Laurel Levine asked:


Have you read about this recently?

An extensive collection of the best skin creams includes creams with all-natural ingredients, as well as a few products that also contain certain man-made chemicals. Among that collection, one can expect to find the best natural skin care cream. Such a cream undoubtedly has the ability to moisturize the skin. What other characteristics does it possess?

The best natural skin care cream can treat the skin of both young and old. After all, some skin conditions, such as eczema, arise among those who are in the first year or two of life. When babies and toddlers have dry, chapped skin, they need one of the best skin creams. They benefit from the availability of a top quality, natural cream.

The skin of a baby or a toddler should not be covered with a cream that contains hydroxy acids. The cream used on a baby or a toddler should never promote the exfoliation of healthy skin cells. Natural creams provide parents with the best way to deal with dry skin, whenever a small child has extremely dry skin.

The creams that work best on the skin of an aging adult require a different set of ingredients. This article will focus on the sort of ingredients one should look for in a skin care product, if that product is going to be used to treat aging skin.

The aging of skin results from exposure to sunlight, sunlight that contains both UVA and UVB rays. The UVB rays act directly on the DNA in the skin cells. The UVA rays induce the formation of oxygen radicals, substances that can trigger certain biochemical reactions inside the cell.

The biochemical reactions triggered by oxygen radicals fail to defy the effects of aging in the way that the best skin creams can defy the appearance of those same telltale aging effects. Even the best natural cream can serve as the source of a complex biological ingredient. In a natural skin care product, that ingredient has usually been extracted from a plant.

Aging skin has a thicker dermis than the skin of a child. Aging skin displays in its basal layer unusually large keratinocytes. Aging skin shows a loss of cell polarity, the feature that provides a cell with structure and shape. A skin cream with the proper biological ingredients can rectify the conditions associated with aging skin.

A good skin care product, at least a good product for the care of aging skin, encourages treated skin cells to produce both collagen and elastin. Those two proteins restore to skin cells their firmness and flexibility. Those two proteins are found in all healthy skin cells. Collagen helps a skin cell to demonstrate the needed level of firmness. Elastin gives to healthy skin its characteristic elasticity.

Skin that lacks collagen can sag and wrinkle. Collagen can serve as a treatment for sagging skin. Yet skin that lacks elastin fails to return to its original position, even when treated with beneficial collagen. The words “collagen” and “elastin” should not be forgotten by those who go in search of the best skin care cream.

Once an educated consumer has located and identified such a cream, he or she can feel confident that the identified cream does more than to fill-in the lines and wrinkles on any region of aging skin. The user of the carefully chosen cream can expect to have skin with a more youthful color and firmness. The user of a well-chosen cream can anticipate seeing a more youthful-looking face in the mirror.

peter radford asked:


Insight

A baby may be referred to as an infant at the earliest stage in its development, in particular before the walking phase is reached. In essence, it applies to an infant who is less than one year old.

An infant that is less than one month old is referred to as a newborn baby or a neonate. Once an infant has begun to walk, or around the age of one year, it is then referred to as a toddler.

Overview

The term toddler is commonly applied to a young child who is in the process of learning to walk, or toddle. This phase is generally regarded as representing the second stage in the child’s development, that of infancy being the first. This stage is normally reached between the ages of 12 months and 36 months.

During this second stage, the child rapidly develops the social skills required as well as the ability to move itself about. Prior to toddling, an unsteady form of walking, the child may go through the instinctive motions of trying to walk whilst holding onto nearby objects for support. The development of this second phase can vary from one child to another.

Accordingly, it is not uncommon for a toddler to become accomplished in certain skills, such as walking, well before other skills, such as talking, are mastered. Furthermore, children of similar age within the same family may develop particular skills at markedly different periods of time.

Around the age of two years, many infants portray behavioural characteristics which encompass outbursts of temper. In fact, depending upon the child and its surroundings, this phase can be reached as early as nine months old.

At this time in its development, the child has realised that it can venture beyond the realms of its mother and into a new and undiscovered environment which it instinctively must investigate.

