Newborn Clothes

Buying Clothing For Your Newborn

2011-01-16T11:22:00.001Z

A newborn coming home to the household is a bundle of joy that just motivates and encourages the loved ones around it to shower the baby with love and affection and to buy it lots of gifts, ranging from the most fun newborn baby toys, to top designer baby clothes. Many parents, godparents, and other loved ones and friends always seem to find money no object when buying the newborn what it needs, but did you know that it is possible to buy cheap newborn baby clothes, that are not just stylish, but also safe for the baby?

Newborn clothes don't need to be the most expensive, or the most trendy. It is possible to come up with a set of newborn baby apparel that is stylish, but won't break the bank. All that's needed is to find the right bargains and the right retailers, both online and in small shops and stores. But before buying cheap baby clothes, there are a number of things that need to be considered first.

First and foremost is that there is a difference between cheap, and 'cheap', that is, some cheap baby clothes are affordable because of the brand and the style, and others are cheap because of the materials they used and the quality of the manufacturing. It is the latter that people need to avoid. Those cheap baby clothes that use fabrics and dyes that can cause allergic reactions, irritations, and are even hazardous to fire, must be avoided. They are also made of such poor quality that sooner or later the clothes will easily break and tear.

It is important when looking for a source of cheap baby apparel to make sure that they are affordable because they are not a very known brand, or have a simpler style and design, rather than poor quality and materials. To find out, research is key. Most of these small retailers and shops will have fan bases that give opinions, reviews, and support for the products sold. A small retailer with a bad review should be avoided.

The treatment and prevention of child burns.

2009-10-18T09:32:00.003+01:00

Burns have different categories depending the severity. Many parents today don't realize that over exposure to the sun can cause third degree burns as well as first degree. When sending your child out in the sun, always use sunblock. If you cannot be with your child and he goes swimming for long periods of time, have him or her wear a light white t-shirt in the pool to give double protection against the possibility of sunburn.

Never use any heavy oils such as antiseptic creams, butter, or any remedy your grandmother used. To do so only prevents the heat from escaping from the skin. Take a towel with cold water and place it over the burned area and let it stay there until the heat comes out of the sunburn. Most times even a burn cream prescription from your doctor will sting when applied and cause your child to become uncomfortable. Never apply clothing to second degree burns, as these burns can produce blisters and the clothing will stick.

Never break blisters that fill up with fluid, leave these to heal themselves. By breaking them, you are leaving the skin susceptible to infection and germs. All burns irritate nerve endings in the skin, therefore the less clothing applied the less sensitivity your child will feel.

Children with third degree burns should be under a doctor's care. All layers of the skin are burned. These burns can be fatal if not under a doctor's care. Burns of this nature will need to be covered with dressings to prevent infection.

Thermal and Flash burns are also very serious. Remove the clothing from the person right away and apply cold water towels immediately and seek medical attention.

Electrical burns can cause serious damage to internal organs. Even though the person says they feel ok, take them to the hospital anyway. Make sure that they are not in contact still with the electrical source before helping them.

If you have an older child that is leaving on vacation with another family for the weekend, send your child with sunblock and make sure they understand how important it is to use it. If the sunblock washes off, have them re-apply it. You can also purchase waterproof sunblock, but I would recommend applying it again after one hour to be on the safe side.

Infancy Developement

2009-09-16T11:05:00.003+01:00

What a wonderful period of life, from birth to those first few hours, days and weeks of being an infant . The infant will be able to see as his eyes will be open unlike, for example, a kitten. His experiences in the womb will have already begun to shape his behavior and development. Basic bodily functions will be apparent from birth as the newborn has mechanisms to keep his body systems in balance. Infants will sleep a lot sometimes about sixteen hours per day but as they grow they will require less sleep.

One of the first basic behaviors is sucking. This is considered the foundation of survival. This is a behavioral pattern that he must perform precisely. An infant comes into the world almost devoid of behavioral dispositions and learning and experience are the manner in which he develops his own personality

There is always interest in the science of the newborn. As he begins life virtually helpless and learns to deal with his new environment many interesting studies have been made on this infant development. We need to think about the newborn before he arrived at birth and how his world changed and his life began.

He will show signs of reflexes that are stimulated by certain stimuli. Closing his eyes under bright lights is one of the first to be noticed. Sometimes when a baby's palms are pressed he will begin sucking and this is an example of the reflex of an infant and a sign of development. He will also have the tendency to root toward any object that will stimulate the corners of his mouth. The grasping reflex will become apparent also as he grasps a finger of another person. He will also thrust out his arms in an embracing movement. He will have a type of stepping motion with his legs as he grows those first few days and weeks.

He will show signs of sensory capabilities and develop the ability to think and to learn. He will develop vision and will have the ability to focus on a person or an object. He will show that he can hear also and will look toward sounds. Very little is know about an infant's sense of taste but he will definitely react to strong odors by turning away from the odor. As he grows he will notice movement, patterns and also brightness. He will be able to respond very early to movement.

It will fully depend on the individual infant as some infants will be more active than others. Newborns also differ in their irritability as some are very peaceful and content and others seem to cry a lot. Some babies like to be cuddled and others seem to dislike handling and cuddling.

Even at the point of infancy a child's personality for his later years in life will be developing.

As he grows you will notice a difference in his physical growth and also his motor development. A baby will learn to control the movements of his shoulders before he can direct his fingers or his arms. He will also gain control over his upper leg before he can manage to control his lower leg of his left foot. The movement and motor ability of a baby will slowly become more controlled and complex in progression from head to toe. Even long before he can walk he will make complicated movements of his arms and his legs.

There is also a stage of growth during infancy which has been called differentiation and integration. Differentiation means that an infant's abilities becomes increasingly distinct and specific. He will gain more and more mastery of movement. As he grows his movements will become more specific. He will learn to respond to specific noises and voices. This will form his infant language, which is very complex. Growth progresses from the center of the body toward the periphery. Movement will seem to be traced from a baby's arm as he becomes more and more accurate in reaching out on a finger or an object.

He will at one point seem to cry less as he becomes more interested in sounds and in making his own sounds. He will pay more attention to what is happening around him. He will also start to have more visual involvement in the world around him. He will begin to show signs of boredom or habituation when you might show the same rattler over and over to him. He may show interest in the sound and the sight of a new object as he grows day by day. He will learn to grasp an object such as a rattler in his hand and really hold it tightly. He will reach out and want to hold an object as he grows.

During this time of infancy his body will be changing and there will be many patterns of infant growth and development that will present a profile of his own. His body will be growing, his senses will become stronger and his personality will be developing. He will spend a good deal of time during those first three months just eating, crying and sleeping. A parent can see small but steady changes as they days go by as they see that the infant seems to notice his own world. Of course the time each infant spends sleeping or crying will greatly differ from one child to another and it is very hard to compare one to another. During the first few weeks he will develop patterns of crying and sleeping as this will change by probably twelve weeks. He will also not require as many feedings and will drink more at the lesser feedings than those first few days and weeks.

You will be able to tell the progress of his growth by a series of interactions. As his body grows and he becomes larger, so the functions and structures of his body will become more and more complex. Never in his life will he grow as fast as when he is an infant than at any other time after his birth.

Ear Infection Symptoms

2009-05-11T10:27:00.003+01:00

Ear infections are one of the most common childhood ailments. Just about every child will have had their first ear infection before their first birthday. Knowing what to look for when you suspect an ear infection in your child is the key to treating it.

The medical term for an ear infection is Otitis Media. These infections are in no way contagious. Generally, an ear infection is most likely to appear after the onset of a cold virus.Symptoms from the cold can swell tissues in the middle ear and trap fluid, creating the perfect conditons for bacteria to thrive.

Signs that your child may have an ear infection can include the following:

* ear pain

* tugging on the ear

* irritablility

* fever

* muffled hearing

* stuffy nose and/or sore throat

* diarrhea

* no appetite

Beware that in younger children a fever, irritablility, and a tugging of the ear may be the only clues you get due to the language barrier. Older children will be much more able to discribe what is going on with them, making the diagnosis that much easier. However, it is advised that you consult with your child's doctor or practioner concerning the particular symptoms and whether or not a Doctor's visit is warranted.

