Parenting

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2

Help Your Child to Behave better
2007-12-13 13:54:00
'I don't know why Mummy is always shouting at me. I don’t think I am being bad, but she shouts at me anyway. I try to help but that gets me shouted at as well.' Could this be your child? Does it feel like all you do is yell at her? Life does not have to be like this. Spend a few minutes reading this article and find out how you could transform your life and help your child to become more responsible and self confident. It is easy to get into certain habits of behavior - often without knowing it. For instance, when your child leaves the table without putting her plates over to the sink what do you do? Do you remind her to take the plates over or do you shout that she never remembers to do this one simple thing? What about the times she does remember, are you as quick to praise her as you are to shout at her? It’s a very simple idea, but very true nevertheless - using positive praise can improve your life. It really can transform your home life. Try this for a week or two...
More About: Child

Anemia During Pregnancy
2007-06-30 09:36:00
Anemia during pregnancy is most commonly caused by an iron deficiency. Being tested for anemia early in your pregnancy is a good idea, but may not be enough, since anemia may still develop as your pregnancy progresses. Although anemia is caused by an iron deficiency in your body, you will not need to worry too much about your baby, since he will be sure to get as much iron from you as he needs. Your baby will only be in danger of suffering from anemia if the situation is completely ignored. How will I be able to tell if I am anemic? Anemia should be easily identifiable in the blood tests that you take frequently throughout your pregnancy. The baby will start drawing on your iron reserves much more heavily around week 20, so you may develop anemia later in your pregnancy. Common symptoms of anemia during pregnancy include: * Feeling exhausted or weak * Pale or light skin* Fainting spells * Palpitations * Breathlessness Who is most at risk? Pregnant women who have poor nutrition...
More About: Pregnancy

Tips On Your Baby Skin Care
2007-06-23 15:22:00
Although babies have basically flawless skin, some babies appear to have irritations and redness on their facial skin. This should not alarm parents as this condition is actually quite normal and would probably stop all on its own. Baby skin is actually the purest and the healthiest as all functions are still active and the skin is still well hydrated. There is little damage from sunlight that can be seen and blemishes are non-existent. Of course, damage will eventually be visible as children will most likely play outside under the sun when they grow a little bit older. One thing that parents must understand though is the fact that not because children’s skin are flawless, their skin is not damaged or is not being damaged. Oftentimes, the visible signs of damage come later in life. And because children have no idea in what skin care is or could not care less on the condition of their skin 10 years in the future, it is the responsibility of the parents to educate their children ...
More About: Skin , Skin Care , Tips , Care

Prepare Your Baby to Walk
2007-06-16 16:26:00
One to walk, Two to talk it's a wonderful saying that clearly depicts that a one year old baby is ready to learn to walk. One concern many parents have is teaching their baby to walk. Pare nts often ask about ways to help their baby walk. Many parents know that crawling is one of the major milestones infants must master. It's a key period when your baby becomes stronger and starts walking. Babies don’t just wake up one day and start walking. Walk ing is a natural skill most babies automatically master. But many times it just doesn't happen for really good reasons. Teaching your baby to walk easily depends on her mastering those first steps. It’s important to make sure that your home is a safe environment when baby start walking. Watch in your home to prevent your child from getting hurt on sharp corners and stairs while your teaching your baby to walk. You will be tempted to buy walker to teach your kid how to start walking.However, when you’re teaching your baby to walk ...
More About: Baby , Prep

Wise Ways To Discipline
2007-06-16 08:36:00
First of all there are some very important factors to consider for discipline to work well. Without them, your efforts to effectively teach your children will ultimately fail. 1. INFLUENCE: You cannot teach what you do not live. For example, you cannot teach your child not to yell at you, if you yell at your child. Much of what our children learn is through observation and imitation. Our babies and children watch us intently, and our influence over their lives is immeasurable. Every day, remind yourself that you are a leader and an example to your children. (and remember that when you blow it, as we all do, the best example to set is to say sorry, have a cuddle, take a big breath, and move on.) 2. ENVIRONMENT: Babies and children are more receptive to discipline when we create a WARM, SAFE AND STIMULATING environment. Warmth means our children know they are cherished, valued and approved of. We make it clear that when they misbehave, it is the behaviour we disapprove of, not them....
More About: Discipline , Wise , Disc

Blogs That Link here
2007-06-16 08:27:00
Twice Babies Mom This Blog is about my twins, A&E,and being a Mommy of Twins. I hopeyou enjoy what I write about and letyou join me on my new journey as aMother of Twins as well. Topsites Web Directory - nice and clean directory with tons of listings!
More About: Blogs , Link