From the age of two years to around five years of age, the infant is seeking to assert its new-found independence, a search that will ultimately continue well into its teens. During this period, it is therefore important that the boundaries for this investigation are clearly defined, as well as instilling into the child those behavioural aspects that are acceptable and those which cannot be allowed to go unchecked.

Whist they are toddlers, there should be a strong emphasis on toilet training, which refers to the process whereby a young child is encouraged to rely less and less on nappies and, instead, to use the toilet for the purpose of ********* and **********. Depending on the individual child, this stage can start as early as 17 months.

Conversely, some infants are not in a position to begin toilet training until they are three years of age.

At the age of about 18 months, the vocabulary of a toddler will increase markedly with some learning as many as 8 new words a day.

Even when a toddler is able to walk, they are still accompanied by a buggy, or pushchair, for those occasions when they may feel tired, or simply to move them along faster to their destination.

 

Peter Radford writes Articles with Websites on a range of subjects, under the heading: Subject - How To Succeed. Babies & Toddlers Articles cover Overview, Care, Development Stages 12-36 Months. Website has many more.

View his Website at: babies-and-toddlers-how-to-succeed.com

View his Blog at: babies-and-toddlers-how-to-succeed.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marvin J Markus asked:


our toddler safe is one of your most important jobs as a parent of a young child. It can also be one of the hardest jobs you have because toddlers naturally get themselves into a lot of dangerous situations due to their curiosity and lack of understanding of what is unsafe.

Follow these tips to make sure that your toddler is safe wherever he is:

1. Always be careful to check the area to make sure that it is “childproof.”This means constantly checking, not just once! Remember that things change. It can be the smallest thing that you may not notice that gets your toddler into a dangerous situation. Remember that toddlers are unpredictable and extremely curious. They may be interested in things that you wouldn’t even notice. That’s part of the wonder of childhood, but it’s also a big part of the danger of childhood!

2. Don’t let your attention be diverted away from your toddler when you are using cleaning products, electrical appliances, medicines, or anything else that may be hazardous to your toddler. You must realize that it only takes a few seconds for your toddler to get into big trouble with something like this. For example what if you are using a household cleaner and the doorbell rings. If you leave the cleaning materials unattended for even a moment while you go get the door, your child could be into them and cause a very serious problem in that short amount of time.

3. It’s important to be particularly alert of your toddler’s activities during very stressful times. It’s during these times that we let our minds get preoccupied with other things. It’s during these times that the worst accidents can occur. You have to stay alert!

4. You must never leave your toddler alone anywhere. Not in your house, not in the backyard, nowhere! You should also not leave your toddler alone in a room unless it’s absolutely 100% safe. And even if you do leave your child alone in such a room, do not leave them alone with another young child under age 5 or a pet.

5. You should be familiar with basic first aid procedures and with CPR.

6. Safety doesn’t mean your child can’t play. When your child is in a safe place let them “experiment” with their toys and with things that are safe. Children do need to learn from their mistakes. As long as those mistakes are not dangerous, they are OK to make.

7. Always set a good example for safety. Your child is more likely to do what you do than to do what you say. If you tell your child to be safe but then you regularly do things that are unsafe, they will certainly learn to ignore your words and to follow your actions.

8. Make sure your toddler knows that “hot” means very dangerous. You can make sure your child knows this by letting them touch something that is uncomfortably hot, but not so hot it can actually hurt them. Children learn best by doing, they need to know that hot is bad at a very young age to avoid an unthinkable tragedy.

9. You should always remind your child of the dangers of sharp objects whenever they see you using a knife, scissors, or anything else sharp. Let them know that only adults like you ever use knives and other sharp things. Let them know that they are extremely dangerous.

10. Have your child practice with steps. Steps can be very dangerous for a young child and it’s tempting to block them off from steps entirely. But they are better off learning how to use them in a safe way. Let them practice with just three steps at a time. Use a gate to keep them from going any farther.

Paul Banas asked:


Pink Eye is an eye infection where the white part of the eye and the inner eyelids become red, causing itching, swelling, eye discharge, and irritation. The scientific name for Pink Eye is ‘conjunctivitis’. This condition is also referred to as ‘red eye.’