There are several things that you can do at home to make your child more comfortable if you do indeed suspect and ear infection. A good rememdy is to put a warm compress on the child's ear. The heat will help relieve some of the pain. Be sure to use pillows to raise the child's head up, this will help to drain fluid out of the ear. Don't forget to give lots and lots of tender love and care. And, last but not least, contact your Doctor reguarding the symptoms. He or she may ask you to bring the child in for futher evaluation. If needed, your child may recieve antibiotics

to help kill off any infection. In this case, your child should feel better within 48 hours of the first dose.

Baby's First Shoes

2009-05-09T12:37:00.002+01:00

Many pediatricians are recommending that parents wait to purchase shoes for their baby until the baby is actually walking and needs them for protection outdoors. Before that time, shoes are really an unnecessary item. Since many parents still like to put shoes on their pre-walkers, they need to be sure to select shoes that are best for their baby’s growing feet.

Shoes for the pre-walker:

1) A very flexible sole, preferably cloth or soft leather. Bend the shoe in your hand, checking it for flexibility. Ideally, you should be able to fold the shoe in half.

2) No high-tops. High-top shoes or boots can restrict the movement of a baby’s ankles, possibly leading to developmental problems.

3) Plenty of toe room. Toe room is not only important in making sure that baby’s feet have room to grow, but also baby needs to be able to wiggle his toes freely. It’s best to have about ½ inch of space (or one finger width) in the toe area.

4) A comfortable interior. Put your fingers inside of the shoe and check for any hard seams or ridges that might irritate your baby’s foot.

While a baby is learning to walk, it is best that they are barefoot or in socks with non-skid bottoms. This allows the child to use their toes for balance and doesn’t restrict the movement of their feet or ankles in any way. However, as baby begins to venture outside, parents need to make sure that their child’s feet are protected from hard concrete, stones, thorns, and other hazards. The guidelines are similar, but worth going over again.

Shoes for the new walker:

1) A very flexible sole, preferably non-skid. Bend the shoe in your hand, checking it for flexibility. Ideally, you should be able to fold the shoe nearly in half. The sole should be thick enough to protect baby’s feet from sharp or rough objects.

2) No high-tops. High-top shoes or boots can restrict the movement of a baby’s ankles, possibly leading to developmental problems or an odd walk.

3) Plenty of toe room. Toe room is not only important in making sure that baby’s feet have room to grow, but also baby needs to be able to wiggle his toes freely. It’s best to have about ½ inch of space (or one finger width) in the toe area.

4) A comfortable interior. Put your fingers inside of the shoe and check for any hard seams or ridges that might irritate your baby’s foot.

5) No heels. While little dress shoes for baby girls may look adorable, they may cause your child to fall or catch her heel on obstacles. Stick with a flat sole.

6) Good arch support. Good arch support is important for preventing flat feet or fallen arches.

7) Safe closures. It’s also important that your baby’s shoes fasten well. Double-knot laces so that they are less likely to come undone and cause baby to trip. Make sure that you are not pulling buckle straps to tight and cutting into your baby’s foot. Velcro closures are a good option, but babies are most likely to be able to remove these.

Getting Baby To Sleep At Night

2009-04-21T11:31:00.003+01:00

You’ve had a long, hard day and you’re looking forward to some well deserved sleep. You feel grateful that baby seems to have the same idea. Your head hits the pillow and you revel in the luxury of drifting into a peaceful slumber – and right at that point it starts. An incessant wailing from the room that contains your little pride and joy. Before you can even think to resist, your partner is pushing you out of the bed and encouraging you to take care of junior. Oh, the joys of parenthood, you mumble, as you stub your toe on the bedside cabinet.

You can take some comfort in the fact that you are by no means alone in the new parent sleep deprivation stakes. Child experts tell us that a child will not sleep soundly through the night until the age of about four to six months. Prior to that all parents must go through the frustrating routine of trying to find their own creative ways to send the little tyke into dreamland. Here are some suggestions that are well worth trying on your child:

(1) Establish a loving, comfortable pre bed-time routine. This may involve gently rocking your baby as you sing to him or reading him a book.

(2) Put the child to bed while he is still awake. If you don’t do this you will only be postponing future problems.

(3) Once you put your baby to bed leave the room. If he cries, wait a decent amount of time before checking on him, perhaps ten to fifteen minutes.

(4) When you go back into the room to check on baby, soothe him with your voice, but no not pick him up or feed him.

(5) Gradually increase the time between checks. The checks are designed simply to reassure your child that everything is o.k., that he is not abandoned. Soon he will get the message that crying will not get him out of having to go to sleep.

(6) Once the child gets a little older (about a year) allow him to sleep with an object like a stuffed toy or a special blanket. This will comfort him when you are not there.

7) Expose your baby to the differing day and night time environments. Open the blinds during the day and let the child hear normal daytime noise levels. At night provide a dimmer, quieter atmosphere.

(8) Try not to encourage too many naps while the child is mobile, such as in car seats and baby strollers. This type of sleep does not provide a quality rest and will only serve to keep baby awake at night.

(9) Don’t let baby sleep for extended periods during the day. Keep naps to between two and three hours. However, don’t deprive him of needed daytime sleep in order to have him sleep through the night. Strike a balance here.

(10) Wrap baby in a snugli to prevent him from moving around too much while in his crib.

In the final analysis, you will have to do a little experimenting to see what works best for your baby. With a healthy dose of patience and perseverance, however, there will come a time when you will once again be able to enjoy a good night’s rest.

Feeding Babies Solid Foods

2009-04-21T11:26:00.003+01:00

Your baby is now twice his birth weight and the doctor says it’s time to start introducing solids. A well-rounded diet is logical enough, but with all the choices available decision-making can be overwhelming. Make the transition smooth for everyone concerned when you use this practical guide.

Start with baby cereal. Whole, single grains are always best, offering your baby plenty of nutrients. At first it will be a challenge for baby to swallow. Drinking from a bottle or breast is very different from swallowing a solid. A good portion of what you put in your youngster’s mouth is sure to end up dribbled out. Don’t be alarmed. This doesn’t necessarily mean baby doesn’t like the food. He’s probably just working out the mechanics.

To prevent any allergic reactions, wait a week before introducing a second grain to your child. Most reactions will manifest within a week, so this is a good timeline. As you move on to the third, and fourth grain, be sure to wait a week as well.

After you have introduced your child to wheat, rice and oatmeal, you can begin introducing fruits and vegetables. Yellow and orange varieties are the easiest digested and are a great place to start. Potatoes, carrots, yams, sweet potatoes, nectarines, peaches pears and apples will bring a great base to your baby’s diet. Unlike cereal, you can introduce a new vegetable or fruit every two days. Quickly you will learn which flavors baby likes best.

Once fruits and vegetables are introduced and your child is maintaining a healthy weight gain, you can start serving juice and water to him. This adds a tremendous amount of interest to boring cereal meals. A little grape juice adds just a touch of fruity flavor when used to mix dry cereal. This can be a savior to the parent who can’t get Junior to eat his rice.

By six months, most doctors are encouraging parents to feed their babies dairy products and meats. Calcium and protein are important to your tiny one and he’s probably getting less now that solid foods have cut a good portion of formula or breast milk out of his diet. Yogurt, cheeses, fish, turkey and chicken replenish the building blocks.

By nine months of age your baby should be able to eat just about everything you eat. It’s still too soon for milk, corn and any kind of citrus fruit or juice. Until baby is at least one year old his digestive system can’t handle these foods. If our recipe calls for some milk you shouldn’t have a problem, but presenting it too early can cause your child to be lactose intolerant. Corn, citrus pulp and acid is too abrasive and can cause blockage.

