I might add, that is extremely happy, has well-adjusted children, and is financially well-off.

Yet, I have been surprised at the other side, as well. There are groups of people out there (mostly women, I am afraid) who believe that every family should have as many children as possible. While I have no quarrel with this concept, I find it odd that these people try to impose their beliefs on others. I have had these people ask me why my husband and I stopped at ONLY three children, and I have heard them gossip viciously about families with only one child. I am horrified that anyone would presume to enter into such a private domain. Not only is is none of their business, but they also have no idea the sadness or damage they might be inflicting on a family which truly wants more children but cannot conceive, or those in which health issues prevent further pregnancies.

I am delighted with my friends who have multiple children and those who have only enough so the entire family can fit into a compact car. Babies are a blessing, regardless of how many we have, and that should be the focus. When we judge others based on the size of their family, we are entering into dangerous territory and we best get out as soon as possible. We can only imagine the hurt that might be inflicted by insensitive words about so private a matter. When we can learn to keep our eyes on our own babies, our own families, and our own way of doing things, without imposing these parameters on the rest of the world, perhaps then we might be able to train our own children to do the same.

By Brandi M. Seals

When kids buy presents, they often need a little hint from mom or dad on what might make a good present. If they are young enough, most children have no concept of how much things cost. Parents can opt to have the kids buy gifts with their own money or they may help them out with the cost. However, you do not want to start your child off on the wrong foot by letting them believe they are paying nothing or close to nothing for a new saw for daddy's workshop. Help your kids determine how much they should be spending on gifts as well as what might make a great gift within that range.

Dads will love anything they get from their kids. But if you need a little help steering your kids towards good gift ideas, consult the following list.

Tie
If your husband wears ties, then what could be better than a new tie from the kids? Try to keep them away from the #1 Dad ties or other pieces that are too flashy to get any real wear. The kids will watch for dad to wear that tie and if he does not, it could hurt their feelings.

Gloves
Many men will try to act tough and say though do not need gloves even in freezing weather. Change their minds with a pair of gloves from the kids. Not only will your husband's hands stay softer, but the kids will have fun picking from leather, knitted or even suede gloves.

Slippers
Nothing is more cozy then spending the weekend in your PJs. Direct the kids to a pair of slippers that dad will enjoy all day long. Any time he gets up from bed or wanders around the house in PJs, the kids will see those slippers come out.

Music
Before shopping tell the kids to listen to the radio with dad. Have them see if they can pick out a particular song or artist that he listens to a lot. With that knowledge in hand you can head out to the music store and pick up the appropriate CD. This way the kids get a better idea of how to go about picking out gifts for others in the future.

Clothing
Clothing is an easy out for anyone. Tell the kids to be stealthy sleuths and find out what size shirt and pants dad wears without asking him. It does not matter if you already know the sizes, let them play an active part in the planning. Then hit the stores. Look around see what they pick out. When they find a shirt they like (inevitably kids always seem to love the shirts) have them explain why they want to get the shirt. Is it the design? Do they love the color?

If the shirt is hideous and you do not think it will go over well, try to steer them towards something similar but better. For example, the kids love a bright lime green sweater for dad. Point out that you love that they like bold color, but don't you think dad looks much better in this color right here? If you cannot get the kids to go for it, you can either buy it or come up with some sort of an excuse. The choice is up to you but I would discourage crushing their hopes. Try a few things; I am sure you can persuade the kids to get something else.

Tools
All guys like tools right? Well maybe not, but if your guy has a collection, why not add to it? Make a list of tools you think their dad will like and then head out to the store. Show them the different items on the list and see what suits their fancy. Kids tend to like bright shiny objects. Avoid large things like saws. Instead stick to things like wrenches and screwdrivers.

Hobby Items
Most guys have a hobby or too. Maybe they play football or collect shot glasses. See if your kids can pick out daddy's hobby. If not, let them in on it and then ask if they have any gift ideas that would work for the hobby. If the kids get stumped, offer up a few ideas of your own. See what they go for.

By Brandi M. Seals

Moving can be difficult, especially when little ones are underfoot. Even without children it can be difficult to remember to get everything done before you take that last step out of your home. With so much going on, be sure to make a check list of everything you must accomplish before moving.

A sample check list might include the following:
Disconnect Cable
Disconnect Phone
Disconnect Internet
Turn of Gas
Turn of Electricity
Close or transfer bank accounts if necessary
Forward the mail to the new address
Inform friends and relatives of new address
Update insurance information
Update your information at work, with insurance, and with your credit companies
Pick up moving supplies (boxes, tape, bubble wrap)
Pack everything
Make arrangements to have your items moved
Check all the rooms, drawers, and cupboards for forgotten items
Make sure the fridge is empty
Clean the apartment or home before you move

As you go along, you will discover more and more things you need to get done. One of the key things to remember is to always keep important documents together. Anything that is of vital importance, like birth certificates, medical records, or adoption papers should be kept separate from the rest of the items being moved. If at all possible, take these important documents in your own car. Do not let the movers take them or let them ride with the rest of your belongings in the back of the rented moving truck.

You will want to become a packing pro. Wrap anything breakable in bubble wrap if possible. If you cannot get your hands on enough bubble wrap or you cannot find any, use newspaper instead. Use a couple of layers and make sure items are not packed too tightly. Overcrowding can cause your items to break.

For large items like televisions, computer monitors or mirrors, use blankets. You have to move them anyway. They might as well do double duty. Wrap blankets around these large items and fasten them using masking tape. If the items happen to get jostled or bumped, the blankets will add a little extra protection.

Aside from your possessions, your children need the most attention during a move. The longer the move, the harder things will be on small children. While there is not much you can do to keep the kids entertained during a long car ride, there is plenty you can do to ease the transition your child is about to go through.

Start preparing your child long before you move. Let the kids know what is going on. Tell them you are moving and explain what that means. It may mean they are simply going to live across town and have a longer commute to see friends, or it may mean they will need to adjust to living in totally different city. Make sure they understand what is going on to the best of their ability.

The next thing that will help ease the transition is to save their room for last when packing. Pack up everything else first. Let their room remain normal looking for as long as possible. When it is time to pack up their portion of the house, have your kids help. Let them help put their belongings in boxes and make sure they leave out a few of their favorite toys. That way they will know where their prized possessions are immediately and they can play with their toys in the car on the way to their new home.

If you will be moving across town or somewhere nearby, try to get some of your belongings unpacked before you bring the kids over. Try to make the new place feel like home from the instant the kids walk in the door. There should be some furniture set up and some of the belongings put away.

Regardless of whether you are moving long distance or nearby, your priority should be to get your child's room set up as soon as possible. Put the bed together, move in the furniture and start unpacking. If all that is not practical because some stuff has not arrived with the movers yet, at least show the kids their new rooms and let them play with the toys they have brought along with them.

By Brandi M. Seals

I love making cookies for Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day. Heck, I will make them any time of year when the mood hits. While the cookie shapes may change, the recipe never does. I got this cookie recipe from a previous roommate that loved to cook. It is pretty much the same as any other sugar cookie recipe out there. The only difference is an added touch of almond extract. Try it sometime even if you do not like almonds. You just might be surprised.

Sugar Cookie Recipe
2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract

Start by combining the butter and sugar. Mix until the butter becomes light and fluffy and the sugar is fully incorporated. This is the most important step in making the cookies. If the sugar is not fully incorporated, the cookies will be kind of gritty and the dough may even end up with sweeter spots.

Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extract

Combine the flour and salt together and then beat it into the butter mixture.

After the dough is well mixed, divide it in two. Create two rounds, wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Once the dough has chilled, remove one round and roll it out on a flat, floured surface. Roll the dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters or a knife to cut out the desired cookie shapes.

If you want to make a specific shape but cannot find a cookie cutter in that shape, do not give up hope. Draw the shape you want or print off a picture of it. Cut the shape out and use that as a template. Place it over the rolled out dough. Using a sharp knife cut along the edge of the template until the shape is complete. Trim up the piece as best as possible.

Bake the cookies in a preheated, 350 degree oven. The cookies will take 10 to 12 minutes to bake. Take them out when the edges begin to turn brown.

Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and let them cool on a wire rack. Allow them to cool completely before frosting them.

I like to make large cookies in the shape of a stocking at Christmas time. I try to make them about a foot long so that I can decorate them well. The use of frosting, sprinkles, dragees, or other candies can come in handy when decorating the cookies.

For the stockings, I like to personalize them. I start by frosting them in any design that suits my fancy, but one thing always remains the same. I keep the very top reserved from the design. I leave it a basic white. Then in the end, I will write the name of the person I am giving the stocking to in the white space I have reserved.

I use a basic butter cream frosting for my cookies. It is extremely easy to make and can be spread on the cookies with a knife or piped on in different designs.

Basic Frosting Recipe
1 cup (2 sticks) of butter at room temperature. If you need pure white icing, use vegetable shortening instead of butter.
1/2 cup of milk at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla or almond extract
2 pounds of confectioners' sugar (a bag of confectioners' sugar is generally 2 pounds)

Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat on low speed until it is smooth. You may find it beneficial to first sift the confectioners' sugar as you will avoid unwanted lumps.

This recipe makes plenty of frosting. You will be able to decorate to your heart's desire with this icing. Start by dividing up the frosting and color it as desired with food dye. Keep in mind that it is impossible to create black frosting. Try as I might one Halloween, I soon learned that it just cannot be done by mixing colors. I went online for help, but only found people saying the same thing. However, I did learn that there is black food coloring out there. So do not give up hope if you have your heart set on making some black bats this Halloween.

By Brandi M. Seals

Every family has home remedies that have been passed down from one generation to the next. The following are a few home remedies for common illnesses. While I cannot guarantee that any of these work, there are a number of people that swear by them.

Constipation
Relieve constipation by eating bran cereal. The added fiber should help move things along.

Guava when eaten with seeds provides some relief from constipationAdd more fruits to the diet. Prunes, pears, grapes, and Orange juice are good choices.

Drink a small glass of water with one tablespoon of corn syrup added.
Add a small amount of sugar or some honey to a glass of milk. Drink twice a day

High Cholesterol
Onion juice reduces cholesterol. Onion juice is supposed to have many benefits. It is said to clean the blood, help the digestive system, cure insomnia and regulate the heart and lower cholesterol. Use sunflower seed oil instead of butter or other oils. Sunflower seeds contain an acid which helps reduce cholesterol deposits in the arteries.

High Blood Pressure
The best way to control blood pressure is to manage stress and exercise. To keep stress levels low consider taking up breathing exercises, meditation and yoga.

Use aromatherapy to lower blood pressure. Blue chamomile and lavender oils are soothing when under stress. Get some message oils in those scents and really relax as your mate rubs your back.

Manage your diet. Reduce intake of fatty foods and increase consumption of vegetables and fruits.

Cloves of garlic help lower cholesterol levels and increase circulation of blood. Increase the use of garlic in your diet or supplement with garlic pills.

Acid Reflux
To relieve acid reflux, take a piece of clove and suck on it slowly.

Eat some vanilla ice cream or drink a glass of cold milk to get relief immediately.

Heartburn Eat a handful of almonds to stop heartburn symptoms.

Lemons can prevent heartburn. Eat thin lemon strips dipped in salt before a meal to prevent heartburn.

If you prefer, eat a bit of lemon rind to prevent heartburn.

Bad Breath
Sweeten breath by chewing on some cardamom seed.

Those little parsley garnishes on the plate finally have a purpose. Chew on some parsley leaves to freshen breath.

Rinse the mouth with a glass of water that has the juice from half a lemon mixed in for relief of bad breath.

Bladder Infection
Drink a teaspoon of garlic juice. The garlic may be able to kill off the bacteria in the bladder responsible for the bladder infection.

Drink a teaspoon of olive oil and a teaspoon of garlic juice mixed in a small glass of warm water before meals to help combat bladder infections.

Ear Infection
Extract a teaspoon of juice from mango leaves. Warm the liquid a little and use as ear drops to treat the ear infection.

Use drops of garlic oil in the ear canal to treat an ear infection. To make the garlic oil, heat some olive oil and add 2 cloves of garlic. Heat the oil through for several minutes then remove the garlic bulbs.

Store the garlic oil in a glass jar in the refrigerator. To use, heat some of the oil, then drop it in the ear canal using a dropper. Plug the ear canal with a cotton ball. Repeat this process as needed until the pain goes away. Do not use this remedy if you have a punctured eardrum.

Acne
Pound a piece of orange peel with water then apply the peel to the areas affected with acne.Apply grated cucumber or cucumber leaves over acne to get relief.

Rub the problem areas with cloves of garlic. Make sure the cloves are fresh.

Yeast Infection
Be aware of what causes yeast infections and avoid them in order to prevent yeast infections. Common causes of yeast infections include:
-Taking broad spectrum antibiotics, steroids, and certain birth control pills
-Wearing tight pants or tight clothing that would restrict "breathing" room
-Staying in wet bottoms for an extended period of time
-Being pregnant or experiencing hormone shifts
-Douching and/or using harsh cleansers in the vaginal area

Yogurt is one of the best home remedies. Eat it regularly to avoid yeast infections.

Drink at least two glasses of buttermilk a day whether or not you currently have infection.

By Brandi M. Seals

Finally some news has come out that should prompt all moms to make sure kids are getting enough servings of vegetables in their diet. Recent research on vegetables and aging suggests that eating vegetables actually is beneficial. Vegetable consumption appears to help the brain stay young and it may slow the mental decline that people go through as they age.

The vegetables seem to help older individuals keep their mental sharpness. Older men and women who ate at least three servings of vegetables a day appear to have a measured mental sharpness of someone about five years younger than those who ate few or no vegetables during the course of the six-year study.

Just because the study was only done on older individuals does not mean that you should let your kids skip their veggies now. Kids develop eating habits at a young age that they will take with them forever. Try to expose children to lots of different vegetables. They are more inclined to try them at a young age then when they get older. If your kids are picky eaters, try having them help you prepare dinner. Kids are much more likely to eat something they helped make.

The study was published in this week's issue of the journal Neurology and funded from grants given by the National Institute on Aging. The researchers studied nearly 2,000 Chicago-area men and women in the study. While the research does not prove that vegetables reduce mental decline, it does add to mounting evidence pointing in that direction.

Not all vegetables are equal when it comes to keeping the mind young. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and mustard greens appeared to be the most beneficial. While the researches are not exactly sure why that is, they believe it may be because the leafy greens contain vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant believed to help fight chemicals produced by the body that can damage cells.

Try specifically to incorporate these foods in you and your child's diet. But of course, keep eating all types of vegetables. You may also wish to get kids hooked on fresh fruit too. Fruit is very good for you, but it does not help slow natural mental decline.

Vegetables may be more helpful than fruits in this area for a number of reasons. Veggies usually contain more vitamin E than fruits and they are also often eaten with healthy fats such as olive oil, which help the body absorb vitamin E and other antioxidants.

In addition, these fats from healthy oils can help keep cholesterol low and help arteries stay clear. Both of these would of course help the brain stay healthy.

The study involved 1,946 people aged 65 and older who answered questions about their eating habits. For the study, a serving of vegetables equaled about a half-cup of chopped vegetables or one cup of raw leafy green.

Those involved in the study had their mental function tested three times during the course of the six year study. The tests measured short-term and delayed memory.

As expected, most people gradually did worse on the tests as they aged, but those who ate more than two vegetable servings a day experienced about 40 percent less mental decline than those who ate few or no vegetables.

If you and your family are currently eating a diet that is not the healthiest, perhaps it is time to make a change. Fresh vegetables and fruits are not expensive. They can be picked up anywhere that you buy groceries. And, they can help set kids up on a healthy track. There really is no excuse why one cannot incorporate vegetables in their diet.

If you cannot use fresh veggies before they go bad, by all means invest in canned or frozen vegetable alternatives. They will not have as many vitamins and nutrients as their fresh counterparts, but they are better than nothing. If you grew up in a house like mine where the only vegetables served were corn and potatoes, you may not know how to prepare other vegetables. But do not worry, veggies are easy to prepare. Simply go online to search for recipes, flip through a cookbook or two, or ask someone you know who eats a lot of vegetables.

By Brandi M. Seals

Halloween is a great time of years. The kids get to dress up and play make believe. They also get to go door to door in search of candy. With so much excitement in the air, it is not surprising that mistakes are often made. The problem is these mistakes could threaten the safety and well-being of your children.

By carefully planning ahead you can prevent a number of potential problems. Talk with children. Let them know what is expected of them. Teach them to be careful around strangers and to always behave when they are near the edge of the road. There are a number of things to be aware of at Halloween time. Both parents and kids need to pay special attention to safety on Halloween. Follow these tips to help keep everyone safe this October.

Drivers
If you will be driving during trick or treating hours, take special care to follow these tips:
-Watch for children running out between cars.
-Watch for children on roadways, medians and curbs.
-Always enter and exit driveways carefully.
-If you are driving children, make them exit on the curb side, away from traffic.
-If you have a costume, do not wear the mask while driving.
-Watch for children in dark clothing.

Preparations for your Home
-Make sure the yard is clear of things that can trip children, such as ladders, hoses and dog leashes.
-Pets often get frightened by all the activity on Halloween. Put them in a separate room to keep them from being hit by a car and prevent them from biting a trick or treater.
-If possible do not use candles in the jack-o-lanterns. Battery powered candles are preferable because they do not catch fire easily.
-If you do use candles, keep the pumpkin away from the areas trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
-Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations cannot be blown into the lit candle.

Before the Kids Leave
-Designate an adult to supervise the outing for children under age 12.
-Tell children to only go in familiar areas and along an established route.
-Make sure the kids only stop at well lit houses or apartments.
-Tell the kids to never enter a stranger’s home.
-Make sure every kid has a cell phone or change to call home in case they have a problem.
-Set a time for the kids to return.
-Make sure the kids know not to eat any treat until you have inspected it.
-Plan and discuss the trick-or-treating route.
-Know the names of every child going trick or treating with your kids.
-Make your child eat dinner before setting out.

Costumes
-Only fire-retardant materials should be used for costumes.
-Costumes should be loose but not too loose. Allow for warm clothes to be worn underneath.
-Costumes should not be so long that kids can trip on them.
-Outfits should be made with light-colored materials.
-Strips of reflective tape should be used to make children even more visible, especially on those where dark clothing.
-Shoes should fit; it does not matter if they go with your outfit.
-Carry only flexible props.
-Masks can obstruct a child's vision. Facial make-up is safer and more colorful.
-If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.
-Avoid wearing masks while walking from house to house.
-Do not allow children to carry sharp objects.
-Bags or sacks being used youngsters should be light-colored or trimmed with retro-reflective tape if trick-or-treaters are allowed out after dark.
-Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.

While Trick or Treating
Make sure the kids know to:
-Walk from house to house, do not run.
-Avoid crossing yards and lawns where unseen objects or the uneven terrain can cause youngster to trip.
-Walk on sidewalks, not in the street.
-Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic, if there are no sidewalks.
-Wear a watch you can read in the dark.
-Stay away from and don not pet animals you do not know.

Treats
-Although tampering is rare, tell children to bring the candy home to be inspected before consuming anything.
-Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks suspect.

By Brandi M. Seals

November is Prematurity Awareness Month. Did you know more than half a million babies are born premature every year and that number is on the rise?

More than 12 percent or 1 in 8 American babies are born prematurely each year. Premature birth is designated as birth before the 37th week of gestation. It is the number one cause of death for newborns and those born prematurely have an increased risk of developing lifelong disabilities.

A recent study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that premature birth contributed to over one-third of infant deaths within their first year. Healthy pregnancies are the way to preventing premature births

To have a healthy pregnancy, all should take care to:
Get regular prenatal care
Avoid alcohol
Avoid Tobacco
Avoid drugs
Take prenatal vitamins
Eat a balanced, nutritious diet
Get light exercise
Avoid uncooked meats
Steer clear of fish containing mercury
Do not ingest un-pasteurized dairy products
Keep the stress low
Keep you teeth and gums healthy

As you near the end of your pregnancy, take care to watch for warning signs of premature labor. If you think you may be in premature labor, call your doctor immediately. You may be able to stop the labor if you get to the doctor in time. Waiting too long could mean your baby will be born prematurely.

Premature labor symptoms include:
Contractions every 10 minutes or less, (five or more contractions in an hour)
Fluid leaking from the vagina (This may indicate that your water has broken)
Cramps similar to menstral cramps
Dull backache in the lower back
Pelvic pressure
Abdominal cramps that may be accompanied by diarrhea.
Unusual or increased of vaginal discharge.
Blood leaking from your vagina.

If you have any of these symptoms and think you are in premature labor, call your healthcare provider immediately. You will also want to empty your bladder and lie down on your left side and drink fluids.

If this is your first pregnancy, be aware that contractions are not unusual prior to labor. It is how frequent they occur that you should be concerned with. It is completely normal for your uterus to contract during the pregnancy. The muscle of the uterus may tighten sporadically throughout the pregnancy. Some women feel them early on, as early as four months into the pregnancy. But most women do not notice them until they are several months along, like during the seventh or eighth months.

