Tiny One's

7 tips for dealing with tantrums

2012-01-13T07:37:00.000-08:00

First of all, all toddlers throw tantrums. They’re too young to know how deal with their intense emotions, and their kicking and screaming are their way of saying, “I’m frustrated, I don’t like what’s happening, and I’m going to make sure you know it.”
That being said, you can’t let your toddler’s tantrums control you. Giving in to them teaches him that tantrums are 1) effective, and 2) a perfectly acceptable way of behavior. So, one of the most important parenting skills is to be able to deal with tantrums in a firm but positive way. Here are some parenting tips on avoiding tantrums, and dealing with them.

1. Use routines and transitions

Many tantrums can be averted with a little planning and sensitivity. Don’t feed your child’s frustration by starting activities knowing that you will have to end them abruptly. Toddlers like predictability and are creatures of habit—so a routine will be calming and also very effective at setting rules and limits. “We only watch cartoons for one hour, then we go to the park.” Or, “We eat at the dining table, not on the bed.” Do this every time and your child will take it matter of factly, and not put up a fight. It also helps to give a heads-up for any transition: “We will leave after bath time” or “Three minutes and we pack up the toys and get ready for bed.”

2. Watch for tantrum patterns

Take note of when your child usually throws tantrums. Does he get agitated in large crowds? Does he usually have meltdowns after 4 pm? Knowing the tantrum triggers can help you take steps to avoid or prepare for tantrums: don’t go to the supermarket until your child is in the best possible mood, like after a nap or a meal, or start calming activities like a bath and book time once the clock hits 4.

3. Give two choices

Tantrums are a part of your child’s desire to assert his independence. You can give him a sense of control, within acceptable limits, by offering two choices: “Time to dress up! Do you want to wear the red or the yellow shirt?” Or, “Let’s pack up the toys. Do we start with the blocks or the books?”

4. Don’t be an audience

When your child throws a tantrum, first make sure he is safe and then ignore him. Don’t negotiate or argue, because he is not going to listen and you will only be caught in a power struggle. Also, by stepping back you also help yourself calm down—and you need to stay calm, because if you lose your temper you lose control of the situation. (If you have a tendency to yell, here are tips on how to stop yelling at your preschooler.)

5. Teach him how to communicate feelings

“Label” the feeling so your child gradually learns how to express what he feels in another way. “You are frustrated because your toy broke,” or “You are tired and want to go home.”

6. Teach calming techniques

Teach your child to relax, by taking 5 deep breaths, or going to a “quiet place.” Only talk to your child when he is calm.

7. Don’t belabor the point

When your child has calmed down, don’t stretch the argument. Just say very simply that you did not like what he did, and then explain what behavior you expect. Then, hug him and say “I am glad you are feeling better” and move on to another activity. Don’t mope or make fun of what he did.

Is your preschooler too pushy?

2012-01-13T07:33:00.000-08:00

Social skills don’t come naturally to young kids. Some are really shy and withdrawn, and others become a little bit too rough and pushy. Maybe they grab toys or insists on setting the rules (causing, of course, the shy kids to withdraw even more).
Pushy or aggressive kids aren’t bullies. They’re just learning how to deal with others and to balance their own need for control and independence with the art of “playing nice.” However, if they are allowed to do this, their playful aggression can eventually lead to more destructive behavior like kicking, biting, hitting, etc They aren’t intrinsically mean but they just don’t know any better! Here’s how to help.

Allow a little roughhousing

Boys will be boys and a little rowdiness is par for the course. Just keep an eye out between spirited play (a fun sword fight, arm wrestling, etc) and intentionally hurtful behavior. Also provide toys and games that won’t inadvertedly hurt a friend. For example, play sword should have rounded ends or ideally made of soft rubber.

Call attention to bad behavior

Listen in on what your kids say and pull them aside when they say something a little off. “You’ve hurt Karen’s feelings and she might not want to be your friend anymore.” Don’t reprimand in front of the friend, though, because it will embarrass your child and push her on the defensive.
Also, setting ground rules for playdates minimizes the power struggles. For example you can say “Hitting is never okay” and “Take turns with a toy or we will take it away so no one can play with it.” (Read tips on teaching your child how to share.)

Watch for triggers

Some situations may seem to bring out your child’s most aggressive behavior. For example if your child is overcompetitive and tends to act up when he’s about to win or lose a game, then sign him up for a group sport like soccer where he will have to work with others.

Teach problem solving

Don’t just berate your child for bad behavior. Talk about what he can do next time: “what’s a nicer way to get your turn at a toy?” or “What’s a friendly way to tell your friend not to grab your book?”
Also distinguish between emotions and inappropriate responses. “it’s okay to be angry at Jimmy for tearing your book, but it’s not okay to bite him.” Help him identify emotions like disappointment, frustration and jealousy so he can express them without violence or aggression.

How to teach your toddler to recognize letters

2012-01-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

We can sing “The Alphabet Song” until we’re blue in the face, but even if our kids can repeat the song after us, they may not realize those sounds are connected to letters, and the letters are combined to make words.
These tips can help your child recognize letters and letter sounds, through activities that are completely age-appropriate. Best of all, they’re fun—so even if your toddler doesn’t immediately learn how to read letters, he will feel that letters (and reading) are totally awesome. And that’s the best, brightest start!

Take it one letter at a time

It can be confusing to see all 26 of the letters at the same time. So instead of breezing from A to Z, try the classic Sesame Street approach: “this day (or week) is brought to you by the Letter A, and th number 1.”
If it’s the “A” week, put posters of the letter “A” around the house. Cut his pancake into the shape of an “A”, and serve it with apple juice. Point out things in the house and in the park that start with A. Remember to over-enunciate and repeat the “a” sound. “’A’ is for ant. A-a-a-ant.”
Then go to the letter “B”, and then “C”. (Or, you can do all the vowels first, before going to the consonants.) Review periodically. Don’t progress until you’re sure that your toddler can tell the difference between the letters.

Get tactile

Tactile is child development speak for “use hands.” Toddlers learn by touching and tinkering. Try simple craft activities. Cut out a large letter “A” on a cereal box and have your child paint it or cover it with rolled up pieces of crepe paper or macaroni. Look for the letter “A” in old magazines and newspapers and cut it out and paste on old cereal boxes. Your child can see how the “A’s” look different but are still the same. Play with blocks, refrigerator magnets, and alphabet puzzles: “Where is the A?”

Keep it fun and light

Don’t drill your child. If you see your child is losing interest, take a break and back off. Trust that by mere exposure and repetition, your child will be able to get the concept.
Also look at your child’s learning style. Does your toddler like music? Then sing it. Appropriate an old nursery rhyme and change the lyrics: “Mary had a little A, little A, little A…” If your child enjoys jumping and running, spread large foam letters on the floor. “Jump to the A! Jump to the P!”

Traveling While Pregnant

2012-01-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves a vacation, and sometimes getting away from it all is just what the doctor ordered. But if going on vacation means traveling any great distance, you might want to think twice.

"If you're 28 weeks pregnant, this isn't the time to fly to Hawaii," says Ralph Dauterive, MD, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in Baton Rouge, La.

"When my patients ask me whether it's all right to travel, I always ask them if they really want to hear my answer," says Dauterive. "Why are you taking a long trip when you're pregnant? How many times in your life are you going to be pregnant? What's your priority?"

That said, however, Dauterive adds, he's not nixing travel for all pregnant women, or for the entire term of their pregnancy. For women who are experiencing an uneventful pregnancy and are at low risk for complications, Dauterive generally considers it safe to travel until 28-30 weeks of pregnancy.

After that, he explains, the risk of preterm labor and complications such as ruptured membranes and bleeding, go up. If that should happen, it's best to be within 90-100 miles of your doctor and your hospital so you can get to them when you need them.

"Late in the third trimester is when things are going to happen," says Dauterive. "Traveling at such a time is not the best idea."

If you're having a complicated pregnancy or have conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, traveling at all is a no-no, Dauterive says.

It's not just being able to guarantee that you get the best care that makes staying close to home at the end of your pregnancy a wise choice, says Dauterive. It's making sure your baby has what he or she needs as well. "If there's a problem with the baby, and you're not at a hospital that can handle the problem, you're really rolling the dice," he cautions.

Mark Kufel, MD, an ob-gyn at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, takes the approach that pregnancy is a natural, physiologic process, and not a disease. His approach to prenatal care, he says, is based on this assumption, and that includes his views on traveling while pregnant.

"Travel is no more dangerous for the pregnant woman than for her non-pregnant counterparts," he says, adding, however, that some adjustments should be made.

Kufel usually recommends a maximum of six hours a day driving over long distances, with frequent breaks along the way. "This is usually the case anyway," he says, "as the bladder seems to require a little extra attention as well!" Stopping every two hours or so and walking around for 10 minutes will usually suffice. This increases blood flow from the lower extremities, he explains, and lessens the risk of blood clots, which is increased in pregnancy.

Continue to use your seatbelt when in a car, says Kufel, but as your pregnancy progresses, wear it under the abdomen. Extra pillows are also helpful in keeping you comfortable.

When it comes to flying, I. Dale Carroll, MD (aka "The Travel Doctor"), says what is and is not advisable varies greatly from one pregnancy to the next, but some general rules do apply.

For starters, she says, air travel can increase your risk of dehydration. To prevent this, drink plenty of fluids throughout the flight (but not caffeine or alcohol as these aggravate dehydration). Extra fluids may also help prevent constipation, another aggravating difficulty in pregnancy.

Prolonged sitting, especially in a cramped position, can also cause blood clots in the legs and pelvis. To minimize the risk, sit in an aisle seat so that there's room to stretch and more freedom to move around. If possible, upgrade to business class for the same reason. The extra legroom can also help prevent the swollen feet that so often complicate pregnancy.