Stay away from all the choke-ables. Grapes, uncooked carrots, sliced apple, chips, baby biscuits and hot dogs can cause trouble—it’s best to just avoid them altogether. If you just can’t wait to feed your baby some of the items mentioned, be sure the food is reduced to tiny pieces that can fit down your baby’s esophagus whole. That way if he does happen to swallow before chewing—which is very likely—he’ll be fine.

Make whole-food choices. Slice up a piece of fruit, bake your own bread so your family isn’t eating preservatives and steer clear of canned, boxed or pre-prepared foods. These types of whole-food choices will help to keep your whole family healthy.

ADHD Drugs Cause Sudden Death in Children

2009-04-18T14:21:00.003+01:00

I have added this article concerning ADHD drugs and their side affects.The link to this article will be at the bottom of the page.

Sudden Death in Children
Linked to ADHD Drugs
Drugs May Cause Heart Problems in Children
By Daphney Washington, Editor

Many children, especially African-American children have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactiviity Disorder,(ADHD). School officials have pushed for these drugs to control behavior in children without taking concern for the dangerous side effects or long term health risks. Doctors have prescribed several drugs to control ADHD. However, the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has reported that between 1992 and 2005, there have been 24 cases of sudden deaths in children, and the deaths have been attributed to using ADHD drugs.

The drugs commonly used for ADHD are Ritalin, Concerta, Dexedrine, and Adderall. These drugs are said to increase the heart rate and raise the blood pressure. The FDA now requires pharmaceutical companies to put a warning label on the bottle, which states,"Some instances of sudden death in children with heart problems." Some feel that the drugs may actually cause heart problems in children. The American Heart Association, suggests that all children should get their hearts checked via electrocardiogram, for problems before going on the drugs.

An estimated 2.5 million children take ADHD drugs, and 1.5 million adults. In addition to the cardiovasular side effects, the warning label suggests that these drugs can suppress children's growth, create a heightened risk for psychosis, bi-polar illness and aggression. For more information, visit the FDA website or the National Institute of Mental Health.

http://www.savoir-fairemagazine.com/death_in_children.html

Children With ADHD Behavior Problems

2009-04-18T14:05:00.006+01:00

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, are very energetic and can cause a great deal of frustration for parents that don't know how to deal with their sometimes outrageous behaviors. ADHD children sometimes seem as if they are driven by a motor, the Energizer Bunny that never stops! They also have a difficult time sitting still, often squirming in their seats or fidgeting with anything they can get their hands on. ADHD kids also seem to talk excessively, the non-stop chatter can be frustrating and even overwhelming, especially when it's combined with the creative sound effects that these children are so good at. Whether it is talking, whistling, or clicking their tongues against the roof of their mouths, ADHD children are continually making some sort of noise!

How does a tired and overwhelmed parent deal with these hard to handle children?

1. ONE THING AT A TIME! Parents should realize that they can't change all of the child's undesirable behaviors at once. Focus on one specific behavior that you would like to change. It doesn't necessarily have to be one of the most annoying or distracting behaviors. It could be something as simple as remembering to put his toys away when he is finished playing with them. Remember that ADHD children forget things quickly, they need several gentle reminders to help them remember. When it is almost time to clean up, start reminding the child that he will have to put all of his toys back into his toy box as soon as he is finished playing with them. Many ADHD children respond better when they know something is going to happen, surprises or a change of routine may throw them off-guard and cause them to act out.

2. STAY CALM! Although it may be difficult, try your best to remain calm even when the child's behaviors are at their worst. When you get angry or scream and yell at the child, it will NOT make his behavior improve, it will make his bad behavior increase. Couple that with your bad reaction to his behavior, and a real crisis could result. Many children, particularly ADHD children, will strive for attention, even if it is NEGATIVE attention. If the behavior is something that can be ignored (something that is not dangerous or potentially harmful to anyone), try ignoring the behavior. In some cases if the child sees that he is not getting your attention with his actions, he may stop the behavior. However, in some instances the child may try to outsmart your ignoring technique and increase the actions of his bad behavior. If after several minutes the child continues with his behavior, you probably need to intervene. Try putting the child in Time Out for a few minutes, usually the amount of minutes should correspond to the child's age. While the child is in Time Out, do not talk to the child. This will teach the child that his negative behavior will not earn him your attention, but his good behavior will. Explain to your child WHY he is being put in Time Out and that you will talk to him as soon as he gets out.

3. A FIRM ROUTINE! ADHD children function best when they have a firm routine to adhere to. Spontaneity is not a friend to the ADHD child. Knowing what to expect and when to expect it can decrease a lot of bad behaviors. If the child's bed time is 8:00 p.m., you should have him start getting ready for bed 30 minutes sooner, knowing that his ADHD behavior will require him to be forewarned. Establish a routine where you tell your child that he has 30 minutes until bedtime. Remind him again when it is 15 minutes until bedtime. Make sure that he is in bed at 8:oo p.m. if that is the bed time you have chosen. Establish a similar routine for homework, getting ready for school or in whatever category your child needs more structure.

4. ESTABLISH A BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PLAN ! A Behavior Modification chart should not only take away privileges when the child displays the wrong behaviors, but it should reward the child when something is done successfully, or when the child has tried his best! Make a chart of behaviors that are acceptable as well as ones that are not acceptable. Make sure that the child knows that his good behavior will reward him with something he wants (stickers, a new toy, watching a movie of his choice, etc.). Always be consistent with your Behavior Modification techniques. Your child will soon learn that not putting his toys away means that he will have to go to bed 15 minutes early. If you need help creating a Behavior Modification plan, check your local library, there are several books available aimed at helping parents to create an effective Behavior Modification chart for their child.

5. GET SUPPORT! There are many organizations that bring parents, teachers and doctors together to discuss ADHD and how it affects your child and your family. One such group is C.H.A.D.D., Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder. All parents of ADHD children feel overwhelmed at times. Support groups, such as C.H.A.D.D., are not only a wonderful way for parents to get together to discuss behaviors and techniques, but the group leaders often have some of the latest information and medical updates on the disorder. Check your local newspaper or phone book for times and meeting places, or you can search for C.H.A.D.D. on the Internet.

Different children respond to different methods of Behavior Modification. Above all, be consistent in your approach to dealing with your child. ADHD children need a very strict routine, any changes may upset them. All parents of ADHD children know how frustrating and overwhelming it can be to deal with the child's behaviors at times. If you feel that you cannot deal with the child at that moment, take a few minutes in a separate room to calm down. Remember that you are not Wonder Woman or Superman: if you need help don't be afraid to ask for it.

Get Your Children To Enjoy Vegetables At Meal Times

2009-04-17T12:42:00.003+01:00

It’s an age-old problem – children who refuse point-blank to eat vegetables. You as the parent want to pull out your hair with frustration. You know how important it is for your child to eat vegetables, but no matter what you say, the green beans, carrots, broccoli are always left uneaten.

You can try to make them feel guilty by telling them about the millions of starving children in the world, but you probably know by now that this has no effect on your child and anyway, it’s not healthy to cultivate feelings of guilt in your children.

Here are some ideas to get them to eat vegetables:

Fruit instead of vegetables:

You may find that the child, who hates vegetables, loves fruit. Make sure that you always stock up on fresh fruit and that they are easily accessible to your children.

Carrots:

Children, who prefer fruit to vegetables, usually love raw carrots. Encourage them to eat as many as they want. Another idea with carrots is to peel them and then cut into julienne strips. Serve as is, or with a small tub of plain yogurt.

Gem Squash:

This is one of the few vegetables that children really like. Once the gem squash is cooked, place a blob of butter in each gem squash half and serve. Or place a tablespoon of peas in each gem squash half.

Vegetable juice

Fresh and pure vegetable juice can be bought at most supermarkets and most children love them. It’s one of the easiest ways to get them to take in vegetables.

Chinese Stir Fry:

Use cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, celery and baby marrows. Wash and cut the vegetables into strips. Heat a tiny bit of oil in a wok or a large saucepan. Add the vegetables, except for the bean sprouts and stir-fry for about 7 minutes. Add the bean sprouts and stir-fry for another 3 – 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add Soy sauce to taste. Serve and let the children use chopsticks to eat their vegetable stir-fry.

