,

How to Handle Separation Anxiety in Toddlers

mom, love, kiss

It\’s normal for your child to cry when you leave, but it\’s still upsetting. Leaving your child is never easy, and it\’s even more difficult if they call and clings to you every time you go. Separation anxiety, on the other hand, is a standard part of growing up. It\’s a sign of a child\’s attachment to his parents. Finally, this strong sense of security will aid your child\’s development into an intelligent toddler.

When Does Separation Anxiety Start in Toddlers?

Separation anxiety can be traced back to cognitive development. During the first few months of life, your baby has no idea that they are self-sufficient. That\’s why young babies jump from one lap to the next with ease.

Your baby, however, starts to differentiate between people around the age of eight months, and he develops deep emotional attachments to his caregivers. They are also learning about object permanence which means that objects and people (including Mom and Dad) continue to exist even though she can\’t see them. When you combine all of these developmental advancements, you have the perfect formula for separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety in children usually begins between the ages of 8 and 14 months. It can show up when you\’re dropping your child off at daycare—or even when you\’re just going to the bathroom. Separation anxiety resurfaces about 15 months, just as it seems Baby is slowly adapting. This time, though, it\’s a little different: your child knows that you\’re going somewhere else when you go, but she has no idea whether you\’ll be gone for a minute or forever.

Factors That Affects Separation Anxiety

Your child\’s reaction rate is determined by their disposition. Other considerations come into play as well: Infants who have been introduced to caregivers other than their parents at an early age are more likely to cope with separation in later months. If you are leaving your baby tired, hungry, or sick, she would most likely give you a hard time.

Tips for Separation Anxiety in Toddlers

Although your baby\’s cries can persuade you to cancel your plans, doing so would exacerbate the situation the next time you need to leave. Here\’s what you can do to console your baby.

Practice separation: Play peekaboo to reinforce the idea that you\’ll still return to make break less of a shock. You may also send stuffed animals or dolls on mini-adventures before returning them to your child. Finally, consider leaving him with someone he knows and trusts for a few brief periods—a half hour to an hour. Try a babysitter until he sees that you still return (and that the other caregivers are all friendly and loving).

Develop a goodbye ritual: Routine is particularly relevant for younger babies. Build a farewell routine that will relax both of you while also preparing Baby for separation. Just before you step out the door, sing a little song, give your child a hug and kiss, or wave. Discover what works best for you and stick with it.

Resist sneaking out. Trying to leave while the child isn\’t looking or running out when the child is engaging in an activity without saying goodbye is a significant mistake. The child may become nervous or distressed because she did not have the opportunity to say goodbye or kiss goodbye. 

Don’t draw out leaving: Don\’t be shocked if your baby cries when you go; it\’s normal and safe. A solid emotional base is the ability to be conscious of and articulate one\’s feelings. That does not, however, imply that you should postpone your departure. Trying to console him would likely only add to his suffering. Instead, hug and kiss your child and tell him you love him before handing him over to the caregiver. He\’ll stop crying eventually, and you\’ll stop feeling bad.

Control your emotions. Keep back the tears, as tricky as it might be—at least before you get to the car. If your child sees you sad, he will become even more anxious.

Plan a fun reunion: The importance of happy reunion rituals in strengthening the parent-child bond and reducing separation anxiety cannot be overstated. If she approaches you when you arrive, give her a big hug and stay with her for a few minutes before returning inside. Get down and play with her for a few minutes if she waves a toy. These happy returns teach your child that no matter how sad it is for Mommy and Daddy to leave, it is still good when they return.

Always keep in Contact. It doesn\’t matter how often it tends to happen; your heart will break when your child cries when you leave. Checking in during the day isn\’t anything to be ashamed of. It will provide you with peace of mind and reduce your remorse about leaving.

Establish a tranquil bedtime. Dealing with nighttime separation anxiety in babies? Create a bedtime routine that involves stuff like a bath, reading, and a goodnight kiss. This will help Baby cope with the impending separation. You can also record yourself reading stories or singing lullabies and play it back for her when she\’s lonely or afraid.

Conclusion 

Children are developing, and they are growing attached to their parents or caregivers. Helping them understand how self-sufficient they are is a gradual process that you should rush. Separation anxiety can be corrected or avoided in children, follow our highlighted steps. We hope this could help; cheers!!

Read more

Skincare Tips for Baby Dry Skin

Just like adults, babies and children are susceptible to dry skin. In fact, in reality, children\’s skin is more vulnerable to dryness due to its fragility. In winter or freezing weather, the combination of cold, dry outdoor air and indoor heating can quickly dehydrate the skin. Often, if your baby has dry skin, it will be noticed on them as dry patches, particularly in the summer because of the sun, air conditioning, saltwater, and chlorine in pool water.