Tips for Preserving Baby Photos
2007-06-15 04:18:00
All people want to keep their memories preserved. Photos are the thing that keeps the memories alive. As the years go by, you watch your baby growing up. You don’t want to lose the memory of the baby’s look of your child. Baby photos are the only way not to lose it. If you take care of the baby photos, they will last for a long time. You just need to acquire the knowledge of the right way to take care of the baby photos. Only if the baby photos are in a good state, you will enjoy the pleasure to look at them. The first principle when taking care of the baby photos is to keep them away of direct light. This is probably the most important rule.It is very important to specify that baby photos have to be kept away from any type of light, not only away of sunlight. It is not correct to delude yourself that the light will not damage your black and white baby photos. Light destroys the color in all pictures – no matter if the baby photos are black and white or colorful. Many people k...
More About: Tips

10 Points on Children for the New Parent
2007-06-14 04:51:00
Everyone has their own ‘special’ way of parenting – some good and some that could be improved upon. I remember when my daughter was born, later my son. I should’ve done this, should’ve done that and maybe improved in some areas. Comments were all from well meaning individuals trying to help me out. Most times I appreciated their pearls of wisdom because they made sense. At other times the line dividing the ‘yes we can talk about this’ crossed over into ‘the no go zone’ and I would bristle and spit like an angry cat! In the end, for my sanity, I did it my way. I’m a granny now and I now provide well meaning advice to my daughter who is much like me – you can well imagine what she’s thinking! I returned to the workforce within 12 months after each pregnancy, and every time I found I was in conflict with me. One part of me wanted to get out there again, and the other didn’t want to leave my children. Although I was getting my life back, inwardly I still wonder...
More About: Children , Points , Parent , Pare

Teething Symptoms and How to Treat Them
2007-06-12 04:08:00
Teething is what your baby experiences when her first set of teeth begins to appear. Some babies will go through this event without a problem. However, other babies will experience discomfort. To tell when your baby is about to enter this phase of growth, this page describes the teething symptoms to be aware of. Then if you think your baby is experiencing these symptoms, some pain relieving remedies and guidelines will be presented to help you soothe your baby. What Are The Teething Symptoms ? To determine if your baby is teething, ask yourself a few questions. Does she appear to be fussier? Is she crying at night? Does she cling to you? Is she dribbling or drooling in excessive amounts? Is she chewing on her fingers or objects? Are her gums red, swollen or inflamed? Does she demand more breast or bottle feeding? On the other hand, does she reject breast or bottle feeding because you think the sucking is hurting her gums? Other signs include poor appetite and interrupted sleep patt...
More About: Treat , Teething

Four Alternatives to Hitting Children
2007-06-11 06:36:00
National surveys show that over the past twenty years, more than 90 percent of parents with small children admit to using one or more forms of corporal punishment. Corporal punishment includes pinching, shaking, slapping, punching, a spanking, hitting, and beating children with an object such as a belt. Studies have shown that using these methods can result in serious and tragic longer-term effects such as the children becoming abusive parents themselves. So what can be done instead? In the video Shaking, Hitting, Spanking: What to Do Instead parental techniques for gaining the cooperation and respect of children without resorting to corporal punishment or physical violence are discussed and demonstrated. The video makes the point that infants should NEVER be punished. Infants do not know the difference between right and wrong. Because their behavior is not intentional, they should never be punished. Other alternatives to corporal punishment include; 1. PREVENTION - Probably the ...
More About: Children , Alternatives , Alter , Native , Alterna

My Amazing Story: How I Lost Thirty Pounds After Having A Baby
2007-06-10 06:57:00
Two months after I got married, I got pregnant. Before I got pregnant I weighed a healthy 150 pounds, and believe me, when I realized I was pregnant I was very worried that my body was going to explode, and it did. But here is a story about how weight loss after pregnancy is possible, but this particular way is not recommended. How I Gained the Weight Being newly married and being newly pregnant were two things that led me to eat. I ate and ate and ate and ate. Before the first trimester was over I weighed 175 pounds. The ice cream tasted very good, but the numbers on the scale made me sick to my stomach. By the time the second trimester rolled around, I was sure that if I lay down on the ground I could roll around too. I listened to the OB/GYN when he said that I should take better care of myself during the pregnancy for myself and the baby’s sake, but food was comforting me in a time of emotional upheaval. By the third trimester I had gained 40 pounds. In my own defense I ...
More About: Baby , Lost , Story , Amazing , Tory