Pasta Sauce

This could easily be your best-kept secret – the sauce that goes over the pasta is made from vegetables. Take any vegetable, cook it. Put all the vegetables into a blender, add tomato paste or raw tomatoes and blend till a paste is formed and more importantly, there are NO traces of vegetables. Heat on the stove and when ready, pour over the pasta. Try carrots, green beans, in fact any vegetable that your child will not normally eat.

Cabbage

This is a difficult one – few children like eating cabbage. Try grating raw cabbage and adding mashed guava and finely grated carrots. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar (use brown sugar if preferred) and mix. Stir in a small about of mayonnaise and place in the fridge until required. Optional: stir in chopped nuts and raisins into the salad just before serving.

Spinach

The best method I know is to use cooked spinach and blend it. Make pasta (flour, eggs, salt and milk) and before rolling out the dough to form pasta strips, stir in the blended spinach – instant and cheap lasagne.

Potatoes

Potatoes have to be the most popular of vegetables. Children will eat potatoes in most forms – from French fries, to roast potatoes to mash. A hugely popular dish is to peel and chop up an onion. Brown the onion over a low heat in a tiny bit of oil. Peel and thinly slice your potatoes. Place the browned onions at the bottom of a casserole dish. Place a layer of potatoes on top, followed by a layer of gravy powder and then dot with small pieces of butter. Place another layer of potatoes, followed by gravy powder and butter. Continue doing this until all the potatoes are finished. Grate about ½ cup of cheese and sprinkle over the top. Place in a moderate oven and bake for about 1 hour.

Tomatoes and cucumbers

Peel and slice tomatoes and cucumbers. Boil eggs. Place the eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers and about a small amount of mayonnaise into a food processor. Blend until finely chopped. Serve this mixture on bread or toast.

Broccoli

The best way to serve broccoli to children is in a white sauce and over a baked potato – simply the most delicious way to eat baked potatoes.

I hope that the above ideas will inspire you to devise new ways to get your children to eat those pesky vegetables.

Sibling Jealousy: Help Your Toddler Cope With A New Child

2009-04-16T15:36:00.005+01:00

Your husband waltzes in the front door one day and blithely announces that he has a new wife moving in tomorrow and won’t it be fun for the two of you to share him, think, you’ll have someone to go shopping with! The feelings you will feel, shortly before throttling your husband, are akin to the ones that your child feels when you tell him about the impending arrival of his baby sibling. When a child has been an ‘only child’ for a length of time the thought of a stranger or rival can be nerve wracking and how you help your child cope, could have a direct effect on his relationship with his sibling for the rest of their lives.

Your child may start acting aggressively towards you, maybe even trying to hurt your stomach or yourself. Let him know in no uncertain terms, that you will not tolerate him hurting you or the baby. His anger is probably scaring him, just as much as the thought of the impending baby is scaring him. Emphasize the fact that it is okay to be angry but it is not okay to try and hurt either you or the baby, and help him find other ways to express this anger.

Get him used to the idea of siblings. Most homes today have more than one child, so point out what fun a friend's children have together, or talk about your own siblings and how you related to them when you were a child. Talk about cousins and other relatives and let him spend time with them to see how they handle being one of a group of siblings.

Try and get hold of a book or tell him a story about a child in similar circumstances to his. Talk about how frightened the child in the story was that his parents wouldn’t love him as much any more once the baby was there. Talk about ways the child expressed the anger, and if he wants to let him add to the story. Then tell him how much the child's parents loved him, and how it never changed after the new addition arrived. Mention what fun he had with ‘his’ baby once it started to grow up.

Do not let anyone else but you and your partner tell your child about your pregnancy, but do tell him before it gets too obvious. I was thirteen when my mother fell pregnant with my little brother, and as she knew how opposed I was to the idea she was too scared to tell me. I found out when the house started filling with baby clothes. I had a lot of unresolved anger towards her for a long time, though I was besotted with the baby once he arrived.

Of course the way you handle each child will be different and will relate to the child's age and their willingness to have brothers and sisters. But do get your child used to the idea of changes in the house and get them involved as much as possible with the preparation for the new baby.

Also start encouraging Dad to spend more time with your child. Their bond is going to be especially important when the new baby arrives, and it will help Dad to get used to being up all night so that helping with the newborn and midnight feeds won’t even faze him!

Advice For Parents With Twins

2009-04-15T14:03:00.003+01:00

Having Children

has to be one of the greatest blessings a person can receive in a lifetime. When you have two at once that blessing is obviously multiplied. When bringing home twins from the hospital there is a lot of worry and wonder about how to care for them and take the daily caos that comes with the territory. The number one question that comes to mind once you open the front door is, "How do we take care of two at once?"

Becoming new parents

is stressful and becoming parents to twins can be highly stressful. The stress only intensifies when there is no outside family support and help once you bring the babies home. You feel as if you are on another planet with these two tiny human beings to care for. When family members live a distance from your home, their assistance and guidance through the first weeks of life is not available. Granted they can give assurance and advice through the phone lines but it truly makes a difference if they can be physically available. So in essence, you are on your own.

This is designed to give a few ideas and options for new parents of twins who do not have the luxury of having family members available to assist during those first few weeks of parenthood.

The first thing when you come home from the hospital, sit down and take in your surroundings. This is the first time you have been in your new home as a "family". Enjoy these first few minutes of relaxing. Think of the two beautiful bundles of joy that you have brought home and that make your family complete.

Everything you do, say or think about now will encompass these two little bundles. But caring for twins is not as difficult as it seems. Even if there is not family support available during these early weeks, you can and will become great parents.

With twins you must develop and adhere to a system and a schedule for everything. Your thinking, "Why such a rigorous schedule?" Starting early adhering to a schedule will make life with twins a lot easier. During this time in your life you will need for things to be as easy and less stressful as possible. Children grow so fast and they will become toddlers before you know it. You want to enjoy the "baby" time as much as you can.

When it comes to feeding babies, whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, it is best to stick to a strict schedule. For breastfeeding parents it is your personal preference whether you want to nurse at the same time or alternate feeding times with the babies. For those parents who choose to bottle feed their twins, feeding at the same time creates structure for feeding times. If you alternately nurse, this will enhance the personal time you spend with each twin. If you choose to nurse at the same time or bottle feed both twins at the same time, this will create a structured schedule for you to develop for your twins.

Feeding your twins at the same time allows for more time to rest between feedings since feedings in the first weeks are so close together, sometimes only one and a half or two hours apart. Rest for the parents during this time is rare and hard to come by. As parents you will need all the rest you can get, when you can get it. Especially true for those who have no outside assistance. If you are bottle feeding and alone with the babies, you can still feed both at once. Just take a bed pillow and prop both babies up on it. Then with a bottle in each hand, feed until it is time to burp them. When it is time, take turns burping each twin, one and then the other. Twins will learn patience early on. They have to wait their turn on many occasions. If both parents are available each can feed one at the same time. You will see quickly how important your rest time becomes and how essential it is to feed at the same time.

Bathing on the other hand is not something you want to attempt together. Unless you have access to a HUGE tub, bathing separately is much more practical. To bathe the twins in a infant tub in the kitchen sink is the best way to go. This will save your back from bending over the bathtub for an extended period of time. Babies do not get that dirty so unless they spit up a lot or get extremely dirty, you only need to tub bathe them two or three times per week. With that in mind, if you alternate days or bathe both on the same day really does not matter. But choose either one or the other and stick to it. If both parents are present during bath times and you choose to bathe on the same day, here is an idea to make bath time go smoother. First bathe one baby. Then the second. While the second baby is being bathed, the other parent can dry and dress the first baby. This will save alot of time and energy. Remember, REST.