Skincare Tips for Baby Dry skin

  • Reduce bath time

Bathing dries up a baby\’s skin because it washes away all the dirt and the skin\’s natural oils. And frequent baths should not be a concern if you take a few precautions.

  • Reduce the bath time to about 9-11 minutes instead of 30-minute bath time. Use warm water instead of hot water. It\’s recommended that you use a fragrance-free or solvent-free cleanser, much gentler than the regular soap.
  • Allow your child to play in the tub before washing her so that she does not sit in soapy water. Bubble baths should ideally be eliminated from your child\’s daily routine, or at the very least limited to special occasions.
  • Although bath oils can seem to be a good idea, they may make the tub dangerously slippery, and the majority of the oil eventually drains. It is preferable to use an emollient (skin moisturizer) after bathing.
  • Apply Moisturizer

When you take your child out of the water, pat him dry quickly with a towel and apply moisturizer or baby lotion right away—using moisturizer or baby lotion as soon as your child gets out of the tub seals in the water that\’s already on his skin from the wash.

When it comes to moisturizers, the thicker, the better is a general concept. If your child\’s skin is still dry after using a baby lotion every day, consider switching to a thicker cream or ointment. (Ointments are good at retaining skin moisture, but they can be greasy.) Apply a small amount to the skin and gently rub it in. You can also use creams as they absorb quickly and not leave a greasy residue on the skin.

For proper baby skincare, you might also want to consider applying the moisturizer twice a day, once after bathing and once during the day.

  • Avoid Chlorine and Saltwater from drying on your Baby\’s skin

Chlorine and saltwater are also abrasive to the skin. Rinse your child\’s skin with tap water after a bath in the pool or the ocean, and then add body lotion while their skin is still moist.

  • Use a humidifier

Using a cool-mist humidifier in your baby\’s room if the air in your home is dry.

  • Keep your baby Hydrated

Moisture is lacking in dry skin. Ensure you supply your baby with enough water, as this will serve as a replacement for evaporated or lost water.

Remember that drinking a lot of water won\’t help if you don\’t moisturize as well. Experts compare it to pouring water into a bucket with a hole. Your baby\’s skin will not be adequately hydrated if there is no moisturizer to keep in the water.

  • Protect your baby\’s skin from Weather Elements

In extreme cold, make sure your child wears mittens or gloves to prevent her hands from being dry and blistered due to the cold and wind. Take precautions against windburn and sunburn, regardless of the season.

Conclusion

If your child\’s skin is susceptible, you might want to rinse his clothes twice to ensure that no soap residue remains. If your child\’s skin is vulnerable, avoid wearing too tight clothing or too rough. Bear in mind that some fabrics, such as wool, will irritate dry skin more than others. If scratching is a concern, be sure to keep your child\’s nails clean and short.

Read more

Vaginal Tears: What Your Doctor Didn\’t Tell You

avoid vaginal tears

Vaginal tears are one of the most common childbirth injuries women face, and it has caused so much trauma to women that most women fear experiencing it again. I have had encounters with nursing mothers and pregnant women (both new and experienced) that fear the trauma of going through frightening experiences due to childbirth injuries.

The truth is that vaginal tears would most likely be experienced by 97% of pregnant women; this is not because you cannot prevent it, but it\’s most likely because you have been doing it wrongly.

  1. Are you scared of not controlling your normal body functions as a result of perineal tears during childbirth?
  2. Do you involuntarily ease yourself as a result of vaginal tears?
  3. Have you tried all the necessary means, and you still end up with the same result?

How do I protect myself from Childbirth Injuries?

As a health specialist and writer, I want to share with you healthy, tested, and trusted solutions to prepare you for childbirth properly and to reduce the risk of vaginal tear during childbirth significantly.

I have been a health adviser for five years now and have written health articles on top health blogs, which have helped countless mothers develop physical and mental readiness for childbirth. Through my blog and pages, I have helped new moms understand the prerequisite needed for safe and injury-free delivery.

Here are some of the factors that can predispose a woman to childbirth injuries;

  • Ethnicity
  • Mother size relative to baby size
  • Mother pregnancy routines
  • Diet

The book I’m about to share with you have outlined detailed procedures to not only help you stay safe during childbirth but also to minimize the pain of delivery to the nearest minimum. The writer of this book (A professional Nurse and Midwife) have put together a series of enlightening activities that can help you prepare your body for birth and reduce the risk of vaginal tear significantly.

For more information on how to experience a safe childbirth process, free of hurts or pains, how to protect yourself from vaginal tears during childbirth, and how to ensure a healthy mum and child, Get This Book Now.