Memory and Attention in Children
2007-06-09 09:56:00
What is the relationship between Memory and Attention in the classroom? As a teacher or parent, it is important to maintain the child’s attention, but does memory have a co-existence in this field? Attention is seen as being important because, “we do not pay close attention to much of the information to which we are exposed, typically only scant mental processing takes place, and we forget new material almost immediately”. If attention is important in retaining our memory, it is important to understand what our memory does and how teachers should understand these patterns and processing levels which determine a child’s thought. One might suggest, “The best way to remember new information is to consider it thoroughly when you are first exposed to it-reflecting on how it relates to information that you currently know” (Feldman, 2000).A teacher needs to learn how to keep the child’s attention in the daily lesson plans and focus on maintaining the child’s long-term memor...
More About: Children , Tent

Common Childhood Illnesses…
2007-06-08 06:29:00
Children are very susceptible to illnesses, in part because their immune systems are not fully mature. Breastfeeding of course provides some immunity to common illnesses, but nowadays most children are weaned by the time they are 1 year old. Children also have a habit of exploring the world around them with their mouths and their hands. Anything that comes into contact with their mouth and hands can potentially cause an illness. The good news is that the more your child is exposed the stronger their immune systems will become, and their ability to fight off infection in the future. Some of the most common childhood illnesses and symptoms to be on the look out are listed below: Colds/Cough – Cold and coughs are usually caused by viral infections, thus must be spread by person to person contact, not through the weather alone. Common symptoms of a cold include a stuffy nose, cough, possible sore throat and occasionally a temperature. Colds can become more severe and result in bro...
More About: Childhood , Illnesses

How Can You Help Your Unborn Baby Develop
2007-06-07 07:34:00
Research has shown that babies in their mom's womb can hear sounds from the environment, and it is widely believed that the baby is sensitive to their environment - inside and outside of their mother's womb. It is widely believed that the mother's moods and activities can affect the unborn baby (I use the term baby instead of fetus, it is my personal preference.) It is a good idea for an expectant mother to arrange for a peaceful and happy environment. Luckily, it is quite common for this time of a woman's life to be the most happy time in life. By no means do I want to convey that I recommend for the mother to be inactive. Activity is great (as long as there is no physical condition that dictates otherwise). However, I definitely recommend engaging in activities that bring joy and enjoyment. I have heard stories from mothers who noticed a significant change in the amount of movement they have felt when a very loud and fast music was played. My mother told me this funny sto...
More About: Baby , Develop

Handling crying baby while driving
2007-06-01 09:54:00
Even very calm and quiet baby can turn into a real crying irritation in any vehicle. There may be thousands of reasons for that but I can assure you that it will make your driving dangerous. It can really make you go wild and you will be seeking anyway possible to make baby quiet for the moment. You can easily be distracted from screams baby is making and can meet accident anytime. Baby ’s cry can make you real angry and which can have an effect on your driving. You will drive real rash and offensive. I don’t think that there is any easy way to calm your child down. I have few simple ideas to make life little better for you during that period. Never let your kid crying affect you while you are driving. Don’t get angry on him or her as it will make baby cry more and will feel like you are shouting at him or her. A child who is real baby won’t understand what you are trying to say but will be under tremendous pressure of getting threatened and will cry more. Always calm yourse...
More About: Driving , Crying

Scrapbooking Your Christmas Memories
2007-06-01 06:42:00
Christmas memories are some of our fondest, most heartwarming ones. So of course we want to preserve them in our scrapbook albums. However, when the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is upon us, we may forget to take particular photos or save certain memorabilia. To help you remember, below is a list of Christmas memories and keepsakes you’ll want to capture in your scrapbook album. . Cutting Down the Tree . For those who get their trees from a tree farm, cutting down the tree is a favorite Christmas activity. Take pictures of the tree before, during and after the cutting. Journal about who picked out the tree, where you got the tree and what the weather was like that day. . Trimming the Tree . Whether your tree is real or artificial, trimming the tree is a special event. Take pictures of the tree in various stages of being decorated. Include people hanging their favorite ornaments, putting on the star or angel, and posing with the fully decorated and lit tree. . Deck the Ha...
More About: Christmas , Scrapbooking , Memories