Diapers become your best friend when you have twins. Whether you decide to use disposable or cloth diapers, you may want to consider a schedule for changing also. One that works really well is to change each baby "before" each feeding. Most medical professionals will advise to change "after" each meal. However, experience has shown that most babies doze back to sleep during their feedings. Therefore, changing baby after a feeding means waking baby up for the diaper change. If you change diapers before a feeding then the babies may go ahead and snooze after their feedings. This will definately be a nice situation for parents who need their rest.

Having twins is a gift from above. But the work and stress that come along with them can sometimes be overwhelming. If you are not able to have family assistance during those first weeks of your babies' lives, then you need to have a structured lifestyle. Being able to implement these and other ideas and options into your new life will eventually make each day a little easier, which will in turn make each new day you spend with your two beautiful babies an everlasting memory. So start each day with a smile and always try to think of ways to make your life a little easier, to obtain as much rest as possible and just enjoy this precious time with your new babies.

Parenting : How To Handle Bathroom Accidents

2009-04-15T12:46:00.002+01:00

As your child learns to use the potty

by herself, she’ll undoubtedly experience accidents. You need to be encouraging but mildly disappointed throughout the training process when encouraging your child to correct bathroom errors.

Children want to do things more and more on their own as they grow older. They want to eat on their own, they want to walk and talk on their own, and they want to go to the bathroom on their own.

Learning to use the potty is not always an easy concept to master. Some children catch on quickly, but plenty others take months to learn that every time they need to go to the bathroom, they need to do that in the bathroom. There undoubtedly will be mistakes that happen.

When your child goes to the bathroom in her pants during the training process, the best thing you can do is to disappointedly say, “Oh, that’s too bad. We’ll have to get it right next time.” Don’t scold your child for not going to the bathroom in the right place. That adds unnecessary stress that can do more harm than good. You want to be disappointed but encouraging to your son or daughter.

You then need to perhaps show your son or daughter the proper place they should have gone. Take them to the bathroom and again show them that they should have gone in the commode rather than in their pants. Many parents also get training stools, shorter, smaller chairs where babies and toddlers can go to the bathroom. This gets them used to sitting on a seat when going to the bathroom, which often eases the transition to the adult toilet within a few weeks.

The best thing you can do when your child has a bathroom accident is to be supportive. Don’t yell or sound overly upset, this won’t help your child learn where to do it right, it will only make her feel as if she has done something seriously wrong.

Keeping Baby Healthy And Happy

2009-04-14T15:58:00.002+01:00

Babies develop rapidly in their first year of life. Just when you think you have a clear idea of what is going on and what to expect, everything changes monumentally. Change becomes the norm. Still, there are some changes that aren’t necessarily positive, and things you should keep an eye out for in order to keep your baby as healthy as possible.

In their first few months of life, babies who have been fed breast milk typically have mustard like, soft poop. It isn’t diarrhea. It’s normal. Diarrhea is very loose watery poop that happens more frequently than normal bowel movements. Diarrhea has many different causes. If you suspect that your baby really has diarrhea contact your family doctor because loss of fluids can lead to dehydration which is quite dangerous.

You’ll get an idea of how much sleep your baby typically will require very quickly. You’ll adjust mentally for what will be normal for baby. If you notice he or she is sleeping a lot more than usual, you should talk to your doctor and see if there might be some underlying cause. The same can be said for babies sleeping much less than usual.

How are your baby’s eyes? It is fairly common for a baby to be born with one, or both tear ducts blocked. They will normally open within a couple weeks, when the baby starts producing tears. If they do not, you may see some mucus around the eyelid. Normally, this isn’t harmful. It could, however, lead to infection if the tear duct remains blocked. If you notice anything unusual around his or her eyelids, call your baby’s doctor.

You may not be aware of it, but baby acne is a common newborn condition. If there is an outbreak of small, red pimples or whiteheads on your baby’s cheeks, chin or forehead, usually appearing between 3 weeks and four weeks of age, this is baby acne. It is usually a result of the mother’s hormones crossing the placenta into the baby late in pregnancy, and these hormones then stimulate glands on the baby’s skin and produce acne.

Baby acne most noticeable when the baby is hot or fussy or the baby’s skin is irritated. Avoiding overdressing your baby, and keeping your baby clean with mild soap can minimize baby acne. It is not a serious condition, and generally, unless there are other symptoms, you don’t need to take baby to the doctor.

Dehydration can be caused by heat exposure, or by illness, such as a fever or diarrhea. It is very important to keep baby from getting dehydrated. The following symptoms indicate mild dehydration: baby pees less, plays less than usual, doesn’t have any tears, has dry skin, dry mouth, and dry tongue, sunken eyes, grayish pallid skin, or a sunken soft spot on the head (fontanel). If these symptoms develop, contact your baby’s doctor. Dehydration can lead to serious health problems if not dealt with immediately.

Fevers are one of the most common baby ailments. If your baby seems especially cranky or warm, take his or her temperature. It is nature’s way of saying baby may be ill. If your child has a fever of more than 102 Fahrenheit or 39 centigrade, definitely contact your doctor.

You know your baby best, so if you experience anything out of the ordinary, you should definitely consult your health care professional. In this way you can assure you are doing all you can to help keep your baby as healthy as possible.

Have A Happy Easter Holidays

2009-04-10T17:47:00.002+01:00

Many thanks to all my visitors who clicked on the advertisements on my blogs.It's helped to raise £50.00.
It will be donated to the NSPCC.

Have a Happy Easter and take care of yourselves.I will be away until Tuesday 14th April when the blog will be next updated.

Again Many Thanks
Ralph

Your Home Can be a Danger Ground for Your Baby

2009-04-09T16:31:00.002+01:00

It is not uncommon that serious injuries to a child occur in the home. Sadly, many of these can be avoided. By making an extra effort to secure the home against things like accidental burns, falls or against more threatening situations like home fires, a child’s life can be spared and parents can feel more at ease when they are at home with their children.

Keeping a watch over your child is the best way of protecting them. When children are small they cannot be left to their own devices for one minute. This is an invitation for something bad to happen. When answering the door or the telephone take your child along. It only takes a minute for a child to get in a dangerous situation because they are naturally inquisitive.

Checking on a sleeping baby at frequent intervals is recommended. In between those intervals, an electronic baby monitoring system should be present in the child’s room so that a parent can listen for any unusual noises or sounds, or hear when the child awakens. Baby monitors offer different types of monitoring so that parents have their choice of only monitoring breathing, monitoring for movements or video monitoring. Regardless of which model a parent buys, the baby monitor should always be fully charged and properly functioning at all times.

As technology evolves, so do baby monitoring systems. Newer models are less likely to experience interference from other electronic devices in the home and increased range capabilities make the latest models more efficient than a previous generation’s. If possible, always shop for the latest and best in baby monitoring technology.

Covering sharp edges on furniture is one of the many things you can do to child-proof your home. Little ones are curious and by keeping items up, electrical outlets covered and cabinets locked you will feel that your child is better protected.

All items such as anything combustible, smoking paraphernalia and objects which may be sharp should be kept out of children’s reach. Make sure all alarms are in working order to alert you of the possibility of a fire.

Keeping windows closed and inaccessible to children is another necessity. An open window even in a room where a baby monitor is set up is not wise. The cords from blinds or curtains should be raised and kept away from children.

Use gates to keep children off stairs in your home. Other safe methods for children include that hinges on doors are safe and any small area rugs have non-slip backings.

Finally, the home should have a well stocked first aid kit. All adults should know where to find it thus ensuring the supplies for about any emergency can be used if necessary. There are no accident proof homes however, keeping your home as safe as it can be and trying to stop accidents before they happen can provide a safe environment for children.

Green Tips for Parents: Eco-friendly organic baby clothes

2009-04-08T15:32:00.002+01:00

We are all trying to make strides in reducing our environmental impact and preserving our Mother Earth. Every individual on the planet has a role in this effort, but arguably, it is a little more difficult for parents of babies. This is largely due to the amount of "stuff" we need, ie: diapers, bottles, furniture and gear, clothes, and toys, to name a few things, all of which our babies grow out of as quickly as they use them.

