To The Restroom We Go

Scenario: Doing grocery with my little boy and in the middle of shopping he tells me he needed to go use potty.

At least I know he's doing good with the potty training. That's the first time he really had to go potty in the middle of shopping, he was definite what he needed to do so we rushed and parked our cart somewhere in the grocery. He was right, he really had to go potty. 

I gave my boy good acknowledgement for being good with his potty time. Giving due credit is important to boost their confidence as well and make them feel potty time is good. 

Always On The Run!

Always on the run!  Yes, that's what toddlers do best. They are just so full of energy and at some point will outrun you if you're not ready.  

My little boy is not the type to sit still most especially at the parks or playgrounds.  He loves to run around and just be all over the place.  There are time though that he would slow down and happily play in the sand are or be mucky dirty jumping on puddles.

It's a good thing to keep toddlers active even if means mommies getting tired running after them.  Having said this, I have retired on my heels and wedges.  I embraced the comfort of having to use comfort shoes for women, such as rubber shoes for me!  Even my sandals would be the sporty type to be able to  cradle me with comfort as I chase my little monkey on the loose. 

The Preschooler Age 26mos

Table manners becoming an issue?  You may be so used with your tot being so well behaved and sitting still while having family dinners and all of a sudden he or she suddenly becomes such a screamer of some sort.  Ok, the screaming and misbehaving isn't good but remember, kids behave in such a way to express themselves.

We have observed our little boy to misbehave a bit more and scream or do unlikely things while eating lately.  We kept observing and somehow figured out whenever me and my husband would talk about things our little boy can't relate with, he's likely to start doing things to cut us and focus on him.  Finally it made sense after I just read about kids that age acting in such manner on the table.

Since out little one started easting on his own, we give less attention on the table and start going back to our old routine which is probably old talks.  Our kid cannot relate to this thus making him quite furious and as a result would do something to distract and get out attention.  Understandable enough that the past 2yrs meal time would mean family time, out little boy being much more of a baby then and we made an effort to incorporated everything on the table for him.

I know it's hard when sometimes you and your husband just want to have some chat while eating, but not to forget the little one who's trying his best to keep up with mom and dad.  Conversations that he can't understand will definitely make him feel off and not included so reserved those delicate topics away from the table, instead show how much you enjoy the food and the family having a meal all together.

The Preschooler Age 25mos

At this age most toddlers interpret how they understand the world around them.  Associating things to what they want to say makes it easier for us parents to understand them better.  Say for instance when your tot walks near the door giving you a gesture to go out or in.  Giving you his or her cup would mean a drink or showing discomfort with the clothes to let you know they want to be changed.  Simple ways but bridges us parents to better understanding them.

This age is quite hyper, learning how to jump and do some more active play.  They can keep going on and on as if there's no way they're getting tired at all.  It's actually funny seeing them practice and master their jumping, like you have hoppity frogs hopping all day long.  Encourage them to move, free play encourages development their mind and body need.

Is potty training a must at this age?  I'd say not really, it depends on whether your tot is ready for it so as you.  Not all tots get into potty training the same time.  Some start way early, if your tot hasn't started yet there's no reason to frustrate about it.  Potty training takes a big heap of patience, timing, coordination, communication and dedication.  It's not advisable to do it today then skip tomorrow.  It also takes time, at most accidents may happen.  The best cue that your tot is ready is when he or she recognizes feeling to go potty.  Once they fully understand it regardless wearing trainers or diapers, they will go potty the proper way.

Nutrition is very essential to your child's growth so giving them healthy plate of food is a must. Little steps at a time, while some fancy fruits and veggies, not all kids are the same.  Parents must eat healthy as well being the role models as they kids tend to see and copy you in every possible way they can. 

The Preschooler Age 24mos

At age 2, you can observe so many developments with your little.  Of course we have to keep in mind that not all 2 yr olds are the same.  We should not push nor expect our kid to do the same exact thing as the others.  At this age kids starts to adapt to habits.  You will notice that clean up time is something they enjoy doing.  Those days when they just flip a bucket full of toys down on the floor must still be anticipated but it will get better.  The best part of play would be cleaning up, kids enjoy it with us parents and a little song of course.

