Parenting Forums http://www.parentingforums.org/ Parenting Forums, Parenting Resources, and Community for Parents. Discuss Child Development, Education, Health and Nutrition with Fellow Parents and Educators. en Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:31:06 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.cgstatic.com/parentingforums.org/images/parents/misc/rss.jpg Parenting Forums http://www.parentingforums.org/ Being patient during pregnancy http://www.parentingforums.org/12997/view Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:57:49 GMT From the moment you find out you are expecting, it is hard not to spend every waking moment thinking about the day you finally get to see that tiny... From the moment you find out you are expecting, it is hard not to spend every waking moment thinking about the day you finally get to see that tiny little person's face. Couple that with morning sickness, extreme fatigue, heartburn, back pain, swollen ankles, and all of the other wonders of pregnancy, and you have the perfect recipe for eager soup! Well, you know what I mean. Even given all of these things, it is important to remember that your baby will come when he or she is ready (not when you are), and it is for the best that they get the opportunity to cook in your oven for as long as they need to.

When your doctor says forty weeks, and gives you your due date, this is not exact. In fact, only about five percent of babies are born on their actual due date. In healthy full term pregnancies, babies are generally born between week 37 and 42. A study done in 1990 found that the average length of a pregnancy was about forty weeks plus eight days for first time mothers, and forty weeks plus three days for mothers having their second, or subsequent babies. My oldest was one day past his due date, and my youngest was four days past his due date. I have seen so many first time mothers (or even second or third time mothers) that start to get antsy around 37 weeks which is commonly known as "full term" (not to be mistaken with "all done"!), because they are done being pregnant and they think the baby should come now. I don't think due dates should even be given, because even worse than 37 weeks, mothers tend to go crazy at that 40 week mark. They think "this is my due date! The baby should be born by now", but really due dates are only an estimate and only your baby knows when he or she is ready to come. It is so much better to just relax and try not to think about when the baby will come. I was very antsy with my oldest, but learned to calm down and wait it out without stressing with my youngest and it was a much better experience.



Unless medically necessary, inductions are not a great idea. Forcing your body to go into labor before it's ready just doesn't usually have a good outcome. In many cases, they will go through the whole induction procedure, and the mother will never progress because her body was not ready. So a lot of the time, inductions do not even work. When the induction does work however, Pitocin-induced contractions are known to be much worse and much more stressful on the baby than natural contractions. Induction labor is known to last much longer than natural labor, and sadly inductions have a 50% chance of leading to an emergency C-section because it either doesn't work on mom's body or it works too hard on baby's body and baby goes into distress. Another bummer about inductions is that due date predicting ultrasounds are not always accurate. Whereas you might think you are inducing a 38 week baby, you end up finding out that your baby is closer to 36 weeks in development upon his arrival and he has trouble breathing due to under developed lungs and problems eating because he is too young. There is a much higher potential for jaundice the earlier the baby is, among other problems. I would never recommend induction unless medically necessary.

The main thing you should try to keep reminding yourself is that the closer your baby is to his due date, the stronger and healthier he will be when he is born. If he takes longer, that just means that he needs that time to finish up the little details. It also means that you get a little extra time to sleep and spend time with your hubby. Don't get impatient, try to just relax and go with the flow and you will get through your remaining time with a lot more ease. Your baby will happily and readily come in his own good time! ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12997/view Travelling with kids http://www.parentingforums.org/12957/view Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:03:24 GMT If you want to take that vacation or visit those distant family members, and you would like to bring the kids, there are ways to make things easier... If you want to take that vacation or visit those distant family members, and you would like to bring the kids, there are ways to make things easier on yourself. Unfortunately it can be difficult to keep kids sitting down and behaving comfortably for long periods of time in order to get to our destinations safely. Many parents dread any sorts of long trips when it comes to their kids. We know there may be whining, crying, and irritation. Possibly bad behavior due to the frustration of having to hold still for so long. We have all heard the famous "are we there yet" and "I want to get out of the car" quotes. Thankfully, if you put some time and effort into it, you can make a long trip with kids a little better.

For infants, if you are flying then you should be sure to have bottles (or breasts) and pacifiers ready so that they have something to suck on to relieve the pressure in their ears. Make sure you bring a blanket, as it can get a little chilly on planes. Don't forget to pack extra diapers, wipes, and clothes in your carry on bag. Diaper explosions are most likely to happen in the most inconvenient places!! It will also help if you bring along a few favorite toys to keep their attention. Thankfully babies are usually happy just being held. I know my oldest was great on planes, and the only problem I had with him was the ear aches from the pressure afterwards. If you are in the car with a baby, same rules apply with the favorite toys and the changes of clothes and whatnot. Play some upbeat music in the car to keep a good mood and distract the baby. Be prepared to make several stops to get some air. If you think you can, maybe even try to make the trip at night so that the little one will sleep through the whole thing.



