taking care of toddlers
angela martinez asked:


Bath time is usually an exciting time for babies and toddlers. I know my little girl comes running anytime she hears the faucet turn on in the bathroom. She is attempting to strip her clothes off, but does not quite know how yet. Most children love water. It’s not something that they get to play with often other than at bath time. Splashing and exploring this mysterious substance is good for giggles and squeals. Mom and Dad usually get in on it whether they want to or not. Soon this bath time will come to an end and this can cause sadness and even tantrums at times. Here are some ways to help your baby end this adventure in a positive way.

1. Always use a thermometer to test the water. Babies skin is more sensitive than ours is. There are actually toys that test the water for you and will tell you if the water is too hot. I would suggest getting one of these. Another way is to dip the inside of your forarm in the water. This part of your arm is more sensitive and you will be able to detect if the bath water will be too warm for your baby.

2. Wash your baby’s hair and body when you first put them in the bath tub. If you wait until your baby is tired of playing or the bath water has gone cold, then she is already not happy and has started fuss. They are less cooperative at this point and do not want to get washed up.

3. When washing your babys hair, don’t be too careful. If she never gets water in her eyes, then she will most likely not like it when she is older. Bath time will become stressful for her and you. Exposing her to getting a little water in her eyes in the bath tub while she is young will get her use to it. Then when she is a toddler, she won’t have a fear of getting water in her eyes. Going to a swimming pool with a toddler is a whole lot more fun if your child doesn’t mind getting splashed.

4. If your baby is anything like mine, she could stay in the bathtub all day long if I let her. What I’ve found is, if you drain the tub when it is time to get out, she will suddenly think it is okay to get out. It’s either that she is getting cold or that it is just not very much fun to be in a bath tub without the water. It works great for me! It is also great for the safety of my child, because there is no danger of her coming back later and falling in a tub full of water and drowning. Which is a real danger for babies and toddlers. This way offers peace of mind.

These are things that have worked for me. I hope you try them and that they will help you have a more enjoyable bath time with your little one. My little girl and I also enjoy singing songs at bath time. If you think your voice sounds good in the shower, just wait until you hear it in the bathtub.

Sep
29
taking care of toddlers
Christopher Peace asked:


Looking for the Safest Outdoor toddlers toys?

This is a very common concern for all parents and adult caregivers. This is a major concern of pre-schools and day care centers around the country, if not around that world these days and always has been. Having the proper age appropriate outdoor toddlers toys for all the little ones in the school and day care center can sometimes be a bit of a challenge as you make not know the developmental levels at first of all of the children that will be in and out of the pre-school or day care center. The best plan is to work with pediatricians and people that specialize in early childhood development to be able to anticipate all the possible problems and situations.

Choosing Age Appropriate Toys

When it comes time to buy those outdoor toddlers toys for outdoor play there are many, many choices out there. The key here is to remember the ages of the children that will be playing with, in, on and around these toys and making sure that they are as safe as possible for the kids. Make sure that the toys have no small parts that can break off and be swallowed. You need to also make sure that the toys are tough and durable enough to take the pounding that the kids will dish out on and to those toddlers toys. This is one of your primary concerns when shopping for those toys. It goes without saying that kids are tougher on everything, and that includes toys.

Finding the Best Outdoor Wooden Walkers

Are you looking for a few Pushing Car Wooden Walkers to help those intrepid little walkers keep their balance while toddling around and learning to walk? There are lots of places that you can find these oh-so useful toddlers toys. You need to look for one that is well made so that you know that it can take a pounding when these kids bang these walkers in trees, buildings, walls and other toddlers toys. Both the wooden and plastic pushing car walkers are built to take whatever today’s kids can do to them. When you are shopping for these walkers, bear in mind the ages of the children in your care and their abilities. This is the very best guide you have to deciding which type you are going to buy.