Read more

5 Simple & Fun Ways To Document Your Pregnancy

pregnant woman lying on green grass fields

Are you pregnant?? Congratulations!!

Pregnancy is full of a lot of stories that can take a lot of efforts to remember and in most cases, remembering all the scenes doesn\’t happen. But hey, what if you could remember all, yes, like all, from the very day till the day you hold your baby in your hands? How?………Pregnancy Documenting!!

Probably you are wondering how to keep some memories from this beautiful adventure, and you are overwhelmed with the options and same-old looking pregnancy progress photos. These ideas will help you create memories of the exciting time. Pregnancy can be kind of a blur truthfully. At the onset, you’re worried, and also feeling nauseous wishing for weeks to fly till the delivery date so you can hold your cute baby in your arms. A time will come you will wish to experience pregnancy again. It’s a beautiful experience you would love to hold on to, unlike anything else you’ll ever experience.

Photo Journal

Having a pregnancy journal is a great way to document your thoughts if you want to keep more than images, wishes, pictures, and worries you had during pregnancy. Photos of your baby shower, gifts, memorable moments, preparation of the nursery, and your other pregnancy highlights (including documenting your cravings, of course!) should be taken.

Create a pregnancy blog

Women are happy and would love to share their pregnancy trials and tribulations with the world online. \”One important question to ask yourself before creating a blog is “why are you creating the blog.”

Create pregnancy keepsakes

A fun way to record or document your pregnancy is by Keepsakes, such as belly casting or pictures of your bump with belly paint or natural henna. A measuring tape can also make a great souvenir. Make marks on a tape measure to know how your belly grows month by month.

Check Out: How to Avoid Vaginal Injuries at Child Birth

Belly & Baby

A combination of belly & baby shows you document your growing baby and your growing belly simultaneously; it needs some artistic skills to pull off (Get a photographer or ask for help from a relative or friend with good photoshoot skills). The matching colors are vital to making it look good! It can also be turned into a pretty severe featuring images around the same color theme! This is a must-try!!

Chalkboard Updates

A combination of belly growth and a journal. To record every week, take a bit of time to pull this off; you can always opt for the shorter version and make it a monthly update instead. If you prefer taking pictures as a means to record pregnancy, then, by all means, go to a very reliable studio to book a package

Conclusion

Every pregnancy varies from the last or the next. Also, your way to document pregnancy will differ. Let your creativity flow through as you ponder about these suggestions. But feel free to juice it up a bit! Find the best and memorable way to remember all these precious memories. It will be interesting to tell your child about them one day when the time comes.

Read more

How to Treat Baby Sore Throat

how to treat sore throat

Sore or scratchy throats on their own are rarely a medical emergency, but for new and veteran parents alike, they can still be alarming. Your first move is to monitor and keep a close eye on the symptoms of your infant. Let the pediatrician know all of your baby\’s signs. This will help the doctor decide whether you need to bring your baby to be seen or whether you need to leave them at home to relax.

Common causes for sore throat in babies

In children, there are a variety of common causes of pain in the throat.

Common cold

In children, a sore throat is frequently caused by a respiratory infection like the common cold. Nasal irritation and a runny nose are the primary signs of a cold. These may be in addition to the symptoms of the sore throat you find in your baby. On average, as their immune system grows and matures, babies may have up to seven colds in their first year of life. If you suspect a chill in your kid, you might want to consider keeping them from child care at home if:

They\’ve got a fever; A common rule of thumb, and a rule in most child care centers, is to keep your baby home when they have an active fever and after the fever breaks for an additional 24 hours.

They seem awkward; Consider holding them home if your child is crying a lot or seems, unlike their usual selves. You\’ll want to review the policies of the center where your child attends daycare. They may have unique conditions to keep sick kids at home.

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis, or inflamed tonsils, may be experienced by babies. Usually, tonsillitis is caused by a viral infection. If your baby has tonsillitis, feeding/swallowing anything might not be of interest to them. Also, they may:

  • have problem swallowing
  • drool often than normal
  • fever
  • a scratchy and loud cry

Your pediatrician may prescribe acetaminophen for infants or ibuprofen for infants, if necessary. If your baby is consuming solids already, they would need to stick to soft foods.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Diseases of the hand, foot, and mouth are caused by different viruses and are common in children under 5. A fever, sore throat, and mouth pain may be symptoms. Your baby can also have sores and blisters in her mouth. These can make swallowing difficult. A rash of red bumps and blisters will possibly even be seen on the hands, feet, lips, or buttocks of your infant. If required, your pediatrician may suggest fluids, rest, and infant acetaminophen or infant ibuprofen.