Why Is My Child Wetting The Bed? 8 Ways To Handle Bedwetting
2007-06-01 06:21:00
We parents spend so much time and energy potty training. From the first hurrahs when there’s a little pee in the potty to the uproarious applause when there’s finally poop there, we invest a little of ourselves along the way. Once your child is potty trained, you feel like taking a “pee pee in the potty” victory lap around the house. So it’s no wonder parents are frustrated and dismayed when a child starts wetting the bed. We think we’re free of the diaper and training shackles and then this. When should you worry? Should you worry at all? What can you do about it?It might make parents feel better to know bedwetting is a fairly common problem for many children. The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates that 5 to 7 million children wet the bed, though in that number there will be more boys than girls. So, what causes bedwetting? A fair number of factors might be responsible, really.Some causes of bedwetting (or technically called enuresis) include: * Stress * Ge...
More About: Child , Bedwetting , Handle

Bringing Home Baby – Ease the Transition
2007-05-30 08:33:00
You welcomed your baby or babies into the world and are returning home to either begin or to continue the journey of motherhood. Your new life will be filled with constant love and laughter, daily multitasking and new activities. It will also entail an ongoing education process as you become adept with your new role and responsibilities. Although you cannot completely prepare for your new family or how you will respond to your newborn’s disposition and eating and sleeping schedules, there are certain steps you can take to ease the transition of bringing home baby. Consider the following ideas when preparing for your baby’s arrival: Baby Pre-wash baby clothes, towels and other baby items such as sheets and blankets. Stock up on diapers and wipes. Stock up on formula (if you are not nursing) and wash bottles for formula or breast milk. Setup the nursery. Install the car seat in your vehicle. Assemble baby equipment such as strollers, swings, bassinets and cribs. Research ...
More About: Home , Ease , Transition , Tran

Are Today’s Families too Modern for Family Traditions?
2007-05-30 08:23:00
Family traditions are as old as the family itself. They represent a comforting routine that many of us look forward to year after year. But in the age of scheduling conflicts and commercialism have families become too modern for family traditions? Luckily, the answer is no. A recent survey of more than 200 parents showed that family traditions are still an important part of the holidays. In all, 61% of respondents said that family traditions are “very important” in their family, and another 35% said they are somewhat important. Only 4% considered family traditions unimportant in their current families. The biggest reason for this seems to be the emphasis placed on family traditions while growing up. As the Generation Xers now start families of their own, they are reminded of the family traditions they shared with their parents and want to create similar memories for their children. In fact, the majority (74%) have even started new family traditions since their children were b...
More About: Family , Traditions , Modern , Families

Raising Kids with Non-Violent Behavior: 3 Affirmations That Build Character
2007-05-29 13:49:00
Jaclyn O'Malley published an article about a middle school student in the Reno Gazette-Journal last March. The student deliberately shot one classmate. A second bullet ricocheted off the floor and hit a nearby girl. The 14 year-old shooter did it because his classmates made fun of him. Having been a child/family counselor, I know the pain parents feel when an enraged child becomes violent. I know how helpless parents can feel, and I know how parents can build character so that their kids choose non-violent behavior. Using positive affirmations from early childhood can help. Below are 3 positive affirmations that increase non-violent behavior and build character too. How positive affirmations increase thoughtfulness: When your child invites a shy kid to play, you can increase your child's thoughtfulness with a positive affirmation like: "I'm pleased when you include kids who aren't playing - Because it shows how thoughtful you are. Because you just made (kid's name) feel wel...
More About: Kids , Behavior , Character , Build , Viol

Weight Loss After Pregnancy
2007-05-29 07:26:00
Weight gain in pregnancy is healthy and natural, but many women crave to return to their pre-pregnancy bodies. But you need to exercise caution when losing your baby weight. Just as it's best to put on weight slowly and steadily during your pregnancy, you need to be slow and steady in losing weight after your pregnancy. Here are some tips for getting back into shape. .Breastfeeding One good way to lose some of your pregnancy weight is to breastfeed! Always pair breastfeeding with other forms of post partum weight loss. One of the reasons your body puts on weight during pregnancy is to help store the caloric energy it takes to breastfeed your baby-about 200 to 500 extra calories per day. Therefore take advantage of losing calories the way your body naturally intended-breastfeeding!. Exercise There are many benefits to exercising after your pregnancy. It will help you lose those extra pounds put on during pregnancy, alleviate post-partum depression and, unlike dieting, it won't int...
More About: Weight Loss , Weight , Pregnancy , Loss , Weigh