You may take this opportunity to teach your kid to help around the house.  Sometimes you won't even need to call for their attention to help you out, they will squeeze in whatever you're doing to give you a hand.  I admit, sometimes it drives me nuts when all the folded clothes get undone just because my little helper wants to fold along with me or simply gets attracted with the warm pile of laundered clothes.  When I'm really tired and this happens, I kind of flip but makes sure I don't scold my boy for helping me out.  I try to point out things rationally, according to his comprehension. Encouraging them to help and observe how you do things will give better results than throwing a big tantrum, besides in his eyes he was just trying to help mommy.  Things certainly take twice longer than you doing it alone but letting them be involved with you and some chores gives them a sense of responsibility and teaches them to help.

Dressing up is a good way to improve the fine motor skills, simple things like opening or closing the zipper, pulling pants up or down or wearing shoes.  The feeling of being quite independent and being able to do things like mommy and daddy gives them pride and self-confidence.  From here you'll be surprised to hear your little one say two to three words together.  This is also the age when "me", "I" or "mine" becomes quite dominant in their language.  How do you correct it?  Be a constant role model and keep a strict rule about things.  Don't expect them to really follow right through but in time you'll see them follow.  Some kids really talk way too early while some are way too delayed.  If it worries you then express your concern to the doctor to better assess the situation.

Artsy Toddlers

 

Letting our kids play freely and introducing them to artistic activities can be really good for them.   They can get so messy at times but that's part of the fun. You can't expect a kid to be so clean and coordinated on such an early age.  Exploring colors can be a fun way to teach different colors as well.  It's so much fun watching them do some arts and crafts, it's the same fun they feel while doing their stuff.

Family Togetherness

Keeping a family tradition is important.  It can play a bi role in your child's well-being.  Somehow this can reflect family togetherness to your growing child.  Family traditions need not be grand nor expensive.  Even the simplest things can mean more to your kid. 

Of course occasions like Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas and such are normal traditions families observe.  Simple traditions like praying together at night before going to sleep and putting the baby all together in bed is something meaningful.  Eating family meals together is another simple thing a family must try to observe.  This gives more value of togetherness and a broader sense of family is felt in this kind of activity. 

Being creative is one key in making family traditions.  Say for instance, doing something every season as a family which you'll observe to do every year.  Go to the mountains and have fun in the snow during Winter.  Spend some good time planting in the garden during Spring.  Go to the carnivals and beach on hot Summer months.  Jump on leaves or go on a hike during Fall.  These don't require much effort, just the time to do it all together.

Toddler Play

Playtime is very important for our growing kids.  This will boost their mental, emotional, physical and social development.  Toddlers most especially love to get dirty playing and touching everything.  It is important to keep our kids safe when playing outdoors.  Clothe them with sun protection, use sunblock or layers if it is cold.  Make sure to wash and clean them most especially the hands after play.

Toothbrushing

There are many ways of brushing our baby's tooth / teeth.  Of course during the earliest days when the baby didn't even have a single tooth, cleaning the mouth and tongue is necessary and better done with a wet gauze cloth. Using mommy's fingertip with the  gauze cloth on, soft gentle strokes on the tongue and gums can help clean it out.  As the baby grows, special finger brushes can be introduced upon the appearance of the first tooth.  Later on baby toothbrush can be used with non-fluoride toothpaste to prevent fluoride ingestion.  Transitioning to fluoride toothpaste can be done once the baby knows how to spit out while brushing.  There's no perfect way to brush and teach the baby how to brush, moms are usually so anxious if they are doing it right.  Just remember that gentleness is a factor most especially when it comes to oral safety of the baby.