Diseases of the hand, foot, and mouth are very infectious. Keep your child home until the rash has healed, which can take 7 to 10 days, from child care facilities. Even if they are no longer acting like they\’re still sick after a few days, they’ll continue to be infectious until the rash has fully healed.

Strep throat

A type of tonsillitis that is caused by a bacterial infection is strep throat. While it is rare in children under three years of age, it is still a potential cause of throat pain.

A fever and very red tonsils can include symptoms of strep throat in infants. You can even find that their neck has swollen lymph nodes. Contact your pediatrician if you think your baby has strep throat. To diagnose it, they should carry out a throat culture. They can prescribe, if necessary, antibiotics.

When do you inform your Pediatrician?

If your child is younger than three months of age, call your pediatrician for the first symptoms of a sore throat, such as refusing to eat or remaining fussy after feeding. There is no fully developed immune system for newborns and infants under three months, so their pediatrician will want to see or track them. If your child is over three months old, call your pediatrician if, in addition to appearing to have a sore or scratchy throat, they have other symptoms, including:

  • Unusual Cry
  • High temperature (100.4°F (38°C))
  • Persistent cough
  • Not wetting diapers as usual
  • Ear pain
  • Rash on their hand, mouth, torso, or buttocks

If you need to bring your baby in to be seen, or if you can leave them at home and try home remedies and rest, your pediatrician would be better able to decide. You will also be consulted by the pediatrician on whether your child should be kept home from child care and how long they could be infectious.

If your baby is having trouble swallowing or breathing, always seek emergency medical attention right away. If they have unusual drooling, you can also seek emergency medical attention, which could mean they\’re having difficulty swallowing.

Home Sore Throat Remedies for Babies

Here are some home remedies that may be helpful for an infant with a sore throat.

Humidifier

It can help alleviate sore throat symptoms by setting up a cool-mist humidifier in the baby\’s room. If your baby has a stuffy nose, it can help them breathe better with the humidifier.

Set the humidifier away from your baby so they won\’t touch it, but they can feel the effects close enough. Hot-water vaporizers are and should not be used as a burn hazard. To prevent bacteria or mold from developing, you\’ll want to clean and dry your humidifier each day. It can make your baby sick. Until your baby\’s symptoms improve, you should use a humidifier, but let your pediatrician know if your baby isn\’t feeling better after a few days.

Suction (for three months to one year)

Babies are not in a position to blow their noses. You may use a suction bulb instead to suck out nasal mucus. To make it easier to remove it with suction, saline drops can help loosen up the mucus.

Frozen liquids (for older babies)

You may want to give them a frozen treat to soothe their sore throat if your baby has already started with solids. In a baby Popsicle mold, consider feeding your baby a formula Popsicle or frozen breast milk. Observe them look for signs of choking as they try this frozen treat.

Conclusion

Sore throats in babies are not meant to scare parents, but they should be treated with urgency. One quick way to ensure your baby is safe is to maintain hygiene all-around your baby and their surroundings. In most cases, babies are susceptible to infections via their immediate environment.

Read more

How to Avoid Vaginal Injuries at Child Birth

Vaginal Injury

Around 90% of women experience vaginal injuries (tearing) that occur during labor. Also, minor tears are so widespread and recover quickly that it seems to be a natural part of the birth process. Yet, during birth, most women fear tearing and want to stop it at all costs. Although certain vaginal tearing can be challenging to prevent, the risk of severe vaginal trauma can be lowered.

Factors that Causes Vaginal Injuries (vaginal tear) at Birth

The baby\’s head descends into the vagina during the second stage of labor and passes down onto the perineum. The perineal skin (the region between your anus and vagina) must be thin and spread over the head of your baby. The labia and vaginal opening begin to bulge as the baby\’s head starts to crown and extend around the head. A tear will happen if the skin and perineum have not stretched enough. Factors that increase the likelihood of vaginal injuries are:

  • Big baby
  • First birth
  • Ethnicity
  • Baby posterior positioning
  • Increased weight gains in pregnancy
  • First vaginal birth

Categories of Vaginal Injuries (Vaginal Tear)

Perineum tears or lacerations are categorized into four groups.

  • First and second-degree tears are the most common. When the skin is torn, a first-degree laceration occurs, but it is considered minor and does not require any or just a few stitches. Skin and muscle beneath are involved in a second-degree tear and typically require some stitches.
  • A break in the vaginal skin, perineal skin, and muscle that spreads to the anal sphincter (muscle around your anus) are third-degree lacerations. Except that it reaches into the anal sphincter and the tissue surrounding it, a fourth-degree tear is the same as a third-degree one. Both may affect the role of the pelvic floor and anal muscles.

