How to Make Your Home Safe For Babies

The first year of your baby can be an exciting time for you and your little one. It is during this time of his/her life that you get to witness their first smile, first laugh, and in most cases, first steps. Most of the special "first" moments of your child's life happen throughout the first year. However, if you are not careful, you might also witness their first accident.

I'm not writing to scare you; I'm just making you aware of the possibilities if you don't pay utmost vigilance when dealing with your child and his/her safety. And really, accidents happen. Accidents happen to us as adults and it can definitely happen to our babies.

So in this article, I'll share with you simple things you can follow to keep your baby away from danger and the likelihood of accidents in your own home.

Install smoke alarms in your child's bedroom. I doubt that your baby would start creating fire in his/her crib but you'll never know if fire hazards around him/her (i.e. electronic appliances) can malfunction and create havoc.
Keep plants out of reach of your baby. Not only that it might be poisonous to your baby but it can be a choking hazard. Better be safe than sorry right?
If you have firearms, lock them up tightly and put ammunition's in a separate location. Ammunition's can go off if the conditions are right. This is a general safety tip as much as it is for your baby.
Matches, cigarettes, and other flammable substances should be out of your baby's reach or placed in a childproof container.
Practice a rule that no person can handle your baby while handling something or just finished handling something hot (like a cup of tea or hot towel).
Be mindful of the things you put in the table. Children tend to pull tablecloth so either make the tablecloth high enough to be beyond the reach of children or just keep them away from it entirely.
The kitchen should be a no-access zone for children. There are just too many things that can happen in there.
Electronics outlets, especially the open ones (unused ones), should be completely covered and secured to avoid electrocution.
Electronic cords should be secured and well-maintained. Children might chew on them.
Door stops and safety knobs for the doors that should be off-limits to children.

So here are some simple tips for making your home safe for your children. Follow them and you can rest easy that your child won't run into the risk of having his/her first accident.

About The Author

Iska L is has been writing articles about child care and parenting for quite some time now. Do visit her latest website over at http://www.babyeducationaltoysguide.com/ which helps parents find the best baby educational toys for your baby's optimal development.

How to Raise Self Confident Children

In most of my articles I mentioned that lack of self confidence is usually rooted to early childhood. Children are born without any idea about themselves or their own worth and that's why the data they collect at this early stage shapes their self worth to a great extent.

If a child was raised believing that he is worthy and if he was encouraged to develop his skills and abilities he would become a confident adult while if he was neglected, abused or taught to fear life he will lack self confidence as an adult.

In this article I will tell you about the right things you should do in order to build self confidence in children.

How to raise self confident children:

Since I always deal with clients who want to become confident and who always tell me about the root causes for their lack of self confidence I came to realize that there is a list of common incorrect actions that parents do which prevents children from becoming confident. Here they are:

• Lying to the child: Not only lying to the child will let him develop fear of trusting people but it will also let him question his own worth. After all, from the child's point of view, why would someone tell him something else other the truth if he was really worthy?
• Treating the child as a child: The child doesn't know that he is a child. Treating him as a child will let him believe that he is worthless. For example not taking his opinion, interrupting him while taking and giving him false promises are all examples of ways of treatment that can reduce a child's Self confidence. In order for your child to develop self confidence treat him as a small man and not a child
• Scolding him in front of people: I really wonder why we do things to children that we would never do to adults. If you scold your child in front of people this will let him experience shame and self doubts which will be transformed into lack of self confidence over time
• Comparing the child to other children: One of the biggest mistakes parents make when raising children is comparing them to each other. "Can't you be a good boy like Sam?" This kind of treatment makes the child become aware of his flaws and may result in letting him feel inferior as a grown up. Each child is unique and he must understand this fact in order to become a confident adult
• Over protection: Over protecting a child wont do any good in protecting him as a grown up but instead the child will learn that the outer world is unsafe and will never develop confidence in his abilities
• Calling him dumb or using other names: If you kept telling a child that he is dumb or stupid he might believe your suggestions and grow up feeling inferior. In addition, the child will learn that doing mistakes is shameful and will strive for perfectionism as an adult, but because no one can be perfect the child will face lots of disappointments and end up lacking confidence
• Ignoring the child: Ignoring the child won't only let him feel distant from you but it will let him believe that he is not worth being taken care of and so his self confidence will become very low
• Not encouraging him to take risks: Self confidence is all about trusting one's abilities but if a child never had a chance to try his abilities then he will never succeed in building self confidence.
• Compliment his achievements: The child needs to be complimented in order to learn how to think highly of himself and to build self confidence
• Being overly critical: If you kept criticizing your child all the time he will learn how to criticize himself in the form of self talk and he will keep putting himself down until he will lose his self confidence.