For toddlers and preschoolers, be prepared to do a lot of talking and playing on a plane or in a car. Answer questions, and talk about how cars and planes work. Point out the scenery outside and strike up a conversation about it. Bring along favorite toys or even new toys to keep their attention. Play little games or sing songs. Just keep switching activities in order to keep them from getting bored and irritated. Last time we took my oldest on a car trip at I think two or three years old, I drew a car track inside of the top of a shoe box (it has rims so that cars wont fall out of it) and he got a huge kick out of it. I also bought a bunch of new interesting things and put them in a box special for the trip. Random things like stickers, a new pack of cars, silly bands, crayons and paper, things like that. Even still, be prepared to stop when you can to stretch little legs!

For older kids and teenagers, thankfully they are a little easier. Keep telling them how much time is left, or how many miles are left, or even where you are and where you still need to go. I liked hearing all of that information when I used to go on trips as a kid. I liked feeling informed about our progress, and it made the trip seem a little less endless. Sing songs, play I spy and letter games, and prepare a bunch of their favorite music on the iPod to play while you are in the car. Have them bring headphones and books. If you can splurge on a portable DVD player, that would be great.

Most importantly, stay calm and try to enjoy the time together. If you get really frustrated, find a place to stop so you can get some fresh air and a cold beverage or what have you. Try not to be in a hurry, because that will make things a lot harder. Make it a fun bonding experience for all of you. The best part of all will be when everyone arrives happily at their destination! ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12957/view Encouraging kids to brush their teeth http://www.parentingforums.org/12919/view Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:07:51 GMT We all know it can sometimes be a challenge to get our kids to brush their teeth. It can be something of a chore, it takes time out of their day, and... We all know it can sometimes be a challenge to get our kids to brush their teeth. It can be something of a chore, it takes time out of their day, and it is just plain boring. Due to this, we have kids that complain about doing it, or just outright refuse to do it. Of course, it is so important that they brush their teeth. Not brushing can obviously cause cavities or tartar, even gingivitis. We do not want that!

One thing that worked great for my son, and I have seen work great for others, are the special tooth brushes. My son's favorite is the firefly toothbrush, which lights up and flashes brightly the whole time you brush. This was especially useful when he was very little and he didn't want me to brush his teeth. He thought the light up toothbrush was so cool, he demanded to try it himself after each time I brushed! So that was a big win on my part. They also have the ones that play music for the length of time you should be brushing, and they come in a variety of good tunes. Some kids might even be more preferable to the electric toothbrushes that spin while you brush. Nothing wrong with that, considering they clean even better than a regular brush!



You can use a timer to make sure they are brushing long enough, and to make it more interesting for them. There are plenty of different kinds of timers, so you could find the one your child likes and use that. Maybe you can switch to a new one every now and again to keep things fresh. These days they make so many different kinds of kid's toothpaste too, with tasty flavors and favorite characters. A lot of kids also like that fun mouthwash that turns the dirty spots on your teeth silly colors. They make a lot of great flavors these days. For even better hygiene, you can buy the colorful individual flossing sticks to get in between those teeth. They make crayon shaped ones too, my son loves those. I have heard that flossing is even more important as brushing!

I would say most importantly, make sure you remind your kids how good it feels to have clean teeth, and how important it is to keep them that way. Have them run their tongue across their teeth after a brush and feel how smooth and nice they are compared to before they brushed. Talk about what a good feeling that is. Remind them that if they don't brush, or brush properly, that they can get cavities which hurt and will need filled by the dentist. That wouldn't be fun at all! ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12919/view Enjoying the holidays http://www.parentingforums.org/12892/view Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:37:38 GMT As parents, we have all learned new things about Christmas time (and all other celebrations, respectively) now that our kids are around. There are... As parents, we have all learned new things about Christmas time (and all other celebrations, respectively) now that our kids are around. There are now new traditions, new safety practices, and new purchasing skills all revolving around our holidays. We learn what kind of things to buy, how much to spend, and how to make things fair. Before kids, we could just get a couple of gifts for each other and family, set up the Christmas tree, and eat dinner together and that was it. Things are certainly different now!

Some may take part in the "Santa Clause" fun. The jolly, bearded, fat guy in a big red suit that somehow fits down your chimney (or through your front door) with a bag full of presents. I personally love making Christmas magical for my kids, my oldest gets so excited about Santa and his gifts magically appearing on Christmas morning. This year, he even made "Reindeer food" out of oats and green and red tortilla chips at preschool. I thought it was the cutest thing. He is all about putting out cookies and milk for Santa. Last year my husband ate them and you should have seen the look on his face when he woke up and found them gone. He must have told a dozen people - "Santa ate the cookies!" It was too good.



Sometimes decorations aren't so simple anymore with littler ones around. I know some people that put a playpen around their tree to keep it safe from destructive little ones. My son still steals ornaments and plays with them in his room. The baby likes to crawl over to the tree and snag the ones hanging off of the bottom. When I was little, I used to play with the little people sliding around the magnetic frozen pond. I would take the little people out of the nativity and lose them. I personally put my more meaningful and expensive decorations up a little higher. Someday they will be safe, but for now I will protect them from curious hands.