These contractions are usually not painful. Most tend to notice contractions when they lie down, have an orgasm, have a full bladder, or after walking up and down stairs. These contractions are known as Braxton-Hicks contractions. Note that these contractions are generally irregular and do no open the cervix. If the contractions become regular for at least an hour, they may be regular contractions and cause preterm labor.

If you are unsure as to whether or not you are having a contraction, it is easy to check. Simply lie down and place your fingertips on your uterus. If you are having a contraction, you will be able to feel the walls of the uterus tighten and soften. Usually the entire abdomen will feel hard during contractions. When you are not experiencing contractions, the abdomen should be soft in all areas. However, remember that is also common for the abdomen to by firm over the baby's head and butt.

If you are experiencing contractions at regular intervals, it is time to see how far apart the contractions are. To time the contractions, start the timing when the uterus begins to tighten. The start of the next tightening is when you can stop timing. Remember to contact your doctor if the contractions come more frequently then every 10 minutes.

Some people are more at risk to have a premature baby then others. Those tend to have one of the following risk factors that have been associated with a higher rate of premature labor:
Premature labor or delivery in a previous pregnancy
Misshapen uterus
Your mother was prescribed DES (Diethylstillbestrol) during her pregnancy to prevent miscarriage. DES has been linked to shortening of the cervix.
Abdominal surgery during pregnancy and/or a stitch in the cervix
More than two second-trimester miscarriages or elective abortions
Previously undergone a cone biopsy or Leep Procedure
Pregnant with multiple babies
Dehydration
History of cervical change and/or excessive uterine contractions at less than 33 weeks in a previous pregnancy
Infection with fever (greater than 101 degrees F) during the pregnancy
Recurring bladder and/or kidney infections
Excessive amount of amniotic fluid
Unexplained vaginal bleeding after 20 weeks of pregnancy
Use of recreational drugs
Domestic violence
Smoking
Extreme stress

After spending nine months anxiously anticipating the arrival of your little one when it comes down to that "It's time!" moment all those little fears just seem to leave you and all you can feel is the excitement of knowing that before long you'll have your baby in your arms. You feel even more excited when it has been nine and a half months instead of nine months. I spent the first hour of my contractions being in denial about weather it was actually real labor and not false labor because I was afraid to become too excited and then be sent away by the hospital.

I spent three hours at home postponing the trip to the hospital because I did not want to get sent home. My husband was a nervous wreck, as the contractions became stronger he seemed quite sure that we needed to take off to the hospital because for sure I was not going to make it in time. No matter how hard I tried to explain to him that labor takes many hours especially for a first time pregnancy he was convinced I was going to give birth right there in our house.

As I am sure you could have guessed we did make it to the hospital with plenty of time to spare. Actually we had a whole ten hours to spare. When we got there and I was admitted they sent me to go walking around for an hour. That is supposed to get your contractions coming stronger and faster. It kept me distracted for a little bit and by the time I was done I was starting to feel just a little on the awful side so when the nurse came in and asked me if I was ready for my epidural I told her to go ahead and get it ready. I have to say something about epidurals; I do not care what anyone says epidurals are the greatest thing that were ever created.

I actually was really scared to have the epidural done because I have a great fear of needles and the thought of a really long needle being stuck in my spine was scarier to me than the actual delivery part of the whole thing. Everyone says you cannot feel it and this that and the other. I felt absolutely sure that they all had to be full of it but I am here to tell you this, you cannot feel a thing. It was over before I even thought they had done anything. After that everything just flew by, possibly because I went to sleep for a few hours. There is just something wonderful about being able to sleep through part of the giving birth process. Plus that helps give you the energy that you are going to need to push the baby out. This is not so easy to do even when you have had an epidural much less if you have been enduring awful pain for hours and hours. I have great respect for a woman that chooses to do it but at the same time I think that they are just a little on the crazy side.

While I was sleeping that gave me some pitossin to speed up my contractions. After I woke up everything just went like clock work. Before I knew it, it was time to push. It took me about an hour to finally get my son out. I felt no pain what so ever pushing him out and I can remember the whole thing with such clarity that I feel like I really did make the right choice.

My whole pregnancy everyone kept telling how small I was to be pregnant but let me tell you this. I had to have and episiotomy because his head was so big that it wouldn't come out on its own. My son weighed eight pounds and eleven ounces and he was 21 inches long. The size you are when you're pregnant does not neccessarily reflect the size that your baby will be because everyone was sure that I would have a small baby, including me.

There is nothing like the moment when you first hear your baby cry out and you get to hold him in your arms. There is nothing more beautiful. You look down at him and you just know that without a doubt that the job of being a mother will most definately being the greatest thing that you do in your life.

By Crystal Bowden

Knowing what type of dog to get for your children is never an easy decision to make. If you are considering a breed such as a Rhodesian Ridgeback that is somewhat lesser known than other kinds of dogs, be aware that for the most part, these large dogs are gentle giants. Rhodesian Ridgebacks for all intents and purposes make excellent companions for children, from babies all the way up to teenagers. As well Ridgebacks tend to have a good, even temperament and are very tolerant of the exuberant behavior of youngsters. Ridgebacks however grow to be large dogs very quickly and sometimes are capable of knocking down a small child with their strength. However they do not aim to hurt children at all and often love the affection they receive from little ones. Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies are big enough but once they grow to be full sized dogs you really need to make sure that they do not knock down everything in their path.

Eating Patterns of Rhodesian Ridgebacks

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are lovely dogs that are not fussy eaters at all and therefore can be fed almost anything. Unfortunately they want to eat all of the time! Overeating can lead to gas in the short term and an excess of weight in the long term. It is important to develop a schedule for feeding and stick to it, no matter how hard your Ridgeback tries to convince you otherwise! Be firm and do not feed your Ridgeback just because he or she is giving you that sad look. It is important to keep in mind that Rhodesian Ridgebacks are both tall and swift to movement, which means that food can very quickly and easily disappear from tables and countertops. Be forewarned- this breed of dog is very clever indeed.

Exercise for Rhodesian Ridgebacks

Rhodesian Ridgebacks require plenty of exercise to stay happy and healthy, right from the time they are babies and all throughout their lives. It is important to set aside time in your schedule for runs and playtime with your Ridgeback. A high energy run a few times a week combined with brisk walks as often as possible should keep your Ridgeback in top form. Most Ridgebacks like to get out in the neighborhood and explore or enjoy a leisurely romp in the park. Ridgebacks require lots of space and finding a wide-open spot where they can run, play and exercise safely is a must! But remember that Ridgebacks are hunting dogs with a hunter type instinct. They are always looking for potential prey so watch out for other animals such as squirrels, rabbits and cats while you are out on your jaunts. Keeping a leash on your dog is a good idea when you are outside of your own property. It is also a wise idea to get an identification tag for your Ridgeback just in case he or she manages to get away from you.

Life Span of a Ridgeback

Rhodesian Ridgebacks generally have a life span of between ten and twelve years. Some have been known to live up to sixteen or eighteen years. Regular checks up at the vet (including inoculations), proper dental care, diet and exercise as well as genetics all play a role in how long a Ridgeback will live. As well, owners who are well acquainted with their pets and keep abreast of changes in their behavior, eating habits, etc. and seek immediate medical attention for their dogs help to lengthen their life spans.

Costs Associated with Owning a Ridgeback

Owning a dog is not cheap, no matter what breed it is. The lifelong cost of owning a Rhodesian Ridgeback far outweighs the initial cost of obtaining one. Besides the price of purchasing a Ridgeback (which varies in cost), there is food to take into consideration, a leash, grooming items, collars, toys and a special dog bed. There is also training lessons if that appeals to you and of course one of the biggest costs- that of veterinarian care over the life of the dog. All dogs require regular medical check ups as well as annual vaccinations and often heartworm medication to stay healthy. Very often they also need flea or tick treatments and other kinds of costly treatments can be required for other health problems and/or illnesses that might crop up. Always keep in mind that owning a dog is a lifetime commitment and not a passing fancy.

Problems Associated with Ridgebacks

Rhodesian Ridgebacks do have some unique genetic problems. The most common to be found in this breed include the dermoid sinus, elbow and hip dysplasia, thyroid problems, and cataract (in later years). More information about these problems can be obtained through the American Kennel Club (AKC). The AKC officially recognized this breed of dog and inducted it into their organization in 1955.

Unfortunately for everyone on this earth, death is a part of life and a factor that eventually, every family must deal with. The question is, how to tell children, both younger and older, about death? Especially after a loved one or even a pet has died. Where do you begin?

The subject of death seems to be taboo for many of us, but children really have a right to know what is going on. Children of ages deal with death in many different ways: including sadness, denial, confusion, anger, acting out, irritability, nightmares, loss of appetite, physical symptoms such as stomach aches, fear of being alone, withdrawal, just to list a few. It is our job as parents to assist the child in dealing with death and their reactions.

Children are aware of death, they hear about it in fairy tales, they see dead bugs. However, they may not know all that is involved. In talking to children about death, you must deal with their emotional level and with their capacity to understand the related facts of the situation. This of course, will depend on the age of the child. Preschoolers, for instance might have a problem understanding that death is not temporary and will need help in this area, where as an older child deals with death much more like an adult. However, most children will have some misconceptions, fears or worries about death; misinformation that they have picked up elsewhere be it in the media or from friends. Most of us are inclined to not talk about stuff that is unpleasant, but though talk will not solve all the problems, without talking about it, we are even more limited in our ability to offer assistance and children are feeling many emotions that they do not know how to deal with. Children are great at picking up unspoken messages such as body language, facial expressions, so they pick up information that way, would it not be better to open and honest about what is going on?

Do not push a child to talk about their feelings, but if they do ask questions, answer them honestly. You can snuggle with your child and use touch to console them. You will want to reassure them that their basic needs will continue to be met; reassure them that the death was not their fault; be concise in your language (people do not go to sleep or slip away, they die); finally, you will want to allow your children to express themselves freely with crying, talking, being angry, looking through photo albums, etc.

Also, there are books that you can get from the library also that will help your child cope with the death of a loved one. Children that are struggling with grief often give parents signals through long periods of depression, inability to talk about the deceased, behaviour problems, etc. If you need help, you could talk to your physician, minister, professional counsellors or teacher. (In fact, it is best to let the teacher know what is going on anyways with regards to a death in the family). If your child is older, in some areas, there are support groups for children whose parent has died.

Is it ok to take a child to see someone that is dying? It is, only if you really prepare the child before hand. Tell them what to expect, Rather than a visit, a telephone call might be a handy substitution. Is it ok to take kids to the funeral? A funeral is valuable because it gives the living the opportunity to celebrate the life of the person that has died. If you want to take them, it is entirely up to you and how you think your child will handle it. What do you tell a child about a funeral? You may want to explain that the body of the person who died is going to be in a big wood box called a casket. The person will not be able to hear, see or talk. There will be people who will talk about the person that has died. Most of the people who are at the funeral will be really sad and some may be crying.

If you believe in a higher power, this may be a good time to talk to your child about this and the view your belief holds on death. If you believe in heaven, you can mention to your child that you will see the person who has died again. It all comes down to what you believe.

We cannot always shield our children from death, dying and other sad things in life, but we can most definitely help them cope with them. Most children look to adults for all the answers in life, but sometimes, in cases such as this, parents do not know it all either and it is ok not to have all the answers, but just do the best you can in dealing with the subject of death with your child. That is all that anyone can ask of you.
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As the holidays approach us one aspect of it to consider is visiting friends and relatives who live far away to make flying the most practical option. Obviously with all the security concerns and the holiday congestion, traveling can be a real nightmare for anyone. Now add those headaches to the logistics that parents with babies have to face. Okay the easiest thing to do is to just stay home and invite the relatives over instead, but fortunately there are ways around these hurdles if parents find themselves traveling.

One question that comes to mind is when is the best time to travel? Some doctors have told us to try to book red-eye flights during the middle of the week since there would be less people flying so late and there would be less risk of picking up a bug. Then there's the fact that with it being so late people will most likely be sleeping, the plane will be dark so the baby can rest better. It's a good idea but from personal experience I find that midnight flights can be just as crowded and who can predict when a flight will or won't be crowded? There are too many factors involved like location, time of year, and price that it's hard to book a flight in advance weighing those factors. So go ahead and book whichever flight is most convenient and affordable. By the way, parents of newborns may want to pick a flight that would complement their child's schedule but that is hard to predict since the flying experience can interrupt the newborn's inner schedule. As to how soon can a child travel, I've read that it's fine for newborns to fly as soon as a week after they're born but I'm not comfortable with that notion. Their immune systems aren't as strong as older babies and it can be disruptive for the baby not to mention stressful for the new parents. Try to wait until the baby is at least four months old before flying.

Then there's the question of whether or not to bring the baby's car seat on the flight. Or in other words, should an extra seat be bought for that car seat? Under FAA rules, tickets don't have to be purchased for children under two years old provided that the child is placed on the parent's lap during the flight. Parents who opt for this can check the car seat and spend the entire flight with a potentially fussy baby on their laps which makes for an uncomfortable flight for both. At least the on-flight car seat gives parents another option.

Also safety experts will agree that the same rules of physics that apply in a car will apply in a plane. Besides once the flight is over, parents will most likely need a car seat for ground transportation if they haven't checked in a seat. If renting an automobile, car seats can be rented but for myself I would feel more comfortable using the car seat I regularly use for my own child since I know its quirks. Just make sure that the car seat is FAA approved. Usually they have labels on them that would state this fact.

If possible try to book the coveted bulkhead seats though as most air travelers know this can be quite hard. The best reason for vying for these seats is the extra space they provide. The only problem is that necessities like diaper bags must be stowed overhead. If the bulkhead seats are taken try to get the very back of the plane since it's out of the way and the loud engine noise may sooth babies to sleep. Be aware that if using a car seat that it must be installed in the window seat so that the aisle areas are kept clear. And don't think about asking for the exit rows, airlines want to place people there who can actually perform the emergency operation and not be burdened with an infant.

Before the flight, bring anything and everything that can be thought of in that diaper bag due to the strict carry-on bag limit. That means extra diapers, formulas, toys, pacifiers, extra clothes, wipes and whatever else is needed. Make sure to check with the airline concerning what liquids and medications needed for babies are allowed on the flight before heading out. Dress comfortably and bring a change of clothing since babies' accidents will most likely wind up being spilled on hapless parents.

When it comes to airport arrival it goes without saying the earlier the better. Think of all the time preparation it takes for a normal flight, add in a baby and an additional half hour at least. If you're driving to the airport and there's a companion it's a good idea to leave that person with the luggage, supplies and even the baby at the curb so that check-in can be done while the car is being parked. It's also a good idea to rent a Smarte Carte since it can facilitate getting from one end of the airport to the other much easier with the baby and luggage. Some airlines require boarding passes for babies so make sure while checking in to inform the airline agents that a baby will be flying as well so that a pass can be issued. One thing to be aware of while going through security is that babies have to go through the metal detectors with their parents even if they're sleeping peacefully in their car seats. They have to be taken out so that the seat can be inspected along with everything else being taken on the flight.

While boarding, one thing to make things easier is to use gate checking for strollers since this allows them to be used up to the last minute. Usually it will be waiting right outside the plane after the flight. Some airlines offer pre-boarding for parents traveling with babies and it's the way to go. Once seated, get as comfortable as possible and have that pacifier or bottle ready because they help when it comes to earaches. As most air travelers know cabin pressure changes most noticeably during takeoff and initial descent which results in the popping sensation felt in the ears. This can be uncomfortable for babies and the sucking they make with pacifiers in their mouths help ease the pressure. One last thing is not to fret if the baby's crying upsets other passengers, a parent's primary concern is toward their child, and most people understand. Just try to be as prepared as possible, don't worry about minor inconveniences and enjoy the flight. - - J.L. Soto

Bed-wetting in children is more common than most people would like to believe. In fact it is believed to be widespread among children who are six years of age and younger and it is more common in boys than it is in girls. Approximately five to seven million children develop a problem with bed-wetting on an annual basis. The most general definition for bed-wetting is simply wetting the bed at night during sleep. The technical or scientific name for bed-wetting is nocturnal enuresis (or just enuresis) while some people simply call it sleep wetting. It is believed that an estimated 15 percent of six-year-old children wet their beds regularly while this percentage drops to five percent for 10-year-old children.

Despite plenty of research, the medical community has not been able to isolate one particular reason while bed-wetting takes place. Instead doctors believe it can often be traced to more than one factor. Any girl who is four years or older who wets her bed on a consistent basis is deemed a bed wetter by doctors and for boys this is anyone who is five years or older. The ability to control the process of the bladder throughout the daytime hours tends to develop first while the ability to control it at night during sleep comes later on. The tendency to wet the bed does not strike all children and studies show that it does tend to decrease with age. Most healthcare professionals do not believe that bed-wetting is a sign that a child suffers from serious psychological or medical problems as compared to children who do not wet their beds at all. Bladder control is a life skill everyone must master but all children do not learn it at exactly the same time in their lives and that is okay. Most children beyond the age of five do not suffer from nighttime bladder control problems but there are many that do. Those who do need support and understanding from their families, and not criticism and scorn.

Type of Bed Wetting

Bed-wetting is generally categorized as either primary nocturnal enuresis (or primary bed wetting) and secondary nocturnal enuresis. Primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) means that a youngster has developed bladder control during the daytime waking hours but for a span of at least six months has suffered consistent episodes of bed-wetting that has now become a chronic problem. Secondary nocturnal enuresis (SNE) means that for at least six months nighttime bladder control was mastered but then suddenly it has started all over again.

Causes of Primary Nocturnal Enuresis

Primary enuresis is believed to be caused by a number of different factors. First of all it has been found to have a strong genetic link. If a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or cousin was a bed wetter as a child then future generations are likely to inherit the condition. A great deal of children have deep unconscious sleeping patterns that do not allow them to awaken when their bladder sends the message to the brain that it is full and needs to be emptied. Another common cause of bed wetting in children is having a neurologically immature or physically immature bladder. The bladder and nervous system are closely connected and for reasons unknown, in some children the development of the central nervous system lags behind that of the bladder and therefore it cause nighttime bladder control to develop slowly. It is believed that some children simply have a bladder that is smaller than average and therefore this means their bladders hold less liquid and need to be emptied more often.

There are believed to be physical causes of primary nocturnal enuresis as well such as a bladder infection that has gone undiagnosed (undiagnosed bladder infections can get worse and make their way up into the kidneys to cause further damage). Approximately one to two percent of children who wet their beds do so because of a urinary tract infection that requires a visit to the doctor and antibiotics to clear it up.

Other causes of primary nocturnal enuresis include problems with the ureter in both boys and girls, and for boys only, a problem with the workings of the urethral valves; abnormalities of the spinal cord and hormonal related factors such as not having enough of the antidiuretic hormone which serves to decrease the amount of urine that is made by the kidneys. Children who are plagued by chronic allergies, those who suffer from learning disabilities or children who suffer from attention deficit disorder (ADD) are believed to have higher incidences of primary nocturnal enuresis than do other children who do not experience these problems. In some, but not all cases of nocturnal bed-wetting, the condition occurs alongside a variety of sleep disorders such as sleepwalking and night terrors. However this is the exception as opposed to the rule.

Causes of Secondary Nocturnal Enuresis

Secondary nocturnal enuresis is almost always psychological in nature and related to stress in one way or another. Very often once the stress trigger has disappeared from the life of the child, so will the episodes of bed-wetting. The three most common stressors to trigger secondary nocturnal enuresis include starting school for the first time, the birth of a new brother or sister, and being hospitalized or having to visit a parent or grandparent who has been hospitalized. While school and the birth of a new baby can be exciting to contemplate, for many children they are highly stressful as well.

Other stressful events can also bring on a bout of secondary enuresis such as difficulties with schoolwork or difficulties dealing with peers or a teacher; being bullied at school or in the neighborhood; abuse or neglect that takes place at home (or seeing a family member caught in the cycle of abuse or the neglect and/or abuse of a beloved pet); death; financial problems experienced at home; divorce; alcoholism or other forms of drug abuse; fear over circumstances that seem beyond the control of the child; parents who are always fighting or fighting among siblings, etc.

What Can Be Done About Bed-Wetting?

Doctors believe that the most appropriate way to end bed-wetting for good is to retrain your brain to either wake yourself in the night when your bladder is full or else to allow you to sleep peacefully through the night and hold in the urine until you awaken to empty it in the morning. Both of these ways can be accomplished by performing special exercises meant to strengthen the bladder such as for example, visualizing yourself remaining dry throughout the night, reading books about staying dry all night; holding off using the toilet until late in the day to ensure that your bladder will be empty or close to empty at bedtime and in other cases, using a special alarm that is attached to either your underpants or bed clothes that alerts you if even a drop of urine is spilled. If your bladder begins to let go while you are sleeping, the alarm will sense it and will cause the alarm to either vibrate or buzz, thereby waking you up. There are also drugs such as Desmopressin Acetate (DDAVP) and Imipramine (Tofranil) that can be prescribed but doctors like to exhaust all other options before resorting to prescribing bed-wetting medications for children. The sleep alarm has proven to be extremely effective in a great deal of bed-wetting cases.

