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Parenting

Potty Training – Frequently Asked Questions

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If you are thinking about starting to potty train your toddler, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before you begin potty training.  Being well prepared for this challenging transition from diapers to potty is one of the best things you can do to make this as easy as possible for your child.

  1. Is My Child Ready?

You want to start potty training at just the right time.  You will know that your child is ready when he or she gets more interested in you going to the potty, tells you right away when the diaper is wet or pulls on it and seems uncomfortable with it.  Give potty training a try, if your child does not seem ready despite the signs, wait a few weeks and try again.

  1. Am I Ready?

Just as important as your child being ready is that you are ready.  Prepare yourself mentally for the transition from diaper to potty for your child.  You will need a lot of patience and understanding. There are going to be resentment, tears, and the occasional accident.  Make sure you are prepared for this so you can stay calm and supportive for your child.

  1. Do We Need A Potty Chair?

A regular toilet is very intimidating for a child.  The seat is rather large, and your child will have to hold on to avoid falling into the toilet. Also “things” vanish in there when you flash – which can be a pretty scary thought for your child.  Many kids are more comfortable with a potty chair at first.  After a few weeks, you should be able to move on to a potty seat insert that fits on your regular toilet eliminating the potty cleanup.

  1. Should We Use A Potty Doll?

A potty doll is not a necessity when it comes to potty training, but can be a great tool.  A potty doll will pee like an actual child and usually comes with diapers, panties and a potty chair.  The doll can help tremendously during the pre-potty training phase when you are getting your child used to the idea of going in the potty instead of the diaper.  You can illustrate what’s supposed to happen on the doll and let your child warm up to the idea by playing with the doll in the same fashion.  When you are ready to potty train, put the doll on the potty right next to your child.

  1. Should We Use Potty Training Rewards?

Before you start potty training, you should decide if you are going to use some rewards as encouragement for your child, or if you will simply make your child feel great about his successes by being his cheerleader.  Simple potty training rewards can include stickers, candy like a few jelly beans or M&M’s, or you can use some tracking chart for bigger rewards (i.e. If you use the potty for an entire week without accident, you get a small toy).  Using simple rewards can be a great potty training tool, but it is not by any means necessary as long as you get the message across to your child that you are proud of him.

Take a few minutes to answer these potty training questions for yourself and go over them with your spouse as well to ensure you are on the same page before you start potty training your child.  It will help you give your child a clear picture of what you are both trying to accomplish and will cut down on any confusion.

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Ways to Make Reading Fun

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Learning to read can be a challenging adventure for some children.  It seems that everyone from a child’s teacher to Mom and Dad and even Grandma is excited and waiting for the child to learn to read.  All the pressure and expectations from the adults can sure put a damper on the excitement for the child.  This loss of excitement can lead to a child who loses the desire to read.  If we as parents can find ways to make reading fun and enjoyable, our children will be more willing to sit down and read a book together.

Here are a few ideas you can do to make reading fun for your child.

Popcorn Reading

This is a fun way for a child to be able to read the words he/she knows and pass on the words that are causing frustration. While reading a book together, each of you takes a turn reading aloud. When the one who is reading says the word “popcorn,” it is the other persons turn to read.

Reading Buddy

Pair your reader up with an older “reading buddy” and have them read a book out loud together. We all have had times where an explanation of something made more sense coming from one of our peers or a sibling. This gives you child the opportunity to practice reading without an adults’ watchful eye causing possible nervousness.

Highlight Heaven

Grab an older book and a highlighter and have your child highlight every word one the page that he/she can read.  After all the words your child knows are highlighted on the page, take a moment and have your child look and see how many words he/she can read.  This is quite a confidence booster.

Flashlight Reading

Before your child is too tired at the end of the day, take some time and read in the dark room. Take a flashlight with you and read the book by flashlight.  Little boys especially like this one.

 

 

Secret Hideout

What child has not built a fort at one time or another? If you do not already have a fort in your house or outside in the yard, help your child create one.  It might be a blanket fort, a plywood fort outside, a tree house, or even a simple under to bed fort. (Just make sure you both can fit…being able to get out once you’ve gotten in is helpful too!) Bring your child’s favorite reading book, get comfortable and read away.

Reading Corner

Make a “reading corner” somewhere in your home. Let your child be a part of decorating it and picking just the right spot to place it. Add some beanbags or pillows, maybe a favorite poster on the wall or even some family pictures.