What to buy? It is difficult every year trying to figure out the perfect presents for our kids, and I imagine it only gets harder as they get older. Thankfully the baby was easy this year, he needs some age appropriate toys and a jumperoo, so that took care of him. My four-year-old, however, is a little more difficult. He does like Mario Brothers and monster trucks, but there's only so much I can do with that. I ended up getting him a Kinect and a couple games along with the usual selection of toys. It is hard to get him toys though, because he already has so many.

Every parent has different experiences and insights on handling the holidays with kids. I have learned so much from other people who have kids, and I've picked up lots of things that I now do with my kids. It can be a tough time in some areas just as much as it can be wonderful and fun. For more experiences and advice on how to make your family holidays great, please visit these threads made right here on Parentingforums.org for some great info from some great people:

http://www.parentingforums.org/showthread.php?t=12830

http://www.parentingforums.org/showthread.php?t=12835

http://www.parentingforums.org/showthread.php?t=12831

http://www.parentingforums.org/showthread.php?t=12832

http://www.parentingforums.org/showthread.php?t=12833

http://www.parentingforums.org/showthread.php?t=12834

Have something to add? Please feel free! I'm sure we could all use all the help we can get. :) ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12892/view Soothing little colds http://www.parentingforums.org/12861/view Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:25:13 GMT It is always hard when our little ones come down with a cold, or anything similar. They are tired, cranky, uncomfortable, and unhappy. Their little... It is always hard when our little ones come down with a cold, or anything similar. They are tired, cranky, uncomfortable, and unhappy. Their little bodies are aching and they can't breathe through their noses. A good night's sleep is far from attainable. Instead of running and playing, they are laying miserably on the couch or in bed. Snot-filled tissues are piling up everywhere. Life just isn't the same. As parents, we feel helpless, because all we want is to take it away, but in reality all we can do is try to keep them comfortable while we wait for it to work itself out. Luckily, there are a lot of great products and ideas out today that can help a cold feel a little less yucky.

I would say probably the most important thing to do for your child when they are sick, especially when nose or chest congestion of any kind is involved, is to run a humidifier in their room. If possible, put it right next to their bed and run it all night on a higher setting. This can really help loosen up congestion and bring it out. It will also help keep any nasal congestion at a thin consistency so little noses don't get stopped up by thick snot. Another added benefit is that when a lot of mouth breathing is going on, a humidifier keeps the air moist so little throats don't get too dry. Every time my ODS is sick, his doctor really stresses the fact that humidifier should be running in his room at night. I have missed a night here and there though, and I have noticed a serious difference, so I always try to make sure I have it on when he is sick.



Something that I have come across that I really like to use is baby vapor bath. There are several different brands, and I have found that they are all really the same thing. They are enriched with rosemary, eucalyptus, and menthol - natural herbs that are known for their aromatherapy benefits. It isn't too strong, but it is such a nice way to sooth a sick kid before bed. All of that on top of the nice warm water soothing their aches and pains makes for a really good thing. Heck, sometimes I use it for myself when I am sick!

Get them to drink something warm. It can be warm apple juice, tasty chicken soup, decaf tea with a little honey added depending on age and if they will go for it. Warm beverages are great because they soothe throats and clear up mucous at the same time. Keep them relaxing as much as possible. The more rest they get, the more their little bodies can focus all of their energy on getting better. Read some books, listen to some nice music, watch a couple of movies. They will feel better when they rest anyway.

Most importantly, just be there to comfort your child. Lots of hugs and cuddles might be really nice while they're feeling down. Hang out with them so that they don't feel like they are being left out or like their day is ruined because of a cold. Just stay close give out lots of love, sometimes that in of itself can be very healing. With a loved one around to help you feel better, a cold can go by much faster. ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12861/view Dealing with picky eaters http://www.parentingforums.org/12846/view Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:11:00 GMT My four-year-old has a lot of stubborn issues with food. For some reason, eating is a chore to him, and he is extremely picky about what he will or... My four-year-old has a lot of stubborn issues with food. For some reason, eating is a chore to him, and he is extremely picky about what he will or will not eat. He is very against trying new foods, never finishes his plate, and doesn’t seem to understand the concept of getting a full belly. Certain textures gross him out, and his food has to be a certain temperature. Many tastes and smells just immediately turn him off. He is a very picky eater, and always has been ever since he was an infant. He has been refusing food from the time I started offering it to him, unless of course it was something sweet or salty, or otherwise not so good for him. Due to this, I have picked up a lot of experience on how to deal with a picky eater.