How Parents Can Help Their Children

Parents can do a lot to comfort, support and reassure their bed-wetting child that he or she is as normal as every other child and that the bed-wetting situation will eventually pass. Have plenty of patience with your child and never judge your child or get angry or punish your child for behavior that is beyond his or her control. Children do not wet their beds because they want to. It is instead an involuntary reaction. Parents can help their bed-wetting child by making doubly sure that the child does not drink too many liquids close to bedtime. Any liquids with caffeine or a lot of sugar or artificial dyes such as chocolate, soda pop and fruit juices should be avoided in the evening after suppertime. These types of drinks can also make a child very hyper which makes calming down for bedtime even more problematic. Always encourage your child to use the bathroom before he or she turns in for the night, more than once if necessary. You might even want to wake your child up in the middle of the night to inquire if he or she needs to use the toilet. Another important thing to do is to always praise your child on the days he or she wakes up completely dry. Children who are bed wetters often suffer from lack of self-esteem so anything you can do to bolster their confidence is so important.

By Christina VanGinkel

We stopped at my daughter and son-in-laws Friday evening to visit for a few minutes on our way back from being up town shopping. When we pulled into their drive, the house was all lit up and as we approached the door to knock, we could hear people inside. It sounded like a party was in the throes of happening, yet no extra vehicles were in the drive or on the street in front of their house other than our very own, which we had just parked there, and upon a second look, I realized that my son-in-law's mother had her vehicle parked along the side of the block.

As soon as we knocked, they hollered to come in. This alone was unusual, as my daughter always answers the door in person, never just hollering to come in. What we discovered was that nobody wanted to get up and answer the door because they were all in the throes of a heated conversation, over a game of Scrabble!

Scrabble has always been a favorite in our household, but I had not realized that my daughter took the habit of a frenzied game or two of it with her when she began her life as an adult. Word usage was being discussed, as was the fact on whether or not someone had oops, moved a letter when someone else was out of the room for a second. It was all in fun, laughter abounded, and it was almost a picture perfect moment for what happens in many homes when board games are included in a family's regular activities. Even my young grandson, too young to actually play along yet, had his own board with letters set up. They were all taking turns helping him make up words, and if one of his happened to not be a real word because he insisted on placing an X next to an O, because that was how he signed his cards he gave to everyone, who could argue with that!

I am constantly surprised at how often I hear the amazement in someone's voice when finding out that our family actually plays board games. Scrabble, Sorry!, Trouble, UNO, Monopoly, Yahtzee, and many more are all favorites in our home. When I ask those same people if they never play any inside games together as a family I am often told, well yes, video games. We play those too, but board games are fun I always respond. Participants have to talk to each other, and if you have young kids, teaching them the rules of fair play is always good for family communication. There are just some aspects to sitting around a table or stretched out on the floor as a family to play a board game that just cannot be copied when you are parked in front of a television playing a video game.

Board games have many advantages actually. They let kids gain skills by allowing them the time to think a strategy or two through. If they lose a board game, it is not as easy to hit that reset button and start over as they do with a video game. This alone can teach them the art of losing with style, because not everyone wins every time. Even the best strategist will lose. When kids walk away from a video game, the camaraderie often ends there. When kids walk away from a board game where they just lost or won, they often continue to talk about the game with other family members, setting up a rematch if they lost, or talking about how well they won that last game. Board games help kids make decisions too, and let them see the consequences of an action they chose to make through a means that is not going to be detrimental to their well-being. A board game lets kids try and test actions and reactions.

Whether you are a parent of a toddler or a teen, pull out a board game and spend an hour or two not only having fun, but also providing your kids with the opportunity to interact with you beyond the normal realm of parenting. Because once the money is doled out in a game of Monopoly, everyone is equal until that last dollar is spent!

It is never too early in the life of your child to emphasis the importance of eating a nutritious breakfast each and every day. Breakfast after all is the most important meal of the day and this point can never be stressed often enough. We need to break the fast when we rise every day as our bodies have been fasting for a period of anywhere from eight to twelve hours while we slept and now need to be refueled for the busy day ahead. Thus the word, breakfast.

Mothers if you are inclined to skip breakfast or eat something that is not terribly healthy because you are in a hurry how do you expect your children to learn to eat right? Starting right now make the decision to make breakfast an essential part of how you begin each and every day and teach your children that it must be a top priority. It is always important that you eat within one hour of rising. As well your body is dehydrated when you rise so before you eat breakfast, gulp down a glass of water to help rehydrate yourself. If you do not have adequate time for a properly prepared sit down breakfast then get out the blend and mix up a delicious tasting and oh so nutritious fruit smoothie. Read on to learn more.

Why is Breakfast so Important?

Eating breakfast every single day aids in making your body feel full as well as promoting proper metabolic function and is a key part of managing proper weight. According to the American Dietetic Association, starting your day by eating a healthy breakfast can actually help people lose weight or maintain their weight better than those who choose not to eat breakfast each day. As well the National Institute of Health recommends that eating breakfast on a regular basis makes it less likely that an individual will overeat later in the day. The majority of people who successfully drop pounds and keep them off eat breakfast every morning.

What is on the Menu?

It is important to think 1-2-3 energy when deciding what foods to put on the breakfast menu. In other words, think one serving of protein (such as peanut butter, cheese, yogurt, eggs or milk), two servings of fruit and three servings of grain. Fiber is also a must for breakfast, the more the better. Fiber helps keep the digestive system running smoothly. Buy high fiber cereals (such as All Bran) and breads and choose fresh fruit over fruit juice. Add wheat germ and flax seed to your foods whenever possible. Make sure to buy ground up flax seed as it is easier for the body to digest. Another big plus of high fiber cereals is that they contain little if any sugar.

Think Fruit Smoothies!

An option for those who do not have time for a hearty breakfast or who do not enjoy one very much is whipping up a fruit smoothie. Get out the blender and make yourself a healthy alternative to a sit down breakfast! A good one to try is to ad a half to one cup of frozen or fresh fruit (fruit of your choice) to a blender with three quarters of yogurt and fruit juice until you reach the desired consistency. Then blend and you are all set. Another fruit smoothie to try is to blend milk with yogurt, frozen fruit (a banana is essential) and a scoop of protein powder to balance it out. Blend and you are out the door in a snap, no fuss, no muss!

Two of my favorite breakfast drinks include my own version of the fruit smoothie and a protein drink for two. The recipes for both are below.

Fruit Smoothie

1 cup orange juice
1 fresh or frozen banana
1-2 cups of any fruit desired (suggestions are 1 peach, 1 cored apple and 1 cup of strawberries)
1 egg (optional)
2 tbsp. wheat germ
2 tbsp. powdered protein

Place juice, banana and fruit of choice in a blender. Liquefy. Makes one large or two small drinks.

Protein Drink for Two

1 large banana
1 raw egg
2 cups low fat or skim milk
2 tbsp. powdered protein
2 tbsp. wheat germ
1 tbsp. granular lecithin

Toss all ingredients in a blender and let it whip for 30 seconds. This is an excellent high-protein breakfast and will give you long-lasting energy for hours.

Please Note- Powdered protein is available at most grocery stores and health food stores.

Whether you are dieting or not, breakfast should never be skipped. When you are busy throughout the day your body requires a great deal of calories and nutrients. Going without breakfast serves to slow down the rate at which the human body burns calories. This has an adverse effect as it very often leads to overeating at night, a time of day when the demands of energy are not at a high point and calories are more likely to be stored as body fat.

By Brandi M. Seals

When you first find out your pregnant your first reaction is hopefully one of joy. You plan out the nursery, make a list of all the things you will need and start spreading the news. However, sometimes all the excitement turns serious as a nagging fear that you cannot afford a baby may arise.

Babies do not always come at the best of times or when you are standing on solid financial ground but there are things you can do to safeguard your child's future. To give your child the childhood she deserves it is imperative that you work towards paying off debts and most importantly learn to live within your means.

Children do not need all the latest toys or designer clothes. They need love and understanding. If you are looking to curb your spending or are otherwise trying to find a way to get extra cash for your child's needs, try one of these suggestions:

1.) Pay of Debts
Pay off everything you can or pay it down as much as possible. With debt comes money that is just being thrown out the window on interest. Stop wasting your money as soon as possible. Get the extra money buy trimming spending in other areas. Stop going out to dinner so often; reconsider getting your hair highlighted every month. Look around for areas that could use a little trimming and put that new found money towards the debt.

2.) Create a Budget
Go through your monthly expenses. Learn where your money is going. Aside from bills and food see what you are spending money on. Inevitable you will find that you are spending a lot on something that is not really necessary. Down grade the cable or dine at less expensive restaurants. Sometimes it is as simple as skipping the daily cappuccino. Think about it. A cappuccino runs about $4. That means you are spending $20 each work week on a coffee drink and that money will really add up over time. Within a year you would spend $1040 on that cappuccino.

Once you learn what your spending money on and you trim away all the extras, you can create an accurate budget and stick to it. You should know how much your bills are, an estimate for a month’s worth of groceries, gas, or anything that you are routinely purchase. Also add in some flex money. Budget a certain amount to go to miscellaneous items - like a cappuccino when you are having a bad day. Do not forget to budget extra money for gifts during the holiday season.

3.) Save Money where You Can
Clip coupons to save a little on the groceries. The Sunday paper is the one with the best coupons. Clip out the ones you will use and take them the next time you load up on groceries.

Also, if you are going to be making a major purchase on computer, TV or other high priced item, do yourself a favor and check the prices. I try to check at least 3 different places to see who has the best price. If you do not need to get the item right now, watch for sales and then pick up your item when it is at its lowest price.

For those that live in states that have a deposit on pop cans, it is worth while to return your cans. When I lived in Michigan I would collect my cans until I had at least two large trash bags full. I always came out with at least $10. That money would have been lost if I just threw the cans away. So save the planet from pollution and get a little extra money for yourself.

Implementing all or one of these steps will help anyone find a little extra cash. Be sure to put it to good use. Spend it on the new costs of baby food and diapers. When things settle down and you are not spending so much on baby necessities, set all extra money aside and work on building up your savings. It will come in handy if there is an emergency. It can also serve as a down payment on a car or house.

By Brandi M. Seals

Halloween is fast approaching. It is only 11 days away. That does not leave much time if your children do not have their costumes already. Whether you decide to buy a costume, make one, or put one together out of items you already have, it always helps to have a few costume ideas in mind. Seek inspiration from one of these common Halloween costumes.

Skeleton - Everyone probably sees at least one skeleton costume each year. It has been a good standby for years now. You can pick up a skeleton costume pretty much anywhere that sells costumes. You can even try to make one yourself. Once the black suit is donned, do not forget to top it with a skull mask.

Ghost - I was a ghost for several years in a row. There is nothing easier than piecing together a ghost costume. Simply take an old white sheet and cut some eye and nose holes in the material. Drab it over your child and presto chango you have a ghost. Just make sure the sheet is short enough that your child is not constantly tripping over it.

Witch - What would Halloween be without a witch? A pointy hat, some black shoes and a broom is all it takes to create the ultimate witch. If you have a black dress it will add just a little something extra but do not fret if you do not have one. If you can, add a makeup wart or two to spice things up. There are an endless number of things you can do to add a little more authenticity to any witch costume. Just remember that regardless of how many details you use, a witch is a witch.

If your son wants to be a witch, do everything suggested but skip the dress. Black pants and a black shirt should be fine. Or go for something more colorful. Remember, male witches are called wizards and wizards are often known for being eccentric.

Cat - Pick up a pair of cat ears and a tail next time you are buy the store. The cat ears are on a headband and the tail can be pinned to the back of a pair of pants. The cat costume can be worn by kids dressing up to go trick or treating or by adults looking to be a little more festival. When it is as simple as sliding on a headband and attaching a tail, there really is no reason not to get dressed up.

Princess - Little girls always love dressing up as princesses. Since before they could speak, they have been read books that feature princesses and watched movies with princesses. What little girls learn is that they want to be princesses. Indulge that fantasy once a year at Halloween. Have your daughter wear a crown with beautiful dress she already has to make an easy princess costume. If you do not mind spending a bit more, check out the local costume shops. You will find an assortment of beautiful princess costumes.

Cheerleader - Pick up some pom poms at the store. Check the toy aisles. You will be able to find some. If you do not want to buy pom poms you can make your own out of shredded newspaper. You can also pick some up at college football games. Mini pom poms are often handed out. Just keep them tucked away until they are needed at Halloween.

Which ever route you go will lead to a cute costume. Use a plain colored sweater or sweatshirt with a letter pinned to it to recreate a cheerleading costume. Bottoms can be a skirt or pants. If your daughter has long hair, put it up in pig tails to really complete the outfit. Maybe even prepare a cheer that can be done at each door.

Creepy Masked Figures - Creepy masks are the easiest choice. It does not matter what your child wears. Pants and a shirt are fine especially when they are paired with a gruesome mask. Have your child pick out the mask. Choose a deranged looking animal mask or a face that looks like it has been mauled. Before you buy, make sure your child tries on the mask. Check to see that he or she is able to see within the mask and is able to breathe easily.

By Christina VanGinkel

When my oldest son was just a toddler, he developed the habit of biting. He bit both me and his father, he bit his younger sister, he bit his toys, and he even tried to bite our family cat. We tried to deal with the situation as best we could. We took him to the pediatrician who told us that he was most likely experiencing teething pain from a stubborn tooth or two and once they came through, he would probably stop biting. He told us in the meantime, we should try to soothe any mouth pain he was dealing with, and just do our best to keep him from biting. Too young to ask exactly why he was biting, we grasped onto this bit of advice and did what we could.

What followed were several months of near torture for all those around him. We did use products such as infant Orajel, an oral-care mouth pain reliever and similar products, which were supposed to numb his gums and relieve teething pain. We stocked up on teething products such as teething biscuits; I even made him several Boo-Boo bunnies from washcloths, minus anything he might bite off and choke on, and always kept one in the freezer for a fresh replacement. The amount of his biting did lessen. We also told him a firm no each time he did bite, and we kept watch that he never had access to his baby sister or the family cat. After a couple of teeth came in and he kept biting though, we knew there were other issues at hand. If he was tired, he bit. If he was stressed, he bit. If he did not get his way after a while and really wanted something badly enough, he dealt with his frustration by trying to bite one of us. A repeat visit to the pediatrician with this new information did not get us much more in the way of helpful advice anymore than the first visit. In retrospect, we should have gone to a different doctor, but we did not. He was an otherwise healthy child, and he just assured us it was a phase, albeit a dangerous one for those around him and for his self too. I later learned that his father, my very own husband, was a biter as a child and actually bit through an electrical cord. He received sever burns on the inside of his moth and it accounted for the scar on his lip that I just had never questioned him about in our then early years of marriage. It all even sounds somewhat funny now, years after the episode, but at the time, it was anything but. It was one of the most traumatic episodes we ever went through in raising our three children, barring illnesses and injuries.

Everything came to a halt one day with the biting in a way that I never would have recommended, did not approve of, yet to this day wonder what would have happened had it not. Our son by this time was about two and a half years old. His biting episodes had decreased immensely over the last few months, though they still happened when he was tired or stressed. He was staying the afternoon with my husband's elderly aunt, for a reason I cannot now remember, though it was a rare occurrence as we rarely left our kids except with each other. We arrived to pick him up and my husband's aunt assured us that he would never bite again. Her granddaughter was also at her house, a year older than our son was, and he had bitten her. Not seriously, but he had left marks on her arm. Quite traumatic for a three year old I am sure. His aunt had handled the matter by threatening to pull his teeth with pliers! She actually told us this. We never left him with that aunt again, though he never shied away from her at family gatherings either. He also never bit anyone after that day, never even attempted to.

When this happened, as I said before, his biting episodes were already lessening, and I wonder if that was the real reason he stopped. I also learned a valuable lesson myself that day, and that is to be very careful whom you leave your children with, even if it is a relative. Some kids do go through a phase of biting, and most leave it behind as quickly as they come into it. Biting can be dangerous as evidenced by my own husband's accident as a child with the power cord. If you find yourself in such a situation, handle it as if it were as serious a matter as it is, and take a bit of advice from this mother, do not leave your child with any well-meaning relatives!

Sometimes it may seem like everything is stacked against you. You have to get across town for a hair appointment but Junior's busy throwing a tantrum and the babysitter is late. But there are some things, some mom pet peeves, which grate on moms regardless of how busy they are or what mood they are in.

1.) Child Haters
It seems today there are people out there who hate children. In fact they seem to hate that children even exist. You have seen them. They are the ones that automatically ask for another table when seated by a family. They are the ones that make snarky comments implying you must keep your son under control when he simply talking excitedly.

From glares at happy sing-songy children to rude comments to breastfeeding mothers, the list of things that I have seen child haters do is endless. One thing that remains the same in all cases is that the children were being well behaved when they were being subjected to judging looks and comments.

Do not confuse those that simply dislike when children are allowed to run amok with child haters. I understand full well people's animosity towards a child that is acting up in public, completely disturbing those around him and not receiving any sort of reprimand. Those people are not child haters. They are simply annoyed at ineffective parenting.

There is should always be tolerance for children. Sometimes they yell when they are excited. Sometimes they run around too much. And, sometimes they are cranky and want everyone to know it. I think we all need to be tolerant of these issues, but I also think some parents need to step up their responses to misbehaving children.

2.) People Parked in the Loading Lane
Ever come out of the grocery store with a cart loaded with groceries and the two kids after sending your spouse out to grab the car and meet you at in the loading lane? It is nice when everything works out and you step out the door and can just start loading everything in. However, my experience shows that someone is always parked in the loading lane and blocking its use from everyone else. Sure that car my not sit there all day, but who wants to wait the 20 minutes for the thing to move.

If your spouse is waiting nearby with the vehicle, experience shows that somehow there is always a very large step down you would need to do with the cart to get over to the nearby waiting vehicle (because the one hogging the loading lane is inevitably blocking the nice ramp down from the sidewalk). So instead of rolling up and dropping off, you are forced to carry groceries from your cart over to your car; load after load.

So for all those people that are just going to run in and grab something while your spouse waits in the vehicle - make sure the car gets parked in a parking space. The loading lane is not for you to hog up while you go grab something.

3.) Others that Know Best
If you have more then one kid, think back to when you had your first. Were you inundated with information from other moms or heck from anyone who felt it was necessary to throw their two cents in? I bet you were. Being a new mom can be hard. They are right when they say your baby does not come with a manual. But you learn how to get it done and you will inevitably find your way. The annoying thing is when others try to trump you. "Are you sure Billy should be crawling on the floor? He might pick something up down there."

Unsolicited advice is everywhere. I am all for learning from one another but perhaps waiting until you are asked would be a better approach then undermining a mother's decisions. I am sure all the mothers out there became full aware of how annoying unsolicited advice was while being pregnant. Everywhere you turn there is someone say go sit down or do not stretch your hands above your head because you might choke the baby. It can really grate on one's nerves.

By Christina VanGinkel

How often have you walked into a store with a young child in tow, and faced down glares from the clerk behind the counter, for no reason other than you have a child with you. Quicker than you could say this never happens; you would have a line of people ready to argue the point. It does happen, and it is often much worse than just glares. You have to put up with signs that clearly state no small children are allowed in the store, to attempts at cutesy sayings such as children left unattended will be sold to the highest bidder. Beyond the signs, you may even occasionally be greeted at the door and told that young children not held in the arms of the adult, or for older kids, held by the hand, are not permitted in the store at all. I have been on both sides of the issue and I can tell you first hand that it is a tricky line to walk for both parents and stores.

No, this does not happen in every store, but smaller stores that cater to a specific clientele seem to be more prone to such happenings. How is a parent to deal with such an issue, save for never shopping in the store again? First, do consider the type of store. Some might be more obvious even to the ones responsible for the child, such as a small gift store with shelf upon shelf of crystal and other expensive glassware. Other stores might not be as obvious, such as that used bookstore you love to shop when you can find a few minutes to sneak in and browse. Sure, your toddler might pull a book or two off the shelf while you are in there, even race around the aisles, but their not really hurting anything, or are they? That used bookstore might conduct a large portion of its business with older customers who love nothing more than to browse the shelves for hours on end, in peace and quiet, and spend a large amount of money at the end of their browsing session. If that customer base routinely spends that much more than the occasional harried mother or father with child in tow, sense tells you whom the store is going to cater to. This does not even take into account the fact that those books your tot is harmlessly pulling off the shelves might be collector editions whose value will plummet if a spine is cracked or a page torn because of mishandling by young children not being supervised.

Some stores try to please both sets of customers, providing play areas specifically for children, but this can backfire. I once talked to a storeowner who said that she installed the play area in the front of her store because she remembered how difficult it was for her to shop when her own children were small. What she never took into account when she created the play area was parents who would actually enter her store, put their kids in the play area, begin browsing the store only to slip out leaving their children behind while they went next door to shop a competitors store that did not have such a play spot. When I remarked how that must have been an odd occurrence and asked her how she dealt with it, she responded by saying that it happened all the time, and so often, that she was seriously considering taking out the play area completely. For now, she had hung her own signs, nothing cutesy about them, simply stating that the play area was for the use of her store's customers only. Those children left unattended by any adult who leaves the store to shop elsewhere will be able to find their child by calling the local social service office, as that is where the unattended child will be sent.