Some of the typical reasons for toddlers to get affected with Pink Eye are:

• Bacterial infection of the eye

• Viral infection of the eye

• Eye allergy

• Dust and smoke

Nearly all of these infections affect both the eyes. Moreover, the infection does not last too long. It is usually cured within 24 hours of treatment.

Note: In some cases, the infection may be contagious. You need to consult your doctor to find out if it is contagious.

General Treatment for Pink Eye:

• For Bacterial/Viral Conjunctivitis: Antibiotics such as topical drops or ointments are useful in curing this type of Pink Eye

• For Allergic Conjunctivitis: Allergy medications such as Alocril, Patanol etc. can help in quick recovery

Some Do’s:

• Whenever there is any eye discharge, take a warm moist cloth and wipe the discharge immediately—this will help reduce the irritation your toddler may be undergoing.

• If the infection is contagious, make sure you wash your hands after having touched the eye or its discharge.

• Discourage your toddler from rubbing the infected eye frequently.

Care for your Baby’s Eyes

• Ensure that your baby has a well-balanced diet.

• Have your child’s eyes regularly checked by your pediatrician or eye doctor.

• Protect your child’s eyes from the sun. You may opt for getting your baby to wear special protective lenses while in the sun.

• Always have a mobile or other interesting moving objects near your baby’s crib.

• While speaking to your baby encourage your child to look at you. Make gestures with your hands and walk around to motivate your baby to keep looking at you.

• Encourage crawling as it helps the child to master coordinate the eyes and the movement of hands.

• Hold out toys at varying lengths and motivate your child to reach out and grasp them.

Benedict Smythe asked:


The first day of school is never easy especially for young preschoolers. It is a period of adjustment for both parent and child. At this time, the parent is responsible for making it easier for the child to adjust in the new environment and accept the new situation of his or her daily life.

Here are some childcare tips on how a parent can help his or her child adjust on the first day.

• Choose the childcare centre that caters to children’s needs and will help develop their intellectual, physical and emotional abilities. Visit the centre and observe classes to know how educators or childcare providers handle children.

• Explain the situation. A child needs to understand that the childcare centre is for his or her benefit.

• It is significant that trust is built between the parent and the child. The child must understand and feel that his or her parents are not choosing childcare to abandon him or her but rather to create an environment for new learning.

• Be enthusiastic when talking about the childcare centre. Children are most happy when they have playmates. But for some, they fear a large environment. The parent must know what his or her child prefers. This would also help the parent choose the right childcare centre.

• Arrange a visit to the childcare centre days before the first day. Show the child his or her classroom. A parent may also introduce the child to the teacher or some classmates to establish a bond.

• Prepare a daily routine and explain it to the child. The schedule should reflect time for waking up, dropping off and picking up from the centre and bedtime.

• Have a reliable communication with the childcare provider to share the child’s daily activities.

• On the actual first day, it is important for the parent to be with the child during the first few hours. In some cases, a child prefers that his or her parent stays until the session is finished. Let the child know the time for the parent to leave. It is not recommended that a parent leave once he or she feels that the child is enjoying the class. This would result to distrust and the child would be more anxious to go to the centre on the next days.

• Never forced a child to immediately bond with classmates or teacher. Be prepared for situations when the child just sit and watch. This is the child’s way of observing his or her surroundings.

• Be punctual on pickup time. A child would appreciate more if he or she sees his or parents once he or she goes out of the classroom. Punctuality provides security for the child. Take the extra time to talk to the childcare provider or teacher.

• On the way home, ask about his or her first day. It is important for a child to know that his or her parent is interested on how the day goes.

• Praise the child for a successful and happy first day. Praise feeds the emotional needs of children. This would let the child know that he or she has done well and taken the first steps to being responsible.

Eva Save-A-Lot asked:


A lot of times we don’t know a child is sick until days later when symptoms are more evident to the parent. With all the ‘bugs’ going around this winter, I am trying to figure out the best way to disinfect and clean my sons toys after finding out about such situations…

Part of the problem is that some toys are more easily cleaned than others. (due to the materials) I also try to use organic type cleaners when possible. Afterall, these toys end up in kids mouthes and I don’t want to put anything on the toy that I wouldn’t put in their mouths. Yes, I know… they eat dirt and pick things up off the floor to eat, but that is not a parents’ intention; it just happens… I also know kids need to get sick to build immunity, but some illnesses are better off avoided!! Mom is tired and there are still a couple months left of winter. Yikes.