"Don't sit for more than 90 minutes without getting up and walking around," advises Carroll.

Pregnancy, with its increased demands on the heart, can make high altitudes difficult as well, says Carroll. Because commercial airliners are pressurized, airline flights are not a problem from this standpoint unless you have heart or lung disease. But traveling to a high altitude destination could be an added stress and should not be undertaken without your doctor's go-ahead.

Many of the complications of pregnancy should also cause you to think twice before undertaking any long trips, Carroll says. If you've had bleeding during any trimester, you probably want to make sure you're in a situation where prompt medical attention -- and a safe blood supply -- are available. If you're at risk for premature labor (if you're carrying twins, for example, or have already had a pregnancy with premature labor), you may also want to stay home near your doctor. And if you have diabetes, when tight blood sugar control is so important, you may not want to change time zones and recalculate your insulin dosages.

Carroll also says it's wise to check airline rules and regulations when traveling while pregnant. Many airlines will not allow pregnant travelers to fly beyond a certain point in their pregnancy or without a note from their doctor.

And as long as you're checking ahead of time, adds Dauterive, look into your healthcare coverage. In certain managed care contracts, if you travel and deliver past 28-32 weeks outside your geographical coverage location, you may find yourself responsible for additional costs.

Planning ahead is key, agrees Kufel. If you're leaving the general vicinity of your home, he recommends taking along a copy of your medical/prenatal records. This way, if you do need medical care, you have the basics with you. This includes your medical history, your prenatal lab work, ultrasound reports, etc., all of which can be helpful in case of an emergency. Kufel also recommends asking your own doctor for a recommendation for a substitute physician in the area where you'll be traveling -- just in case.

Finally, when we're all a bit stressed out -- pregnant or not -- Kufel cautions that stress can manifest itself in a number of ways, including preterm labor or preterm contractions. "Education is key," he says. "A prepared patient is much more able to cope with stresses ... if she knows what to expect, and how to deal with the possible complications."

25 Manners Kids Should Know

2012-01-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

Your child’s rude ‘tude isn’t always intentional. Sometimes kids just don’t realize it’s impolite to interrupt, pick their nose, or loudly observe that the lady walking in front of them has a large behind. And in the hustle and bustle of daily life, busy moms and dads don’t always have the time to focus on etiquette. But if you reinforce these 25 must-do manners, you’ll raise a polite, kind, well-liked child.

Manner #1

When asking for something, say “Please.”

Manner #2

When receiving something, say “Thank you.”

Manner #3

Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking.

Manner #4

If you do need to get somebody’s attention right away, the phrase “excuse me” is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation

Manner #5

When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later.

Manner #6

The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults.

Manner #7

Do not comment on other people’s physical characteristics unless, of course, it’s to compliment them, which is always welcome.

Manner #8

When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are.

Manner #9

When you have spent time at your friend’s house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had.

Manner #10

Knock on closed doors — and wait to see if there’s a response — before entering.

Manner #11

When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.

Manner #12

Be appreciative and say “thank you” for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect.

Manner #13

Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.

Manner #14

Don’t call people mean names.

Manner #15

Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel.

Manner #16

Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.

Manner #17

If you bump into somebody, immediately say “Excuse me.”

Manner #18

Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don’t pick your nose in public.

Manner #19

As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.

Manner #20

If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say “yes,” do so — you may learn something new.

Manner #21

When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.

Manner #22

When someone helps you, say “thank you.” That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!

Manner #23

Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.

Manner #24

Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.

Manner #25

Don’t reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed.

What Does it Take to Raise Happy Children?

2012-01-12T08:33:00.000-08:00

Well-intentioned parents often try to foster happiness by giving their kids pleasurable experiences. Yet what children really need is to learn how to create and sustain joy on their own, says Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., a noted child and adult psychiatrist and coauthor of the bestselling Driven to Distraction. In his new book, The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness, Dr. Hallowell, an instructor at Harvard Medical School in Boston, outlines five things kids need most to build a lifetime of self-esteem and confidence. They are:

Connections. Feeling rooted gives children a foundation of security. Children need unconditional love from one or both parents and benefit when they have close ties to their extended family, feel part of their school, and help care for pets.
Play. Make sure your child's free time isn't too programmed and regimented. Open-ended play, in which children can invent scenarios and solve problems by themselves, helps them discover their talents and use their own resources.
Practice. When kids find out what they're good at, they'll want to do it again and again. But sometimes you may have to do some gentle nudging to ensure that your child sticks to an activity and experiences a sense of accomplishment.
Mastery. From practice comes mastery. When children achieve a skill -- whether it's learning to tie their shoes, play the piano, or build a birdhouse -- they're further motivated to tackle new challenges. And that leads to a can-do attitude.
Recognition. Approval and support from one's parents, teachers, and peers for a job well done reconnect children to the wider world. When kids think what they do affects their family, classmates, and team, they're more likely to exhibit moral behavior and, ultimately, to feel good about themselves.

Fortunately, one step leads naturally to the next and the cycle is self-perpetuated, explains Dr. Hallowell. You can lay the groundwork at an early age. Give your child these five key qualities, he says, and you will greatly increase her chances of leading a joyful, meaningful life.

Is Oral Sex Safe During Pregnancy

2012-01-12T08:27:00.000-08:00

This may seem like a strange question, but when it comes to sex and pregnancy couples often wonder what is and isn’t okay to do and this particular question may be awkward or embarrassing to ask your doctor. Generally, receiving oral sex from your partner is not something to worry about during pregnancy. There are some things to keep in mind though.
One concern a couple might have is that oral sex might introduce bacteria into the vagina. This is really only a concern if your partner could have an STD. If you are in a monogamous relationship and there are no risks of getting an STD from your partner, oral sex is really not much different than the exchange of fluids that happen during kissing.
Aside from STD concerns, the other thing that couples need to be watchful of if they have oral sex is that the partner does not blow air into the vagina. This can create an air embolism which could be dangerous for you and your baby. This rarely happens, but it is something that couples should be aware of.
One final concern is premature labor. If you are at risk for having premature labor your doctor may advise you to avoid orgasm. An orgasm can bring on contractions which could cause early labor. If your doctor has advised you to abstain from intercourse, you should make sure you have the green light on any type of sexual stimulation that could bring on an orgasm as this may be something that should be avoided all together. If you are earlier than 37 weeks pregnant and have contractions after an orgasm that last for over an hour or are painful you should consult your doctor.

Contractions After Sex

2012-01-12T08:23:00.000-08:00

If you are heading into the last week or two of pregnancy, you may be trying anything and everything to get labor started including having sex. Sex is one of those things that everyone tells you will get labor started but it doesn’t work for everyone. It may bring on contractions for some, but for others nothing. If you are trying to get labor started, contractions after sex might be something you want to happen; however, if you are a long way from your due date, contractions after sex may be more than just annoying. If you are having painful or frequent contractions after sex, this can cause a lot of worry.
For most couples, sex during pregnancy should be no big deal. While sex, especially if the woman has an orgasm, can bring on some contractions, these are usually mild and subside on their own within an hour or so. If you are at risk for preterm labor or are having frequent or painful contractions after sex, you should discuss this with your doctor. Sometimes it’s nothing to worry about, but your doctor may want you to avoid intercourse if he or she feels this could put you at risk for delivering early or if the contractions are causing a change in your cervix.
When should you call your doctor?
If you notice a pattern to your contractions and they continue for more than hour, you may need to call your doctor. Your doctor can give you specific instructions on when he or she would like you to call. Generally if you are earlier than 37 weeks pregnant, a call is warranted if you notice contractions that are ten minutes apart or closer and continue for longer than an hour. Some things you may want to try first are drinking a large glass of water, relaxing, or taking a warm bath.
Some doctors recommend using condoms once you are in the second or third trimester to help prevent contractions after sex. Semen contains prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are known to soften the cervix and can also cause your uterus to contract. This may be something you and your partner want to consider. Orgasm can also be the culprit when it comes to contractions. If you have tried using condoms and are still having issues with contractions after sex you should talk to your doctor.

How to Wean Babies From Formula to Milk

2012-01-12T08:15:00.000-08:00

Weaning a baby from formula to cow's milk is a difficult thing to do. Young children become attached to what they are accustomed to, so giving up formula is tough for many young children. Switching from formula to whole milk when your child turns one is crucial so that your child develops appropriate feeding skills and maintains adequate nutrition. You can make the process of weaning babies from formula to milk easier by following a few simple steps.

Step 1

Choose the time wisely to wean your baby off formula. The University of California at San Francisco Children's Hospital recommends not weaning when the child is going through a stressful time, such as starting a new day care, welcoming a new sibling or moving to a new house. Wait until things are stable for the baby to switch from formula to whole milk.

Step 2

Offer whole milk when you switch from formula to milk. The staff at UCSF Children's Hospital states that children under two should not drink low-fat milk because fat is good for brain development. Your child may also be more inclined to switch to whole milk from formula rather than switching from formula to low-fat milk because whole milk has a richer, thicker taste.

Step 3

Replace one bottle of formula the first week with a few ounces of whole milk. During the second week, replace two bottles of formula with two small servings of whole milk. In the third week, give formula only once or twice per day and offer around 2 oz. of milk three times a day. In this manner, gradually transition your baby from formula to whole milk.

Step 4

Focus on foods more. The BBC states that while decreasing the amount of formula your baby drinks, you should offer a wider variety of foods to your baby. A baby should not drink whole milk all day, but instead she should eat foods every few hours and drink whole milk a few times each day. Try new types and textures of food to distract the baby from the memory of formula.