Make food fun, and hide nutrition. Take otherwise boring and nutritious food and cut it into fun shapes, form it into a smiley face on the plate, or make it look in general more interesting (for instance, ants on a log). Sometimes you don’t even have to do anything special to the food, if you just call it by a fancy name. Super Hero Spaghetti and Monster Meatballs; Crazy Cool Chicken and Alien Green Beans (yes, I do have a lot of spare time). I have found that sometimes I can just make the food sound cool, and I can totally trick him into thinking that it is cool. You would be amazed at what kind of fruits and veggies you can hide inside of practically any food. You can hide cauliflower, zucchini, and sweet potatoes in macaroni and cheese. You can hide spinach, broccoli, and peas inside of lasagna. You can even hide blueberries and spinach inside of brownies. It’s amazing! Not to mention a win/win situation.



Let them help you make the food, and give them a set amount of required bites. I have found that when I let my son help me cook the meal as much as possible, that he is much more interested in eating it when it’s done. When he has a real hand in making it, and gets himself all worked up and excited about it, the food suddenly becomes something that he is proud of and has much more of a serious interest in. He likes to talk about how he made it, and how he did such a good job, and how it is going to be so yummy. I also give him a number of bites to eat before he finishes. He will ask if he can be done (after eating pretty much nothing) and I will tell him to eat three more bites. Or if there are a few things on his plate, I will tell him to eat a certain number of bites of each thing. This way, he doesn’t feel overwhelmed about the thought of “finishing his plate” or the unknown of how much he might have to eat before I will approve.

One important thing to remember is to not make a big deal out of it. Please don’t get upset or stressed out, and don’t let your child come to relate mealtime with anxiety and frustration. This can only make the problem worse, and make things harder on you than they have to be. Remember that it is not so important what your kids eat in one day. Try to look at what they have eaten in a week instead, because it can really help put things in a better perspective. If your child has gotten a reasonable amount of variety and nutrition in the past week, then they are probably doing okay. There’s no need to make mealtime into a battle, crying and punishments will only exacerbate the problem. Eventually they will grow out of it, and until then just be understanding and know that it is very common and very normal. ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12846/view Wetting the bed http://www.parentingforums.org/12836/view Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:36:46 GMT Bedwetting is a common, and also very normal, problem among young children. Whether it be because the child isn't physically able to hold their urine while sleeping, or perhaps because they are too comfortable to want to get out of bed, there can be many reasons for bed wetting. Sometimes kids just sleep too deeply to be aware enough of themselves to wake up and go to the bathroom. Some kids can even be afraid of going down the hallway in the middle of the night when things are dark and everyone is in bed.

Let me start by saying that bedwetting is very common. More than five million children in the US wet the bed at night. Bedwetting is also genetic. Doctors will not even treat bedwetting as a medical problem, in most cases, until the age of seven. It is also not considered an actual problem until the age of five. Before that age, it is expected that only some children are night time toilet trained, because they are still at the age of potty training. A lot of parents are concerned when their children are still not staying dry at night around the ages of three and four, but the fact is that it really shouldn't be an "expected" thing yet. You can definitely encourage it, but don't get stressed out or frustrated if your child isn't progressing the way you would like. Some kids night time train very young, but others take a longer time. Every kid is different. My four-year-old wasn't fully night time trained until he was about three and a half, and that was without much effort from us.

There are several helpful tips to preventing bedwetting, but none of them can work until your child is actually physically and mentally ready to stay dry through the night. Try not to ever get frustrated if you feel you are trying it all, and nothing seems to help. Everything will correct itself in good time. This isn't a preventative measure, but one important thing would be to protect the mattress by using a mattress cover underneath the sheets.



One major thing that I have always done with my oldest ever since he was daytime potty trained is having them go to the bathroom right before bed. Even if they say they don't need to go, ask them to please try. That way they are emptied out and they have a better chance at being able to hold it. It might also be good to withhold drinks for an hour or two before bed to help keep their bladders from filling up. Let the child help you change the sheets, to take a small measure of responsibility for the situation. Also, a lot of times you can start a very good habit of waking up to use the bathroom if you go in late each night and wake the child up to go. If they are afraid of the hallways or the bathroom when it's dark at night, install some night lights (my son loves these). As a last resort, things like bedwetting alarms and medications to treat bedwetting do exist as well.

One thing I can't stress enough, is to be understanding with the kids that have more trouble, and are still wetting past the normal age (5+). They have so much expected of them, and sometimes it can be a lot on their little shoulders. Make sure you let the child know that it is not their fault, and that someday they will be able to stay dry through the night. It is just as disheartening, if not more, for them when they have accidents. Do not let anyone else in the family tease them, and don't put them down or make a big deal out of it. Always be supportive and positive of the future - "it's alright, it was an accident, we will keep trying to stay dry." ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12836/view Keeping kids safe in the car http://www.parentingforums.org/12819/view Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:59:00 GMT A lot of people don't realize the importance of car seat safety. There is more to keeping a child safe in a vehicle than just buckling them in. So many children each year are injured or killed in a crash due to improper car seat usage. The concept seems pretty simple. Purchase a car seat, strap it into your car, and buckle in your child. However, there is actually so much more to it than that.