There are endless ways for parents to reduce, reuse and recycle. Second-hand clothes and hand-me-downs are a given. Taking it to another level, some parents are hand-making clothes for their babies from recycled or organic fabrics. This is a fantastic idea, if you have the skills, the means and the time to do it. If you don't, do not let that deter you from trying to up your green factor.

Equally as important in the 'going green' effort is choosing wisely when you must buy new. When possible, buy eco-friendly clothes for your baby and try to give your business to companies that give back to charity and support efforts toward the common good. Where, you ask? Quite honestly, since going green has become all the rave, the choices are endless. But here are some I recommend:

Bambino Land - eco-friendly organic cotton baby clothes made in the USA and in fair trade environments around the world. A percentage of annual gross sales support a charity called Ghar Sita Mutu, which houses a home for abandoned children, and provides a training program for destitute women and an outreach program for needy families in Kathmandu, Nepal. Free Shipping through April 9, 2009.
Mother Earth and Baby - eco-friendly organic bamboo or cotton baby clothing. A percentage of profits goes to Carolyn's Place, a resource center that provides confidential services to pregnant women in need.
Zoe and Sprout - eco-friendly GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified, organic cotton onesies and t-shirts made in India in a fair labor environment. 3% of profits are donated to Keep America Beautiful. Free shipping on all orders over $35.
Sage Creek Organics - eco-friendly 100% organic cotton baby clothes made only in fair trade environments. Sage Creek Organics supports the World Wildlife Fund and IFAW as a standing member and ongoing contributor to its efforts. Free shipping on orders of $25 or more.
Nubius Organics - high quality, earth-friendly, fair trade organic baby clothing. 30 day money back guarantee.
Baby Bambu - eco-friendly bamboo fiber baby clothing that is naturally hypoallergenic, naturally anti-bacterial and naturally UV protecting.
Pur Bebe - eco-friendly organic baby clothes made in fair labor environments with 100% certified organic cotton, a blend of soy fiber and organic cotton, or bamboo. Free shipping on all orders over $100.
Grow Green Baby - eco-friendly organic cotton baby clothes and shoes. Free shipping on all orders over $99.
Oscar & Belle - eco-friendly organic baby clothing made with a commitment to sustainable farming and manufacturing.
Kid Bean - baby clothing made with recycled content and/or natural, organic materials, either made in the USA or in fair labor environments.
Best Baby Organics - eco-friendly baby clothing made with 100% certified organic cotton in fair labor/fair trade environments.

If you can, reuse and recycle baby clothing by buying, trading or borrowing second-hand. If you must buy new, buy responsibly. Remember, extreme green is admirable, but certainly not the norm. Any shade of green has a positive impact, so do what is realistic and practical for you.

Build The Best Easter Basket

2009-04-07T16:14:00.003+01:00

Jelly beans and chocolate bunnies are standard (and expected), but you can also get creative with Easter goodies. Tailor baskets to individual tastes, hobbies and favorites. Here are some ideas:

Color them happy: Make everything in the basket your child's favorite color - Peeps, chocolate eggs, notepads and pencils, ring pops, Pop Rocks, socks.

Spring forward: Put together a basket for your little gardener's helper, with kid-size gardening tools, gloves, watering cans, etc. Tuck in seed packets and carrot-shaped chocolates or carrot-shaped tubes of orange jelly beans.

Flip for fashion: What girl doesn't love the toe-wiggling freedom of flip-flops? These warm-weather wardrobe musts can be bought really cheap. Load up a basket with several colorful pairs; add pretty nail polish, a coupon for a home-spa pedicure and some flip-flop-themed jewelry, notepads, stickers and hair bows.

Star power: Yet another generation of "Star Wars" fans is crazy about light sabers and R2-D2, and there's plenty of merchandise to prove it. The same can be said of many popular cartoons and movies. Fill a basket with character-themed figurines, Pez dispensers, trading cards, puzzles and Legos.

Who gets what?

Not all goodies and gifts are appropriate for all ages.

Toddlers: A little bit of candy is dandy, but don't go overboard. Instead, try animal crackers or healthier treats, such as Annie's Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks. Stay away from toys or packaging with little parts that can be swallowed. A handful of jelly beans, a small chocolate bunny, plus a few storybooks, coloring books and crayons and a stuffed animal will keep toddlers busy and happy.

Kids: Older children will no doubt want to feel like, well, a kid in a candy store. Fine, but round out the baskets with non-candy things such as DVDs, CDs, books and some gel pens or funky mechanical pencils.

Pre-teens: They, too, appreciate candy, but they appreciate money even more. Put a few silver dollars in plastic eggs to offer a little surprise. Give gift cards, movie passes, iTunes cards, or cool T-shirts.

Think outside the basket

Baskets aren't the only option for containing that neon "grass" and all the stuff that goes on top of it. Consider these alternatives:

• Cute lunchbox

• Miniature suitcase/small backpack

• Plastic sand pail (with sand toys)

• Colorful plastic crate

• Easter hat

• Babydoll crib

• Jewelry box

• Football or batting helmet

Have a Happy Easter!!

Balancing Childcare and Housework With Your Spouse: Help for Working Moms

2009-04-06T13:46:00.002+01:00

I'm sure I don't have to tell you that being a working mom is a challenge on many levels. In addition to meeting the demands of your career, you also need to balance your obligations to your family and your home.

One important key to being a successful working mom is to work closely with your spouse. If both parents approach childcare and housework as a team, you will both be able to get more things done each and every week (and you'll have more fun, too). Here are some tips to do just that.

If your spouse is very traditional, it may be a bit of a challenge to get him to take on a larger share of the house duties. Try sharing your feelings with him of feeling overburdened by the amount of work you need to do each day. Let him choose the things that he wants to take over with regards to the house and the children. If you give him a choice, he might be more likely to adapt to the changes.

Start by sitting down with your spouse and talking about your weekly obligations. Write down anything and everything that you can think of that has to do with taking care of the children and the house. This includes daily chores (such as doing the dishes and taking out the trash) to weekly activities (such as shopping trips and shuttling the children to their various activities and appointments.) Don't leave out those tasks you complete on a monthly or semi-annual basis.

Discuss what each of you would like to do and the weekly commitments that each of you has with your jobs outside of the home. Plan out what activities are the highest priority (child-related activities, getting dishes done, etc).

Once you have written everything down, start delegating the duties between yourself and your spouse. You may choose to have each one of you take over a duty (such as vacuuming) or alternate based on days. Don't forget to delegate duties to your older children who can handle the responsibility. Equally share the duties so that no one feels like all the burden is on his or her shoulders. Make sure that you agree about what everyone should be doing.

The same goes for childcare related duties. Make sure that your work schedule and your spouse's are in sync. Don't plan on working overtime on a day that you know your spouse will be late. Work out a system for picking up the kids from school, taking them to their activities and helping them with their homework.

Write down everything on a large calendar so that everyone is on the same page. Use a different color for each family member and write down each person's required activities for the day. This way the schedule is clear and easy for everyone to follow. Post it in a highly visible place so that there is no excuse for anyone to ignore their chores.

Have a weekly meeting with your spouse to touch base on the household duties and the childcare. Make any adjustments for the following week to your calendar so the entire family is on track.

If you talk with your spouse frequently about the household duties and how the household management plan is going, you will both be able to share the duties and get things done without feeling overburdened.

Organic Baby Products Saving Our Planet

2009-04-05T16:52:00.001+01:00

Organic baby products have the advantage of contributing to the comfort and health of your baby which makes them the preferred choice by discriminating parents. In addition to the individual benefit to each baby who is not exposed to harmful ingredients in traditional baby products, the use of organic baby products is helpful to the health of our planet. Each year thousands of tons of waste products are dumped in landfills and into the streams and rivers of this country. Unfortunately, the manufacture of many traditional products includes the release of carcinogens into the waterways. Tremendous improvements have been made in recent years, but reducing the amount of these substances even further is a positive move.