Take a break and just read to your child sometimes.

No explanation needed here.

Picture Detective

Have your child flip through a book and look at all the pictures and tell you what he/she thinks is going to happen in the story. Read the story and see how close he/she was.

Pop-up word

Pick one word that your child particularly has a hard time with and every time your child reads that word, both of you stand up. This will help him/her remember the word because an action is associated with it. This works particularly well with kinesthetic learners. (A child who wants to move all the time and likes to touch and feel everything.)

Star of the Story

Have you ever seen a personalized story book where your child’s name is printed in the story? This is a unique way to get your reluctant reader excited about a book. In these kinds of books, your child’s name and the name of his/her friends are printed in the storyline, making your child the star of his/her very own book! How motivating is that? He/she will have to read the book to find out what kind of adventure he/she will be going on!

Sometimes all it takes to make reading fun is some imagination and a change of scenery.

Infant Milestones

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baby outside 960x450Your baby’s ability to smile, crawl or take the first step are called developmental milestones.  During your baby’s first year, there are some developmental milestones that your son or daughter should exhibit.  As a parent, you can play a key role in your child’s development.  In the handout below, The National Center on Birth Defects and Development Disabilities shares a list of Positive Parenting Tips you can use with your child.

Positive Parenting Tips for Healthy Child Development

Infants (0-1 year of age)

Developmental Milestones

Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye-bye” are called developmental milestones. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, behave, and move (like crawling, walking, or jumping).

In the first year, babies learn to focus their vision, reach out, explore, and learn about the things that are around them. Cognitive, or brain development means the learning process of memory, language, thinking, and reasoning.Learning language is more than making sounds (“babble”), or saying “ma-ma” and “da-da”. Listening, understanding, and knowing the names of people and things are all a part of language development. During this stage, babies also are developing bonds of love and trust with their parents and others as part of social and emotional development. The way parents cuddle, hold, and play with their baby will set the basis for how they will interact with them and others.

For more details on developmental milestones, warning signs of possible developmental delays, and information on how to help your child’s development, visit the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign website. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html

Positive Parenting Tips

Following are some things you, as a parent, can do to help your baby during this time:

  • Talk to your baby. She will find your voice
  • Answer when your baby makes sounds by repeating the sounds and adding words. This will help him learn to use
  • Read to your baby. This will help her develop and understand language and
  • Sing to your baby and play music. This will help your baby develop a love for music and will help his brain
  • Praise your baby and give her lots of loving
  • Spend time cuddling and holding your baby. This will help him feel cared for and
  • Play with your baby when she’s alert and relaxed. Watch your baby closely for signs of being tired or fussy so that she can take a break from
  • Distract your baby with toys and move him to safe areas when he starts moving and touching things that he shouldn’t
  • Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Parenting can be hard work! It is easier to enjoy your new baby and be a positive, loving parent when you are feeling good

Child Safety First

When a baby becomes part of your family, it is time to make sure that your home is a safe place. Look around your home for things that could be dangerous to your baby. As a parent, it is your job to ensure that you create a safe home for your baby. It also is important that you take the necessary steps to make sure that you are mentally and emotionally ready for your new baby. Here are a few tips to keep your baby safe:

  • Do not shake your baby―ever! Babies have very weak neck muscles that are not yet able to support their heads. If you shake your baby, you can damage his brain or even cause his
  • Make sure you always put your baby to sleep on her back to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (commonly known as SIDS).
  • Protect your baby and family from secondhand Do not allow anyone to smoke in your home.
  • Place your baby in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat while he is riding in a car. This is recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety
  • Prevent your baby from choking by cutting her food into small bites. Also, don’t let her play with small toys and other things that might be easy for her to
  • Don’t allow your baby to play with anything that might cover her
  • Never carry hot liquids or foods near your baby or while holding
  • Vaccines (shots) are important to protect your child’s health and safety. Because children can get serious diseases, it is important that your child get the right shots at the right time. Talk with your child’s doctor to make sure that your child is up-to-date on her