It is impossible to predict which women will have a tear, but if it happens, there are things you can do to minimize the chance of a tear or the extent of an incision. If you don\’t want to take the chances of an injury, take advantage now and enroll in our short but very effective program on Avoiding Vaginal Injuries at Childbirth.

How to avoid tearing during birth

Here are some suggestions to reduce the chances of vaginal tearing during birth:

  •  Prepare your body

It sounds easy, but it is a must to ensure that your body is prepared for labor. Not only is work a peak performance of the body (think running endurance), parts of the body will do things they have never done before.

We certainly need to include some form of exercise in our daily routine during pregnancy, given the amount of time modern women spend sitting and not moving. Exercise increases circulation, which improves the elasticity of the skin in turn. Improving the flow of blood by orgasm to the perineum and vagina may also enhance the health of tissues.

Your skin and muscle health is improved by good nutrition and hydration. Many good fats are included, especially omega-3s (from fish, chia seeds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds) and grass-fed or free-range lean protein.

Nutrients such as vitamin E, vitamin C, and zinc can be found in a wide variety of vegetables that complete a balanced diet. These will have the capacity of your body to stretch during and heal after labor.

  • Pelvic floor exercises

Popular advice for pregnant women is to do exercises on the pelvic floor (known as Kegels) to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. The principle is that the pelvic floor muscles will snap back into place after birth, and you are less likely to experience incontinence (wetting yourself).

You want the pelvis and vagina to open during the second stage of labor and the muscles to relax, optimizing the baby\’s space to descend. Spending all this time tightening the muscles in that region seems counterproductive when we want the opposite to happen at the critical moment. What\’s the best thing to do, then?

Using squats and pelvic floor exercises together, it is possible to expand and strengthen the alignment of the pelvic floor muscles with the other muscles in the body. It is also essential to learn to relax the pelvic muscles, and performing pelvic floor exercises will help you recognize those muscles and then relax them.

  • Labour in water

The perfect picture of relaxation is immersing yourself in a big hot bath. Warm water has a multitude of advantages at work. There were no variations in tearing between birthing in water than land in a Study in 2009. Still, many midwives and women swear by warm water softening perineal tissues and relieving the crowning\’s discomfort phase.

Interesting Read: 5 Simple & Fun Ways To Document Your Pregnancy

  • Birth position matters

When pushing, the place you are in has a significant effect on whether you are more likely to tear. Lying back, lithotomy position or semi-reclining positions place pressure on the tailbone and perineum, decrease the pelvic floor\’s size, and increase the risk of tearing.

The best place for your baby to be born is the one you naturally want for yourself and feel most secure in. The role that helps them cope with contractions at each stage will be identified by women who are free to move about during work. Some women prefer to float in water free of gravity; others like to keep their feet fixed firmly on the ground. Birthing positions that reduce perineum stress include:

  • On all fours, on hands and knees.
  • Leaning forward in an aided standing, crouching, or sitting position
  • Lying on your side.

Although squatting and kneeling are helpful upright positions, the perineum is extended sideways if the woman\’s knees are very wide apart and can increase the risk of tearing.

  • Perineal massage

Perineal massage will help a woman become acquainted with her own body and trust her ability to stretch and give birth to the child. If you are not familiar with the perineal massage concept, note that it is not a must. Although it decreases the risk of perineal trauma, the reduced risk can appear to be due to a reduced chance of getting an episiotomy. Researchers are unsure why this is, but one hypothesis is that women are more motivated to prefer perineal massage to prevent an unwanted episiotomy. The risk of requiring stitches rises with episiotomies, so less chance of episiotomy indicates less risk of perineal trauma.

Conclusion

Vaginal tears (lacerations or perineum tears) are dreaded complications that often throw women off the idea of going through the birth process. With the right antenatal care, proper exercise regimen, and good massages, these occurrences can be avoided. The best type of birth experience is the one you are prepared for; speak with a birth specialist today.

Severe cuts or tears during birth can lead to complications, such as substantial blood loss and infections. In case you have any questions about AVOIDING INJURIES AT CHILDBIRTH, do feel free to ask, and we’d contact the creator of the Course on your behalf.

Read more

Bathing With Kids – What Parents Should Know

bath with babies

If the kid you\’re caring for is 2 or 12, bath time comes with things to bear in mind. If you\’re babysitting or nannying at night, make sure you share information beforehand with the parents about the kid\’s tub time routine to know what to expect and what to try to avoid.

Bath with Newborns 

Newborns are not ready for a bath, even one in the sink, till their umbilical-cord stump has fallen off. Until then, you should sponge bathe them every day, paying particular attention to their underarms, hands, skin folds, and bottoms. Only use a damp cloth and plain water while they\’re newborns. It would help if you started the bath routine after they lose their cord stumps.