The Children are the Determining Factor

As with all toddlers toys it is the children’s ages, sizes and developmental levels that really determine what is age appropriate and what is not what it come to anything that they play with or use in any way. The seasoned, veteran teacher or day care worker will know this without thinking too long about it and can pick out the most age appropriate toys, games and items to keep those little ones busy and entertained for many hours. Those little ones will really enjoy being able to run around playing with all of those tough toddlers toys having as much fun as they can possibly have with any toy.

what to buy for a toddler
Jennifer L asked:


I have a 4 year old daughter that will be starting preschool. What are some good stores that sell toddler athletic shoes? I need a size 8. I’ve been to Shoe Show but the smallest size that had was a 9.
taking care of toddlers
karuna t asked:


My daughter is 2 yrs 4 mos old. She is an outdoor girl and as a result i see that her knees have got tanned and i see her legs getting tanned as well. How do I take care of her skin and prevent from tanning?

Also I need hair care tips for her.
thanks i will get a good sunblock for her.
Is simply shampooing toddlers hair, good enough?

taking care of toddlers
Tim Lee asked:


If you want to start your painting project for your toddler, then you will need painting ideas to guide you in your project. Read this helpful article and you will surely get good painting ideas for your toddler’s room.

1. Choose a color that your toddler loves. It should go along with his gender and his interests. Bright colors easily attract toddlers and some kiddies also like bold colors. You can ask your toddler to take part in the selection process. When you visit the paint dealer, why not take your child and let him/her choose the color of the paint that you plan to purchase.

2. Paint sheens should also be considered when painting for toddler rooms. Make sure that you buy durable and washable paint sheens. One reason why many people prefer painting a room because re-applying wallpaper is a tough job, and expensive too. If you settle with paint, you can always re-paint it when the need arises.

3. If your toddler loves well-known cartoon characters, then you can incorporate that in your painting. Choose a color that will go along with their favorite character. Painted wall borders can add a whimsical touch to your toddler’s room.

4. Some toddlers love to have rooms like that of space ships and rockets. You can paint the room to look like a spaceship by carefully choosing the colors. With a little imagination and creativity, you can turn the room into an awesome and interesting place for your toddler.

5. If your toddler shares a room with an older brother or sister, you can have a neutral wall. Your toddler’s side should be painted the way that is suited for him/her. Even if the room is shared, your toddler can still enjoy his little corner

Painting is not a very difficult task. By carefully looking at these great painting ideas, your toddler’s room is worth remembering. Get your child involved and you will both like the results.

David Faulkner asked:


The environment that a child grows up in is a very important element in his development. As longer hours are spent by children in child care facilities, it is important for administrators of these centers to be more diligent in looking into their programs for child care development.

Essential to a child’s development are the approaches that a facility takes in his learning. Aside from the physical factors crucial to his progress, the child must also be emotionally, intellectually, and socially stimulated.

What types of development should be nurtured in child care centers?

Child care development comes in various forms. One is social development, to which child care facilities may greatly contribute if well-planned activities are properly implemented. When a child is in a day care center, for instance, he is constantly around other children, with whom he plays, works, and eats.

The child also learns how to deal with s - in this case teachers, volunteers, or caregivers who need to be well-trained in child care development. When these professionals show care and concern for their wards, the children react positively and would enjoy their stay in child care facilities more.

Child care development in these facilities also comes in the form of emotional maturity. As children interact with kids of various cultural, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds, they obtain a deeper understanding of diversity and tolerance for others.

Another form of child care development that can be nurtured are language skills. Even toddlers learn a lot by uttering seemingly nonsensical words, as these are the first steps to language development. Children also take to singing naturally, which also helps in their linguistic learning.

Physical activities, a necessary program in almost all child care facilities, contribute to child care development in a variety of ways. Motor skills, both fine and gross, are enhanced via free play, playground time, and individual work such as painting and playing with puzzles.

Moreover, child care development is at its best when the facility also offers feeding programs. Balanced diets are essential for child care development because kids need proper nutrition in order to progress optimally. When they are given nutritious food, they learn better and are less irritable or hyperactive.

There are many instances when child care development is not easily detected at first, but is manifested in the long term. When there are enough activities to stimulate children’s creativity and interactive skills, we can say that the facility satisfactorily fulfills its role in child care development.

When we speak of outdoor gates, we refer to the security of the center’s perimeter itself. Even during outdoor play, the children must not be able to open the main gates by themselves and possibly venture out into the street. Indoor gates refer to the contraptions attached to staircases and other areas of the house or establishment where access to them may pose dangers to the children.