Healthy Bodies

  • Breast milk meets all your baby’s needs for about the first 6 months of life. Between 6 and 12 months of age, your baby will learn about new tastes and textures with healthy solid food, but breast milk should still be an important source of
  • Feed your baby slowly and patiently, encourage your baby to try new tastes but without force, and watch closely to see if he’s still
  • Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your baby, but it can be challenging. If you need help, you can call the National Breastfeeding Helpline at 800-994-9662 or get help on-line at http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding. You can also call your local WIC Program to see if you qualify for breastfeeding support by health professionals as well as peer counselors. Or go to http://gotwww.net/ilca to find an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant in your
  • Keep your baby active. She might not be able to run and play like the “big kids” just yet, but there’s lots she can do to keep her little arms and legs moving throughout the day. Getting down on the floor to move helps your baby become strong, learn, and
  • Try not to keep your baby in swings, strollers, bouncer seats, and exercise saucers for too
  • Limit screen time to a minimum. For children younger than 2 years of age, the American Academy of Pediatrics
  • (AAP) recommends that it’s best if babies do not watch any screen media.

 

A pdf of this document for reprinting is available free of charge from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/infants.html

Additional Information:

http://www.cdc.gov/childdevelopment

1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) http://www.cdc.gov/info

Warm Weather Safety Tips for Children

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Ah, summer! That is a word that every kid knows and loves. Warm weather means outdoor fun — swimming, baseball, riding bikes, and jumping on trampolines. Summer, from a kid’s point of view, ranks right up there with Christmas — and it lasts longer!

You get the picture. Kids love summer, and summer was made for kids. You want your kids to love every minute of their summer vacations, and the best way to do that is to take the steps needed to prevent accident and injuries from happening. Nothing brings summer fun to a sudden halt faster than a trip to the emergency room!

Safety Tip #1: Put layers of protection around your backyard pool, whether it is an above ground or in-ground pool. The pool is a major attraction to kids — your own, and every kid within several blocks. Place barriers completely around the pool. Install door and pool alarms and certainly carefully monitor the children when they are in the pool.

Safety Tip #2: Make rules about using the trampoline and enforce them. NO SOMERSAULTS, AND ONLY ONE CHILD ON THE TRAMPOLINE AT A TIME! Be sure that there is a shock absorbing pad that completely covers the springs. Small children and those under six should not be allowed to jump on a full-size trampoline.

Safety Tip #3: Safety equipment (helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads) should always be worn when children are skating, riding bikes, skateboarding, horseback riding, riding scooters, or riding all-terrain vehicles.

Safety Tip #4: Remove all places that children might choose to hide during a game of hide-and-seek, like old cedar chests, latch-type freezers and refrigerators, iceboxes in campers, clothes dryers, and picnic coolers. These kinds of things can become deadly for children who get trapped in them.

The most important safety tip for parents to keep their kids safe during the summer months is to use plain old common sense! Light-colored loose clothing, plenty of fluids, sunscreen, and make sure an adult provides supervision of children at all times.

 

The information that provided on this Site is provided as general information only. For specific information and advice, you should contact a qualified professional.

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Traveling with Children

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Traveling with small children is not an activity for the faint of heart, the disorganized, or those who are short on patience. It takes courage, planning, and patience to travel with children safely and even pleasantly.

First, it is wise to recognize the fact that your young child likes his comfort zone. He knows what to expect. There aren’t many unexpected and unpleasant surprises while he is in his own home. When he is taken out of his comfort zone, he does not know what to expect. He is excited, but he is also anxious and even fearful of the unknown. So here are some good ideas about traveling with small children:

  1. Prepare the child for the trip. Kids do hate surprises no matter what they say. A surprise, they quickly learn, can be a good thing, but it is not necessarily a good thing. Kids like sameness. So begin to prepare your child for going on a trip. Read his stories about riding in a car or a train or an airplane. Prepare him as best you can for what he will experience.
  2. Plan for the child’s physical needs. If he usually has juice and a little snack at a certain time, prepare to give him that snack at the usual time. Maintain the child’s eating and sleeping schedule as much as you can, and preparation will help you to do that.
  3. Plan for the child’s intellectual needs. Kids are not going to sit quietly with their little hands folded in their laps. A child’s work is his play. That is the way he is leaning about the world, and he needs his tools (toys) for learning.
  4. Keep the child belted into a restraint system at all times. It does not matter whether you are traveling by car, train, or plane, accidents happen. Provide your child with as much protection as you possibly can, no matter whether he complains or not.