Step 5

Offer comforts other than formula to the baby. The staff at UCSF Children's Hospital recommends that if your child misses the comfort of formula, you should offer him a blanket or a stuffed animal instead. Be prepared to spend some extra time with your child during the weaning process.

Make Homemade Popsicles

2012-01-12T08:06:00.000-08:00

Homemade Popsicles Make Healthy Treats and
A Great Baby Teething Remedy

Yup, my favorite baby teething remedy. And yes, it is a really fun, healthy, and yummy treat to feed to baby. She'll love these popsicles and so will the rest of the family!

Use the recipes below to make your own ice pops. Some include ingredients like chunks of fruit. If your baby is not accustomed to chewing yet you may want to puree the fruit first. Or you could simply use a mesh safe feeder. Check out the baby teething remedies section of the site for more on mesh feeders.

You'll be making these homemade popsicles and freezing them, so you'll need something to hold them in while freezing. One way to do it is to use dixie cups and popsicle sticks. You can even substitute plastic baby spoons for the popsicle sticks.
Another alternative is to purchase a frozen treat tray set. This kind of set is reusable. They generally come with six plastic containers to pour the liquid into, with lids that have sticks attached for gripping the ice pops. Very convenient! They take up less space and can go through the dishwasher.

Homemade Popsicles Recipes
No-drip Popsicles
1 cup boiling water
1 3oz package of fruit flavored gelatin
1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
1 banana
Start by combining the boiling water and gelatin in a blender. Pulse until the gelatin is dissolved. Blend in the banana and yogurt until it is smooth. Pour into your intended containers and freeze until hard.
If you use a dixie cup for freezing, you will want to freeze the mixture until it is firm, and then insert the popsicle sticks or baby spoons. Continue to freeze until hard.

Fruity Puree Popsicles
Watermelon
diced fruit, such as strawberries, cantaloupe, grapes,
Puree watermelon until smooth and pour into containers. drop in pieces of fruit. Freeze until hard.
You can also puree the entire mixture and mix with yogurt for a more infant friendly homemade posicle.

Homemade Pudding Pops
1 large package of pudding
3 cups of milk
make 8 to 10 pudding pops
Combine pudding and milk. Blend well. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze.
Try layering different flavors for a tasty treat, or add fruit chunks to vanilla pudding.

Purple Grape Popsicles
1 cup milk
3/4 cup grape juice (preferably Welch's)
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
Mix all the ingredients together in a pitcher or bowl. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze.

Make Your Own Baby Food with Beef Baby Food Recipes

2012-01-11T09:08:00.000-08:00

Baby foods made with beef or any other protein should be introduced to your baby after they have become fully accustomed to eating solid foods. Always start by introducing fruits and veggies and baby cereal.
I started my baby on meats when she was about 7 1/2 months old. At first I tried store bought baby food from a jar. She couldn't stand the stuff. As a matter of fact, she actually gagged every time I put the food in her mouth. At first I thought she just needed time getting used to it. Like it says on the back of all of the jars and boxes of baby food, it can take up to ten or fifteen tries before a baby will accept a new food.
Boy am I glad I didn't heed that advice. I tried a few more times. I switched favors. She never did get used to eating baby food from a jar. I didn't really blame her either. I took a whiff of the chicken in broth baby food from the jar one day. ICK! Why would I feed my baby something that I wouldn't even eat myself? So from that day forward I made all of her food myself. And that changed everything. Sure it took a bit more work on my behalf but it was worth every effort. I never fought with my baby over food again. And I created a new creed. If I was not willing to eat my daughter's homemade baby food then I was not going to feed it to her.

Some advice about introducing meat baby food recipes to you little one - Always start with a more bland tasting recipe. Also, make sure the meat is cooked all the way through. There should be no pink parts in the middle.
Here are some of the recipes I used to feed my baby, and now I pass them on to you to make your own baby food. The recipes below are all beef based baby food recipes.

Cooking Beef to Make Your Own Baby FoodThere are several ways to cook meat for making baby food although some methods are better than others. You should steer away from using a method that may deplete the meat of it's nutritional content. In my opinion, the best way to cook beef is to bake it or grill it. Other methods include boiling and poaching. Boiling is good for when you are in a hurry and need to cook it as soon as humanly possible. Poaching is good if you have a cut of beef that is not so tender. Cooking it slowly in liquid will help to keep the beef moist.
A great way to gradually work making your own baby food into your daily schedule is to incorporate it into the meals you cook for your entire family. For example, plan to cook a roast. Buy a roast that is big enough to feed the family and still have leftovers. Cook the roast to please the family. When the roast comes out of the oven cut a piece off for the baby, and place it back into the oven to cook until well done.
All of these baby food recipes will start by using meat that is cooked until it is well-done. It should then be cooled and cut to smaller pieces to fit into a food processor. The smaller you cut the pieces, the easier it will be to puree.

Beef PureeTo make a beef puree place a cup or two of cooked and cut up beef pieces into your baby food processor. Place 2 - 5 tablespoons of water or beef stock into the processor as well. I recommend that you gradually add the liquid until the puree reaches the desired consistency. Serve the puree immediately or store in your fridge or freezer.

Beef Puree RecipesBeef and Vegetable recipes - To make your own baby food with a beef and vegetable recipe combine any cooked vegetable with cooked and cut up beef. Add your ingredients to a food processor along with water, beef stock, or vegetable stock. Puree until you reach the desired consistency.

Beef and PeasBeef and Green BeansBeef and TomatoBeef and Carrot
Hearty Beef Stew recipe - Start with cooked, cooled, and cut up beef. Add this to your baby food processor. Next add your vegetables. All the vegetables should be cooked, cooled, and cut into small pieces. Add tomato, potato, carrot, and 2 - 4 tablespoons of either water, vegetable, or beef broth. Puree the mixture until desired consistency for about 30 seconds at a time stopping to stir the mixture.

How To Make Baby Food and Vegetable Baby Food Recipes

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Vegetable baby food recipes were the first baby foods I ever made myself. My daughter simply refused to eat any more of the baby food from a jar so I had no choice. But really, for me, this was the best and most healthy choice.
This is also the best way to get organic baby food. Make it yourself! Buy only organic grown vegetables and use these to make your baby foods.
Another great earth friendly way to go make baby food is to buy all of your vegetables from local vendors. Buying locally grown produce is very earth conscience. This cuts down on fuel emissions because there is less travel to ship the produce to wherever it will be sold.

Below are some of the vegetable baby food recipes I used to make baby food for my daughter.

Plain Vegetable PureesTo make baby food vegetable puree you must first cook the vegetables. Most vegetables can be baked, boiled, or steamed. I recommend steaming most vegetables. Boiling your veggies sometimes strips away a lot of the vital nutrients and minerals. You want to keep as much of these in your vegetables as possible. Baking your vegetables is not a bad choice, although it takes a lot longer than steaming.

Vegetables that are great for steaming - spinach, fresh peas, squash, zucchini, green beans, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower
Baking Vegetables - Baking vegetables is good for a day when you are not in any kind of hurry, or if you want to make a large supply of baby foods to store for later use. I generally like to bake potato, or sweet potato. You can bake most any other kind of vegetable as well. My favorite method is to place them in a casserole dish in a bit of water or chicken broth to kind of poach the veggies.
Whether baking or steaming your veggies to make baby food, once they are cooked you will need to puree them. After taking from the oven or steamer set aside for 20 minutes or so to cool. Chop the vegetables up into small pieces. Pop them into your baby food processor and puree until smooth. Serve them immediately or store in your fridge or freezer.

Vegetable Combinations to Make Baby Foodsummer squash and zucchinicarrot and summer squashsweet potato and carrotsweet potato and applecarrot and corncarrot and cauliflowerbroccoli and cauliflowergreen beans and corn

Vegetable Baby Food RecipesHearty Veggie "Stew"ingredients: canned red kidney beans, potato, zucchini, summer squash, carrot, tomato sauce
You will make a larger batch of this recipe and store the extra in take and toss cups for later use in your fridge or freezer.
Start by steaming or poaching your vegetables. Let all of the veggies cool after cooking and cut them into smaller pieces. Open a small can of red kidney beans and add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup beans to your food processor. Also add your cut up vegetables. Add 2-3 tablespoons of canned tomato sauce. Puree until smooth. Add one or two more tablespoons of tomato sauce if needed.
* If your baby is colicky or seems to get gassy very easily you may want to skip the tomato sauce. My daughter had colic from excessive gas so I could not give her tomato until she was older (about 8 or 9 months). You may substitute water or chicken broth for the tomato sauce.

Veggie and Rice ComboUse any of the combinations above and add some cooked brown rice to create this hearty recipe.
Start by cooking some good whole grain brown rice. If it is easier for you just by the boil in bag brown rice. It's quick and easy.
Steam or poach your vegetable combination. Let cool for 15-20 minutes. Chop into smaller pieces. Add to food processor. Add brown rice at about a 2 to 1 ratio (if there is one cup veggies add around half a cup rice.) Add a tablespoon or two of either chicken or vegetable broth, or water. Puree until smooth.

Nutritional InformationVitamin and Mineral Content of Vegetable Recipes to Make Baby Food
Carrots - a good source of vitamin C, B6. Folate, Iron, potassium, copper
Green beans - A great source of Fiber, Folate, magnesium and vitamins A,C, and K. Contains protein, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, vitaminB6, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phospherus, and copper.
Peas - very good source of fiber. Also a good source of protein, vitamin A, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, phospherus, and copper.
Broccoli - a great source of fiber, vitamins A, C, E, K and B6, riboflavin, potassium, folate, and magnesium. Contains protein, thiamin, iron, calcium, phospherus, magnesium.
Spinach - Very good source of fiber, protein, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamins A, C, E, B6, and K, folate, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phospherus, zinc and copper.
Squash (summer) - a good source of fiber, vitamins A, C and K, folate, magnesium, copper, potassium. Also contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, iron and B6.
Butternut - a very good source of fiber, vitamin A, and C, potassium, magnesium. Also contains vitamin B6.
Sweet potato - dietary fiber, vitamins A.C, and B6, potassium, and magnesium.
Cauliflower - a great source of fiber, vitamin, C, B6, folate, potassium and magnesium, protein, thiamin, riboflavin, iron, niacin, zinc.

