Crib or Bassinet? What is Right For Your Child?
November 25, 2007
Crib or Bassinet? What is Right For Your Child?
by: Lisa and Eric Koshinsky
So here’s the question… Should you buy a crib or a bassinet?
The decision to use a crib or a bassinet is one that many parents often wrestle with. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. A bassinet is great for a newborn baby because it is a small area, which helps the infant to feel more secure. The frilly bedding also helps to make the infant look that much more precious. There are many different designs of bassinets, just as there are with cribs. The main feature that parents like about using a bassinet for the first few months is that they can have it right next to the bedside. Most of the newer models have rocking motion that you can use if you want. The bassinet doesn’t rock a lot so there is no danger of it tipping over and when you lock the wheels in place, it won’ rock at all.
A Special Formula for Baby!
November 25, 2007
Choosing to breastfeed the baby is one of the most important decisions a mother can make. Usually that decision was made even before the baby was conceived. There may be times when lack of support, knowledge and different priorities have led to bottle feeding. My goal is not to tell a new mother all the scary stuff in formula, but to discuss the reasons why a mother may be choosing not to breastfeed. Possibly, with discussing these reasons she may realize the benefits of breastfeeding and seek out the necessary support and education for the sake of her health and most importantly the infant’s.
REASONS WHY WOMEN DON’T BREASTFEED:
1) Family Tradition:
Personally, my mother never breastfed, nor her own mother. Breastfeeding was something that was not talked about in my family as a natural and normal way to feed the baby. It is hard to breastfeed when the concept is foreign.
2) Not Knowing the Effects of Artificial Baby Milk:
Trying To Get You Child To Stop Stealing
November 25, 2007
Trying To Get You Child To Stop Stealing
by: Noel Swanson
Children steal for a variety reasons. Some steal for comfort, others to impress a group of friends, get back at their parents, or to get the things they want. Sometimes they steal just because it is exciting. Probably as many as one in four children have deliberately stolen something at some time. Most, of course, never do it again. But those who do, do so for one reason: it works. Whatever their core need: attention, money, or excitement, the stealing provides it for them.
Sometimes, the excitement generated by stealing is motivation enough. As many as one in four kids have stolen something - although most will never do it again.
Along with this, your main emphasis needs to be on promoting honesty. Use everyday events, such as stories from television or school, as a starting point for talking about honesty, integrity, and family morals.
The best way to prevent stealing from happening is to find another way to meet their needs. Once their needs are met, they won’t have to continue stealing.
Tips For Discreet Breastfeeding In Public
November 25, 2007
Tips For Discreet Breastfeeding In Public
by: Carrie Lauth
If you’re a new Mom who is nursing your baby you may be nervous about doing so in public.
Or perhaps you are disturbed by media reports of women who are harassed for breastfeeding in public and are considering pumping your milk to give your baby when you leave home.
Here are some tips for discreet breastfeeding that have worked for many Moms. Hopefully they will help you feel more comfortable nursing in public so you can avoid the inconvenience of pumping and preparing bottles.
1) Before you have your baby, attend a La Leche League or other breastfeeding support group meeting.
Unfortunately in our Society that gives lip service to the benefits of breastfeeding, it is still rare to see Moms nursing in public, and so most of us grow up having our own babies never having seen another woman nurse.
Going to an LLL meeting and seeing how other Moms nurse their babies discreetly and confidently can boost your own confidence. They can also share with you tips that will make nursing in public easier for you.
2) Invest in a baby sling.
Parenting Activity: Use These 3 Time Out Twists
November 24, 2007
Parenting Activity: Use These 3 Time Out Twists
by: Jean Tracy. MSS
Are you tired of arguing with your kids? Do you wish your kids would take responsibility for their actions? Here’s an easy way. Let’s find out about Time Out (T.O.) using my 3 special twists. You can easily use them with kids from ages 3 to 11 years old.
When my boys were growing up, I used T.O. often. If they sassed, snuck out to play without doing their chores, or fought with each other, they went to T.O. First, I’ll describe T.O. Then I’ll add my 3 special twists.
Use Time Out when your child misbehaves:
Place your child in a boring room (no TV, computers, or toys.)
Use a timer and set one minute for each year of your child’s age.
For example, wind the timer to 3 minutes for a 3 year-old and 9 minutes for a 9 year- old.
Calm yourself down and think wisely while your child is in T.O.
Let your child out of T.O. when the timer buzzes.
Don’t lecture. Your child won’t listen anyway.
My Three Time Out Twists:
Tips To Plan Your Kid Party Menu
November 24, 2007
Tips To Plan Your Kid Party Menu
by: Lewis Lew
Plan your kid party menu early to allow time to shop for ingredient and avoid last minutes work. When planning for your menu, the following are to take into consideration
1. Age of your guest. Younger children love simple bite-sized food while order children are usually more adventurous. Don’t serve nuts, hard candies, or hot dogs to small children because of the hazard of choking.