You only need to give your baby a whole-body bath a couple of times a week; some of the critical things to keep in mind are: 

  • The first and most important rule is this: never, ever leave your infant or toddler, even for a minute, unattended. In less than an inch deep, infants can drown. So, before you start, collect all the supplies you will need (soap, towels, clean diapers, clean clothes, etc.). Always hold your baby with at least one hand while he\’s in the water. Scoop your baby in a towel and take him with you if the doorbell or phone rings and you feel you have to answer it.
  • Ensure that the bathroom is warm and cozy (around 75 degrees F or 25 degrees C), as babies can get cold quickly.
  • When the water is still running, don\’t put your infant or toddler into a pool. (The temperature of the water might change, or the water could get too deep. For some infants, the sound of rushing water can also be too intense.)
  • Bathtubs can be incredibly slippery, so dress yours for more comfortable seating with a rubber bath pad. A cushioned spout cover or hand towel that is strategically covered will defend against painful bumps. Also, make sure the safety glass is made on any sliding glass shower doors.
  • Make the bathwater warm comfortably. To ensure it\’s not too hot, measure it with your wrist or the inside of your elbow. A much cooler tub is commonly favored by babies and toddlers than you probably do.
  • Fill the tub with just 2 to 4 inches of baby water and not more than waist-high for infants and kids while sitting.
  • Teach your child that they should not stand in the tub.
  • If you want to, wash your little one in water as long as you clean the diaper region and the skin folds nicely. Baby-soft skin can be dried out by soaps and shampoos and can cause rashes. Choose a gentle one tailored for newborns, and use it sparingly. Play at the beginning of the bath and save the soap and shampoo until the end to avoid making your child stay too long in soapy water.
Bath with Babies and Toddlers

Babies and Toddlers slowly switch from the sink or baby tub to the standard bathtub. Place the child gently in the water, dropping their feet first. To calm them, talk to them in long, low tones. Gently cleanse their face and hair once they are in, making sure to keep soap out of their eyes by carefully putting your hand over their forehead. 

Bath with Preschoolers 

Your child might wash their own body when they reach school age, but will certainly also need help with their hair. As they get more relaxed, let them take over more and more, but continue supervising them until they are mature enough to pick themselves up if they go under the water. Ensure that you review the procedure with parents if the older child is opposite to you in gender. The parent may have suggestions or privacy advice that will help them feel more secure for both you and the child.

At what age should you stop bathing with your Child? 

It is important to note that bathing with your children has to stop at some point as they are continually learning and are evolving by the day. It\’s a common belief that parents-kids bath times should stop when the child is around 2 years as at this stage of their life they become very intuitive. Although it can be quite hard as the parent-child bond is usually established at bath times like this, endeavor to cover up adequately, especially if the child is of the opposite sex. 

Conclusion

Bath time is a fantastic time to bond with children. Baths can be just as safe and pleasant as any other activity with a little planning.

Read more

Developmental Toys for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

developmental toys for toddlers

It\’s enticing to buy your babies the flashiest, most expensive toys; they should be the best, after all, right? That may be true in some cases; in others, not only will your little one be amused by the simplest toys, but they will also intensify their reasoning and help them develop better. These are some of the best developmental toys for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Developmental Toys for Babies 

Some examples of the best developmental toys for babies are; 

Bright Starts Oball Shaker: It\’s a teether, it\’s a rattle, and most importantly, a developmental toy children go nuts for. At either end, there are two easy-to-grab teething balls with a rattle packed with colorful beads that keep them together. When you move it in front of them, babies would be excited. They will shake, rattle, and roll it on their own when they get older. When those teeth begin to come in, they can even chew on it to find some relief. 

\"\"

Activity Gym Play Mat: It features various activities at every stage, along with lights, music, and colorful animals. This mat is built to help babies improve motor skills, both subtle and broad, from lying on their tummy to learning to sit all by themselves. Batteries are needed, but they are included in the package from the manufacturer, so it\’s good to go straight out of the box.  

\"\"

Skwish Classic Rattle and Teether Grasping Toy: For its versatility and the fact that kids love it, this toy makes our list of baby toys. It is a toy that is both a teether and a rattle, helping them develop fine motor skills, perception of color, and more. For tossing in the diaper bag, it\’s a decent size and super lightweight, and it\’s made out of wood instead of plastic. It\’s easy for baby fingers to grab and shake, and as the beads shift back and forth on the dowels and rattle, it fascinates babies. One primary attribute of this toy is its ability to return to its original shape even after been squished. 