Baby Safety

At age 2 toddlers tend to dictate and insist on their ideals, needs and wants.  They are very expressive which is a good thing.  Some babies might still not sit through their baby car seat while others are completely fine with it.  I remember those times during baby's first year when he didn't like being strapped and would often cry it out so we can get him out of the straps.  What do you do as a parent?  Of course it is really heartbreaking hearing our baby wail and cry their heart out but safety must always be given best consideration.  Pulling over to soothe a crying baby is a nice thing to do when the fussing is way too much.  This will also relieve tension in driving.  Having a crying baby while driving isn't so safe either, there's a big distraction when you want to attend to your baby and drive the same time.  I am just so thankful now that my little boy wants to be strapped all the time even if it's just around the block drive.  He will even ask to strap him with seat belt and help do it himself.  Baby safety is very important and even if it breaks our heart hearing our baby cry when strapped in the car seat, getting them used to it is the best thing to do.  Regardless if you are a very good driver you'll never know when accident may happen.

Your Growing Toddlers

 

When you have a growing baby, exposure is very critical with his or her development.  At age two kids have receptive brain and they absorb things so quickly.  It's the best time to teach and keep the kids exposed to languages and other developmental activities.  Their energy level will always be  higher than ours and will be likely to be active throughout the day.  This is better than having to see your kids very sluggish and tired all the time.  That's something we have to be thankful about as parents, that the kids are growing beautifully and strong by the day.

Take advantage of playdates when you get invitations from friends.  Your baby needs this kind of exposure in order to learn and develop social interaction.  It is not good to keep the baby always indoors and restrict from playing freely.  Every child needs to run free and play.  This is how their motor skills develop.  Activities with other kids can promote behavior development, just be watchful and keep an eye for those things that you don't want your baby to pick up from others as they tend to copy whatever they see from each other.

All parents have different ways in growing and raising their kids, all moms must know how to respect this as well.  In order for the kids to learn how to accept and respect their differences with others, they will have to see and learn it from their parents.  At this age, your baby will mostly react to how you treat him or her.  His or her mood will be dependent on yours.  Being a good role model will play a big part in your baby's development over-all.  Most importantly, spend lots of time with them.  It's worth every second of it.

Kids

Guest post written by Joseph Finch

I can't believe that it is already the end of February! This year is flying by. We will be moving at the end of this school year, and that is only three months away. I have already started getting things ready for the move though. I have been cleaning and decluttering so much around the house. The last thing I want to do is to pack and move a whole bunch of worthless junk. I am cleaning and just donating or throwing away anything that we haven't used in the last year. It feels so good to get rid of junk that we don't need or use. I should have done this years ago! I am also beginning to look into getting our utilities set up for the next house. I need to make sure that we have everything set up for move in day. I've been looking into Cable TV Companies, because I know we will need something to occupy the kids with while we are unpacking! I will need to be able to just turn the TV on and let them watch a couple shows!

Teething

c/o internet image

Although some babies find teething painless, others become cranky, have sore gums, and have disruptions in their usual sleeping and eating patterns. Often, when babies are teething, they have a desire to chew on things. Try giving your child something safe to chew on, like a rubber teething ring or a wet washcloth that has been frozen for about 30 minutes.

Whatever object you choose, make sure it's not hard enough to bruise the gums and that it can't break into smaller pieces. Objects also should be big enough that babies can't get the whole thing in their mouths. You also can try rubbing your baby's gums with a clean finger. Some babies prefer cool foods when teething.

If your child is still cranky, an occasional dose of acetaminophen is sometimes helpful. But always check with your doctor first. If your baby has a fever, it's probably due to something other than teething and you should call your doctor.

c/o Kidshealth

Mommy Time

Having intimate mommy time strengthens the bond of mommy and baby. Baby gets more connected with mommy making communication between them easier. They get to develop special fun activities which stimulates baby's skills. Of course daddy time is equally important though during the infancy stage babies tend to seek for the motherly care more. Babies will only be babies for a short period of time, you'll never notice how fast time will fly only for you to realize they all have grown. Enjoy the most time with your babies, they will grow up remembering such precious times you've shared.