Sven Ullmann asked:


The worse thing than childhood asthma is asthma in toddlers. Most children who have asthma developed the disease while they were still toddlers. With a reported 5 million American children suffering from asthma, 173 thousand of them hospitalized for severe symptoms and 864 thousand receiving emergency treatment annually, it is important that your toddler be evaluated for asthma as early as possible.

Since it is more difficult to diagnose asthma among infants and toddlers, it would be best to look for signs or symptoms that characterize the disease. Many cases of asthma deaths were due to the parents’ failure to recognize the severity of the toddler’s condition. Common colds and respiratory diseases such as bronchitis can exhibit asthma-like symptoms. But this does not mean you should ignore your child especially when he has difficulty in breathing or a wheezing cough.

When your toddler is diagnosed with asthma, it does not mean he will be forever afflicted with the disease. On the contrary, there are lots of documented cases where the toddler’s asthma no longer persisted into adulthood. It can also be deduced from this observation that toddlers are more susceptible to asthma triggers but develops immunity as they grow older.

A toddler with asthma will have persistent cough that is hacking and congested. Sometimes the toddler may have wheezing cough and sometimes have none. In addition to this symptom, your toddler will display muscle retractions and flaring nostrils. He would also experience difficulty in breathing making feedings impossible. You will also observe your toddler rapidly breathing even while he sleeps. If you think, your toddler is breathing too rapidly, you should take him to the nearest hospital.

Another sign you should watch out for is your toddler’s lack of stamina and enthusiasm during playtime. This may be because he is associating physical activities with breathing difficulties and naturally gets discouraged to join other children. Having him checked by your pediatrician can determine if your toddler has asthma.

Asthma in toddlers may be more difficult to manage. The best way to do this is to enlist the help of your care provider or his teachers. You can prepare some detailed instructions so they would know what to do in case of an asthma episode. Your toddler’s pediatrician can help you prepare this set of instructions.

You should never take your toddler to a smoky place since cigarette smoke can easily trigger an asthma attack. Your pediatrician can test your child’s sensitivity to dust mite protein. Sometimes, parents overlook the fact that stuffed toys are hosts to these dust mites. During falls and spring seasons when levels of pollen are high, you should limit your toddler’s outdoor activities.

Emotional stress is also considered to be a trigger factor. Not only does it cause an asthma attack but it could also worsen asthma symptoms. Anxiety or panic attacks should be dealt with reasonable calm to help relax your child. The moment your toddler calms down you can administer treatment such as bronchodilator medication.

Keep your children safe and protect them from elements that can lead to long-term damage. These kinds of problems can haunt them through adulthood, so take caution when it comes to your young loved ones.

Christopher Peace asked:


What kinds of musical toddlers toys are available for my toddler?

There are many different types of musical toddlers toys that are available for your toddler’s pleasure. Things such as maracas, xylophones and tambourines are an excellent start for your budding musician’s future. These musical toys, such as the Pylones Pig Maraca, entice your toddler with the sound of a rattle. These will entertain and amuse your toddler, while they may make you to want to cover your ears. These maracas and tambourines are constructed of solid materials and are created to take a lot of abuse. They are also painted with fun animals such as a pig, a bee and so on.

Are there other sorts of musical toddlers toys that are available?

Yes there are other sorts of musical toddlers toys that are available for purchase. Just look in your local toy store in the toddler section. If you want music playing toys, there are things such as recorders and toys that play music that are available for purchase at any toy store. These toys are also popular and explore the toddler’s fascination with sound. This also teaches simple music skills. For a quieter toy, look into toys that are animated such as the Teddy Ruxpin or similar items that not only use music but animation to tell a story. But be certain when you are choosing this type of toy that it is indeed for a toddler and not for a child that is older.