\"\"

Developmental Toys for Toddlers 

Toddlers are slightly different from babies in terms of choices and ability and process some kind of information. Getting them toys that aid their learning process is critical. Some of the developmental toys for toddlers that would suit both boys and girls are; 

Little Tikes Basketball Goals: For toddlers, this is a fantastic basketball target and suitable for indoor or outdoor use. It\’s plastic, but it can be easily adjusted to six different heights and won\’t harm anyone crashing down accidentally. Though this may seem like a toy for boys, it would still sit well for girls. 

\"\"

Melissa and Doug (band in a box): Music is a beautiful tool for toddlers to promote language development. Music has also been shown to use several different parts of the brain and study essential language elements such as rhythm and rhyme. Finger playing, simple songs, and exposure to other musical instruments are all excellent ways to encourage the production of language. 

\"\"

Wooden Puzzle: Wooden puzzles are a perfect toy for children and help them improve cognitive abilities such as matching and spatial perception. The exact form of mystery will be based on your child\’s age and skill. The above puzzle is ideal for a 2-year-old, whereas a 3-year-old would be more suitable for starting jigsaw puzzles. 

\"\"

Developmental Toys for Preschoolers: 

These preschool toys can stimulate their imagination and creativity while improving fine motor skills, one of the most entertaining ages to purchase for. 

Cobblestone Farm: This large wooden playset, just like a real farm, comprises a barn, a hay wagon, and a tractor parking spot. The various pieces can be slotted together to create the farm of your dreams, built with small hands in mind. However, animals are purchased separately.

\"\"

Colourform Silly Face game: Centered around Charlie\’s Colorforms City, the hit Netflix series; this game is a race to see who can try to make the goofiest face. To land on a look and build up from there using the 68 bits, flick the spinner. Are you going to make a magician with cat ears or a scuba diver with a dumb hat? It\’s everyone\’s guess.  

\"\"

Kinetic Sand Sandifying Set: Do you know those oddly mesmerizing videos of cut or smooth textures being poured into soothing shapes? Your kid is the star now and can build their rewarding fun. Take your camera out and pick your equipment. To generate transfixing works of cinematography, you can dice, slice, squish, scoop, or grate your sand.

\"\"

Conclusion

Developmental toys are not meant for decoration, flashy, or attractive; the purpose is to enhance perception and cognitive ability development. So cut yourself some slack and don\’t drain your bank trying to get the most expensive toys for your kids. The simplest toys could make the most impact.

Read more

50 Positive Phrases that Motivate Kids to Do the Right Thing 

We think about how they talk to adults and their peers when we think about how children interact. The focus of this post is on the way kids communicate amongst themselves, their internal dialogue.

Just as much as anything else, kids need to be prepared with constructive self-talk. Everyone, of course, has different barriers and different conditions, but there are still many problems that young people face. Some common challenges, for instance, that most children face are:

  • Seeking acceptance from their peers
  • Seeking acceptance from their parents
  • Low self-esteem
  • Judgment from others
  • Absence of patience towards their goals
  • Misappropriation of social media
  • Pressure from society to be successful. 

While children develop their identity, challenge the world around them, and define their abilities when deciding the life they will lead, how they speak to themselves plays a significant role. With kids integrating many of the values, principles, favorite phrases, and so on of their parents, let\’s ensure that they also get their good dose of motivational quotes. 

The following are a few great motivational quotes for kids that should be read when they feel too vulnerable or depressed about something.

Here are 50 Positive phrases that motivate kids:

1. You can guide yourself in any direction you choose. – Dr. Suess

2. Nothing is challenging if you break it down into small jobs. – Henry Ford

3. The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. – Dr. Suess

4. It is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate. – George Burns

5. It’s good to have an end to journey toward, but it’s the journey that matters in the future. – Ursula K. LeGuin

6. Life itself is the most beautiful fairy tale. – Hans Christen Andersen

7. How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. – Anne Frank

8. Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning. – Diane Ackerman

9. Creativity is a natural extension of our enthusiasm. – Earl Nightingale

10. Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from doing what you can do. – John Wooden

11. We all can dance when we find the music we love. – Giles Andreae

12. You’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. – A.A. Milne/Christopher Robin

13. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. – Winston Churchill

14. Not only must we be good, but we must also be useful for something. – Henry David Thoreau

15. The more you give away, the happier you become. – Anonymous

16. Happiness Doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give. – Ben Carson

17. It’s not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters. – Epictetus

18. When you know better, you do better. – Maya Angelou

19. To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream, not only plan but also believe. – Anatole France

20. Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. – Theodore Roosevelt

21. You always pass failure on the way to success. – Mickey Rooney

22. Make each day your masterpiece. – John Wooden

23. Row, row, row your boat. Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream. – Alice Munro

24. Politeness is the flower of humanity. – Joseph Joubert

25. Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. – Edwin Hubbel Chapin

26. Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream, precedes the goal. – Pamela Vault Starr