Want to have a solid self confidence? Checkout http://www.buildsolidconfidence.com

By Mohamed Farouk

Controlling Eczema On The Scalp: How To Help The Rash Subside

Scalp eczema not only has itching and dryness but there can be some swelling and even cracking of the skin in certain people.

Like other forms of eczema, there can be some scales as well as blisters and cracks. This is not easy for parents to see when a son or daughter has this problem. Plus kids have a hard time not picking at flaking skin or scratching something that is itchy.

Kids can care a lot about what others think so try to help your child be at ease and not feel uncomfortable. Let him or her know that it takes longer to heal when things are picked at and that they should do things to take their minds off of it.

Also other kids probably will only notice if they are picking and scratching at their scalp so remind them of that as well.
Use antihistamines to help them deal with the itchy sensations as those are hard to ignore and it takes tremendous self-discipline to resist the urge to scratch the areas.

There are some ways to help combat eczema, though for some people it is a chronic condition that cycles and flares up from time to time. Don't let this stop your energy in pursuing a solution to the problem, but just expect it for a while.

First of all, check the ingredients of your shampoo products as well as gels and styling items. It is best to use natural products and avoid ones with perfumes, alcohol and other ingredients that can cause allergic reactions. Try to avoid rubbing anything into the scalp that you are not sure about. Don't use hot water but make sure the water is only warm. This is a habit that isn't easy to change. There are products made with aloe vera that can be used to style the hair.

If your skin is itching, use an oil such as coconut, flax seed or almond oil. Eczema skin requires hydration and we tend
to dry our scalp out by frequent showers as well as sitting in the sun. Avoid the sun and use a spf of 25 or higher in that area. Internally eat foods that will give you foods with omega 3 oils as well as vitamins a, d and e .

Don't use anything abrasive in the scalp area and try to take off wool caps in the home and non-cotton coverings.

By: Jill Cohen
Learn more about How to Get Rid of Eczema and cure an Itchy Skin Rash using natural methods.

Toddler Separation Anxiety: How To Calm Your Child's Fears

The crying toddler at the door screaming, and trying to run out if anyone opens it is an all too familiar thing at any child care center. Toddler separation anxiety can be stressful and challenging for both the parent and child. Parents often feel guilt, worry, and anxiety when they can't calm their child and get them to stop crying. Although it is hard to leave your devastated child , there are some things that you can do to help calm your child's fears and help them work through their anxieties. This article is going to talk about some things a parent can do to help soothe their child when they are worried about separation from their loved ones.

The very first thing I always tell parents not to do is leave with out saying good-bye. I have seen many parents try the sneak off when they aren't looking method. Although this is easier for the parent, since they don't have to leave when their child is crying, it is not better for the toddler. The toddler will still start to cry when they notice the parent is absent. They will look around for them and wonder where they went and when they will return. In the end, this will cause more toddler separation anxiety because the young child doesn't know when their parent will be there and when they won't. They might cling to a parent that does this because they are afraid to turn their backs. When you are dealing with toddler separation anxiety it is important that your child understands that you are leaving and will be back. They need to feel safe and secure and have an understanding of what is happening.

Another very important thing, is setting up a routine. Like I mentioned before, the child who is dealing with toddler separation anxiety needs to have an understanding of what is happening. Set up a drop off and pick up routine. That way your toddler will know when you are leaving and when you will return. It is also something special you can give them when they are away. I have seen parents who use separation books, like “The Kissing Hand” that tell a story about separation, and they use the same techniques that the mom in the book use. Children do well relating to story book characters. I have also seen kids who enjoy watching their parents car leave and return. They like going to the window and waving good-bye before they start playing. Set up a routine and stick with it. Toddler separation anxiety is scary for a child and having a routine will help transition them through their day.

Toddler separation anxiety can come from the parent too. This means the parent can be causing the child some of the fear and anxiety by the way they are acting. It is important to be reassuring and calm when your child is suffering from toddler separation anxiety. Let your child know what is going to happen and then do it. If the parent goes back and forth or stays with a child for too long, it can make the whole process harder. Your child will feed off of your emotions. If you are calm cool and collected, it will teach them to be the same.