2. Don’t forget to cater for parents, if you know they will stay at the party. Provide some cracker and a fruit punch will do.
3. Are there any children that are allergies to any food and any vegetarians?
4. What time is your party start? Are you planning for a lunch or dinner or tea menu?
5. Do you have birthday party theme? If you have, you will have to use your creativity to link your party food to your theme.
6. When to serve what food? Serve drink and crackers before the party begins. Dessert like ice cream could be served at tea-end or later part of the party. Display the birthday cake for all to see but save the ceremony for later break.
The Perfect Baby Shower Gift
November 24, 2007
Have you found yourself frustrated trying to decide what to buy for a baby shower gift? By the time you have spent energy, money and time buying and wrapping the "perfect" gift, you find that someone else had the same idea. This scenario is the same embarrassment that you felt in Jr. High School when some girl wore the identical dress for the Spring Dance. I can reassure you that help is on the way for those who don’t find gift shopping a thrill a minute.
FRUSTRATIONS:
You may go on-line or to a local department store and check the mother-to-be’s registry. Unfortunately, the registry isn’t always up to date. For example, my sister-in-law, who was properly registered, received three identical changer/playpens. You may take the chance that the registry is current and buy something with no guarantees.
Buying a cute card and wrapping paper is the next step. You might figure that you can make up for your uncertainity about the gift by wrapping it beautifully. But keep in mind that there will come a time when the expensive paper and gorgeous bow needs to come off. Will it be the gift you hoped it to be? There is a solution to all your frustration and worry.
How To Potty Train In Two Days
November 24, 2007
How To Potty Train In Two Days
by: Carrie Lauth
Ah, potty training!
Go to a local bookseller and you will find dozens of books on the subject. Search the Net and there are thousands of websites with information on how to do it stress free. There are even people who are capitalizing on a parent’s frustration with potty training by offering to do it for you, for a hefty sum! I honestly can’t imagine anything more unseemly than paying someone to teach my child to “go”.
Ewwww!!!
I have successfully potty trained 3 kids so far using this method. I seem to be the envy of the playgroups when other Moms see that my 3 year old son has been in whitey tighties for over a year. My oldest was also 2 when he potty learned.
For me, potty training starts with a newborn. Now don’t get me wrong…I do diaper my babes (unlike the native African mothers who wear their babies on their backs and who, to avoid being soiled on, learn to read their babies’ cues so well that they know when their newborn needs to be held over a bush…no, I’m not kidding!) but I have always used cloth diapers, which encourages babies to train early. I’m not a longhaired, barefoot, off-the-grid hippie (not that there’s anything wrong with that, but you’re more likely to find me in Doc Martens than Birkenstocks!) but I have been cloth diapering since the beginning.
Buying Your Child a Digital Camera- What You Need To Know
November 23, 2007
Buying Your Child a Digital Camera- What You Need To Know
by: Kevin Rockwell
Purchasing any gift item for your child is a mind-numbing task. You can never be sure whether they will like what you buy for them or not. So, when you want to buy a digital camera for your little kids, then there are lots of things, which you must know, which will help you (hopefully!) to get the right camera for your child.
One of the most important things for children is that the digital camera should be one of the latest available in the market. If it has been heavily advertised and people are talking about it, then it is even better. This gives children a sense of pride and also allows them to ‘show-off’ their possession to their friends.
Another factor, which is critical for children, is that the camera must look good. This is very, very important to them. It does not matter whether it has a big screen or small screen, whether it is 2 mega pixel or 1.5 mega pixel - the camera should have a smart shape, come in flashy colors or it can also look cute or funky. But, the camera should not look ‘boring’ or very ‘serious’ in nature. However good the functions might be, if the camera does not look good, it is most likely that your choice will get rejected.
Raising Baby On The Cheap
November 23, 2007
Raising Baby On The Cheap
by: Carrie Lauth
Have you ever read those reports on the cost of raising a child?
The last time I checked, I was told that it would cost the astronomical figure of $430,470 to raise my baby… and that didn’t include college tuition!
The people who come up with these figures must not be very creative. Some of the best things you can do for your child are free or very inexpensive. Here are some tips for raising kids on the cheap.
1) Breastfeed
You can save roughly $1,000 in formula costs alone in your baby’s first year by breastfeeding. Check out this report: http://www.natural-moms.com/cost_of_baby_formula.html
This figure doesn’t include the extra costs you would incur from Doctor visits and medications. Breastfed babies are less likely to need medical care and don’t get sick as often as their formula fed peers.
Formula feeding increases a baby’s risk of both acute and chronic health problems not only during childhood but well into adulthood. If you’re a working and breastfeeding Mother, you’re less likely to miss work than if you were formula feeding.