You can help resolve this issue right from the start by being a responsible adult when shopping with your children. Do not let your child roam a store freely, pulling things off shelves, knocking things down, screaming loudly, or poke at or otherwise disturb another customer. All right, I can hear you already saying that sometimes kids just will not behave. This is true. If this a rare occurrence for you, then unless you are in the middle of filling a medically needed prescription or are in the midst of checking out, maybe this means it is time to make the decision to leave the store taking your child with you. Alternately, if it is happening all the time, maybe it is time to reflect on the behavior of your child.

And what about those stores where you do get the glares and rebukes when you have done nothing more than walk into the store with a well-behaved child? Consider if shopping that store is something, you want to continue doing. I had to make just such a decision not that long ago. The fact that the store was one of the only of its kind in close to a hundred mile radius was something that flittingly crossed my mind as I did make the decision to walk out and vowed to never shop there again. I figured that my business is better spent elsewhere, and though another store of its kind was not located nearby, I guess I would have to revert to shopping for the items I commonly picked up there online, which is what I did before the store opened. Let me also reiterate that this occurrence was not the only one of its kind to occur, and it was really just the final straw, so to speak.

What happened was I recently went into a scrapbook store with my three-year-old grandson. I had him by the hand; we walked to the department where I knew the item I wanted was. I was not in the store longer than five minutes and had no intention to browse. On the way out of the store, we stopped by a display of Halloween themed items where my grandson made the 'error' of saying ooh and ahh a bit loudly I guess, because before I knew it, we had a store associate next to us telling us that the display was for customers, not for children. She was rude and there was no getting around that fact. My grandson had not pulled anything down, had not disturbed any other customers (there was none in the store!), and still had my hand actually, so I knew there was no reason for her approaching us as she did. She actually shook her finger in his little face, telling him not to touch. He responded by scrunching up his face and actually started to cry. I responded by handing her the items I was holding in my other hand, told her I was sorry about her attitude, and that I would be taking my business elsewhere, thank you very much. I followed this up with a letter detailing what had occurred and sent it to the storeowner.

I have yet to hear back from the owner of the store, but felt better for sending the letter anyhow. This just goes to show that there are two sides to this issue. While it is only courteous of adults to be sure kids do not cost business owners time and money by letting them run wild in the stores they take them into, it is also the store's responsibility to understand that sometimes adults do shop with kids, and that is just a fact. Maybe the associate was having a bad day, maybe she had a headache, or just found out she was passed over for a supervisor job she thought she was getting. Whatever her issue was that morning, she chose the wrong adult and child duo to take out her frustrations on. To store owners and to the adults with kids who take them with shopping, maybe it is time for the adults to grow up and just let the kids be kids.

By Brandi M. Seals

You may not realize it, but there are a series of unwritten rules when it comes to play dates. They are nothing too series, just a few things moms and dads should do to make sure play dates are successful and everyone leaves happy.

1.) Be On Time
It is okay to be a little late every once in awhile, but do not expect another parent to wait around for more than 15 minutes for you and your child to show. If you know you will be late, be courteous and call ahead. A little heads up is all it takes so that everyone remains happy.

If you are notoriously late for everything, be aware that others may view your constantly tardiness as a sign that the play date is not as important to you or your little one. Maybe schedule play dates with someone else that also seems to always be behind schedule. That way you both know what to expect and do not get upset when someone ends up being very late. It is never fair to waste someone else's time, so do everything possible to stay on track.

2.) Share and Share Alike
All the children at the play date should have the same rights and the same access to anything at the play date. If you notice one child hogging a toy when others clearly want to play with it, encourage them to share. If there is one toy everyone is fighting over, try giving each child 10 minutes to play with it before they must trade it off to someone else.

I know learning to share is often a struggle for children. Do not get to upset if your child does not catch on to the concept at first. Encourage sharing often. Teach your kids how to share by sharing a piece of candy with him or her. Anything will do, the point is to demonstrate sharing and point out how nice it feels when others share with them.

3.) No Biting
Children learn to bite when they get frustrated and are unable to vocalize what they are feeling. It is a stage that most children go through and it can be tough to break. If your child is biting, I encourage you to pay special attention to it. Let the other parents know when they bring the kids for the play date. Reassure them that you will have your eye on your child and invite them to let you know if you missed seeing your child bite.

Hopefully your child will keep his teeth to himself during the exchange, but if he does not, you must step in. Stop the biting immediately and discipline your child. All too often parents brush it off but nothing is going to be more offensive to the other parents than their children being bitten by your child without repercussion.

4.) Discipline the Kids
You should always discipline your child anytime he or she hits another child, refuses to share toys, or is otherwise out of line. If the other parents are leaving their child in your care first discuss what they prefer to have done when their children act up. Each set of parents has their own way of disciplining their child. Try to follow their wishes but by no means ignore the situation if you are not given directions on what to do.

If you must discipline another person's child, using a time out is always a safe form of punishment that most parents seem to agree is acceptable. When the parent arrives to pick up their child, note that the child needed to be disciplined and why they were disciplined. Never make a big deal out of it but parents should be aware when their child acts up.

These are the four golden rules when it comes to any play date. The key is to keep everyone happy and avoid stepping on anyone's toes. If a problem arises, always try to discuss it openly without blame. It is important to remember that everyone parents differently and no one really is doing it perfectly. Always keep comments about how others parent to yourself because nothing will upset the group more than unwanted judgments.

By Brandi M. Seals

It may seem unnecessary to plan your meals in advance, but I have found it to be incredibly helpful. If I do not plan ahead, I either forget what I wanted to make, realize at the last minute that not all of the ingredients are not available, or simply do not feel like coming up with a meal.

That is why a menu is helpful. Sit down with your family the day before you go grocery shopping. Find out what everyone would like to eat for the coming week and narrow it down into specific meals. Make sure you have all the ingredients you will need. If you do not have something, add it to a grocery list.

Sometimes I find that I will be in the mood for food that is not good for me. I might indulge in that desire and make a pot of chili for one night. Then I will use the leftovers to make the world's best chili cheese fries or a chili dog. That settles my junk food craving and keeps me from stopping at a fast food restaurant to fill up on junk. Plus, it helps me use up my leftovers before they go bad.

Sometimes all I want is a salad (trust me it does happen from time to time). But if I do not have the necessary toppings, I do not want to be chewing down on just lettuce and dressing. That is why making the menu before you shop is a necessity. If I know I'm going to be having salad one night, I know to grab some button mushrooms, cucumber, kidney beans or chickpeas and some sunflower seeds. I also know I will need to plan my salad night for an evening when my husband will be away or I will have to find an alternate meal for him. I do not think he was ever exposed to lettuce as a child and now he thinks it is disgusting.

If you have small children, you know how hectic things can be sometimes. It can be hard to plan the night's dinner when one kid is singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star non-stop while the other has the T.V. up too loud. Any thought in that situation is hard, let alone coming up with a nutritious dinner for everyone.

If you have never done a menu before, you could not possibly realize all the benefits of using one. First of all, there is no longer a daily pressure to come up with a meal. Second of all, it is easier to plan the use of your leftovers. Third of all, you may begin to notice a pattern. If you rely too heavily on a handful of menus, you will notice it much more when you make the menus and you may wish to add new dishes. Growing up my mom made three meals every week. Chili, Goulash, and Spaghetti were her three. Every week we ate them. Four nights a week we must have had something different, but all I remember are her three standby dishes. Finally, if you have made a meal that your son, daughter, or husband hates on night one, you can make it up to him or her with a planned meal you know everyone loves for the next night.

You may find it helpful to make a list of all of the meals you commonly make. The list will be helpful when you get stuck and are having trouble coming up with a complete menu. But, do not be afraid to get creative. Try recipes you have never made before. Who knows, it just might become your new standby meal.

You may also wish to start a new tradition in your family. Maybe you could pick one night a week and do a much more in depth meal. Maybe you could make dessert that night or use it to try out new recipes or something. By making one night special you may get the kids more interested in dinner.

Whether or not you decide to take up making menu full time, try it at least once. You may find you enjoy the experience and wish to repeat it.

By Christina VanGinkel

After raising three children, two of which are now competent adults and the third well into his teenage years, I can honestly say that picking up and holding a crying baby is not going to make the world fall off its axis! What I cannot tell you is how many times I was berated as a young mother for picking up one of my babies, even as they aged into toddlers, when they cried, or just because I felt like picking them up and holding or rocking them. Nursing a baby will also not rock the world, nor will feeding them a bottle. Both if done responsibly are acceptable ways to feed an infant, as long as you are comfortable with the choice. Moreover, that was the issue for me as a young mother, and one I am forever seeing other new and even not so new mothers struggle with some twenty years after I went through it.

The family that I married into had a strong belief that infants and toddlers should not be picked up each time they cry, that bottles, and not breasts, were made to feed babies, and spoiling a child was a given if you ever gave in to their demands, even as an infant. According to their beliefs, all three of my children should be nothing more than spoiled adults, led down that path by their mother who picked them up when they cried, breastfed them when they were infants, and then let them keep their bottles far past the age when it was acceptable by their standards.

I disagreed with it all of course and followed my own course, even though it was not the popular thing to do.

For example, I could see no harm in trying to feed my babies the natural way, even if it meant that I was an outcast amongst my husband's family. I do not even know where I heard that feeding babies was okay either way, but that if a mother was willing to try breastfeeding, it sure would not hurt. It might have been through our state W.I.C. program, which stands for Women, Infants, Children, and is a supplemental feeding and health program for women, infants, and children in many states. As a young mother some twenty odd years ago, I qualified for the W.I.C. program and attended meetings on such issues as feeding my children as healthily as I could on a budget. Breastfeeding was a topic that was the focus of one of the first meetings I attended as a young, and soon to be mother. That the first few days of life could only be improved if the child were given the chance to breast feed, even if only for a short time, not to mention the benefits for the mother, which included helping her get back to her pre-pregnancy shape quicker was discussed. It all made sense to me, so even when those around me frowned on the fact that I was breastfeeding, I nonetheless did it. I cannot say that I breastfed any of my children for a long length of time, one for about a month, the second for almost a year, and the third for five months. I then moved each to a bottle, and one of them kept that bottle for nearly three years. Unpopular to say the least, but he was not ready to give it up. My other two, numbers two and tree respectively, never showed much interest in their bottles and both had given them up close to the one-year mark. This meant that my daughter, younger than her older brother actually gave up her bottle before her older brother did. I tried to point this fact out to my husband's relatives, stating the fact that I was simply allowing each child to progress at his or her own pace, but I was met with reactions that stretched from I was doing it all wrong, to I was young and did not know any better!

As to picking up my babies when they cried, I did it all the time, at the slightest provocation, and I continued to carry them around past the point that it was probably prudent to do so. Now I am a grandmother of a three year old and I still do not hesitate to pick him up and carry him around if he is in the cuddling mood. Is it always convenient? No, not as much as I remember it to be, but I still do it, as does my daughter. With an infant, I see no point in letting them howl at the top of their lungs for long periods. Yes, they might be fed, dry, and warm, but some babies still fuss and I see nothing wrong with picking them up and holding them when they do. Maybe they are just craving a bit of personal contact, or maybe they like the motion of being carried in your arms or rocked. As they get a bit older, they might even become a bit spoiled for lack of a better word. Did it cause the world to cave in and collapse? Not at all.

Did I pick them up every single time they wanted to be picked up? No, I would not go so far as to say I carried them all of the time, just a lot. If I was cooking, I never held them, worried about splatters from the stove or having them reach their tiny hands towards the flame. Maybe because I never picked them up or carried them by the stove, as the kitchen was mostly off limits to them as infants and toddlers now that I think about it. Except for mealtimes when they were in their high chair or seated at the table, they learned that I would not pick them up or hold them when I was cooking.

What it all comes down to, is if you are a new mom, and your baby is crying, you have changed their diaper, fed them, all seems well, yet they still are crying, do whatever your heart tells you to do. If you want to pick them up, hold them, or sit and rock them, go ahead and do it. If you think they will settle down quicker by letting them fuss for a bit in their crib, and you are comfortable with the crying as many moms are, then go ahead and let them soothe themselves. Do not let someone else influence you on such a decision, no matter which way your decision swings. Either is right. As long as you are a good mom and love your babies, chances are they will grow up to be as well adjusted as any body else no matter your decisions about such topics as bottles, breastfeeding, and picking them up if they cry when they are small.

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By Christina VanGinkel

Raising a child with good, honest values is not always an easy thing to do in today's society, yet I sincerely feel as if it is the only way to raise a child to have a chance of being successful in all aspects of their lives. As the values of many run amok, to climb above that is the way to succeed. So how can we as parents inspire good, honest values in our children? Foremost, above everything else we do, we must try to have good honest values ourselves.

It is often much too easy for a parent to tell a child what they expect them to do, but not hold themselves up to those same rules. Not that life will always be fair to our children, this is one of those times where it is only fair to expect of our children what we are willing to hold up ourselves to do also. We cannot expect a child to be nice to others, both adults and their peers, if they see us talking behind other's backs and being mean to friends, family, and even strangers. Keep in mind with very young children, there is a fine line in teaching this where strangers are concerned. We want to keep our children safe, so while we do not want them to be rude to people they meet in an average day, it is also important that we teach them that it is perfectly ok to keep their distance from strangers and other adults. Be sure to deal with this most serious issue along with teaching your child to have good values. Do not just assume that it will all work itself out. Sadly, today's world that we live in, is just too dangerous to take any such thing for granted.

Talk to your Kids

Talking to your kids and really listening to what they are telling you, is by far the best lead into their lives for instilling values. If you have no communication with them, how can you expect to get across a point on any facet of life? From the time your children are small, crawling up in your lap to tell you about why they do not want to eat green beans and why their dinosaur had to eat the Barbie, to when they are teenagers heading out the door to hang with their friends or go to their part time job, listening to what they are asking and telling you is key to making sure that their road through life is straight. If you have not always done this, I am a firm believer in it never being too late to start anything that can lead to good, but the earlier you practice listening and talking with your children, the better.

Confront Issues

Confronting issues and not looking the other way when they arise is also of utmost importance. For example, if you have a child who tells you that they stood by while a child in their class was name calling another child, talking to them about why they took this action (maybe they are afraid of this student or the situation itself) is necessary. Just ignoring the act, listening to them talk about it but not really coming to any decisions on what they did right or could have done differently is not going to help or guide your child in the direction of learning values.

Let them Work it out Themselves

At the same time, letting them work out many of these answers for themselves is also important. By this, I mean do not always be so quick to tell them what they should have done, but ask them how they could have handled a situation differently than it was. This brings us back to talking to our children, and helping them learn by current and past events. Children with strong values have most likely come by them through the oldest process in life, live and learn. Only by experience can our children learn to have high values.

Love your Kids

In conclusion, love your children and do not be afraid to tell them just how much each and every day. Children that feel safe, that know how much they are loved, are going to strive to avoid disappointing their elders and their peers.

By Heather Pohlabel

Yes, I admit it; I am a selfish mommy. I need my hour at the gym every day and my glass of wine before bed. I also like to bathe once or twice a day if I can squeeze that in. For this, I feel guilty. I feel selfish.

I am certainly not the only mother in the universe who has her "thing" that she just needs to do. But I think I deserve it; I think we all do!

Moms in general give up a lot of their lives to have, raise, and nurture children. I was surprised at how much I really didn't care to go back into the workforce after having my children, and with the birth of my third child, I'm practically convinced that I never will! But for this, I sacrifice! I wipe bottoms all day, fix bottles, do laundry, dishes, bathe babies, and start over. I say everything with a huge smile on my face in the highest pitch that I can possibly muster to ensure my baby does not think I am angry and to entertain her at the same time. I babysat to pay for diapers, formula and cereal. It is double duty around here, and it's not easy.

Sometimes I WAKE UP exhausted, only to try to get motivated enough to do it again! One more bottle, are you kidding me?!!? Is this ever going to stop? No. Heck no. Not any time soon, anyway.

Some mornings I'm embarrassed to answer the door when the parents of the girl I babysat bring her over. I have just rolled out of bed (very obviously so) and I'm in no shape to be seen by adults, especially not ones who are paying me. Yet I drag myself over and answer the door, paint on my Mona Lisa smile, and grab up their child and prepare for my day, whether I want to or not.

Don't get me wrong; I love staying home with my child! I just don't look forward to seeing adults! If you've ever stayed home with your babies, chances are that you know why. You probably lived in sweats and were lucky to get a bath. Brush your teeth! That's something you hear from your husband because you have forgotten once again to do so. You begin to feel like a child in some ways.

One thing that has motivated me is to head to the gym every morning. I get up, greet the baby and her parents, get my daughter ready for school, clean up just enough for the gym, make sure both babies are fed and have clean diapers, check diaper bags, load everyone up in the mommobile, and hit the town. First stop is school, where I drop off my daughter. Second stop is the YMCA, where we have been members for ten years. I pull in, get out the stroller, put one baby and two diaper bags in, go to the other side, retrieve other baby, and begin my quest to the door.

The door is the tricky part. I have stroller in one hand and baby in the other. There is usually someone coming in at the same time as I am, which is always very welcome and wonderful, but every now and again, my workout begins at the door, trying to wrestle the door to stay open as I push the stroller through and then run to catch it before it slams into the next set of door and before the last set of doors traps me between the door and the jam. It's actually probably quite hilarious to watch.

After the struggle with the second set of doors, I sign us in and head for the babysitting room. I know what you're thinking "babysitting room? But you're the babysitter!" Yes, I know. I feel so selfish. But I need this.

I dump the babies on two other women for an hour so I can energize, refresh, and tone my body while I listen to my MP3 player to non nursery rhyme music. By the time I've broken a sweat, I start to worry that one of them is crying or that the babysitting room is too full or that someone is hungry or needs a change. Guilt gets the best of me and I creep back to that babysitting room to see if they need me to take the girls. Usually, they do not, but on occasion, I can't stop myself from feeling guilty and leaving with them anyway.

Even though I have my "selfish" moments, they're not quite so selfish after all.

Do you know what you do now and how you take care of the teeth of your baby will affect their smile during their lifetime? We all know that teeth are important. They are important because they allow us to eat a good diet; they allow our jaw to form correctly; give the face the form and even assist in the formation of proper speech. Tooth decay in babies can lead to infections, malnutrition and premature loss of baby teeth, which in turn will harm future adult teeth. Even if your baby is still too small to have teeth yet, you should start now by cleaning their gums.

You can do this by laying the head of your baby in your lap, facing you. With the mouth open and using a damp baby wash cloth or some gauze, gently but firmly run the washcloth or gauze over the gum area of the baby. Just as we encourage our children to brush after every meal, this too, should be done after every meal.

Teething is a not so fun time in the life of every child and their parents. Teething refers to the time when baby teeth are beginning to poke through the sensitive skin of the mouth. Usually, teething begins between 6 months and 24 months of age. The pain is very real and while some children are not bothered by teething much, for others, it is a time of much pain and irritability.

Symptoms of teething can come in a variety of ways. Crying for no apparent reason; fever; increased amount of finger sucking and chewing; increased irritability; increased amounts of saliva and drooling; tender and swollen gums; redness or flushed look to cheeks other areas around the mouth area; loss of appetite; restlessness and pulling on the ear (this may also indicate an ear infection). To alleviate the pain that comes with teething, there are a few things you can do. You can massage the gums of your child with damp gauze or a clean baby wash cloth; you can allow your baby to chew on a chilled (never frozen) rubber teething ring (frozen articles can damage the gum area); or you can purchase over the counter medical ointment to dull or numb the painful area. It is not a good idea to offer your child teething biscuits as they promote tooth decay.

The first toothbrush that you purchase for you baby should have soft bristles and a small head that allows the brush to be used in and around the small mouth. It should be small enough to reach all parts of the inside of the mouth easily and comfortably. Look at the drugstore, talk to the people that work there and look on the packages to see what is suggested. Be sure to toss out the toothbrush after three months of use because the bristles begin to spread and the brush is not as effective as it once was.

The toothpaste you should buy should contain low amounts of fluoride (until they begin to get permanent teeth). Your best bet is to talk to your dentist and see what type he or she suggests for your baby. When you start brushing the teeth of your child, you will want to begin with a pea sized amount of toothpaste. The teeth and gums should be brushed thoroughly around every tooth and over all gum surfaces.

When should you start taking your child to the dentist? It is a good idea to start taking them along with you when you have an appointment. This will help them realize that the dentist is not scary and will help them become familiar with the dentist. Most dentists will not start seeing the child until their teeth begin to appear.

Other ways to protect teeth is to limit the amount of acidy, sugar and fizzy drinks that are offered. If you must give your child fruit juice, water it down(1 part juice to five parts water), but be sure not to give fluids such as these in their bottles at night as it can sit on and decay new teeth.