27. To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle. – Walt Whitman

28. Time’s fun when you’re eating flies. – Kermit the Frog

29. No one is perfect – that’s why pencils have erasers. – Wolfgang Riebe

30. Never waste a minute thinking of anyone you don’t like. – Eisenhower 

31. Only surround yourself with people who will lift you higher. – Oprah Winfrey

32. Why fit in when you were born to stand out? – Dr. Suess

33. Climb every mountain, Ford every stream, Follow every rainbow, ‘Till you find your dream. – Sound of Music

34. We know what we are but do not see what we may be. – Shakespeare

35. Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do. – H. Jackson Brown

36. There is a voice inside of you. That whispers all day long; I feel this is right for me; I know that this is wrong. – Anonymous

37. The time is always right to do what is right. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

38. You always pass failure on the way to success. – Mickey Rooney

39. Pulling someone down will never help you reach the top. – Kushandwizdom

40. All your dreams can come true if you dare to pursue them. – Walt Disney 

41. Always chase your dreams instead of running from your fears. – Anonymous

42. Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning. – Diane Ackerman

43. We grow great by dreams. – Woodrow Wilson

44. Fall seven times, stand up eight. – Japanese Proverb

45. Manners easily and rapidly mature into morals. – Horace Mann

46. Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners. – Laurence Sterne

47. The test of good manners is to be able to put up pleasantly with bad ones. – Wendell Willkie

48. Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life. – Sophia Loren

49. Give the world the best you have, and the best will come to you. – Madeline Bridge

50.  Remember, happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely upon what you think. – Dale Carnegie

Read more

How Long Does it Take a Newborn to See Clearly?

newborn baby sight

Experiencing the growth of the senses is one of the many joys of having a newborn child. A baby is born with eye structures needed for vision but must learn how to use them together for sight. While newborns do not see quite clearly, they can see quite a bit. 

A newborn baby can sense light and motion at birth; they can later grow into differentiating faces and large forms. A baby will make eye contact and concentrate on items about 12 inches off by the end of the first month.

How Newborns See Colours 

Babies can notice highly contrasting items, such as black and white patterns, checkerboards, and other opposing pairs of colors. Be sure to give your baby several different colorful and highly contrasting things to look at, as this will help develop your baby\’s sight quicker. 

Your baby was in a dark setting while in the womb, but they have been able to distinguish between light and dark since birth. For a moment, your baby will not see all colors, but their color vision will rapidly improve. It is not clear how many colors they will see, but they would most likely not be able to see florals or brighter colors until they are about 2 or 3 months old. As their sense of depth increases, they can concentrate on objects up to 3 feet away and observe movement around them. If you move or rattle a few inches from their face from side to side, they will follow it with their eyes, an ability known as tracking.

Newborns Nearsightedness/ Temporary myopia 

Newborn infants are extremely nearsighted, which means that objects that are far away are blurry. A newborn has, in fact, little ability to concentrate further than 6 or 10 inches away. This myopia may explain why babies seem to look at objects nearby. Research has shown that infants enjoy looking at faces, but they may not see a lot of facial detail. Your baby may seem to focus on your face attentively, but they are possibly studying your hairline or your face outline. Isn\’t that just beautiful? 

Even though your baby can identify objects that are near to them, it takes more time for depth perception to improve. The eyes become capable of working together to form a three-dimensional view of the world by around the third to fifth month.

Newborn vision Pointers 

An infant is unable to see fine details, but their eyesight will quickly improve as they grow. When their sense of sight grows and they continue to be conscious of their surroundings, you can find vision pointers. Your baby\’s sight will be their most potent sense when they are six months of age. Some kids develop eyesight in six short months, which is better than some adults.

Put your baby\’s face about 6 to 10 inches away from yours during the early months. Your baby will be able to see the outline of your face, and their favorite thing to notice might probably be your face. A baby will begin recognizing facial features, such as the nose and mouth, by two to three months of age. Most babies may distinguish between the mother\’s face and the face of a stranger within three to five months. For the first year of life, a baby\’s eyesight begins to grow and improve.

The Takeaway

By the time your baby is 12 months old, your baby will be able to see pretty clearly, but their vision won\’t be formed entirely until their between 3 and 5 years old. Seek help from your child\’s healthcare practitioner if your baby is not watching things move or if they appear to have difficulty moving one or both eyes in any direction by the time they are four months of age. Their regular well-child checkups include simple vision tests, but until they are 3 to 5 years old, they probably will not have a standardized vision screening. 

Read more