For the child’s safety, all staircases must be blocked by a safety gate which no child should be able to open without assistance from an . In the same vein, washrooms and toilets must have all the features necessary for it to be child-friendly - that is, toilet seats must be at levels accessible for kids; there should be no bathtubs which could pose dangers to toddlers; and sinks must be within their reach.

Sep
19
Filed Under (Parenting) by April
Maeve Rich asked:


Children love television. Bright colors and constant action draw them in and can keep them occupied for hours. But is it good for your toddler to be watching television? And if so, how much is acceptable?

 The Professional Opinion

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ position is that children under two shouldn’t watch any television at all, and children over two should be limited to two hours a day. Watching television, they say, even children’s television programs, can lead to attention problems down the road. One study, published in the April 2004 issue of Pediatrics, claimed that television overstimulates the brain and essentially reprograms it. It has to do with the fast-paced images flashing constantly across the screen, which interfere with the brain’s development.

So what about children’s television programs directed at children under the age of two? The study found that there was no link between what children were viewing and later attention problems. The simple fact that they were watching television, with its rapid images, was enough to cause interruptions in normal brain development. Children’s television shows like Blue’s Clues, while educational for children old enough to comprehend them, do nothing for children under two.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that parents play with and read to their children instead of watching TV. This personal interaction, they say, is far more important to a child’s development than any TV show could be. Once your child is two years old, limit TV watching to one hour. Gradually you can increase the amount of time spent in front of the TV as your child grows and develops.

Never let a child keep a television set in their bedroom, as this can be an unnecessary temptation for a rebellious toddler. It also makes it harder to monitor what your child is watching. And although it can be relaxing to unwind in front of the TV while eating dinner, try to avoid this. Watching TV while eating can lead to mindless eating, which may contribute to weight problems and obesity.

 What They’re Watching

Although content itself doesn’t seem to increase attention problems for children under the age of two, one concern for children of any age watching television is what they may be seeing. Inappropriate images of violence and *** may hinder a child’s development. Children aren’t ready for the adult content that we have become used to. They may not understand it and have questions. It may also cause behavioral problems.

Children’s television may be harmful as well. “Pediatricians strongly oppose targeted programming, especially when it’s used to market toys, games, dolls, unhealthy food and other products to toddlers,” says the American Academy of Pediatrics. As with commercials, children have trouble associating entertaining television from programs whose purpose is to get kids to want products.

 What Can They Watch?

Once a child has reached the age that watching TV is considered appropriate, you can choose educational shows which will encourage your child to sing and learn new words. Several studies have shown that educational TV shows, in moderation and at a reasonable age, may help a child’s learning. Stay away from violent programs and scary shows.

Watching TV programs together is another way to make TV a positive thing for your child. Watching together sends the message that you care. There may be times when you need to use the TV as a babysitter, but these should be as few and far between as possible.

Watching TV with your child can help them to differentiate between the programs and commercials. You can also explain the purpose of commercials, to lure people into buying things they don’t necessarily need. Watching TV with your child also means that they won’t get a chance to view something they’re not ready for.

 http://www.life123.com/article_TopicHome/TV-and-Your-Toddler_3000003080880.html

toddler tips
king reby asked:


I’ve babysat for toddlers and newborns together, but now I’m taking a nanny job with a 22 m/o and a 1 m/o. I’m not worried that I won’t be able to handle it or anything, but if you have any tips to offer, I’d love to hear them. The more I know, the better I can care for them. =) Thanks!
Sep
10
Filed Under (Parenting) by April
taking care of toddlers
Brian J. Gordon asked:


Parents love to see their baby toddling around the house. But it is important to bolster this crucial stage in your baby’s life with proper support systems. First, you need to understand his behavior and preferences before offering him toys. During this stage your child is engrossed with himself. So you need to take care of his overall development without disturbing his privacy. There are various toddler development toys available in the market, but again you need to choose the ones that suit your baby best.

Popular Toddler Development Toys: As this is the time when your child grows and develops quickly, his requirement is complex. Traditional sit-in or push-along toys may or may not serve the purpose. You can choose toys like rocking horses to make the baby more confident about balance and movement. Apart from these, conventional toys like trikes etc. help the baby to get familiar with motion and gain balance. And once he is confident about balancing, you can try some intricate new toddler toys that can be turned from the wheeled to the rocking state.