With a lot of work, you can start your child off to a mouthful of wonderful teeth!

By Christina VanGinkel

In those first few weeks and months after baby's birth, the last thing on any parent's mind is probably the issue of independence. Your infant is so needy in his or her early days, requiring your help for everything. Then one day, you wake up and your baby is not so much of a baby anymore. They are reaching for things, taking tentative first steps, wanting to feed themselves, and before you know it, running around and talking like a miniature adult. You may suddenly wonder where this small person came from. Was it not only yesterday that you were trying to figure out which way to put on their diaper, and now they are hollering at you if you accidentally open the bathroom door when they are inside!

Naturally, each child, even those within the same home, will gain their independence in numerous ways, along various time schedules. Your one year old might not eat unless you feed him or her every bite, while your sister's one year old might clamp his or her moth shut if anyone attempts to feed them, insisting on picking up every single bite with their own fingers. When a friend asked me how I dealt with this issue with my own three children, all with very different temperaments from each other, I gave her the following advice, which I realized others might be able to grasp a bit of useful advice from too.

Dealing with an independent child at any stage of the game might not always be easy. You need to get a coat on your two year old, otherwise you are going to be late picking up your preschooler from class, or your one-year-old needs to finish their dinner so you can put her down to bed and get to a big project you need to finish for work the next day. On the other hand, the issue at hand might even be much more serious, such as their safety. This can occur when a child thinks they are old enough to do something that you feel might put them at risk. Crossing a road alone, walking home alone, and even using a steak knife to cut their meat at dinner.

What can you do when these issues arise? I told my friend to try to deal with each one on an individual basis, from the first time they clamp their mouths shut, until they are teenagers finagling for a later curfew. Do not be so quick to say no or to do the opposite of what your child is expressing they want done, but do not get in the habit of giving in either. Dealing with an independent child is a balancing act of sorts. Yes, you want your child to grow into a responsible adult, and therefore you must allow their independence to grow. At the same time, you must be assertive when allowing them to be independent could cause them harm, and the greatest thing you must learn is to know the difference.

Keep in mind when you have allowed an outcome for a specific scenario, this does not mean you have to follow through the same way the next time the same scenario comes up. Why? Each scenario will never be identical; therefore, each time must be dealt with individually. She asked me what I meant when I got to this point, and the best way I could come up with to explain myself, was to tell her about the first time my son asked me if he could get a ride home from a friend who already had his driver's license.

The scenario itself was a bit off, when it came to independence in general, but I felt it was a good example of how a situation could be nearly identical, yet have two very different outcomes.

As to my son getting a ride home, he had missed the bus, and this friend offered him a ride. They had called to make sure that it was okay before he got into the car. I actually said yes, surprise, as I knew the boy, knew he had a spotless driving record six months after obtaining his license, was nice to his parents, and he was around our house enough that I just felt okay with the whole situation. He was a responsible teen. A few weeks later, my son's cousin, the same age, offered to pick up my son when he missed the bus home from school again. I said no, even though it was inconvenient for me to drop everything, go, and pick him up. Why? My son's cousin, of the same age as the first, had already been involved in two fender benders, one quite serious, was not reliable, and I had seen him become quite rude to his parents on more than one occasion. On a whole, he was respectful to me when in my house, yet I could not bring myself to trust him with my child in his vehicle. Almost same scenario, yet two different outcomes on my decision-making.

Allowing our children to be independent can be similar to an ongoing course in tough decision-making. No one ever said it was going to be easy, it can even be downright difficult. Raising an independent child can be hard, wonderful, heart wrenching, and produce a state of pride all at the same time. As to getting a one year old to eat so you can get to that big project, I can almost guarantee you that it is just easier to let them eat at their own pace, work will just have to wait. For the coat, remember you are bigger than a two year old, and if all else fails, set the hood of the jacket on their head, and wrap the jacket the best you can around them, and strap them in their car seat so your preschooler is not left wondering where you are. Being a parent is wonderful!

By Heather Pohlabel

It's awfully confusing as to when to introduce your baby to solid foods, how much to give her, what to give her, and who to believe. Many experts agree that the first food for babies should be rice cereal because it is not only given quite frequently by parents in their children's bottles, but it is basically taste free and the most gentle food on their tiny, sensitive stomachs.

Look high and low, and you will probably read somewhere that the best way to introduce your baby to solids is with a rice cereal that is diluted 1/4 - 1/5. The "magic recipe" is one tablespoon of rice cereal to four or five tablespoons of breast milk, formula, or water, so that the cereal is a runny consistency. This should be fed with a spoon to acclimate your baby to the spoon. You will add more cereal to thicken the mixture as your baby gets used to eating, but never make it too thick (like an oatmeal consistency). A pudding consistency is a great guide as to when to stop adding cereal.

Many parents try to start their babies on solids around four months of age, but experts agree that babies can wait much longer - eight to ten months in some cases before starting solid foods. I personally think that is too long, but all of my children were hungry and ready for baby food around four months old.

I decided it was time to feed solids when the formula didn't seem to be enough. My second child had a voracious appetite, as does my third baby, but it seemed there was no way to satisfy her. She would stare at our food when we ate and make noises; so very soon, she had joined us at the table!

We started out with the cereal and then gradually added fruits to the rice cereal - bananas, peaches, and applesauce - all the wonderfully packaged "first foods". By six months, she was in stage two foods, eating a variety of vegetables, fruits, and some meats. She still had her bottles of formula, but they were larger and spread out a bit more.

My third baby is now three months old and reminds me very much of her sister. I keep reassuring her as she stares at us and protests that she, too, will get to enjoy yummy foods very soon. I actually tried feeding her some cereal just in case she was ready, but she was not quite ready yet. She did not take to the spoon at all and became very angry. That was a sure sign she was not ready to move on.

I did not force her, and experts agree that it is best to move at baby's pace. Not only at what age they will grow into foods, but how quickly or slowly they eat! Again, both of my daughters with their voracious appetites downed their bottles quite quickly and noisily. My second daughter swallowed food like it was her job. We have yet to see how the baby will do, but however she does it, I need to move at her pace.

When your baby is ready to move on, however, it is suggested to start with just one feeding at first until your baby gets the hang of it and seems ready for another serving later in the day. It is also recommended that when introducing new foods, to introduce them one at a time and wait about three days between each new food to monitor how your baby responds to the food. You can easily spot food allergies and likes and dislikes if you are only dealing with one food at a time.

Cow's mild still should not be given to your baby until after one year of age, but yogurt and pasteurized cheese are ok to introduce when your baby is over eight months of age. At this time, you can also introduce cottage cheese, eggs, and tofu.

Jarred or fresh baby fruits and vegetables are always a safe bet, though. These can easily transition to finger foods as well, as your baby has already become acclimated to the taste. Watch out for preservatives. There are many organic foods available for the more health conscious parents.

Like everything with your baby, try to enjoy feeding time and make it fun for both you and your baby. Give her praise when she tries something new or gives you clues as to what she likes or does not like. If you are unsure, consult with your pediatrician before introducing solids.

By LeighA

Some parents seem to be unaware of some very important choking hazards for children, especially infants and young children. Children are more susceptible to choking than adults are because their airway is much smaller than that of an adult. Their muscles are also not fully developed which can make it more difficult for them to swallow or to expel a foreign object than it would be for an adult. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics two thirds of choking victims are infants younger than one year of age. Most children who choke to death are under the age of five years. The Centers for Disease Control statistics state that each year 17,000 infants and children are treated for choking related incidents and more than 80 percent of those children are four years old and younger. Here are a few tips that can help you protect your child.

Food items that can cause choking in children, especially children under four include any kinds of nuts or seeds, popcorn, snack chips or puffs, pretzels, raw carrots, raisins, and other small dried fruit like cranberries, blueberries, or cherries. Some other food items to watch for are whole grapes, round hotdogs (slice them lengthwise and then in half), fresh or frozen blueberries, melon balls, olives, marshmallows, and large chunks of meat or poultry. Peanut butter should never be given to small children in chunks instead spread it thinly on a cracker. Hard candy and cough drops, chewing gum, jelly beans, gum drops, and gummy bears should also not be given to small children. Children should be watched very carefully when given raw foods like apples, pears, and carrots and these should be cut into small pieces. You should not give small children stringy foods like celery or asparagus and some beans. Another item to watch out for is white bread. We have all had white bread stick to the roof of our mouths, and the same thing can happen to the airway of a small child. Typically the more whole grains found in your bread the less likely it is to glob up in the mouth or throat. Any round, firm food or slippery food items can potentially cause a small child to choke. Children four and under are particularly at risk for choking while eating. Prevention for this is to supervise children at meal times and have them sit down while they are eating. Teach your child to chew their food thoroughly before swallowing.

Food items are not the only potential choking hazards for young children. Small children can also choke on pens and marker caps, marbles, rings, coins, latex balloons or gloves, small-button type batteries (like for watches or hearing aids), and medicine syringes. Some places to look for potential choking hazards are under furniture and especially in between furniture cushions. You should also check under car seats and backs. Children should never be allowed to play with plastic bags, as this is a potential choking and suffocation hazard.

Some other things to be mindful of are the age appropriateness of toys for your children. Toys for older children tend to have small parts and pieces that a smaller child could choke on. If you have both older and younger children make sure that the older children pick-up all the pieces from toys and games and place them out of the reach of younger brothers and sisters. Be sure to check your clothing as well as your kids for loose buttons or snaps, as these can also be a potential choking hazard.
All parents and caregivers need to attend a CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) course. This is something that with just a few hours of your time could save the life of your child or someone else. Four minutes without oxygen and parts of the brain start to die causing permanent brain damage. Children who are actively coughing should be watched carefully to make sure that they cough up the foreign object and that their airways do not become blocked. Symptoms of a blocked airway in a conscious child may include some of the following: unable to speak, cry, or cough, purple or blue face from too little oxygen, grabbing or clawing at their throat, or labored breathing that is accompanied by a high pitched wheezing sound or a weak cough. If your child is coughing forcefully they are NOT choking. One must have air in order to cough. Watch your child carefully to make sure that the object is either swallowed or expelled.

The best way to prevent disaster is to be prepared for it. Familiarize yourself with potential choking hazards and attend a class to teach you what to do if an emergency arises. Most hospitals and community health centers offer free or nominal charge classes to teach CPR and first aid.

Daycare is becoming a necessity these days, with the emergence of more single parent families as well as convential families where both parents have to work to make ends meet. Picking the right daycare for you and your little ones can be difficult, but in the end it is worth it. The child gets a place to learn socialization skills as well as play in a structured and fun environment and you get peace of mind knowing that your child is in a safe place while you work. The best tool that a parent has to begin the search for the right daycare is family and friends who have children in daycares already. Be sure to ask them a lot of questions like how long has their child been in daycare, how often do they go, are they happy at that daycare, are there any concerns that the other parent may have had with the daycare, and what are the best attributes of the daycare. Family and friends are very helpful because they give a first hand account of what it is like to have their child in daycare. They are also more honest about their experiences, especially if there have been problems at the daycare.

Next, try calling the daycares themselves and set up appointments to view their facilities. This will give you a chance to look at where your child will be spending the better part of their day. Also make sure you ask plenty of questions to both the administrator and the teachers. Find out what the child/teacher ratio is, too many little ones and too few teachers often make it difficult for the teachers to give their attention each child and can create safety concerns. At the daycare my little one used to stay at there was only one teacher and ten toddlers and she couldn't keep up with all of them and it resulted in one child falling off a slide. Sometimes daycares may have too many children for the age group that you want your child in and they create waiting lists. If there is a waiting list, go ahead and put yourself on it, you never know when a child might go up in age and therefore to another room or may withdraw completely. Ask what is the meal arrangement for the children. Some daycares provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks but that isn't the case everywhere. You may end up having to send lunch with your kiddie and if so make sure you ask what foods are allowed. In the daycare my child is at now, lunches have to include two items from the fruits and vegetables category and cookies/cakes/candies are not allowed. If your child has a special diet make sure to inform the daycare about this so that they can be sure and provide what the child needs. Another good question to ask concerns communicable diseases. All kids get sick and it is unfortunate, but it is the daycare's responsibility to help you keep your child from catching what everyone else has. Ask what is their communicable disease policy, what they do when they find out a child has something communicable, and how do they inform the parents to let them know that their child has been exposed. Be sure to ask about naptimes as well. It sounds silly, but depending on how old your child is, naptime is a state mandated necessity. If you have a child that tends to stay up all night, limiting naptime is very helpful. My daughter used to have a long naptime and stay up most of the night until I talked to her teacher and shortened the naptime. Also ask what sort of activities do they have such as walks, going to the pool in the summer, and other various field trips and such.

After you have seen the daycare for yourself, it is a good idea to bring your child in to see the facility. This will give the child a chance to see for themselves where they will be during the day and you get to see if the child will like it or not. Let your child meet the teacher so that he or she can start getting used to another adult. You will also have an opportunity to see how your child will interact with other children. Your child will probably be a little shy at first, but children are very sociable little creatures and they will warm up quickly. If your child really doesn't like being at the daycare on that first visit, you may want to think about looking at a different daycare. Sometimes kids are the best judges of what they really want. When I first sent my daughter to daycare, she didn't like the first visit and immediately wanted to leave. I didn't listen to what she wanted, after all she is a toddler, but in her own way she was trying to tell me that something was seriously wrong with that particular daycare. In the end, there was constant problems between myself and the daycare teacher because the teacher was not being very nice to my daughter. I ended up switching daycares and now my little one is very happy.

Another helpful place to go is your local department of human services. Most daycares have state accreditation and everything about them should be on file. Daycares have to be inspected once a year and the results of the inspections are on file for the public. Daycares are also inspected at random if a parent has filed a complaint against the daycare and those results are on file as well. I didn't look at the state's file on my daughter's first daycare, if I had done so before I enrolled her I would have known that there were many problems with that daycare and I could have saved myself a lot of stress and heartache. Also, the department of human services may have a program that helps pay a portion of the daycare bill. Human services will base the amount of financial help you will receive on how much you earn and how many hours you are at work. Financial help is definitely a good idea because daycare can get very expensive, especially depending on the age of your child. The younger the child is, the higher the cost of daycare due to liability insurance, training the teachers, and other things.

All in all, finding the right daycare can be a lot of work but once you find it you will be so glad that you took the time out to do it. You and the daycare teacher can work together to help meet you and your child's needs. You get the satisfaction of knowing that your child is safe and happy. Your child gets the opportunity to play and learn with other children in an age appropriate environment. The right daycare for you is out there, just search carefully and don't be too hasty in your decision. In the end your child will thank you for it. Happy hunting!

By Brandi M. Seals

Most parents take their kids to the pediatrician for check ups and take them to the dentist to keep cavities at bay. But, what about the optomintrist? Vision screen is often overlooked by many parents. Do not put your children at a disadvantage. Make sure they are up to date on their vision screening.

Visits to the optometrist are often neglected because most kids have healthy, normal eyes, but not everyone is so lucky. There are babies born with eye diseases and disorders. Early intervention goes a long way towards saving vision. If a problem goes untreated without attention before age 5, the child may suffer serious vision loss, even blindness. While that is rare, it does help drive home the point that vision screening is very important.

If you have a young child and suspect their may be a vision problem, consult your pediatrician. However, every child should have their vision checked at six months, three years and by his or her 5th birthday.

Common eye problems in children include:

Binocular Vision
Binocular vision affect approximatly 15 out of every 100 children. It is a visual defect in which the eyes do not work together which can result in double vision and depth perception issues.

Amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) are commonly known types of binocular vision impairment.

Lazy Eye
Amblyopia affects 2 or 3 out of every 100 children in the US. It involves clarity problems and or poor muscle control in one of the eyes. This affects the ability to see accurately in 3D and may cause depth perception problems.

Vision therapy at any age can improve the condition. However, the longer the condition goes untreated, the longer the therapy will need to be to correct the problem.

Crossed Eyes
Strabismus affects 4 out of every 100 children in the US. It i s a defect in which the eyes point in different directions. Eyes can turn in, out, up or down. Basically both eyes do not look in the same direction at the same time. This results in loss of depth perception and loss of stereo vision.

Parents may think they could easily spot if their child is cross eyed, but it is not always so simple. Sometimes the misalignment is so slight that it is not obvious to untrained eyes. Vision therapy overseen by an optometrist is recommended for this condition.

Does your child:
hold objects close to his eyes?
rub his eyes, blink or squint after close visual work?
tilt the head to one side?
have difficulty catching or getting a ball?
move his head (and not the eye) when reading?
complain of headaches after reading?
become tired after reading?
frequently lose his place when reading or use his finger as a pointer?
have difficulty comprehending what was read?
read slowly?
complain of headaches?
have red or watery eyes?
have poor hand-eye coordination?
have a short attention span or difficulty staying on task?
reverses words or letters?
complain of blurred vision with schoolwork or reading?
have difficulty copying from a textbook or chalkboard?
avoid reading?

If you answered yes to any of these, you should take your child for a check up.

While you may think you are doing what it takes to avoid vision problems, keep in mind that vision myths abound. Such myths include:

Even though glasses make you see better, they cause vision to get worse over time.

Limit time for wearing glasses because you need to exercise your eyes.
Sitting too close to the TV is bad for your eyes

Reading in the dark will damage the eyes

Wearing contacts will keep nearsightedness from getting worse

Eating carrots can improve vision

Keep in mind that most children do not know they have a vision problem. I was 8 when I started wearing glasses. I did not know I had a problem. I even passed my school's vision test just fine. My sister didn't fair so well. She had to go to the eye doctor. As a younger jealous sister, I wanted to go too. She wore glasses part time for two years before getting the all clear. 16 years later, I am sitting here with my glasses on to correct my astigmatism.

A lot has been said about whether it is better to breastfeed your baby or choose bottle-feeding. Both methods of nurturing your baby have their benefits and drawbacks. One important thing to remember is that if you start with breastfeeding, you can later switch to bottle without much difficulty but not the other way around. Before choosing your method of feeding your baby, take a look at what benefits each of these two feeding methods offers.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Mother's breast milk is the perfect baby food available to the infant in the right time and at the right temperature. It is always there upon the baby's demand and provides many health benefits for both the mother and the child. All the essential nutrients required for the baby's growth are naturally present in the breast milk. It is a food easy to digest and therefore does not cause constipation in the infant. Mother's milk has antibodies that further the baby's immune system and reduce the risk of diseases like eczema and diabetes in later life. For women, especially those who need to lose weight, breastfeeding is especially recommended. This is because longer-term breastfeeding helps lose extra weight that is usually added during pregnancy.

How to Proceed with Breastfeeding

It is advisable to put your baby to your breast as soon after delivery as possible. The baby's sucking starts sending signals to the mother's body and encourages milk production. Before the breast milk comes, colostrum (the thick, yellowish first milk) is produced to feed the baby for the first 3 to 4 days. It is low in fat and so easy to digest by the infant's delicate digestive system. Also, it is packed with protein, carbohydrates, and antibodies (which boost the baby's immunity). It keeps the baby safe from infection. After 4 to 5 days, colostrum is replaced by regular breast milk.

Regular Breastfeeding

When the breasts start producing milk, the mother feels a little tenderness and discomfort. There is nothing to worry about this feeling and it naturally disappears after a few days. Still, to minimize its effect, you can wear a well-fitting nursing bra and gently express a little milk before starting to breastfeed the baby. This will relieve any fullness felt as a sign of discomfort.

Self-Expressing

Since many women find it hard to be around every time the baby demands their milk, they want to self-express so that the baby can get breast milk even when they are away. This may be difficult for many women, especially in the beginning. Following tips are helpful in successfully expressing your milk at an early stage.

Persist in expressing even if it does not work at first. With time, it gets easier.

You may use an electric or battery pump or just a hand-held pump.

Refrain from expressing in the first few weeks because a normal baby's sucking is the most natural and effective mechanism of drawing milk from the mother's breasts.

If your baby is still tiny, you are not very likely to get enough milk at each session of self-expressing and more than one session will be needed to get enough milk to keep for the wee infant.

After expressing, place the breast milk immediately in the fridge or freezer. In fridge, you can leave it for as long as 48 hours. In a sterile container, it can be frozen for up to three months. However, do not forget to put a label on it along with the date of freezing. After defrosting, use it within 24 hours.

Encouraging Milk Flow for Expressing

If you are having difficulty with expressing, you can encourage milk flow to make the process easy. A few simple ways of doing this are by: (1) taking a hot bath or shower a little before starting to express (2) sitting calmly and relaxing (3) looking silently at your baby or a photo of his/her (4) expressing straight after a meal, especially in the early morning when the breasts are full.

Bottle-Feeding

Although formula milk is not as rich in the natural nutrients the baby requires, it does contain essential ingredients to meet the baby's growth needs. A major benefit of feeding milk by bottle is that relatives other than the mother (Dad, uncles, aunts etc.) can be more involved in the feeding process. In case of bottle-feeding, remember to use only formula milk or breast milk in the bottle. Do not feed babies younger than one year with cows milk; it is hard to digest and can cause an allergic reaction. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on the package in case you use the powdered formula milk. Use sterilized equipment to prevent infection. Do not let a youngster feed your baby via bottle unless you or some other adult is there to supervise.

