Introducing solid food to your baby is a huge step. Take some time to make sure you and baby are prepared before beginning the process. Keep in mind that every child takes to solid foods differently, so don't push. Just relax and be sure to have the video camera ready to capture baby's first bites.
Along with the joy of having your first baby comes a myriad of extra chores. Perhaps the biggest of these is laundry. Just how do you wash your baby's clothes? You'll be relieved to learn that baby clothes are not much different than your own when it comes to laundry. With a bit of elbow grease and a dash of common sense you'll keep those precious outfits looking as good as new.
Hand washing is a child's best defense against germs. When we teach kids to wash their hands whenever they use the bathroom, and to wash up before they eat anything, they will carry the habit with them to school. While hand washing is a simple process, it's a healthy habit we need to teach them. In the beginning it takes constant reminding, much like other simple tasks we teach our kids.
Eat your vegetables. Clean your plate. For generations, parents have used those phrases to teach kids about healthy foods. Today, it may take more to get the message across. Kids see and hear countless, highly persuasive ads for high-sugar, high-salt, and high-fat food with little nutritional value. Here's how to get through to kids with a healthy message about making good food choices.
Talking to your kids about sex can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable necessity. Maybe you've avoided it because you haven't found the right time. Maybe you haven't found the right words. The unfortunate truth is that there may never be exactly the right time or the right words. But when your preschooler asks the question you've been dreading or your teenager starts showing interest in the opposite sex, it's a critical moment in the parent-child relationship. How you react sets the stage for the future. For some of us, it's as simple as reminding our child of the discussions we've already had about the birds and the bees. But for others, these are the openings we've been waiting for.
No matter if it is straight from the breast or fed to the baby through a bottle, breast milk has been found to be the best way to nourish a baby in most cases. Breastfeeding provides the perfect nutrition as the baby grows because the mother's milk changes as time goes by, matching the needs of the infant, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Not only is it the best form of nutrition, it also provides protection, bonding and it is economical.
Eczema is an increasingly common disease in infants and small children. According to the National Eczema Association, over two decades the number of infant eczema cases has more than doubled. Eczema now affects about 10 percent of infants. While the exact reason for the increase is unknown, many dermatologists include pollutants, modern cleaning products and chemical preservatives among the chief suspects. In reaction to the perceived chemical threat, many parents want natural treatments for their children's eczema. Finding the right natural treatment means understanding a little about the cause and progress of eczema.
Cooking with your kids can be a fun educational activity, but it requires constant vigilance. Younger children don't yet know the dangers of the kitchen, while older kids can forget. The hazards lurking in your kitchen might surprise you---not just the risk of fire and poisoning and sharp objects, but some unexpected hazards, too. Safety consists of making sure your kitchen is kid-friendly, adopting safe cooking and preparation habits and closely monitoring your children's behavior in the kitchen.