You need to make sure that you are buying the right car seat for your child for their height, weight, and age. Always pay very close attention to whether or not your car seat is able to rear-face, forward-face, or both. Infant carrier car seats cannot face forward, ever! Larger all-in-one car seats some of the time cannot rear-face at all. Convertible car seats are capable of doing both. Make sure you know what your kids' car seats can or cannot do! All car seats also have height and weight restrictions, minimums and maximums, so make sure your kids fall in between these limits. Check your manuals or look online if you are not sure. My five-month-old is a big boy, and has almost outgrown his current infant carrier already. He is only an inch or two away from being too long for it. It can happen before you know it! As for age, obviously infant carriers are for children under a year of age, convertible car seats are for infants and toddlers, and all-in-one seats are usually for toddlers and older children. As for booster seats, your child is required to be at least four years old and forty inches tall before he or she can ride in one - my four-year-old is still not tall enough!



You need to make sure that the seat is properly installed, and your child is properly restrained. Once installed, the car seat or it's base should not be able to move from side-to-side at all. There are different ways to install most seats, and ways to reinforce the install. You can use the seat belt, or the anchor system. The latch system helps secure everything properly. Most fire stations will have a car seat professional there that will be able to check your install or help you to install a car seat for free. It can't hurt to drop by and have yours looked at! When buckled in, the straps on a child should not be loose or twisted. You should not be able to fit more than two fingers under the straps on your child. The chest clip should be level with the child's armpits, not on the child's belly or anywhere else. Thick coats should not be warn in a car seat. When rear-facing, the straps setting should sit at or below the shoulders. When forward-facing, the straps setting should sit at or above the shoulders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2DVfqFhseo

Above is a link to a video depicting why it is safest for children to rear-face for as long as possible. At first I was skeptical of this, and I wasn't aware of it when my oldest was a baby, so he was forward-facing at the legal minimum of one year and 20lbs. Car seat experts are now recommending that you rear-face for at least two years, or as long as your car seats will let you. I have seen the proof for myself, and it is obvious to me that rear-facing is safest. I think that I will probably practice extended rear-facing with my little guy now that I know about it. Another good idea is to keep your kids in five point harnesses for as long as possible - they are also the safest this way. Most kids cannot stay in place properly with a regular seat belt until they are much older than the minimum required age. Also, be aware that car seats do expire! Check your car seats to make sure you know when they expire, because it can be dangerous to ride in an expired seat. Be careful when considering buying a used car seat - they could be expired or close to doing so, and you don't know if the seat has been in a car crash (if a seat is ever in a crash, it must be thrown away and replaced right away).

There are so many rules and regulations, limits and requirements, it's true they are hard to keep up with and can be overwhelming at times. However, when it comes to the safety of our children, I think that we can all take time out of our days to make sure we know what we are doing. I hope that everyone does their research and keep their kids as safe in the car as they can! ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12819/view Conquering homework troubles http://www.parentingforums.org/12797/view Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:03:57 GMT Anyone who has had, or been around, a school aged child knows that homework can be a big deal. I personally am not a big fan of homework, however it... Anyone who has had, or been around, a school aged child knows that homework can be a big deal. I personally am not a big fan of homework, however it exists whether I like it or not, and it must be done! A lot of kids have trouble getting homework done, it is a very common problem that a lot of parents have a hard time getting under control. I have known kids that would actually fail classes just because they never did their homework, even though they did well on school work and tests. Kids need to understand the importance of getting their homework done, and often times they need help making sure it's done. Ignoring homework troubles can lead to poor grades, falling behind, and an urge to give up on school. There are several things you can do to prevent this.

Don't leave the timing up to them. If you tell them to do their homework whenever they want, they will continue to push it later and later until it's too late and they are rushing to do it, or they decide not to do it at all. My mom used to have "homework time" after school every day for us six kids. Even if we said we didn't have any, we were required to sit at the kitchen table for a minimum of a half an hour after we got home from school before we were allowed to do anything else. If we didn't have homework, then we had to read something, even if it was just the newspaper. This way, chances are if we did have homework and we were just saying that we didn't to get out of it, we would probably just do it because we were sitting there anyway.



Another great tool are "agenda books" or "daily planners" that have a spot on them for each day of the week where a student can write their homework down. You can check this every day after school and make sure that each thing is done. If you have a tricky child, the type that might not write it down or will try to erase it later, you can require that they write it in pen only and have their teacher's sign them everyday in approval (if such a thing is offered at your child's school).

The most important thing is to be supportive. Make sure that you are available to help if things get too frustrating for your kids. Even if the work is out of your league, give them the tools to help themselves. Show them how to find the answers in the book, help them look it up on the internet, call a friend in the same class, whatever you can think of. Don't let them give up. There is always a way to get it done, without making your head explode!