By Brandi M. Seals

Last night my husband and I went to see the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico at the Walton Arts Center in Northwest Arkansas. The ballet was fantastic. There was great music, excellent costumes and beautiful dances. What I noticed most though was the number of young children in the audience. Normally I would not recommend taking small children to a ballet, but in this case I will make an exception.

I am all for giving your children new experiences and a ballet is a great choice. However, for small children a ballet can seem tedious and long. Last year when we went to see The Nutcracker one person near us brought her daughter. The girl was maybe 4 at the oldest and while she enjoyed the costumes, it was clear that she grew tired of the event. She began swinging her feet, then kicking her chair and then resorted to climbing all over her mother. The little girl was disruptive but for good reason. Three hours of sitting quietly in a dark theater is too much to ask of a young child. That is why I would usually recommend waiting to kids are a bit older before heading out to the ballet.

However, the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico is no traditional ballet. There are no tights and tutus. Instead there are brightly colored dresses that catch the eye. There are no lulls where the story drags on. In fact there really is not much story telling. There is simply a mariachi band and wonderfully choreographed dances. Did I mention that this ballet is only about 2 hours long? That should be more tolerable for the young kids, plus the loud music and bright colors should keep them entertained.

I loved that the ballet is not like a traditional ballet. It offers children and adults alike an opportunity to go to a cultural enriching event and learn a little about the Hispanic culture.

Next time you want to take your child to something but you know they are just too young to enjoy it properly, consider trying to find an alternative that works well. The Ballet Folklorico de Mexico is a wonderful alternative to a regular ballet performance. If they are not traveling to your area any time soon, you could consider seeing something like River Dance or another touring dance troop that amps up the energy with fast beat tunes.

If ballet is not your thing but you do want to broaden your child's horizons, why not visit an art museum? Museums are great for kids. They love looking at art that fascinates them (just do not let them get too close, some kids like to touch the paintings and sculptures). Try to go outside the museum's peak hours to give you and your child a little space and some more time to look around.

Hands on historical museums are also a great choice. Your child will get to learn about the past and finally get a chance to touch the things around. Sometimes it can be tough for young kids to go hands free when they are so accustomed to checking everything out with their hands.

An alternative to traditional museums is to check out a children's museum. See if there are any children's museums in your area by searching online or checking the phone book. They are specially designed with tots in mind and try to get kids interested with bright colors, unique textures, and more. Plus they are generally very hands on.

If you are an opera fan, your child may not be quite ready to sit through Carmen, but he or she may love sitting through someone singing children’s songs. It may not be quite as culturally enriching as you would hope, but it might just cultivate an interest in music. Plus, as your child ages, you can work up to going to the opera.

Plays are a lot like ballets and are often too long for young children to sit through. But, there are several plays that cater to children. Check at your local performing arts center to see what is coming up. If there is no performing arts center nearby, you could always check to see what events are coming up at the schools and colleges. The performances may not be as flawless here but you may cultivate a real interest for your child.

Once you fall into a regular schedule with your baby you will find that you do not have too much time to concentrate on yourself. Many women are bothered by the extra weight from the baby that seems resistant to go away no matter what they do. One suggestion that is not boring or run of the mill is to learn to belly dance. Belly dancing is becoming more popular in modern society, thanks to singers such as Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. Besides being an art form, belly dancing is enjoyable, sensual and it is fitness all rolled into one. Belly dancing is not specific to any age group, size or physical fitness level and while it is more of something women do, men can learn to do it as well! Let us take a closer look at belly dancing.

The History of Belly Dancing

Belly dancing is thought to be the newest form of Pilates but its roots go back a long time. Belly dancing is an ancient dance that got its start in the Middle East and originally was used as a ritual to encourage fertility. Belly dancing allows for an aerobic as well as a cardiovascular workout and best of all, it is fun to do. This form of ancient dance supports many things, which include physical activity, healing and a strong sense of innovation and creativity.

The belly dance is characterized by sensuous moves such as an undulating torso, swaying hips, curving patterns, and shaking or quaking kinds of body movements. As well there is plenty of thrusting motions, drops, lifts and locks that focus specifically on the motion of individual body parts such as the fluid motion of arms and hands moving in synchronicity and the constant motion of the midriff. The stomach is an important area of emphasis when it comes to belly dancing. This is good because so many women dislike this part of their body a great deal and are always looking for ways to better tone their midriffs.

Costume of a Belly Dancer

As previously mentioned, belly dancing can be done by men but is more commonly done by the fairer sex on account of the fact that this kind of dance is generally regarded as a universal symbol or celebration of being female as well as an expression of the things that women share in common with one another. It is a form of female bonding in celebrating the similarities of women. Colorful costumes and bright decorative jewellery are worn which calls attention to the femininity of a woman when it comes to her breasts, stomach, waist and hips.

The standard or conventional costume for a belly dancer is a bra and a hip-belt set that is worn over either a circular or straight floor length skirt. Some dancers favor a gown known as a ballade dress as opposed to a bra and skirt set. To the gown they add a hip-scarf or hip-belt to pull the look together. Some belly dancers in advanced stages add to their costumes even more by including a chiffon or silk length of fabric to make this sensual dance even more sensual. They might even play finger cymbals to accompany the belly dance. The grace, power and strength of being female are messages that are meant to be clearly communicated through the fine art or performing the belly dance. Belly dancing is inherent with many themes, the most common being a dance that celebrates birth, life and creativity, a dance that celebrates women in all of their glory, a dance that celebrates beauty and a dance that celebrates the female form.

Experience All of the Advantages of Belly Dancing For Yourself

There are many advantages to learning to belly dance. Belly dancing allows those who do it to forge a stronger and deeper connection to their own bodies, which is always a positive thing. Belly dancing also encourages inner grace and strength and is tremendously effective for weight loss and endurance purposes. Belly dancing puts the most emphasis on the torso but also provides a really good workout for the legs. Chiropractors have been known often to recommend this form of ancient dance to patients who have recurrent aches and pains throughout their body. The gyrating, moving about and thrusting motions of belly dancing set to Middle Eastern music is both physically therapeutic as well as an excellent way to relax and de-stress!

Be aware that belly dancing classes have a tendency to be more relaxed and laid back then more traditional forms of exercise and they encourage an environment of communication between the instructor and her students. These are no humdrum dancing classes. Belly dancing is a low impact type of exercise that does not cause a great deal of exertion on the joints of the body and in a great deal of cases, can be beneficial for those who suffer from arthritis.

The constant rocking and shaking of hips that is a staple of belly dancing encourages toning of the abdomen. It also encourages firmer leg muscles and a more positive self-image. Due to the fact that belly dancing celebrates all that is unique and special about women, most women really enjoy learning to belly dance as it makes them feel better not just on the outside but inside as well. The end result is a stronger sense of self-esteem and a more intense and stronger feeling of sensuality about oneself.

It is believed that attending a belly dancing class that lasts for one hour and incorporates marching hip lifts, a number of ribcage arches and contractions, a maneuver known as snake arms and a multitude of other moves done repeatedly will burn anywhere from 350 to 500 calories. This is good news for any mother interested in getting in touch with herself while also having fun doing it!

Recently, I was a guest of our local hospital getting some surgery done on my nose (I will save you the details) and I noticed several children getting prepped for operations. In fact, the doctor that did mine, before she got to me, she did an adenoid operation on a little tyke that could not have been much more than two.

Face it, surgery at any age is scary, heck even I was scared and my surgery was pretty minor and only a half an hour long and I am an adult! Imagine what it would be like for a child who has no idea what is going on?

The nurses at the hospital that I was at are the best and they were very nice to me (I was alone, my parents had left and my hubby was coming later after my surgery as he would have just had to wait till I was out of surgery.) I can not imagine taking a child there, yet, it needs to be done sometimes. How do you as a parent get your child ready for their upcoming surgery?

One thing you can do to prepare your child is visit the library or go online. There are picture books available for children that show what it is like to be in the hospital and have an operation. There is a good one about Franklin the Turtle who must go to the hospital to get his shell repaired. Take some time, and do some research and tell your child what to expect. You could even purchase a doctors kit for your child and have them play with it with their teddy bear. They can take the temperature and pulse of the bear and bandage it up and even pretend to perform surgery on the bear. This will also help elevate fears.

Explain the problem at their level of understanding. Do not use such terms as cutting you; opening you up; sewing you up; putting you to sleep (they might confuse this with what is done to the family pet); you just need to tell them that the doctor is going to fix them up and when they wake up, though they feel kind of yucky right now, in time, they will feel much better. Assure them that they can take a favourite toy or stuffy with them. One of the little girls that went into the operating room before me had a little stuffed doll that was brought out with mom as soon as she was put under and was no doubt returned to her when she woke up.

Two of the greatest fears that are felt by young children (both preschool and school aged) are a) the fear of abandonment by their parents and b) the fear of pain. Explain to your child that the surgery is to fix a problem, not create a new one.

Be sure to anticipate the reaction of your child. Most children will react in a fearful manner. You will need to emphasize that fear, anxiety and their response to pain is quite ok and very normal.

Since most minor surgery is done in the day surgery unit, chances are, your child will not have to stay over night. (a girl that had the same doctor as I, whose operation was to follow mine, was having her tonsils out, which was also day surgery.) Also, most hospitals in both the United States and Canada allow at least one parent to be with the child prior to the operation (they will send you out when the child is asleep) and will allow you to come into recovery when your child wakes up.

Remember, it is not only the words you communicate, but the way you communicate and more importantly, your non verbal way also tells your child that there is no need to worry and that everything will be fine. If you are lucky enough, some hospitals offer a pre-operation tour, programs for children before their surgery or family orientations which are run by people who are trained to deal with questions and fears that a child might have.

When the day of the surgery arrives, do your best to soothe your child (they might not have slept well the night before, so they might be extra upset because of their tiredness). When you arrive in the waiting room prior to surgery, you can use the room that they have set aside for children. Be sure to cuddle with your child just that little bit extra and let them know that you will be there when they wake up. You will no doubt be able to accompany your child into surgery and be asked to wait in the waiting room until the surgery is finished, then someone will come get you, so you can be in the recovery room when your child wakes up. During that time, you can obtain further instructions on care of your child and when your follow up appointment will be or when you need to consult the doctor again.

During the recovery of your child, there will be discomfort, allow them to have a special treat (mine was some salt water taffy and my favourite books, some tasty soup and knowing that I did not have to do housework for a few days!) and remember that this was another hurdle that you as a parent succeeded in clearing and another one that you deserve a pat on the back for!

By Brandi M. Seals

It can be difficult to stay healthy year round, especially when the weather turns cold and everyone starts congregating indoors. Put you and your family ahead of the game by learning how to stop the spread of germs.

Avoid Close Contact
Start by avoiding close contact with others, especially those who are sick. When you are sick be sure to give people some room. Germs can spread easily from one person to another, take a step back and stay healthy.

Stay In When Sick
A lot of people try to power through being sick and they go to work or school. That is not a good idea. If we all stayed home when we got sick it would go along way towards preventing the spread of germs. Next time you are feeling ill, stay in. Your coworkers or your child's school will appreciate it.

There are several symptoms of illness. Common symptoms include:
Fever
Headache
Extreme tiredness
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle aches
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea

Always Cover Your Mouth and Nose
It seems that etiquette when it comes to coughing and sneezing has grown lax over the past several years. Do not expose those around you to a cold or germs. Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue while coughing or sneezing. Teach your children to do the same. If you do not have a tissue handy, it is preferable to sneeze into the shoulder rather than sneeze on your hands. If you do sneeze or cough on your hands, wash your hands immediately.

Wash Your HandsProtect yourself and others by washing your hands regularly. Each day we pick up several germs. They are on the door knobs, on the phone receiver; they are everywhere you can think of. Washing them off your hands is a great way to avoid letting those germs make you sick.

Teach your children to wash their hands often, especially before and after they eat. When washing they should be washing with soap and warm water and it should take at least 15 to 20 seconds to wash. To help them understand how much time that is, explain that they should sing the Happy Birthday song twice while they wash. That way you know they are getting enough time under the faucet.

If you are away from water or soap is not available, you could use a hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of germs. Keep alcohol-based hand wipes or gel sanitizer on hand. They do not require any water to work. Simply rub your hands until the gel dries. The alcohol in the wipes and gel will kill the germs on your hands.

Do Not Touch Your Eyes, Nose or Mouth
Germs spread easily when we touch our eyes, nose or mouth. If you see your child doing it, point it out. Kids often touch their faces a lot and usually do not wash their hands often. That companied with the fact that they spend a large part of their day in close quarters with lots of people explains why they get sick so easily.

Germs spread easily when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs (such as doorknobs, desks, tables, etc) and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs can live on these contaminated surfaces for awhile. Try to get everyone to avoid touching surfaces and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.Besides trying to stop the spread of germs, there are other things you and your family can do to stay healthy. Start by getting a flu shot each fall. The flu shot will help family members build up a resistance to the flu virus. Other than the flu shot, keep the family healthy by making sure everyone gets plenty of sleep, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious food, and stay physically active. These steps should be taken year round and will leave everyone feeling healthier and happier.

Even if you do everything right you cannot entirely avoid becoming sick. Do what you can and then remember to give yourself time to recoup when you are feeling down. Try to limit stress in your life. Any stress you or your children may be under may increase the odds of getting sick.

My second baby is set to arrive in about 18 weeks. We are unsure yet whether it is a he or a she. My husband and I opted not to find out with our first baby because we wanted to keep the element of surprise around as long as possible. When the doctor said we had a boy, I was ecstatic and glad I had not had time to fret over the potential pitfalls of raising a boy.

Because we have a 20-month-old little man now, we decided that finding out the sex of our baby was more important. It is very difficult to say that you are getting a brother or a sister. That just is not something that little guys understand; they need things in more concrete terms. When we went for our last sonogram in September, the baby was not cooperating. The sonographer could not see all of the limbs or all of the heart chambers because of the way the baby was lying in the womb. I was secretly glad because my baby got to be as stubborn as I wanted to be. The sonographer was not friendly at all, and she had my in a terrible position to get a good view anyway.

So, the baby did not cooperate, and we got to see only what the sonographer thought, and not very convincingly, was a girl. She kept saying that it could be a girl. When we asked my doctor, he was not so sure, and since I really would like another boy anyway, I am just believing that we do not know yet.

Of course, no one wants to hear that we are unsure of the sex, and it does not help the situation with my son. We have resorted to telling him that he is having a sister. We point to my protruding tummy and say, "baby," but he just giggles. I am not sure how to explain to him that he will have to share us with someone else. I am afraid that revelation will be shocking.

Other people want to know the sex of your child almost more than you do. Perhaps it is because expectant parents have other concerns about whether mom is healthy, how the nursery decorating is going, and what will happen to the family lifestyle once a new baby arrives. My mother and mother-in-law, however, along with perfect strangers are intent on finding out whether we are having a boy or girl. Part of that insistence was what kept us from finding out the first time around. Yes, we are that stubborn. I wanted to enjoy the experience of being pregnant and giving birth instead of focusing on whether to paint the nursery pink or blue. We painted ours mint green, bought Care Bears decorations, and were done with it.

I have decided that we put entirely too much focus on whether the baby is a boy or girl. It only allows us longer to place gendered expectations on a child who is not yet born. When my mother starts talking about frilly crib bedding, I cringe. I think that by focusing so much time and energy on the sex of the baby forces us to forget about the bigger issues. For example, no one has mentioned contributing to our college funds. (In fairness, I do not think it is the responsibility of anyone except my husband and me, but the offer would be nice instead of one more offer to purchase a mobile or buy some infant outfits.)

Knowing that I may have a girl also has me concerned. I see little girls out when I take my son places, and their parents hold them close. The parents often do not permit the girls to be active or creative but instead encourage them to be quiet and polite. That we may do that with our daughter scares me. Since hearing the sonographer say that we could be having a girl, I have panicked over the thought of how we will raise her. It has made me decide that if we have any children in the future, we will not find out the sex. We will define our baby in different ways.

By Julia Mercer

By Heather Pohlabel

Your baby's cord has fallen off and you are more than ready to give him his first "real" bath! You will enjoy the experience as much as your baby, and it can become a very fun event for both of you if you do it correctly. Avoiding a few common mistakes and keeping it simple will ensure a happy bath time for you and your baby.

Whether bathing your baby in the sink, a baby bathtub, or your full-sized bathtub for the first time, be sure that you have everything you need within reach before you even start the water flowing! You not only need to give your baby your full on attention during his bath time, but you will want to as well. Who would want to miss the new expressions on his face as he experiences the warm water for the first time since his birth?

The first thing you need to do to prepare for bath time is make sure that your baby is not hungry and is ready to be bathed. Gather everything you will need - baby tub or bath wedge, washcloth, baby shampoo, and baby body wash, or a combination of the two - an all over wash works well and saves you having to gather more items. You will also want to have a nice big towel laid out so you can quickly place your baby in it when you are done with the bath. Keep any diaper rash cream, lotion, or powder or oil nearby that you plan to apply to your baby's skin after his bath. Make sure you have an outfit and diaper awaiting his freshly cleansed body! He will not tolerate the cool air for very long, so it is important to have all of these items ready before you even begin your bath.

You are ready to run the bath water. Start out using cooler water and move to warmer water. Your bath water should not exceed 105 degrees. You can best test the comfort level of the water with your elbow. Too cool water will make your baby uncomfortable and too hot could scald your baby. If you have a water thermometer, use it. When you have enough water to cover your baby's legs and bottom, you can place him in the water.

As soon as your baby is used to the water, you can introduce the water to more parts of his body by using your hand as a cup or using an actual cup to pour the water over his body. Start at his belly, which is the area closest to the parts of his body that are already in the water, and work your way up. Keep your baby warm by placing the washcloth over his body and keep it warm by pouring water over it every few seconds.

When you are ready to wash your baby, use the same basic procedure you used when sponge bathing. Start with a clean washcloth with no soap on it for your baby's face, neck, and ears. Shampoo his hair, being careful to only use a dime sized amount or smaller and being careful to keep the soap and water from his eyes. While most baby shampoos and washes are safe for baby's eyes, this can still irritate your baby and make bath time less fun.

Always be sure to keep a hand by your baby's head to avoid it slipping into and under the water. A baby can drown very easily in a relatively small amount of water.

Now you can soap up the rest of your baby's body with baby wash. Be sure to clean in any folds of skin. Also be sure to rinse your baby completely, ensuring no soap residue lead to an itchy rash.

After your baby is done enjoying his first warm bath, quickly place him in the towel and wrap him up. If you choose, you can apply a lotion or oil to his skin before dressing him. These are not necessary for most babies, but keep them smelling fresh! Powder is not recommended for babies any more because the particles can get into their lungs through inhalation.

You have successfully bathed your baby for the first time. Now you can dress your baby and comb his hair. Take a picture or two to remind you of your baby's first bath! It was an exciting time for both you and him, and one of your very first "firsts" together.

Most children love cats but they need to be taught how to hold them and things that they should not do with them. Always begin young with this type of education. Young, spry kittens and cats are often eager to play with youngsters but as they get older they often seek to be by themselves more. Their desire for play and excitement decreases while their desire for rest and relaxation as well as privacy increases. Some senior cats do not even like to be bothered by other cats in the family so they choose places to sleep in the home where they are not likely to be bothered, such as high up on a bookcase, on a table, or in a corner somewhere in the home that is rarely used. Let's take a look at what it means for a cat to become a senior citizen.

It is generally recognized that a cat becomes a senior at approximately 8 years of age (48 years in human years) and he/she is considered elderly or geriatric at 14 years (72 years human) and over. A 19-year-old cat is actually 92 years old (almost 100!).
So other than actual age in years, what signs of getting older do cats make known to us humans?

As cats age they tend to sleep more and are less active. There's less jumping, playing, running and general cat excitement and enthusiasm (and cat toys don't impress them anymore, if at all!). Sometimes they are unresponsive when spoken to and seem a bit disoriented. My cat Barry became a "senile old guy" around the age of 12. I would feed him and then 10-15 minutes later he would cry at me to feed him again! It was as if he'd completely forgotten that he had already had a meal!

Vision and hearing loss often occur, as does stiffness in joints. That may account for why older cats hesitate to jump up on countertops, tables and windowsills, etc. while younger ones eagerly go forward. Older cats are not as interested in the goings on of their brother and/or sister cats as much. As a rule they want to be left alone and left strictly to their own devices. "Leave me alone or pay the price." I could almost see that very proclamation written across the annoyed face of my elderly cat Sherisse when her younger, spryer brother chose to invade her sacred "me" territory.

Physical changes can be noted as well. Older cats have less muscle tone and their backbones often have a more separated, brittle quality to them. Some seniors gain weight while other lose it. Appetites change as well as the taste buds of older cats (just like humans). Older cats generally drink more water so having a full water dish or bowl (and not just during the warmer months) is extremely important.