How sturdy are these types of toddlers toys

These types of toddlers toys are very sturdy, however you must be careful not to give a toddler something that will break off in pieces and possibly cause a choking hazard. Each of these toys will usually be age appropriate. They all are usually sturdy and will last for a long time, providing much enjoyment for your toddler. These toys will broaden your toddler’s horizons and will provide many hours of entertainment and musical play. They are ideal for encouraging a love of music in your toddler. With the music playing toys, they will also enrich your toddler by allowing your toddler to hear music that they didn’t create themselves.

How costly are these musical toddlers toys?

These musical toddlers toys are comparatively priced and will not cost the parent an arm and a leg. These toys are good value for the money spent and usually provide a quality toy for your toddler’s enjoyment. These toys are good for expanding your toddler’s horizons and usually provide quality entertainment for any curious toddler. If your toddler is curious about music then a musical toy is a must get for your child. With these toys painted in wonderful colors and making music, your child is sure to enjoy these toys as they provide hours of countless pleasure. With the usage of these toys in your child’s life, they learn a lifetime appreciation of music and all things musical. These types of toys are sure to enrich your toddler’s life.

Holly Beitel asked:


While 90% of the U.S. population is bemoaning the quickly approaching April 15th tax deadline, I am waiting for my gift from the IRS. I big fat refund. How you ask? I take advantage of the one last tax shelter available to the average person. Before I tell you my best tax tips for 2006, I’d like you to be aware of a couple of things.

First, do you realize that what you pay in taxes each year is your number one expense?! In fact, the average employee works the first five months of the year for Uncle Sam for free. How does that make you feel about going to work January through May?

Second, most people think the way to have more income is to get another job. Adding a second “job” to increase your family’s income is in most cases a bad idea. Especially, if it pushes you up into a higher tax bracket! You basically sign up for even more taxes, increased car expenses, childcare costs, food and clothing costs. This doesn’t take into consideration the physical and emotional stress added to families by having both parents working outside the home. You can’t even put a price tag on that expense.

Here is an absolute fact. You will never make true steps toward financial independence until you learn how to get your taxes down to the legal minimum.

So, now I’m back to my top-secret strategy. Drumroll please…Own a home-based business. I am a CPA, and I am here to tell you that if you do not have a home-based business you absolutely need to start one today! I can not overemphasize the importance. The tax system for the “employee” will keep or make you poor. The tax advantages for small business owners are designed to spur economic growth. It can be your ticket to begin creating wealth.

Conservative estimates say that you can save a minimum of $2,000-$10,000 a year by having even a part-time home-based business. Let’s say that having a small business puts $4,000 a year back into your pocket (on tax savings alone) for 30 years and you invest it each year and earn 8%. You will generate over $500,000 just from owning a home-based business. That doesn’t include any income you generate from the business itself. Invest your $4,000 in tax savings for 35 years, earn 10%, and ladies and gentleman you are a millionaire!

The question is how do I take advantage of this wonderful opportunity the IRS has handed us on a golden platter? My first suggestion is to look for a business that incorporates something you are passionate about. My second suggestion is do your homework. Determine how much money you can invest, how much time you can spend and what kind of skills will be necessary.

This may shock you, but Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki in their new book, “Why We Want You To Be Rich,” actually recommend network marketing. For the average person the network marketing industry offers benefits that far outweigh the risks. There is usually a very low start-up cost and ongoing overhead expense. You begin to learn how to leverage time and money. This lesson, along with minimizing your tax expense, is arguably the most important to learn if you want to achieve financial independence.

That subject is a whole other article. A good way to explain it, though, is to work smarter not harder.

Finally, a good network marketing company already has all the systems, marketing materials, accounting and training in place. This is invaluable to the first-time business owner who does not want to take on a lot of risk.

Once you are up and running, you now have a whole new world of tax deductions available to you. It is like Christmas every April 15th. With the proper planning and documentation, you can deduct your home office, computer, phone, car, vacations, some meals and entertainment, even your child’s college education cost all completely within the legal parameters of the IRS regulations.

What is required of you is some education, documentation and a home-based business of your choice! So, when you sign this year’s return and mail in that check that feels like squeezing blood from a turnip, compare your return on that to the $500,000 to $1 million you could grow from home-based business tax advantages.

If you would like a FREE 30-minute consultation with Holly about how you can begin to take advantage of these tax benefits, please visit her website and submit a request. She can also be reached at 918-698-6674.