The information that provided on this Site is provided as general information only. For specific information and advice, you should contact a qualified professional.

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How to Choose & Use Sunscreen

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With all the sunscreens available these days (organic or mineral? water-resistant or sweat-resistant? lotion or spray?), choosing the right one for your kids can be tricky. But what matters most when picking a sunscreen is how well it protects skin from UV rays.

Learn How to Choose – Listen Below

 

Link to Full Article: KidsHealth – How to Choose & Use Sunscreen http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sunscreen.html#

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SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths

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Approximately 3,500 infants die annually in the United States from sleep-related deaths, including SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, ill-defined deaths, and accidental suffocation and strangulation.  In 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for creating a safe sleep environment.  Below, is an abbreviated list and circumstances that increase the risks of SIDS.

AAP recommendations on creating a safe sleep environment include:

  • Place the baby on his or her back on a firm mattress or safety-approved crib or bassinet with a tight-fitting sheet.
  • Avoid use of soft bedding, including crib bumpers, blankets, pillows and soft toys. The crib should be bare.
  • Room-sharing decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent. Share a bedroom with parents, but not the same sleeping surface, preferably until the baby turns one but at least for the first six months.
  • Infants who are brought into the bed for comfort or feeding should be returned to their crib or bassinet when the parent is ready to go to sleep
  • Sitting devices, such as car seats, strollers, swings infant carriers, and infant slings are nor recommended for sleeping, particularly for young infants.
  • Avoid baby’s exposure to smoke, alcohol and illicit drugs.
  • Have skin to skin contact with your baby for at least one hour after birth
  • Supervise your child during awake-only tummy time.  Tummy time helps a baby develop muscle control and avoid
  • Couches and armchairs are very dangerous places for infants.
  • The safest place for an infant to sleep is on a separate sleep surface designed for infants – placed close to the parent’s bed

Circumstances that have been shown to increase the risks of SIDS;

  • Parents or caregivers that smoke.
  • Smoking by mother during pregnancy
  • Preterm infants or low birth weight.
  • Bed sharing of soft surfaces – waterbeds, sofas, or
  • Additional individuals are sharing a bed.
  • Parents have consumed alcohol or sedating drugs.
  • The infant is sharing a bed with someone who is not a parent.

To review the report and complete guidelines, click the following link:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2016/10/20/peds.2016-2938

 

Zika Virus

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Zika is a disease caused by the Zika virus, which is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. It can also be spread by a man to his male or female sex partners during sex. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected. However, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects. Once a person has been infected, he or she is likely to be protected from future infections.

Potty Training Tools & Tips

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Using a visual chart to record each time your child uses the potty is a great way to reinforce a child’s potty training progress.  Allow your child to place a mark or sticker on the chart after each successful visit to the bathroom.

Click each image to download a free potty training chart for your child.

Potty Training Tips from folks like you…parents!

What To Do About A Toddler Biting And Kicking

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While it can be embarrassing, frustrating, and sometimes frightening, for the most part, this type of behavior by toddlers is a normal phase that they all pass through. It is a part of their growth and development and usually results from frustration at not being able to express themselves, whether he wants a toy, or wanting your attention.

The phase can begin anywhere from 14 months and up, but tends to be more noticeable when the child is exposed to others, which could mean in a child care center or social setting. Even children who are linguistically advanced for their ages, are still children, and will be prone to the same frustrations as others.

The first rule of thumb is not to overreact. While there are different schools of thought on spanking, this is not a situation where it is appropriate, and can only add fuel to the fire. A time-out is in order, generally about two minutes worth in a chair where they cannot stomp on the floor, or kick anything. This also gives you a chance to calm down. During the time-out, do not speak to them, but do explain when you sit them down, that this time-out is because they have bit/hit/kicked someone and that is not allowed.

When the time is up, explain to them again, that the behavior is not acceptable, because it hurts other people. It is not of much use to ask them how they would feel if someone bit them since a toddler is unlikely to be able to relate cause and effect, then apply it to themselves. However, a non-confrontational “punishment”, and explanation, tells them what they did wrong, and what will happen if they do it again.

If they repeat the action, take them back for another time-out. Depending on the age of the child, you can explain the concept of apologies, and why they should make one. Use positive reinforcement by praising them for an apology (even if it comes as a kiss), or for giving their toy to the child they kicked.

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