Dental problems are more common in older cats. An ounce of prevention when they are young and just starting out helps promote good dental hygiene and see them through their elderly years. Word of warning- best to leave teeth cleaning to the veterinarians otherwise you are liable to end up with some very painful cuts on your fingers. Cats do not like people poking around in their mouths (even their loving and faithful owners- ouch!).

Bladder control problems plague some cats so an extra dose of patience and understanding is necessary to cope with your aging cat. Vomiting is very common in older cats as the digestive system doesn't function as well as it did when your sweetie was young. Again be patient, and it would be a really good idea to keep a fair share of sponges, rags and cleaning supplies on hand for the accident days. I've cleaned up so much regurgitated food over the years (and stepped in some too!) that I can laugh about it now. When you love your cat (s) vomit becomes par for the course! I've become an incredibly good cleaning lady as I've had lots of experience. Another thing to be aware of- older cats sometimes misinterpret their positions when they are using their litter pans so it's a smart move to put newspapers under the pan to catch any of the residual mess they leave.

Senior citizen cats have a worse sense of balance than their younger counterparts so if you have a stubborn cat who still insists on jumping up on ledges, high shelves or windowsills consider placing step ladders or chairs near their favorite spots to make it easier for them. Older lap cats tend to become even more "lapalicious" as they age. If your young cat always wants to fall asleep on your lap when you sit down to watch television, prepare yourself for even more time in front of the tube as your cat ages. Get comfortable because you'll be there awhile!

Aging happens to all cats but if yours seems to be in obvious pain or discomfort that's a sign that something is very wrong and a visit to the vet will be necessary. Older cats are less limber and less energetic but don't make the mistake of assuming that pain and aging naturally go hand in hand. They don't.

Older cats want less of your time and attention, which makes them even better home buddies. They will let you know when they want something from you, like food or their litter pan cleaned. Oh how they will tell you! In my experience felines often "talk" more in their senior years. It makes for interesting communication. I swear my cats know exactly what I'm saying to them- they learn keywords and sounds through repetition- and respond in their own way to my words and mannerisms.

It's not a diehard rule of senior cats but I find that some seek more comfort and reassurance from their owners in their later years. My female cat Georgia rarely slept on my bed at night when she was little but now that she's 9 she waits for me to get into bed and settle in and then she herself settles in for a good night's sleep, usually nestled close to me.

Older cats have special needs and considerations but can be every bit as funny, loving and sweet as they were as younger cats. Take good care of your cat and he/she might have many more "cat" years ahead. Some cats have been known to hit the 20 year mark and upwards. And remember that senior and sickly are not synonymous. Enjoy your time with your feline friend and in his or her own special way, he/she will thank you for it. Sometimes the presence of a cat alone is reward enough.

Teach your children to be kind and gentle to your cats and show them the proper way to pat and hold them. Children often want to touch a cat's tail and for most cats that is sacred territory that is off limits so make sure you act accordingly and teach your children to keep their hands away from the cat's tail. Young cats will get upset at this enough, but an older cat has a shorter fuse and is likely to hiss, snarl or even bring out his or her claws and scratch the child. Avoid this by making sure your children learn to respect the animals in the house. This can also be said for dogs as well. Once the pattern of kind treatment is established, it should stay with a child for life.

Congratulations, you are having a baby! This is a very exciting time while you are getting ready for the arrival of baby and setting up a nursery can be part of the fun while waiting for the baby to arrive.

Some people can afford to buy the best of everything, including both what the baby needs and does not need. But for most of us, we are strapped financially and want to set up a functional yet cost effective nursery for the new addition.

Theme ideas are almost endless when it comes to the nursery. Not just the classic pink or blue anymore for the little ones, you can choose a fairy room; a truck or train room; a Winnie the Pooh or Beatrix Potter room, or even balloons, why the ideas are endless. If you are fortunate to have an artist for a friend, you can have them paint a mural on the wall or just paint the wall a solid colour and pick a cool border.

But besides the wall coverings, there are definite pieces of furniture that baby cannot live with out. Items such as a crib (be careful about how old the crib is and how it is finished; are the bars close together? Is the paint that it is painted with lead based?); a mattress for the crib (make sure that it fits the crib securely so that arms and legs will not get caught; a change table, we used one that was given to us and had been handed down through several different families (you can use a dresser with pads on it for this also and a dresser (I got my dresser for free for my youngest daughter – it happened to be a throwaway from a boarding school that I stripped and repainted and since it was an older model, it was quite sturdy). Other than that, the sky is the limit when it comes to the nursery and its decorating scheme if you are talented, you can even make the drawer pulls yourself!

Window treatments can be stylish yet provide the utmost safety for baby. In regards to curtains and blinds, you will want to stay away from long cords that can choke baby and long flowing fabric drapes that the child can pull on, thus pulling the hardware down on them and possibly injuring themselves. The best idea is to keep it light and airy, dark enough to keep outside lights out (such as street lighting) but light enough to let the sun in.

A rocking or other type of comfortable chair is a great addition and most moms would say a definite must have. Not only can the chair be used for nursing now, but it can be used for snuggling and reading stories together later. Shop at thrift stores and recover if necessary.

A few other possibilities you will want to think on are these:
-You need to plan the room for all of childhood in mind. Furniture for Kids is cute but will be outgrown in time, so possibly being a waste of money. You may want to think twice before you buy that princess dresser, because you child will outgrow it.

-Plan for lots of storage space with baskets and cupboards because as the child grows so does their wardrobe with shoes and outer wear, not to mention toys and you need a place to stash everything.

-Avoid wall to wall carpeting. Wall to wall can harbour allergens that could be harmful to your child. Instead consider area rugs and wood flooring

-If you are crafty, the sky is endless to what you can accomplish in the nursery. How about making your own mobile? You can make it out of heavy cardboard into any shape you want like butterflies or footballs. You can purchase some cards or use old calendars and buy some frames either at a dollar store or thrift store to use for decorations for the wall. When I was nearing the end of my pregnancy, I cross-stitched a sampler for the room, so if you are handy, you can do just about anything.

One idea is to scour garage sales for furniture, bedding (and clothing), go to thrift stores (you never know!) you also might want to try dollar stores. Dollar stores have great craft stuff that is inexpensive that you can use to decorate walls/furniture with.

The key is to plan ahead and do your homework before you spend all your money on one item, remember, your baby really does not care what the room looks like at this point because it is going to sleep most of the time. The baby does not care if you spend a fortune or very little but if you are willing to think outside of the box, you can have a great looking nursery and still have cash left over for the diapers.

By Brandi M. Seals

Celiac disease is a serious condition that often goes undiagnosed, yet can seriously affect the health of your child. It is imperative that parents look for signs of celiac disease and notify their pediatrician immediately.

Celiac disease is not a simple food allergy. It is a genetically inheritable disease that causes damage to the mucosal lining in the small intestine. The damage often results in the malabsorption of nutrients and leads to malnutrition despite eating a healthy diet. While the trait for celiac disease is present at birth, it may become active at any age.

Approximately 1 in 133 people have celiac disease yet only around 3% of them have been diagnosed.

Celiac disease is caused by sensitivity to gluten. Gluten is a term for the storage proteins found in many grains. The proteins vary by grain, for example it is the hordein in barley and avenin in oats. Each is slightly different, but the term gluten refers to all of these proteins.

Damage to the small intestine in those with celiac disease is slow to develop but it is generally caused by an immune system reaction. In most cases the damage caused before diagnosis is reversible and normal bowel function can commence.

The potential to develop celiac disease is present from birth onward though its onset can occur at any age. No one really knows what causes the celiac disease to become active, but we do know that three things are required for a person to develop celiac disease:

1.) A genetic disposition
2.) A trigger
3.) A diet containing wheat, barley, rice and oats

No one really knows what triggers may cause the onset of the disease, but some possibilities include: puberty, pregnancy, surgery, increase consumption of wheat, barley, rice and oats or having an inappropriate immune system response to an infection.

It is interesting to note that more women are diagnosed with celiac disease than men.

Celiac disease is life-long condition that currently can only be treated by is a strict gluten-free lifestyle.

There are no set symptoms for celiac disease. They vary widely among patients, and some do not experience any symptoms at all. The severity and type of symptoms are based largely on the amount of damage that has been done to the intestine and the length of time nutrients have not been absorbed correctly.

Symptoms that some patients experience include:
Abdominal cramping/bloating
Abdominal distention
Passing gas
Gluten ataxia
Mouth sores or cracks in the corners
Back pain and muscle cramps
Constipation
Night blindness
Decreased ability to clot blood
Dry Skin
Diarrhea
Tooth enamel defects
Dehydration

If you suspect your child may have celiac disease because of symptoms or because you or your spouse has it, contact your pediatrician for a diagnosis.

It is not surprising that those with sensitivities to gluten may also have other sensitivities. Those with celiac disease often also experience problems with lactose intolerance, mold, and food allergies.

Those with celiac disease that go untreated are likely to develop associated immune-related conditions. There is an association between celiac disease and diabetes and thyroid disease. Occasionally those with celiac disease were also found to have spleen problems and some neurological disorders. Most often, untreated celiac disease results in anemia, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.

If your child is diagnosed with celiac disease, he or she will need to start living a gluten free lifestyle. There is no medication or surgery that will cure celiac disease. A radical diet change is the only way to go.

You may be surprised to find all the foods gluten is in. Gluten can be found in breads, cookies, pastas and any other grain product. Gluten is also found it more unusual places like soy sauce and French fries.

To practice a gluten-free lifestyle it is imperative that you and your child learn to read food labels. Contact the Celiac Sprue Organization (www.csaceliacs.org) for information on reading labels, living with celiac disease and even several gluten-free recipes.

The good news is that there are hundreds of naturally gluten-free foods available. And, in recent years there has been more of an effort to create gluten-free pastas and other foods that would have previously been off limits. They are made from gluten-free grains and are now available at most grocery stores.

By Christina VanGinkel

Milestones from one baby to the next can vary greatly as they grow older, with no two children, even within the same family, often meeting the same milestone at the exact same stage as another. However, most young infants should reach certain milestones within a few weeks of each other, give, or take those weeks each way. One such milestone is the strengthening of their vision.

By the time your infant is around the two-month mark, they should be clearly exhibiting signs of their eye control strengthening. You may notice that they will hold their own hands up in front of their face, obviously fascinated that they can see something they themselves put there. They may be more interested in simple toys that you hang in front of them, for instance if you place them in a stroller or baby recliner of some sort with the toys dangling nearby. Colors are not really of importance to the degree that they will suddenly begin noticing these things, with many doctors and vision specialists even claiming that the contrast between toys that are black and white in nature being the easiest items for baby to see and to strengthen their vision by viewing.

There are things you can do to foster the strengthening of your infant's vision, starting with providing them with different scenery throughout the day from the first day you bring them home. Think of it this way, if you had to look at the same wall or window even, hour after hour, day after day, sooner rather than later, you would become so used to seeing the same view that you would not even really notice it at all anymore. The same holds true for your infant. If they are looking out at the world everyday, and seeing the same old thing, this is not going to be inspiration for them to strengthen either their vision or their minds. Place their swing or bouncy chair in different positions. Put them down in their crib on opposite ends every other time; carry them up in your arms facing out away from you so they can see what you are seeing.

Also, when baby is in a stationary position, such as nestled into a baby swing, talk to them as you move about doing your daily tasks and chores. This will provide them with both auditory and visual stimulation, giving them an object to focus on. Call to them from across a room, and when they look your way walk towards them, talking to them until they clearly see you. You will notice that a very young infant may startle when you call out their name, but not really see you until you are inches from their face. As they grow, they will begin to see you earlier, at some point even across the room from where you first called their name. This is a great way to clarify to yourself that your child's vision is progressing, as it should.

As baby ages, keep up the visual stimulation, providing new stimulation such as adding toys with faces. Children seem to learn early on that a face is an important object, with even the youngest children sometimes babbling on to objects that have faces, while tossing aside those that do not.

If you have any questions about your infant's or older child's vision, never hesitate to consult a professional. Even if you are assured that everything is normal, and yet you feel differently, go elsewhere for information. If you asked your baby's pediatrician, consult with an eye specialist, for example. You know your child better than anyone else does and if you continue to feel that there is an issue with your child's eyesight, it is in his or her best interest to find the underlying cause of the situation as early as possible. Poor eyesight can often be an issue with other illnesses, so staying on top of what many consider a routine milestone can often result in getting your child help in other areas where their health may be of concern. Be alert to your infant's vision losing ground too. This can be something as simple as misreading the signals, to possibly being a sign to something more serious.

By Brandi M. Seals

We all hate waiting. Sometimes it seems that there is nothing more torturous than sitting in a waiting room for at least a half an hour. If the kids are with you they need to be kept entertained. Those that left the kids at home are not much better off. Sure they do not have to think about the children, but what are they going to do with that time?

I suppose waiting patients could read up how to get jam stains out of sleepers or how to rev up their man's sex drive. Magazines are always prevalent in a doctor's office. But next time you find yourself sitting in a waiting room, why not put the time to good use.

Face it, in today's busy world, the waiting room might be just what you need to get caught up on put off tasks.

10.) Read a Book
Catch up on that book you have been meaning to finish. If you are able to tune out a little noise, a waiting room is the perfect place to read up.

9.) Balance the monthly Budge
I would say balance the check book but it seems no one uses checks anymore. That is all the more reason to keep a budget. It can be easy to ring up sales with debit cards and credit cards and not give them a second thought. Keep track of what your family is spending and what they are spending it on.

8.) Do Some Exercise
In no way am I advocating pacing frantically around the room in an attempt to work off a few extra pounds, but waiting patients can do isometrics. Contract the muscles in your stomach, butt, legs, or even arms and hold it until you count to ten. Doing this repeatedly will help build up the muscles.

7.) Write Notes
If you need to send out any thank you notes or holiday cards, use your free waiting time to get the job done.

6.) Pick out your Next Hairstyle
Take advantage of all those magazines lying around. Flip through them and discover how you want your hair to look next. If the office does not mind, remove the picture of the desired hairstyle and take it with you the next time you go to the salon.

5.) Knit or Crochet
If you have a portable hobby like knitting or crocheting there is nothing stopping you from doing it while you wait. While you may not be able to whip out a scarf while you wait, you sure could get a good start on a project.

4.) Study
If you are taking classes or need to prep for a work meeting take the extra time to get caught up. This may not work for those that require absolute quiet, but everyone else can make sure they know what they need to for class or work. Reading for class and taking notes or simply reviewing notes are productive ways of spending this otherwise lost time.

3.) Prepare a List of Questions
Hopefully you already have a few questions in mind when you make an appointment, but if you have not had a chance to write them down, do it while you wait. It is amazing how easily the most important questions seem to disappear from the mind when you need to ask.

2.) Make a Grocery List
It always helps to know what you want before you go in the store. Without a list it is easy to load up on all the goodies that catch your eye. Start by making a tentative menu and then listing what you will need to make those meals. Add in anything you are running low on. While you may not be up to grocery shopping after the appointment, you will be prepared when it is time to go.

1.) Relax
Don't have anything that needs to be done? Consider yourself lucky. You get the ultimate joy, some time to veg out and do whatever you want. Sit back and people watch or do a crossword puzzle. Do whatever helps you relax. Just try not to look to pleased with yourself, everyone else counting down the seconds until their name is called could turn on you.

By Brandi M. Seals

You can be like every other parent out there and hand out the requisite handful of tootsie rolls, suckers, and other Halloween candy. Or, you could do something new. Why not spice up Halloween by bucking the trend. I am not suggesting you do anything crazy like hand out boxes of frozen fettuccini like Kirstie Alley does in her latest Jenny Craig commercial. But, there is room to be creative and come up with some good ideas.

When planning what to hand out, I really suggest avoiding handing out apples, bananas and other fruits. Most kids will be disappointed that the hand out is not cool enough for them and some parents may apprehensive.

There is a very prevalent urban legend that about strangers endangering children by imbedding razorblades in fruit, specifically apples, which were handed out on Halloween. I remember having to have all of my candy checked by my parents as a result. Really I think they were just picking out the treats that they wanted, but I will never really know.

Gift cards and gift certificates make as great handouts. I remember getting books of gift certificates to McDonald's as a child. I do not know if they still make them, but it is worth a try. A free ice cream cone is always an excellent gift. I have seen that Target has Halloween inspired gift cards available. They come in packs and can have as little as a dollar put on them or as much as you want. Check out other stores and see what you can come up with.

Themed pencils make for a wonderful handout. Remember when you were little and you had pencil's that were covered in designs? My school had a pencil vending box. Put a quarter in and get two pencils. I collected all the ones with butterfly and flower designs.

For your handouts stock up on Halloween inspired pencils or buck the trend and load up on Spiderman, Superman, or other popular design. On a side note, if you get pencils with a 'boy' design and one with a 'girl' design, let the kids pick which one they want. Just because girls are supposed to like pink butterfly pencils does not mean some would not rather have one with Spiderman on it. Trust me; my niece would be very disappointed if she had to miss out on her favorite superhero pencil.

Stickers are another great choice. What kid does not love stickers? Go to the local dollar store to find low cost sticker packs or stop off at a party store. You will be amazed at all there is to choose from. Take your child with you; she will know which ones kids will love.

Perhaps you could hand out candy, but do something creative with it. I can remember going to craft fairs with my mom and getting a candy airplane. It was made of two sticks of gum, a roll of Smarties and some other treats that had been rubber banded together to create the airplane. You could do something like that. Or, hand out chocolate suckers. I do not know if you could buy them anywhere, but several people make them and sell them at craft fairs. Stock up next time you go or learn how to make them yourself.

There are a number of treats you could make in your home that kids would love. As I mentioned before, do not be surprised if some parents are apprehensive about taking homemade treats. If you do not want to risk having your treats turned down, perhaps you could make them only for the kids you know well. Or, send some treats to school with your child for her class. Popcorn balls, cookies, and caramel apples are the usual homemade handouts. If you have ideas for different treats, by all means give it a try.

When all is said and done it does not really matter what you give out. Children just love getting dressed up and going door to door. Be sure to let neighbors know that you have treats to hand out by lighting a jack-o-lantern on your porch or leaving the exterior lights on. If you will not be home but still want to have something for the kids, try leaving a bowl of candy on the porch. I have seen one person do this and surprisingly everyone seems to only take their requisite one piece of candy.

Shopping for a baby's Christmas gift may be a mixture of a very easy task and a quite difficult one! On one hand, they surely don't "have everything" like some people we shop for, but on the other hand, you don't want to duplicate things that were given for a birth gift, shower gift, and so on.

One good idea to get your thoughts moving toward what the parents may appreciate most is to just ask them. In my own case, my parents asked me about a gift for my daughter's first Christmas and I happened to need a high chair. That was their gift for the baby and it worked out great.

As I am thinking back to that Christmas all those years ago, I recall that two of my brothers who were unmarried at the time joined forces for another really great baby gift. They gave a huge box totally full of baby food and baby cereal since she was just beginning to eat solids during that holiday season. That gift was so appreciated and obviously left a huge impression because I still think of it when I am remembering gifts that were given that year.

Another idea for a baby gift is something that commemorates the fact that it's baby's first Christmas. I have an ornament for this purpose, but I wish I would have found a few other things back then. I think it would be fun to decorate with those things each year now.

If you want to give clothing as a gift, be sure to choose sizes that are bigger than the baby will need at the moment. Chances are that the parents already have enough outfits for the present, but spring clothing in a size or two larger will probably be greatly appreciated.

Blankets are a nice choice as well as diapers. Babies go through a *lot* of diapers and any help parents can get in this area is usually much appreciated. For another fun gift, consider helping to start a library by giving a few great starter books for babies and toddlers.

Other ideas for fabulous and appreciated gifts for baby:

(1) A bank with starter change. Find a great bank; they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Maybe you will find something to represent a first Christmas or something to match the baby's room decor. Maybe it will be just the customary "pig." Whatever it is, it would be a nice gesture to start the savings by putting a few dollars' worth of dimes and quarters in it as a starter.

(2) A gift certificate to a brick and mortar or online baby store. If you simply don't know what would be needed or appreciated, allow the baby's parents to choose the gift with a gift card or certificate.

(3) A teaching baby toy. Unless you are shopping for a newborn, remember that there are some great regular toys and crib toys that help to teach something. Baby's first Christmas doesn't mean that baby is just a few weeks old, he or she could actually be 11 months old and quite ready to enjoy some neat toys.

Another gift I remember from my daughter's first or second Christmas was a soft cloth doll. She loved and played with that for a long time. Make sure there are no parts (eyes, etc.) that could come off and that the package is marked for age appropriateness.

(4) A hand-crafted gift. If you are a crafty person in any way, think about making baby's holiday gift. I tried my hand at making a baby quilt for my nephew and it turned out really great. No matter what it is that you can craft, chances are that there is something you can do for a baby.

If you cross-stitch, try a cloth birth announcement. A woodworker can make a toy shelf or small book case. A knitter can make a baby blanket or socks. This category is totally unlimited and ranges from a crocheted afghan to a personalized story or poem from a writer or a personalized song from a composer or songwriter.

