I am the first one to say parenting is serious business. After all, I'm not only a mother and a grandmother, my work as an author is based on parenting as well. And like most parents, I focus on how and what my children learn, especially during their formative years. The formative years are the most important years in terms of the characteristics and traits they obtain and carry into their adult lives.Parents place an enormous amount of energy on...more
Newborn BabyAppearance: ContinuedThe infant's skull changes shape, during birth and labour, to fit through the birth canal, or vagina. This can sometimes cause the child to be born with a head that may differ somewhat from the norm, or be slightly elongated. Within a few days or weeks, it should return, of its own accord, to normal. Doctors normally advise that special exercises sometimes may assist in this process. Some newborns may be endowed...more
Newborn SensesContinuedAn interesting characteristic of a newborn infant is its quite unremarkable vision. In fact, it is only able to focus on a subject that is about 18 inches, or 45 cm, immediately in front of its face. An initial impression might point to the fact that this could create a problem. However, in reality, it is more than adequate for one of its most important emotional requirements, i.e. to look at its mothers eyes whilst breastfeeding. In this respect, the araeola describes the circular area of colored skin surrounding the nipple. One reason why the colour of the areola differs from that of the rest of the breast is that it is in the approximate region where the ducts of the mammary glands reside. A close inspection of the nipple of a mature human female will reveal the presence of several small openings arranged around the tip of the nipple, called lactiferous ducts, from where milk is released during lactation, which describes the secretion of milk from the mammary glands during feeding. Babies instinctively have a sucking reflex action which makes it easier for them to suck the nipple and swallow milk. It is possible for most mothers to breastfeed for anything...more
Breast or Bottle Feeding?Newborn babies don't need much food in the first three or four days of life. Breast-fed babies get minute quantities of creamy colostrum. Some bottle-fed babies are given sugar-water first in hospital; others are given formula from day one. Either way, it is the water part of those drinks that they need most. They probably...more
Childcare vouchers are issued by the government, to provide low-income individuals the opportunity for subsidized childcare. The vouchers depend on the amount of income a family has, and sometimes expenses that are extra-ordinary. The benefits are that a family is able to afford childcare, and work toward a better income. The purpose of a voucher...more
What to do when a child constantly wets the bed at nightthis is the common problem among parents of bed wetters. If you are one of them, you know how hard it is to deal with the situation, what with the smelly sheets and the embarrassment it will cause you and your child. Good thing, there are a number of techniques that you can use to solve the problems associated with bed wetting. * Keep the bed dry. Parents must take extra efforts to keep their children and their bed dry, especially if they are not ready yet to help in cleaning up the mess. You can make your kid wear youth diapers. As for the beddings, cover them with a waterproof and absorbent pad. * Restrict fluid intake. Be sure that your child does not drink too much liquid for at least one hour before going to bed. Also, food and drinks with caffeine such as chocolates, soda, and coffee are a no-no for your child because they trigger production of more urine in the body.* Enforce a strict toilet and bedtime routine. Train your child to pee in the toilet before he go to bed and right before he doze off. * Keep a pee calendar. Have your kid indicate on the calendar when he woke up at night to pee or when he had a dry night....more
Patience is a virtue, especially for parents of young bed wetters. While children cannot control bed wetting on their own, parents can do something to stop it. Parents can resort to some techniques at home without resorting to medications that not...more
It is natural for parents to feel disappointed when their kids would have night time accidents, especially if the children have been full potty trained. But it is important to understand that this is common and your child is not an isolated case....more
Can't think of anything to get that infant in your life? Or maybe the child is growing out of infancy and approaching toddlerhood. No matter the case, one thing a child can't have to much of is books. Books are the cornerstone of any child's...more
Do you remember when you were a kid and your parents or grandparents would give you a gift? Even if it was the best gift in the world, it wasn't Christmas or a birthday if it was just one gift. You wanted several gifts. The more the merrier, right?...more
The first place you should look in purchasing baby chicks is a farm supply store. Most of the farm supply stores carry different breeds and more than likely have the breed of baby chicks you are looking for. Mediterranean's are small but are...more
When shopping for kids, you can easily go overboard. You want to get toys and other things that light up and that make noise and play music, anything that will keep the kid entertained. However, whether you're shopping for one child or for several,...more