Baby Food Recipes to Make Baby Food with Fruit

2012-01-11T08:55:00.000-08:00

The following are baby food recipes I used to feed my daughter. I switched exclusively to homemade baby food at around 5 - 6 months of age.
Preparing fruit is definitely the most easy way to make baby food. Mainly because there are a lot of fruits that do not need to be cooked in order to prepare them. These foods are naturally soft when ripe. I will cover the easiest fruits for baby food recipes first and move on to fruits that must be cooked to use in baby foods.
PeachesThis is the easiest to make and my daughter loved them the most. They are great in many fruit based baby food recipes. Peaches are great because they are very soft and puree easily. There is no need to add juice just cut them up into small chunks, pop em' into the baby food processor, and off you go.
When picking out your peaches make sure you purchase already ripened fruits if you intend to use them right away. Otherwise place them in a paper bag and leave them on the counter top for a day or two. Make sure and keep an eye on them so they don't over ripen and go bad.
I also always kept a couple of small jars of canned peaches on hand. These are only for emergencies. If for some reason or other you run out of fruit for the baby food recipes, or her fruit goes bad, you can rely on your back up of canned peaches. Make sure and buy the kind that are packed in pear juice, not heavy syrup. OK, on to the baby food recipes...
Recipe: Peach puree
Use one to two whole ripe peaches
cut the peach in half and remove the pit
cut the remaining halves into slices
remove the skins and cut the slices into small chunks.
Place in small food processor and blend to desired consistency

BananasOK, another of the easiest fruits to prepare ever. Bananas do not even require a food processor really. The best thing about using bananas to make baby food and in baby food recipes is that you can combine them with just about any fruit. But
I'll get more into that later.
To prepare basic plain banana just break of what you intend to feed your baby and mash
it with a fork. Make sure and mash it up very
well for younger infants who are un-
accustomed to chewing. The older and more accustomed your baby is to eating, the less you have to mash, all the way up to simply cutting it into chunks.

ApricotsApricots are quite similar to peaches in texture. Although in my experiences you sometimes may need to add a little water or juice to the baby food recipes to puree them smoothly.
Recipe: apricot puree -
Slice one or two apricots in half and remove the pit
cut each half of the apricots in half again and use a small sharp knife to remove the skin
dice the remaining slices into cubes and puree them to desired consistency
Add a tablespoon of water or apricot nectar to the mixture to help it puree smoothly
keep adding additional tablespoons of liquid until you reach desired consistency

MangoMangoes are super juicy when you get them ripe but you may still need to add a little water or apple juice to the baby food recipes to puree them. Cut them in chunks and add a tablespoon of juice or water until they are blended smooth. Another alternative is to add a little mango or pear nectar to help smoothen the puree.

CantaloupeCantaloupe can be slightly difficult to work with in baby food recipes. In order to get your cantaloupe to puree correctly it needs to be at a peak of perfect ripeness. You know, when the cantaloupe is so ripe and tender that it is almost like eating sherbert. If it is not very soft it will not puree well even if you add liquid. This is OK if your baby is used to a chunkier consistency but infants new to spoon feeding may have a bit of trouble.
cut 1 to 2 slices from the cantaloupe and store the rest in the refrigerator or cut up and store in tupperware for easy snack for the rest of the family.
Remove the outer skin from the slices you cut using a sharp knife.
Cut the remaining cantaloupe into small pieces.
Place fruit into processor and puree

Fruits for Baby Food Recipes that Require Cooking
Apples and PearsThe following is applicable to either pears or apples.
How to make apple sauce - First peel, core, and cut your apples. The apples should be cut into slices and then cut in half. Place the apples into boiling water and cook until soft. Drain the water from the apples and place into separate bowl. Mash the apples with a potato masher or fork. For younger infants mash until smooth and then strain through a very fine screen strainer to remove any lumpy consistency.(optional) Add a teaspoon of apple juice or other fruit juices and cinnamon to flavor.
Bake apples to make apple sauce - Use a shallow roasting pan to bake the apples. core the apples before baking. Place the apples into the roasting pan and add a small amount of water in the bottom of the pan. Cover with tin foil. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Bake the apples for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Poke them with a fork to check if they are soft enough to mash. If not then place them back in the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes.
Once the apples are cooked let them stand uncovered for 30 - 45 minutes to cool down. Use a sharp knife to cut each apple in half. Peel off the skins and place them into another bowl. Cut them into chunks and either mash them with a fork or place them into a food processor to puree. For young infants new to spoon feeding you may want to strain the apples using a fine strainer.
Pear and apple puree
Follow either of the methods above to prepare the pears and apples to be combined together. When each fruit is soft, peel and/or cut them into small pieces and place into a food processor. Puree until smooth and give a good stir to combine. If you wish to have the smoothest consistency possible then follow pureeing with straining. Strain the pears and apples through a close mesh wire strainer. Feed to baby immediately, or store in take and toss bowls for later meals. This can also be made in large batches and stored in the freezer to use at a later date.
Great Fruit Combinations for Baby Food Recipes

banana and strawberry pureePeel and slice one banana and place in food processor. Slice the tops off of 4 fresh strawberries and cut into smaller pieces. Add to processor. Add one to two tablespoons water. Blend for about a minute. Stop to stir a bit and puree until smooth. Pour this mixture into a wire mesh strainer and strain into a separate bowl to remove seeds. Feed immediately or store in fridge or freezer.

banana and peach pureePeel and slice one whole banana and place into food processor. Cut one whole peach in half. Remove the pit and skin. Cut into chunks and add to the food processor with the banana. add one tablespoon water or apricot nectar. Blend until smooth. Feed immediately or store in fridge or freezer.

banana and mango pureePeel and slice one whole banana and place into food processor. Cut one whole mango in half. Remove the skin and cut into chunks Add to the food processor with the banana. add one tablespoon water or apricot nectar. Blend until smooth. Feed immediately or store in fridge or freezer.

banana and cantaloupe pureePeel and slice one whole banana and place into food processor. Slice the cantaloupe in half and then slice one half in half again. You are left with a quarter of the cantaloupe. remove the outer skin of the cantaloupe. Slice the fruit into small pieces and add to the food processor. Add one to two tablespoons of water. Blend until smooth. Feed to baby immediately or store in fridge or freezer.

apple and blueberry pureeThis puree should be combined to about a 2 to 1 ratio. If you have one cup of apples use about half a cup or more of blueberries. Start by placing your blueberries into a food processor. Add a tablespoon or two of water. Puree the blueberries until smooth. Strain the blueberries through a fine mesh strainer to remove skins and seeds.
Peel and core your apples. Slice the apples into chunks and place in boiling water. Cook until soft. Remove from water and strain. Let stand for 20 to 30 minutes to cool. Place into food processor. Add processed and strained blueberries. Blend and stir. Serve immediately or store in fridge or freezer.

raspberry and pear pureeStart by placing about 1/2 a cup of raspberries into you baby food processor. Puree the raspberries about 45 seconds until they are mostly smooth. Strain the raspberries through a fine mesh wire strainer into a separate bowl. This is to remove any seeds.
Peel and core two to three Bartlett pears. Cut them into pieces and place them in boiling water. Cook them until soft (can easily pierce with fork). Strain the water from them and let stand 20 minutes or so to cool down. After cooling place the pear pieces into your food processor along with the raspberry puree. Puree until smooth stopping to stir in between. Serve immediately or store in your fridge or freezer.

These are just examples of some of the fruit baby food recipes I prepared for my daughter. Feel free to experiment with different combinations or different and more exotic fruits. Remember, if you are unsure about a food or whether your baby is ready to start solids consult your pediatrician.

Homemade Baby Diaper Rash Ointments

2012-01-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

These Homemade baby diaper rash ointments recipes and tips are great for those of us who like to keep it natural. You do not have to use zinc oxide on your baby's bum to prevent diaper rash. There are other more natural substances that will do the trick. Petroleum jelly is not a bad alternative, but it also tends to clog the pores. I want to give you a few natural and homemade alternatives as well.

The key to diaper rash, I think, really is prevention. Keep that baby's bottom dry! Cloth diapering is one great way to keep baby's bottom soft and dry, not to mention frequent diaper changes. I like to make sure and always get in some diaper free time too. Air things out, you know. :)
I'm including here a couple recipes for diaper rash ointments that are a great preventive measure and a couple ways to soothe your baby's bottom should he happen to get a little red or develop a rash.
Recipes for Diaper Rash Ointments

1/2 cup sweet almond oil (you can also use olive oil
2-3 drops lavender oil
2-3 drops tea tree oil
4 Tablespoons water

Mix all the ingredients together well. Transfer to a jar or bottle to use for applying to baby to ease a red bottom or diaper rash. Be very careful not to double dip!