Social Responsibility

Now that you are the parent of a new baby, you are more likely to realize the importance of taking good care of the planet that you will be handing on to your children and grandchildren. Using organic baby products is just one way of improving the quality of air and water on the planet. On an individual level, using organic baby products is more likely to ensure that your baby doesn t suffer the effects of unpleasant ingredients being placed on tender skin as you use lotions, creams and powders in an effort to protect the skin.

Water and Air

It is hard to believe that purchasing organic baby products is a way to help take care of the planet Earth, but it is true. As you reduce your use of products that contain irritants and allergens and commit to eliminating the use of products with dangerous chemicals involved in either the production or the manufacturing of the item, you will reduce the number of challenges to the air and water of this planet. There will no longer be chemicals released into the air and water. Refuse to purchase detergents, for example that contain hidden carcinogens. If organic baby products are safe for infants, shouldn t we all be using organic products?

Sustainable Products

Organic baby products are a great choice in another way. Because the materials that are used to produce the items are made of naturally occurring substances, such as cotton, silk and wool, there will always be more of the product, so long as farmer and agriculturalists continue to do their chosen work. The materials going into the making of organic baby products are grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers so there is nothing harmful going into the soil or air.

Public Eye

The concept of using organic baby products as opposed to standard products is increasingly in the public eye nowadays. When you take a sensible concept such as the organic marketplace and provide it with good word of mouth approval and availability of the product through a world wide internet, the concept will continue to grow in popularity and usage. Online marketing is the best venue for the small business owner and the business start up entrepreneur. It is a situation where the more sales there are, the more products you are likely to find in the marketplace.

Three Top Tips to Reduce Your Baby’s Carbon Footprint!

2009-04-04T09:26:00.002+01:00

You’ve decided to use cloth nappies but are now worried about the effect of your decision on the environment. Fans of disposables and their manufacturers will try and convince you that reusable nappies are just as detrimental to the environment. Whilst using real nappies does mean that your washing and drying loads increase, there are ways of combating this.

Here are 3 top tips to reduce baby’s footprint.

1. Buy second hand reusable nappies

You can purchase nappies from your local mum and toddlers groups or via eBay. Sell or donate your baby’s nappies when your own family is complete. Organic cloth nappies are best as they are made without using bleach so are kinder to the environment.

2. Do not boil wash or tumble dry your nappies

Modern washing machines have largely dispensed with the need to boil wash nappies. Whilst storing used nappies prior to the wash – add a couple of drops of tea tree oil, a natural antiseptic and disinfectant, into the soaking container. These oils also help to reduce any odour and remove remaining traces of ammonia which can trigger nappy rash. Wash nappies at 60 degrees, with eco friendly non biological washing powder in an A rated washing machine to use less water and energy. Where possible, allow the nappies to dry outside on a washing line. Countless mums have noticed that the sun has beneficial bleach like effect on any stains which may remain. Finally, nappies, or diapers as our American cousins like to call them, do not need to be ironed.

3. Start potty training your baby early

Studies have shown that wearing real nappies usually makes potty training easier. Modern disposables are made with chemicals which reduce the wet feel of the nappy thus baby finds it more difficult to associate going to the toilet with a feeling of discomfort! Most parents find that cloth nappies make their children more eager to become potty trained.

Fans of disposable nappies will tell you that your baby is more likely to suffer nappy rash if you use cloth nappies. Whilst it is true that modern disposables can sometimes help prevent nappy rash, in a lot of cases the chemicals contained in modern nappies can cause allergic reactions. The key to preventing nappy rash is to change baby regularly and where possible allow baby to enjoy some nappy free time giving him a chance to kick their legs and feel the sun on their bum.

With a large variety of types and styles available, using cloth nappies can be an easy, economical, and environmentally friendly option for any parent.

Cloth nappies today are not just for the natural parenting crowd and a far cry from the images of leaky plastic covers and nappy pins that many parents have ingrained in their minds. If you understand what’s available and have the information to make the best choices for your baby and your family, you may find that cloth nappies are easier and more cost effective than you thought.

When Grandparent Is Going To Die: What To Tell The Children

2009-04-04T09:02:00.002+01:00

This is one of the most difficult issues for parents to deal with because of the combination of our culture's discomfort with death, the fact that the parent is simultaneously dealing with their own grief process, and parental instincts usually lead us to try to protect our children from anything painful.

The first question was when to tell the children that grandmother is dying. The general rules involve a mixture of the age of the child (the younger the child, the longer you wait) and the amount of contact between child and grandparent (the more they see each other the sooner you need to tell them but this is influenced by when it is clear that something is wrong with grandma). One common error here is to assume the children are not aware that something is wrong. Parents typically underestimate children s awareness of a problem (this includes a range of issues such as marital problems or a job loss).

As soon as the grandparent's health is a serious issue in your home, something should be said to the children. Don t assume that the children aren't aware or concerned unless they are asking questions. Typically, children don't say anything if they don't get permission to discuss the issue by your introducing it. You may simply note that grandma isn't able to play as much with the children, she's making many visits to the hospital or doctor, or they can't visit her as often. This might prompt a child to ask if grandma is going to die. Honesty is the overriding priority because it is the basis for the child's long term ability to trust you as well as being a cornerstone of your expectations of them. So if death is a certainty, tell them so and give a brief, factual explanation of why. Yes, use the word cancer ! If it is not certain, say it might happen but right now the doctors are working hard to fix the problem. This may lead to questions about your possible death, or the child s, because children are primarily concerned with how events impact their lives. You can t promise children a long life for anyone; you can only reassure them that reaching eighties is the norm and point out the people they know that are old and healthy.

It is important for parents to allow their own grief to be expressed. Crying as you talk to the children is healthy and important. It models how to express sadness and states it is a strength to cry when sad. The stiff upper lip model is not the message to give children or the way to deal with your own grief.

Sometimes the grandparent will have asked you not to tell the children. This may result from her/his generation's notion that children were to be shielded from dealing with death or even that it didn't have a serious impact on them. It may also be their anticipated discomfort in dealing with the children s questions or reactions. It is important to firmly reassure your parent that it is best for the children to know and that they are unlikely to ask grandma a lot of questions about her health. You can help to assure this by telling the children to ask you their questions because it is hard for grandma to talk about it. Children will understand this although sometimes a three or four year old will blurt out a comment you wish they hadn t said. Surprisingly, grandma will handle it better than expected.

Children will often be helped by being encouraged to draw a picture or make a card for grandma to express their love for her. Bringing her some hand picked flowers or something the child wants to make is also helpful. This leads to a common question about visiting the grandparent. The only time I discourage visiting is if there has been some physical change in the grandparent that might be scary for the child to see, e.g., marked discoloration of skin, a proliferation of tubes, or mental confusion. But, usually children can handle most anything if you are calm and reassuring and they are told to ask to leave the room if they feel uncomfortable. The key is telling them ahead of time what to expect. If you have prepared them, children will usually end up telling you it wasn t as upsetting as you thought it might be.

The key theme in all of this is that children are nearly always more resilient than we expect them to be and if we are dealing honestly with our own emotions and with theirs, then they will be okay. This is a normal part of life and we need to convey a sense that while it is sad, it is something that we can deal with and life will continue with many more good things to happen.

Single Parenting And The Effects On Children

2009-04-04T08:49:00.002+01:00

Whether single or not, all parents leave long lasting impressions on their child s life. This is particularly true for single parents. Death, divorce or whatever is the cause of this singularity, it likely leaves deep impressions on the emerging personality of the child. What actually matters is the way the single parent responds to the task of single parenthood. In whichever manner the single parent has dealt with the parenting challenge, there are deep effects on the child's character and individuality as compared to the children of parents living together.