The end result of making sure homework is done is unquestionably a happier, more confident kid. The stress of showing up to class empty handed is gone. They will take pride in handing the work in every day, and they will enjoy the fact that their teachers are pleased. Their grades will be easier to keep up, and they will be more likely to be successful in school all together. Things can only get better from there! ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12797/view Making bath time fun http://www.parentingforums.org/12777/view Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:26:17 GMT One of the things I love the most about being a mom is bath time. I absolutely adore giving my kids a bath. They both really enjoy it, it is innocent... One of the things I love the most about being a mom is bath time. I absolutely adore giving my kids a bath. They both really enjoy it, it is innocent every day fun, and it is a great time to bond. However, I realize that sometimes bath time is just business and not all kids find it fun. Some kids need a little more encouragement, and on occasion may need to be pried away from more interesting things to get into the tub. Sometimes it just requires a little extra work to get the fun going on our part.

I think the biggest part of making bath time fun for kids are the toys. I can not stress enough how much bath toys can help your cause. Little rubber fish that squirt water out of their mouths; a plastic boat with little pirates hanging out on it; a suction cup basketball hoop with mini foam basketballs. They really make an incredible variety of bath toys these days! Not only that, but anything water proof can be made into a bath toy. My oldest likes to take his matchbox cars and fast food toys into the tub with him. Most days when I tell him it's bath time, he will go running into his toy room saying "I'm going to find a toy to bring!" These toys will strike up your child's imagination and really get the fun going. I simply love to listen to the adventures my boy makes up while he pushes his toys around the water.

We also cannot forget about bubbles! They are a classic part of bath time that every kid likes. To really go above and beyond, these days you can even buy bath dyes (time to take a purple bath!), bath foams, bath crayons and markers, even bath finger paints! You can't go wrong when you have so many options to choose from. My oldest loves the opportunity to get away with coloring on the walls, and on the tub.



If you have a difficult bather, sometimes it's just a matter of finding out what bothers them about the bath. Perhaps they prefer warmer or cooler water? Maybe they would like to have more or less water in the tub? I know a lot of kids that have an extreme dislike for getting water in their faces. You can use a wash cloth over their eyes and have them tilt their head back when rinsing hair. They even make special products for these types of kids. One is a special cup that is flat and flexible rubber on one side that forms to the forehead to keep the water out of the face, and the other is like a visor for the bath that also keeps water from touching the face. It is so nice to have helpful products for sensitive kids.

Bath time should always be a fun time for kids and parents alike to embrace. Between the laughs and the smiles, the adventures and the bubble beards, it should be enough to lift anyone's spirits. Hold onto those sudsy moments, and make them fun and enjoyable, because our kids wont want us to bathe them forever! ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12777/view Taking pictures of your kids http://www.parentingforums.org/12759/view Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:42:00 GMT Learning to take pictures of your kids is like mastering a form of martial arts. It takes time, patience, practice, and skills to really lock down... Learning to take pictures of your kids is like mastering a form of martial arts. It takes time, patience, practice, and skills to really lock down the ability to get good pictures. To some, getting a good picture might not be that important, but to me photographs are the only way I can get time to hold still for a moment. It is so important to me to take great pictures of my kids, to really shoot the moment and pause it forever in an image for me to keep and look back on. I love having the memories, and I love knowing that someday my family will be able to look back on these moments and feel as if they are in them once again. I want to remember what my kids looked like when they were little, because I can't keep them little forever. I thank photographs for giving me the ability to remember clearly, and I am always trying to better my skills in order to make my memories even better. There are several things you have to do to get good pictures.

You must be a ninja. In that short moment that your little one is taking his first steps, you must shoot to the other side of the room and snatch the camera up from its resting spot. You then will need to quickly turn it on and focus right in on the subject. Be careful not to trip over toys during this process; this is a common problem I run into. For these purposes, you might want to keep your camera in an easy to reach place, somewhere you always know where to find it. The easier the camera is to get (for an adult that is - don't make it too easy to get or you may not have a camera for long), the easier it will be to catch all the right moments.



You have to be stealthy. It is imperative to sneak up on our kids when they are doing cute things, because if they know what you're about to do, they will immediately stop being cute. This is almost guaranteed. If you can hide the camera behind something, that would be even better. Babies would most of the time prefer to stare at your shiny camera instead of being cute for it. It is most unfortunate! There will always be those wonderful picture opportunities that were sadly missed - "the one that got away."

Act as ridiculous as you possibly can. When doing this, you are sure to capture precious smiles and laughs. Make as many outrageous faces and embarrassing noises as possible. Tell jokes, imitate cartoon characters, and punch stuffed animals in the face if you have to. If you have older children, bribe them! Tell them that if they give you a really nice smile, then they can have that cookie that they've been eyeing up on the kitchen counter. For teenagers, there's always the threat of looking nice unless they want you showing off a funny picture!