Calendula Ointment Recipes
Calendula has wonderful healing properties. calendula ointment is great for healing dry skin and is also amazing for healing wounds, therefore great for making diaper rash ointments! Ointments, oils and creams made with calendula are great for not only your baby's skin but also great for your skin too! I have heard that calendula cream or oil can be great for reducing stretch marks as well so these recipes will be great for those baby bellies too!
Easy Calendula Oil Recipe
This easy to make calendula ointment is great for making homemade baby wipes solution
too. Add a few drops of oil to your baby wipes solution for a nice soothing and healing baby wipe. It is also good for smoothing onto a red baby's bottom or for other uses such as a little dry patch of skin or cradle cap.
To make this oil you will need, of course, some dried caledula. You can usually get this at a local health food store or you could even buy some online. Herbtrader sells dried calendula in little one pound bags.
Put about one cup of the dried calendula into a jar and pour in some olive oil. Just let the two sit in the jar together and meld for a week or two and viola! Make sure and keep the jar closed tightly. Each day go in and flip it over a few times to stir things up. When a week or two has passed by strain the leaves out with some cheese cloth and transfer the calendula oil to smaller jars. I like to use my empty baby food jars for just this sort of thing. Make sure they are clean! And do not double dip! You will be introducing bacterias to your oil if you do.

Calendula Ointment Recipe
This recipe is a little more involved than the recipe above. It may take a little more effort to make but it will make a fantastic diaper rash ointments. The ingredients are 1/2 cup dried calendula, 8 oz. vegetable shortening, 1 tablespoon beeswax.
Melt the shortening and beeswax in a small pan and then add the calendula petals to the hot mixture. Let them steep in the mixture while it cools down. Transfer the ointment into a small jar.

Other Natural Diaper Rash Remedies and Prevention
One great healing property that I really like to keep around the house is an aloe plant. I keep one in my kitchen and also near the baby's changing table! bottom looks a little red? Just break off a bit of a leaf, open it up and apply the aloe. A super natural way to heal a baby's diaper rash.
I also hear a great way to sooth diaper rash is with a nice oatmeal bath. I've never actually had to try this one out, as I've not had much trouble with diaper rash (a little redness was about the most I ever saw) but I've heard it is very soothing and works wonders.
You can simply add some regular oatmeal to your baby bath (you might want to send it through the food processor first to chop it up to a finer consistency). A great way to add the oatmeal to the bath without a mess is to pour it into a cloth baggy and add it to the bath water. Just let it steep just like a tea bag.

Talking About Sex with Your Tweens and Teens

2012-01-11T08:10:00.000-08:00

Having “The Talk” about sex with your kids is something most parents approach with a combination of nervousness and dread. You don’t want to confuse your kids or embarrass yourself by talking about too much too soon, but don’t want to miss an opportunity to educate them either. So how do you figure out what information to give them, and when?
For starters, don’t think of it as just one conversation. It should be the beginning (or the continuation) of the ongoing dialogue you have with your child. The first time you talk about it might be just giving them some information; another time your child might bring up a specific question; another time you might need to talk in response to something that happened in school or that you watched on TV or in a movie.
Second, you need to assess their level of readiness. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry recommends that you offer “no more or less information” than your child is asking for and able to understand. Your kindergartner, for example, will be curious about where babies come from, but will probably be satisfied knowing that they grow in a special place inside the mommy. Between seven and nine, they will want to know more about how the daddy’s special seed gets to the mommy. By the time they are in their true “tween” years (ages 10 to 12), they will need to know more about the upcoming changes in their own bodies. Finally, teenagers will most likely understand the mechanics of sex, but will need guidelines for navigating their own sexual development – as well as learning about responsibilities, consequences, and your family’s values about sexual behavior. They may also need help separating myths that they may hear at school (“You can’t get pregnant the first time”) from the facts.
While you are evaluating which information to give your child, remember to tailor your approach based on his individual readiness. An only child or a first child may be older before he is aware of (or even curious) about sexuality, depending on his level of maturity. But a child with older siblings will likely have heard terms tossed around and may be looking for information at an earlier age.
Next, you should be prepared to give them unbiased and factual information. For ages 6 and under, you can simply answer questions (non-judgmentally) as they arise. At around age 7 or 8, you may want to start by reading a book with them. Many parents start with classics like How Babies are Made or How You Were Born. By ages 9 to 11, you can start a conversation by offering a book and then leaving it with them to read on their own. For girls, try The Care and Keeping of You (an American Girl book); or for boys, My Body, My Self. Finally, for teenagers, many parents (and teenagers) recommend Changing Bodies, Changing Lives.
And then after you’ve loaded them down with the facts, take a step back. Your kids are probably very curious but may feel a little bit embarrassed. Most likely, they will want to read more on their own time and let it all sink in. Just make sure to let them know that if they have any questions or if they are confused about something, they can always come to you (or to a trusted counselor, doctor, or clergyperson, if it applies in this case).
If you feel awkward talking about sex, you’re not alone. Just try to work through the conversation as naturally as you can. One great approach suggested by Children Now is to come right out and admit that you feel awkward: “You know, I’m uncomfortable talking about sex because my parents never talked with me about it. But I want us to be able to talk about anything—including sex—so please come to me if you have any questions. And if I don’t know the answer, I’ll find out.”
Depending on your child’s school, the information you give them may be complemented by what they learn about in sex education classes. This can be a great help when it comes to hearing facts from an impartial third party rather than their parents. Just make sure that you are clear about the values you have in your family when it comes to sexuality and relationships, and keep the door open for conversation whenever they need it. When your kids are armed with the facts, they will likely be more confident and secure as they navigate through this complicated stage of development.

The Baby's Coming! How to Make Sure Your Older Kids are Sleeping Through the Night

2012-01-11T08:04:00.000-08:00

If you are expecting a baby and already have one or more children, it’s wise to solve their sleep problems before the new baby arrives. Remember, a newborn typically awakens every three to four hours and adapting to a new baby’s schedule is very tiring for everyone in the house.
If you also have a toddler or a child who is having a difficult time falling asleep, or who regularly gets out of bed during the night, the stress of this is likely to hinder your ability to get much-needed rest. By solving your child’s sleep problems in the months before the new baby arrives, the entire family will be in a better position to enjoy the newest member of the family with the least amount of sleep interruptions as possible.
The two most frequent children’s sleep problems are not being able to fall asleep and awakening during the night unable to fall back asleep. Brief night wakening is normal. However, once kids learn to fall asleep independently at bedtime, they are likely to be able to fall back asleep when they briefly awaken during the night. In contrast, children who have difficulty falling asleep by themselves at bedtime usually have the same problem when they awaken during the night.
If you have been rubbing your child’s back or lying down with him until he falls asleep, recognize that he has probably grown accustomed to the attention and will have a difficult time falling asleep without it. If you abruptly withdraw your attention and expect your child to fall asleep on his own, he will be understandably upset—and even more so if it coincides with the arrival of a new sibling. It’s true that after weeks of feeling forsaken, if you continually ignore your child’s anguished pleas for attention, he will eventually begin to fall asleep on his own. However, it’s not necessary for a child to be traumatized in this way. You can teach your child to relax himself to sleep while you gradually and systematically decrease your attention. And best of all, this step toward independence does not have to be a painful process for you or your child.

Getting ready

Create a consistent bedtime routine—in a predictable calming environment that serves as a bridge between the excitement of daytime and the restful quiet of nighttime. The predictability of the routine and the special time of closeness will bring a wonderful sense of closure to your child’s day and help him feel secure in your love. If you have a two-parent household, be sure to continue to spend one- on-one time with your child during the bedtime routine—while the other parent cares for the new baby.

TEACH YOUR CHILD SELF-SOOTHING TECHINIQUES TO FALL ASLEEP:

Step One ~ Progressive relaxation (tensing and relaxing muscle groups)

Have your child lie down in his bed. Lift each arm and leg individually, holding each limb tightly before loosely flopping it down on his bed. Then have him tense and relax other muscle groups in his body. For example, have him wrinkle his face and hold his eyes tightly closed, before relaxing his face. (Tense each muscle group for at least 5 seconds before releasing them and relaxing.)

Step Two ~ Focus on the breath

Once a child is thoroughly relaxed he will be ready to focus on the breath. Have him get very quiet and watch his own breath. Children don’t need to try to change their breath in any way. This is a time to gather the senses that are usually focused on the outside world and turn them inward. It calms the mind and induces a state of relaxation.

Step Three ~ Creative visualization

Once a child is relaxed, read (or tell) a story that takes him on a soothing, imaginary journey. Visualization improves with practice and eventually children will be able to use their own imaginations to make up stories as they drift off to sleep.
Gradually, turn the process of falling asleep over to your child.
After the bedtime routine, continue to systematically give your child less and less direction as he uses self-soothing techniques to relax and fall asleep. At first, you may want to sit on the edge of your child’s bed while he or she follows the relaxation directions on The Floppy Sleep Game Book CD. Or, you can teach your child to relax through a relaxation routine that you create yourself. Over a period of time, as your child becomes more familiar with the relaxation routine, sit further and further away until he or she no longer needs you in the room to relax and fall asleep.

Cervical Cancer Awareness

2012-01-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

Last year, 11,270 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed and another 1.2 million women will develop dysplasia, a condition which left untreated will turn into cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a malignancy that develops in tissues of the cervix: the organ which connects the uterus to the vagina. It is preventable, slow-growing (so that it can be detected and cured early in its course), and is nearly always caused by infection from the human papilloma virus (HPV).

Cause: Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV – a highly contagious virus which can be transmitted easily by skin to skin and sexual contact.

At least half of all sexually active Americans contract HPV during their lifetimes
About 20 million Americans between the ages of 15 and 50 carry the virus.
There are more than 100 types of HPV – of which more than a dozen (termed “high risk types”) can cause cervical cancer.
Most often, a person’s immune system kills off the virus without intervention
Exposure to high risk types of HPV is more likely to lead to cancerous changes of the cervix in women who smoke or whose immune system is impaired.

Prevention: Cervical cancer can be prevented by

Having no intimate contact with either men or other women
Obtaining the HPV vaccine – which can immunize against two high risk types of HPV (types 16 and 18), which cause about 70% of cervical cancers. It is given as a series of three injections over a period of six months. The vaccine is now FDA-approved for females and males between the ages of 9 and 26, although many physicians recommend the vaccine up to age 50 for sexually active women and men who have sex with men.
Screening and treatment for early evidence of pre-malignant changes to the cervix.