To sum it up, toddler separation anxiety can cause a lot of emotion from both parent and child, but it is a very important milestone in child development. By following the tips I have given you can help your child transition through the fear and anxiety. The screaming child who is suffering from toddler separation anxiety will soon be the independent two year old that can't wait to play with their friends.

By: Jennie Berendson
For more information on child separation anxiety go to separation anxiety Jennie has been an early child educator for over 10 years.

Parenting Teens: How To Connect With Your Teen (or Tween) And Guide Them - Even When You’re Screamin’ Busy!

Even with the busiest of schedules, here’s how us parents (or grandparents) can know tap into the ideal times to connect with your teenager (or tweener), deal with teen issues or teen problems, and teach them. And, we can do all of this even with the busiest of lives and schedules. This is a different, but very effective way of thinking about “quality time.” It’s like practical quality time.

What I’m about to help you understand about parenting teens has been one of the best ways to make the most of those fleeting moments with our teens. It’s how to recognize and capitalize on the opportunities to instill those things you know they need in order to grow into responsible adults.

We all battle with busy schedules … running here and there … a million things to do … work, gym, meetings, laundry, phone calls, pick up this, drop off that. Even our kids get over-scheduled with school, sports, social outings, projects, etc. It feels like we need to be everywhere and do everything all at one time. How can we make time for the one things that is probably our biggest priority – our children – without losing the pace that we must run to make life happen?

The answer is to make the most of what I call “Teaching Moments” with your kids.

A teaching moment is just that … a moment … or two … where you find yourself in the perfect situation with your child to say something that will deeply impact them because the lesson is “organic” or “occurs naturally.” Keep reading as I’ll explain both later in this article.

So take, for example, the other night, when I walked out of my son’s baseball practice and smelled marijuana. Most of us parents would do one of two things at that point:

1. Ignore it
Brush it off for any number of reasons (not enough time right then to discuss, the child is too young, it’s too deep of a subject for where we are, etc.)

2. Make the most of the teaching moment
Take a few moments – maybe 5 minutes - and ask our child if (s)he smells it too … and there creates the perfect opportunity for a teaching moment because it is unfolding as you both experience it together.

This space for a teaching moment is incredibly powerful because the lesson isn’t another dreaded lecture coming from you, or another family meeting or planned happening. In other words, it comes up organically!

I recognized a possibly teaching moment immediately that night my son and I smelled marijuana! I knew this was the perfect teaching environment to slip in a little lesson about drugs, to see where they’re at with their knowledge or experience with drugs, and to ask and answer questions about drugs.

These “organic” teaching moments provide a richer learning experience that they can relate to because they’re feeling and experiencing it. These moments have more potential to open up a free flow of back and forth discussion and questions. What could be better!

My son and I had to walk from the baseball field to the car ANYWAY – what’s different is something happened in the environment and I capitalized on the moment to talk about it all the way to the car! We had to walk to the car regardless. But now he learned a little something about drugs from me in the meantime or was able to say what was on his mind with fewer barriers to entry to the topic.

A teenager is less likely to think of what you say to him or her at this time (your lesson) as another lecture or demand because you didn’t cause it. You both just happened to be somewhere and something came up; or something happened. You’ve got to look for these moments because they create the perfect, non-threatening environment where you can more easily and naturally talk about marijuana (or whatever).

What you say will be more effective because you did not force the issue and you’re both on a sort of level playing field where you’re experiencing something together. In this environment, what you say or ask will be more welcomed because the exchange of conversation between you is merely observing an event, what someone else said or did, or other happening that could spur any number of subjects to talk about – and teaching moments.

These are ideal connecting and teaching moments because the conversations and lessons tale place in the very moment they happen. The key is to talk or ask a question or two right then and there – as something is happening.

A teaching moment could come up at any time … on the way to the store with the kids in the car, when the news is on, when you’re walking to and from places with your kids, waiting for their doctor or dentist appointment with them, etc. You just have to be on the lookout for these moments and then not waste them!

Don’t worry that there may be times when you’re lesson doesn’t go through. Just keep trying! Since these moments do not originate from you, they are less threatening. Eventually, some or all of your teaching moments will make a dent.

Try this because believe me, it works. If it doesn’t at first, try it at another time. I can almost guarantee you that at one time or another, your child will let go and jump in with you. And then you can do your job as a parent and guide them into the adult you want them to grow into – one teaching moment at a time.

By: Paul L Hagen
To learn more, go to www.itsabouttime.com