Most importantly though, have fun. A lot of the time, if you are having fun with your kids, the smiles and the good memories will come naturally and you won't have to do anything at all. Catch them playing with their favorite toys, or having a good time outside. Hug them, tickle them, and enjoy them. The pictures will come, and they will be easy to take. ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12759/view Thumbs up to breastfeeding http://www.parentingforums.org/12741/view Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:43:13 GMT I just want to start by saying that breastfeeding is amazing. I never really knew how amazing it was until I did it myself. My oldest was only... I just want to start by saying that breastfeeding is amazing. I never really knew how amazing it was until I did it myself. My oldest was only breastfed for six weeks and then formula fed the rest of his infancy. However, our most recent addition, who is now five months old on the 15th, is still breastfed. With my oldest I didn't wait long enough and I never realized how much I could enjoy it. With this baby, I absolutely love it more than anything in the world. Not only is it such a beautiful and bonding thing for us, but it's incredibly beneficial to his health in ways I never knew possible and it is a piece of cake to do.

Let me also say, that I realize parents always have the best intentions at heart for their children, and that parents who choose to use formula absolutely have their reasons for doing so. There is nothing wrong with formula fed babies, nor are they any less cared for than breastfed babies. They will grow up to be just as great either way, that I am certain of. Like I said, my oldest was mainly formula fed, and I had my reasons for doing that, and he turned out just fine.

My oldest was sick quite often, though. Since he was very small he was off and on with colds and stomach viruses, and I always hated it. It is just the worst to have a sick baby. Now, I am happy to say that my youngest has never been sick! Not even once! I get nervous each time my Four-Year-Old brings something home from preschool (which is often) and it cycles through all of us, but each time it just passes right over him like he's invincible or something. Nothing can touch this kid. That's because breast milk has an insane amount of antibodies in it. Every drop is loaded with immunities that your body works to produce for them every day to keep them safe. These antibodies are always changing as well, for instance if I catch a cold, my body will automatically create antibodies against it for the baby. So even though I am all over him 24/7, he still doesn't catch what I have.

Breast milk also has amazing healing powers! They even recently found that there are stem cells in breast milk! Isn't that amazing? Common recommendations for eye infections, ear infections, baby acne, and cradle cap are to put breast milk on it. It really can heal those things, sometimes better than the medicine. I even know people that have used it on their own acne and it actually worked.



Another thing, my oldest had a lot of tummy problems. This included colic, gas, constipation, and several formula changes. This is because of all the iron, and the larger milk protein in formula. My youngest rarely ever gets gassy or fussy due to a tummy ache, and he has never yet had a firm bowel movement. Breast milk is made specifically for human babies, it is perfect for them in every way. The protein is small and easily digestible, just right for sensitive baby tummies. Everything about it is made to agree with a human baby's digestive system. At worst I have seen some moms that have to avoid dairy and caffeine, maybe spicy or greasy foods. Most of those things aren't that good for us to have in the first place though.

It is so easy! Once you get past the initial two week pain and discomfort from just starting off, unless you have complications with latching or something else, the pain is gone and you know exactly what you're doing. You never have to prepare a bottle, which is especially obnoxious in the middle of the night. You never have to pay for formula, breast milk is free! You don't even have to get it at the store and you can't forget it at home, because it's always with you. You don't need bottles, they're built in, and they even get washed while you're in the shower. Middle of the night feedings are much less stressful; all you have to do is pick up baby and latch on! Never do you find yourself standing in the kitchen shaking or warming up a bottle while you listen to screaming on the baby monitor. One of the main reasons I wouldn't quit breastfeeding is that I am too lazy for formula.

The bond is especially beautiful. I have never felt such a special connection that compares to breastfeeding my kids. It is so wonderful to be so close and to nourish a baby using only your body. I love to cuddle and nurse. I love it when the baby curls his legs up to me and hugs me, holding tightly to one of my fingers. It is just so special! I would highly recommend breastfeeding to anyone, and I talk it up all the time. I wish someone had told me all of these things when I was raising my oldest son, so I always try to spread the word. Breastfeeding is great, and every mother should give it a try if they think it could work out for them. ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12741/view Parenting Forums on Facebook and Twitter! http://www.parentingforums.org/12729/view Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:46:00 GMT Hello everyone! I would happily like to announce that Parenting Forums now has its very own Facebook page and Twitter account! Both of them will... Hello everyone!

I would happily like to announce that Parenting Forums now has its very own Facebook page and Twitter account! Both of them will be updated automatically with the front page posts, so it's just another way for everyone to keep up with the site. Please feel free to "like" and "follow" us, and invite your friends and family to do the same!