Screening: The “pap smear” (Papanicolaou test) is used to screen for cervical cancer as part of the gynecological examination. It can reveal early, pre-malignant changes to the cervix. It is done by gently scraping the cervix with a wooden or plastic spatula and then by inserting a very small brush into the opening of the cervix. The cells thus obtained are then evaluated by a commercial laboratory. For maximum accuracy, your provider should be submitting a liquid-based preparation (not the old-fashioned smear submitted on glass slides). The same cells can be evaluated for the presence of HPV.

Lately, when and how often to screen has become controversial. Consensus among the various guideline commissions is still pending, but it is likely that recommendations will be as follows:

The first Pap test should be done at Age 21, then repeated every two years.
At Age 30, the Pap test and HPV screen (done using the same cells collected for the Pap) should be done; if both are negative and you’ve had at least three consecutive normal Pap smears, screening can be reduced to every three years.

If the Pap is normal but high risk HPV is present, Paps should be repeated at least yearly.

If the Pap is abnormal, further testing is necessary – starting with ‘colposcopy’. This procedure starts like a regular gynecologic examination, with the speculum inserted into the vagina. The doctor then brushes a material on the cervix to highlight any abnormal areas. The ‘colposcope’ – a large microscope positioned about a foot away – shines light into the vagina so the abnormal areas can be seen through the microscope. These areas are then biopsied and evaluated by a special laboratory.

Note: You should continue to see your doctor at least yearly for general gynecologic check-ups, even though the Pap test might be done less frequently.

Of all cancers, cervical cancer is almost unique in that it is preventable. Ask your healthcare provider whether you should consider the HPV vaccine. Cervical cancer can be detected early, treated, and cured. Ask your provider how frequently you should be screened.

The night visitor: Trips to the parent’s bed

2012-01-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

If your house echoes with the sound of pat-pat-pat down the hallway when your child leaves his room to climb into your bed in the middle of the night, rest assured that you are not alone. It’s perfectly natural for a toddler or preschooler to search out his parents for comfort and security – it’s a sign of his trust and his deep love for you. And it’s perfectly normal for parents to provide that comfort and security by bringing their child into their bed, or by lying with him in his own bed.

There are many gentle ways to encourage your child to stay in his bed all night, but before I introduce those ideas, its best if you evaluate your situation. I’d like to ask you to think about your answers to these questions: Are you, your partner and your child all getting a good night’s sleep? If no one else in the world knew or cared about what you’re doing would you happy with the routine that you have now? Are your child’s visits to your bed interfering with the level of intimacy between the two of you? Are you thinking of making a change because you want a change and because it’s right for your family – or to appease a friend, relative or someone else? If – tonight - your child suddenly began to sleep all night in his own bed, how would you feel: overjoyed, happy, a bit sad, very sad, depressed? What – specifically - about your child’s night visits bothers you? Why does your child visit you in the night? Is it simply a habit? Or are fears, nightmares, separation anxiety, teething, or other problems causing her to wake up and search you out?

The first step is to ponder these questions and to examine your real feelings about the situation. Often ambivalence and frustration is borne out of not taking the time to identify what you really feel, and not having a clear goal and purpose to your actions. Once you have a better understanding of your thoughts, and your partners thoughts, choose one of these goals:

We’re going to continue as we are, without guilt or concern for ____ months. At that time we will reevaluate the situation and make a new decision.

We’re in no rush, but would like to begin making a change. We’re going to make gradual changes and anticipate that within ___ months our child will be sleeping all night in his own bed.

We want to make a change right now, as soon as possible, so we will commit to a specific plan and follow it every night.

Don’t send mixed messages

If you’ve shared your bed with your cuddly and sweet-smelling toddler or preschooler, whether from birth, or just recently, I can almost guarantee that that even though you’ve decided to move her out, there is a little part of you that doesn’t want to let her go. This is natural, given the preciousness of the experience of sharing your bed with your child. However, if you really do want your child to sleep in her own bed, you’ll need to keep these emotions in check. Don’t make the mistakes that these test families did during the moving process. (The names have been changed to protect the guilty from embarrassment.)

Sharon reported that by using the ideas in their sleep plan they were having great success getting their toddler, Kayla to sleep in her own bed. “She did so for a whole week and I was getting very excited! Tonight, as she was getting ready to get into her bed, my husband. . . as a reward for her doing this. . . invited her back into our room! So, needless to say we are back at square one with more resistance.”

“I can’t believe what I did!” Marisa’s new message came just a week after she emailed to tell me that Gracie was making far fewer visits to her mommy’s bed during the night. “I woke up last night and realized that Gracie was spending yet another night in her own bed. I missed her next to me so much that I went into her room and climbed in bed with her! Now tonight we’re heading up to get ready for bed and sure enough, she’s asking me to sleep in her bed with her again! I think I’ve just created a whole new problem! Please help!”

It is OK to make a change you know!

For those of you who are still with me – those of you who have decided that it’s time to move your little cuddler out of your bed and say goodbye to those nighttime pokes from little elbows and toes – let me reassure you that it’s perfectly fine to make this change. There is no one right age or time or situation to adhere to, it’s just a matter of choice: and if you’re ready, you’re ready. Your child is obviously well loved and secure, and those feelings won’t change when you use a sensitive, loving method to keep her sleeping in her own bed all night long.

What to do next

There are a number of ways to keep your little one in his own bed all night. Since every child is different, and every situation is different, each family will approach this is a unique way. What follows is a menu list of ideas for you to choose from. Pick one, two or more that sound right for you and give them an honest try. Be patient and keep to your plan. Over the next few weeks or months you will see success. How quickly this happens depends on your child’s personality and how motivated you are to move things along.

The solutions

What follows is a list of ideas that have worked for other families like yours. You can choose from these, or combine bits and pieces to create a totally unique solution.

1. From bed to floor to out the door

If you don’t mind your child coming into your room during the night, but would like to keep him out of your bed, then set up a sleeping place for him in your bedroom. This place can be as simple as a futon and blanket on the floor to a den made out of a folding card table draped with a sheet which houses a sleeping bag and pillow.

During the night, if he forgets the new plan and climbs in bed with you, just help him down to his little place and remind him that’s where he needs to be. It’s perfectly fine to lay with him until he falls asleep at first. It will help him get used to this new routine.

2. The morning snuggle

This idea shifts your child’s visit from the midnight hours to a more acceptable early-morning time. Many parents enjoy this plan as well, since they don’t have to give up snuggling their little one entirely, but can do so after they’ve had a good night’s sleep.

Tell your child that she can come in “When it’s light outside.” This works if daylight appears at the right time for you. Another is to set a music or white noise alarm to go off quietly at an acceptable time. Explain, “If the music is playing you can come to our bed. If it’s quiet, then please go back to sleep until the music plays.”

3. The weekend promise

Tell your child that when she stays in her bed all week then she can sleep with you on the weekend, or on Saturday. Post a calendar and let her adhere a star to each day that she sleeps all night without waking you. Put a special design on the weekend days.

This idea works perfectly for some children who relish their weekend sleep-overs in the big bed. Others, though, find it too difficult to separate yes nights from no nights. If you think it may work with your little one, give it a try.

4. The Rubber Band Bounce

This is a good idea for a family who wants to make a quick change to their middle-of-the-night routine, and for a parent who’s willing to get out of bed repeatedly for a week or so.

Just before your bedtime routine begins, explain briefly why you want her to stay in her bed, for example, “When you come in my room during the night you wake me up and then I’m grumpy.” And tell her that you want her to stay in her bed all night long. Begin the night with a pleasant, peaceful go-to-bed routine. Finish it with your child in her bed. Anytime she gets up – EVERYTIME she gets out of bed – calmly, peacefully and lovingly put her back to bed. Kiss her, hug, her rub her back. Even sit or lie next to her until she falls back to sleep if necessary. Choose a key phrase to repeat to her a few times, such as, “It’s night night time now. Mommy loves you. Please stay in your bed and have sweet dreams.”

You may have to repeat this ten times the first few nights, but with real consistency you should see this reduce night-time visits quickly.

5. Gift-wrapped motivation

My sleep surveys uncovered that fact that most preschoolers can be highly motivated to make changes when offered a prize (which, I’m sure, if you have a preschooler, is no great surprise to you!)

The sticker approach has been a popular choice. Purchase a calendar and put it in a visible place on the wall. Allow your child to put a sticker on the calendar each morning after he stays in his own bed.

Your child’s goal is to attain a certain number of stickers – which can be whatever number you want it to be, but shouldn’t be so many that your child loses interest during the wait. You may want to start off with a small number – say 3 stickers, and work your way up to ten or so. When the magic number of stickers is on the chart your child gets a prize. This can be a trip out for an ice-cream cone, a coveted toy, or a special privilege.

How long the process of change will take depends on how strong your child’s need is to be with you during the night – she may feel that you are a much better prize than any toy you could offer – and isn’t it glorious to be loved so much?

