http://www.columbiacenter.org/tips en kevin@creatonomy.com Copyright 2010 2010-04-22T19:47:27+00:00 Knowing when to go for your child’s first haircut depends on how much hair they are born with as well as how long you want to preserve their baby look. The average child gets their first haircut at around 12 months. Babies born with luscious locks could be ready as early as eight months for their first trim, while babies born with superfine baby hair may not need one until around two years. 2010-04-22T19:47:27+00:00 Tell them exactly what’s going to happen when they get their haircut. That way the scissors, clippers or razors won’t be a surprise—or as scary—to them. You can also read books about the subject to familiarize them such as "Henry’s First Haircut," by Dan Yaccarino, and "Sprinkles' First Haircut" by Jc Schwanda featuring the characters of Blue’s Clues. 2010-04-22T19:45:05+00:00 This can mean staying at home and taking on stylist duties yourself or finding a place that caters to kids. Specialized salons, such as Just Kidding Kids Cuts with locations in Mequon and Whitefish Bay, offer such amenities as jeep styling chairs and DVDs for your toddler to watch during their haircut and to distract them from being scared. 2010-04-22T19:43:26+00:00 Bring your toddler with you when you go for your haircut or even when you take siblings. When a child sees someone they care about getting their haircut, they often want to be just like them and do the same. At the same time, by seeing others get their haircut first they know they don’t have to be scared. 2010-04-22T19:42:01+00:00 It’s important to have an experienced stylist who can work on a moving target. The stylist should also be able to make your toddler feel comfortable and be able to relate to children. Sometimes the stylist lets them play with the spray bottle or carefully see the scissors up close. A patient stylist will not only keep your little one calm, but you will be relaxed too. 2010-04-22T19:40:39+00:00 Try to book your appointment between mealtime and naptime so your toddler isn’t hungry or tired. By avoiding times when your toddler might feel out of sorts, you can make that first experience a positive one that will set the stage for years to come. 2010-04-22T19:39:52+00:00 For younger children, it can be helpful to place them on your lap during their haircut — it can calm their nerves and you can help keep them still for the stylist. The other option is to take a seat next to them so that you are not moving about and causing them to turn their head to look for you. Remain calm and relaxed. If you are nervous or overly emotional, your children will pick up on it. 2010-04-22T19:35:20+00:00 Let your child bring a small toy, game or comfort item from home. Having a familiar or favorite toy will distract them instead of worrying about what’s going on during the haircut. 2010-04-22T19:33:26+00:00 If your child acts in a way that is expected, you should reward them with verbal praise. Letting them know how proud you were of their good behavior during their haircut will encourage the same behavior for future haircuts. 2010-04-22T19:32:07+00:00 For something as seemingly trivial as a haircut, why put your toddler or yourself through the trauma of forcing it to happen? If their behavior turns downright unruly where it wouldn’t be safe for the stylist to even attempt to cut their hair, you should be ready to walk out the door and simply try again another day. 2010-04-22T19:28:07+00:00 The average weight gain during pregnancy is between 25 and 35 pounds. During birth, new moms usually lose about 12 to 14 pounds. That means most of us have about 12 to 21 pounds of excess weight to lose. 2010-02-23T20:31:11+00:00 Most doctors recommend that pregnant women take a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement every day in addition to eating a healthy diet. 2010-02-23T19:39:55+00:00 A child may turn down a new food the first time, but repeated exposure can be the key to getting them to accept new foods into their diet. 2010-02-23T19:33:14+00:00 You have a toddler or preschooler to care for and, if you are pregnant again within two years, your body has still not recovered to its pre-pregnancy state.  2010-02-18T18:35:10+00:00 After all, your life is significantly different now. Chances are, you have more commitments—to your firstborn, your community, your work. 2010-02-18T18:32:11+00:00 When introducing new foods, offer your baby the same food four days in a row and watch for any signs of allergic reaction. 2010-01-15T15:35:00+00:00 Try to avoid vegetables that contain nitrates such as spinach, broccoli, rhubarb, cabbage, radish, beets, and turnips. High nitrate intake can make your baby very sick. 2010-01-15T15:23:50+00:00 Fresh fruits and vegetables are excellent starting points for homemade baby food. 2010-01-15T15:18:52+00:00 Have children leave an area with aggressive or excessive bees. Having an Epi-pen available for a child with a severe bee-sting allergy when they are outdoors is always a good idea. 2009-12-30T23:11:14+00:00 When bathing your infant or toddler, make sure to have plenty of towels ready! 2009-12-20T23:08:53+00:00 Children ages 5 to 9 sustain the most dog bite injuries. Teach children basic safety around dogs — for instance, not approaching an unfamiliar dog and not disturbing a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies. Young children should not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult. 2009-05-28T23:09:05+00:00 Most of us know to install and maintain smoke detectors in our homes, cook with care and supervise young children around cooking surfaces, and set our water heater thermostat to 120 degrees or lower to help prevent burns in the home. Similarly, keeping children away from hot grills and leaving fireworks to the professional can help protect our kids. 2009-05-28T23:08:25+00:00 Falls are the leading non-fatal cause of injury in children less than 15 years of age. Be sure playground equipment is maintained and there is a soft landing surface below. Make sure your child wears all the proper protective gear when playing active sports such as in-line skating. Supervise closely young children around all fall hazards—inside and outside. 2009-05-28T23:06:50+00:00 Drowning is the leading cause of injury death in children from 1 to 4 years of age. Just as you must always supervise young children near water in the home such as bathtubs and toilets, close outdoor monitoring is critical. A responsible adult should supervise children swimming or playing near water. Older children and adults should always swim with a buddy. 2009-05-28T23:02:12+00:00 Always use proper restraints in vehicles. All infants should always ride rear-facing until they are at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 lbs. Young children weighing at least 20 lbs and until at least 40 lbs or 4 years old should sit in forward-facing car seats. Use booster seats for children between ages 4 and 8 or until they reach 4’9” tall, and seat belts for older children. 2009-05-28T23:00:37+00:00