5 Tips for Introducing Babies to Solid Foods

1.	You can start introducing solid foods between 4 and 6 months.
2.	The first food you should introduce should be rice cereal.
3.	Begin with once a day feedings.
4.	Give your baby plenty of time to swallow food.
5.	Introduce other solids gradually. Wait 3 days in between each new food.

Safety On Baby Carriers

What to look for:

• The carrier should have straps that prevent your baby from falling or crawling out. Look for firm, padded head support. Try to match your baby's size and weight and make sure there is enough depth to support the back and that the leg openings are small enough to prevent your baby from slipping out.
• Check for ease of use. Some of the soft ones are difficult to put on because of numerous straps.
• A framed carrier should have a kickstand that locks in the open position. The folding mechanism should be free of pinch points that could catch your baby's fingers. Look for padding on the metal frame around the infant's face.
• Try the pack on for comfort, both with the baby in it and without.
• Ideally, the fabric should be durable with strong stitching or large heavy fasteners to prevent slippage.
• Pockets or zippered compartments are handy for storing frequently needed items.

SAFETY NOTES:

• Never use a framed carrier before your infant is 4 to 5 months old, and don't use it as an infant seat. It can tip over without warning.
• Use restraining straps at all times if your carrier has them.
• If you need to lean over, bend from the knees rather than the waist to prevent the baby from falling out of the carrier.
• Check the carrier periodically to look for loose fasteners or ripped seams.

c/o kidshealth

How Much Should My Child Grow?

During this second year of life, your toddler may gain between 3 and 5 pounds (1.4 to 2.26 kilograms). An average 15-month-old girl weighs about 22 pounds (about 10 kilograms) and stands 31 inches (79 centimeters) tall. Boys tend to be about a pound heavier at 15 months but about the same height.

By age 2, both will stand about 34 inches tall (86 centimeters) and weigh about 27 to 28 pounds (12.25 to 12.7 kilograms) on average. Your toddler's head size also will not change as dramatically this year, with about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) added to head circumference.

What you will notice more than actual growth are changes in a toddler's appearance. Instead of sporting the rounded belly and soft arms and legs suited to crawling on all fours, toddlers start to trim down, become more muscular because of increased activity, and begin to look more like preschoolers than babies.

c/o kidshealth

Keep Them Moving

Babies need to be free to move and explore, this helps their development and coordination. Playtime is a very important time for growing kids because through this they move and exercise. This doesn't help the body alone but also the mind. Just make sure you keep an eye on your little one and keep them away from possible danger. Not all babies are well coordinated yet and can easily fall, tumble or hurt themselves.

Kids Need To Be Free

I firmly believe that kids need to be free, free to move and explore. Given the right freedom kids will learn from such experiences and know their inner self. Of course us parents should always be on the watch to correct them and protect them but not to hinder them from doing things that can actually contribute to their development.

Stages of Labor

Stage 1

The cervix dilates to 10 cm (4 inches) so it is wide enough for the baby's head to pass. This can take many hours.

Stage 2

As the 2nd stage approaches, you may feel the urge to push. If the skin and muscles around the vagina (perineum) are not opened wide enough, the doctor may ask you to wait. the doctor can also make a small cut in the perineum (episiotomy) to make more room and prevent your skin from tearing. When you are able to push, it may take several pushes before your baby's born.

Stage 3

After your baby's born you will still feel contractions until the placenta is delivered. If you had episiotomy the doctor will stitch up the cut. Sometimes the baby must be delivered surgically known as C-section or cesarian. A cut is made in the abdomen and then through the uterus. There are many reasons why a C-section can be done:

• the baby is too large to pass the pelvis
• the baby's arms or legs are down instead of the head (breech)
• there are signs that the baby may be having problems during labor
• the mother or baby has a condition that may make labor or a vaginal delivery unsafe

Whether you have a vaginal delivery or a C-section, you will have some pain. There are many ways to deal with this pain.

• practice breathing and relaxation exercises
• gentle massage can help you relax
• pain medicines (ask your doctor)
• epidural (medicine given to you with a shot in your spine) makes you feel numb, you may or may not feel contractions depending on the dosage of the medicine