Whining: When The Apple Of Your Eye Drives You Bananas

2012-01-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

You thought you had been through the worst of it once your baby’s colic passed. Nothing could be possibly worse than that, right? Think again. If there is one thing that drives usually sane parents batty it’s the incessant whining of their toddler.
Usually between the ages of two and four, anytime things don’t go their way, or their feeling depressed or overwhelmed, whining seems to be their most common form of communication. It’s their way of saying, “I’m not happy and YOU have to fix it.”
Whining is also most commonly about attention. When toddlers are cranky or tired they want to be coddled and soothed and if your attention is directed elsewhere, they know whining is the perfect way to get your focus back on them. If you try and ignore it, the whining gets worse and they make it very clear that by not attending to them you’re a failure as a parent. How could possibly get annoyed with them when all they want is for you stay focused on them and only them twenty-four seven?
According to the book ‘Love Without Spoiling’ by Nancy Samalin, the best way to nip the whining before it turns into a tantrum is to make it very clear that you’re not happy with your child when they’re whining. Insist that they ask for what they want in a ‘normal’ voice and let them know that they won’t get what they want if they continue to whine.
You might notice that if there’s a sibling in the picture, anytime you give attention to this other child, your toddler increases their whining. This is their way of manifesting jealousy. Make sure that they understand that you love them just as much as you love their sibling. Their brother or sister need you just like they do and while you sometimes do things just for them, sometimes you have to do things just for their sibling. It’s also a good idea to spend some blocks of time where you are focused just on your toddler. Your toddler will more likely to find it easier to ‘share’ you if they know they have this special time with mommy coming up where you’ll be all theirs.
If you notice that your child gets particularly cranky at specific times of the day, you might be able to look at his surroundings or schedule to see if there’s anything you can change about his routine or yours.
One stay at home mom of a two and a half year old from California offers this suggestion, “He tends to whine the most when he wants my undivided attention. He also whines when he wants something and I have said no. What works is sitting down with him on the floor for a while 15 minutes and playing with him then I can usually get up and do whatever it is I need to do. But this is only useful as long as the whining has not escalated and is best BEFORE he starts in because I think it would be negative reinforcement. If his whining has escalated to crying and throwing himself on the floor then I tell him he needs to go to his room. Either he runs to his room and cries for awhile and come out fine OR he will stop crying. Distraction works but I am terrible at it.”
This brings up the point that while it’s important that your toddler not feel like he can use the whining as a magic button to make you come running, it’s also important that you reward him when he does use ‘good’ methods of communication. Since whining is usually about attention, that would be the ideal reward. Even when you’re busy, as you go about your day, if at all possible, work him into your activities. If he feels like he has a special position as ‘mommy’s helper’, the whining should cut down considerably as he won’t be as starved for attention or jealous of attention you might be giving his sibling.
While no one can debate that tantrums in public aren’t fun, neither is whining and usually, whining is just the opening act to a rip roaring tantrum if you don’t do your best to head it off before it reaches that point. Chances are that whining in public has less to do with attention than it does with over stimulation, being tired, or hungry.
If you’re planning on going out to eat, trying making sure that you set the time for well before your child’s usual meal time. This is because between driving to the restaurant and waiting for your meal, your child’s blood sugar levels can drop significantly leading to one very cranky child. Trying calling ahead to the restaurant or maybe try a buffet restaurant where waiting for a table or service won’t be an issue. Brining a long a few small activities for him could also help head off boredom, another big instigator of whining in toddlers. Chances are the restaurant will offer a coloring place mat or book and some crayons for your little one to keep them entertained. But if you do get caught waiting for your meals, feel free to keep the whining at bay by taking your child for a little walk through the restaurant and pointing out some interesting artwork or maybe a fish tank if they have one.
The key to dealing with a whining child is to keep yourself calm and remind yourself that if there was a better way for your child to get his messages across, he would use them. It’s your job to patiently teach him these tools even when your little angel is reminding you more of a little demon.

Yucky Medicine – How to Get Your Kids To Take It

2012-01-11T06:44:00.000-08:00

These days, there are a number of ways to make yucky medicine more palatable for children. Pre-sweetened medications and flavored additives are readily available –ask your pharmacist to add flavoring to a prescription – but sometimes a bitter pill or potion still has to be swallowed. Children can also be resistant to the mere idea of medicine – as every mom knows, a sick child can be resistant to just about everything! Here are some suggestions for how to get your kids to take that sometimes yucky medicine … and soon you’ll all be feeling better!

When Giving your Kids Medicine Honesty is the Best Policy

Children know when they don’t feel well, and you should explain – in simple language that they’ll understand – what’s wrong and how the medicine will help. Tell them a little while in advance that you’re going to give them medicine, and try to put a positive spin on it. If you’re making a face while pouring it from the bottle, imagine how your child is going to feel. Let your child make some part of the decision about taking the medicine – picking out a special spoon to use, for example – to feel like they have some control over what’s going on. When your son or daughter does take the medicine, remember to offer kudos and a big hug, maybe even a reward to positively reinforce the experience.

Daily Medication

If your child is taking medicine for the first time and is old enough to understand, try playing a game – pretend to give the medicine to a doll or stuffed animal. Let your child be the “grown up”, which might make it easier when it’s time to take the medicine for real. Involving your child in the process is also helpful when a child has a chronic condition and medicine must be taken daily. As a parent, it’s up to you to present this in as upbeat a manner as possible, so your child doesn’t have a negative feeling about medicine before it’s even been tasted. If you take daily medication or even vitamins, make it a shared experience with your child – even mommy has to take her medicine!

Medication Tips & Tricks for Parents

For very young children, it’s often easiest to give liquid medication in a dropper or medicine syringe. Direct the medication into the pocket of the child’s cheek or back of the mouth, so it will be swallowed quickly and before there’s a chance to taste it (we hope!). For older children, look for medication that’s chewable, dissolvable or lollipop-like, a popular option for over-the-counter medications for children. If pharmacist-added flavoring isn’t available, try giving your child something cold to eat – a popsicle or a few sucks on an ice cube – before the medicine; the cold sensation will tone down taste buds. Conversely, give your child the medicine first, then juice or another flavored drink immediately afterwards. You can also have your child eat something sticky to coat the tongue before the medicine is taken, like a spoonful of chocolate or maple syrup. If your pharmacist is flavoring the medication, pick your child’s favorite flavor. Medicine that comes in pill or powdered form can be crushed and combined with fruit or juice to go down more easily. Before you try this, check with your pediatrician or pharmacist to make sure it’s okay to mix the medicine with food or liquids. Mix crushed pills with applesauce or pudding or peanut butter – but remember to make sure that your child eats the entire portion to ensure that all the medicine is taken.

Natural Cold Remedies for Babies

2012-01-11T06:41:00.000-08:00

ver the counter (OTC) cold and cough medicines should not be given to children under 6, and especially not to babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises doctors to always recommend more natural remedies for babies when they contract a cold. OTC medicines have been shown to have dangerous side effects in babies, and even if this doesn't happen, the medicines won't help your baby get over a cold sooner. You should always think carefully before you dose a young child or baby with OTC cold medicine. Here are some natural cold remedies you can try for your baby's symptoms:

Coughing

Breast milk is one of the best remedies any time your baby gets sick. It helps boost the baby's immune system, and transfers some of your resistance to the baby. Increase your feeding schedule to help your baby's cough.
A natural oil rub can also help sooth a cough. Mix 3 to 4 teaspoons of olive oil with 2 to 3 drops of eucalyptus, rosemary and peppermint oil. Rub the mixture on the baby's chest and back. This works especially well at night, because the rosemary can help the baby sleep while the eucalyptus eases the coughing.

Congestion

Congestion is simple to relieve with steam. You can simply stand in the bathroom and run a hot shower to make the air steamy. Stay in there for a few minutes with your baby, and it will help to clear her airway.
Another option is to give the baby a warm bath, and add a few drops of essential oils to the bathwater. Eucalyptus is a natural oil that helps to clear the airway, and you can also try sage or thyme drops. Running a humidifier in the baby's room can help keep the air moistened as well, which will relieve both coughing and congestion.

Runny Nose

Some saline drops and a bulb syringe are the way to go when your baby's nose is runny or clogged with mucous. Use a dropper to put a few saline drops into one nostril, and then use the rubber bulb syringe to suck the mucous out. Repeat on the other nostril. This is uncomfortable for the baby, but the relief from the runny nose will be quick, which is the goal.

Fever

A baby with a fever can be one of the scariest moments for parents. A fever is the body's way of naturally fighting off an infection, but if the baby's temperature gets too high, you'll want to take steps to relieve it. Ask your doctor about using either infant ibuprofen or a similar remedy for a fever. (Make sure you ask at a regular appointment with your pediatrician; babies tend to get fevers in the middle of the night, when you can't reach your doctor.)

When to Be Concerned

If your baby is 3 months old or less, you should give the doctor a call any time signs of sickness appear. A baby this young should not have a temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. From 3 to 6 months, call the doctor if her fever gets above 101 degrees, and after 6 months, call the doctor if a fever climbs above 103 degrees.
You should also call the doctor if cold symptoms appear to be getting worse, or if a fever lasts longer than 2 days. Any significant change in the baby's feeding or sleeping habits during sickness should be cause for concern.

When Should My Baby Start Walking?

2012-01-11T06:37:00.000-08:00

Most babies start to walk around 13 months, but your baby may start walking as early as 9 or 10 months or as late as 15 or 16 months. Some babies go from cruising the furniture to walking rather quickly and other babies learn to walk at a little slower pace. The pace at which babies learn to walk will vary from baby to baby.

Standing

Before your baby can walk, she needs to learn how to pull herself up to a standing position. Your baby may start pulling herself to a standing position when she is around 8-10 months. You can encourage her to stand by supporting her waist while she holds on to the sofa or other furniture. To make things fun and keep your baby interested in standing, you can place some of her favorite toys on the edge of the sofa. This way she has some incentive to climb up on the sofa or to hold on to the edge of the sofa once she is standing.