Here is the link for our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ParentingForumsorg/180122995408114

Here is the link for our Twitter account:

http://twitter.com/parentingforums

I hope to see some other members soon! Enjoy! :) ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12729/view Little ones waking during the night http://www.parentingforums.org/12722/view Wed, 09 Nov 2011 04:58:54 GMT As parents, we all know that sleep became a thing of the past when our children were born. As soon as these beautiful, helpless creatures enter the...
As parents, we all know that sleep became a thing of the past when our children were born. As soon as these beautiful, helpless creatures enter the world, our lives revolve around them, and that includes at night. Many parents are continuously concerned about the sleep patterns of their babies or children, wondering if what they are going through is normal, or if they are doing anything wrong. The truth is, little ones are constantly growing and changing, and so are their sleep habits. We should do our best to support the changes, and work with them to keep things flowing smoothly. Some parents wonder if some form of sleep training is necessary, or find themselves comparing their child to other children and they become impatient. The fact is that all children are different, and we should never try to push them into convenience.

I am very against “ferberizing” or “cry it out” methods to get babies to bend to the wills of their parents to sleep at a certain time and in a certain way. So many people are pressured into doing this by the people around them who are saying that their children have slept through the night since a certain age (failing to mention that they most likely used some type of sleep training to get them to do so), and the many people who think that kids should be made to be convenient. Babies are naturally built to wake in the middle of the night to eat so that they can continue to grow rapidly and become big and healthy. Babies are never constant, they are always learning something new, reaching new milestones, and changing in many ways. Beyond all of this, babies always wake up for a reason. They are not capable of “manipulating” in any way, and they are not capable of communicating through words. They communicate through crying, and they cry to have their needs met, which means not responding to their cries is basically the same as not responding to their needs.



Most times night waking tends to be based around hunger, and let me first say that I have heard all of the medical recommendations that baby no longer “needs” to eat past this age or weight. Many parents that receive this advice are then convinced that their children are not hungry, which is a very different thing than not needing to eat! What this really means is that if you refuse to feed your child when they are hungry at night, they will not be harmed. They will still survive and even thrive without eating at night. However, most babies are still hungry during the night for quite some time after they no longer need to eat at night. I feel that if I were hungry, I would hope someone might feed me even if I would survive without it. I personally cannot ever let my child cry in hunger, not even at night when I’d rather be sleeping.

Aside from the basic hunger needs, night waking can be due to a number of other possibilities. It could be a change that needs to be made in the baby’s sleep routine throughout the day. It could be teething, an ear infection, a tummy ache, or any other medical problem that you may not have come to realize yet. It could even be as simple as loneliness or fear, or the need to be held close to someone for comfort. I consider those needs as well, that I am required to meet, as a mother. As kids get older, chances are it will happen much less, but still kids might wake you up for things like illness, thirst, or a need to use the bathroom.

No one baby is the same. Some are much better sleepers than others. My older son woke every two to three hours until he was eight months old, and then he finally started waking only three to four times a night without me doing any kind of sleep training. At 11 months, he went down to twice a night all on his own, followed by only once a night at 13 or 14 months old. It wasn’t until he was close to two years old that he no longer woke at all for a bottle or a sippy cup. However, to this day he occasionally wakes up for something. Sometimes he is thirsty, needs to go potty, or he had a bad dream. Even big kids will still sometimes need you at night. Hold those babies close and be there for them when they need you while you can, because someday they wont want you at night at all anymore and you will be wishing for that time back! ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12722/view Being afraid of the dark http://www.parentingforums.org/12709/view Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:38:00 GMT I can't blame kids for being afraid of the dark. The dark is scary and full of unknowns, and all of this is magnified by the imagination of a child. If you can't see around you, then all you can do is imagine what is there, and children tend to go a little crazy with it because they can't really rationalize that there obviously is not a hairy monster under their bed, a bad guy hiding in the closet, or a ghost in that corner. When there's no light there to prove to them that they are wrong, why should they believe otherwise? They don’t have the ability to reason based off of knowledge and experience like adults do, and even as an adult I can say that I have a hard time reasoning in the dark!

My four-year-old is somewhat afraid of the dark. I personally am not a big fan of pitch black myself. I actually have a pretty bright nightlight in my own bedroom just because I find it irritating to wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to see anything. Plus I am more comfortable waking up from a disturbing dream if it isn't super dark in my room. Hey, I‘m only human! It's just comforting to wake up and be able to see a dim version of your surroundings, with nothing left up to the imagination.



My older son has a rotating light up pretend aquarium that sits on the dresser in his room. His room isn't bright or anything, but you can see around when you're in there, and the aquarium displays cute little patterns on the ceiling as it goes around. I barely ever have a problem with him being nervous in the dark, but I think the one thing that helps him the most is that I gave him a Spiderman flashlight that he can turn on and off and use to look around as he pleases. It’s very important to him; he takes it to bed with him every night. I think it's a huge comfort for him, especially considering he has control over where he shines the light. Both of those things eliminate any need to use his imagination when determining what might be in the shadows, and he is so comfortable and reassured of his surroundings at night!

A lot of parents tend to think that a night light is a crutch, or a dependency, and that it’s something that all kids need to grow out of and eventually get rid of. I personally believe that it’s actually very reasonable for kids to want to be able to see their surroundings at night, and parents spend less time dealing with night time anxieties. ]]> Front Page Articles Xero http://www.parentingforums.org/12709/view