Being a child to a single parent is a complex situation. Children look up and follow their parents. If the parents are confident and stable, their children feel secure and confident. The sense of belonging to a single parent who is either living as an unmarried heterosexual couple or a homosexual couple or without a partner at all has a disturbing effect on the child s personality. Although the laws and norms of societies have changed, unlawful children are made fun of. They are called bastards, illegal and at some places natural born children. As it is a social taboo, it always haunts the child that his mother was never married to his father or at times the fathers refuse to recognize these children as theirs. They are singled out by others at school and playgrounds and made fun of. All these effect the child s personality and self confidence. As a result of which they become reluctant to attend school and socialize. These are part of difficulties that children of lone parents have to go through.

Bringing up children as a single father is a tough task. Being a father you have to go to work as well as look after your young ones which is very taxing. You can really fatigue. As a single father neither you nor your child has the liberty to share your thoughts with the mother. The children particularly feel comfortable to converse with their mother for many of their problems. A number of public schools also don t consider single parents worthy for the task which adds to their worries.

Some of the societies don't accept single parents who exercise this option by choice. In many areas it is considered illegal and morally corrupt. Others consider it a religious taboo particularly the Bible belt. As the society looks down upon them and socially isolates them they feel left out. This makes their life nerve racking. It is not always easy to migrate from one place to other due to job and financial reasons.

From the above it appears that there is nothing positive in single parenting, how ever on the contrary there is some ray of hope also. Recently some work done at Cornell University about the implications of single parenthood, particularly single mothers on the academic and behavioral progress of children in early teens revealed no harmful effects. This is very encouraging for single mothers. At last it is now obvious that if they are considerate and looking after thier young ones with love and affection, the single status would not be a hurdle in bringing up confident, well mannered and contented children.

How to Tell if Your Child is Dyslexic

2009-04-01T14:23:00.002+01:00

If your child

• seems very frustrated when trying to read

• has started to avoid reading altogether,

• or has started to fight going to school

He or she may be dyslexic. And that is very good news.

It’s good news, because dyslexia really is a talent, once you get past the reading challenge, and there are ways to do that in a relatively short period of time, for relatively little cash outlay.

The first step is the self assessment test below, which is reliable if your child is at least seven years old. Most children age six and under do not have the brain development to read and write correctly. It is not unusual for them to reverse letters and numbers and to confuse words. Before they are seven, focus on such pre reading skills as story telling, creative play and motor skill development, rather than on reading skills.

While reading through the questions, mark only those where the answer is “yes” to the question.

Does your child

1. Hesitate, stutter, omit words, insert words or replace abstract words with other words?

2. Intermittently and inconsistently skip abstract words when reading?

3. Inconsistently skip lines when reading?

4. Tend to guess wildly when a word is difficult to read?

5. Avoid reading and writing if at all possible?

6. Block read, meaning he/she sees a few familiar letters in a word and calls the word something other than what is written on the page?

7. Have difficulty sequencing numbers and letters while reading and writing?

8. Excel in such 3 dimensional activities as art, drama, music, inventing or sports?

9. Sometimes get accused of daydreaming or get labeled “lazy” by teachers?

10. Read below grade level (usually significantly below grade level)?

11. Avoid reading and homework if at all possible?

12. Have poor reading comprehension?

13. Use memorization to learn schoolwork; thinks memorizing is learning?

14. Spell creatively? (Often spelling is phonetically accurate but child is usually an extremely poor speller.)

15. Know the sound of each letter and yet cannot connect them to form the sound of the word, especially in early stages of learning?

16. Make up foreign pronunciations for a word and no one can understand them?

17. Have mood swings or seem hyperactive or compulsive?

18. Have difficulty staying focused and sitting still?

19. Exhibit creative, highly intuitive and environmentally aware behaviors?

20. Lose his/her train of thought an abnormal number of times throughout a conversation?

21. Have great coordination and balance or have the other extreme of very poor coordination and balance?

22. Feel dumb, have poor self esteem and not trust his/her own thoughts, insights or answers?

23. Not qualify for help because he/she isn’t behind enough?

24. Have trouble with “left and right” or “over and under”?

25. Find arithmetic easy, and word problems hard?

26. In math, have trouble with time, sequencing of steps and maintaining order?

27. Display the answers to 1, 2, 3 and 4 inconsistently, especially when reading abstract words?

28. Have difficulty expressing thoughts in written form?

29. Get confused about directions in space or time?

30. Have difficulty with his/her handwriting?

31. Often forget the correct answers that he knew just a few minutes ago?

Now that you have completed the test, add up how many questions you answered yes to and arrive at a total. The dyslexia probability scale is as follows:

If you answered “YES” for:

a. 11 or fewer items there is a low probability that your child is dyslexic.

b. 12 20 items there is a good chance that your child is dyslexic.

c. 21 or more items the probability is high that your child is dyslexic.

There are many existing, useful techniques to assist your child in his learning journey and, in many ways, dyslexia is a gift. After all, some of the world’s most esteemed individuals, including Albert Einstein, Henry Ford, Winston Churchill and General Patton, have been dyslexic. Once you have confirmed that your child is dyslexic, you can learn effective strategies to make learning a joy again! Look at that list of famous dyslexics again—it really is a talent, with one small obstacle, that you and your child can overcome.

Is Your Child A Fussy Eater?

2009-03-30T15:14:00.002+01:00

Fussy eaters can be frustrating to parents, especially when you can't determine why your child is fussing over his bottle or his plate. Fussy eating can be cause for concern or it might be perfectly normal - it is just one of the trials of parenthood to determine the cause of your child's eating problem.

Fussy Eaters During Infancy

The baby who fusses over a bottle has a legitimate reason a resounding majority of the time. The younger the baby is, the more likely there is truly a problem. Fussy eating at this stage might indicate:

- Your baby has a digestive disorder or condition such as acid reflux that makes eating painful.
- Your baby has a milk or soy allergy that causes discomfort or pain while eating or immediately after.
- Your baby prefers one feeding method. Many babies love the breast and balk at the bottle, while others prefer the bottle after it's been introduced and refuse to nurse.
- Your baby is teething. Once babies start to cut teeth around six months, they might start fussing on the bottle or breast because the sucking hurts their tender gums.
- Your baby has an ear infection. Sucking hurts the inner ear if it is already inflamed due to an ear infection. This is true of both nursing and bottle feeding.
- Your baby prefers another taste. There is a different flavor between formulas and between preparations styles. You can actually smell the difference in many. It might be that your baby likes the taste of formula made from powdered formula, but not the concentrated variety. This tends to happen later in infancy as your child becomes more independent.

If you have a fussy infant at feeding time, speak to your child's doctor to rule out the possibility of any problems.

Fussy Eaters as Toddlers

Once your child becomes a toddler, there are many other factors to consider. The biggest concern for many parents is when an otherwise voracious eater suddenly stops soon after his first birthday. It seems he's just picking at his food or barely eating when he used to eat much more at a meal. This is normal for most children and not a sign of picky eating.

Babies roughly triple their size between birth and a year or fifteen months. But from the first year through the third, they grow only a few inches and might only gain three to five pounds. This slowing of growth means their appetite and nutritional requirements slow as well. Your child isn't eating simply because he isn't hungry. Offer healthy foods at meals and during snacks and monitor how much he eats over a three day period. Compare this to the requirements for a toddler and you'll likely see that he's right on track.

Other times truly fussy eating does develop in toddlers. Toddlers are learning at such as rapid rate, and one of the most entertaining things they learn is how to agitate their parents. If he sees that a food means a lot to you, your toddler might refuse to eat it on principle. To avoid this don't make mealtime into a battle. Provide an array of healthy foods your child typically enjoys and be content that he is eating healthy foods, even if he's eating only a bit of one today and refusing it tomorrow.

Finally, toddlers seem to enjoy testing their limits. They relish in the realization that they have a choice as to what and how to eat. They might try out their new found freedom at the dinner table by refusing to eat anything but a certain meal or particular item. Play along as much as possible and work to include all necessary food items in the course of a day. Food strikes and "favorites" grow old after a time for children, so it is best to simply wait them out. If you're concerned about malnutrition in the week that you child will only eat bread and macaroni, feed him a multivitamin suitable for his age to help carry you through to the next week when he'll only drink orange juice and chocolate milk.