Cruising

Once your baby learns how to pull herself up to a standing position, she may get interested in cruising the furniture. Cruising will help your baby learn to balance and also help strengthen your baby’s trunk and lower body. When your baby cruises the furniture, he will take steps from side to side to get around the furniture. Eventually he will try letting go of the furniture and take a step.
Once your baby starts cruising the furniture, he will learn how to get himself from a standing to a sitting position. This skill generally develops around 9-10 months. You can encourage your baby to squat down from a standing position by placing a fun toy or something interesting on the floor while he is standing. He may decide to check out the toy and bend down to grab it. At first he may just flop down to the floor to get the toy, but with practice he will be able to squat down grab the toy and stand back up. All this pulling to stand, squatting up and down, and cruising from side to side, helps your baby develop the strength, balance, and coordination necessary for walking.

Baby’s First Steps

Once your baby gets comfortable pulling to stand, cruising the furniture, and squatting, his next challenge will be to take his first steps. Your baby may take his first steps as early as 9 or 10 months. To get your baby inspired to take his first steps, you may want to try dangling a set of keys or an interesting toy nearby him as he is cruising the furniture. He may try to reach and grab for the toy and in the process take his first step.

Here are some other tips to help your baby start walking.

Once your baby starts cruising the furniture, you can work on getting him to cruise back and forth from a sofa to a nearby chair. Place a chair adjacent to the sofa. Start off by having the chair very close to the sofa and slowly move the chair just a little further away. You can also place a favorite toy on the chair to motivate your baby to cruise over to the chair. With practice he will learn to go back and forth from chair to sofa and may eventually take a step and then grab the chair for support.
Purchase a push toy for your baby to use to practice walking. It may be helpful to secure a small weight, like a velcro hand weight, to the base of the toy for added support. A push toy is great to get your baby moving around. It will help him learn to balance, strengthen his muscles, and it may just give him the confidence he needs to start walking.

Do not use a baby walker. Baby walkers are different than push toys. A baby walker is an enclosed toy with a tray or bumper around it and wheels on the bottom. Your baby sits inside the walker and pushes himself around with the help of the wheels. A baby walker will not help your baby walk and may actually discourage him from learning to walk. In fact, in Canada they were so concerned about the safety of baby walkers that they have been banned from being advertised, imported, or sold. The AAP strongly discourages the use of baby walkers as well, and has attempted unsuccessfully, to get a similar governmental ban of them in the US.

Hold your baby’s hands while he walks. You can kneel in front of your baby and hold his hands while he walks around the house. Once he is comfortable walking with two hands you can try holding just one hand while he practices walking. Another trick you can try is to kneel in front of him holding a broom handle (or something similar that is sturdy) for him to grab onto. Let him use the handle for support while he practices walking.

If your baby is having a hard time walking with shoes on, try ditching the shoes for a while. Babies sometimes have a hard time balancing and learning to walk with shoes. Most babies have an easier time walking when barefoot so save the shoes for outdoor play.

Should I be concerned if my baby isn’t walking?

Not every baby will learn to walk at the same time. Some babies will start walking much earlier than others for various reasons. There is no reason to worry if your baby is under 18 months and not walking yet. You may find your baby is developing right on track with his speech and language milestones, but a little more slowly with his movement milestones. Some babies will make faster progress with language skills and others will do better with motor skills. As long as your baby is making steady progress with his milestones, there is usually nothing to worry about. However, if your baby is 18 months and is still not walking, you should talk to your doctor. He may recommend early intervention services or physical therapy for your baby.

When Should My Baby Start Talking?

2012-01-11T06:34:00.000-08:00

One of the most exciting events for new parents is hearing their baby utter his first words. It is hard to say for sure when to expect your baby to say his first words, but most babies will be able to say 3 to 5 words by the time they are about a year old. Your baby may start trying to talk sooner than this. As a matter of fact, you may hear your baby babbling words like “ma ma” and “da da” as early as six months of age. While he may be practicing making sounds and imitating at this age, he probably doesn’t actually understand the meaning of the words he is babbling just yet.

Receptive language comes first
Your baby’s receptive language, or what he understands, develops before his expressive language, or what he says. When you talk to your baby, you are helping to develop his receptive language and stimulating his overall language development. Even if your baby isn’t able to speak to you, he is still absorbing information and expanding his vocabulary just by listening to you. Some babies take longer to learn how to coordinate their tongue and mouth to form sounds.

Early expressive language

Birth to 3 months
Your baby starts learning to communicate with you very early. One of the first ways your baby communicates with you is by crying. Now this may not sound like language development but this is how he tells you what’s going on. You may even discover that your baby has a different type of cry depending on what he is trying to communicate to you.

4- 6 months

At around 4-6 months your baby will start babbling. He should also be responding to you by smiling and cooing. This is how he communicates with you at this age. Even though he isn’t forming actual words with his babbling, he should be starting to make some of the sounds he will later use to form words. You may hear him making vowel sounds first like “ooh” and “aah” and then later he will start combining consonants and vowels to make sounds like “da da” or “ba ba”.

7-12 months

Your baby’s receptive language will really start to blossom during this time. He will understand more and should be able to understand simple instructions like “no-no.” Your baby may not be talking just yet but he should be babbling by now. Pay attention to him and you may notice him trying to imitate sounds or gestures that you make. For example, he may wave bye bye or blow kisses. If he hasn’t started talking yet, try not to worry. He should be saying his first words soon.

Baby’s first words

Your baby will likely say his first words sometime between 11 and 14 months. By 18 months, you can expect him to be able to say up to 20 words. Not all babies, however, develop at the same pace or reach milestones at the same time. If you ask a group of moms when their children started talking, you will probably get a different answer from each mom. Even when you compare children from the same family, you will see variations on when each child learned to talk. Developmental milestones are designed to help parents and doctors stay alert for signs of problems.

Encouraging your baby to talk

Here are some things you can do to encourage your baby to talk:

Imitate your baby’s sounds and encourage him to imitate you. Try smiling when he smiles, laughing when he laughs, or making “ooh” and “aah” sounds when he makes “ooh” and “aah” sounds.
Play games like “peek-a-boo” and “so big” with your baby. Your baby will learn to anticipate what comes next and learn to mimic you during play time.
Talk to your baby throughout the day. For example, when you get him dressed, tell him what you are doing. Little things like saying, “mommy is putting socks on your feet now” will help your baby learn new words.
Read to your baby. First word books are great for teaching your baby new words. It may take a while before your baby is able to say the words in the book but he may be able to identify words by pointing.

Should I be concerned if my baby isn’t talking?

If your baby is under 15 months and not talking yet, this is not a cause for concern. He should be babbling by the time he reaches his first birthday though. If he is not babbling by the time he turns one, you should discuss this with your doctor. You should also pay attention to how your baby responds to sounds. If he does not respond to his name when you call him, turn his head towards the direction of a loud sound, or if you just feel that something is not right, you should talk to your doctor. By around 16 months your baby should be saying at least a few words. If your baby is not saying anything at all by 16 months, you may want to talk to your doctor about getting early intervention services set up for your baby. This does not necessarily mean that your baby is not developing normally. Some perfectly healthy babies do not talk until they are closer to two years old. Still, if you are worried about your baby's speech or language development, you should discuss your concerns with your doctor.

How to Make Baby Wipes at Home

2012-01-11T06:23:00.000-08:00

Making your own baby wipes will not only save money, but you will know for sure that no harsh or drying chemicals are touching your baby's bottom.

What You Need

Round plastic container (Rubbermaid #6 or #9 works well)
Thick, strong roll of white paper towels
Sharp knife to cut paper towel roll in half
2 cups water that has been boiled and cooled to room temperature
2 Tablespoons baby shampoo or baby wash
1 Tablespoon baby oil

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 15 minutes

Here's How:

Cut the roll of paper towels in half with a knife and remove the inner cardboard core.
Mix liquid ingredients in container.
Place the paper towels in the container with the cut side facing downward.
Secure lid tightly and allow to sit until all liquid is absorbed into the paper towels.
Turn the container upside-down and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
Open container and 'start' the roll by pulling a towel from the inside of the roll.
Wipes are now ready to use.

Tips:

These also make a great gift for new parents. You can decorate or personalize the container and, of course, be sure to include a copy of the recipe.
Save the other half of the roll for use next time you make wipes.
Make sure the container is closed tightly after each use to prevent drying out.
When your baby is older and his skin is less sensitive, you can add about a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol to the mix.

Tips for making New Year’s resolutions stick

2012-01-10T13:43:00.000-08:00

We all have New Year’s resolutions—but how many of them have we actually kept? Here are some tips to help you build your resolve and determination, and help you end 2012 knowing that you got to make one of your dreams come true.

Make a contract with yourself

Writing a resolution down somehow makes it feel more formal and real. It can also force you to clarify what you really mean. For example, “I want to lose weight” doesn’t seem that formidable when it’s on paper. But saying “I will exercise three times a day” will also help you think about how you’ll make time for exercise, what you may need to do (sign up for a gym? Buy running shoes?). Then, like any other contract or document, sign your name and hold yourself to it. You may even want to get “witnesses” to countersign it!

Make a visual reminder

Tear out a picture that symbolizes what you want, or write a sentence on an index card that you tape to your mirror. Or, make a picture your computer or phone screensaver.

Find a “resolution buddy”

Team up with a friend or relative who shares that New Year’s resolution. Or join a web forum, where you can have a virtual network of people who can give both encouragement and their tried and tested tips.

Be realistic

You may occasionally fall off the bandwagon—that’s okay, as long as you pick yourself right up and get back on board. And you may also realize that some resolutions are unrealistic. Revising them is part of making your goals fit into your life.

Replace bad habits with good ones

Instead of saying, “I won’t be a pushover at work” say “I will speak up at least once during meetings.” Or, instead of “I will not gossip” you can say “I will read more so I have more interesting things to say at conversations.”

Make a vision board

Find images and phrases from magazines, write out your favorite inspiring quotes, and paste on a thick cardboard and post in your room.