(5) A financial gift. This one won't be something that many people may choose, but giving a savings bond is often an appreciated gift. It won't mature for many years, but parents put the child's bonds into a safe place and then when the bonds become mature in the proper number of years, it is often very appreciated. Of course the wisdom in this kind of gift is that they cost less than they will be worth at maturity.

When deciding on a skincare range for your baby make sure extra care and consideration is taken. Although babies’ skin develops soon after conception it is still not fully developed when they are born. Skin is the largest organ in our body that is responsible for the sense of touch; it holds vital waters, keeps out toxin and bacteria, thus acting as a barrier. Babies’ skin is different than ours as it is thinner and contains lesser oil and melanin thus it needs more protection from the environment.

Melanin is a pigment that gives the skin color and protects it from the sun, without it babies can easily have a heat burn if exposed to long in the sun. Since baby’s skin is thinner any substance that is applied to the skin can be easily absorbed, so make sure to select a skincare range that is extra mild preferably fragrance free, soap free and hypoallergenic. The skincare must also be able to provide sufficient moisture and protection for baby’s skin.

After the first few weeks after birth, it is common for newborns to develop skin conditions such as baby acne, cradle cap, heat rash, eczema. Skin conditions can be stressful as every mother wants her baby to perfect from head to toe and cradle cap and eczema can be quite nasty to look at. Caring for your babies’ skin is quite easy once you get to know the cause of the problem and the relevant treatment.

Clothing’s can also be a cause for skin conditions such as chafing, as it is in constant contact with the skin. Baby must always be dressed in loose apparels, which are soft and clean. The right detergent and fabric softener need to be used to care for babies’ clothes that is dye and perfume free. Harsh and soiled fabric can cause dryness and irritation to babies’ sensitive skin. Rinsing your newborn clothes a few times should be sufficient to get rid of any debris of the detergent left in the fabric.

Surcare range such as Surcare Automatic non-biological washing powder, tablets and liquids are
dermatological tested and dermatologist approved and has no added dye or irritating perfumes. This will be helpful to prevent and minimize dry skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. In order to obtain more information on the product; visit their website at www.surcare.co.uk or e-mail at surcare@mcbride.co.uk.


Newborns retain some of their mothers’ hormones after birth and these hormones trigger the production of oil that starts to clog up the immature oil glands on baby’s face. Thus pimples and whiteheads start to appear on the face and cheeks. This baby acne will usually resolve by itself in due time. It is also advisable not to apply soap on baby’s face.

Cradle cap is crusty red patches on babies’ scalp. This is caused by the overactive oil glands on the scalp. Apply some baby oil on the scalp gently and leave it for a few minutes and then rinse thoroughly with a mild baby shampoo or you can use a baby comb to brush it out.

Heat rash is small pink spots on the baby’s body due to overheating, humidity and undeveloped sweat glands. Dress baby in loose, clean clothes and don’t overheat the room, make sure there is good air ventilation in the room. Chafing results when there is friction between the skin and baby’s clothing or when areas of skin rubs together. Clean and dry the skin and then apply cornstarch powder, cream or lotion and avoid clothes with rubber or straps.

Infantile Eczema or Atopic dermatitis is an itchy skin inflammation that can be followed by outbreaks. It starts out as a red itchy rash on the cheeks that spread to the neck and nappy area. If it starts to produce pus then see a doctor immediately. Some preventive measures that can be taken is do not overheat baby, use cotton clothes as it is more breathable compared to woolen or synthetic fabrics that can cause irritation and sweating. Wash the clothes in a perfume free detergent and apply lotion or cream to moisturize skin to avoid dryness. Cleansers such as aqueous cream and prescribed steroid cream can help to reduce the inflammation.

Another common skin condition in babies’ is nappy rash as their bottom is in constant contact with the urine and stool, which makes their skin sore. Use a breathable diaper that can absorb the urine to avoid wetness and apply a cream that will protect baby’s skin from the wetness. Baby wipes are also quite handy for constant cleaning and diaper change, select wipes that clean and moisturize at the same time like Johnson Baby Skincare wipes. It is made with revolutionary new softwaves and is enriched with a special moisturizing lotion and the added bonus is that it is alcohol free, pH balanced and has NO MORE TEARS FORMULA. So you can use it on babies’ face as well as their bottoms.

Babies’ also need to be given a bath frequently as they are sleeping and lying on their bed most of the time. Sweat, urine and stool are sources of bacteria and it is important to make sure that baby’s skin is always clean. It is important to select a skincare that is not only mild but also natural. AVEENO skincare provides a wide range of products from baby bath to nappy rash cream that are made from natural ingredients such as oatmeal.

AVEENO Baby wash and shampoo is tear free and contains natural oatmeal extract which cleans without drying babies, skin. It is so gentle it can be used daily and is suitable for newborns too. It is enriched with natural oat lipids and protein that is extracted from oat kernels and it is hypoallergenic. Babies with itchy, dry and irritated skin due to eczema, rashes and insect bites can be given a bath with the AVEENO Soothing bath treatment for relief. After the bath babies skin will be softer, moisturized and relieved as the treatment contains natural colloidal oatmeal. The treatment is also skin protectant, fragrance free, soap free and hypoallergenic. The AVEENO Baby diaper rash cream is rich in zinc oxide and soothing colloidal oatmeal, which is suitable to treat nappy rash that can be painful for babies at times.

Please visit AVEENO website at www.aveeno.com for more detailed information about the products and their purposes. There are many more products in the market for babies’ skin but be sure to select a skincare range that is natural and one that has been established in the market for a certain period of time.

These days a huge number of pushchairs and car seats are commercially available for babies to travel with their family. Then there are safety considerations as well. Let us look at some guiding factors in selecting the best travel products for your kids.

Selecting the Ideal Pushchair

Selecting the perfect pushchair can be quite complicated and many parents discover that what they brought home does not suit their needs once their baby arrives in this world. So ask yourself questions like where do you live; how do you travel; are you the out & about type and so on.

Weighing Up Your Car Seat

While choosing your car seat, remember that the important factor to consider is the weight of your child and not his/her age. The first seat you will need is an infant carrier i.e. a rearward facing seat, or a combination seat, which is a rearward seat that can be used as a forward facing seat as well. As you baby grows older, it will become necessary to move to a forward facing seat and then ultimately to high back boosters or booster cushions which may use an integral harness or combine with an adult seat.

The Baby's First Car Seat

If the situation is such that you are taking your baby home from a hospital in your car, even the hospital staff will press on you to have a proper infant car seat before letting you take the baby. The point is that maximum support needs to be provided to a new baby, the reason for this being that the baby's neck vertebrae are not yet developed. At this stage the only safe position for the infant is rearward facing such that the baby's head, neck, and spine find support from the seat back. This offers the best protection in case of an impact. Forward facing seats are essentially designed to be used from the time when the kid grows nine months old but it is recommended to let them have rearward facing for as long as possible. In addition, remember to practice fitting your car seat with the instructions before heading for the hospital. This is helpful in reducing the stress when you leave with your baby.

Growing Needs of the Baby

When your baby can sit up unaided, or if the top of their head protrudes over the top of the seat shell, then your baby will be secure in a forward facing seat. In case you go long distances, a seat that reclines can provide the baby added comfort. When it is time to use high back booster seats or booster cushions (from 15 kg of weight), it is again recommended that you use them for as long as possible. You can use them all the way up to the baby's eleventh year.

Properly Fitting the Child's Seat

Always keep in mind never to use a rearward facing car seat with a frontal airbag. Follow the instructions provided while you are fitting the seat. For every journey, fit and adjust the harnesses correctly. Never use Cosytoes or seat aprons when the seat is secured into your car; they may obstruct access to the buckle mechanism.

Useful Accessories

Following are some of the useful accessories that you will need to go with the baby's pushchair.

Weathershield: an easy-to-fit transparent cover that is perfect for all types of pushchair.

Cosytoe: fits around the lower body and keeps your baby warm and snug.

Parasol or Sun Canopy: helps shield your baby from the sun. You can also use a hat for the same purpose, depending on the weather.

Rain Cape: a lightweight, zip-up rainproof cover with hood that fits nicely around both the child and the pushchair.

Quick Tips for Baby Travel

To protect the baby from sun glare, use window shades.

Do not exceed the speed limit.

With a new baby traveling along, remember to take many breaks on a long journey and do not forget to take the baby's favorite toys along.

In the first three months, the baby spends most of the day lying flat for comfort. So no daily interstate trips unless your car has a special seat that allows the baby a flat lying position.

Take amusing paraphernalia like travel games, story tapes, music, non-sticky treats, and drinks to entertain the toddlers and older kids during the travel.

No pleasure exceeds that of seeing your baby grow up from the little cute mass of swaddling clothes to a smiling toddler and then an adventurous little person who can walk up and reach at things that are curious to his newly developed senses. But wait! Here is where the parents' pains kick off. With all the careful supervision you practice, there is always this Damocles' Sword of having your kid get him/herself hurt while exploring the house independently. So why not use your brains to make your home a really safe place for your baby.

One rather silly but really important way to ensure the safety of your baby is to kneel down to your baby's level (this might even require crawling on all fours) in different places within the house, especially those which are your kid's favorite resort. The point of this seemingly clownish act is that you will be able to see those little threatening items like lost coins, needles, buttons etc. that are hard to spot from your level of height but that lay on the ground, lurking to find their way into your baby's mouth. This kneeling/bending/crawling will also reveal to you the otherwise obscure sharp edges and corners. You can remedy these threatening edges and corners by using plastic corner covers.

Kitchen is one of the most potentially hazardous places in the house. With knives, forks, matches, all kinds of spices and pungent liquids, kitchen is almost a slaughterhouse for your wee lamb. Even a loose pea can cause a lot of trouble if it ends up stuck in the kid's nose or ear. The best way to keep the child safe is not to let him/her in the kitchen, especially when cooking is underway there. If the kid is a brat and cannot be kept outside, take care to use rear hotplates or gas rings, and keep panhandles turned away so that they are out of the child's reach. Be very careful about the cooker and hob guards. Keep the matches, sharp objects, chemicals, and cleaners locked away in child-resistant containers. Never put chemicals in the same container that has the edibles like drinks; the child may mistakenly devour it for their favorite drink. Cupboards, cabinets, and fridges should be fitted with safety catches.

Bathroom too is a dangerous place for kids since it is stuffed with a number of colorful liquids and bottles. Safety demands that all medication and chemicals be kept locked in a child-resistant container in a cupboard. Do the same to shampoos and soaps. When it is time to give your little one a bath, always run the cold water first. Add hot water later until you get the right temperature. Many of you already know how to test the water temperature: with your elbow. If nothing feels on it, the temperature is the ideal one for giving a bath. And always remember never ever to leave a young kid alone in the bath, not even for a jiffy.

Since your kid is always crazy about following the hyperactive poodle up the stairs, safety demands that the stairs should be fitted with safety gates at both the top and the bottom of each flight. Nothing should be left to trip over. Repair or just remove your worn or damaged carpet. Take time to select such railings that are narrowly spaced so that the kid's little head may not get stuck inside them.

Select the right cot according to the kid's size and needs. Do not position it anywhere near ledges or appliances (lamps etc.) that the child may easily grab.

You also need to look out for certain things in rooms. Dangling curtains and electric wires at once attract kids. Always unplug unused items and use socket covers to keep the kids from any possible electric shock. If you use door slam stoppers, you cut the risk of your child's fingers getting trapped in doors. If a window needs to be replaced, remember to use safety glass, especially in low-lying windows. You can also pit stickers on glass doors to make them more easily visible to the child.

Quick Tips for Safety

Playpens and dens are both fun for kids and these offer ideal protection.

Fireguards must be used for every fire.

Try not to carry a hot drink at the same time as you carry a child. Many accidents of the sort happen and children get scalds.

Broken glass (and pottery) should at once be cleaned and safely disposed. Also, do not let young children carry glassware.

It is always good to keep our home free from hazard especially when we have small guys at home. There are the ones who are susceptible to accidents if there are no safety measurements practiced at home. We might endanger them to possible accidents and we do not want these things to happen.

These are the possible tips I can consider are best for your hazard-free home. Starting of course in the bathroom where it is slippery and things that should not be accessible are unfortunately is in there reach. Ironic I must say that things that should be out of reach are the most accessible to kids. Better try separating the things that should be accessible to kids from those that should not be accessible. In a bathroom, small children must not be inside alone and must take assistance from older ones.

To achieve this, always keep the door closed to prevent children from attempting to get inside. The problem one parent will always encounter is that children are always interested to water. If they get inside the bathroom the tendency is that, they play over the faucet or anything that they find has water. The next thing you will find is that children will drink from the faucet or take a bath with their clothes on or not. The other thing is that toilet bowls is where most of the accidents happen. Most kids fall into the bowl, whether the bowl is too big or just enough for them. Your child might get injured from falling into the bowl and worst is drowning. Some objects inside the bathroom such as sharp razors, scissors and even appliances are very dangerous for the kids. They barely know what adults use of them and they will always think that it is a toy. Keep away these utensils to high places or locked inside the cabinet where a child has no access. Medicines kept inside the cabinet must always be kept locked to prevent them from swallowing, usage or playing over them. Bathroom tiles are slippery when wet so place non-slip mat to prevent kids from tripping, falling or slide. Safety first is our main concern and even with assistance don't ever get your eyes out from your children especially inside the bathroom.

Another hazardous part of the house for the child is the kitchen. Kitchen has materials that are easily broken. It is where we cook and this ultimately is not a place for a child. Make sure that all flammable materials such as matches, candle and lighter kept in a secured place. Children get curious to anything that can ignite fire. They cannot recognize things that can endanger them or the whole family. It has been known that some accidents at home are caused by burning a candle and even igniting a matchstick. Be sure these flammable objects are out of reach for children and kept in high places.
Other major accidents are the use of sharp utensils such as knives others are glassware. If possible, wash the dishes before leaving at home or keep them inside the utensil cabinet. These kinds of materials should not be left unattended to counters and tables. In the dining area if your child is not appropriate to the chair he/she is using, try making a chair that is fit for your child. Accidents such as falling from high chair do happen. Secure furniture that is always fit for their size. It is best to use plastic wares for your child so that if they intend to throw or play with it then it will be less harmful. Try not to use tablecloth in your tables to avoid them from pulling the tablecloth. Most of the time, children have the tendency to pull things without knowing the implications of this. If you're too busy handling your baby as well as preparing the food, make sure that you do not carry both the baby and a hot item. Set aside the hot item and place the child to a secure chair before you do anything. You might interchange the baby from the hot item you are serving or worst getting yourself child injured.

In the living room and other parts of the house it is important that it is always accident-free. For example, in the bookshelf always secure that it is not movable and books are held tightly to reduce of falling onto their heads. If you are using carpets in your floor, check if installed to avoid children to trip. Check the toys that you give to your child and consider the size of the toys. This is to prevent them from swallowing and even choking the child. Keep in safety places such as coins, pins, buttons and jewelries or other small objects. Keep them out of reach at all times. When it comes to home pets, be sure that your pets are not in contact with them when you are not around. Animals sometimes act strangely when they are with children or children might not know the behavior of the animals.

It is always advantageous to keep the house from any danger especially when a small guy or children at home. Make sure that wherever the child goes inside the house, it is maintained child-friendly.

Babies are the most fragile and they demand proper caring. Feeding them is the most difficult and meticulous of all since giving them the right amount of nutrition will determine there immune system.
Babies depend on the adults for there daily food and knowing which is the right kind is one we must know about. On the first five months of the child, there bodies are preparing for the milk that will be given to the child when he/she comes out. Nevertheless, some conditions of the mother might hinder in providing the breastfeeding to the child. It might be emotionally, medical or for some instance absence of the mother. This is why, technology has its own way of meeting the needs of the child by providing the same nutrients and nutritional values to supplement the child.
Why in the first place, breastfeeding is very essential to child. This is because the breast milk has composition that is most appropriate for a given period of time and the right amount of nutrition. During the first breastfeeding of the child, the breast milk itself provides colostrums that are very high in protein, vitamins and minerals sufficient for that newborn baby.
Breast milk has fewer amounts of sodium and protein that in return does not cause kidney problems among infants. Giving the safest and natural milk one baby can have. Digestion is not a problem since it has lactalbumin (a protein). It does not give conflict in the stomach which infants have the most sensitive part of their bodies. Unlike any other milk, it has antibodies which help the immune system get stronger to fight illnesses that they are exposed to. The calcium found in the milk is better absorbed to babies almost 13%. Mom’s milk compared to any milk is allergy free unless for instance that mother has eaten something being absorbed by breast milk and passed on the child.
Breastmilk has never been found to cause diarrhea since it is sterile and destroys the harmful microorganisms that causes digestive problems or stomach upset. It is ready to use without any heating, the temperature is at perfect level.
What is most convenient in breastfeeding is the availability of it at all times at the time the child needed it There is no special diet a mother has to go through in order to supply the milk to her child. It can only depend on what she eats to eliminate the passing of allergy.
Through breastfeeding, a bond or relationship between mother and child is greatly enhanced. The connection from the time the child is conceived until it is born in this world. Nothing in this world can compare the kind of connection, an opportunity or privilege of the mother to feed her child.
What is so different between breastfeeding is the optimum level of nutrition sufficient to nourish the child and helps in stronger immune system. Breastfeeding is the most recommended by doctors anywhere in the world. Since breastmilk is different from any other milk and nothing can ever replace the nutritional value it gives. It constantly changes its content to the needed nutrition of the child. Unlike cow’s milk and other milk found in the market, it must be consulted first to the physician before the actual intake. Child stomach discomfort is unavoidable since it is not fitting to their stomach intake.
Just by knowing this sort of things and as a girl who will soon bear a child, then having a sneak preview of what goes on in our own body is important. Nowadays, so many different kinds of milk are available in the market and with women are competing with boys in work we seldom realize the importance of breastmilk. Some women are too busy to feed or might no time to sit and feed their babies instead resort to branded milks to replace breastmilk must think twice. Nothing replaces the milk of the mother and that tender loving care.
Nature itself has its own way of feeding us when we grow older and nature itself has its own way of feeding us when we could not even chew a food. From the mother’s womb who intently feed it inside can also sufficiently feed infants when they come out. This is the design of nature and anything that breaks nature may come close to the original design of it.

I remember one time when I started feeding a child and all of sudden I asked myself, when do we let the child eat real food. I mean when do they have to eat solid food? I certainly don't have an idea until I asked my friend about it who has a toddler. I cannot believe her saying to me that her baby is actually eating solid food right after five months. I can see from the body structure of the child having strong arms and great standing way before he turns one year old. He easily utters words that are surprising for a one year old. It even left me believing this child must be genius.

But it isn't new at all. A child could even eat solid food at six months old however one should not force the baby until such is ready. A baby who is well developed even at the early age the residing factor will the child's being health. The mother's proper nourishment during the baby is still inside the womb and during the breastfeeding period. These are one of the many factors that can indicate the child's early development that can prepare him to eat solid food. A parent must understand all of this and also through the help of the physician. Too early or too late preparation for the child's eating of solid food can affect his future eating habits. It is also essential to feed the child on right amount of time and the right kind of food this is for the sufficient nourishment for the body.

This made me realize that babies has also have timetable when it comes to eating. I can always remember mothers feeding their babies through breast milk and I hadn't remembered them serving the solid food. I always thought that babies drink as long as they want when in fact the parents should be the one who manages their food. It made me realize how importance is our knowledge in child rearing especially for mothers. For what we serve our children can indicate their nourishment and affect their early developments that can also affect their long-term development.

So I browse along books having guidelines to babies proper nutrition. It answers everything that I always wonder about. Such of the questions are, when will I know when to give solid food? What are signs that can help me know that my child is ready to eat solid food. Lastly, what kind of baby foods is best for them.

Along are the answers that I hope will give an idea for any first time moms who want to know the responsibilities that they have.

A baby is ready to eat solid food when the birth weight is doubled. In this time you will consider the weight during the time he was born until six months. Breastmilk or formula is not enough for the child's nourishment this is why solid food is introduced.

Consider the child's early motor skills like holding his head up. If the child can already control the movement of the head, this is a good indication that his body is ready. But there is much to consider before going to the final judgment.
Third, try noticing the amount of milk intake of the child. If the child is consuming 32 ounces or more of milk, an indication that the child is already ready to each food not just milk. Milk becomes less to his proper diet.

Lastly, sometimes playing with babies of how he gets curious of putting things in his mouth is also a sign that he gets interest to not just milk but other food. He gets excited and keeps on reaching on perhaps toys or food shown at him. The child's interest towards food is already greater.

But then again, everything should be consulted to the doctor or the pediatrician in order to ensure that what you had observed is already best for your child. Infants are the most fragile humans and they need proper guidance and those who look after them must also be guided properly.

In preparing for a solid food for babies it doesn't mean that they really are solid. Since they don't have teeth. Their mouth cannot break down large pieces into smaller neither they can swallow it whole. One must consider breaking those solid foods for them. Then the food should be prepared in mashed, strained or pureed at a room temperature.
Well that can be head start for these little kids to be strong and healthy all the way. Feed them like we were once feed before and grow up healthy.