What Kind of Baby Equipment Will You Need?
2007-05-29 07:09:00
Are you planning to have a baby? Having a baby is a major event in any couple’s life and would often entails major adjustments as well. You will realize that you will need a big space just to accommodate all the baby equipment you will need. For such tiny beings, their stuff can certainly occupy a lot of space. Visiting family and friends can seem like a military operation and can’t really be unplanned. You have to plan ahead and decide which equipment will be required for a particular trip. Many parents keep a bag ready and full of all the equipment they’ll need. Going on grander trips like vacations requires even more preparation. Baby equipment is also an expensive business, and some parents buy used equipment or receive gifts from grandparents and other relatives. If you have items for your firstborn, you can hand them some of them to your next baby. It is important to purchase products from reputable companies, to guarantee safety and quality. Parents also need to consid...
More About: Equipment

Make Your Own Baby Foods.
2007-05-28 13:51:00
Making your own baby food is simple, convenient, and can save you money. Nutritionally, it's hard to beat the wholesomeness of foods right from your kitchen. You can feed baby some of your family's regular foods knowing that they are free from the additives and fillers found in some store-bought baby foods. Family foods, if prepared with salt, spices, sugar, or fat, are not suitable for infants. You will need to prepare foods separately, or remove the baby's portion before salt, sugar, or other seasonings are added.Making your own baby food doesn't require a lot of expensive equipment. At a minimum, all you need to get started is a clean pot to cook in and equipment to get the foods to the right consistency. EQUIPMENT FOR PUREEING BABY FOODS Some foods, such as bananas and other ripe fruits, require only a fork for mashing. A potato masher also works well to puree cooked apples, winter squash, potatoes, or carrots. Be sure to remove lumps, pieces of skin, strings, or seeds b...
More About: Baby , Foods , Make

Tips On Raising Your Newborn Child
2007-05-28 10:43:00
Having a baby is one of the most beautiful things that could happen in a parent’s life. Yet, it is also challenging. Raising your newborn child is not easy. It takes a lot of effort and patience to nurture your child until he or she reaches the stage of complete development. Though some of the time this task is can be quite challenging, the joys certainly outweigh any negatives. Here are some suggestions for successful baby nurturing: 1. Feeding Breast milk is recommended for the first year of a newborn’s life. This is to give the baby the optimum sustenance to grow and progress. Generally speaking, the newborn child should be breastfed about 8 to 10 times a day during the baby’s first few weeks. As a parent, it is necessary that you know when your baby is getting the proper nourishment needed. Some indications that your baby is feeding well is when he or she is having four or more wet diapers a day or having a bowel movements 3 times or more a day. 2. Sleep Don’t be surp...
More About: Tips , Child , Newb

Making The Most of Those Monthly Baby Checkups
2007-05-28 03:03:00
Even healthy babies spend a lot of time at the doctors clinic. Well-baby checkups, which are scheduled every month or two during the first year, allow the doctor to keep track of your baby's growth and development, ensuring that everything's on target. But they're also the perfect time for you to ask the long list of questions you've accumulated since your last visit, and to walk away with a wealth ot advice on how to keep your 'well baby' well. To make sure you make the most of a well-baby visit: Time it right. When scheduling appointments, try to steer clear of nap time, lunchtime and any time your baby's typically fussy. And go for an empty waiting room, avoiding peak hours at the doctor's surgery, if possible. Mornings are usually quieter because older children are in school so, in general, a pre-lunch appointment will beat the four o'clock rush. And if you feel you'll need extra time (you have even more questions and concerns than usual), ask for it so it can be sche...
More About: Baby , Makin , Month , Mont

7 Ways To Guarantee Success For WAHM (Work At Home Moms)
2007-05-27 23:56:00
Are you a WAHM (work at home mom)? Or maybe you’d like to be one? You’ve made a great decision. As a work at home mom you get the best of both worlds. You are home with your kids so they are being raised by you instead of a daycare worker, and you also are making an income to support your family. Work at home moms have it all – the joy of their children, the mental stimulation of a career, and a stress-free, comfortable work environment.“Wait!” You say, “WAHM jobs are not stress-free!” Well ladies I’m here to tell you it can be done. Consider me your personal WAHM resource for solutions to your work at home problems. Follow these simple steps to create an organized and effective work at home environment. Key to Success #1: Create A Flexible Schedule Babies need to be on a schedule right away. In fact they thrive and actually cry less knowing that they can count on their needs being met regularly. For most babies you can follow a simple schedule of feeding time, fol...
More About: Home , Moms