Another popular toddler development toy is the ride-on toy. These toys are a part of everybody’s childhood and have many advantages over newer electronic toys. As parents, you can push or pull your baby on the toy, until and unless he is in full control of the toy and properly balanced. This allows you to get involved in your child’s growing stage and also gives your child that special pleasure of parental attention. Also, these toys enhance the coordination between limbs and make your baby’s legs stronger. However, before buying such toys make sure that they look attractive enough to interest your baby and make him happy. You can choose to buy such toys with various sounds so that it adds to the thrill for your baby.

There are some toddlers who love to rest in a sitting position after walking a bit. If your baby is one of these, you can choose to buy some blocks which will keep him busy with coordination. Block toys are available in the market in various colors, shapes, and patterns. They are made of wood or plastic. You could also go for wooden blocks as they are more durable.

Things to remember: When choosing toys for your toddler, you need to remember some things. Every child is different and has an individual mental and social development cycle. While some toddlers love to look at various colors in books others may love to play in sand and water. So, while choosing a toy keep your baby’s likes and dislikes in mind and try to gift him toys that he will really enjoy rather than picking the most popular toy on the market.

Sep
08
George Allen asked:


Traveling to Mexico or Caribbean all inclusive resorts? Concerned about food and water? Do not worry, things will be fine. Here are some tips.

Bring a travel kettle to boil tap water to wash your kids sippy cups, plastic cutlery etc. Put a small amount of dish soap in a Tupperware dish and use that for soap.

Even if your hotel room tap water says it is drinkable do not drink it. Sometimes just a change in water even safe water can send toddlers stomachs/bowels for a turn. Therefore brush and rinse your teeth and tooth brushes with bottled water too. Just keep getting extra bottles in your mini fridge. Bring lots of their favorite dry snacks from home for munching in the hotel room and by the pool or beach. Eat fruit that has to be peeled. For example bananas, pineapple, mangoes, oranges etc. It can be nerve racking experience if your toddler is a fussy eater. Do not worry; they will manage fine on fruit, crackers, toast, pancakes, yogurt, ice cream, French fries, muffins, hot dogs and pizza; not ideal but it is only for seven days. Bring along a large pack of juice drink boxes, the single serving applesauce and mini Oreos and mini cereal bars. Milk tastes a bit different in Mexico, so your child may not like it. All inclusive resorts always have fresh juices and if you bring your drink boxes you will have those too. Bring along lots of extra baby face cloths as you go through them very fast. You only get a couple of face cloths in your room. If you are worried about high chairs or other eating surfaces bring along a pack of bacterial wipes. Bring the rubber bath mat from your tub to stop slipping in the shower or tub at the hotel. Bring a large mesh laundry bag as you will have a fair amount of damp laundry and it can get smelly or moldy. if you have a balcony keep the bag outside. If you do not have walky talkies consider getting a set. It will make your life much easier when you need to locate each other if one of you is in the room and the other at the pool etc. Bring many more diapers then you think. You would need them as changes in food bring changes in bowel movements and frequency of them. For fun bring small bucket and shovel for sand and collecting sea shells, inflatable water toy and some books and items for in the room, a portable DVD player and childs favorite DVDs for the flight and for in the room.

A small medical kit is very helpful should children become ill when traveling. The kit should contain medications for illnesses that children experience at home and for potential travel-related illnesses, and it should contain the telephone numbers of all the childrens health-care providers. Choosing a destination where there is no ready way of communicating with competent medical professionals adds an element of risk to the trip.

A typical medical kit should include the following.

Medications that the child has used in the past year Antiseptic wipes, thermometer, gauze bandages Insect repellents and sunscreens Packets of oral rehydrating solutions Antibacterial soap An antibiotic for general use or for diarrhea. Azithromycin, cefixime An antihistamine. Benadryl Antibiotic and antifungal ointment Acetaminophen Ibuprofen Hydrocortisone ointment Syrup of ipecac Malaria prophylaxis and standby treatment, as required by itinerary

You will have a great time, but be warned vacationing with a toddler is definitely not a relaxing adult vacation.